History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume II, Part 10

Author: Blanchard, Charles, fl. 1882-1900, ed
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Logansport, Ind., A. W. Bowen & co.
Number of Pages: 1476

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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,

C. Atkins & Co., for whom he worked nine years as journeyman, and was then appointed inspector of saws, which is a responsible position, as to him is intrusted the final examination of the implements, as to workmanship, temper and finish.

November 24, 1880, Mr. Brennan was united in marriage, at St. Joseph's church, Indianapolis, by Rev. Father Alerding, to Miss Mary Curran, a native of this city and a daughter of John and Johanna Curran, natives of county Kerry, Ireland. Mrs. Brennan is a highly educated lady, being a graduate of St. John's academy, while her husband received his education in the public schools at Hamilton, Ohio. Their union has been blessed with four children, viz: Catherine, Mary Clara, Alice and William R., who are now aged, respectively, fifteen, fourteen, twelve and seven years, all attending school-the second daughter at the city high school, and the others at the parochial schools of their parish. The family are members of St. John's church, and liberal in their contributions to its support. In politics Mr. Brennan is a demo- crat, but has never been an office seeker. His residence is at No. 536 South Senate avenue.

M AURICE DONNELLY, a well-known citizen, ex-county recorder of Marion county, Ind., and residing at No. 1544 Pleasant street, Indianapolis, was born in county Kerry, Ireland, where, when a child, he lost his father, and where, but recently, his mtoher died-both being sincere Catholics of parish Killury. There were four sons and four daughters born to these parents, of whom Maurice alone came to America. One son had been educated for the church, but later decided to adopt medicine as his life-work. and is now a prominent physician at Liverpool, England. The other two sons and four daughters retain their residence in Ireland.

Maurice Donnelly was possessed of a somewhat adventurous spirit in youth, and at the age of fifteen years departed from the parental roof and went to Lancashire, England, where a cousin resided, at a distance of about thirty miles from Liverpool. At his cousin's home and in its vicinity he passed seven years, when he (148)

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returned to his native land, but remained a short time only. He then went to Liverpool, but after a brief stay sailed for New York, whence, shortly after arrival, in 1883, he proceeded to Chicago, Ill., and then came to Indianapolis, reaching this city in August, 1884. Here he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah McCarthy, whose relatives are residents of St. Patrick's parish, and this mar- riage has been blessed with two children, Eileen and Maurice C .- the former born February 1, 1894, the latter January 23, 1898.

Mr. Donnelly is an excellent man of business, and in 1891 became manager of the Indianapolis branch of the Terre Haute Brewing company, a position he still fills to the satisfaction of all concerned. He also owns a rice plantation in Vermillion parish, La., beside other interests in the south, over which he keeps a busi- ness-like supervision.

In politics Mr. Donnelly is an active democrat, and in Novem- ber, 1893, was appointed county recorder of Marion county, to fill out the unexpired term of Peter Carson, and for one year per- formed the functions pertaining to the office in a most acceptable manner. Mr. Donnelly was formerly a member of St. John's parish, in which he resided from 1884 until 1894, when he became a member of Father O'Donaghue's parish (St. Patrick's), of which he is still a prominent resident. Mr. Donnelly is a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and of Capital council, No. 276, Young Men's institute, is a gentleman of culture, and stands very high in both social and business circles.

JAMES A. BRENNAN, deputy sheriff of Montgomery county, J Ind., was born in Crawfordsville January 3, 1863, and is a son of Patrick and Ellen (Thompson) Brennan, highly respected Cath- olic residents of this city. Here James A. attended the public schools until 1882 (graduating in that year), and later entered Wabash college. After leaving this institution of learning he was engaged in the grocery business in Crawfordsville for a short time, was then appointed deputy postmaster, in which capacity he served four years, and was then appointed to his present office of deputy

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sheriff of Montgomery county, being in politics an earnest demo- crat. He is a charter member of Father Dennen commandery, No. 202, Knights of St. John, in which order he has served as record- ing secretary and trustee, and of which he was elected president January 1, 1897.

Mr. Brennan was united in the holy bonds of matrimony, in 1894, with Miss Nora Kelly, daughter of William Kelly, a well- known citizen of Crawfordsville, and this union has been blessed with two children-Henry and Robert. Mr. and Mrs. Brennan are faithful members of St. Bernard's congregation and freely con- tribute of their means to the support of the church and the pro- motion of its good work. Mr. Brennan has filled his every posi- tion with ability and faithful attention to the duties required of him, and is very popular with all classes of citizens, Catholic and Prot- estant alike.

