USA > Indiana > History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume II > Part 30
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JOHN B. FERSTL, a popular business man of South Bend, Ind., was born in Bavaria, Germany, December 4, 1845, a son of John B. and Barbara (Pottner) Ferstl, both parents having been born in 1805, married by Rev. Father Hotter in 1835, and dying in 1887 and 1849, respectively, their remains now resting side by side in the Catholic cemetery in the parish of Lupburg, Bavaria. The father, who could trace his ancestry back 500 years, was a farmer and brewer, and died one of the most respected of the inhabitants of his section of Bavaria.
John B. Ferstl, the subject of this biography, attended the parochial school of his native parish until fourteen years of age, and then became a brewer and farmer. He served three years in
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
the German army, and during this period was thoroughly instructed in music. After quitting the service he was occupied in managing his father's estate for several years, and in 1874 engaged in the manufacture of vinegar and mineral water, and in distilling, which he conducted for eight years on his own account. About this time, 1882, also, he was appointed secretary of the emigration board at Basle, Switzerland, acting for A. E. Kennen, of Milwaukee, Wis. In October, 1886, he came to the United States, landing in New York city in the month of October and going thence direct to Mil- waukee, where, for six months, he taught music. He next went to Ashland, Wis., where he was agent for the Pabst Brewing com- pany two years, and then came to South Bend, Ind., as agent for the same company. Here, also, he opened an elegant public place, which is the resort of many of the best people of South Bend, especially of those possessed of a refined musical education or taste.
The marriage of Mr. Ferstl was celebrated in Bavaria, August 13, 1867, by Rev. Father Gabelsberger, with Miss Augusta Grau, of Berathhausen, and this congenial union has been prolific in its fruits, there having been born to it thirteen children, of whom, however, only five survive. Mr. Ferstl and family are prominent as members of St. Mary's (German) Catholic church of South Bend, and of St. Mary's Rosary society. Mr. Ferstl is also a member of a Wisconsin branch of the Catholic Knights of America. He is a genial and refined gentleman and a man of the world, and enjoys the esteem of a wide circle of friends, and his family stand high in the respect of the social circles of the city.
M RS. ELIZABETH FIFE, a most worthy Catholic woman, resides with her family at No. 901 North East street, Indi- anapolis. She is the wife of William Fife, a well-known con- tractor and most worthy citizen. Previous to her marriage Mrs. Fife's name was Elizabeth Fagan, and she is a daughter of James and Mary Fagan, the maiden name of the latter having been Daly. They were natives of Canada, and removed thence to Lasalle, (500)
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
Ill., where they passed the remainder of their lives. The mother of Mrs. Fife was a devout Catholic, and from her mother Mrs. Fife inherited a strong love for the church. Mrs. Fife was one of the family of eight children, who became widely separated years ago, and several of them are now deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Fife have three children, born in Lasalle, and all brought up in the Catholic faith. The eldest, Helen, was edu- cated at the school of the Sisters of Providence, at Muncie, Ind., and after the family became residents of Indianapolis, she attended the academy of St. Joseph; George W., the only son, is a book- keeper by occupation, and the youngest child, Elizabeth Marie, graduated at St. Joseph's academy in 1897. Mr. Fife is of Scotch birth and parentage, and is a citizen highly esteemed by all that know him.
JOHN H. FIHE, a well-known member of St. Andrew's parish, J Richmond, Ind., was born in Mertzen, Germany, in the year 1822, a son of Bernard and Catharine Fihe, both natives of the Fatherland. Bernard Fihe was born in 1789, educated in the schools of Mertzen, and followed farming in his native country until his death, which occurred in the year 1833. His wife, whose maiden name was Catherine Meyer, and whom he married in 1814, came to the United States shortly after the death of her husband, bringing with her five sons, and located in Cincinnati, where she departed this life in 1850.
John H. Fihe attended school in his native country and, after becoming a citizen of the United States, worked at different kinds of labor in Cincinnati, chiefly stone paving, and for some time was in the employ of the city government of that city as a teamster. In 1850 he engaged in the dry-goods business, which he followed until 1864, when he disposed of his stock and came to Richmond, Ind., near which city he purchased a beautiful little farm, but his home is within the city limits, and his property, the product of his own unaided efforts, is a valuable one.
Mr. Fihe has been twice married-the first time in St. Mary's church, Cincinnati, to Catherine Beckman, who died in the spring
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
of 1870, leaving one child, a daughter, Elizabeth, wife of John H. Dickman, of Richmond. The second marriage was solemnized October 25, 1870, with Caroline Ferneding, which union has resulted in the birth of six children, viz: Leo, Joseph, Clement, Bertha, Harry and Pauline, the last three of whom are still under the parental roof. Leo is a pharmacist in Richmond. Joseph holds a responsible position with the American Tin Plate company .at Elwood, Ind., and Clement is a student at the university of Cin- cinnati, Ohio. From early youth Mr. Fihe has been a faithful attendant upon the duties of his church and he makes all secular matters subordinate to its claims; St. Andrew's parish finds him and his family among its devoted members. Mrs. Fihe belongs to St. Ann's society and takes an active interest in its prosperity.
R EV. GEORGE J. LANNERT, assistant rector of St. Joseph parish, Indianapolis, was born in Evansville, Ind., February 9, 1867. His parents, Joseph and Frances (Bosler) Lannert, were natives respectively of Germany and Pennsylvania, the father com- ing to the United States at the age of fourteen, and dying at Evansville in the year 1876; the mother, still a widow, lives in the above city at the present time. The subject of this sketch is the eldest of five children, the other four having been named: Raymond Nicholas, Mary, Katie, who died in infancy, and Clara. With the exception of Father Lannert, the family reside in Evansville, where the different members are variously employed.
Father Lannert's elementary education was received in the parochial schools of his native city, which he attended seven years, and during the succeeding five years he held clerkship with different mercantile firms of Evansville. At the age of eighteen he decided to devote his life to the welfare of humanity, and at once began the course of preparation for the priesthood. From September, 1885, to June, 1889, he pursued his studies at St. Meinrad's college, and from September of the latter year to June, 1893, was a student at Mount St. Mary's, Emmettsburg, Md. The last two years of his theological course were spent at Mount St. Mary's of the West
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Is Joseph Lament.
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
at Cincinnati, where he was ordained priest, June 19, 1895, by Archbishop Elder, after ten years of patient and laborious study.
After a vacation of three weeks, Father Lannert entered upon his life-work as assistant rector of St. Joseph's church, Indianapolis, where he has since zealously ministered to the spiritual wants of his people. Thus far his life has been fraught with good works and he has before him a future of great promise.
JOHN H. FILCER, a prominent Catholic citizen of Indianapo- J lis, resides with his family at 1118 Cornell avenue, within the limits of St. Joseph's parish, in which they have resided since 1884. Mr. Filcer was born in Center county, Pa., 1839, and is a son of Michael and Margaret Filcer, who were of German Catholic origin, but whose ancestors for several generations had been natives of Pennsylvania. Michael Filcer resided in Blair county, Pa., at the time of his death, but his wife passed the closing years of her life in Cambria county.
John H. Filcer, the subject of this sketch, became connected with railroad business early in life, and has been thus connected ever since. The rudiments of his education he obtained in the public schools, and later he learned the trade of boilermaking in the shops of the Pennsylvania Railroad company, and then went to Illinois. He has been connected with the Big Four rail- road as foreman since 1863, a period of thirty-five years, his pres- ent position being that of general foreman of the boiler depart- ment of the Chicago & Whitewater division, in Indianapolis. His great length of service is fully indicative of the faithfulness with which he has performed his duties, and is an index to the excellent character which he bears.
Mr. Filcer was married, first, to Miss Mary C. Carry, at Fort Wayne, Ind., November 28, 1861. She was a native of Ireland. and by her marriage to Mr. Filcer became the mother of one daughter, Margaret Elizabeth, who was born September 14, 1862, at Fort Wayne, Ind. This young lady, as she grew to mature years, developed into a beautiful and lovely character, and early
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evinced a desire to lead a strictly religious life, and her father will- ingly consented to the gratification of her ambition. She was educated at St. Mary's of the Woods, and in due time became Sister Mary Celestia. Faithful in the discharge of her duties her health at length became delicate, and on June 27, 1896, she passed from earthly labors to her heavenly reward. At the time of her death she was Sister Superior at LaFayette, Ind.
At Mattoon, Ill., in August, 1883, Mr. Filcer married Miss Kate Kahoe, his first wife having died August 12, 1879. Miss Kate Kahoe was born in county Wicklow, Ireland, and is a daughter of Simon and Margaret Kahoe, neither of whom ever came to the United States, and both of whom are now deceased. Mrs. Filcer arrived in this country in May, 1876, She and her husband are the parents of four living children, two sons and two daughters, viz: John Edward, born July 7, 1884; Marie, born November 28, 1885; Leo, born May 3, 1891, and Kathleen, born July 15, 1894. All of these children were born in Indianapolis, but the eldest, who was born in Mattoon, Ill. There was also a younger daugh- ter, Mary Celestia, who died at the age of three years and three months. Mr. and Mrs. Filcer are numbered among the good citi- zens of Indianapolis, and are highly esteemed members of St. Joseph's church, to the support of which they are liberal con- tributors.
E DWARD FINAN, a prosperous citizen of Monroeville, Allen county, Ind., and a contractor for railroad cross-ties, was born in Ireland in 1845, and is a son of John and Ellen (Mourn) Finan, who were the parents of seven sons and one daughter. John and his wife, Ellen, came with their Irish-born children to the United States, via Canada, in 1847, and settled in Benton township, Paulding county, Ohio, where the father died in 1895, at the age of ninety-four years, although he had frequently changed his place of residence during the intervening period.
Edward Finan, the fourth born of the eight children alluded to above, was reared in Paulding county, received a good common -- school education, and at the age of nineteen years enlisted, in. (506)
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
1864, in company I, One Hundred and Thirty-first Ohio volunteer infantry, and served six months. He then returned to Paulding county, where he resided until 1870, when he came to Monroeville, and engaged in the manufacture of staves and in the general lumber business, and also has done more or less merchandizing. In politics a democrat, he was appointed postmaster of Monroe- ville in 1885, and held the office until 1889, and has likewise held several other positions of trust.
In 1873 Mr. Finan was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Jane Stephenson, daughter of John D. and Mary Stephenson, and to this union were born four children, viz: John J., Roger (deceased), Michael (deceased) and Lewis E. The family are devout members of St. Rose of Lima congregation, to the support of which they liberally contribute, and Mr. Finan is also a mem- ber of St. Joseph's Benevolent society. Mr. Finan has always been energetic as a business man and has secured a competency. He is greatly respected as a citizen, and the social standing of the family is as enviable as it is pleasant.
D ANIEL WEBSTER FINN, a prominent young merchant of Indianapolis, doing business at No. 1001 South Capitol ave- nue, was born near Lexington, Ky., July 8, 1863, son of John and Mary (Mooney) Finn, who were born in Ireland, but came to America in their youthful days, and were married in Kentucky. To. their union were born eight children, viz: Luke, who is sheriff of Greeley county. Neb., and resides in Greeley Center; Daniel WV .; John, who is connected with a gas developing company in northern Indiana; Timothy J., employed with the Kingan Packing company of Indianapolis; William J., a clerk in a mercantile house in this city; Mary, wife of William Speak, superintendent of the Baltimore & Ohio southwestern roundhouse, at Louisville, Ky .;. Winifred, still with her mother, and one child that died in infancy. The father of this family passed away on his farm in Bartholomew county, Ind., in 1890, and the mother, with all her surviving chil- dren, excepting Luke and Mary, now resides in Indianapolis.
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Daniel W. Finn passed his boyhood upon his father's farm, and was educated in the public schools of Indiana, primarily; he also attended a business college in Indianapolis, and a normal school, being prepared in the latter for the vocation of a teacher, but never engaged in this profession. His early manhood was passed as a clerk in a Nebraska wholesale house; later, he learned the trade of carriagemaking in Indianapolis, but for the last three years has been in mercantile trade at his present location. Here he carries a full and well assorted stock of groceries, provisions, fancy goods, etc., and is doing an excellent business, which he is well qualified to transact, as he has gained a broad experience through extensive travel in various states of the Union, and physic- ally is well adapted for the activities of commercial life, being'six feet two inches in stature, and weighing nearly 200 pounds, with no superfluous adipose deposit.
The church relations of the family are with St. Bridget's par- ish, but they are not connected with any of the church societies or other orders. In politics Mr. Finn is a democrat, but not a par- tisan in the office-seeking sense of the work. He is honored and respected wherever known.
JOHN BAPTIST LAPLANTE, deceased, was a prominent capi- J talist of Vincennes, Ind., his native city, and was born Febru- ary 3, 1823, a son of Pierre and Elizabeth (Gamlin) LaPlante, and Vincennes was always his home, with the exception of four years passed in Logansport, Ind.
Pierre (or Peter) LaPlante was born in Three Rivers, Mich., was of French and Irish parentage, was a carpenter by trade, and early came to Vincennes and here married Miss Gamlin, a native of this ancient town, this union resulting in the birth of six chil- dren, namely: Peter E., deceased; Alzier, a daughter, who died of lockjaw at the age of three years; John Baptist, the subject of this notice; Paul and Alexander, who died in middle life, and Charles. Peter E., who lived in the family of subject for forty- two years, being his partner in business, died unmarried, and Charles, the youngest of the family, still survives.
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P.E. LaPlante
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
John B. LaPlante learned the saddler's trade in youth, but this was uncongenial to his taste, and he therefore engaged in mer- cantile and other lines of business, including the grocery trade, hotel-keeping and livery, in all of which he invariably prospered, being actively engaged in these various lines for over thirty years, and retiring on a competency about the year 1883.
In 1870 Mr. LaPlante erected the LaPlante house, at the corner of First and Main streets, Vincennes-a fine three-story brick of sixty rooms, which he furnished finely and leased for many years. He was also extensively engaged in the real-estate busi- ness, and owned numerous business and residence properties in Vincennes and a farm near Chicago, Ill.
The first marriage of Mr. LaPlante occurred December 7, 1845, with Miss Melinda Scott, of Logansport, Ind. This lady was a Protestant in religion, but at marriage became a Catholic. She was an invalid for many years, and to aid in restoring her health, Mr. LaPlante traveled with her extensively through Europe, but after a married life of twenty-seven years, she eventually expired, in Vincennes, in 1872, a devout believer in the faith to which she had been so happily converted-but died childless. The second marriage of Mr. LaPlante took place in May, 1874, to Miss Cassie E. Aull, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, and a daughter of Jacob and Margaret (Wagner) Aull, natives of Maryland, and of German ancestry. This union was blessed with two children, viz: an infant, that was born in 1883, but died the same year, and John B. E., who was born June 13, 1887.
Mr. LaPlante was a consistant member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic church, of which his parents and all their family were communicants. He was a gentleman of broad views, was liberal in his contributions to his church and all charitable institutions, was highly esteemed for his many excellent traits of character, and as a citizen was useful and public-spirited and a credit to his native city. In politics he was a whig up to 1856, when he became a democrat. Although he was never an office seeker in any sense, as his business affairs claimed his close attention, he served, as a matter of public duty, as county commissioner and as a member of the city council of Vincennes. His social standing was always
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
with the elite of the city, and as a man his morality and business truth gained for him a name without flaw or blemish. His lamented death occurred May 27, 1898, and his loss will long be deplored by the community in which he was born, and in whose behalf he so earnestly labored for many years-devoting the vigor of his early manhood and middle life to its moral improvemant and substantial well being.
C HARLES LAPLANTE, a retired capitalist of Vincennes, Ind., is a native of the city, and was born September 28, 1833. A brief sketch of the ancestry of Mr. LaPlante will be found on a preceding page in this volume, and it is only necessary here to state that he is a son of Pierre and Elizabeth (Gamlin) LaPlante, the former of whom was born in Three Rivers, Mich., and the latter in Vincennes, Ind., in which city their marriage took place.
After a proper education in the parochial schools of Vincennes, Charles LaPlante went to St. Louis, Mo., there learned the paint- er's trade, and after passing three years in that city returned to Vincennes, Ind., and here bought a grocery from his brother, John B., which business he conducted until a few years ago, and finally retired from merchandizing in 1892, since which time he has been engaged in the management of his realty, much of which he inher- ited from his pioneer father of blessed memory, although, through his own good management and business talents he had himself ac- cumulated a handsome competency.
Charles LaPlante was first united in marriage, in 1861, with Miss Sarah Heiler, a native of Vincennes, who died at the close of eight years of wedded life. The only child born to this marriage, John B., died at the age of four years. The second marriage of Mr. LaPlante was to Miss Elizabeth Page, who was born in Vin- cennes, in 1847, a daughter of John B. and Elizabeth Page, the former of whom died in 1887; the latter is still living in Vincennes. Mrs. LaPlante has one brother and two sisters, all residents of Vin- cennes, viz: John B., a dealer in harness. and Mrs. Mary Thuis and Miss Susan Page. Mr. and Mrs. LaPlante are members of the (514)
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
congregation of St. Francis Xavier cathedral, and are sincere and devout in their observance of their religious duties. In poli- tics Mr. LaPlante is democratic, but has never sought nor held public office.
[AMES F. FINN, chief engineer of the Citizens' Electric Street J railway, Indianapolis, is a conspicuous example of what a foreign-born citizen of the United States may accomplish by intel- ligent application of his powers to the accomplishment of a pur- pose. He was born in county Mayo, Ireland, July 1, 1857, and is a son of Thomas and Bridget (Morley) Finn, both of whom were natives of county Mayo, and who came to the United States, bringing their family with them, about 1873, the former, however, having preceded his family by about one year. The family upon reaching this country located in Greensburg, Ind., where they remained about eight years, came to Indianapolis in 1880, and both father and mother are now living at No. 27 Grant street.
James F. Finn, the subject of this sketch, is the eldest of a family of nine children, the others being named Patrick, Thomas, Mary, Martin, Nora, John, Bridget and Richard. Bridget and Richard, however, died in early childhood; Patrick is living in St. Louis; Thomas is employed in a packing house in Kansas City; Mary, now Mrs. Michael King, resides near Clearmont, her hus- band being a prosperous farmer; Martin is employed at Kingan's packing house in Indianapolis and is a married man; Nora is the wife of Joseph Klee, and resides in Indianapolis; John, who is still single, lives with his parents and is also employed in Kingan's packing house.
During the earlier years of the subject of this sketch his edu- cational advantages were exceedingly limited, and in fact he has obtained his education since becoming twenty years of age. His first employment in the United States was in the capacity of a laborer in a stone quarry, in which work he spent three years. A short time was also spent by him in working on a railroad and on the streets in Greensburg, in which place he began his studies.
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After coming to Indianapolis his first eight years were spent in working on the new state house, in the operation of the hoisting engine, he having previously, in Bedford, Ind., been employed as fireman in a flouring-mill, in which capacity he received his first instructions in the management of the steam engine. He now states there are 18,000 cubic feet of rock in each layer of the dome, which stone he hoisted to its position. The state house being finished, he filled a similar position in Chicago in connection with the construction of the Auditorium building, which stands on Michigan and Wabash avenues and Congress street, and in this work he was engaged five months. Afterward he was engaged in the operation of an engine running the ice machinery of Armour's packing establishment.
Returning to Indianapolis and being desirous of engaging in electrical engineering, he began at the very bottom, digging holes for the trolley poles, and after a few months thus spent he was given charge of an engine of the Brush Electric Light company on South Pennsylvania street. He was the first electric inspector of Indianapolis. Later, upon going to Richmond, Ind., he became chief engineer for the Electric Street Railway company, the posi- tion being secured for him through the influence of his former employers in Indianapolis. Three years were spent in this capacity in Richmond, and while he was thus engaged an offer was made to him to return to Indianapolis to operate the electric light plant in a rolling-mill, which offer he accepted, but subsequently lost the position through the failure of the company owning the rolling-mill. He then became fireman for the company by which he is at present employed. While thus engaged as fireman he has been offered the place of switch-board manager, a very important position, but a proposition soon came to him to become engineer for the Indianapolis Light & Power company, with which company he was thus connected for eleven months, and it was while thus engaged that he was requested to return to the Citizens' Electric Street Railway company as chief engineer, which place he has now been filling for more than two years. This position is a responsi- ble one and yields him a good salary. In all of the positions he has filled, as narrated above, he has always striven to fill them
516)
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
with ability and fidelity, and his success has been recognized by the various companies by which he has been employed.
Mr. Finn was married at St. John's church, Indianapolis, by the Rev. Father Gavisk, June 20, 1888, to Miss Beisie Sharkey, who was born in county Roscommon, Ireland, and who is a daugh- ter of John and Margaret (Beirne) Sharkey, both of whom died in Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Sharkey were the parents of the following children: Mary, now deceased; Beisie, wife of the subject of this sketch; Maggie, known in the church as Sister St. Magdalen, is at St. Mary's of the Woods, Terre Haute, Ind .; Kate resides in Indianapolis, and is still single; Martin, formerly a section fore- man, is now employed at Kingan's packing house; John, who was killed at Green Castle, Ind., in a runaway accident; Michael, a boilermaker, who was employed in the shops of the "Big Four" Railway company for several years, but who is now assistant fore- man; William, who is married and living in Ireland, and who has quite a family of children, and Lizzie, married to James Dyer, and living in Ireland.
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