USA > Indiana > History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume II > Part 43
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
nan are firm believers in the economy of insurance, Mr. Heffernan carrying $2,000 in the Providence Savings company, and Mrs. Hef- fernan $1,000 in the New York Mutual Life, while the farm prop- erty is also well covered. The family are highly respected within as well as without the pale of the church, and well deserve the esteem in which they are held.
P HILIP LOUIS HEEB, a native of Connersville, Ind., was. born June 6, 1864, and is a younger brother of William E. Heeb, whose biography is given above, and in which the genealogy of the family is given in full.
Philip L., the subject of this memoir, attended the parochial school of his native city until he attained his fifteenth year, and then attended the public school until seventeen years old, when he became an employee of the Cooled & Morse Furniture company, with which he remained about eighteen months, following which he had further experience in the same line with Munke & Roberts, but after being in their employ a short time united in partnership with his brother William, with whom he has since remained.
The marriage of Mr. Heeb took place in Connersville on the 23d day of August, 1894, to Miss Anna Myers, who was born in Connersville, October 4, 1870, a daughter of Peter and Caroline (Balle) Myers, this union being now blessed with one child, named Loretta Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Heeb are devout and faithful mem- bers of St. Gabriel's church and are generous contributors to its support, and willing workers in the cause of charity. They own a pleasant home on West Fourth street, which is the abode both of domestic happiness and the entertainment of a large circle of sin- cere friends. Mr. Heeb also owns a half-interest in the Heeb building, a handsome business block on Eastern avenue, Conners- ville, which furnishes a large hall for public gatherings, lodge meetings, etc. Mr. Heeb is very prominent in local affairs and is regarded as one of the most useful and energetic residents of Connersville.
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CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
JUDGE DAVID J. HEFRON, circuit court judge of Daviess and J Martin counties, Ind., was born in Jennings county, this state, February 18, 1842, a son of Lawrence and Bridget (Dixon) Hefron, natives of county Mayo, Ireland.
Lawrence Hefron and wife, parents of subject, came to the United States in 1832, and located in Erie, Pa., where the father was engaged in contracting on public works until 1846, when he brought his family to Daviess county, Ind., and here engaged in farming until his death, which took place in 1851, a member of St. Peter's congregation, Montgomery, and in political faith was a democrat. His widow died in November, 1898, aged ninety-four years, at the home of the judge, in Washington, Ind. Mr. and Mrs. Hefron had born to them a family of five children, viz: Ste- phen, who keeps a feed store in Washington; Catherine, wife of James M. Graves, of Montgomery, Ind. ; John, deceased; David J., the subject of this article; and Lawrence, deceased. Mrs. Hefron was born in the Catholic faith, fully attended to her religious duties all her prolonged life, and died a member of St. Simon's congregation.
Judge David J. Hefron was educated preliminarily in the pub- lic schools of Daviess county, Ind., and later entered the State university, at Bloomington, from the law department of which he graduated in 1869, then read law, until 1870, with John H. O'Neall, when he was admitted to the bar, and in 1871 formed a partner- ship with Mr. O'Neall, of Washington, under the style of O'Neall & Hefron, which was prosperously conducted until 1885, when Mr. Hefron was appointed by Gov. Gray, judge of the circuit court of Daviess and Martin counties, and so competent did he prove to be in the performance of the duties of this responsible office, that he was elected to the office in 1886, without opposition, re-elected in 1892-again against no opponent. He had, however, long been popular with the democratic party as well as with the public in general, and in May, 1871, had been elected mayor of the city for two years, and re-elected in 1873, for two years longer. In 1876 he was elected to the state senate to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator Andrew Humphreys, and in 1878 was elected to the same office for a full term.
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
The marriage of Judge Hefron was solemnized in Washington, Ind., September 10, 1873, with Miss Florence A. Barton, a native of Washington, born in 1846, a daughter of Dr. G. G. and Ann (Murphy) Barton, the former a native of New York and the latter of Cork, Ireland. This marriage was blessed with four children, born in the following order: Josephine, Anna B., Helen A. and David J., Jr., all residing with their father, he having had the misfortune to have been bereft of his wife December 18, 1884. Mrs. Hefron was a pious Catholic, and was a member of all the charitable and social organizations of her church, and was a lady of most estima- ble character and womanly graces, whose loss to her husband and children is irretrievable. The judge is erudite, astute, impartial and dignified, as a jurist, and as a gentleman he is genial and char- itable in disposition, and is possessed of all those finer qualities which are recognized in the man of culture the world over.
