History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume II, Part 23

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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Father Dickmann's work in Evansville has been productive of much good, and since taking charge of St. Mary's, the parish has greatly increased, numerically and spiritually. He is recognized as an able and scholarly divine, and no sacrifice is too great, nor any labor too arduous, for him to perform in behalf of his people, all of whom repose the utmost confidence in him as their spiritual leader.

R EV. HENRY MEISSNER, pastor of St. Charles Borromeo church, at Peru, Ind., was born in Muenster, Westphalia, Germany, December 3, 1842. When but two months old he lost his father, and when sixteen years of age he was deprived by death of his mother. From 1853 until 1859 he resided in the rural dis- tricts of Westphalia, passing the last year under private instruction in preparation for entering the government college at Muenster. From this college he passed, in 1864, to the Muenster university, where he passed a year in the study of philosphy and theology, and then came to the United States, arriving here November 6, 1866. He at once entered the theological seminary at Baltimore, conducted by the Sulpitian order, and June 30, 1868, was ordained priest. His first celebration of mass was held on the 5th day of July, following, in York, Pa., and his first appointment was as assistant pastor at Avilla, Noble county, Ind. September 13, 1868, he was given charge of the Goshen congregation, in Elkhart county, Ind., where he officiated about two years, afterward served at Crown Point, Lake county, Ind., five years, and Sep- tember 13, 1875, assumed the duties of his present charge at Peru, where his extraordinary energy and tact have been the (372)

REV. HENRY MEISSNER.

CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

means of building up the church and congregation to their present high standard.

One of the greatest achievements of Father Meissner in this connection was his success in liquidating the entire debt of the congregation, which amounted to $16,350, with $5,000 accumu- lated interest, and the announcement of these glad tidings was made December 23, 1886-a grand thanksgiving jubilee being held on New Year's day following. January 14, 1887, Father Meissner, in recognition of his valuable services, was appointed by Bishop Dwenger immovable rector of St. Charles, so that now the congregation is assured of his beloved presence until the close of his earthly career.

One of the most pleasing incidents of Father Meissner's pas- torate occurred in May, 1884, when he made a tour of England,. Ireland, France, Germany, Holland and Italy. While in Rome he had an unusually long interview with His Holiness Pope Leo. XIII, swho sent his apostolic benediction to the congregation of St. Charles Borromeo, which Father Meissner gave shortly after his return. He also brought home with him many relics, and among those now in his possession, belonging to himself or the church, are a fragment of the holy cross, the garment of St. Charles Borromeo, the blood of St. Thomas and St. Andrew, the Blessed Virgin's girdle and a fragment from her sepulcher, and relics of St. Stephen, the holy table, St. Rose of Lima, St. Henry,. St. Francis of Assissa, St. Philip Neri, St. Ann's vail, relics of St. Bartholomew, and many others.

Words are powerless to give an adequate idea of the coni -- mendable work done in Peru by Father Meissner, and the reader is left to his own inferences, to be drawn from a perusal of the history of the church, by which a contrast may be made between the past and the present, and the part Father Meissner has taken. therein.

E NGELBERT DILGER, one of the proprietors of the Ferdi- nand (Dubois county) saw-mill, is a son of Lawrence and Catherine (Sherchzinger) Dilger, parents of a family of eight chil-

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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,

dren. He was born June 24, 1851, was reared and educated in Dubois county, Ind., and at the age of twenty-one learned the carpenter trade, at which he worked for ten years, and then formed a co-partnership with J. H. Beckman in his present business, hand- ling all the lumber in and about Ferdinand.

Mr. Dilger was married to Miss Lizzie Miller, a daughter of Anton Miller, of Spencer county; they have nine children: Martin, who is a mechanic; Augusta; Agatha, who is studying for a nun at Ferdinand; Joseph, John, Katie, Carrie, Mary, and Tillie, all members of the Catholic church, under Father John. In politics Mr. Dilger is a democrat.

Mr. Dilger is now doing the largest lumber business transacted in Dubois county, and has risen to his present eminence in trade entirely through his own efforts, and his natural business tact. Socially his standing is very high, and he and family enjoy the esteem of a large circle of friends, within and without the pale of the church.

R EV. RUDOLPH J. DENK, pastor of St. Aloysius' church at Sheldon, Allen county, Ind., is a son of Francis and Mary (Newmeier) Denk, of Germany, where the father died in 1883 and where the mother still lives.

