Quincy Reporter

State Senator Jil Tracy highlighted a new marker for Father Augustus Tolton’s burial site in a Facebook post dated December 20.

"Good news," said Tracy, Illinois State Senator, according to Facebook. "IDOT put up a sign to mark the sight of Father Augustus Tolton's burial at St. Peter's Cemetery in Quincy IL. Father Tolton was the first African American priest in the United States. As a young boy, Father Gus escaped slavery with his mother in a small boat crossing the Mississippi River from Missouri to Quincy, IL."

Father Augustus Tolton was born in Brush Creek, Missouri, on April 1, 1854, and died on July 9, 1897, in Chicago, Illinois. He was born into slavery to baptized Catholics Peter Paul and Martha Jane Tolton. The family escaped Missouri to Illinois in 1862. According to Fr. Tolton Catholic High School's biography entry, he graduated from high school and Quincy College with the blessing of Fr. Peter McGirr, who baptized him after he entered St. Peter’s Catholic School. In 1880, he studied for the priesthood in Rome and was ordained in 1886 at the age of 31. He returned to the United States to serve in a Black community as the first Black American priest in the country and became pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church and School.

Screenshot of State Senator Jil Tracy's Dec. 20 Facebook post | State Senator Jil Tracy's Facebook page

During his career, Father Tolton was reassigned to Chicago. He died while on a priest’s retreat in 1897 at the age of 43.

Tracy’s announcement continued in her Facebook post: "He went on to study to become a Roman Catholic priest. He is on track to become beautified as a saint by the Catholic Church. Many people both Catholic and non-Catholic seek out the grave site each year." She added appreciation for "the efforts of the Father Tolton committee here in Adam’s County and IDOT for making it easier to find this special grave site."

Senator Tracy has represented the people of the 50th Senate District since January 2023. Prior to joining the Senate, she served as a State Representative from 2006 through 2014, according to her official biography. She worked as Mt. Sterling City Attorney and as a private lawyer before working as an Assistant Illinois Attorney General under Attorneys General Jim Ryan and Lisa Madigan. She resides with her husband in Quincy.