JAMES H. HEGARTY, proprietor of a very respectable business place at No. 832 Washington avenue, Indianapolis, is a native of county Donegal, Ireland, was born in 1864, and is a son of Pat- rick and Ann (McLaughlin) Hegarty, now deceased. The family comprised ten children, born and named in the following order: Edward, Patrick, Maurice, James H., Mary, Kate, Frank, Bridget, Ann and Maggie. Of these ten, Kate has been called to her eternal rest, Maurice and Mary still live in Ireland, and the remain- ing seven have their home in Indianapolis.
James H. Hegarty reached Indianapolis on Christmas day, 1882, having followed an elder brother, Patrick, who had preceded him one year. He here learned the boilermaker's trade in the Atlas works, followed the business five years, then acted as travel- ing salesman for four or five years, and about five years ago engaged in his present business, in company with his brother, Patrick-his younger brother, Frank, being engaged in the same line at Martindale avenue and Nineteenth street. Mr. Hegarty is a member of St. John's church and also a member of the Ancient (310)
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
Order of Hibernians. In politics he is a democrat, is very active in his aid to his party, and is equally generous in his contributious to the support of his church.
G I EORGE HEITZ, chief lineman of the Evansville & Terre Haute system of telegraphy, with his residence in Vincennes, Ind., was born in Alsace, France, July 19, 1841, a son of George and Christina (Beauregard) Heitz.
George Heitz, the father of subject, was a farmer in Alsace, and on coming to this country, accompanied by two of his sons, found employment at railroad work. In a short time after his arrival he was joined by his wife and son George, the subject of this sketch, then about eleven years of age. The children born to George and Christina Heitz numbered eleven, of whom two sons and two daughters are still living; of the seven deceased, all died young, with the exception of Nicholas, the eldest of the family, who was killed on the O. & M. railway, about 1858, he being then but a young man. Of the four living, Antony, the eldest, is yard- master for the B. & O. road at Vincennes; George, the next in order of birth, is the subject of this memoir; Rose, of Vincennes, is the widow of Michael Telkey, who was a railroad man and died about ten years ago, and Christina, the widow of Henry Bultman, is also a resident of Vincennes. The father of the family pros- pered after settling in Vincennes, became street commissioner, and died here at the age of fifty-six years, his wife surviving until she reached her seventy-third year. Both were devout Catholics, and were very highly respected within and without the church circle.
George Heitz, the subject, attended St. John's German Cath- olic school and received his first communion in his fourteenth year; he was then employed as messenger boy in the O. & M. railway service, being also assistant baggage master, and filled the position about three years. Next, for nearly thirty years, he was employed in building and repairing telegraph lines for the O. & M. road, and for nearly fourteen years has been chief lineman for the Evansville & Terre Haute line, virtually having charge of the building and repairing of all telegraph lines on this road.
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George Heitz was united in matrimony, November 13, 1862, in St. John's German Catholic church, by Rev. Father Engle, with Miss Magdalene Brosmear, who was born in Lancaster, Ohio, May 27, 1841, a daughter of Sebastian and Ursuline Brosmear, natives of Baden, Germany. To Mr. and Mrs. Heitz have been born five children, of whom Mary Helen, the eldest, is married to Edmund Brown, a machinist of Nantucket, Mass .; Frances is still under the parental roof; Theresa is a Sister of Providence, at St. Mary's of the Woods, and is known as Mary Euphrasia; Rose Agnes is still at home with her parents; Albert John, the youngest, now twenty- one years of age, is weighing inspector on the B. & O. R., but resides with his parents. The children were all confirmed in St. John's German Catholic church, and have all received most excel- lent educations. Mr. Heitz has led a life of sobriety and industry, has provided a good home for his family, and has won the esteem of the company for which he has served so faithfully, and also stands very high in the respect of his immediate neighbors and the church and society circles in which he and his family mingle.
R EV. HENRY A. HELLHAKE, formerly pastor of St. Joachim's church, Lebanon, Boone county, Ind., was born in Quincy, Ill., February 9, 1849, and is a son of Casper and Gertrude (Heine) Hellhake, natives of Prussia, Germany. The father is still a resi- dent of Quincy, and is engaged in the manufacture of cigars.