Rev. Rudolph J. Denk was born in Germany March 10, 1866; studied in preparation for the priesthood six years at Landshut and four years at St. Vincent, Pa .; then three years in Cincinnati, at St. Mary's, where he took his theological course and was ordained June 14, 1891, under Archbishop William Henry Elder, of Cincin- nati. He was located in Fulton county, Ind., for three months; Auburn, Ind., for eight months, and was at St. Mary's church, of Fort Wayne, from 1892 to 1896 as assistant. He was assigned to Sheldon July 23, 1896, and has fifty families in his church, a school and three Sisters of St. Agnes as teachers, with eighty pupils in attendance. Although his pastorate at Sheldon has, up to this date, been comparatively brief, he has by his zeal and piety won the love and respect of his flock and has performed a vast amount of good and useful work, both spiritually and temporally.

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CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

P ATRICK DILLON, ex-postmaster at Haughville, was born in Lockport, Niagara county, N. Y., February 15, 1853, and is a son of John and Honora (Cordon) Dillon. These parents were natives of Ireland, but came to America in their youth and were married in the town of Starksboro, Vt. They died in Delphi, Ind., the mother when about thirty years of age and the father at forty- eight years.

John Dillon was twice married. By his first wife, above men- tioned, he had seven children, the subject of this sketch being third in order of birth; but two of these are living at this time, Patrick and John, the latter a molder in the Malleable Iron works at Haugh- ville. Johanna was the wife of William Corcoran and departed this life at Delphi, Ind .; Bridget died in her youth; Thomas died when less than a year old; James was burned to death at the age of fifteen; and Andrew was shot and killed in Haughville. John Dillon married, for his second wife, Kate Carey, by whom he had three children.

Patrick Dillon, the immediate subject of this sketch, learned the molder's trade in his youth, and has always worked at the same in Indianapolis. For twelve years he was employed as fore- man of the National Malleable Castings company, of Haughville, and at this time is with the Indianapolis Foundry company, hold- ing his present place since 1895. On the 20th of November, 1893, he was appointed postmaster at Haughville and served until August 1, 1897; his daughter, Miss Katie, was his efficient assistant.

Mr. Dillon was married to Margaret Corcoran, of Terre Haute, Ind., daughter of Roger and Nora Corcoran. Mrs. Dillon was educated in the parochial schools of Delphi and is a lady of many noble qualities of mind and heart; she is the mother of four chil- dren, viz: Mary Catherine, Margaret Ellen, Harry Edward and Agnes Goodlet.

Mr. Dillon was an active worker in the establishment of St. Anthony's parish and has served as member of the board of trustees from the beginning. He was one of the committee appointed to purchase grounds for the building and contributed liberally of his means towards the erection of the present beautiful temple of wor- ship at Haughville. He is a member of the present board of trus-

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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,

tees and a leading spirit of the parish. In politics Mr. Dillon is an earnest supporter of the democratic party, and fraternally, belongs to the Pythian order.

RIGHT REV. FINTAN MUNDWILER, O. S. B., late abbot of St. Meinrad's Benedictine abbey, Spencer county, Ind., and whose name was carried beyond the walls of his holy institution far out into the world as that of a saintly and self-sacrificing superior, was born July 12, 1835, at Dietiken, a small town of Switzerland. His parents, Jacob and Anna Marie (Seiler) Mundwiler, were zeal- ous Catholics, and were desirous of having their son reared in an atmosphere of sanctity and learning. For this purpose they intrusted him, at the age of fourteen years, to the care of the world-famed Benedictine abbey of Einsiedeln, and upon the com- pletion of his classical course he entered the Novitiate of Einsie- deln, where, October 14, 1855, he made his solemn profession. September 11, 1859, he was ordained priest by Bishop Arnota, and a year later Abbot Henry sent him, in company with Rev. Father Martin Maby, O. S. B. (the late bishop of St. Cloud), to the American missions. He was at once appointed, after arrival, as prefect at St. Meinrad's college, but was later sent to Terre Haute, where he established the congregation of St. Benedict and built its first church. Many of the older citizens of Terre Haute remember the beautiful traits of character evinced by the then young priest, and how his kindness and zeal secured the love and admiration of all classes.

On the recall of Father Mundwiler to St. Meinrad, he was placed in charge of the missions in Spencer, Perry and Dubois counties, Ind., and later was appointed professor of dogmatic the- ology in the seminary. In 1869, when the monastery was raised to the dignity of an abbey, by Pius IX, Father Mundwiler was appointed prior, master of novices, and professor of the seminary, and the duties of each position he performed with noteworthy skill.

