USA > Indiana > History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume II > Part 2
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From a work entitled, "A History of Catholicity and Catholic Institutions in Indianapolis," by M. W. Carr, 1887, we extract the following :
Very Rev. D. O'Donaghue is a native of Indiana. He was born in Daviess county, November 30, 1848. His parents were from Ireland, and they did not fail to impress upon the youthful mind of the subject of this mention the many wrongs of that long- suffering country. He studied at St. Meinrad's, Ind. ; St. Joseph's college, Ky., and graduated from the Sulpitian seminary, Montreal, Canada. He was ordained by Bishop de St. Palais, at Indianapo- lis, September 6, 1874. As a lecturer and orator he is very dis-
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CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
tinguished. He is noted as well for his witticisms as for his many labors since he became a priest. In recognition of his marked ability Bishop Chatard made him chancellor of the diocese.
The parish over which Chancellor O'Donaghue presides and in which he has been rector since 1885 is St. Patrick's, situated in the southeastern part of the Capital city. The congregation was organized in 1865 and was called St. Peter's. The ground for the church and the schools was donated, every foot of it, by Mrs. Phæbe Doherty, of Columbus, Ohio, a most excellent Catholic lady. It is after her family that the street upon which St. Pat- rick's church fronts has been named by the Indianapolis city council.
The first pastor of St. Patrick's was Rev. Joseph Petit. He was succeeded by Rev. P. R. Fitzpatrick, who built the present church and had the original name changed to that of St. Patrick's. The church was opened for services in 1871. In 1879 Rev. Pat- rick McDermott was appointed pastor. In 1882 he died and Rev. Hugh Oneil was placed in charge. In 1885, as above remarked, Chancellor O'Donaghue was appointed rector.
Both temporally and spiritually the congregation has pros- pered. Order is everywhere observed and the people feel, and of right, too, that they are about as well provided for as any other congregation in the state. On the other hand, with few excep- tions, the people deserve the best, for they have always shown a good will. This order of reciprocal willingness and obligation appears to be an unwritten law in St. Patrick's.
H ERMAN AHAUS, one of the best-known grocers of Richmond, Ind., was born in Hanover, Germany, July 26, 1825, a son of Henry and Adelhart (Timpe) Ahaus. The father was born in the same province in 1800, and his wife in 1810, but the latter was called away in Germany, in 1839. The father came to America about 1849, landing in New York, but went thence to Cincinnati, where he was employed at general laboring for nine months, when
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
he was seized with cholera during the epidemic of 1850, and speedily passed away.
Herman Ahaus came to America in 1845, landed in New Orleans, and thence went directly to Cincinnati, where he found employment as a general laborer; he then farmed awhile, and then engaged in the grocery business. After a residence of about thir- teen years in Cincinnati, or vicinity, he came to Richmond, Ind., arriving June 15, 1858, since which time he has been continuously engaged in the grocery trade, in connection with which, for some years, he operated a grist-mill at the corner of Elm and North Ninth streets.
The first marriage of Mr. Ahaus was celebrated in St. John's church, Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1848, when he was united with Miss Mary Seckman, who died in 1850, and was buried in St. Joseph's cemetery. His second marriage also took place in St. John's church, Cincinnati, in 1851, to Miss Mary Wulfhurst, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Father Siegemund. This union has been blessed with ten children, viz: Mary, deceased, and interred at Cincinnati; Lizzie, wife of Edward Fisher; Henry; Herman; Rosa, wife of Joseph Zeyen; Anna; Frederick, in Cincinnati; Josephine; Clara, wife of Paul Geier, and Joseph (deceased). The family are members of St. Andrew's congregation, and of the church Mr. Ahaus was formerly a trustee. His wife is a member of St. Ann's society, and in politics Mr. Ahaus is a democrat. The family are well deserving of the genuine esteem in which they are held.
S TEPHEN ANDERSON, a well-known resident of St. Patrick's parish, Indianapolis, was born in Denmark May 16, 1852, and at the age of twenty-one years bade farewell to his parents and came to America. For some months he lived in Cleveland, Ohio, whence he came to Indianapolis. Here he became converted to Catholicity, having been instructed in the catechism of the holy faith by Rev. Father O'Donaghue, and by him baptized a short time prior to being united in the bonds of matrimony with Miss Mary Cahillane, which event was solemnized February 10, 1880.