Rev. Henry A. attended the parochial schools of his native city until ten years of age, and then entered St. Francis college, of the same place, at which he pursued his classical studies until September, 1865, when he entered St. Francis seminary at Mil- waukee, Wis., and finished his theological studies. He was ordained at Quincy, Ill., April 21, 1872, by the Right Rev. Bishop Peter Joseph Baltes, of the diocese of Alton, in which diocese he officiated until November, 1875, when he was transferred to the diocese of Fort Wayne, and stationed at Columbia City, Ind., did efficient work there until May, 1886, when he was placed in charge of the pastorate at Remington, Ind., and labored zealously until (712)
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
August, 1893, the date of his transfer to Lebanon. His labors here were very acceptable to his flock, by whom he was greatly beloved, and were rewarded with the approbation of his superiors as well as that of his congregation. In August, 1898, Rev. H. A. Hellhake was transferred to Fowler, Benton county, Ind., and was succeeded by Rev. William S. Hogan, from St. Vincent de Paul's church, Logansport.
C HARLES JAMES HELM, M. D., the well-known practitioner of surgery and medicine at Peru, Ind., is a native of this city, was born January 18, 1863, and is a son of John H. and Mar- garet (Ridenhour) Helm.
Dr. Charles J. Helm received his elementary instruction in a parochial school of Peru, which he attended one year; at the age of ten years he was sent to the St. Lawrence academy at Mont- real, Canada, which he attended twelve months, and then went to Georgetown, D. C., studied six years in the famous Catholic college of that city, and graduated, in 1883, with the degree of A. B. He next entered the medical department of the renowned Harvard university, Boston, Mass., from which he graduated in 1887, and at once located in Peru, Ind., for the practice of his profession. A year later, however, he went to London, England, passed a year in St. Bartholomew hospital, taking a post-graduate degree, and then for three months attended the Polyclinic institute of New York, finally returning to Peru, where he has met with unequivocal success as a practitioner of the allopathic school.
Dr. Helm was joined in matrimony by Rev. Father Meissner, in Peru, October 7, 1891, with Miss Frances A. Carter, who was born in Petersburg, Ind., a daughter of J. O. Carter, a prominent citizen of that place. Dorothea A., the only child born to this union, was called from her earthly home in infancy, having been baptized in the Catholic faith.
Dr. Helm is a highly educated and accomplished gentleman, and as a physician has been fully qualified by a long course of training to successfully compete with the foremost practitioners of the science of medicine in the state of Indiana. He keeps well
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
abreast of all the advances made by modern scientists, and his constantly increasing patronage gives evidence that his skill and ability are fully recognized by the residents of Peru.
P ATRICK S. O'ROURKE, of Fort Wayne, Ind., late superin- tendent of the Grand Rapids & Indiana railroad, whose untimely death occurred in this city February 12, 1898, was born in Newark, N. J., September 25, 1830, a son of Christopher and Ellen (Flanagan) O'Rourke, natives of county Kildare, Ireland, where their marriage took place in 1823, two years after which event they came to America. The father was a man of marked business ability and early became prominent as a railroad con- tractor, and assisted in building the Pittsburg, Wellsville & Cleve- land road and also several miles of the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago railroad, after which he engaged in farming near Mansfield, Ohio, and some years later removed to Fort Wayne, Ind., where his death took place in 1875, and where, also, his wife died six months later.
Patrick S. O'Rourke, in his youth, accompanied his parents in their various removals, but succeeded in securing a fair education, and, being of an ambitious disposition, early began his business career and naturally drifted into railroad work, which he began in 1856, taking a position as conductor on a construction train, then became conductor of a freight train the year following, and three years later was promoted to the position of conductor of a pas- senger train. In 1866 he became master of transportation on the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago railroad, in 1871 was appointed assistant superintendent of the Lake Shore & Michigan road, and before the expiration of the year was made superintendent of the Grand Rapids & Indiana road, but these changes involved no shift- ing of employers-and thus for forty-three years he was identified with one system of railways, and died in this employ.