In February, 1880, Abbot Marty was consecrated bishop of (378)

RT. REV. FINTAN MUNDWILER. (DECEASED.)

CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

the diocese of Sioux Falls, and two days later Prior Mundwiler was elected abbot of St. Meinrad. His career during the eighteen years of his incumbency of this high office is marked with events that will make his name memorable in the annals of the diocese of Vincennes and in the history of the Catholic church in America. It was during his administration that the large stone college-build- ing was erected, and the stone crypt in 1887. He also effected the erection of the Helvetio-American congregation of Benedic- tines, and was chosen its first treasurer; the monastery at Spieler- ville, Ark. (now New Subjaco abbey); the priory of St. Joseph's, in Louisiana, and the priory of St. Gall, in North Dakota.

September 2, 1887, occurred the great fire which destroyed entirely the abbey of St. Meinrad, with its annexes; but with unwonted and wonderful energy, Rev. Abbot Mundwiler rebuilt the abbey within two years, and also began the construction of Jasper college for secular students-the chapel, library, novitiates' annexes, the spacious printing office and book bindery, shops, infirmary and bath-rooms-all being completed and ready for occupancy as early as 1896.

The zeal of the reverend abbot for the Holy Church was also manifested in other ways. He took active interest in the Ben- edictine college at Rome (St. Anselms), and materially aided that institution of learning. To him, also, is attributed the blessing which St. Meinrad's enjoys in possessing the central direction of the flourishing American Priests' Eucharistic League. But the greatest of all blessings enjoyed by St. Meinrad during the life- time of Abbot Fintan Mundwiler was the example he set as a christian, religious priest, prelate and superior. His devotion to the Blessed Eucharist was remarkable. It is known that he knelt for hours before the blessed crucifix, and during the years of his illness, even when he could scarcely walk or kneel, he paid lengthy visits to the Holy Eucharist (or pyx). Such was his devotion to Christ, that, when his fatal illness set in, he undertook a pilgrim- age to the Holy Land in 1893. The final dissolution took place at 6 P. M., February 16, 1898, in the presence of the Right Rev. Bishop Chatard, and the priests and brothers of the abbey. The Right Rev. Bishop Rademacher, of Fort Wayne, celebrated the

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pontifical requiem over the mortal remains of the departed priest -but the immortal part had gone to that heavenly abode where requiems are never read nor sung.

H ENRY C. DIPPEL, a well-known Catholic citizen of Indian- apolis, resides with his family at No. 832 Broadway. He is. a native of Indianapolis, but not a son of Catholic parents. His education was obtained in the public schools of this city, and he became a Catholic through the influence and instrumentality of the Rev. Father Schott, assisted by the Rev. Father Scheideler, becom- ing a member of St. Mary's church. Mrs. Dippel was formerly Miss Tillie Crone, was born in Indianapolis November 5, 1866, and is a daughter of Jacob and Mary Crone of Indianapolis. She was married to Mr. Dippel at St. Mary's church in 1888, Rev. Father Scheideler officiating, and to this marriage there have been born three daughters, viz: Stella Ruth, Helen Mary, and Flor- ence Margaret. Their eldest child, William Clarence, died when fifteen months of age.

Mr. and Mrs. Dippel were formerly members of St. Mary's parish, but since 1891 they have resided within the limits of St. Joseph's parish, and they are both members of the excellent choir of St. Joseph's church. Both are among the best people in their parish, and are by all people, without respect of religious belief, highly esteemed and respected.

F RANK DITTMER, the well-known dealer in wall paper and decorative materials at Huntingburg, Dubois county, Ind., is a son of Michael and Frederick (Hoevner) Dittmer, of whom the father died July 13, 1896.

Frank Dittmer was born in Dubois county, May 15, 1862, and was reared in Huntingburg; he attended the common schools, and at the age of twenty-one years engaged in the blacksmith business. He then learned painting and went into. business in 1882 for him- (382)

CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

self. He was married to Miss Mary Birk, a daughter of P. Birk, May 15, 1882, and the result of this happy union has been five children, viz: Hattie E, (who was confirmed at the age of twelve years by Bishop Chatard), Rosa K., Emma M., Anna E. and Michael C. Both parents and children belong to St. Mary's church, and Mr. and Mrs. Dittmer are very liberal in their contributions. toward its support-both having been confirmed in the faith by Bishop de St. Palais. Mr. Dittmer is a democrat, and cast his first presidental vote for Grover Cleveland. Fraternally, he is a Catholic Knight, also grand president of the Y. M. I.

