History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume II, Part 11

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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REV. VICTOR J. BRUCKER, asssistant of St. John's church, is a native of Indiana, born at Tell City, Perry county, Jan- uary 4, 1872. He is the youngest son of the late Dr. Magnus Brucker.

Father Brucker completed his preparatory work for the min- istry in St. Meinard's college, which he attended four years, and in 1890 went to Europe and completed his studies at the American college, Rome, where he took the degrees of bachelor and licentiate in theology, and after a six years' sojourn in the Eternal city, was

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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS

ordained priest in the Basilica of St. John Lateran on the thirtieth of May, 1896, by his eminence, Cardinal Parocchi, and immedi- ately thereafter made a tour of the continent. On his return to America he entered upon his duties as assistant of St. John's church, Indianapolis.

Father Brucker is a young man of bright mind, liberally edu- cated, and has a sincere love for his life work, upon the arduous of duties of which he has just entered.

JOSEPH LOUIS EBNER, a member of the city council at Vin- J cennes, Ind., one of the wealthiest and most influential citizens of this, his native city, and head of the great artificial ice plant, was born January 6, 1863, a son of John and Catherine (Kuhn) Ebner, Alsatians by birth.

John Ebner, deceased, was for many years prominently iden- tified with the business interests of Vincennes. He established the first brewery in the city and also the first wholesale ice business. His operations were very successful and he left his family in affluent circumstances. `He was born in Alsace June 8, 1817, received a fair education and was brought up to the trade of miller and baker, in which capacity he worked in numerous European cities. He was for seven years in the French army, his service for the most part lying in Algiers, Africa. He came to this country in 1846, and worked for a while at his trade before embarking in the business enterprises which proved so successful. He was twice married, his first wife, dying, leaving two children. To the second union there were born seven children, as follows: Magda- lene, wife of Joseph Schmidt, a manufacturer of cigars at Vin- cennes; John, a member of the Hack & Simon Brewing company, who died at the age of thirty-one years and six months; Mary E., widow of Herman Wissing, who resides with her mother; Joseph L., our subject; an infant, deceased; Lawrence, a manufacturer of artificial ice at Seymour, Ind., and Theressa, at home. The lamented death of John Ebner took place January 26, 1889.

Joseph L. Ebner received his elementary education in the (164)

J. L. EBNER.

CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

parochial schools of the city, and he then attended the city high school to the senior year, after which he spent a year at St. Joseph's college at Teutopolis, Ill. He was associated with his father until 1887, when he began operations in the natural ice business on his own account. In 1889 he established his present artificial ice plant, which has developed into quite an extensive industry, employing twenty-five operatives and being valued at $100,000. This business, as well as that of his brother, Law- rence, at Seymour, is known as the John Ebner Ice company, in honor of and perpetuation of the father's name.

In 1887 Mr. Ebner was united in marriage with Miss Cather- ine S. Raben, a native of St. Wendel's, Posey county. Ind. To this union were born four children: Vivia, Laurine, Mary, and an infant, deceased. Mrs. Ebner died January 24, 1894, and the children have since lived with their grandmother Ebner, at the pleasant old parental home at the corner of Fifth and Vigo streets. The religious home of the Ebners is with St. John's German Catholic church, to which they are liberal contributors, and are active and diligent in all good works of the church society.

Mr. Ebner is a prominent member of St. John's branch, C. K. of A. Politically he is a democrat, though somewhat inde- pendent in local politics. He is a member of the Vincennes city council, representing the Sixth ward, and is now serving his third term in the aldermanic body. He is a man of wide acquaintance and large local influence and his strict and prompt business meth- ods have won for him a firm place in commercial circles. He is active in everything pertaining to the welfare of the city and its material growth and advancement, and is serving very capably and acceptably on a number of important committees in the council.

W ILLIAM M. BROWN, one of the trustees of the Church of the Immaculate Conception at Rushville, Ind., is a substan- tial and thrifty citizen, is a blacksmith by calling, and a man of much personal worth, who has won the regard of the community in which he has spent all his life. He was born at Rushville, June

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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,

1. 1859, of Irish parentage. His father, Michael Brown, came to this country from Ireland when he was thirteen years of age, stop- ping at New York, where he remained three years, after which he came to Rushville, established his home, and lived here to a ripe old age, dying May 27, 1896. He married Mary Shane, and to them were born the following children: Frank, William M., George, James, John, Jesse, Joseph and Jane. The mother is still living in Rushville. They were pioneer members of the Catholic society at this place, and a high place in the regard of the parish was accorded them.

