USA > Indiana > History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume II > Part 20
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April 26, 1860, Mr. Cronin was united in marriage, at Day- ton, in St. Joseph's cathedral, by Rev. Father Kelly, to Miss Anna Madigan, of New Paris, Ohio, and this marriage was blessed with five children, viz: John Francis, now in partnership with his father; William A., a machinist and electrician, of Pittsburg, Pa .; George B., deceased; Felix F. and James T., at home. Mrs. Anna Cronin died in Richmond, December 28, 1889, a true Catholic, and her remains lie interred in St. Mary's cemetery.
The second marriage of Mr. Cronin was solemnized March 2, 1892, by Rev. Father McMullen, in St. Mary's church, Richmond, with Miss Mary McCormick, of New Paris, Ohio, and this union has been blessed with one bright boy, Walter, now two years old. The family belong to St. Mary's congregation, and contribute freely to the support of the church, of which, for four years, Mr. Cronin has been a trustee.
Mr. Cronin was a prime mover for the establishment of a new parish at New Paris, and for the erection of a church, in 1864, and not only contributed liberally of his own means for that purpose, but succeeded in inducing others to contribute to the amount nec- essary, and carried the project through to completion.
R EV. PATRICK CRAWLEY, assistant pastor of St. Patrick's church at Fort Wayne, Ind., is one of the nine children born to Thomas and Mary (Ryan) Crawley, natives of county Roscom- mon, Ireland, where the reverend gentleman named above was born December 19, 1867. He received his elementary education
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in his native country, in 1890 emigrated to the United States, and in November, 1890, entered the college at Notre Dame, Ind., and completed his studies at Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1897. He was ordained at Fort Wayne, Ind., June 24, 1897, by Bishop Joseph Rademacher, and stationed at St. Patrick's church, under Rev. J. F. Delaney, July 16, 1897, and has proven to be an ardent, pious and able young clergyman, devoted to the duties of the holy call- ing he has chosen for his life-work.
M ARTIN CUMMINGS, foreman of the Huntingburg Dry-Press Brick company, is a son of John and Bridget (Lewis) Cum- mings, was born in Ireland, November 15, 1844, and came with his parents to America in 1864. They located near Covington, Ky., on a farm, on which Martin lived for seven years, and then railroaded for fifteen years on construction work. He entered upon his present work in 1886, and has continued in this business ever since.
He was married September 1, 1870, to Miss Mary Howard, a . daughter of John and Elizabeth (Eves) Howard, the ceremony being performed by the right reverend bishop of Covington, Ky. This union was blessed with eight children, of whom five are still living, viz: John, Mary, Ella, Robert E. and Leo H. All were christened in the Catholic church; John and Robert E. were con- firmed by Bishop Chatard, and Mr. Cummings is especially active in church work. He has ever been a temperate and industrious man, and is well deserving of the high esteem in which he is universally held.
RI EV. PATRICK J. CROSSON, pastor of St. Bernard's church, Crawfordsville, Montgomery county, Ind., is a native of Ire. land, was born January 1, 1854, and is a son of Thomas and Rose (Kilkenny) Crosson. He received his classical education at All Hallows, in his native country, and in August, 1874, came to America and entered St. Mary's seminary at Cincinnati, Ohio; in (324)
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
December of the same year he went to Milwaukee, Wis., pursued his theological studies at St. Francis seminary, and was ordained priest April 25, 1878, by Bishop Dwenger, of Fort Wayne, Ind.
His first appointment was as assistant at St. Mary's church, La Fayette, Ind., from which he was transferred to Lebanon, thence to Grass Creek, and then returned to LaFayette. January 1, 1881, he was placed in charge at Oxford, Benton county, Ind., where he remained until August 11, 1894, when he was appointed to his present charge, which includes St. Patrick's mission at Ladoga. Father Crosson has been very zealous in his good work, has organ- ized several church societies in Crawfordsville, and also has super- vision of the schools. He is pious and faithful, and his quiet and affable demeanor has gained for him large numbers of personal friends, while his labors as a pastor have endeared him in the hearts of his entire congregation.
