Augustus Tolton

Father Augustus Tolton (April 1, 1854 - July 9, 1894) is currently a candidate for sainthood; his cause having progressed to the final thee steps of canonization with the last being the Pope's approval.

Early Life
Augustus Tolton was born to Peter Paul Tolton and his wife Martha Jane Chrisly in Missouri. Both of his parents where enslaved at the time with his mother having been brought up as a Roman Catholic. He was named after his mother's uncle Augustus and baptized as Augustine in the St. Peter's Catholic Church in Bush Creek Missouri. His master was Stephen Elliot. His master's wife Savilla Elliot took part in the ceremony as Augustine's godmother. [?]

Freedom
Accounts regarding Augustine's freedom are conflicting but his freedom is not questioned by either side of the conflicting record. According to the Elliot family Stephen freed all his slaves  when the American Civil War broke out and allowed them to travel north. [?] According to Augustus, as told to pariashers, his father ran away to join the Union army and his mother (with her children) escaped shortly after. She was aided according to his account by sympathetic union soldiers who brought her to Illonois. [1]

Vocation
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Priesthood
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Death
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Family
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Legacy and Honors
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Cause for Canonization
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Source Citation

 * 1) The Victoria Advocate January 2006 article "Life of first recognized black U.S. priest unknown to most Catholics" pg. E1