H ON. MATTHEW LALOR BRETT (deceased) was born Jan- uary 5, 1823, in Edgefield county, S. C., and was the eldest son of seven children born to Patrick M. and Mary (Lalor) Brett. The parents of our subject were born on the Emerald isle, and came to this country about the year 1820, immediately after their marriage. They located in South Carolina, where they remained until 1830, when they came to Daviess county, Ind. Patrick Brett was a lawyer and teacher and was quite a prominent personage in the early history of Daviess county, and held important offices of responsibility and trust. He was a large personal factor in the early days of the development of this county, and his memory is ever yet regarded very highly by the few remaining old-timers who still live as witnesses of that period of early struggles. His death occurred in 1844, while he was holding the office of county auditor; the mother survived for many years, dying in 1868.

Matthew L. Brett was reared on the old home farm, where his widow now resides. His early education was, of necessity, some- what limited, as his help was much needed, even at a tender age. in developing the new home. Though he was twenty-one years of age at the time of his father's death, so great was the trust reposed (152)

CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

in him in the community that he easily succeeded his father to the office of county auditor, which office he held for fifteen years suc- cessively. In connection with his efficient duties he kept up the farm and also carried on milling and merchandizing to some extent. In 1860 he was elected to serve his district in the state legisla- ture, and acted in both the regular and special sessions. For two years he acted on the special legislature committee appointed for the purpose of auditing the expense incurred by the state during the war. In 1862 his name was on the state ticket and he was elected by a flattering majority to the office of treasurer of state, which office he held two years. In 1872 he was again returned from Daviess county to the state legislature and served two terms. Mr. Brett was one of the leaders in the democracy of the state and during his active connection therewith was a strong power in Indiana politics. The manner in which he administered the affairs. of his several important offices inspired in his behalf the utmost confidence and trust of the people, whose respect for his political sagacity was so frequently demonstrated by the public honors con- ferred upon him, and it is simply justice to say, in this brief con- nection, that he never betrayed this trust. Unfortunately, shortly after his last legislative office, Mr. Brett met with an accident which rendered him a permanent cripple, and he was compelled to retire from active politics. He then turned his whole attention to the development and enlargement of his already extensive farining interests, and large success attended his efforts. At the time of his death, which occurred July 23, 1896, he was the possessor of 250 acres of land, his large farm near Washington, and a consid- erable farm in Marion county. He was an earnest Catholic, and an active and valued member of St. Simon's church, to which he was a large and liberal contributor, and which, as well as the com- munity at large, sustained a sad loss at his death.

On June 1, 1858, at Vincennes, Ind., Mr. Brett was united in marriage to Miss Alice M. Hayes, who was born at that place October 1, 1835, a daughter of William and Anna (Beckes) Hayes, the former of whom was born in Ireland, August 3, 1803; the lat- ter in Vincennes, November 20, 1816, the daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth Beckes, pioneers of southern Indiana. Mrs. Brett

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received her early education in St. Mary's institute, near Terre Haute, and is, in these, her later years, a truly good worker in the community. She is a member of the Altar society of St. Simon's church at Washington and gives largely both of her services and her means to the good works of that organization. By her union with Mr. Brett she bore two children, both of whom are now dead, viz: Anna, who was the wife of Austin F. Cable, to whom she bore one child, Brett Cable, who now resides with Mrs. Brett; and William, who died in childhood.

H ENRY FRANCIS BRINDLEY, who resides with his family at No. 641 South Alabama street, Indianapolis, has been for many years a resident of St. Patrick's parish, having settled here in 1876. Mr. Brindley was born in Staffordshire, England, March 18, 1850, his father dying when he was but a child. Some time later the mother brought hier three children to the United States, landing in New York, and going thence to Cincinnati, Ohio, and on April 14, 1873, Mr. Brindley was married in Covington, Ky., to Miss Josephine Drohan of that place, and a daughter of John and Mary Drohan. It is worthy of note that Mr. Brindley, who is a convert to tlie doctrines of the Catholic church, took his first com- munion on the day of his marriage, which was Easter Monday, 1873. The parents of Mrs. Brindley were natives of county Wat- erford, Ireland, and in their native country they still reside; two of their sons and six of their daughters came to the United States, arriving in 1864. Of these Mrs. Brindley is the youngest. One of the sons, Patrick Drohan, is a resident of Indianapolis.

