Eugene A. Garvey

[1] His parents were both Irish immigrants, and his father was a rope worker for the Delaware and Hudson Railway and later the Pennsylvania Coal Company.

[2] In 1850, Garvey moved with his family from Carbondale to nearby Dunmore, later graduating from Scranton High School.

[1] After teaching for two years, Garvey entered St. Charles College, a minor seminary at Ellicott City, Maryland, in 1865 to begin his preparation for the priesthood.

[7] Despite taking charge amid a contentious situation, Garvey eliminated the parish's debt and built a new church, rectory, and parochial school, as well as Mount Carmel Cemetery and a convent for the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

[4] After 27 years at Williamsport, Garvey became vicar general of the Diocese of Scranton and pastor of St. John's Church in Pittston in March 1899.

[9] In Garvey's first full year as bishop in 1902, the Diocese of Altoona contained 59 priests, 44 parishes, 23 parochial schools with 6,000 students, and a Catholic population of 44,000.