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CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
Mrs. Anderson is a daughter of John and Mary Cahillane, and was born February 2, 1852, in the parish of Keel, county Kerry, Ire- land. There her father died, and subsequently her mother brought nine of her ten children to America-leaving her eldest daughter in the Emerald isle. Here the death of Mrs. Mary Cahillane took place September 11, 1896, she having been a devout Catholic through life. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Anderson has been blessed with three sons and three daughters, all of whom, save one, have been baptized in the holy Catholic faith by Rev. Father O'Donaghue. These children are named Anna A., Mary A., John S., Julia C., Stephen and Daniel R.
Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have their home at No. 1623 Hoyt avenue, and are among the most respected of the residents of St. Patrick's parish, in which they have lived since July 16, 1881. Mr. Anderson was foreman for Tucker & Dorsey nine years prior to 1898. He is a republican in politics, and has always'done his full duty as a good and useful citizen and as a contributor to the sup- port of his parish church.
S TEPHEN ARNOLD, contractor and builder, of No. 426 Church street, Vincennes, was born in Alsace, France, July 18, 1846, a son of Joseph and Sophia Arnold, both now deceased.
Stephen Arnold learned the cabinetmaker's trade in France, and at the age of about twenty years entered the French army, in which he served four years, taking part in the Franco-Prussian war and being seriously wounded. A brother-in-law sent him funds from America to come over and pass a year, but after his arrival here he determined to remain indefinitely. In 1873 he married, in Vincennes, Miss Mary Memoring, a native of Hanover, Germany, and a daughter of Casper Memoring. Mrs. Arnold and a sister came to America in their girlhood, their parents coming later, with the remainder of the family, and settled on a farm near Vincennes, where both the father and mother died some years ago. Of the ten children born to Joseph and Sophia Arnold, five are still living, viz: One sister in France; Joseph, a carpenter and coachmaker, of
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
Danville, Ill .; Mrs. Werker and Mrs. Nestahut, of Vincennes, and Stephen, the subject of this notice. To Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Arnold have also been born ten children, of whom five are living, viz: John, Kate, Frank, Herman and Alice. Of the deceased, Joseph died at the age of eighteen years; Sophia and Gerald died in childhood, and Lamence and Lawrence (twins) died at the ages of four months and seven months, respectively. John Arnold, the eldest son, was educated at Jasper college, Ind., and is now a clerk in a drug store in Vincennes; Frank is an apprentice in his father's shop, and the other three children are attending school. The family worship at St. John's German Catholic church and Mr. Arnold is a member of branch No. 533, Catholic Knights of Amer- ica, and also of the uniform rank. In politics he is a democrat. He has been very successful as a contractor, and during the build- ing season employs six or seven men. He is a director in the German Fire Insurance company of Vincennes, is the owner of a neat dwelling, with his shop adjoining, and is an estimable and respected citizen.
JOHN F. AHERN, a trustee of the Church of the Assumption, is a native of Shelby county, Ky., where his birth occurred on the 12th of March, 1859. His parents were John and Catherine Ahern, both born in Ireland. They came to the United States before their marriage, which was solemnized in Kentucky about fifteen years after their arrival, and they afterward removed to Bartholomew county, Ind., where the father still lives, the mother being deceased. They were born Catholics, and the mother died in the hope of a glorious resurrection, while the father leads the life of a true son of the church. They were the parents of five children, all now deceased with the exception of the subject.
John F. Ahern remained under the parental roof until of suffi- cient age to enter upon an apprenticeship to the blacksmith trade, which, in due time, he thoroughly learned, and which he has since followed for his life work. He was married February 7, 1882, to Miss Annie Burke, a native of Indiana, and five children have
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CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
blessed the union, viz: James, Mary, Katie, John and Leo, of whom the last named died April 4, 1897.
Mr. Ahern and wife have been residents of Indianapolis since 1886, and of their present parish since the year 1890. They are earnest and sincere Catholics and have contributed not a little to the growth and development of the Assumption congregation and the several societies connected therewith. Mr. Ahern is highly esteemed as a citizen and stands high in the community in which he resides.