William M. Brown was reared in Rushville and received a fair common-school education. Five years of his youth were spent upon a farm, but when twenty-one years of age he began to learn the blacksmith trade, and on January 12, 1889, opened a shop of his own. His industry has been rewarded and he owns consider- able town property, several houses and lots, and his own comfort- able home, a cottage costing $1,800. Politically he is a democrat, but takes only a quiet part in politics.

December 25, 1890, Mr. Brown was married to Mary Gavin, who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, May 18, 1863, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Connor) Gavin, ardent Catholics, now deceased. To them have been born two children: George, deceased, and Grace. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are devoted members of the church of the Immaculate Conception and liberal contributors to its ma- terial needs. As a trustee of the church during its present recon- structive period, Mr. Brown is unwearied in the important duties which devolve upon him, and the handsome new structure will owe much to his efforts.

D OMINIK BRUGGNER, a devoted and earnest member of St. Mary's Catholic church of South Bend, Ind., is a native of Germany and was born in Baden August 1, 1863, a son of Nicholas and Frana (Casley), Bruggner-his father being a farmer.

Dominik Bruggner attended a parochial school in the parish of Swandorf, Baden, until fourteen years of age, and was then appren- ticed to the shoemaking trade. At the proper age he was called (168)

CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

upon to perform the usual military duty, and served in the Prussian army three years, after which he worked at his trade in Germany and Switzerland until his embarkation for America. He landed in New York city September 14, 1889, whence he came direct to Indiana, and for the first winter of his residence in this state was employed on a farm near Mishawaka. March 14, 1890, he came to South Bend and opened a repair shop, and in this business he still continues, with gratifying financial success.

May 4, 1890, Mr. Bruggner returned to Mishawaka and was there united in marriage, by Rev. Father Oechtering, with Miss Lena Futterknecht, and to this happy union have been born four children, viz: Sadie, Frank, Gottfried, and an infant not named at the time of this writing.

Mr. Bruggner is a member of St. John's society and Mrs. Bruggner is connected with the ladies' sodalities of St. Mary's church, to which congregation the family belong. The parents are devout and earnest in their religious duties, and freely contribute to the support of the church proper, and to all movements promis- ing to result in the good of the congregation and the sodalities and charities of the church. Mr. Bruggner has made many warm friends since he has resided in South Bend, and he and wife enjoy a full share of the respect unually bestowed upon those who lead a moral and industrious life.

M ARTIN BUCHERT, an active man of business in Prescott, Shelby county, Ind., was born in Dearborn county, in the same state, in October, 1842, and is a son of Peter and Mary Buch- ert, the former of whom was born in Austria and the latter in Alsace, France. The father, a farmer, came to Indiana in 1828, and assisted in clearing up the ground preparatory to the erection of the Catholic church-edifice at New Alsace, Dearborn county. To Peter and Mary Buchert were born twelve children, of whom the subject is the youngest.

Martin Buchert was educated in the parochial and public schools of his native county and was reared on his father's farm, remaining at home until twenty-six years old, when he married,

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February 13, 1869, in Franklin county, Miss Josephine Dauen- hauer, who was born in New York city, July 14, 1846, a daughter of John and Josephine Dauenhauer, and to this union have been born three children, viz: Louise M., of Cincinnati, Ohio; Anna B. and Charles M. For three or four years after his marriage, Mr. Buchert was engaged in farming in Dearborn county, Ind., and then removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he worked in a brewery until 1878, and then moved back to his farm of forty-six acres in Dearborn county, and five years later, in 1883, came to Prescott, Shelby county, where he has since resided, engaged in dealing in grain, etc., and where he owns, beside, good residence property. Mr. Buchert and family are consistent members of St. Vincent's Catholic church, and freely contribute to its support. In politics Mr. Buchert is a democrat, and while living in Dearborn county was for four years assessor and four years trustee of his township. He is very popular in Prescott and he and family enjoy the esteem of all who know them.

