History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume II, Part 18

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

USA > Indiana > History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume II > Part 18

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T TIMOTHY CRANNAN, a member of the police force of Indian-

apolis, who lives with his mother, Mrs. Mary Ann Thornton, at No. 647 South Delaware street, has been one of the guardians of the peace for a number of years. He was born in Jennings county, Ind., and is a son of Patrick and Mary Ann Crannan, the former of whom was born in county Kilkenny, Ireland, and came to the United States when yet a mere child.

Patrick Crannan was married in Gleason, Ky., and soon after- ward removed to Jennings county, Ind., where he settled down for life. There he lived until he was killed accidentally by the cars in 1867. Mrs. Crannan, who was a daughter of Jeremiah and Mary Ann Featherstone, subsequently married Mr. Thornton, but by her second marriage she has no children. She is the mother of three children by her first marriage, viz: William, of Allegheny City, Pa., a bridgebuilder by trade and occupation; Timothy, the sub- ject of this sketch; and Mary Ann, now Mrs. William Kyle, of Globe, Ariz.

Timothy Crannan is a representative of an early Indiana fan- ily, his maternal grandparents having been Jeremiah and Anna Featherstone, the latter of whom died March 15, 1897, at the great age of one hundred years, four months and three days. For a brief biographical sketch of Daniel Featherstone the reader is referred

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to another page in this work. Timothy Crannan, the subject of this sketch, is a man of intelligence, force and honesty of charac- ter, and as a man and citizen is highly esteemed.

M AURICE D. CLEARY, president of the White River Sand company, with offices at No. 926 West Washington street, was born in Butler county, Ohio, February 19, 1858, a son of Thomas and Mary (Raftry) Cleary, natives of Ireland-the father of county Waterford and the mother of county Galway. These parents were single when they respectively came to America, and were married in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1855, by Bishop Purcell, now deceased.

Thomas Cleary is a well-to-do farmer, in Butler county, Ohio, where he and his family have resided since 1856. To him and wife have been born eleven children, of whom eight are still living, viz: Lizzie, the eldest, who is the wife of James F. Gilbert, a farmer of Butler county; Maurice D., the subject of this sketch, is the sec- ond in order of birth; Hannah is the wife of Charles Schwerigan, an employee of a street railway company in St. Louis, Mo .; Dan- iel, who is superintendent of cars for the Electric Street Railway company, of St. Louis; Thomas is a merchant of Butler county, Ohio; Mary is married to Elmer Selby, who is employed in St. Louis, Mo., by a street railway company; Katie is a teacher in the Butler county, Ohio, public schools; and Emma is at home with her parents. The deceased children were named Edward, who died at the age of six years; Annie, who died at four years, and Martha, who died in infancy. All of the surviving children are married, with thé exception of Katie and Emma.

Maurice D. Cleary is a man of wide business experience, his first effort toward earning his livelihood having been made as a con- tractor for pile-driving and bridge-building, in which, indeed, he is still interested, in connection with his present business. At pile- driving he passed two years in New Orleans, and, in fact, worked in most of the southern states in the same line, and for twenty years had his headquarters at Cincinnati, Ohio. While residing in (294)

CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

that city he served as a democratic member of the city council for six years and filled several other offices of importance and trust.

Having contracted to execute a piece of work in his peculiar line in Indianapolis, Mr. Cleary came here to superintend it, and on its completion, having formed an attachment for the place, brought his family hither in the fall of 1895. Here he founded the White River Sand company, one of the most extensive enterprises of its character in the state, with a capital stock of $12,000 and giving employment to fifty teams and 100 men. The company is incorporated under the state statute for the purpose of pumping sand and gravel from the river bed and grading it for different pur- poses, such as building, street-making, etc., its officers being Man- rice D. Cleary, president, and Joseph R. Carlon, secretary and treasurer, and it is the intention of the company to double its work- ing capacity and capital.

The marriage of Maurice D. Cleary took place at Glendale, Ohio, December 31, 1879, to Miss Mary A. Landrigan, a native of Butler county and a daughter of Paul Landrigan, a wealthy farmer, the ceremony being solemnized by Rev. Father O'Donnell. Four children have blessed this union, in the following order: Rolla E., November 27, 1880; Bertha A., April 27, 1882; Mary Estella, December 26, 1884; and Thomas, February 19, 1887. The eldest of these children was born on the anniversary of his mother's birth, and, as will be seen, the youngest was born on the twenty-ninth anniversary of his father's birth-an unusual coincidence.

