USA > Indiana > History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume II > Part 40
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H ENRY WILLIAM GUETIG, who resides with his wife at No. 625 East Market street, Indianapolis, was one of the earliest Catholic settlers of Indianapolis. He was born in Louisville, Ky., April 9, 1835, his parents being Peter Oscar and Catherine (Schaffer)
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Guetig, the former of whom was a native of the city of Wurms, Hesse-Darmstadt, and the latter of Hansheim, near the city in which her husband was born. They came to the United States in 1827 and resided for a short time in New Orleans, whence they removed to Louisville, Ky., where they passed the remainder of their lives. They were consistent Catholics and excellent citizens, and were the parents of nine children, four of whom are now liv- ing, viz: Peter, Philip, Kate and Henry W., all residents of Louis- ville, except Henry William. the subject of this sketch. Two of the subject's brothers, Charles and Henry, were soldiers in the Union army during the war of the Rebellion and were killed at the battle of Stone River, the former being lieutenant-colonel of the Fourth Kentucky cavalry, and the latter captain of a company in · the Twenty-third Kentucky volunteer infantry. Both were brave, gallant and faithful soldiers. Peter and Philip were also soldiers on the Union side during the same war.
Henry William Guetig has been a resident of Indianapolis since 1852. He was married August 23, 1859, by the Rev. Father Siegrist, at St. Mary's church, to Miss Barbara Dubois, daughter of John and Anna Dubois, and to this marriage there were born two children, Amelia and one unnamed, both of whom are deceased. During all of the forty years of their residence in Indianapolis, Mr. and Mrs. Guetig have been members of St. Mary's parish, or rather since the organization of that parish, Mr. Guetig being one of the trustees of the parish for six years, and having assisted in the building of the church. For four years he was president of St. Boniface society, performing his duties in this, as in all other posi- tions which he has filled, conscientiously and to the satisfaction of all concerned. He was active and successful in business, having been the proprietor of the Spencer house in Indianapolis, which was a famous hostelry, for eight years, and was connected with that house in various capacities for twenty years. In his early days he learned the trade of barber, and is now conducting a shop near his house on East Market street. Mr. and Mrs. Guetig are among the well-known citizens of Indianapolis, and enjoy the respect and esteem of all that know them.
John Dubois, father of Mrs. Guetig, and one of the early
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Catholic citizens of Indianapolis, was born in Prussia, near the border of France, in 1797. As his name indicates (Du Bois), he was of French ancestry. Upon arriving at manhood's estate, he married Anna Baker, and in the vicinity of his birth their children were born. In the spring of 1853 the family emigrated to the United States, landed in New York, remained there about six months, removing thence to Madison, Ind. In 1855 they came to Indianapolis, where Mr. and Mrs. Dubois passed most of the remainder of their lives. Mr. Dubois was a shoemaker by trade, at which he worked many years, and died in Chicago, to which city he had removed a short time before, his death occurring in 1867. His wife survived him many years, dying in 1883, at the Spencer house, of which Mr. and Mrs. Guetig were then the pro- prietors, she at the time being seventy-eight years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Dubois were all their lives consistent Catholics and esti- mable people, and they reared their children carefully in the faith they themselves entertained. They had nine children, six of whom grew to mature years, and two of whom still survive. Mrs. Guetig has an elder sister, Mrs. Kate Marceger, of Chicago. Those who grew to mature years, beside these two sisters, were Mrs. Margaret Gale, John, Joseph and Matthew.
R EV. MICHAEL L. GUTHNECK, rector of St. Michael's church, at Madison, Jefferson county, Ind., was born in Jas- per county, Ill., March 12, 1848, a son of Charles and Anna (McManus) Guthneck, the former a native of Alsace, France, and the latter of Philadelphia, Pa., of Irish parentage.
Charles Guthneck was born in 1814, and came to the United States when twenty-one years of age, with a French colony, who made their headquarters at Vincennes. He became a stone and brick contractor and built many bridges for the Baltimore & Ohio and Southwestern railroads. He resided chiefly in Jasper, Rich- land and Lawrence counties, Ill., and acquired a competency. To his marriage were born eight children, of whom five reached mature years, viz: Francis, who resides in Jasper county, Ill. ; John, now deceased; Rev. Michael L., the subject; Mary, a Sister (670)
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·of Providence, and Emma, who also became a Sister of Provi- dence, but is now deceased.