A LBERT J. DITTOE, the well-known grocer of Fort Wayne, was born in Perry county, Ohio, August 23, 1845. His par- ents were Jacob A. and Catherine (Cluny) Dittoe, the former of whom was born in Perry county, was a farmer, and died February 18, 1895, at Lancaster, Ohio.

Albert J. Dittoe had his home upon the farm of his parents. until he was twenty-three years of age, receiving his education in the common schools, and in St. Joseph's college in his native county, which he attended two years, and also at the college in Sinsinawa, Wis. At eighteen years of age he accepted a position as teacher in St. Thomas' Catholic school in Zanesville, Ohio, for one term, and during the winter which followed he taught in Perry county. In the spring of 1869 he came to Fort Wayne, where he has since been an active and prominent citizen. For two years he held deputyship in the offices of the county recorder and the clerk of the circuit court, and was for four years employed as bookkeeper and cashier of the wholesale hardware firm of A. D. Brandriff & Co. In the season of 1873-4 he was engaged in the ice business with his father-in-law, the late Peter Moran, afterward becoming a clerk in a grocery store; he held this position until July, 1882, when he purchased the store, which he has since conducted with marked success. It is recognized as one of the leading establish- ments of the kind in the city and is popularly known as the Boston Tea store.

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Mr. Dittoe was married January 25, 1870, by the Rev. Father Benoit, in Fort Wayne, to Margaret G. Moran, and they have had nine children; Mamie C., Charles W., Loretta A., Vincent A., Anna G., Peter A., Margaret May, Alice G. and Bernadotte, all of whom are living save Anna G., who died in childhood. Mr. and Mrs. Dittoe and children are members of the cathedral congregation, and Mr. Dittoe is a member of the Catholic Knights of America, branch No. 103, and the family are among the most respected residents of the city of Fort Wayne.

R EV. JOHN R. QUINLAN, the honored pastor of St. Mary's church at Huntington, Ind., was born in Valparaiso, Porter .county, this state, April 19. 1856, and is a son of Michael and Hannah (Shanahan) Quinlan, natives of the borough of Mallow, .county Cork, Ireland, but who came to the United States in 1850, and were married in Valparaiso, Ind., where the mother died in 1858, and the father now lives in Kansas. They were the parents of two children, of whom one is deceased.

Rev. John R. Quinlan, having at the early age of two years lost his mother, was cared for by an aunt, Mrs. Timothy McAuliffe, until about 1865, when the father returned from the Civil war, in which he had served four years, and married again, after which young John R. resided with his father two years, and then returned to the home of his aunt. He received his primary education in the common schools at Valparaiso, and in the parochial school under Rev. Father O'Reilley, and through whom he received his first communion. In September, 1881, he entered St. Francis semi- nary at Milwaukee, Wis., and June 22, 1890, was ordained priest by the Right Rev. Henry Joseph Richter, bishop of the diocese of Grand Rapids. He read his first mass in Valparaiso, Ind., June 29, 1890. He then went to Fort Wayne, where, July 4, of the same year, he was appointed by Bishop Dwenger an assistant at the cathedral, and officiated until October 3, 1897. On the 22d of April, 1896, however, he had been placed in charge of the tem- poral affairs of St. Mary's parish, at Huntington, the church-edifice

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ST. MARY'S CHURCH, HUNTINGTON, IND.

CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

being then in the course of construction, and at its dedication, Sunday, October 3, 1897, assumed his duties as pastor.

Father Quinlan is of broad culture, bright intellect, and quick perception, and is courteous, sociable and kindly in demeanor, is sincerely beloved by his flock, and stands high in the esteem of the general public.

F RANK DOERSCHUK, proprietor of one of the largest black- smith and repair shops of Terre Haute and a musician of more than local repute, was born in New Philadelphia, Tuscarawas county, Ohio, April 22, 1854, son of Jacob and Christina Doerschuk.

Jacob Doerschuk was born in October, 1815, in Rocken- hausen, kingdom of Bavaria, Germany, and came to the United States in the year 1837. He married, July 7, 1839, Christina Rinner, who was also a native of Bavaria, where her birth occurred in 1816. Mrs. Doerschuk's father was born in Germany, April 3, 1788, and departed this life at New Philadelphia, Ohio, October, 1882. In 1808 he entered the army of the first Napoleon at a time when all Europe was trembling before the movements of that Son of Destiny, served in the Fourth hussars in Spain, and par- ticipated in many of the bloody battles of that historic period. After the return of Bonaparte from the ill-fated Russian campaign, his regiment was recalled and he discharged. The father of the subject died at New Philadelphia, July 29, 1886; the mother still survives.

