Charles H. Colton
Charles Henry Colton was an American Catholic prelate who served as bishop of Buffalo in New York State from 1903 until his death in 1915.
Biography
Early life and education
Charles Colton was born on June 10, 1876, in New York City to Patrick Smith and Teresa Augusta Colton, both Irish immigrants. He received his early education at Public School No. 5 and the Latin school of St. Stephen's Parish in Manhattan. As a boy, he worked as a clerk in a dry goods store. In 1869, deciding to become a priest, Colton entered St. Francis Xavier College in Manhattan, graduating in 1873. He then studied theology at St. Joseph's Seminary in Troy, New York.Priesthood
Colton was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Bernard John McQuaid for the Archdiocese of New York on June 10, 1876, at St. Joseph's Siminary. After his ordination, the archdiocese assigned Colton as a curate at St. Stephen's Parish, with Reverend Edward McGlynn as pastor. Colton remained at St. Stephen's for ten years, also serving as a chaplain at Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan. In 1886, Colton was named pastor of Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Port Chester, New York.In 1887, the archdiocese excommunicated McGlynn for his political activities. They returned Colton to St. Stephen's to Reverend Arthur Donnelly, who had been assigned as temporary administrator of the parish. Later that year, Colton assumed the role of pastor at St. Stephen's upon Donnelly's resignation. Colton enjoyed remarkable success in his new post, restoring harmony among the congregation, eliminating the parish debt of $152,000, and establishing a parochial school. In addition to his pastoral duties, Archbishop Michael Corrigan named Colton as chancellor of the archdiocese in 1896.
Bishop of Buffalo
On June 10, 1903, Colton was appointed the fourth bishop of Buffalo by Pope Leo XIII. He received his episcopal consecration on August 24, 1903, from Archbishop John Farley, with McQuaid and Bishop Charles McDonnell serving as co-consecrators, in St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan.During Colton's tenure, the diocese was composed of 72 churches, 18 combination school-churches, 30 schools, 12 academies, 13 hospitals, and charitable institutions, six convents, and 28 rectories.
On December 17, 1905, a gold cross was stolen from Colton after a church celebration. The cross, valued at $1,000, was cut from Colton's vestments as he was exiting St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church in Buffalo.