REV. PATRICK O'BRIEN, pastor of St. Ann's Congregation, Fremont, was born at Piltown, County Wexford, Ireland, Feb. 20, 1844.  He arrived in America on Apr. 15, 1857, being at that time only thirteen years old.
     Like all young men of his age and nationality, seeking a home in the New World, our subject applied himself assiduously to the task.  The American Civil war, as the reader well knows, commenced in 1861, and our subject having imbibed that spirit of patriotism which is so characteristic of his race, handed down to him by his undeniable Celtic ancestors, donned the blue, enlisted in the Northern army for the purpose of assisting the Republic in preserving the life of the union.  Owing to ill health he could not render his adopted country that assistance for which he had hoped; however, he did his duty as a loyal subject of "Uncle Sam," to the best of his ability, actuated by the purest patriotic motives, until by reason of ill health, he was discharged fro the organization in which he had enlisted.  After his return from the service he resumed his studies, and very soon realized that his vocation was that of a priest.  He was encouraged by his parents and friends in this idea, and attended college with a view of studying for the sacred ministry.  Finally, Bishop Rappe received him into St. Mary's Seminary, at Cleveland, Ohio, as a student, and in a short time the student became master of philosophy and theology, and the late lamented Rt. Rev. Bishop Gilmour, D. D., bishop of Cleveland, ordained him priest July 21, 1872.
     Father O'Brien has been recognized by those who know him as one of the ablest priests in Ohio, and especially in oratory he is unsurpassed anywhere in this section.  He has had charge of the largest congregations in the diocese of Cleveland.; was for some years pastor of the Immaculate Conception parish in  Toledo, Ohio, one of the largest English-speaking congregation in that city.  He was transferred from the Immaculate Conception parish to St. Francis DeSales, on Cherry street, Toledo, and remained there a short time, when he was again transferred to the pastorate of St. Patrick's Congregation of Cleveland, the largest congregation in the diocese.  While pastor of St. Patrick's he built one of the finest schoolhouses in the State, which is an ornament not only to the city of Cleveland but to the State of Ohio.
     Owing to the hard work that he was compelled to do at St. Patrick's our subject was broken down in health to a certain extent, and, procuring a leave of absence, he traveled abroad extensively, making a flying trip to Ireland on his way to Rome and Jerusalem.  During his absence he wrote very interesting letters on his travels abroad, which were published in the leading journals of his section.  While visiting in the Holy Land en encountered a severe rain storm, and the result was that he contracted rheumatism, and it was on this account that he asked to be relieved from the charge of St. Patrick's, and to be sent to a place where he would not be required to do so much work.  His request was granted, and he was transferred to St. Ann's Fremont, Ohio.
     While Father O'Brien is a celebrated poet, patriot and writer, perhaps his principal work outside the priesthood is that which he gives to the temperence cause.  He has been identified with the Catholic Total Abstinence Union of America since its organization, or nearly so, and has held many prominent offices in the Union.  He is to-day president of the C. T. A. U., of Ohio, and at a recent convention held in New York City was chairman of the committee on resolutions, and drafted the resolutions which created so much discussion at the National convention.  He is a thorough  American in every sense and meaning of that word, and is respected and has always been respected by Protestants and Catholics alike. He was assigned to the pastorate of St. Ann's, Fremont, Ohio, in 1893, and he has been a valuable accession to the roll of the prominent pastors and citizens, and both he and the temperance and other organizations of St. Ann's have done a vast amount of good in the community.
Source: Commemorative Biographical Record of the counties of SANDUSKY & OTTAWA, OHIO - Publ. J. B. Beers & Co. 1896 - Page 60