E UGENE DAVID CURRAN, at No. 875 Virginia avenne, is a native of Indianapolis and was born June 3, 1859, a son of John and Ann (Webb) Curran, natives of county Cork, Ireland, but who were married in Salem, Mass., about 1856, and became the parents of six children, of whom four are still living, viz: Eugene D., John, Patrick and Matthew. A daughter, Nellie, died in infancy, and a son, James, died at the age of four years. The parents came to Indianapolis some little time after their marriage, and here all their children were born. Of the above-named chil- dren, John is employed by the United States Express company, is a married man and is the father of five children; Patrick is an express messenger on a railroad, and is also married, and Matthew is employed by the E. C. Atkins Saw works and likewise has a wife. The father of this family is now employed by the Little Sisters of the Poor, who also have in charge the mother, for treatment and cure, at the expense of the family.
Eugene D. Curran, in his youthful days, was an office boy for the Western Union Telegraph company, then was train-caller at the Union railroad station for a year or more, and next had charge
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of the baggage room for a time. June 2, 1886, he was united in marriage, by Rev. Father O'Donaghue, at the bride's residence, to Miss Emma Jasper, daughter of Fred Jasper, a German Protest- ant, but Mrs. Curran has since been converted to Catholicity. Mr. Curran has always been a communicant of St. Patrick's church, in the parochial school of which he received his early education, sup- plemented by an attendance at the public schools. In politics a democrat, he is a member of the Gray club, which is devoted to democratic work, and he also wields a potent influence in local democratic affairs. He has been engaged in business in his native city for eleven years, owns his business place and a comfortable residence connected therewith, and has so lived as to gain the respect of the entire community in which he lives.
DEV. ANTHONY J. KROEGER, of St. John the Baptist church,
R' Tipton, was born in Germany, came to the United States in 1871, as a young student, at the instance of his uncle, Rev. Bar- nard Kroeger, and continued his studies for the priesthood at Cin cinnati, was ordained in 1880, and his first charge was at Goshen, Elkhart county, Ind., where he remained seven years, officiating, also, at the missions in Millersburg, Elkhart county, and Ligonier, Noble county, and was then transferred to LaGro, in Wabash county, and also attended the mission at Andrews, in Huntington county, building the first church at the latter place. In 1890 he was placed in charge at Tipton, and here, too, he has performed great and good work, having assisted at the dedication of St. John's church in August, 1891, and having since greatly improved the temporal and spiritual condition of his people, as well as hav- ing added to the church improvements, as will be discovered by a perusal of the history of the church, to be found in its proper place in this work.
Father Kroeger, while a man of excellent judgment, always consults his people before expending money, and thus each mem- ber of his parish feels a personal interest in everything done, and as he is a very conservative business man his congregation is ever
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A.f. Kroeger
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, TIPTON, IND.
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
ready to furnish all the money needed, and even take special delight in making more and better improvements than their pastor recommends.
R' EV. CHARLES CURRAN, pastor of St. Patrick's church, Daviess county, Ind., with his post-office address at Corning, Ind., was born in Seneca Falls, N. Y., October 22, 1852, and is the eleventh child of a family of twelve born to Richard and Cath- arine (Malay) Curran. Of these twelve children, two were reared Catholic clergymen-Rev. Charles, and Rev. Daniel Curran, pastor of St. Bridget's, at Indianapolis.
The rudimentary education of Rev. Charles Curran was acquired .in the common schools of his native town, which he attended until fourteen years of age, when he entered St. Bona- venture college (1866), attended one year, and then, on account of failing health, returned to his home. After a long rest, during which time he studied in private, he entered St. Meinrad's semi- nary, in Spencer county, Ind., in 1875, from which he graduated and was ordained priest June 11, 1880, by Bishop Francis Silas Chatard. His first charge was that of Brightwood, Ind., and dur- ing his excellent labors in that mission for two and a half years he was also assistant priest of St. John's, in Indianapolis, and had his home in the house of the bishop. November 1, 1882, he was assigned to the pastorate of St. Martin's parish, Martin county, as the first resident priest, and during his stay there of two years erected a beautiful parsonage at a cost of $2,000.
September 12, 1885, Father Curran assumed charge of St. Patrick's, his present parish, one of the oldest in the diocese of Vincennes. On his arrival here he found about seventy-five parish- ioners of the old Catholic stock, and of these there are probably twenty-five or thirty still living. At the present time the congre- gation consists of 135 families, comprising, possibly, 650 souls.