T HE ARVIN FAMILY, so well known in Indiana, was founded in this state by Henry Arvin, a native of Maryland, of Irish parentage, and born November 7, 1787. He was married, Jan- uary 1, 1810, to Theressa Montgomery, also a native of Maryland, born October 21, 1787, and in 1816 they removed to Kentucky, where Mr. Arvin engaged in planting until 1844, when they came to Indiana and settled on a farm in Reeve township, Daviess county, but where Mr. Arvin engaged in coopering and in other lines of business, being too corpulent for farm work, and in that county passed away June 18, 1860, his widow surviving until June 20, 1871, when she, too, was called to rest. There was born to them a large family, of whom seven sons and two daughters arrived at the years of maturity, viz: William, who was born June 11, 1811, and died in Petersburg, Ind., May 22, 1883; Thomas, born May 21, 1813, lived in Daviess county, and died December 23, 1875; Joseph and Mary (twins) born November 9, 1815, and supposed to be the oldest twins in the state, are both married-the former to Rosa Hayden, and the father of six children; the latter is the widow of George W. Arvin, and resides in Loogootee with a brother; Rosa, born February 18, 1818, married Martin Patterson, and died in Daviess county; Joshua O., born August 23, 1821, died in the same county January 11, 1889; Augustine, born February 1, 1824, resides in Martin county; George W., born January 26, 1826, died in Daviess county in 1897, and James and Kendrick, twins, were born January 31, 1828, and of these Kendrick died in infancy.
Augustine Arvin, mentioned in above enumeration as having
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
been born February 1, 1824, has been a farmer all his life, and now resides on his homestead of 153 acres in Martin county, Ind. He married Miss Rebecca Summers, a native of Martin county and daughter of Thomas S., and to this union have been born the fol- lowing children: Thomas H., who married Anna Feagan, and has five children; William R., who married Rose Brothers, and also has five children; Pius A., who married Lucinda Clemments, and has eight children; Susan, who died in early life; Rose E., mar- ried to Harry Norris, and the mother of six children; George J., who married Emma Norris, and has three children; Augustine, who died in childhood, Joseph P., of whom further mention will be made, and Theressa, married to James Callahan, and the mother of six children.
Joseph P. Arvin, mentioned above as a son of Augustine and Rebecca (Summers) Arvin, was born February 8, 1863, was reared on the home farm and was well edcated, as far as the pulic schools permitted. He remained at home until he attained his majority, and then, for a short time, worked as a barber; he next became clerk in a general store; which position he held seven years, and February 10, 1896, became manager of the poultry department of the extensive grocery establishment of Arthur Jordan, at Loogootee, a position he at the present fills to the entire satisfaction of his employer.
October 13, 1884, Mr. Arvin was united in marriage with Miss Anna F. Gates, daughter of Emanuel and Louisa (Davis) Gates, of Martin county. Emanuel Gates, who was a well-to-do farmer, is now deceased, and his widow, a native of Martin county, resides at present in Loogootee. To the congenial union of Mr. and Mrs. Arvin have been born five children, of whom three are still living. viz: Emanuel A., Cecile T., and Leo F. In religion the family have always been true Catholics, and Mr. Arvin is at present a trustee of St. John's church. Fraternally, he is a member of the Catholics Knights of America, and is the financial secretary of his branch of this order. In politics he is a democrat, is extremely popular with his party, and is a member of the public school board. As a business man he is sagacious and successful, being affable and of gentlemanly address, and very pleasing in his
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Respectfully N. alerding
A
E
ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH, INDIANAPOLIS, IND.
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
deportment. He owns a handsome home in Loogootee, which is the abode of complete domestic felicity, and where is dispensed a generous hospitality. His social standing is with the best, and no one is more respected than this worthy representative of the Avrin family.
RI )EV. HERMAN ALERDING was born in Newport, Ky., April 13, 1845; he was ordained priest by Bishop de St. Palais, at St. Meinrad, September 22, 1868, and was the assistant of Father Chasse, at Terre Haute, until the fall of 1871, and then had charge at Cambridge City until the fall of 1874, when he was appointed to St. Joseph's church, Indianapolis, his present past- orate, and his able work here is related briefly in the sketch of his church, given elsewhere. While in charge at Cambridge City, he built a church at New Castle and another at Knightstown, which places he attended monthly. In his younger years he took active interest in temperance work, and delivered a number of lectures in various places; though these lectures did not all exclusively treat of temperance, but on a variety of subjects.