G EORGE W. ELBREG was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on the twentieth day of February, 1856, a son of Henry H. and Mar- garet (Shields) Elbreg. When he was ten years old, his parents removed to Richmond, Ind., and in that city he attended school until his fifteenth year. He then started in mercantile life as errand boy in the Eagle store, at Richmond, and within a compara- tively short time was promoted to the position of salesman, which has been his life work. From Richmond he accompanied his par- ents to Greenfield, where he remained six years, and in 1873 came to Indianapolis, which city has since been his home.

In 1879 Mr. Elbreg accepted the position of traveling salesman with a clothing house of Cincinnati, and has spent the last eighteen years in this capacity. During the last sixteen years, he has been the trusted representative on the road of the large and well known clothing firm of Heidelback, Friedlander & Co., of Cincinnati, and. as such, has done an immense business for his employers and earned the reputation of being one of the most successful commer- cial travelers in the west. In September. 1894, Mr. Elbreg estab-

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CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

lished a department store on English avenue, Indianapolis, which was conducted in his absence by his wife, until her death Novem- ber 9, 1897, assisted by hired help, and which has proved a most profitable venture.

Mr. Elbreg was married in Indianapolis, October 5, 1879, by Very Rev. Bessonies, to Miss Mary Frances Lynch, of Niagara Falls, N. Y. Mrs. Elbreg came to Indianapolis with her parents in her childhood and was educated at St. John's academy, this city; she bore her husband two children: Lillie May, a young lady of fifteen, and Florence, who died at the age of six years and seven months.

Mr. Elbreg is a conscientious and devoted Catholic, influential not only in church affairs but also in the societies connected there- with. He is a charter member of Capital council, No. 276, Y. M. I., and is the present council deputy of the same. He has been active in matters political and wields considerable influence, though persistently declining official honors. In a word, he is an energetic man of affairs, possesses business ability of a high order and endeav- ors to conform his life to the pure teaching of the Holy church.

Henry H. Elbreg, the subject's father, is a native of Ger- many, and his wife, Margaret, was born in Baltimore, Md .; they were married in Cincinnati, Ohio, of which city the subject's pater- nal grandfather was a very early settler. By occupation Henry H. Elbreg was a mechanic, and for a number of years exercised his skill as a manufacturer of physicians' operating chairs. Of his immediate family, there are living Mary, Beatrice, Frederick and George W. Frederick married Emma Uter and resides in Indian- apolis; Mary and Beatrice are still under the parental roof. The following members of the family are deceased: Florence, Kate, Henry and Lillie. The last named was known in the church as Sister Mary Gabriel, and spent her life at St. Mary's of the Woods, where she died in young womanhood. Henry died at the age of twenty-one, a bright young man, with every indication of a pros- perous future before him; Florence, a most estimable young lady. was called from the scenes of the earth life when about nineteen years of age.

Fred Elbreg, a brother of Henry H., spent twenty-five years

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in the Jesuit college at Cincinnati, and is now a distinguished sur- geon at the national capital, holding a position as United States surgeon. For many years the Elbreg family have been Catholics, true to the church, and their lives have been shining examples of its influence.

A UGUST J. BUCHNER, who resides at No. 1909 Prospect street, Indianapolis, is one of the, earlier residents of St. Pat- rick's parish, and has lived in this city since 1870. He was born at Dayton, Montgomery county, Ohio, March 18, 1848, and is a son of George and Ann Mary Buchner, natives of Germany, the maiden name of Mrs. Buchner having been Trimbach. George Buchner was a pioneer of Dayton, assisted in building the Little Miami rail- road-the first railroad to enter Dayton-was one of the earliest Catholics in that city, and aided in building Emanuel church, the first Catholic church in that place. At one time he operated the mail route between Dayton and Cincinnati, carrying both mail and passengers between the two places. For some time during the early days of Dayton he was engaged in draying, and in point of fact introduced the first dray into that city. He was a well known and highly esteemed citizen, a faithful and consistent Catholic, and a kind husband and, father. His death occurred in 1883, his wife dying in 1886. They were the parents of nine children, seven sons and two daughters. George, the eldest son, is a resident of San Diego, Cal .; Sebastian, the second in age, died when forty-four years old; August J., the subject of this sketch, was the third; then followed triplets, sons, one of whom died at the age of one year, another at the age of twenty-four years, and the third is a resident of Northern Michigan; then came twins, Joseph and Mary, both of whom reside in Dayton. The eldest daughter is now a Sister of Notre Dame and a teacher in Cincinnati.

