The following is from Emily C Blackman's 1873 History of Susquehanna County Pennsylvania,1
There are nine Roman Catholic churches [in Susquehanna County], viz: at Silver Lake, Friendsville, St Joseph's, Rush, Auburn, Montrose, New Milford, Great Bend and Susquehanna Depot
Patrick Griffin and family were here as early as 1821, on the place afterwards owned by Mr main. Captain Gerald Griffin, his son, was a retired British officer, in England, on half pay, from whom the principal support of the family was at that time derived. They are remembered as possessing true gentility, and great loveliness of character. Patrick G, Jr, died in California in the fall of 1872.
Edward White, a model Irish gentleman of the old school came in a little later than Mr Griffin. "He had married the eldest sister of Gerald Griffin, on which occasion the joy-bells of Limerick were rung to honor the young bride nad groom. This eminently worthy couple were the first apostles of the Catholic church in Susquehanna County, and the adjacent parts of New York State."
James W White, elsdest son of Edward, was a lawyer, and afterwards, Judge of the Superior Court of the City of new York. He has been styled "one of hte noblest Irish -Americans of our times."
The daughters of Edward W were highly educated; and, a few years later, they established in Binghamton a boarding school for young ladies, which was very succesful. The institution was maintained until the death of Mrs White, in 1851.
The family was then broken up; two of the daughters entered nunneries. Edward W died December, 1863.
Henry and Sackville Cox, Irish gentlemen, married two daughters of Thomas Peirnonnet (English), of Friendsville. In 1822 Sackville was in Silver Lake.
The first Roman Catholic priest in the county was Father Francis O'Flynn, of the order of La Trappe, and of "noble descent." His sister, Mrs Fitzgerald, a true lady, was with himself the center of a large circle of th cultivated and refined. Indeed, at no later period has a larger number of such persons resided in Silver Lake and vicinity....
...Upon the completion of the Chenango Canal, and after suspension of labor upon the North Branch, the Irish who had been employed in their construction were easily induced to purchase land and settle down as farmers; and in general they have been very successful, many having arrived at competancy, if not wealth....
... By degrees te descendants of the New England settlers left, and those of the Irish rapidly filled their places, until the latter are now a large majority of the population. In one school district there is but one man of American parentage....
...The first Roman Catholic chapel was built at the head of Ranney Creek, on land of Mr Fitzgerald (a nephew of Father O'Flynn). It was the first of that denomination in the county. It was destroyed by fire April 3d, 1870; but a new structure already takes its place, of which we give an illustration. The first service was held in the new church on Christmas day of 1871.
David Hillis, the first Irish settler, came in 1836; ___ Carroll, in 1839; P Redding, in 1841; and James Logan in 1842.
Mrs Catharine Calwell, born in Ireland, died in Rush, August, 1872, aged 105 years.
...The Roman Catholic church is at Bixby's Pond.
The names of Logan and Rooney are mentioned among the first Irish settlers here, in 1838. There are 500 taxables in Auburn, about 200 of whom are Irish.
...The Roman Catholic chapel is about half way between the Center and the Corners....
Edward White was probably the first Irishman (not Protestant), in the vicinity of Friendsville. He was a man of education, and it was owing to his influence probably, that other Irishmen located here. His residence was in Middletown, where Keenan brothers are now. His land was over a mile in extant.
The first Irishmen in the township were Thomas and Michael Donnelly...
...In 1831 Edward White contracted for building a small Roman Catholic church at Friendsville, and supplied all the materials, the frame excepted. This church has since been greatly improved through the influence of Father Mattingly, and has a large , fine-toned bell -- the only church bell in the vicinity.
St Joseph's College, on Choconut creek, was opened in the autumn of 1852, and was destroyed by fire on the night of January 1, 1864. "The building was insured, and cost about $5000. The chapel was elegantly fitted up, and the college was in a most flourishing condition, there being nearly a hundred students in attendance. There were four regular professors engaged, assisted by four clergymen and a corps of subordinate teachers. The libraries were all destroyed, and were very valuable. Fortunately there were no lives lost, although a portion of the pupils lost their clothing."
The convent in the same vicinity was built about 1858, and was discontinued (removed to Susquehanna Depot) October, 1866.
The Corner-stone of the cathedral, situated at the head of the valley, was laid in November, 1859. The cost of the building has been estimated at about $25,000; but this is thought too low. The church records were burned with the college.
Fathers O'Reilly and Fitzsimmons were influential in establishing the college; but the cathedral was built by the efforts of the former, Father Fitzsimmons being then in Wilkes-Barre.
October, 1869, the Roman Catholics started a chapel, 26X50 feet, on land donated by John Boyle, but the frame was blown down the following month. In 1870 it was again upon its foundations, and was completed and dedicated July, 1871.
...That portion of the town including the property of the Roman Catholic church should be excluded [from the land owned by the Erie Railroad] also, as once a part of Wm P McKune's land.
... For a time after the Erie Railroad was finished, the population decreased, but now it gains steadily. Americans, English, Irish and Germans are found numerically as named, with a few Italians and Poles. Many of the machinists in the Erie workshops are English.
...The Sisters of Charity occupy the building erected by Martin Newman, which was once Scoville's hotel...