Rev. Hugh A. Loague, pastor of Sacred Heart Church, Williamstown, Pennsylvania, was born in County Donegal, Ireland, 2 June 1842. He is a son of Francis Loague, a native of Tyrone, Ireland, and his wife, Mary [Gallagher] Loague. His paternal grandfather, Hugh Loague, was a native of County Tyrone, he was patriotic and took part in the Irish Rebellion of 1798, as did Patrick Gallagher, Rev. Father Loague’s maternal grandfather, and this devotion to their country cost them all the property they had. Patrick Gallagher, with his family, came to America in 1852. He had been a farmer in Ireland, but engaged in no active business in America. He died at the home of his grandson, in Philadelphia. Hugh Loague and his wife died in Ireland in the late forties. Besides Francis, father of Rev. H. A. Loague, their children were: William Loague, a priest, died in Londonderry, Ireland, in 1865; Hugh Loague; John Loague; Rose Loague; Mary Loague; and Ellen Loague, all of whom died in Ireland.
Francis Loague came to this country in 1847 and located in Philadelphia, where he was employed as nurseryman and gardener. In 1850 he sent for his wife and children who sailed from Londonderry on the sailing vessel, Superior, Captain Moore. They were on the ocean eight weeks and three days, having been at one time becalmed for three days and at another compelled by a terrible storm to put to see again after sighting land. They finally reached Philadelphia in May 1850. The father remained in Philadelphia until his death, which occurred in 1884, at the age of eighty-four. Mrs. Loague died in Philadelphia, March 8, 1893, aged eighty-three. Their children were: William Loague, of the Catholic Church at Centralia, Pennsylvania, died 11 January 1892; Rev. H. A. Loague; Eliza Loague, at home in Philadelphia; Mary Loague, wife of William Murphy, Philadelphia; Patrick Loague, died an infant, in Ireland; Rosanna Loague, born in Philadelphia in 1852, died in 1863; Joseph Loague, born in 1854, died in March 1876.
Hugh A. Loague attended school for nearly one year in Ireland. After coming to America he attended the public schools in Philadelphia until 1857 when he entered St. Joseph’s College, Philadelphia, and there remained until he had completed his college course in 1860. He then studied four years at the Jesuit House, Frederick City, Maryland, after which he taught in the Gonzaga College, Washington, D.C., from 1864 to 1867. He was subsequently professor in Holy Cross College, Worcester, Massachusetts, until the end of 1869, after which he spent seven years in completing his studies in philosophy and theology at Woodstock College, in Maryland, and from 1876 to 1880 was again professor in the Worcester, Massachusetts, College of the Holy Cross.
In 1880 Father Loague went to St. James, Michigan, to assist his uncle, Rev. F. P. Gallagher, who was out of health. He remained with his uncle until October 1, 1883. On 23 December 1883, he came to Harrisburg and took charge of the Steelton Church, where he continued until 9 January 1888. On that date, he entered upon his duties as rector of the Church of the Sacred Heart [Williamstown]. He was ordained to the priesthood at Woodstock College, in Maryland, 21 June 1876. In politics Mr. Loague is independent and a firm believer in protection. He is an affable and agreeable gentleman, of great kindness of heart, and of very scholarly tastes and attainments.
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The above information was modified/edited from Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, published in 1896 by J. M. Runk and Company of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. A free download is available from the Internet Archive.
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