Since Father Curran has been in charge of St. Patrick's par- ish his labors have been zealous and arduous. He has completed the Glencoe chapel-building, the foundation of which was laid by his predecessor, Father Ginnsz, this structure being a substantial
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stone and brick building, consisting of three apartments, two of which are school-rooms, each 22 x 28 feet. The chapel, contain- ing twenty-four pews, is used for the last services over the remains of deceased members of the congregation, who live in the Glencoe district, and is known as the Mortuary chapel. The house of wor- ship proper is 33 x 54 feet, and is beautifully situated in a grove of primeval forest trees on a gently sloping eminence.
Father Curran also established a school for the children of his parish, for which he obtained the desks and seats by private con- tribution. He has erected a brick and stone parsonage, 50 x 55 feet, two stories high, with an attic and roof of slate, and a broad verandah, the whole building requiring 195,000 brick, which were made on the ground, the cost of which amounted to $3,000; the elegant interior furnishings were an additional expense (paid for by the congregation, who have nobly stood by their beloved pastor in making all these improvements), beside the furnace for heating the church, the ceiling and wainscoting, new pews, a new altar and a church organ-the value of the church property being now placed at $18,000.
A temperance society for men and boys is an adjunct of the congregation, also a cadet society, and the society of the Sacred Heart for girls. Father Curran has indeed been indomitable in his labors for the promotion of the welfare of his parish, and his ripe scholarship, affable manners and sincere piety have won for him the deep love of his devoted flock, as well as the respect of hundreds outside the pale of his church.
JOHN CURRAN, deceased, one of the early Catholic residents J of St. Patrick's parish, Indianapolis, his family still residing at No. 1112 English avenue, was born in county Kerry, Ireland. His mother died when he was but a child, leaving his father with a family of eight children-four sons and four daughters.
In 1864 Mr. Curran came to the United States, at once settled in Indianapolis, and lived here until his death, which occurred Feb- ruary 23, 1873. His wife, who survives him, was formerly Miss (332)
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Joanna Pinton, was also born in county Kerry, Ireland, and came to the United States when she was but sixteen years of age. Her father died when she was but an infant, but her mother still lives in her native land, and has attained a very advanced age. She was the mother of six children, of whom Mrs. Curran is the young- est. Mrs. Curran is a sister of Mrs. O'Mara, of St. Bridget's parish, Indianapolis, the wife of Richard O'Mara.
Mr. and Mrs. John Curran became residents of St. Patrick's parish soon after their marriage, and in Indianapolis Mr. Curran lived until his death, which occurred January 23, 1892, leaving a wife and seven children. Of these children, Michael J., the eldest, was about eighteen years old, and the youngest was less than three years old when their father died. The seven children, in order of their birth, were named as follows: Michael J., Timothy T., Mary Margaret, Abigail, Catherine, Patrick W., and Daniel F. Mr. Curran was a most worthy man and a highly respected member of the Catholic church, and his daughter, Abigail, is now Sister Loretta of St. Mary's of the Woods. Michael J. Curran, the eldest of the children, is a boilermaker by trade and occupation, and a member of Capital council, No. 276, Young Men's institute. He is, as his father was before him, an industrious and worthy citizen.
RI EV. VALENTINE CZYZEWSKI, C. S. C., pastor of St. Hedwig's church, No. 331 South Scott street, South Bend, Ind., is a native of the village of Talkuny, government Suwalki, Poland, was born February 14, 1846, and is a son of Joseph and Eva (Zylinvki) Czyzewski. He received his preparatory education in his native land, and in 1869 came to the United States.
After further educational preparation, he joined the Commu- nity of the Holy Cross of Notre Dame, St. Joseph county, Ind., in 1873, finished his theological studies in 1876, and December 28, of the same year, was ordained priest by Bishop Dwenger, of Fort Wayne diocese. His first pastoral appointment was that of St. Joseph's, South Bend, January 1, 1877, where his ministerial duties were performed until the church-edifice was destroyed by a
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windstorm in 1879. The congregation, however, held together, of which he had the care until the completion of St. Hedwig's church-building in 1883.
As an incidental illustration of the energy and devotion to the work of the church in which Father Czyzewski has exerted himself, it may be mentioned that, when he was appointed to the charge of St. Joseph's church, the congregation numbered 120 families, but now his flock numbers at least 1,200 families-all Polanders. Since his ordination, he has been the chief factor in causing the erection of six church-buildings and six school-houses, the means for which was obtained through his earnest exertions in represent- ing to his people the need that existed for the provision of proper places where the church might be advanced by the gathering together of its adherents, and the young be educated in preparation for communion in the holy faith, as well as for the practical affairs of secular life.