Frank Doerschuk is the seventh of a family of six sons and two daughters, all of whom are living. He was reared in the town of his birth, where he received a practical education, and, at the age of seventeen, began learning the blacksmith.trade, at which he served an apprenticeship under Samuel Rufer, at New Philadel- phia, and with whom he remained eight years, from 1870 to 1878. In the latter year he came to Indiana for the purpose of visiting a brother at Coal City, and while there, decided to remain in the Hoosier state. He located the following year in Terre Haute, where he worked at his trade until 1881, when he accepted a posi- tion in the car works, a position he filled for some time with credit

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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,

to himself and satisfaction to the firm by which he was employed. Mr. Doerschuk comes of a family of musicians, he himself and four brothers having distinguished themselves in the realm of harmony. Shortly after locating in Terre Haute, he became a member of the famous Ringgold band as player of the clarinet, and, in 1881, he quit his trade and gave his attention solely to music, playing in the orchestra of Shewmaker's theater until the spring of the year following. In 1882 he joined the band with the John Robinson circus, and, during that year, traveled extensively throughout various parts of the United States. Returning to Terre Haute at the end of his tour, Mr. Doerschuk again played with Ringgold's band, with which he remained until the spring of 1885, when he resumed his trade, which he has since followed, devoting only his leisure to music. He has a large and well-regulated shop, supplied with all the modern appliances of his trade, on East Main street, and his business is all that he can reasonably desire.

Mr. Doerschuk was married April 12, 1883, to Mary Allwell, who was born September 26, 1860, in Charleston, Ill., daughter of Thomas and Mary (Landergan) Allwell, natives respectively of counties Westmeath and Tipperary, Ireland. Thomas Allwell served in the late Rebellion as a member of the One Hundred and Twenty-third Illinois infantry, and died in the year 1896; his widow is still living in Charleston, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Doerschuk have one child, a daughter, Mary Estella, whose birth occurred December 12, 1888. The family are all members of St. Patrick's parish, Terre Haute-Mr. Doerschuk being one of the musicians of the church; he belongs to the Y. M. I. and the St. Benedict Franciscan society, and Mrs. Doerschuk is a member of the Altar society of St. Patrick's.

E DWARD DOBER, a trustee of the St. Lawrence church, a custom tailor and dealer in gents' furnishings, at Lawrence- burg, Dearborn county, Ind., is a son Joseph and Henricia (Woeber) Dober, who were born in Baden, Germany, and died in that country.

Edward Dober was born on July 2, 1851, in Germany, and (390)

CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

came to America in 1872, locating at Lawrenceburg immediately upon his arrival in the states. He learned the tailor's trade in Germany, but worked at it only a few years. Upon his arrival here, he entered the employ of Cook & Klapper for a short time, formed a partnership later on, and this continued for two years. On account of bad health he returned to Europe and remained there a few months, but, before going, sold out to Mr. Klapper. Upon his return to Lawrenceburg he worked for Mr. Klapper for a short time, and in 1882 engaged in his present business, carrying a stock of $6,000.

Mr. Dober was first united in marriage, in 1875, to Miss Kate Gardner, of Lawrenceburg, a daughter of Anthony Gardner, and to this union was born one child, Ida. He was next married, in April, 1881. to Josephine Morgan, of Lawrenceburg. To this union have been born eight children, as follows: Fred J., Edward P., Henricia, Josephine, Mary, Frank, Bontonia, and Agnes. The family are all devout Catholics and belong to the church of which the father is a trustee, and socially move in the best circles of Lawrenceburg.

FREDERICK A. DOLL, who has sole charge of the union freight depot at Shelbyville, Ind., was born in Batesville, Rip- ley county, this state, September 19, 1867, and is a son of Joseph and Magdalena (Kipper) Doll, natives, respectively, of Pennsyl- vania and Bavaria. On locating in Batesville, Joseph Doll engaged in bridge building, and is now superintendent of bridges for the Big Four road between Cincinnati, Ohio, and Indianapolis, Ind., and still makes his home in Batesville, of which place he and fam- ily are members of St. Ludwig's church.

Frederick A. Doll attended the parochial schools of Batesville until thirteen years of age, and from that age until eighteen was a pupil in the public school. He then learned telegraphy, and until 1891 manipulated the ticker at Shelbyville, and was then appointed passenger agent, which position he ably filled until 1892, when he was placed in full charge of the freight depot, with a corps of assistants. Mr. Doll is a devout Catholic, and is a member of St.

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History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume II, Part 23

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