Mr. O'Rourke was twice married, and two children born to the first marriage still survive, viz: Mrs. John H. Cody and Miss Jane O'Rourke. His second wife, who bore the maiden name of (+14)
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
Eliza Boulger, still survives him, and her children, who with her mourn his death, are William S. O'Rourke, the well-known attor- ney, of the firm of Robertson & O'Rourke; Edward O'Rourke, of Grand Rapids, Mich .; Mrs. Charles Keasey, of Kendallville; Mrs. J. W. Hunter, Mrs. William Wagoner and Miss Grace, all of this city, the latter living at home. Mr. O'Rourke was a sincere Cath- olic, was an organizer of St. Joseph's Catholic Benevolent society, and the American Sons of Columbus, and the auxiliary society, the Daughters of Isabella, and also was an organizer of the first branch of the Catholic Knights of America in Fort Wayne. In politics he was a democrat. His was a busy and energetic life, and the citi- zens of Fort Wayne will long lament his departure.
W ILLIAM STRAUGHAN O'ROURKE, a member of the legal firm of Robertson & O'Rourke, of Fort Wayne, was born in this city January 6, 1858, and is the fourth of the eight children born to Patrick S. and Eliza (Boulger) O'Rourke, natives, respectively, of New Jersey and Ireland. The father was for forty-three years in the employ of the Pennsylvania railroad sys- tem, and for the last twenty-five years of his life was superintend- ent of the Grand Rapids & Indiana railroad at Fort Wayne, of which his son, William S., was appointed attorney in 1882.
William S. O'Rourke received his preliminary education in the public schools of Fort Wayne, and in 1875 he entered St. Vincent's college, in Westmoreland county, Pa., from which insti- tution he was graduated in 1877. In the fall of that year he began the study of law in the office of Judge Allen Zollars, and in the fall of 1879 entered the law department of the university of Michigan, from which he graduated March 24, 1880, but had been admitted to the Allen county bar in 1879. In politics he is a democrat and a tariff reformer. In June, 1880, he was nominated for prosecuting attorney of the criminal court of Allen county, by the democratic party, was elected in the October following, and held the office until the abolishment of the criminal court, at the close of the term for which he was elected. At the time he was
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
elected S. M. Hench was prosecuting attorney, and refused to sur- render the office, in consequence of which Mr. O'Rourke brought suit to obtain possession. Mr. Hench took a change of venne to Kosciusko county, where the case was tried before Judge Van- Long, now chief justice of the United States court of the territory of New Mexico, the contest resulting in favor of Mr. O'Rourke. His contestant appealed to the supreme court, where Mr. O'Rourke's title to the office was affirmed by Hon. George V. Howk, chief justice.
When Mr. O'Rourke first began the practice of law in Fort Wayne, he was alone until 1884, when he formed a partnership with Judge Chapin, which lasted four years. He was then alone again until 1889, when failing health necessitated a trip south, but in 1892 he returned to Fort Wayne and formed a partnership with Col. R. S. Robertson, and this firm now stands at the head of the profession in Fort Wayne and holds a most lucrative practice.
In 1893, Mr. O'Rourke was elected supreme secretary of the Catholic Knights of America, and filled the office until July 6, 1897. He is also a member of the American Sons of Columbus and of the St. Joseph Benevolent society, and socially, as well as fraternally, is extremely popular.
The congenial marriage of Mr. O'Rourke took place June 11, 1883, to Miss Margaret G. Garvey, a graduate of the university of Michigan, a native of Springfield, Mass., and a daughter of Patrick H. and Mary (Coughlin) Garvey, natives of Ireland and citizens of Massachusetts. This happy union has been blessed with four children, viz: Genevieve, Alan G., Donald H. and William S. The family are devoted Catholics, worship at the cathedral, con- tribute freely to the support of the church, and are among the most highly respected residents of the city of Fort Wayne.
R EV. F. BERNARD HEICHELBECH, the eminent educator at Jasper, Ind., is a son of J. and Mary (Shubince) Heichel- bech, and was born in Indiana July 29, 1867, was reared at home, and attended the common schools until he was thirteen years of (718)
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
age. He then attended St. Meinrad college, and was ordained May 24, 1890, at St. Meinrad, was located at Jasper, and has here remained as prefect of the Jasper college, which was organized in 1890. He has fifty pupils, and teaches all branches that can be taught in a school or college of the capacity of that of which he is the head. His father is still living, but his mother passed away August 5, 1896. They were the parents of five children, and all are professors and teachers.
