Early life James Davis was born on November 7, 1852, in Tinvaun,
County Kilkenny,
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, to James and Margaret Davis. All of his siblings either entered a religious order or the priesthood. His eldest brother, Thomas, entered the
Carmelites and became provincial in Ireland. Richard became a priest of the
Diocese of Louisville in Kentucky. His three sisters also entered religious life. One of his sisters became the superior of Sacred Heart Convent at
Sag Harbor, New York, and another, Sister Sebastian, was a member of the same order in
France. A third sister, Sister Constance, became the superior of the Immaculate Conception Academy at
Newport, Kentucky. James Davis studied with the Carmelites at St. Carmel at
Knocktopher, Ireland, and studied for the priesthood at
St. Patrick's Ecclesiastical College in Carlow, Ireland. While in school, Davis was recruited to serve in the
Diocese of Dubuque by Bishop
John Hennessy.
Priesthood Diocese of Dubuque Davis was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Dubuque in Carlow on June 21, 1878, by Bishop
James Walshe. In 1889, Davis was appointed
rector of St. Margaret's Cathedral. He supervised the construction of the new
Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport as well as the parish's new rectory. He became the
vicar general of the diocese in 1895.
Coadjutor Bishop and Bishop of Davenport On October 7, 1904,
Pope Pius X appointed Davis as
titular bishop of
Milopotamus and
coadjutor bishop of Davenport. He was consecrated at
Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport, Iowa, on November 30, 1904, by Archbishop
John J. Keane. The principal co-consecrators were Bishops
Henry Cosgrove and
Mathias Lenihan. With the death of Bishop Cosgrove on December 22, 1906, Davis automatically became the new bishop. In 1908 the
Redemptorists, at Davis' invitation, established a mission house and St. Alphonsus parish in Davenport He also welcomed the
Discalced Carmelites from Baltimore, who established a
monastery in the diocese in 1911. Davis started standardizing parish administration. He required pastors to file annual reports that were audited and signed by two laymen. The parishes themselves were incorporated according to the laws of the
State of Iowa. On August 12, 1911, the Vatican erected the new
Diocese of Des Moines from the western half of the Diocese of Davenport. Davis was named administrator of the new diocese until a bishop was named. Before the Diocese of Des Moines was established, Davis had requested that all the diocesan boundaries in Iowa be redrawn to distribute the Catholic population more evenly. If the Diocese of Davenport Diocese was simply divided in half, it would be reduced to 35,000 Catholics and the new Diocese of Des Moines would have only 25,000. In contrast, the Archdiocese of Dubuque had 109,000 Catholics and the
Diocese of Sioux City had 50,000 Catholics. While the Vatican denied Davis' request for new boundaries, it did sever
Clinton County from the archdiocese and give it to the Diocese of Davenport. The diocese at this time had 50,000 Catholics in a total population of 589,000. During
World War I, Davis pledged his support to US President
Woodrow Wilson for the American war effort. Davis encouraged Catholic men to enlist in the military, Catholic women to support cause and vowed that members of religious orders would offer their services . Davis preached a sermon at
St. Anthony's Church in Davenport on
patriotism. He was quoted in the
Catholic Messenger, "It is not the flamboyant generalization of patriotism or Fourth of July oratory, but it is the patriotism that acts and responds to the call of the President. The Catholic Church teaches loyalty to the state authority, which is of God…the Catholic is the first to respond to the call of the country—the first to pay, even with his life, for what his government has given him."
St. Ambrose College started enrolling women on a limited basis by admitting members of religious orders of teaching sisters in 1924. The next year the
Congregation of the Humility of Mary opened St. Joseph Junior College in
Ottumwa. It was the first institution of higher education for women in the diocese. The Diocesan Council of Catholic Women was also organized in 1925. As his health declined, Davis requested that the Vatican appoint an
auxiliary bishop to assist him. On December 13, 1923, Reverend
Edward D. Howard was appointed by Pope
Pius XI. Bishop Howard, however, was appointed archbishop of the
Archdiocese of Oregon City eight months prior to Davis' death.
Death and legacy James Davis died in Davenport on December 2, 1926. He was interred in the
crypt of Sacred Heart Cathedral. His remains, along with those of the other bishops, were later moved to the Bishop's Circle in
Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Davenport. Davis Hall, a residence hall at
St. Ambrose University in Davenport, is named in his honor. ==References==