August J. Buchner, the subject of this sketch, learned the trade of plumber and gas-fitter, beginning his apprenticeship at the age of seventeen years, and has followed that trade in Indianapolis since 1871. Mr. Buchner was married January 8, 1872, to Miss Johanna Casey, a native of Eaton, Ohio, and a daughter of Pat-

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CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA

rick Casey. Mr. and Mrs. Buchner have three daughters, viz: Lizzie, wife of Charles Kolling; Mamie, and Carrie. Mr. and Mrs. Kolling have one son. The children have all been confirmed and took their first communion under Father Donaghue. Mr. Buchner is a member of Capital council, No. 276, Young Men's institute, and is a member of the executive committee at the present time. The family are all excellent people, and possess and enjoy the con- fidence and regard of their neighbors and friends to a high degree.

OHN BUCKLEY .- Of the early Catholic families of Indian- J

apolis few if any are more deserving of mention in this work than that of John Buckley, who were pioneers of the first parish organized in this city.

John Buckley was born in the parish of Kanturk, county Cork, Ireland, on Ash Wednesday, in February, 1826, but his parents died while he was yet young. After a brief residence in the s'ate of New York he removed to Indianapolis, and on March 26, 1858, was married to Miss Hannah Corcoran, the marriage b ing solem- nized by Rev. Father Maloney at the little frame Catholic church in St. John's parish, the only one then in the city.

Mr. Buckley was one of the early railroad men of Indianapo- lis, an ] was long connecte l with the Panhandle road as a trusted and faithful employee. Like many another railroad man, he met his de ith by accident, being struck and killed by a yard engine on West Washington street, September 9, 1877. He left a wife and five children. viz: Hannah, wife of Thomas Burns, of Nashville, Tenn .; John P., also a resident of Nashville, Tenn. ; Dennis, who resides at Decatur, Ala .; Mary E. and James, at home with their mother, at No. 718 Lord street. Mr. Buckley was an honest. upright man, well known to early railroad men, and a faithful and trusted employee of both the Big Four and the Panhandle rail- way companies.

The children have all been well educated, their instruction having been such as tends to make them good Catholic citizens of the state and of the United States. Miss Mary E. Buckley has

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been a successful teacher in the public schools of Indianapolis since 1886, having graduated from the high schools of the city in 1885, and from the Indianapolis Normal school in 1886. Mrs. Hannah Buckley is a woman of many excellent qualities, and has earnestly striven to so bring up her children as to make them useful citizens, not only to themselves, but also to the world at large.

H JENRY BUDENZ .- Half a century ago the Catholics in Indi- anapolis were few in numbers. In 1848 the subject of this sketch, Henry Budenz, became a resident of the city and continued to live here until his death, which occurred August 24, 1892. His widow, Mrs. Julia Budenz, has, in at least one way, greater claims to distinction than her husband, having lived in Indianapolis ten years before he located in the. place. Mr. Budenz was born in Rasdorf, Hesse-Cassel, Germany, June 15, 1823, grew to manhood in his native land, and came to the United States in 1848, about the time of the great revolution in the old country, when so many good people were compelled to seek a home in what was then to them a foreign and unknown land. After a residence of a few months in Fort Wayne, Ind., he decided to move to Indianapolis, which he did that year. !

On June 28, 1849, he was married to Mrs. Julia Butch, daugh- ter of Lawrence and Catherine Eurich. She was born at Frank- fort-on-the-Main, Germany. April 5, 1830. The year next after that of her birth, her father emigrated to the United States, bring- ing his family with him, and locating near Lancaster, Pa. Several years later he decided to come west, and arrived in Indianapolis, July 4, 1838. Here he and his wife passed the remainder of their days, the father dying April 24. 1857, and the mother surviving him many years, passing away November 23, 1893, at the age of ninety years. While Mr. Eurich was not a Catholic, yet he was a most worthy citizen, and was by birth and education a Lutheran in religion, and while he lived in Indianapolis he was a faithful member of Zion Lutheran church. Mrs. Eurich was a Catholic, devoted to the interests of her church, and has reared her children

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CATHOLIC CHURCH OF ILIDIANA.

in her own faith. She and her husband were the parents of seven children, three sons and four daughters, the only surviving mem- bers of the family being Mrs. Budenz and her sister, Mrs. Amelia Langbein, of College avenue, Indianapolis.