He has three assistants, viz: Revs. A. Zubowitcz, C. S. C .; Roman Marciniak, C. S. C., and Casimir Smogor, C. S. C. Brother Hanislaus, C. S. C., has been teaching the school since 1882. Eight Sisters of the Holy Cross and six secular teachers also teach in the school, at which there are over 950 pupils in attendance.
JOHN DAILY, a representative citizen of Bogard township, Daviess county, Ind., was born in this county in 1844, a son of Peter and Catherine (Foley) Daily, who were the parents of seven children, viz: Thomas, a farmer of Bogard township; Mary, wife of John Healy, of St. Michael's parish: Kate, wife of Patrick Duffy, of Washington township, Daviess county; Margaret, married to David Wade; Elizabeth, wife of Edward Brady, a coun- cilman of Washington; John, whose name opens this paragraph, and Bridget, wife of Patrick O'Neill, also of Washington.
Peter Daily, father of the above family, was born in Ireland in May, 1804, and about 1832 sailed from Liverpool, England, for Boston, Mass. From Boston he came to Indiana and for a short time lived in Madison; in 1839 he settled in Daviess county on a (334)
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
farm in the woods, which he developed into a comfortable home, and here passed the remainder of his life, dying in the Catholic faith in 1875, and here his wife, also a native of Ireland, was like- wise called away in the same faith.
John Daily was confirmed by Bishop de St. Palais in St. Peter's parish, which was then under the pastorate of Father Piers, and since reaching manhood's years has been an important factor in advancing Catholicity in the parish of St. Michael. He was first married, by Father Piers, in 1874, to Miss Elizabeth Madden, who bore him five children, of whom. three are still living, George, Thomas and John, and of these the elder two were confirmed by Bishop Chatard, and the youngest is still at school, but not yet confirmed. Mrs. Daily died in the faith in 1884, and in January; 1886, Mr. Daily was joined in wedlock, by Father Piers, with Miss Julia Madden, a sister of his deceased wife. This union has been blessed with two sons and two daughters: Arthur Joseph, Elizabeth, William and Catherine.
Mr. Daily has been a trustee of St. Michael's parish for several years, Thomas Wade, of Bogard township, being the other trustee. In politics a democrat, as was his father, Mr. Daily cast his first presidential vote for Horatio Seymour, of New York, and has been a faithful adherent of democracy ever since. With a fair start in life, he has improved his advantages, and through judicious man- agement he has secured a fine farm of 200 acres, which he has improved with substantial buildings and placed under an excellent state of cultivation. He is loyal to his church and attentive to his religious duties, being prompt and liberal in his contributions in aid of St. Michael's and its sodalities, and is one of the most respected citizens of Daviess county.
A IMON J. DANT, proprietor of the Washington Bottling works and city councilman of Washington, Ind., one of the most progressive citizens of the place, and a prominent member of St. Simon's church, was born in Barr township, Daviess county, Ind .. August 12, 1855, son of Edward and Eliza J. (Grider) Dant.
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The father was born in Maryland, in 1811, son of William Dant, a native of Germany, and was reared to manhood on the paternal farm. In 1835 he located in Barr township, Daviess county, Ind., entering 160 acres of land, upon which he resided until his death, which occurred in April, 1884. In 1837 he was married, in Vincennes, Ind., to Eliza J. Grider, who was born in Knox county, Ind., a daughter of James Grider, of German extrac- tion. To this union "the baker's dozen " of children were born, of whom eight survive, viz: Mary; Barbara, wife of J. H. Kidwell; Edward W., a farmer; Amanda E .; Aimon J., our subject; Cath- erine, now Sister Mary Paylette, of Loretta Convent, Colo .; Jen- nie, wife of Frank Dixon, and Julia A., wife of J. L. Carrico. This family was reared in the Catholic faith, as members of St. Peter's parish, at Montgomery, and the father was a prominent democrat in that locality.