In May, 1876, Mr. and Mrs. Brindley came to Indianapolis, and this city has since been their home. They are the parents of two daughters: Belle, the wife of John H. Sullivan, and Nettie, both of whoin took their first communion at St. Patrick's church, and were educated at the academy of that parish. Both daugh- ters were educated with unusual care, and both have excellent taste in many directions, but each has a specialty of her own --- Belle being an artist, and many specimens of her skill embellish her home,

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while Nettie has made a specialty of music, in which she greatly excels. The location of the home has been given above, and the family are among the most highly esteemed members of their par- ish and of general society.

OHN H. T. BROCKAMP, a popular grocer of Richmond, Ind., J is a native of Germany, was born in Hanover, June 7, 1834, and is a son of Bernard Joseph and Anna Mary Brockamp.

Bernard Joseph Brockamp was born in the parish of Damme, Hanover, August 27, 1799, and after leaving school spent seven years at sea. He married, in Hanover, in 1821, Anna Mary Ever- man, who was born February 6, 1800, also in Hanover. In 1828 Mr. Brockamp landed in Baltimore, Md., whence he went direct to Effingham, Ill., invested in some property and remained six months. In 1830 he came to Richmond, Ind., and engaged in stone masonry work, and also worked as a carpenter. His was one of the first Catholic families who settled in this city, and here he died in the faith December 9, 1874, his wife surviving until October 14, 1883, and the remains of both now lie side by side in St. Andrew's cemetery. The mother and her sister, Gednuth, together with J. H. T. Brockamp, our subject, came to Richmond from the old country, via Baltimore, in 1840, and settled in the home the father had provided for them on Front street.

John H. T. Brockamp attended school until fourteen years of age, and was then apprenticed to the bricklayer's trade, which he followed six years, and then engaged in the grocery trade on Fifth street, in which he continued from 1858 until 1861, when he sold out and moved upon a farm five miles west of Richmond, on which he remained four years. In 1866 he moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, conducted a grocery for some time, and then moved to Brookville, Franklin county, Ind., and again followed the grocery business for twenty-five years. In 1893 he returned to Richmond, and has here been engaged ever since in the same trade, in partnership with his son, on South Eighth street.

J. H. T. Brockamp was united in marriage, in Richmond,

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September 2, 1861, by Rev. Father Seepe, to Miss Berdena Knabe, formerly of Cincinnati, Ohio. The following-named children have blessed this union: Mary Gertrude, wife of E. Diederick, of Mid- dletown, Ohio; Albert and Josephena, and Frank, deceased; Franz, also of Middletown, and John Henry Albert. Mr. and Mrs. Brockamp are prominent members of St. Andrew's church, and socially are held in very high esteem by the people of Richmond, where they own considerable valuable real estate.

AMES BRODEN, a pioneer Catholic of Indianapolis, was born in the parish of Clonmel, Tipperary county, Ireland, June 22, 1820, and is a son of John and Nancy (Carroll) Broden, who came to Indianapolis in 1854, following their son James, who had settled here in the fall of 1851, and here the mother passed away in 1856, and the father in December, 1867, dutiful members of the Catholic church. Of their six children, three sons and a daughter came to the United States, and one son and one daughter died in Ireland. The three sons who came to this country were named James, Patrick and Michael; of these, James and Michael are still residents of Indianapolis, Patrick having died in this city some years since, leaving a family.

James Broden learned the trade of an iron molder in his younger manhood, and this has been his calling for over half a cen- tury. He was married, in Ireland. to Miss Judith Dooley, who bore him two children, a son and a daughter, and died in Indianapolis August 2, 1869. The son, James Broden, Jr., is a member of the wholesale grocery firm of M. O'Connor & Co., of Indianapolis, and the daughter, Mary, still resides with her father, at their very pleasant home, No. 517 New York street, where the family first located in 1851.

