Meet Edward Vattmann
“For God and Our Country”
It’s taken two-plus years of research, writing, revising, revising, and revising. My biography of Edward Vattmann, For God and Our Country: The Remarkable Life of Edward Vattmann, Priest and Patriot is finished.
It’s not published - but soon. Until then … Who was Edward Vattmann?
He was a man of many talents and titles: priest, Army chaplain (serving from Wounded Knee to WWI and the first chaplain to obtain the rank of Major), diplomat, community developer, and close friend and confidante of two presidents: William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt.
I came across his name while reading about the 1898 War with Spain.
The little I read about his life (1840-1919) was interesting - how he came to America in the mid nineteenth century, first to Wisconsin, then St. Louis, and on to Cleveland, before joining the Army - but it wasn’t enough to entice me further.
And then I came across two fascinating items: first, this letter from Theodore Roosevelt dated Christmas 1916:
Dear Father Vattmann,
No Christmas greeting that I have received - not even that from Cardinal Gibbons - has touched and pleased me more than yours. You have been a good soldier and a good priest; a most useful citizen and one of the staunchest of American patriots - and in addition a true and loyal friend. What higher praise can be given any man?
May many happy years come to you, old friend.
Faithfully yours,
Theodore Roosevelt
… and second, this quote from President McKinley:1
“The American Catholic Church can point with proud exultation to that noble type of priest and patriot, Father Edward Vattmann.”
Soon after finding those two items, I spent a day at the Diocese of Cleveland archives where I found a treasure trove of correspondence.
Two discoveries that held my interest:
Vattmann visited McKinley’s bedside days before the president died. After the president’s death, he reportedly mused, “They can do what they want with his body; I’ve taken care of his soul.”2
President Roosevelt sent Vattmann, as an army chaplain, on a clandestine mission to the Philippines following the War with Spain - his report on the situation there was of great value to the president - and, later, to the Vatican.
In my estimation, the life of this obscure American clergyman - who has a town in Texas named after him - is as fascinating as that of the “gas-station-bishop,” Bonaventure Broderick. That’s why I invested two years.
I’ll post a link, soon, when it’s published.
The Catholic Telegraph, Volume LXXXIV, Number 18, May 6, 1915, 1.
Interview of Monsignor James Kolp.
Can’t wait! Will 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