Aimon J. Dant was reared to manhood on the farm, and, being given all the advantages of the public schools, graduated from the city high school in the spring of 1876. After completing his schooling he remained on the farm for a year, and then went to Mattoon, Ill., where for four years he was engaged as bookkeeper in the shops of the Peoria, Decatur & Evansville R. R. Upon the election of his brother-in-law, J. H. Kidwell, to the office of county recorder, our subject was tendered the position of deputy recorder, which he held until 1887, when he resigned to accept a position with R. S. Beeson & Son, hardware dealers, with whom he remained until 1892, when he purchased the Washington Bottling works of F. W. Teiman, and in this business has since been engaged very successfully. The Washington Bottling works do quite an extensive business in the manufacture of temperance, or "soft " drinks, and the bottling of mineral waters, and Mr. Dant's practical business methods, and pleasant manner of treating his patrons, are adding daily to the success and importance of this well- known local industry.
On January 8, 1881, at Olney, Ill., Mr. Dant was united in marriage to Miss Cora I. Ensor, who was born in Richland county, Ill .. in April, 1863, and died in November, 1883, leaving one child, Mabel, who did not long survive her. Mr. Dant was next married,
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in Washington, October 7, 1886, to Miss Mary Billings, who was born in Daviess county, December 8, 1860, daughter of Jesse and Sarah (Miller) Billings, natives of Illinois, of German-Irish descent. Two children are the fruits of this union, Aimon J., Jr., and Leo Gaddis. This is an influential family in St. Simon's parish and is highly regarded in the community.
Mr. Dant owns a pleasant residence property at the corner of Third and Maple streets, the bottling plant being on the oppo- site corner. He is a democrat and takes an active and personal interest in local politics. In 1889 he was elected to the city coun- cil from the Second ward, and was afterward twice returned to the council from the same. He is a charter member of the Industrial Building & Loan association, and a prominent member of the Young Men's institute.
A DAM P. DAUB, the well-known butcher and dealer in meats, at Goshen, Elkhart county, was born in Fort Wayne, Ind., March 3, 1859, and is a son of Adam and Sophia (Offenbach) Daub, natives of Germany. The father came to America in 1857 and the same year married Miss Offenbach, a native of his own province, and located in Fort Wayne, Ind., where he was engaged in the butcher business until 1872, when he removed to Defiance, Ohio, where he is now following the same line of trade.
Adam P. Daub, the eldest of the thirteen children born to his parents, attended a parochial school until twelve years of age and then entered his father's meat market, where he rendered material assistance until twenty-two years old, at the same time thoroughly familiarizing himself with the business. From that time on, he clerked in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin until 1892, when he came to Goshen and opened his present establishment, where he has since conducted a most satisfactory trade, from a financial point of view.
Mr. Daub was most happily united in marriage, in Goshen, May 19, 1889, with Mrs. Eveline Heimbaugh, who was born in this city November 19, 1861, a daughter of Andrew Yant, and widow of Nathan Heimbaugh. Mr. and Mrs. Daub are both devout
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Catholics and members of St. John's congregation, and Mr. Daub is president of St. John's School society. They contribute very freely of their means toward the support of the church and will- ingly do all in their power to aid it in its works of charity and its educational endeavors. In politics Mr. Daub affiliates with the democratic party, and does his full duty at the polls, never failing to exercise his franchise, but never seeking recompense through nomination for office. He has always been attentive to his busi- ness and regardful of the needs of his patrons; is polite, cheerful and accommodating, moderate in his charges, and ever careful that his customers get nothing save the best viands. He owns his residence property, and he and wife enjoy the esteem of a wide circle of warm-hearted and faithful friends.
R EV. BARNARD KROEGER, pastor of St. Bridget's church, Logansport, is a native of Oldenburg, Prussia, and was born in 1833. He attended the schools of his native country until his seventeenth year, when he came to the United States and located temporarily in Cincinnati, going thence to Teutopolis, Ill., where he found employment as a clerk in a dry-goods house. He con- tinued merchandizing four years, and at the end of that time re- turned to Europe, where he remained a short time, coming back to the United States the following year, and entering Mount St. Mary's college, at Cincinnati, where he pursued his studies for a period of two years. He made rapid progress during that time. and to further his education afterward became a student in the Benedict college in Westmoreland county, Pa., where he remained six years. His acquirements in theology were steadily added to, and he was ordained August 2, 1863, at Fort Wayne, by Rt. Rev. Bishop Luers, the same day Rev. Joseph Rademacher, now bishop, was ordained. His first work was in the city of Fort Wayne, where he remained a short time, coming to Logansport September 8, 1863, as assistant to Rev. Father George Hamilton, who was in charge of St. Vincent de Paul, the only Catholic congregation in the city at that time. January 5, 1864, he went to Peru, where (338)
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