In 1824 he was entrusted with the pastoral care of the entire Roman Catholic population of western and southwestern Kentucky, with headquarters in Morganfield, Union co. After 1832 he was also obliged to visit Nashville several times a year. During fifty years of his missionary labors his horseback journeys averaged 200 miles a week. Father Durbin himself estimates that during sixty-two years he has traveled over 500,000 miles.

Within two years after his nomination to the mission of southwestern Kentucky he built the Church of the Sacred Heart, then the only Roman Catholic Church west of Breckinridge County and east of the Mississippi, and the Church of St. Ambrose in Union County. He erected the Church of St. Jerome in Graves County in 1836, that of the Sacred Heart, Morganfield, in 1855, and St. Agnes's Church, Uniontown, in 1860, of which he was appointed pastor.

In 1873 he was relieved of his pastoral duties in Union County, but insisted on being allotted active work, and was given charge of the Roman Catholics living along the Elizabethtown and Paducah railroad. Here he remained till 1883, when he was persuaded to spend the remainder of his life in St. Joseph's Seminary, Bardstown. In 1885 he petitioned his bishop to be restored to active duty, and was assigned to pastoral work.

DURBIN, Elisha J., missionary, born in Madison County, Kentucky, in 1800. At the age of sixteen he entered the roman Catholic seminary of St. Thomas, Kentucky, and wax ordained priest in 1822, afterward becoming professor in St. Joseph's College, Bardstown, and assistant at the cathedral there. In 1824• he was intrusted with the pastoral eare of the entire Roman Catholic population of western and southwestern Kentucky, with headquarters in Morganfield, Union co. After 1832 he was also obliged to visit Nashville several times a year. During fifty years of his missionary labors his horseback journeys averaged 200 miles a week. Father DurbiD. himself estimates that during sixtytwo years he has traveled over 500,000 miles. Within two years after his nomination to the mission of southwestern Kentucky he built the Church of the Sacred Heart, then the only Roman Catholic Church west of Breckinridge County and east of the Mississippi, and the Church of St. Ambrose in Union County, he erected the Church of St. Oerome in Graves County in 1836, that of the Sacred Iteart, Morganfield, in 1855, and St. Agnes's Church, Uniontown, in 1860, of which he was appointed pastor. In 1873 he was relieved of his pastoral duties in Union County, but insisted on being allotted active work, and was given charge of the Roman Catholics living along the Elizabethtown and Paducah railroad. ftere he remained till 1883, when he was persuaded to spend the remainder of his life in St. Joseph's seminary, Bardstown. In 1885 he petitioned his bishop to be restored to active duty, and was assigned to pastoral work.