Rev. Michael L. Guthneck was primarily educated in the public schools of Jasper county, Ill., and for two years taught in the public schools of the same county. He then entered St. Meinrad's seminary, in Spencer county, Ind., and on St. Michael's day, 1878, was ordained by Bishop Chatard, Rev. C. J. Conrad, of Seymour, Ind., and himself being the first two priests ordained by the bishop mentioned. Rev. Father Guthneck was assigned to the charge of St. Michael's church and St. Patrick's mission at Can- nelton, Ind., and during his administration the new St. Patrick's church was built at a cost of $12,000, leaving an incumbrance of $2,000 only at the time of his leaving. But the reverend father's health became impaired, and he was obliged to pass some time in recuperating on the sea-coast. On his return to Cannelton he was transferred to New Alsace, Dearborn county, in March, 1885, and placed in charge of St. Paul's church. He remained about sixteen months and succeeded in paying off considerable of the church debt. He was then assigned to the pastorate of St. Vin- cent's church in Shelby county, and also had charge of the church at St. Paul, Decatur county. He frescoed St. Vincent's church in a most tasteful manner and finished the priest's house, and was ever indefatigable in his labors to improve both the spiritual and temporal condition of his parishioners.
In November, 1890, Rev. Father Guthneck came to Madison, and here his energy has also been made manifest. He has fres- coed St. Michael's, put in new altars, statues, stations of the cross, etc., and is now placing in position a fine pipe organ, at a cost of about $2,200; he has also furnished the edifice with a 2,000-pound bell, and finely stained-glass windows, and made several minor improvements, and still the congregation has been free of debt for the past six years. There are about 200 families in the parish, and the school is in charge of the Sisters of Providence, of whom there are usually five engaged in the work of instruction. Rev. Guthneck has proven himself to be a zealous clergyman, and an untiring servant of the church, as well as a devoted father of his flock.
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JOSEPH HABIG, a flour-mill proprietor at Greensburgh, Decatur county, Ind., was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, April 29, 1841, and was there reared and educated.
Ambrose Habig, grandfather of subject, was a native of Baden Baden, Germany, brought his family to America and settled in Hamilton county, Ohio, near Cincinnati, when that western metrop- olis was little more than a village, and engaged in market garden- ing-the Dayton depot now standing on the land he originally occupied. He and family belonged to St. John's church, which was the first German Catholic church erected in Cincinnati, and stood very high in the esteem of the community in which they had so long lived.
Anthony Habig, father of Joseph Habig, was one of the chil- dren of Ambrose who came with his father from Baden Baden to America. He was a well educated man, spoke the German, French and English languages, and married, in Cincinnati, Miss Mary A. Donnersberger, a daughter of Anthony and Eve Donners- berger, the father of the lady being also a gardener, whose garden was in part the site of the present St. Anthony's church, which site he donated to Father Purcell. To Mr. and Mrs. Habig there were born, beside Joseph, John B., who is one of the oldest under- takers in Cincinnati, and Mary E., who is now the wife of a Mr. Braunstein. Mr. and Mrs. Habig were devout Catholics and members of St. Anthony's congregation, and in this faith the father died September 21, 1851, and the mother in October, 1875. The father was most skillful in his vocation, gave his children good educations, and left a fortune valued at $30,000.
Joseph Habig, at the age of twenty years, enlisted, in Cin- cinnati, in September, 1861, in the Fifth Ohio volunteer cavalry, under Col. H. H. Taylor, and served until honorably dis- charged in June, 1865. He was a gallant soldier and made an excellent military record, and took part in all the battles in which his regiment was engaged, beginning at Shiloh and fighting through Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and South Carolina, receiving his discharge at Savannah.
He was married in Cincinnati, June 8, 1865, to Miss Theressa M. Hartlaub, the ceremony being performed in the Franciscan
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church, and this marriage has been blessed with nine children. In 1880 he removed to Shelbyville, Ind., and in 1895 came to Greensburgh, where he has since prosperously operated his flour- mill, which has a capacity of 150 barrels per day. In politics Mr. Habig is a democrat, and although stanch and true to his polit- ical views, is not at all aggressive in his advocacy of his party's principles. In religion he is a true Catholic, and has been very liberal toward his church, having donated a statue of St. Joseph to St. Lawrence church in Cincinnati, a statue of the Sacret Heart to his church in Shelbyville, has also paid for 'the Sacred Heart for St. Mary's church in Greensburgh, and a statue of the Sacred Heart for the church at Siberia, Ind. He and family are now members of St. Mary's congregation in Greensburgh, and his son Anthony is a major of the Knights of St. John-the third highest rank in the state of Indiana.