The history of the Cleary family is one of interest, inasmuch as the mother of subject's father was a Hickey and traced her descent to one of three sons who were of prominence in the four- teenth century. From that time onward until the birth of Mr. Cleary at least one member of the family, in each generation, became a priest, and one a bishop (Hickey), who died toward the close of the last century. The father of subject, an only son, also began studying for the priesthood, but the death of his father (grandfather of subject) changed his destiny before he had com- pleted his studies.

Maurice D. Cleary, while a resident of Cincinnati, was a mem- ber of the Parnell club, and for four years was its president. He

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is now prominently associated with the Ancient Order of Hiber- nians at Indianapolis, and is also a member of the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks. The family are members of St. Brid- get's church, under the pastorate of Rev. Father Curran, and Mrs. Cleary, in Cincinnati, was a member of the Ladies' sodality. The family are devout Catholics and liberal in their contributions to the church and have attained a high position in the social circles of Indianapolis since their brief residence in this city.

JOHN B. GARNIER, a deceased business man of great prom- J inence at Lawrenceburg, Dearborn county, Ind., was born in France August 15, 1820, and came to the United States in 1845. locating in Lawrenceburg. June 17, 1847, Mr. Garnier was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Dafner, daughter of George A. and Marguerite (Hick) Dafner, and born November 9, 1824. To this happy union were born three children, of whom one only now sur- vives-Anna M., the wife of Victor Oberling, both of whom are devout Catholics.

The late Mr. Garnier, immediately after his arrival in Law- renceburg, started a malt house, which he conducted with admira- ble success until the 'fifties, when he erected a brewery, the product of which found an extensive sale in Lawrenceburg, as well as in the villages near at hand and towns more remote. His pre- vious handling of malt had well qualified him for the selection of material used in brewing, and from the start his product was recog- nized as being far superior to the ordinary beverage turned out by breweries of greater pretentions, and even of metropolitan celebrity. In this business he acquired a competency, although he continued to actively superintend the details of his brewing process until his lamented decease, which occurred at Lawrenceburg March 7, 1897. Mr. Garnier was a man of wonderful business energy, and his death was a matter of great regret to the citizens of Lawrenceburg, while St. Lawrence's church lost, in him, a faithful and generous member and supporter.

Mrs. Garnier still resides in the old homestead, and is one of (296)

J. B. GARNIER. (DECEASED.)

CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

the most respected ladies in the city. A sincere Catholic, she has shown her devotion to the faith by recently presenting to St. Law- rence's church a new altar, at a cost of $1,200.

T "THE COLERICK FAMILY .- Among the early pioneers of the Catholic church at Fort Wayne was the Hon. D. H. Colerick, who located here in the early 'thirties; he came from Lancaster, Ohio, and was a rising young lawyer, second to none in the state. He was soon followed by his brother, Henry Price Colerick, who became a partner in the trading and mercantile firm of Comparet & Colerick. The Messrs. Colerick were gentlemen of education, intelligence and extended influence, and at all times pronounced in their views and ever ready to raise their voices in the defense of the "faith of their fathers."

They came of a good old Irish stock, "the Berminghams" of Dundalk. As the years went by the the grandfather of these gen- tleman, finding no liberty in Ireland. removed to London, where, for many years, he served in the exchequer office, which he left to come to this country with his son, John Colerick, who had a large publishing house and newspaper office in London. Jacobinism still lingered about the family; from time to time he published articles in his paper that drew upon him the eye of the govern- ment. One article in particular attainted him with treason; it was entitled, "The Soldiers' Pay." The soldiers received but six- pence per day for their services, and many of them had families depending upon them. There was a general feeling throughout the land that great injustice was done them. The knowledge came to him none too soon that he had imperiled himself by the bold stand, he had taken in this matter, as also in other. matters pertaining to the welfare of the oppressed people, to such an extent that a hasty escape, by a clandestine withdrawal from the country, was his only alternative. He had, a short time before, put his publishing house in the hands of one of his friends; the rest of his property was all confiscated by the government. He sought an American vessel and luckily found one just ready to sail,

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and landed in Philadelphia, where he was received with open arms by Mathew Cary. They were friends through correspondence. He remained here until he was joined by his family and his father soon thereafter. They removed to the town of Washington, in Washington county, Pa. This place had just passed through the throes of the "whisky insurrection." It was considered a good point at which to establish a publishing house, with a newspaper attached. The town and county was settled by an intelligent and prosperous population. There was a college at Washington, and These things another, "Jefferson college," at Canonsburg. proved that he had chosen well, and he prospered. He lived but a

few years to enjoy his well-deserved prosperity. After his death the family removed west. The two Mr. Colericks that came to Fort Wayne were born in Washington, Pa. Henry R. Colerick brought with him his mother and sister; they were ladies fit. to grace any society and were conscientious and devout members of the church. The church in Fort Wayne by this time was on a firm footing. The Rev. Father Baden had done missionary work here for many years, both among the whites and the Indians, resulting in much good. He was followed by several other priests. Then came the Very Rev. Father Benoit; the greatest amount of friendship and intimacy existed between him and the family (Colerick), that was only severed by death.

