He was born on August 17, 1887 in Nashville, Tennessee to a family of German ancestry, and ordained a priest on May 21, 1910 in the Diocese of Nashville. On August 10, 1921 he was appointed Bishop of Toledo, Ohio where he was ordained a bishop on November 30, 1921. He was appointed Archbishop of Milwaukee on August 26, 1930 and installed November 19, 1930 before being appointed Archbishop of Chicago, on December 27, 1939 and installed February 18, 1946. He was elevated to Cardinal on December 14, 1959, and served as archbishop until his death. On March 1, 1958 he was appointed Pro-Perfect of the Propagaion of Faith, thus became first American member of the Roman Curia, and called to Rome where he died at the age of 70. He is interred in the Bishops’ Mausoleum at Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Hillside, Illinois