USA > Indiana > History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume II > Part 24
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97
(391)
THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
Gabriel's congregation, which he aids with his means in no unstinted manner when the parish is in want of funds. In politics Mr. Doll is a genuine democrat, and in his social relations he enjoys a most enviable standing. .
T HOMAS DONAHUE, station agent for the B. & O. S. W. R. R., at Washington, Daviess county, Ind., and an expert teleg- rapher, is a son of Paul and Maria (Kearney) Donahue, and was born in Altoona, Pa., December 22, 1853.
Paul Donahue, a native of county Kings, Ireland, came to America in 1848, married Maria Kearney, a native of county Queens, Ireland, and to this marriage were born six children, viz: Thomas, our subject; Martin, train dispatcher at Edgerly, Calca- sieu parish, La .; Patrick, of Fort Wayne, Ind .; Catherine, a pub- lic school-teacher, of Mitchell, Ind., Joseph, train dispatcher, of Washington, and Edward, of Mitchell. Paul Donahue found his first employment, in a regular way, on coming to America, in Pittsburg, Pa., as a railroad section foreman, and was transferred from point to point along the line until 1855, when he came to Indiana and settled in Mitchell, Lawrence county, where he con- tinued in railroad work until his death, in July, 1891, in the faith to which he was reared and in which he conscientiously lived- that of the Catholic church.
Thomas Donahue, our subject, attended the public schools of Mitchell, Ind., until eighteen years of age, when he began his busi- ness life as a section hand on the O. & M. railroad; next he entered the station as a student of telegraphy, and a year later became night operator, which position he filled three months, and was then transferred to Milan, Ind. ; nineteen months later he"was sent to Vincennes, Ind., where he remained four years, and was then stationed at Aurora, Ind., for a year and a half; he was then appointed agent for the company at Medora, Ind., and remained there seven years, at which time he resigned and went to Cincin- nati, Ohio, where he was engaged in telegraphy two years. Finally, on April 10, 1890, he settled in Washington, Ind., where (392)
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
he has since filled, in a most satisfactory manner, the position of agent for his company.
Mr. Donahue was married, in Mitchell, Ind., October 6, 1879, to Miss Mary Jane Keane, a native of Cincinnati, and this union has been blessed with four children-Thomas, Helen, Lena and William. The family belong to the Catholic parish of St. Simon, and socially occupy a high position, owning a very pleasant home on Poplar street, where their numerous friends always receive a warm welcome. In politics, Mr. Donahue is a stanch democrat.
M ICHAEL M. DOOLEY, M. D., of Loogootee, Ind., was born in St. Johns, Newfoundland, August 9, 1857, a son of Matthew and Bridget (Moriarty) Dooley, who were natives of the same province and of Irish parentage. The father is now a resi- dent of Nova Scotia, where the mother died some years ago, they having had born to them twelve children, of whom the doctor is the eldest.
The family moved to Nova Scotia about 1867, and the father bought a small piece of land in Antigonish, where our subject worked in a woolen mill during the summer season, and attended school in the winter three months, all told. At the age of sixteen years he was apprenticed to a carpenter for three years, receiving $40 during that period, but was considered by his emyloyer to be the best mechanic in the shop. He then returned to Newfound- land, began work as a journeyman, but soon became foreman for the most extensive carpentering firm in St. John's.
In 1878 Mr. Dooley came to the United States and for several years worked as a railroad bridge carpenter in the state of New York, but later the company sent him to Michigan as foreman of bridge construction, he being an adept at this class of work, and after superintending the building of several bridges in Michigan and Ohio and all the eastern states for his employers, he was engaged by Baird Bros., of Pittsburg, Pa., sub-contractors for the Keystone Bridge company, and served this firm six years as foreman. Among the many large bridges over which he had the supervision of con-
(393)
THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
struction was that at Havre de Grace, Md., which spans the Sus- quehanna river, which at that point is a mile wide. This was a very creditable piece of work but a very onerous one, and about this time Mr. Dooley's health failed, and while recuperating his physician advised him to relinquish mechanical pursuits and under- take the study of medicine. Mr. Dooley, having by this time accumulated considerable money, concluded to follow his physi- cian's advice and went through a course of preparation, studying night and day for three years, and then, in 1885, entered the Ken- tucky school of Medicine at Louisville, from which he graduated in 1886. For one year he practiced in Greene county, Ind., and in 1887 came to Loogootee, where he has ever since enjoyed a lucra- tive practice.
Dr. Dooley was most happily married, in February, 1889, to Miss Anna Wathon, of Montgomery, Ind., and a daughter of Raphael and Mary (Cavanaugh) Wathon, and this union has been blessed with four children-May, Bernadotte, Agnes and Jenne. The doctor is a member of the Martin county Medical society, and of the board of United States pension examiners. Although he takes no especial interest in politics, he is very popular with the citizens of Loogootee, who have elected him a member of the town council. The doctor is the owner of a pleasant residence, and socially he and wife are held in deservedly high esteem.
JOHN DOMMERSHAUSEN, a prominent member of St. Bene- dict parish, Terre Haute, and a well-known business man of the city, is a native of the province of Hesse Nassau, Germany, born in Prath on the 5th day of September, 1848. His parents were Philip and Annie Eva (Thomas) Dommershausen, both natives of the above province, where they passed their lives and where they both lie buried in the old ancestral cemetery.
John Dommershausen was educated in the old country and there learned the trade of bricklaying, which he followed in his native province until 1868, in March of which year he came to the United States, locating, a short time thereafter, in Terre Haute,
(394)
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
Ind., which, with the exception of ten years, has since been his place of residence. He followed his chosen calling in this city quite successfully until 1883, when he embarked in merchandizing as a grocer, erecting a business house on the corner of Fifteenth street and Liberty avenue, which was replaced five years later by his present commodious brick structure, in which he carries on a lucrative trade with a constantly increasing patronage.
Amid the many demands upon his time by his business and other secular pursuits, Mr. Dommershausen has ever been mindful of the higher claims of religion, and surely the church in Terre Haute has no more consistent and faithful son that he. Since 1883 he has been a member of St. Benedict parish, being at this time a trustee of the same, also a member of the building committee hav- ing in charge the new house of worship now in process of construc- tion, and he is, beside, an active worker in the society of St. Francis.
W ILLIAM DOWNES, SR., proprietor of a first-class plumb- ing and gas-fitting establishment at South Bend, Ind., was born in the parish of Dunbeg, county Clare, Ireland, September 15, 1850, a son of Michael and Ellen (Quirk) Downes.
Michael Downes, also a native of Dunbeg parish, was born in 1807, received a good parochial school education, and was a farmer all his life. He was married in his native parish, in 1830, by Father O'Brien, and there were born to him eight children, in the following order: Simon, who died in Ireland; Michael, living in California; Mary, wife of Patirck Gorman, and Maggie, wife of John Gorman, both in county Clare, Ireland; Bridget, wife of John Downes, of Chicago, Ill .; Anna, wife of John McInery, of county Clare; John, in the same county, and William, whose name opens this biography.
William Downes, Sr., attended the parochial school of his native parish until his fifteenth year, when he came to the United States, landing in New York, in July, 1865, where he learned plumbing, and then went to Chicago, Ill., where he lived about ten years. From Chicago he came to South Bend, Ind., in 1877,
(395)
THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
and here secured employment with Stevenson & Sons, with whom he remained three years, and then engaged in business on his own account, having now one of the best-equipped plumbing establish- ments in the county and doing an excellent trade.
Mr. Downes was first married in Chicago, at the Jesuit church, in October, 1872, to Miss Maggie Cain, the union resulting in the birth of three children-William, Charles and Fannie. Mrs. Downes was called away in March, 1878, dying in the Catholic faith at South Bend, where her remains lie interred in Calvary cemetery. In October, 1882, at St. Patrick's church in South Bend, Mr. Downes was united in wedlock with Miss Anna Morley, Father Hogerty officiating, and this union has also been blessed with three children, viz: May, Maggie and Joseph. The family are all devoted members of St. Patrick's congregation, Mr. Downes and wife being prominent in all work for good in which it is possi- ble for lay members to take a part, and being very liberal in their contributions toward the general support of the church. Their social standing is of a very pleasant nature and their friends are warm and numerous.
R EV. MICHAEL HECK, in charge of the St. Wendel parish, is one of six children born to Nicholas and Magdalene (Brausch) Heck, natives of Prussia, who came to the United States in De- cember, 1851, and first located near Madison, Ind., where the father bought land and followed agricultural pursuits until 1869, after which he made his home with his son, Michael, leading a re- tired life until his death, which occurred March 17, 1890, at St. Wendel. The mother died March 31, 1865.
Michael Heck was born in Prussia in 1838, and in his boyhood days attended the Prussian public schools. On coming to America with his parents, he began to study for the priesthood in the year 1858, at Madison, Ind., also at private schools, which he attended for two years; he then entered St. Thomas' seminary at Bards- town, Ky., and later entered St. Meinrad seminary, Ind., where he completed his classical and theological studies, and was ordained to the priesthood September 22, 1868, said his first mass at Madi-
(396)
Jaws truly the Heck
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
son, Ind., and immediately thereafter was placed in charge of the Enochsburg, Ind., parish. He was also pastor, later, at St. John the Evangelist's for ten years and a half, and was then placed in charge of his present parish. It is needless to say that the Rev. Heck has improved financially and otherwise the welfare of his present flock, its wonderful increase to 170 families speaking for itself.
JOHN DOSCH, the popular real-estate dealer of Washington, J Daviess county, Ind., was born in Dubois county, Ind., Feb- ruary 20, 1859, a son of Antony and Maria (Dudine) Dosch, natives of Germany, who came to the United States when young, and married in New Orleans January 25, 1847, where they lived for a short time afterward, when they removed to Louisville, Ky., where the father was engaged in gardening a few years, when they came to Indiana and bought a farm in Dubois county, where they have since resided. Their ten children were born in the following order: William, Andrew M., Elizabeth, Mary, Josephine, John (subject), Louise, Flora, Edward C. (deceased), and Clara. The family are members of St. Mary's Catholic congregation, and in politics the male members are democrats.
John Dosch, the subject of this biography, lived on his father's farm until seventeen years old, attending a common-school in the meantime; then attended the parochial school one year under Father J. P. Sassel, and the public-school of Washington about another year, or until nineteen years old, when he appren- ticed himself to E. R. Eskridge, harness and saddlemaker, with whom he remained three years, and then engaged in engineering for the Cable Coal company at Washington, with which he served twelve years, when he was nominated by the democratic party, in the fall of 1890, for county recorder, was elected by twenty-five majority, being the only democrat elected on the county ticket, and served four years; in 1894, however, he was defeated, although his party had full confidence in him and gave him the entire strength of its vote. May 1, 1895, he joined William H. Sanford in the real-estate, loan and insurance business, which has since
(401)
THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
claimed his attention. In April, 1896, Mr. Dosch was put forward by his party as its nominee for county treasurer, but the party formed a fusion with the populists, and he gave up the nomination to the populist candidate, who was elected.
Mr. Dosch was married, in' Washington, Ind., October 28, 1886, to Miss Charlotte F. Faust, who was born in the city Novem- ber 30, 1862, a daughter of Wendeline and Frances (Kegler) Faust, and this union has been blessed with six children, viz: Francis M., Charlotte and Laura (twins), Marie, John C. and Alma M. Mr. Dosch has been a trustee of St. Mary's congrega- tion since 1892, and is also a member of the Young Men's insti- tute, a Catholic fraternal association, organized in San Francisco, Cal., March 4, 1883; Mrs. Dosch is a member of the Altar society of her church, and both are devoted adherents to the Catholic faith. Mr. Dosch owns a fine farm in Washington township and three residences in the city; is agent and treasurer of the German- American Building & Loan association of Indianapolis at Wash- ington, and has filled this position since January, 1895. He is affable in his deportment and in every respect is a capital business man, and well deserves the high esteem in which he is held, both as a gentleman and citizen.
W ILLIAM DOWNEY, one of the best-known residents of St. Patrick's parish, Daviess county, was born on a farm near Alfordsville, Ind., April 3, 1847, the seventh of a family of eight children (seven sons and one daughter) born to Thomas and Bridget (McAvey) Downey, of which children two only-James and William -are now living.
