Joseph Henry Leo Schlarman

Joseph Henry Leo Schlarman (February 23, 1879 – November 10, 1951) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Peoria in Illinois from 1930 until his death in 1951. In 1951, Schlarman received the personal title of archbishop from the Vatican.

Biography

Early life One of ten children, Joseph Schlarman was born on February 23, 1879, in Breese, Illinois, to Bernard and Philomena (née Keyser) Schlarman. His grand-nephew was Stanley Girard Schlarman, a bishop of the Diocese of Dodge City in Kansas. Philomena Schlarman was born in Germany, and his paternal grandparents were from Hanover.

As a young boy, Schlarman walked two miles to school every morning and attended daily mass. After returning to Illinois, Schlarman served as a curate at the Cathedral of Saint Peter Parish in Belleville, Illinois, from 1907 until 1909. He was then appointed chancellor of the diocese. He received his episcopal consecration on June 17, 1930, from Cardinal George Mundelein, with Bishops Henry J. Althoff and Edward Hoban serving as co-consecrators, at the Cathedral of Saint Peter. He visited the countryside in Central America and Mexico, and wrote many articles on rural life there. He help plan in 1950 the International Rural Life Congress in Rome, but his health prevented him from attending.

Schlarman High School In the early 1940’s, Catholics in the Danville, Illinois area sensed a need for a Catholic high school. Approval for the school was secured from Bishop Joseph H. Schlarman. In 1945, while a site was being secured, the first high school class of 39 students began its freshman year in a specially prepared area of St. Patrick’s Grade School. In April 1946, officials purchased the W. G. Hartshorn estate (called Greystone) at Vermilion Street and Winter Avenue. The mansion had landscaped lawns, a greenhouse and other buildings on 13 acres. Five more acres were purchased, which gave the school frontage on Lake Vermilion. On September 16, 1946, the school officially opened with more than 100 freshmen and sophomores. The school was named Schlarman High School in honor of Bishop Schlarman, who supported the purchase.

Death Schlarman was given the personal title of archbishop by Pope Pius XII on June 17, 1951. Suffering from poor health, Schlarman underwent 15 operations and was administered the rite of extreme unction six times. In September 1951, he was well enough to visit Mexico as part of plans to open a seminary in Montezuma, Mexico. He had just published his history book, From Quebec to New Orleans, The Story of the French in America and Mexico, Land of Volcanoes.

Joseph Schlarman died in Peoria on November 10, 1951, from a heart attack, a day after returning from Erie, Pennsylvania, and Chicago. He was age 72. He is buried at St. Mary's Cemetery in Peoria.

Publications From Quebec to New Orleans, The Story of the French in America and Mexico, Land of Volcanoes.