Recollections of My Life and Reflections on Times and Events During It: A Memoir by Father W. J. Howlett Main Menu Introduction Table of Contents Page 1 Page 2 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82 Page 83 Page 84 Page 85 Page 86 Page 87 Page 88 Page 89 Page 90 Page 91 Page 92 Page 93 Page 94 Page 95 Page 96 Page 97 Page 98 Other Writings by Father W. J. Howlett Timeline Howlett Family Tree William J. Howlett Family Tree Maps and Geography: Howlett's First Trip West Fr. Howlett moved with his family to Denver when he was a child, and then moved to St. Thomas Seminary in Bardstown, KY several years later. This map recounts the path he took to get to both places. Maps and Geography: Howlett's European travels Fr. Howlett traveled far and wide during his trip to Europe. Here is a map of the places he recorded visiting. Maps and Geography: Howlett in Paris, 1872-1873 This map shows the locations that Fr. Howlett mentioned visiting while in Paris, France. Maps and Geography: Howlett in London, 1874 This map shows the locations that Fr. Howlett mentioned visiting while vacationing in London, England Maps and Geography: Colorado Missions with Terrain Fr. Howlett's Colorado mission locations, with Colorado terrain. Index Acknowledgements Contributors' Biographies HIST 394 at CUA, Spring 2020

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my "Baptismal Lines,” he said, “Never mind that; no one will ever “be leaving him a legacy that he will need them.”

          Father William O'Reilly left Rochester to go with his brother to Hartford, and a Father Carroll officiated at St. Patrick's.  I must have been taken to mass sometimes then, for my mother used to say that I would be very much impressed by him, and used to say that I would be big Father Carroll yet. My memory does not recall any such remarks.

          I must have been about four years old when I got my first pair of boots. In those days, and long afterwards, the men and boys wore top boots, and as knee pants were not in fashion, it was the custom; especially in snowy weather, to wear the legs of the trousers folded inside the boot legs. It was a convenient and saving custom, but there was a little vanity in it also. For the boys there was often a little patch of red leather at the top of the boot, and for the very fine boots of the men there was often trained sheep skin dyed in some attractive color. My little boots were rather coarse, but they had red tops and I thought I was somewhat of a man when I put them on.

          There was some snow on the ground and I went out into it to show off my new possessions. My brother made fun of me (which I did not like) and said that I did not know how to wear boots, as I dragged my heels in the snow. Of course, there were marks in the snow where the advancing step gradually went down to solid footing, and they pretended that this was proof against me, so I began to step high to show them that I did know how to walk right. This was a kind of goose-step, so they laughed the more and said that I walked like a chicken. Probably I did, but it did not please me to be told so, and it took some of the vanity out of me. I do not remember longing for red top boots over [ever] again.

          I do not remember much about the games we played other than Russy [Pussy]-wants-a-corner, or who were the children who came to play with us. We were numerous enough among ourselves to dispense with the company of the neighboring children, but no doubt we had it; nor do I remember the punishment we got from our mother. I must have had my share, for I was no better than the others, and my mother did not believe in sparing the rod. I do remember the many times she taught me to pray at her knee before she sent me to bed. The Lord’s Prayer, the Hail Mary and the Apostles’ Creed were those prayers, to which she added later the Hail Holy Queen and the Ten Commandments.

          An event of 1852 is clear in my memory yet. It was the sight of the funeral car of Henry Clay passing on the New York Central Railroad. The train passed near our house and I mind the black streamers hanging along the side of the cars. Henry Clay died in Washington, and the body was taken to New York, then to Buffalo, and thence to Kentucky for burial. As he was a famous man, as much of the country as possible wished to show honor to his memory, and the roundabout funeral was the result.

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