When James Broden first settled in Indianapolis, there were very few Catholic families in the city, and their only place of worship was.in a small church-building of frame, on what is now known as North West street, in which mass was read by the now Very Rev. Louis Gueguen, who also administered to the other (156)

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spiritual needs of his people. The Catholics, at that time, were of mixed nationalties, Irish and German predominating, and were by no means wealthy, but they banded together, and in course of time erected to God the present edifice of worship, one of the most imposing in the city, and known as St. Patrick's Catholic church, in the construction of which, as well as in the consolida- tion of the elements now constituting St. Patrick's congregation. Mr. Broden was a prime factor. He still belongs to the congrega- tion, and his son and estimable daughter, the latter of whom man- ages her father's household, also belong to this church. Mr. Bro- den and his family stand at the head and front of the respected Catholic residents of the parish, and also enjoy the friendship of their non-Catholic neighbors to the highest degree.

J AMES BRODEN, of No. 332 East Norwood street, Indianapo- lis, was born in county Clare, Ireland, and was a young man of about eighteen years of age when he came to America. About 1864 he became a resident of this city, soon afterward marrying Miss Catherine Farrell, a native of Roscommon city, county Ros- common, Ireland, and who crossed the Atlantic ocean to America at the age of eighteen years, landing in New York city, where her sister, Mrs. Fitzgerald, had already made her home; but subse- quently the two sisters came together to Indianapolis, and here Catherine Farrell met and was married to Mr. Broden, in St. John's church. She was called away, however, in the faith of the Cath- olic church, on the 5th day of May, 1895, leaving, to mourn her loss, her disconsolate husband and three accomplished daughters, who still reside with their father, although one has been married and bears the name of Mrs. Anna Rehling, who has been a success- ful teacher in the public schools of Indianapolis since 1891, her present field of labor being at school No. 31, on Lincoln street. Mary and Kate are the names of the unmarried daughters, and, with their father and sister, are dutiful members of St. Patrick's church, in which they stand high in the esteem of the congregation, as well as that of the community in general.

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R' EV. CHARLES DHE, pastor of St. John the Evangelist church at Hartford City, Blackford county, Ind., is a native of France, was born May 6, 1863, and is a son Augustine and Augusta (Haverlant) Dhe, who still reside in France. He graduated in the classics at Arras, France, October 4. 1877, and July 10, 1887. was ordained priest by Bishop Dannel, of Arras, landed in America October 24, 1892, and was assistant at New Iberia, La., until December, 1893, when he came to the diocese of Fort Wayne, and in February, 1894, was appointed to his present charge at Hartford City, with the pertaining missions, mentioned in the church history. Here his duties have been most faith- fully performed, and have been rewarded with abundant suc- cess, the erection of the church-buildings and parochial houses noted in the church history furnishing ample evidence of his untir- ing zeal.

T THOMAS BRODERICK, the well-known stave manufacturer and saw-mill proprietor of Auburn, DeKalb county, Ind., is a native of this state and was born in Allen county, October 25, 1848, a son of John and Ellen (Meehan) Broderick, the former of whom was an agriculturist by vocation.

Thomas Broderick was reared on his father's farm until seven- teen years old, in the meanwhile receiving his education in the dis- trict and parochial schools of his township, and then began his business career as an employee in the stave factory at New Haven, Allen county, where he held his position until 1873, when he went to Fort Wayne, where he was employed in the same class of work until 1881. He then went to Missouri, where he worked until 1889, then returned to Indiana and settled in Auburn, his present home, where he has since been engaged in operating a stave fac- tory and saw-mill in partnership with William Townsend.

Mr. Broderick was united in marriage, in Auburn, December 31, 1879, to Miss Della Parish, a native of DeKalb county, and this marriage has been blessed with three children, of whom one only survives-John E. Mr. Broderick has always been a sober, upright and industrious citizen, who has profited by his attention (158)

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to business, and is now owner of his residence as well as mill prop- erty. In politics he is a democrat, and in religion a conscientious Catholic, to which faith he has converted his wife, and to the pro- motion of which they contribute freely of their means. Their fam- ily is much respected in the community and Mr. Broderick is con- sidered to be one of its most substantial and useful citizens.

H ENRY J. BROKAMP, of blessed memory, was born April 29, 1843, in Westphalia, Germany, where he spent the first four- teen years of his life, a part of which was in attendance at tlie schools of his native town. In his fifteenth year, in company with two sisters, Mary, now Mrs. Strickler, and Jane, who became the wife of Joseph Blenker, Mr. Brokamp came to the United States, landing, in 1857, at New Orleans, proceeding thence to Cincinnati, where he remained for a brief period, and then came to Richmond, Ind., where he first secured employment as coachman. He was thus engaged for two years, and for the twelve succeeding years had charge of the grounds of Earlham college, and then embarked in the grocery business, first as clerk, and later for himself, on the corner of Main and Fourth streets, and followed the grocery trade with financial profit several years previous to his death.