Mrs. Budenz, whose home is at No. 2117 Shelby street, belongs to one of the early pioneer families of Indianapolis, in which city she has resided for sixty years, she being a child of eight years when brought here by her parents. The appearance of the city at the time of her arrival in it is indelibly impressed on her memory, it being then a crude western village of a few houses and inhabit - ants. The Catholic families were then very few indeed, and they were without a church or pastor. Mr. and Mrs. Budenz were the parents of three children, all sons, as follows: John T., a book- keeper by occupation and a resident of San Francisco, Cal .; Henry J., born April 13, 1853, who married Miss Mary G. Sul- livan, daughter of John L. Sullivan, an early pioneer of Indian- apolis, and by her he has two daughters and two sons, viz: Louis F., Catherine, Henry J., and Mary. H. J. Budenz is paying teller at the Capitol National bank, and is treasurer of Capitol council, No. 276, Young Men's institute. Louis A., the youngest son of Mrs. Budenz, was born July 9, 1864, and is bookkeeper at the bank above mentioned. Mrs. Budenz, and her son Henry J., together with the family of the latter, reside at the home above mentioned. She is a woman of extraordinary culture and excellent memory, and possesses a large and valuable fund of information regarding the church in Indianapolis in the early days. As Miss Julia Eurich she married Mr. Butch, who survived the marriage but a short time, and after his death she married Mr. Budenz.

H JERMAN H. BULTMAN, an active member of St. John's Cath- olic church at Vincennes, and the efficient engineer at the John Ebner Ice company's plant, was born in this city June 21, 1852, the son of Charles and Mary Bultman, and is the eldest of a family of eight children. His parents were married here in 1850 and are still living, the father at the age of seventy-one and the

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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,

mother seventy-five. The father is an engineer, and met with an accident in a flouring-mill, some years ago, through which he lost a leg.

William, the second in the family, was educated for the priest- hood in St. Meinrad's college and admitted to holy orders in June, 1877. He was stationed at Evansville as curate at Trinity church, which position he held about two years, when he was given charge of St. Boniface church in the same city, which pastorate he retained seven years, during that term building a fine new house of worship for St. Boniface parish. He was afterward transferred to Wash- ington, Ind., where he died after a year and a half's successful ministry. In the death of this earnest and devout young clergy- man the church lost a very able advocate-one whose death will long be lamented. Concerning the death and burial of this lamented young priest the Vincennes Daily Sun, of February 16. 1893, contains quite a lengthy article, in which the funeral is described as the most largely attended and most imposing ever con- ducted in Vincennes. The obsequies were presided over by Bishop Chatard, who was assisted by the eminent clergy from all quarters of the diocese. The good bishop's sermon was a strong and pathetic appeal to his hearers to take comfort in the blessed prom- ises of God's Holy religion, giving assurances of Father Bultman's peace with God for his many good works done in life. The news- paper article concluded with the following tribute to the departed: "Thus was consigned to an early grave a man of bright promise and noble Christian character. On the very threshold of life's work, he was called from the world in the vigor of youth and strong young manhood. He was a man universally esteemed for his devotion to duty-for his goodness of heart and sympathy with suf- fering humanity. That he would have achieved greater promi- nence, and, perhaps, attained high rank in the councils of the church is but a prophecy which the facts of his few years of noble service abundantly attest." The memory of this good man is a sacred thing in the Bultman household.

The third of the family is John, a farmer in Knox county, Ind. ; next is Mrs. Mary Chalkley, of Vincennes; Charles is a farmer in Knox county; Elizabeth at home; Annie has consecrated her life (178)

CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

to holy service, and as Sister Wilhelmina is connected with the Sisterhood of the school of St. Mary's of the Woods; Margaret died at three years of age.

Herman H. Bultman learned the machinist's trade in a contract shop in Vincennes, where he worked for six years. In the fall of 1876 he engaged with the O. & M. R. R. Co., as a machinist, and was thus employed for fourteen years. In 1889 he took his pres- ent position with the John Ebner Ice company.

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History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume II, Part 11

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