It is a great pity that the Catholic history of the state was not looked after years ago, while the pioneers of the church were yet living.

D ENNIS CHARLES COLL, a member of the Indianapolis fire department, was born in this city May 25, 1874. He is a son of Dominick and Mary Ann (McQuaid) Coll, the former a native of county Donegal, Ireland, and the latter a native of Massa- chusetts, who came to Indiana in infancy.

Dominick Coll was a business man of Indianapolis in the early history of the city, and died June 19, 1876. His widow still lives at No. 826 South Illinois street, with her unmarried children. Dominick Coll and his wife were the parents of four children, of

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CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

whom only two are living, viz: Bertha, born September 29, 1872, and the subject of this sketch. Those that have died were John and Mary, who both died in infancy. The mother of these four children, though of American birth, is of Irish parentage, and both families were Catholics.

Mr. Coll was educated at St. John's parochial schools, obtain- ing there a good English education. When thirteen years of age he was confirmed in the Catholic church. From the age of ten years he has been self-supporting, and his early youth was spent in vari- ous occupations. At first he was engaged in selling papers, in driving grocery wagon, and at other kind of work that offered itself to his youthful hands. He then learned horseshoeing, and at this trade he worked, in all, about six years, during two of which he was horseshoer of the street railway company. February 8, 1897, he was appointed to a position in the Indianapolis fire department, being assigned to Engine company, No. 1.

Mr. Coll is interested in political affairs, is a great reader of the news of the day, and thus keeps himself informed upon cur- rent history. He is a young man of intelligence, affiliates with the democratic party, and sustains the doctrines of the Chicago platform of 1896. His family are members of St. John's Catholic church, of which Rev. Father Gavisk is pastor. He is a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and of the Y. M. I. His mother is a member of the various societies of her church.

The father for some four years before his death suffered from paralysis, and thinking a visit to his native country would be bene- ficial to his failing health, his faithful wife accompanied him to Ire- land, where he remained ten months, the subject of this sketch then being a babe four months old. Returning to Indianapolis Mr. Coll died about six months afterward, a much respected and highly esteemed citizen.

M ISS ELIZABETH A. COLLINS, who for many years has been a successful teacher in the public schools of Indianapo- lis, is a representative of one of the prominent Catholic familes of Indiana, which was for a long time located principally at Hunting-

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ton, Ind. Her parents, John Collins and his wife, were natives of Charleville, county Cork, Ireland: At that place they were reared, educated and married, and there their fourteen children were born, two of whom died in Ireland, the other twelve, with their parents, coming to the United States in 1853. After a few months' residence in New York city they removed to Huntington, Ind., where Mr. Collins died in 1865-Mrs. Collins surviving her husband for many years, and dying in 1885. The surviving children are five in num- ber, as follows: Timothy and Ellen, both still residents of Hunt- ington; Mary, living at Colorado Springs, Colo .; Catherine, wife of Michael Broden, of Indianapolis, and Elizabeth A., the subject of this sketch.

Miss Elizabeth A. Collins is a most worthy Catholic lady, a highly successful teacher, respected by all, and lives at No. 614 North New Jersey street.

M ICHAEL CONDRON, grocery merchant, of No. 124 Belmont avenue, Indianapolis, is a pioneer of St. Anthony's parish and one of its earnest workers. He was born in county Kildare, Ireland, in 1837, and about 1860 went to England, where he resided nine years, and in 1869 came to the United States and for some years lived in Illinois, later moved to the east, but again came west, and since May, 1882, has been a resident of his present par- ish, which was then in Haughville, but is now within the corporate limits of Indianapolis. There were but few buildings in Haugh- ville at that time, and a Catholic church there was a matter for future consideration. Mr. Condron and his family, however, united with St. John's congregation in the city, and many a cold morning they walked the long distance to attend early mass.

