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 3 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 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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privileges than I had as prefect, for I was particularly free except at class time. Freed from the distractions of a crowded study hall, I could apply myself to the preparation of my classes and do some reading besides. I liked the work of sacristan for it made me familiar with the different services of the church, and all the solemn offices were performed there instead of in the seminary chapel. I liked all the altar breads the old fashion irons, which were two plates of steel polished and engraved on one side and fastened together with two long crossed handles and heated in an ordinary stove fire. It was not hard when you knew how to work them. 

          The church itself has some history. It was Flaget’s Cathedral when he was Bishop of Bardstown. The old church has celebrated its centennial but it stands as firm as it was on the day of its consecration.

          For two years I held this office, and after the vacation of 1871, which I spent at the college, and addition to my own duties I took charge of two classes; one in English composition and one in advanced Arithmetic. The work was easy, and as I got a class of volunteer boys from all the classes it was really enjoyable. This last year passed pleasantly enough;  it was philosophy year for our class and our last year at St. Joseph's. 

          Of the students I have not much to say in general. The brightest man in the class was, in my opinion, Henry Churchill Semple from Selma, Ala. He became a Jesuit and was rather prominent in the society as well as being the author of several good volumes. Another who was not so prominent was Daniel O'Sullivan. 

          Daniel was born in Ireland in 1836. Left an orphan early in life he was cared for by an uncle, but by the knavery of pretended friends he was swindled out of the little homestead where he was born and leaving Ireland with his sister four years older than himself, he came to Cincinnati when about 20 years of age. Dan found work in a tannery and his sister went into domestic service. After a few years, his sister resolved to join the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati. Dan strenuously opposed her resolution, and declared he would never speak to her if she left him and became a nun. Neither of them had much schooling in Ireland, and work was all that could be before them in any walk of life. But the sister carried out her plan, and Dan refused to see her for a year, but his anger could not hold out longer and they became reconciled as was inevitable with a man of Dan's big heart. Dan was thrifty and steady, and, at about the close of the Civil War, had a saving of $1,000.00. Then the thought began to haunt him that he might be a priest. He recognized his lack of education, but he wondered if there might not be someplace in the church where even the unlearned might fill if they had the desire to serve God as best they might. He consulted with a priest of Cincinnati and was told that in the secular ministry he could never succeed. He was too old to begin a course of study, and his mind would not respond at his age to training. It was suggested that a religious order might give him a trial. With this encouragement he applied to the Franciscans, telling them of his little savings, and got an answer that it might be possible but they could consult and give him an answer later. The later answer 

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