Missouri Irish Wilderness Book Back Story
We’ve talked a fair bit about the Irish Wilderness in Miisouri, and the Kansas City bishop who was earlier the Father Hogan from Ireland who started the colony there. But here’s another link because the Springfield News-Leader has more of the backstory on Leland and Crystal Payton and their research and photographs of the area which has resulted in the award-winning book, Mystery of the Irish Wilderness (Lens & Pen Press).
Leland Payton was assigned a job taking photos in the area:
“It all started when I was contracted to photograph the Eleven Point River (and the area surrounding it),” he said. ” I became curious about the origin of the Irish Wilderness myths and became puzzled by them.”
And Crystal looked up the archives of the Catholic Diocese in Kansas City:
Crystal Payton, a FEMA public affairs employee, was instrumental in uncovering documented notes and records of Father Hogan — who became isolated from the colony and later was appointed bishop of the newly created Catholic diocese of St. Joseph in 1868 and then bishop of the newly created Catholic diocese of Kansas City in 1880.
As well as the N-L article, do have a read of a couple of marvellous comments to an earlier post by Kansas City’s Mike O’Laughlin (of the Irish Roots Cafe) and by Arkansas’s friend of Kansas City, Kevin Kiley.
Eolaí gan Fhéile:
