O'Leary, David P. (Died)

Evanston Priest, well known along North Shore, had interesting career in Journalism, politics and church [heading] Funeral services for the Reverend David P. O'Leary, who died Sunday morning at St. Francis hospital of pneumonia, developing from influenza, were held Tuesday morning at 10:30 o'clock at St. Mary's church. Reverend H. P. Smyth officiating. Reverend O'Leary was born in Evanston in 1850, and while he was extremely active for more than forty years in public life and the activities of the Catholic church, he always looked upon Evanston and the north shore as his home. Former newspaper man [heading] His career was an active one. In 1868, after graduating from the University of Notre Dame, he entered newspaper work in Chicago. Finishing two years of journalistic work, he established a very profitable coal business in Evanston, which extended along the north shore. Though he was never a politician he was always active in political matters of import. Upon the election of Grover Cleveland, he received an appointment as postmaster in Evanston. That was in 1893 and during Cleveland's term he received a reappointment. Leaving the field of commercial endeavor he began to study law, was admitted to the bar in Illinois and for several years practiced in Chicago. Leaving a large and lucrative practice he joined the faculty of the University of Notre Dame as an instructor. He had scarcely completed a year on the Notre Dame faculty when he was appointed president of Watertown college. Giving up this position of responsibility, Reverend O'Leary returned to his first ambition, which was to study philosophy and theology. Became a priest [heading] Twelve years ago he received his appointment as a priest to the congregation of the Holy Cross, Notre Dame, Ind. [Indiana], in which work he remained until three years ago, when through ill health he was forced to request a leave of absence. Returning to Evanston he took over the management of the O'Leary estate, consisting of property south of Calvary cemetery, of recent development, which was, by the will of his mother, who died shortly before he commenced studying for the priesthood, made a trust with the Reverend O'Leary as trustee. At the same time he was acting as chaplain for the Marywood or St. Scholastica's academy. To take body to Indiana [heading] The Reverend O'Leary was planning to wind up his affairs in Evanston and return to his former parish in Notre Dame, Ind., when he was taken sick. The body will be sent to Notre Dame for burial.