Father Collier was the first priest to agitate the project of erecting a church in the suburb named, and in this task was actively assisted by Mr. Condron. They raised money by subscription for the purchase of a lot, and this was the incipient step toward estab- lishing St. Anthony's parish and church. But Father Collier did not live to see the fruition of his labors.

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The marriage of Mr. Condron took place in England, in 1863, to Miss Margaret Dalton, and to this marriage were born ten chil- dren, of whom three only now survive, viz: John, Elizabeth and Mary. The family are numbered among the most earnest Catholics of their part of the city and are always liberal in their contribu- tions to the support of the church.

W ILLIAM A. CONNOLLY, M. D., a physician of prominence at Monroeville, Allen county, Ind., was born in Newark, N. J., November 25, 1847, a son of William and Margaret (McGuire) Connolly, natives, respectively, of counties Leitrim and Meath, Ireland, but who came to the United States in early life and were married in Newark, N. J., December 15, 1833, by Rev. Father Moran, of St. John's church. The paternal grandparents of the doctor were John and Ellen (O'Connor) Connolly, and the maternal grandparents were James and Julia (Nulty) McGuire.

In 1847 the Connolly family came west and settled in Chester- ville, Morrow county, Ohio, where the father followed his trade of tanner, and, though poor, comparatively, gave his children the advantage of attending the public schools, and of his nine children, six became teachers in early life. James A. Connolly, the eldest of the nine, is now a prominent lawyer and public man of Spring- field, Ill .; John A. is also distinguished as a lawyer at Mansfield, Ohio; Frank, also a shining light in the legal profession at San Diego, Cal., was there taken sick, was brought to Monroeville, Ind., and here expired Jannary 12, 1897, and his remains lie interred at Mansfield, Ohio; William A. will be more fully spoken of below; Ella was married to John O'Rourke, and died in Johns- ville, Ohio, May 19, 1869; Maggie, a literary graduate of St. Mary's Benedictine academy of Pennsylvania, has her home with the doctor; Charles was first sergeant of company A, First regi- ment, O. V. I., was wounded in a skirmish at Morton's Ferry, died in Emory hospital, Washington, D. C., October 11, 1863, and his remains now rest in the National cemetery of that city; Mary died at the age of seventeen years in Mansfield, Ohio, and

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one child died in infancy. The father of this family died while on a visit to his son, the doctor, at Monroeville, in April, 1881, and his remains were interred at Mansfield, Ohio; his widow then made her home with the doctor until her decease, in 1891, and her remains now repose beside those of her husband.

Dr. William A. Connolly was but a child at the outbreak of the Civil war, but in 1863 he enlisted in company F, Twenty-fifth Ohio volunteer infantry, and served until he was discharged in November, 1865, by reason of the close of war. He returned to his parental home in Ohio, and subsequently began the study of medicine. In the fall of 1867 he entered the medical department of Michigan university, remained one year, then located at Den- mark, Ohio, and began practice. November 19, 1868, he located at Monroeville, where he has since established a large and lucra- tive practice. After locating in Monroeville, however, he took a post-graduate course at the Medical college, in Columbus, Ohio, from which he graduated in the spring of 1876. On coming here he formed a partnership with Dr. D. W. Champer, but for several years he has been alone in the practice.

In 1876 the doctor wedded Miss Nancy Graham, who died in the following year, the mother of one child, who died in infancy. The doctor is recognized as able and skillful in his profession, and stands at the head of his profession in Monroeville. He is a member of the Roman Catholic church, as is also his amiable sister, and no two persons are more highly esteemed in the com- munity in which they live.

F 'RANK CONRAD, foreman of the railroad shops, Madison, Ind., and trustee of St. Michael's church, was born in Louisville, Ky., May 27, 1857, son of Bernhard and Scholastic (Keller) Con- rad. He passed his youthful years under the parental roof on a farm, and was but a small boy when the family moved to North Madison, Ind.

From early boyhood Mr. Conrad manifested decided tenden- cies toward mechanical pursuits, and in due time he entered the (304)

CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

railroad shops at North Madison, where he soon made rapid and efficient progress as a workman. From one position to another of greater responsibility he passed successfully until in time he was promoted foreman of the shops, which position he now fills with credit to himself and satisfaction of the corporation by which he has been for so many years employed.

In early life Mr. Conrad attended the parochial schools of Madison, and his whole life has been spent within the pale of the Holy Mother church, of which he is still a most faithful and con- sistent member. He is a trustee of St. Michael's parish, Madison, and spends much of his time promoting the interests of the con- gregation. He was married, in the fall of 1893, to Barbara Hoff- man, daughter of John and Matilda Hoffman, and has one child -- Joseph C. Conrad, whose birth occurred in the year 1896.