For the history of St. Joseph's church the publishers of the History of the Catholic Church of Indiana are indebted to the Rev. Herman Alerding, its present pastor, from whose valuable History of the Catholic church in the diocese of Vincennes much other of the information contained in this volume is also obtained. No effort will be made to expatiate the terse language of this reverend gentleman, nor will any attempt be made to estimate, much less to laud, his long and zealous labors in church work, but the publishers, nevertheless, acknowledge their obligation to him and his invaluable publication.
DEV. ERNEST AUDRAN, a native of France, born October 8, 1823, and a descendant of a celebrated family of artists, renowned both as painters and engravers, is now rector of St. Augustine's church, at Jeffersonville, Ind., to which pastorate he
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
was appointed December 3, 1868. He had received a classical edu- cation in his native land at the Royal college of Rennes, and when sixteen years of age was brought to America by his relative, Bishop Hailandiere, who was on a visit from this country to France. Here he began his theological studies at the Vincennes seminary, and became the bishop's secretary before his ordination as priest. He was raised to the priesthood, by dispensation, April 16, 1846, at the age of twenty-two years and six months. May 8, following, he was appointed assistant pastor of the cathedral, but, at his own request, was sent to Logansport, where he remained six months. For twenty-three years thereafter he filled the onerous position of pastor of the cathedral at Vincennes, and December 3, 1868, was transferred to St. Augustine's church, at Jeffersonville, of which he is the present rector.
While in Vincennes, and not yet thirty years of age, he con- verted to the Catholic faith, the Rev. George Roberts, an Epis- copalian minister of that city; also Mrs. Ewell and several of her children, the lady being the wife of the Episcopalian clergyman who succeeded the Rev. Roberts, and of her daughters one after- ward became a Franciscan nun. Father Audran also brought back into the fold of the church a stray member of the flock, Hon. H. Cauthorn, editor of the Vincennes Sun, and was likewise instru- mental in the conversion of several other prominent persons, as, for instance, the Hon. Henry Somes, who subsequently became mayor of the city: Charles Berkis, and H. Peck and wife. Dur- ing the know-nothing exitement he pacified Mr. McClaugherty, editor of the Vincennes Courant, and quelled his antagonism to Catholicity.
During the Civil war, at a time when the excitement was at the highest, the Catholic Telegraph, which had at first discoun- tenanced the course pursued by the republican party, denounced it, in fact, on being threatened, all at once changed sides and began advocating the persecution of the south with all the fervor of a new convert, surprising everybody. Suddenly, in its zeal, it went so far as to call the attention of the general government to priests who did not as suddenly change, and demanded its immediate action to bring them into line-really to lay hands on
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CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
them. This article looked like a premeditated act of treachery to the Catholic clergy, and, as a provincial council at Cincinnati was then at hand, Father Audran immediately read the article to Bishop de St. Palais, who was amazed, and instantly communicated his disapprobation of the article to Bishop Spalding, of Louisville. The two bishops united in warning the Metropolitan that they could not-would not-attend the council, and most of the other bishops did the same. In consequence, there was no council until three years later, and this was not held at Cincinnati, but at Detroit.
When Father Audran arrived in Jeffersonville he had in his possession $70, the savings of twenty-three years of arduous work. So pressing, however, were the demands made by some of the creditors of St. Augustine's (the congregation was in debt $10,000), that he had to pay his money out almost immediately, so as to tide over difficulties. For a man to whom spiritualities are much more agreeable than temporalities, this beginning with $10,000 less than nothing must have been very trying.
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In 1873 Father Audran visited his old friend and relative, Bishop Hailandiere, in France. He also visited Lourdes and the Eternal city, and for the first time met the rector of the Amer- ican college at Rome, the present Rt. Rev. Bishop of Vincennes. Having been a priest in this diocese for forty-four years, he has witnessed the administrations of four bishops, and lived in intimate relations with three of them, and participated in the shaping of affairs of vital importance, not only to this diocese, but also to the Catholics of the United States. By tongue and pen, in French and English, he called forth the protests of Catholics everywhere against the spoliation of the Holy Father, and, strangely enough, became in the hands of Providence an instrument whereby the political emancipation of Catholics in the United States was brought about. To say the least, he was instrumental in the good work by an able article which he published in a local paper, defending Catholics against the unjust attacks of its editor, who had become a disciple of Ingersoll. At the time referred to (1879), Mr. Inger- soll was lecturing to thousands in Louisville, and the taint of his blasphemies spread over into Indiana. Following this, the open- ing of Catholic schools in Boston called forth an avalanche of abuse
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
from the sectarian press, with which the paper in question joined hands. Father Audran's article also caught the eye of Henry Watterson, editor of the Courier-Journal, and in two successive articles in his paper he completely and triumphantly disposed of infidelity and all unreasoning prejudice against Catholics. So far- reaching were the effects of these articles that Catholics began to come into prominence everywhere, and a better and fairer spirit seemed to be infused into not only political parties, but even into individuals heretofore prejudiced against everything pertaining to the Catholic church.