JOSEPH HALTEN, a retired carpenter and builder of Vin- J
cennes, Ind., was born in Alsace, France, September 24, 1834, a son of Frank and Katherine (Messong) Halten, the former of whom was a gardener and farmer. Besides Joseph there were six other children in the family, viz: Charles, who was a soldier in the Franco-Prussian war, and who, on his return home, was taken sick and died; Louis, also a soldier in the French army, died in Africa while in the service of his country; Katherine is married and lives at the old family home in Alsace; Marie lives on the strip of territory acquired by France from Spain, and is also married; Adele died a married woman, and Rosina died single.
Joseph - Halten learned the carpenter's trade in his native country, and in 1854 came to America, reaching Vincennes January 14, and this city has ever since been his home. The greater part of liis business career was as a journeyman, but after entering upon contracting and building on his own account he met with very fair success, and is now living on his means.
Mr. Halten was united in marriage, April 16, 1861, by Rev. Father Engle, at St. John's German Catholic church, with Miss
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Rosina Heitzinan, a native of Westmoreland county, Pa., born June 11, 1845. Their union has been blessed with six children, viz: Michael, a clerk in a grocery and married; Marie, who is the wife of Victor Klann but is residing with her parents; Joseph, who is a cooper by trade, but is now clerking, and is also married; Louis, a clerk in a clothing store; Rosina Elizabeth died in childhood, and Anthony died at the age of eleven years. The family worship at St. John's German Catholic church and are very highly esteemed by the citizens of Vincennes. In politics Mr. Halten and his sons support the principles of the democratic party.
P ATRICK HAMILL, whose place of business is at No. 802 West Washington street, Indianapolis, Ind., was born in Bel- fast, county Antrim, Ireland, in 1852. He is a son of John and Serena (Murney) Hamill, both natives of Belfast, in which city they passed their entire lives. Mrs. Hamill died in 1875 and Mr. Hamill in 1877. They were the parents of four children, two sons and two daughters, as follows: John, who is now a resident of Glasgow, Scotland, where he is employed by the Caledonian Iron works; Patrick, the second in order of birth and the subject of this sketch; Mary Ann, wife of Patrick Kelley, of Belfast, Ireland, and one who died in childhood.
Patrick Hamill emigrated to the United States in 1881, hav- ing been employed, however, in Belfast, Ireland, by the Kingan Packing company, of Indianapolis, in a branch house of theirs in the former place, for some years. Upon arriving in Indianapolis he still remained in the employ of the same company, making now a total of twenty-three years. Mr. Hamill is a skillful packer, this being recognized as a trade by the packing fraternity as much as any other branch of skilled labor. In July, 1896, Mr. Hamill returned for a visit to his native country, remaining there about two months. Upon again coming to Indianapolis he engaged in his present business, which he, however, had established a short time before going to Ireland in 1896, and he has been thus engaged ever since. He still remains single. Since 1883, when he was (674)
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naturalized, he has been an uncompromising democrat, and has been an active worker for his party's success, but has never held nor sought to hold official position. Religiously he is a member of St. John's church, contributes liberally to its support, and is by all that know him highly thought of as a man and citizen.
M ARTIN HALEY, a retired business man of Monroeville, Allen county, Ind., was born in county Galway, Ireland, Novem- ber 18, 1826, was educated in the common schools, and at the age of twenty years engaged in farming on his own account. Later he began railroading, which he followed twelve years, and then opened a saloon, which business he profitably conducted for sixteen years, and then retired to private life. He married Miss Katie Coin, which union has been blessed with four children, viz: Mary (now Mrs. J. Funk, of Toledo, Ohio), Catherine, Maggie and Ellen, all devout members of the Catholic church.
Mr. Haley was reared in the Catholic faith and he has ever been prompt and liberal in his contributions to its support. His wife is also devoted to this faith and both have passed their lives in strict accordance with its teachings. Mr. Haley is much respected in the community, and his family, with him, enjoy in a high degree the esteem of the neighbors with whom the parents have lived for so many years, and with whom the younger children have passed their days since childhood.
DEV. GEORGE A. HAMILTON (deceased). - Father Hamilton was a native of Marion county, Ky., and was born in 1818. Educated at St. Mary's college, Lebanon, his labors led him from Kentucky to Illinois, and he became pastor of St. Mary's, LaFay- ette, in 1864. Never was pastor more beloved by his flock than was Father Hamilton. Unaffected and plain in his manners, he disdained ceremony. As a matter of conviction and duty he fol- lowed the ritual of the church, but socially he had little sympathy
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with forms and observances. In all his words and ways sincere, outspoken, practical and direct, he was the personification of com- mon sense. The manifestations of his unaffected nature were, however, not inconsistent with the possession on his part of refined and elegant learning. In all his church buildings he controlled and directed the architects; in matters of taste and ornament he asked no advice from the decorators. A linguist, familiar with the two great languages of antiquity, he possessed so accurate a knowledge of the French, that he studied with delight the sermons of Bossuet and Massillon in the original, and in 1848, published a volume of these sermons translated into admirable English. Beneath his unaffected manner was veiled a warm and sympathetic heart. As a natural result he was a universal favorite. "All things to all men," he was universally popular.
Early in May, 1874, Father Hamilton joined the first Amer- ican pilgrimage to Rome in company with Bishop Dwenger, and died, after his return, on April 10, 1875.
DEV. TIMOTHY O'DONAGHUE, of St. John's church, Loo- gootee, Martin county, Ind., is a native of Daviess county, and was born November 9, 1844, a son of James and Mary (Toomy) O'Donaghue, both natives of county Cork, Ireland, but who came to America shortly after marriage and landed in the city of New York, where they resided until 1834, when they came to Indiana and settled in Daviess county, where the father's death took place January 17, 1878, and that of the mother February 27, 1896, leaving a family of ten children.
Rev. Timothy O'Donaghue, with whose name this biography is opened, received a sound public-school education and later attended St. Joseph's college at Bardstown, Ky., for four years, and completed his studies at St. Meinrad's college, in Spencer county, Ind. February 17, 1878, he was ordained priest by Bishop Purcell, and in the same month was assigned to the charge at Montezuma, Ind., and was also given charge of the mission of St. Mary's at Rockville, near by. After eighteen months of arduous (676)
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and faithful, and, withal, successful labor in the cure of souls at these points, he was transferred, in recognition of his merits, to a broader and more useful field-that of St. Mary's in Daviess county, and also given the charge of St. Joseph's parish, in Martin county. In 1890, he was assigned to his present position of pastor of St. John's at Loogootee, and here has ever since labored steadfastly in the work of the church, proving to be a most acceptable spiritual guide to a constantly increasing flock, and by self-abnegation, piety and courtesy, winning the respect of people of all sects and conditions in life.
D ANIEL J. HANDLIN, a well-known railroad conductor, of No. 1417 Fletcher avenue, Indianapolis, has been a resident of St. Patrick's parish since May 9, 1891. He was born in Cincin- nati, Ohio, November 13, 1851, a son of John and Mary Handlin, but lost his father when an infant. He was the youngest in a fam- ily of five, the others being James, of Seymour, Wayne county, lowa; Mrs. Maria Rittmum, of Chicago, Ill .; Mrs. Lizzie Hickey, of Fletcher avenue, Indianapolis, and a sister, who died young. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Handlin became Mrs. Maho- ney, when subject was five years old, and passed away November 27, 1890, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Hickey.
In 1864, when Daniel J. Handlin was in his fourteenth year, he was seized with a strong desire to serve his country in the then pending Civil war, and ran away from home for the purpose of enlisting on one of the gunboats at Cincinnati, but his mother, ascertaining the fact, pursued him and returned him to his home. But his ardor was not dampened nor in any degree cooled, but rekindled, rather, by the veterans who, about this time, were returning home on furlough, and gave accounts so glowing of vic- tory on the battle field, that young Handlin determined to reach the front at all hazards, and so "beat his way " down with some of the soldiers as they returned to their various commands. He arrived at the front just as Gen. Sherman was about to start on his famous Atlanta campaign, but was yet too young for enlist- ment, but happened to fall under the notice of Regimental Sur-
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geon Herbert, who took charge of him and utilized him in dis- charging his surgical duties throughout the entire campaign, in which the protege witnessed some of the hardest-fought battles of the war.
On his return home he resumed his studies at school, which he continued until 1867, when he began his railroad life, which he has now followed for more than thirty years. He was married in Cincinnati in September, 1873, to Miss Mary V. Hayden, who was born in Ohio, but at the age of six months was taken to what is now West Virginia, her father, Michael Hayden, being one of the early settlers of Parkersburg. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Handlin has been blessed with two children-Regina Mary, born November 21, 1879, and John Hayden, born August 5, 1883. The family are greatly respected by their neighbors for their unvarying habits of propriety and their uniform observance of the teachings of their church.
H ENRY F. HANF, a highly respected citizen of Indianapolis, is a native of this city and was born on South Jersey street, October 5, 1859.
Henry and Eva (Mueller) Hanf, parents of Henry F., were of pure German stock, but were born in Alsace, a province of France at the time of their birth, but which has reverted to Germany and is now the province of Elsass. They came to America while yet single, were married in Indianapolis, and now reside at No. 546. South Jersey street, the father having retired from active labor at his trade of boilermaking. Their children, four in number, were named Minnie, who is the wife of Turnkey Taffe, of the police sta- tion; Lizzie, widow of Jacob Huffmann, residing with her parents; Henry F., subject; and Frank, who died in infancy.
Henry F. Hanf was early apprenticed to upholstering and this has been his life-calling, having passed eighteen years in the employ of Speigle, Tombs & Co., and the last six years with the New York store, his long tenure of each situation being indicative of his skill and faithfulness. June 22, 1882, he was united in wedlock with Miss Mary A. Mock, a native of Indianapolis and a daughter of (682)
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Martin and Anna Mock, natives of Germany, but married in Cin- cinnati, Ohio, and the parents of eight children, viz: Frederick, Lizzie and Stephen, deceased; Mary A., now Mrs. Hanf; Joseph, deceased; Henry, of Indianapolis; John, deceased, and Charles, who resides on a farm three and a half miles southeast of Indian- apolis. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Hanf has been blessed with four children, born in the following order: Lizzie, June 1, 1883; Edward, November 8, 1885; Clara, December 16, 1887; and Ger- trude Catherine, August 19, 1897. The family are consistent mem- bers of St. Patrick's church, and Mr. Hanf is also a member of St. Joseph's society of St. Mary's church, the pastor of which, Very Rev. A. Scheideler, V. G., performed the rite which made Mr. and Mrs. Hanf husband and wife, and in which church was adminis- tered the rite of their first communion. Mrs. Hanf was, before marriage, a member of the Young Ladies' sodality of St. Mary's, but matrimonial cares now absorb her attention, and her member- ship at St. Patrick's, her religious devotions and charities, she and Mr. Hanf being very liberal in their donations toward the main- tenance of the latter ennobling virtue.
OHN HANLEY, manufacturer of lounges, couches, tents and J awnings, Terre Haute, was born in Rutland, Vermont, Decem- ber 27, 1846, son of John and Ann Hanley, both parents natives of Ireland. John and Ann Hanley came to the United States in 1846, settilng in Vermont, from which state they subsequently removed to Boston, Mass., thence, about the year 1856, to Ham- ilton, Ohio, where they resided until 1860, at which time Mr. Han- ley came to Indiana and located at Greenfield. After spending some years at the latter place, Mr. Hanley moved to the city of Wabash, where the wife died in 1884; he is still living, his home at this time being at Washington City, D. C.
When the family moved to Greenfield the subject of this sketch went to Indianapolis where he was for some time clerk in a grocery house; later he began in a small way the business of man- ufacturing and repairing mattresses, and meeting with much
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encouragement, he continued the same at the state capital until 1870, at which time he removed to Terre Haute and embarked in the business of manufacturing tents, awnings and mattresses on a much larger scale. In 1886 he took a partner into his business, and the firm thus constituted was known as John Hanley & Co. In 1893, the business was incorporated under the name of the John Hanley Manufacturing company, with branches at Indianapolis and Louisville, Ky., Mr. Hanley being president of the company.
Owing to the stringency of the times, the company was com- pelled to make an assignment in 1895, but the year following, Mr. Hanley bought the business of the assignee, and has since operated it with the most encouraging success, employing at this time about thirty men and shipping his goods to thirty-three states, beside supplying a large and constantly increasing local demand.
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