Mr. Brokamp was married in St Andrew's church, Richmond,. February 13, 1872, to Miss Jennie Brennan, Father Hundt per- forming the ceremony according to the prescribed form of the Holy Catholic church. Mr. and Mrs. Brokamp had a family of four children, who were named as follows: Alice, Harry, Thomas and Benjamin, all living but the last named.

Mr. Brokamp was a reputable man, popular with a large circle of friends in Richmond, and his life, measured according to the standard of the church in which he was reared, bespoke the earn- est Christian and true gentleman. He was a faithful member of St. Andrew's church and the society of St. Joseph, and his death, which occurred on the 15th day of October, 1882, was an event deeply regretted, not only by his wife and children, who were thus bereft of a loving husband and kind father, but by all who knew him

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and had learned to prize him for his many sterling qualities of manhood. Mrs. Brokamp and her three children are active mem- bers of St. Andrew's.

PIERRE BROUILLETTE, a representative of one of the earli- est-established families of Knox county, Ind., was born March 15, 1820, on the family homestead, in a house built by his grand- father, on the Wabash river, a mile north of Vincennes, Ind., a portion of the land originally belonging to this homestead being now within the corporation of the city named.

Michael Brouillette, the grandfather of subject, alluded to above, and two of his brothers, Maurice and Frank, came from France to Canada with the French army, and Michael was an offi- cer under Gen. Montcalm, and took part in the battle known as Braddock's defeat. The maternal grandfather of subject, when quite a young man, was captured near the Sugar Loaf hills by Indians, and carried as far as Mobile, Ala., where he and a fellow- captive secured their release under a contract with some white men to serve a term of seven years as laborers, which contract they fulfilled, and on their return to Vincennes, after an absence of nine years, the grandfather married the lady to whom he had been betrothed prior to his capture. After the close of the Revolution- ary war, Michael, the paternal grandfather, settled at or near Vin- cennes, and later on his farm, which adjoined that of William Henry Harrison.

Pierre Brouillette, father of subject, was born in Vincennes, December 14, 1782, and on reaching manhood became the trusted friend and associate of Gen. Harrison, and was employed by him as a bearer of dispatches to St. Louis, Mo., and other points dur- ing the war of 1812. This was a most perilous task and was never free from imminent danger at the hands of Indians, or attacks by wild beasts, or disasters occasioned by swollen water-courses-but he always delivered his dispatches on time. He served all through the war of 1812, and was also a captain in the Black Hawk war . of 1832. He married Miss Julia Bushee, a native of Vincennes, and by her became the father of five children.

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Pierre Brouillette, the subject, lived on the old homestead on which he was born until twenty-six years of age, when he was mar- ried, in 1846, in St. Francis Xavier cathedral, by Rev. Father Audran, to Miss Louise Frances Bernard, a native of France, who came to Vincennes in 1844 with her mother, her brothers having preceded them. When a child of five years of age, subject had been presented by his father with a farm of 170 acres. all in the wild woods, and to this farm he moved immediately after marriage and began clearing up, and this meant a life-time of hard toil, and it has been within the past few years that he has felt justified in making this life a little easier by ceasing hard work. Here have been born his eight children, viz: Julia, who died in young woman- hood: Henry Andrew, who also died in early life; Louis, who was married, but died when still a young man, and this death was fol- lowed by that of his mother, July 12, 1884-all four deaths occur- ring within the space of two years. The remaining five children born to Mr. Brouillette are Bernard, who is employed on the home farm; Maurice, buyer for a grain elevator in Wheatland; Louisa, Alphonzo and Marie Laura, at home. Mr. Brouillette has developed a splendid farin from the wilderness and has been one of the few still living who has seen the city of Vincennes, old as it is, grow from a village to be a city of goodly proportions. For over 150 years the Brouillette family have been communicants at St. Francis Xavier church, and have done their full share in contributing from their means toward its sustenance and in promoting its influence and usefulness.

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History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume II, Part 10

Author: Blanchard, Charles, fl. 1882-1900, ed Publication date: 1898 Publisher: Logansport, Ind., A. W. Bowen & co. Number of Pages: 1476

Author: Blanchard, Charles, fl. 1882-1900, ed
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Logansport, Ind., A. W. Bowen & co.
Number of Pages: 1476