R EV. ANTHONY HENNEBERGER, pastor of the church of the Sacred Heart, at Fowler, Benton county, Ind., was born in Luetz, Germany, April 2, 1859, a son of Francis and Lucy (Gilles) Henneberger. His early studies were followed in his native country until he was seventeen years of age, resulting in a good academical education. He then came to America and entered St. Meinrad's college, Spencer county, Ind., from which he was graduated in 1889, and on June 14th of the same year was ordained priest at Fort Wayne, Ind., by Bishop Dwenger. He was immediately assigned to his present parish of the Sacred Heart, which was originally known as St. John the Evangelist par- ish of Fowler, and where a church building had been erected in 1873, at a cost of $600.
Here Father Henneberger has performed great and good work. He began the erection of a new brick church edifice, 46x 112 feet, in May, 1895, and completed it May 14. 1896, at a cost of $15,000, and has also established a school, which is being conducted by the Sisters of St. Francis, of LaFayette, Ind., and is attended by sev- enty pupils. The church has a membership of one hundred fam- ilies, most of whom reside in the country, and of whom forty fam- ilies are French Canadian, twenty German, and forty Irish-who are bound together, however, in the ties of peace, brotherly love and faith in the holy Catholic church. Father Henneberger has labored arduously and cheerfully, but finds a reward in the sincere affection of his people and the peace that ever rests in the hearts of those who perform good deeds.
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
J AMES F. HENNESSY, a well-known conductor on the Big Four railroad and residing at No. 1609 Fletcher avenue, Indi- anapolis, was born in Shelby county, Ind., December 5, 1859, a son of John and Hannah (Cavanaugh) Hennessy, of whom further mention is made on this page, and is the eldest of nine children born to his parents. He was educated in the public schools, and at the age of fifteen years began railroad life under his father, on the Big Four road, and has been in the employ of the same com- pany ever since-a period of twenty-four years.
Mr. Hennessy was married, January 10, 1887, to Miss Rose Stapleton, a native of Nebraska, born September 10, 1868, being a daughter of John and Ellen (Freeland) Stapleton, natives of Illi- nois. The father of Mrs. Hennessy passed away a number of years ago, but her mother is still living, as is also a daughter, Mrs. Laura Holtam, who is younger than her sister, Mrs. Hennessy, and who was educated at the Sisters' school in Lockport, Ill. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Hennessy has been blessed with three children, of whom Ursula, born September 8, 1890, and James Leo, March 24, 1896, are still living; Joseph died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Hennessy, during the first year of their married life, resided in Cincinnati, Ohio, but have been residents of St. Pat- rick's parish, Indianapolis, since 1888, paying their devotions under Rev. D. O'Donaghue, and own their comfortable home on Fletcher avenue. Mr. Hennessy is a member of Capital council, No. 276, Young Men's institute, and he and wife are constant in their attendance at St. Patrick's church, and are numbered among the most esteemed residents of the parish.
JOHN HENNESSY, now deceased, but at one time a leading J pioneer Catholic citizen of Indianapolis, was born in the parish of Tulle, county Clare, Ireland, in 1821, a son of Patrick Hennessy, who had married a Miss Carmody. John Hennessy was the young- est of eleven children born to his parents, and at the age of twenty- four years came to America, in company with four sisters-the other six, one brother and five sisters, dying in Ireland. Mr. (720)
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
Hennessy, on coming to America, landed in the city of New York, found employment at railroad work in the east until 1852, when he came to Indianapolis and was employed by what is now popu- larly called the Big Four railroad, with which he was connected for thirty-five years, or until 1887, when he retired from active life.
The marriage of Mr. Hennessy took place at Shelbyville, Ind., in the early part of 1858, to Miss Hannah Cavanaugh, a native of New York city, and of Irish parentage. When but four years old Hannah Cavanaugh lost her parents, who died sincere Catholics, and at the age of thirteen years was brought to Indiana by an aunt. To the marriage of John and Hannah Hennessy were born nine children, of whom five are still living, viz: James F., Joseph A., Michael E., Thomas G. and Mary; one child, John P., died in September, 1890, in his eighteenth year, and the other three died in infancy.
John Hennessy was always and very deservedly regarded as one of the most useful citizens of Indianapolis, and was an example of sobriety and industry to the rising generation of his parish, and as an especial guide and monitor over his own children, who have survived to honor his name and bless his memory. His death took place February 3, 1894, and the loss of no man in the parish was more deeply deplored. His widow resides in the old home, at No. 215 East Merrill street, and here the son, Michael E., although the third-born of the family, keeps a general supervision over the household, and is fast coming into notice as one of the rising young men of Indianapolis.
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