REV. JAMES PAUL ALDRIDGE

     Rev. James Paul Aldridge, pastor of St. Mary's Roman Catholic church of New Haven since October 10, 1914, was born June 10, 1876, in Steubenville, Ohio, a son of the late William Aldridge, who was a native of Pennsylvania and was of English descent. The founder of the American branch of the family was bis father, who was an iron worker by trade. He came to America from Birmingham, England, and was actively connected with the iron industry in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for a time. His arrival in this country was in the year 1842. After living in Pittsburgh for a few years Thomas Aldridge removed to Ohio, where he again worked at the iron molder'a trade. His wife bore the maiden name of Esther Canby and was born in Chester, England. Their son, William Aldridge, was reared and educated in Steubenville, Ohio, and became a successful retail grocer, there conducting business for many years. He passed away in 1904, at the age of fifty-one. He married Sarah Caniff, a native of Steubenville and a daughter of Bernard and Margaret (Connors) Caniff, both of whom came from Ireland and established their home in Ohio in 1841. Mrs. Aldridge is still living and yet makes her home in Steubenville, Ohio. She had a family of five sons and three daughters.
     Rev. James Paul Aldridge is the eldest of this family. He began his education in the public schools of his native city and also attended a private school at Springfield, Kentucky. Later he became a student in St. Rose's school, which was founded in 1806 and which was the same school that Jefferson Davis attended. Father Aldridge completed his studies at St. Joseph's at Somerset, Ohio, and was ordained to the priesthood June 29, 1905, by the Rev. Bishop James J. Hartley, the present bishop of Columbus. After his ordination he was sent to Rome and there studied at the Minerva for a period of three years, taking his degrees in philosophy and theology and also completing courses which he had formerly begun. He specialized in common law there and with splendid intellectual equipment he returned to America to take up his chosen life work. For three years he taught in the Immaculate Conception College at Washington, D. C., and was afterward sent to Columbus, Ohio, where from 1911 until 1914 he was pastor of St. Patrick's Roman Catholic church. On the 10th of October of the latter year he was assigned to the pastorate of St. Mary's church in New Haven, where he has since remained and here he has done splendid work in the development of Catholic interests, giving continuous service to his church, while his sympathy with and understanding of his parishioners and of their needs has done much to upbuild the congregation. He is a member of the Order of Dominican.

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