Thomas Downey, a native of county Queens, Ireland, was born about 1801, was reared a farmer, and there married Miss McAvey, who was born in county Kings in 1803. In 1830 Mr. Downey and wife sailed from Dublin for New York, and from the latter city went to Lancaster, Pa., where Mr. Downey for a short time was employed on public works; they next removed to Louis- ville, Ky., and then to Madison, Ind., where Mr. Downey was for (402)
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
some time foreman of a railroad section force, and in 1845 came to Daviess county, where he purchased a partially improved tract of 120 acres of land, which he farmed for twelve years and then sold. He then made a brief visit to Iowa, but returned to Daviess. county and purchased a farm of 160 acres in Reeve township, about 1856, which he later increased to 420 acres. He was one of the most respected men of his township and one of its most pro- gressive and public-spirited citizens, and a regular attendant at the old log church of St. Patrick's parish, to which he donated the land on which the present church-edifice stands and also the ground for the cemetery. In politics he was originally a whig, but later become a Jacksonian democrat, and adhered to this political belief until his death. He lost his wife February 12, 1873, and his own death occurred September 9, 1877, and the remains of both lie interrred in St. Patrick's cemetery, where a handsome marble slab marks their mutual grave.
William Downey remained with his parents, assisting his father in farming, until his marriage, April 23, 1874, to Miss Elizabeth Farrell, by Rev. William Doyle. Mrs. Downey was born in Daviess county April 18, 1847, a daughter of Andrew and Catherine (Smith) Farrell, and was confirmed in the Catholic faith by Bishop de St. Palais in the same class in which her husband was confirmed. Her father was born in county Longford, Ireland, and her mother was a native of Maryland, and these were the parents of six sons and seven daughters, of whom nine are still living -- the eldest son, Joseph, being a farmer and grain buyer at Fort Worth, Tex., and the youngest daughter being the wife of Michael Conlin, a railroad man, also of Fort Worth, while the remaining seven reside in Daviess county, Ind. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Downey has been blessed with one son, James C., who was confirmed at. ten years of age by Bishop Chatard, and is now an able assistant to his father in his agricultural pursuits.
William Downey has passed all his life in Daviess county, has always been among the foremost in aid of his church, and was present when the first spadeful of earth was removed for the pur- pose of making room for the foundation of the present St. Patrick's. church-edifice. In his early years he taught school in Reeve town-
(403).
THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
·ship for 106 days, and for two years was engaged in merchandizing in Armagh, but is now engaged in agriculture, owning 189 acres in Reeve township, while Mrs. Downey owns forty acres in Harrison township-the gift of her father. In politics Mr. Downey is a stanch democrat, and cast his first presidential vote for Horatio Seymour in 1868, and it may be added that James C. Downey cast his first vote for William J. Bryan. Although a democrat, Mr. Downey has been extremely popular with his fellow-citizens of all parties, and served as postmaster of Armagh under the adminis- tration of President Grant. The family are devoted members of St. Patrick's church, and Mr. Downey is also a member of the Catholic Knights of America. No family in the county stands higher, socially, than that of William Downey.
V ERY REV. ANTHONY SCHEIDELER, V. G, rector of St. Mary's (German Catholic) church, on East Maryland street, Indianapolis, is a native of Borgholz, Westphalia, Germany, and was born May 23, 1836. He was primarily educated in the paro- ·chial schools of his native city and began preparation for the priest- hood in the gymnasium at Paderborn. In 1854 he came to Amer- ica and is the only representative of his family in this country, his parents having died in Germany. He entered the college at St. Vincent's, Pa., where he completed his classical and scientific studies, and next entered upon the study of philosophy and theol- ogy at Vincennes, Ind. October 21, 1860, he was ordained priest, in St. Francis Xavier cathedral, in the same city, Bishop de St. Palais presiding, and his first pastoral charge was that of St. Jos- eph, Dearborn county, Ind., where he officiated from October 21, 1860, until July 28, 1874, since which date he has had charge of St. Mary's, in Indianapolis, and since 1878 has been (German) vicar-general of the diocese of Vincennes. St. Mary's parish com- prises nearly 400 families, all of whom are German, and was established in 1857, the church building being erected in 1858. Within its jurisdiction are six parochial schools-three for males and three for females-five of which are under the management of
«(404)
Anthony Scheideler V.g. -
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
the Sisters of St. Francis, who are under the supervision of the- parish priest.
Father Scheideler has been an ardent and earnest worker for the church and parish and well deserves the eminent position which he has attained through his piety and devotion to his duties. Benevolent in his nature, he is consequently gentle in his demeanor, and has won the heartfelt love of his parishioners, not only through. his amiability, but through his profundity in knowledge and elo- quence in the pulpit.
R EV. FRANCIS B. DOWD, rector of St. Anthony's church, Indianapolis, Ind., is a native of New Albany, this state, and. was born April 26, 1862. His elementary education was acquired in the parochial schools of his native city, and his collegiate and seminary courses were pursued at St. Meinrad, covering a period. of ten years. He was ordained to the priesthood May 26, 1888, and his first pastoral duties were performed as assistant at St. John's church, Indianapolis-having celebrated his first mass on Trinity Sunday, April 27, 1888, at Holy Trinity church, New Albany.
Father Dowd continued to officiate at St. John's until the tablishment of St. Anthony's congregation, when he became its. pastor, and under his ministration the general preliminary work was performed and the means raised for the erection of a house of worship. Further information regarding this congregation and work done by the energetic young pastor will be found in the history proper of St. Anthony's church.
D ANIEL DOYLE, of 1804 Woodlawn avenue, Indianapolis, is. one of three brothers, residents of this city, all of whom are well-known citizens, and all of whom are highly respected. Their names are Daniel, Thomas and Michael Doyle. Daniel and his two brothers were all born in the parish of Catherciveen county,
(407)
THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
Kerry, Ireland, near the birthplace of the famous orator, patriot and statesman, Daniel O'Connell. Their parents were Thomas and Margaret Doyle, their mother's maiden name having been McCarty. Their father died when they were yet young, but their mother attained to a good old age. Of the ten children born to this venerated couple, seven grew to mature years, and five, four sons and a daughter, still survive-one son and one daughter still in the Emerald isle.
Daniel Doyle, the subject of this sketch, was about thirty years of age when he came to the United States. Becoming a citi- zen in 1872, he cast his first presidential vote at the election of that year at Terre Haute. He has therefore been a citizen of Indiana the same length of time that he has been a citizen of the United States. From Terre Haute he came to Indianapolis, where he was married in St. Joseph's church, by Rev. Father Alerding, in February, 1879, to Miss Ellen Cahill, daughter of Michael and Alice Cahill, the maiden name of the latter having been Egan. The mother of Mrs. Doyle died in Ireland, but the father and all of his children came to the United States during the years 1851 and 1852. The father died on November 23, 1865, and his remains lie buried in Holy Cross cemetery. The children that came with him to this country were six in number, two sons and four daugh- ters, all of whom are living but one, Thomas, who died at the age of thirteen years, soon after the arrival of the family in America.
Mr. and Mrs. Doyle have lived ever since their marriage in the parish of St. Patrick, but the earlier life of Mrs. Doyle was spent in the parish of St. John. They have but one child, Daniel Thomas, born November 6, 1881. He has been well educated in the Catholic schools, and is now a student at St. Stanislaus col- lege, at Bay St. Louis, Miss. An unusually bright and intelligent young man, he has received numerous prizes for excellence in elo- cution and in his studies generally, the prize for excellence in elo- cution having been given at the close of the school year in 1897. Mr. and Mrs. Doyle are among the most estimable members of the parish in which they reside, and are worthy citizens of their city and state. They have an adopted daughter, named Katie, who has been in the family since her infancy, and who has
(408)
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
received the same kind care and treatment accorded to their own son. She is a bright young girl, and is a joy to her adopted parents.
JOHN DOYLE, superintendent of the Connersville Axle com- pany, was born in Albany, N. Y., June 13, 1863, and is a son of Edward and Mary (Mulvey) Doyle, natives of county Lei- trim, Ireland, but who came to' America when young, and were married in Rhode Island. The children born to Edward and Mary were six in number and were named, in order of birth, as follows: James, John, Mary, Edward, William and Charles. The father, who was a general laborer, died in New York December 28, 1882, in the Catholic faith; the mother now resides in Carthage, Ohio, where several of her children also live to share with her their filial affection, and all are sincere Catholics.
John Doyle was educated in the Sisters' school of Auburn, N. Y., until thirteen years old, and then learned the axlemaker' trade. In September, 1896, he came to Connersville, Ind., to accept his present position as superintendent for the Axle company, which has proven to be mutually satisfactory to the company and himself. He had married, in Auburn, N. Y., January 28, 1883, Miss Maggie Dolohery, who was born in Hornellsville, N. Y., May 21, 1863, and is a daughter of Patrick and Johannah (Hederman) Dolohery, and this marriage has been blessed with one child-William. Mr. and Mrs. Doyle are devout Catholics, are faithful in their church duties, and contribute freely to the support of the parish to which they now belong and to the good work of the church generally.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.