Father Audran, it will be seen, has been most devoted to the work of the church and has ever used his best energies in advanc- ing its interests. His name as a clergyman stands at the head of the list in the diocese of Vincennes.
R UPERT AUER, a well-known business man of South Bend, Ind., was born in the parish of Theningen, Baden, Germany, May 2, 1850, and is a son of John and Anna (Rhodefelter) Auer.
John Auer was born in Baden in 1809, and his wife in 1811. John was educated in the parochial school of Theningen, was reared a farmer, and also learned weaving, and in the old country followed the combined callings for a livelihood. He was married in Baden in 1832, and to this union with Annie Rhodefelter were born twelve children, of whom seven are still living, viz: Charles, John, Jacob, Amelia, Sophia, Bertha and Rupert, the subject of this sketch. The mother of this family was laid to rest in her native parish of Theningen, Baden, in 1857; after her death the father continued his residence in Germany until 1880, when he came to the United States and joined his children in Fort Wayne, Ind., where he passed the remainder of his life, dying in the holy Catholic faith, January 19, 1892.
Rupert Auer was well educated in the parochial school of his native parish, which he attended until fifteen years of age, when he was apprenticed to a gunsmith. He followed this trade five years in Switzerland, and then returned to Germany for military duty
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CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
and served from January 10, 1870, until November 21, 1871, in the Prussian army, when he again went to Switzerland, where he remained until August 1, 1872. September 25, 1872, he sailed from Germany for the United States, landed in New York city October 14, of the same year, and reached Mishawaka, Ind., October 17. He there secured employment in the wagon works, and held his position until the spring of 1873, when he went to Notre Dame college and worked for three months. Thence he went to Fort Wayne, where he was employed in slate roofing for nine years, and during this interim was married to Miss Agnes Faulner, at St. Peter's church, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Father Weinhoff. The seven daughters and one son that have blessed this union are now being educated in St. Mary's parochial school, South Bend, Mr. Auer, on account of his wife's health, having come here to reside in 1882. Here Mr. Auer at once entered into the manufacture of soda and other mineral waters, which he con- ducted until October, 1888, when he opened a first-class public resort, which he still conducts.
Mr. Auer and family are members of St. Mary's congregation, and Mr. Auer is a trustee of the church; he is also a member of the South Bend branch of the Catholic Knights of America, and in everything that pertains to the welfare of his church he takes an active part and aids it with a liberal hand. He is a genial, whole- souled gentleman, and counts his friends by the score.
JOSEPH BAEHNER, a well-known business man of Conners- ville, Ind., was born in Cologne, Rhenish Prussia, December 8, 1859, a son of Charles J. and Helen (Voss) Baehner. The father followed the trade of shoemaking and died in Cologne in 1894, and there the mother still resides.
Joseph Baehner, the seventh born of a family of twelve boys and two girls, was educated in the parochial schools of his native city, which he attended until fifteen years of age, when he began learning the tailor's trade, which he followed in Cologne until 1883, when he came to the United States and for a year worked at his
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
calling in Cincinnati, Ohio. September 27, 1884, he came to Connersville and worked as a journeyman until December, 1895, when he opened a public place of resort and has since been doing a thriving business.
Mr. Baehner was united in marriage, in Connersville, July 11, 1889, with Miss Barbara Herkert, who was born in this town December 12, 1861, a daughter of Joseph and Margaret (Michaels) Herkert, and this union has been blessed with three children, viz: Mary, Francis and George-the last named being deceased. Mr. Baehner has been trustee and member of the Catholic Knights of America and of St. Joseph's society, and is held in high esteem by his friends and acquaintances. He owns a pleasant home at No. 119 Grand avenue, and is very liberal in his contributions toward the support of both school and church.
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