W TILLIAM COONEY, a highly respected farmer of Van Buren township, Daviess county, Ind., was born in Baltimore county, Md., November 3, 1839, the eldest of the family of four sons and two daughters that crowned the marriage of Christopher and Mary Ann (Welsh) Cooney.

Christopher Cooney, the father, was a native of county West- ineath, Ireland, was born in 1810, and was but a boy when he landed in Baltimore. He became a machinist, and about 1837 married Miss Welsh, who was born in 1816. In 1857 the family came to Daviess county, Ind., and here the father purchased the farm of 140 acres now occupied by his descendants. Here the father died in 1886, and the mother on February 26, 1888. They were sincere Catholics and did their full share toward relieving St. Mary's parish of its indebtedness, and in assisting in the erection of the new church and parsonage. In politics Mr. Cooney was a democrat and was one of the most highly respected farmers of Van Buren township.

William Cooney was educated in the common schools of Bal- timore, and at the academy of the Christian Brothers. With two of his brothers, John and Christopher, he was confirmed by Bishop

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Timon, of Buffalo, the bishop of Baltimore having died, and that diocese at the time being without a head. These three brothers and their two sisters, Elizabeth and Mary, now occupy the farm in Daviess county, and the sisters were confirmed by Bishop de St. Palais.

The Cooney brothers are important factors in the affairs of St. Mary's parish and are among the most respected farmers of Van Buren township. They are stanch democrats and cast their first presidential votes as follows: William, for Stephen A. Doug- las; John, for George B. McClellan, and Christopher, for Samuel J. Tilden. The family now own about 300 acres in Van Buren township, are faithful in their religious duties and contribute most ' liberally to the support of the church and all meritorious public enterprises, and no family in the county is held in higher esteem by its citizens.

G EORGE HASENOUR, a gallant ex-soldier and one of the best-known business men of Celestine, Dubois county, Ind., was born in Louisville, Ky., August 15, 1841, the eldest of the seven children of Martin and Tharsila Hasenour, natives of Germany.

Martin Hasenour and wife, soon after marriage, sailed from Bremer Haven for New York, and from the latter city came direct to Madison, Ind., where for a short time Mr. Hasenour worked as a laborer on the railroad. In 1840, he went to Louisville, Ky., where he worked three years as a gardener, and then came to Dubois county, Ind., and purchased forty acres of land in the wilderness. He proceeded to clear up his tract and built a prim- itive log house, but a short time after, while Mr. Hasenour and family were at church, this cabin was destroyed by fire, together with all its contents; but this disaster did not discourage him, and he soon built for himself another home. He lived, at that time, in Jasper parish, but when that was divided he was among the leaders in establishing Celestine parish. He was energetic and frugal and temperate, and at the time of his death, in 1861, was the owner of 200 acres of well-cultivated land. His widow sur- vived until about 1887, and both died sincere Catholics.

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Alleorge Hasenour

CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

George Hasenour was well educated in the parochial schools and then aided his parents on the home farm until the call to arms aroused his patriotism. November 7, 1861, he enlisted in company I, Forty-ninth Indiana infantry, Ior three years, and was assigned to the trans-Mississippi army. He was in several severe battles, but at Champion Hills, near Vicksburg, Miss., was wounded twice within five minutes-in the hip and in the ankle-the latter wound being so serious as to necessitate the amputation of his leg on the field May 16, 1863; he was then sent to the Marine hospital at Evansville, Ind., and after recovery was honorably discharged. On his return to Indiana, Mr. Hasenour, being unable to perform manual labor, attended St. Meinrad's college for some time, and then taught in the public schools in Celestine until he engaged in business, as will be mentioned below. November 18, 1867, Mr. Hasenour was joined in matrimony, by Rev. B. Bruning, with Miss Rofina Sehnaus, who, like himself, had been confirmed in the Cath- olic faith by Bishop de St. Palais. This marriage has been blessed with eight children, of whom seven are still living, and all, save one, confirmed by Bishop Chatard, viz: John C., Koletta (wife of George Cress), George J., Joseph M., Gertrude M., Theressa M. and Ezidius H. The deceased child, Caroline, entered the convent at Ferdinand, December 1, 1886, was known thereafter as Sister M. Eusebia, and was called from earth July 7, 1894.

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History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume II, Part 18

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