History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume II, Part 44

Author: Blanchard, Charles, fl. 1882-1900, ed
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Logansport, Ind., A. W. Bowen & co.
Number of Pages: 1476

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A RNOLD HERMAN HERBERT, a highly respected business man of LaFayette, Ind., and a prominent Catholic, was born in this city January 4, 1859, a son of Theodore and Gertrude (Pott) Herbert, natives of Prussia, where the Herbert family once owned part of the ground now occupied by the celebrated Krupp gun works.

Theodore Herbert, when still a young man, came to the United States in 1837, and was first married, at Fort Wayne, Ind. ;

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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,

in 1840 he came to LaFayette and established a brewery, of which the Thieme & Wagner brewery is the outgrowth, Mr. Herbert selling out to that company and becoming interested in the Newman & Boer Brewing company, from which he retired to private life. His first wife died in Fort Wayne, leaving four children, of whom two still survive-Conrad, of LaFayette, and Theodore, who keeps a café in San Francisco, Cal. The second marriage of Theodore Herbert took place in LaFayette to Mrs. Gertrude Weible, née Pott, who had borne her first husband six children, all of whom, with their father. died of cholera in 1848. To the second marriage of Theodore Herbert were born five children, in the following order: Arnold H., the subject of this sketch; Joseph, of Oakland, Cal .; Mary, wife of Henry Klumpe, of LaFayette; Ida, and Albert of San Francisco, Cal. The parents of this family were called from earth in 1885, having been life-long members of the Roman Catholic church.

Arnold H. Herbert, our subject, was educated in the parochial schools of LaFayette, and his first business effort was made at painting in a machine shop; later he became a clerk in a book- store, where he remained until 1893, when he formed a partnership with John Kimmell, under the firm name of Kimmell & Herbert, and from that time until the present has carried on a wholesale and retail book, stationery and wall paper trade, carrying the best line of these articles to be found in Tippecanoe county.

The marriage of Mr. Herbert took place June 5, 1884, to Miss Lena Bruns, a native of LaFayette and a daughter of Herman Bruns, a well-known citizen. The family have a most pleasant home on Thirteenth street, between North and Brown streets, where they enjoy the esteem of a large circle of social acquaint- ances. Mr. Herbert is a Knight of St. Paul and has been com- mander of his company for sixteen consecutive years, and is also a member of the C. B. L. In politics he is a democrat, as was his father before him, and was his party's candidate for the office of county treasurer in 1890, but, the county being overwhelmingly republican, he met with defeat, after reducing the usual majority of the latter by several hundred votes-a fact in itself that shows the high esteein in which he is held by the general public.

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CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

JOSEPH HERBIG, a prominent resident of Jasper, Dubois J

county, Ind., is a son of Tobias and Mary (Lambert) Herbig, the former of whom died July 2, 1896. Joseph Herbig was born November 30, 1861, in Dubois county, attended the common schools, and at the age of thirteen years began the liquor busi- ness in Jasper, and continued in that until 1897, when he leased his establishment and is now leading a retired life.

Joseph Herbig was married February 7, 1888, to Miss Katie Rutker, of Dubois county, a daughter of Fred and Anna (Nie- comb) Rutker, and their only child, Frank, was nine years of age August 29, 1898. Mr. and Mrs. Herbig are members of the St. Joseph church, at Jasper. In politics Mr. Herbig is a democrat and cast his first vote for Grover Cleveland. He has made a suc- cess in life and has been able to retire from its activities, cares and asperities at an unusually early age.

Mr. and Mrs. Herbig were confirmed by Bishop Chatard. The inother of Mr. Herbig resides with him, but Mrs. Herbig's parents are both deceased.

H ENRY P. HERR, a native of Washington, Daviess county, Ind., was born May 13, 1874, and is the only child of Henry and Mary E. (Nephesy) Herr, the former of whom was a native of Germany and died in Washington the same year in which subject was born; the latter is a native of America, of Irish parentage, is now re-married and resides in Washington, Ind. The father was an earnest Catholic in religion and in politics was a democrat.

Henry P. Herr attended the parochial school until nine years old, then the common school until thirteen, and then returned to the parochial school, which he quit at the age of seventeen, being thus quite well educated. He learned the boilermaker's trade, which he followed until January, 1897, when he bought a half- interest in the boot and shoe establishment owned by his step- father, G. W. Osman. The firm carries an extensive stock of fine footwear and also handles furs. The family all belong to St. Simon's parish, and Mr. Herr is also a member of the Young Men's institute. He is a young man of enterprise and honesty, has a

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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,

good start in business, and has before him a promising future. The mother of subject, by her marriage with G. W. Osman, has seven children.

A UGUST HERZOG, an active business man of Mishawaka, Ind., is a native of the grand duchy of Baden, and was born August 21, 1835, a son of Sebastian and Elizabeth (Kastner) Her- zog, who were born in 1809 and 1819 respectively, and were mar- ried in 1833, the result of the union being three children, viz: August, Anthony and Techla (wife of Frank Yost), all residents of Mishawaka, Ind. The father was a stonemason by trade and a highly respected workingman, and died in the Catholic faith in 1845, his widow surviving until 1876, when she was called away in the same faith, the mortal remains of both being laid side by side in the cemetery of their native village.

August Herzog attended a parochial school in his native village until fourteen years of age, and was then apprenticed to shoemak- ing, serving five years, then, at the age of nineteen, accompanied by his aunt Techla, he came to America, landing in New York city April 12, 1854, after an ocean voyage lasting forty-two days. After passing six months in New York, Mr. Herzog came west, and for two and a half years lived in Massillon, Ohio, whence he came March 1, 1857, to Mishawaka, here worked as a journeyman for five years, in 1862 became the junior member of the firm of God- man & Co., and in 1877 began business on his sole account, now carrying a complete line of boots, shoes and gents' furnishing goods, and doing the best trade in this line of any house in Mishawaka ..

The marriage of Mr. Herzog was solemnized in Mishawaka by Father Mager, August 30, 1857, with Miss Balbena Kotez, who has blessed him with ten children, the sons-Frank J., Henry, August H., John A. and August Webber-having all served, at different times as altar boys in St. Joseph's church, of which church Mr. and Mrs. Herzog have been members of the choir for thirty-eight years. Mr. Herzog was also a charter member of St. Joseph's Benevolent society, which was organized in 1867, with twenty-eight members, of whom there are now but seven survivors (724)

CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

of the original charter number, but the society has, nevertheless, increased and multiplied, and is now in a most flourishing condi- tion, and of this he has been president for twenty-one years. He is also a member of the Catholic Knights of America, and socially he and family move in the best circles of Mishawaka.

R EV. BASIL HEUSLER, O. S. B., pastor of St. Anthony's church, Dubois county, Ind., is a native of the canton of Berne, Switzerland, and was born December 25, 1860. He attended the parochial schools of his native canton from his sixth until his tenth year, when he came to the United States. Here he attended the parochial schools at Milwaukee, Wis., until he entered, in 1872, St. Lawrence college, at Mount Calvary, Fond du Lac county, under charge of the Capuchin Fathers. In 1877 he entered the order of St. Benedict at St. Meinrad's, Spencer county, Ind., where he finished his philosophical and theological studies and where he was ordained priest, May 20, 1883, by Bishop Cha- tard. From 1883 until 1885 he was director of St. Meinard's col- lege, and September 1, of the latter year, entered upon his pastor- ate of St. Anthony's, the duties of which position he has ably and zealously filled until the present time.

Father Heusler is dearly beloved by his parishioners, for whom he has done so much, and his affable and genial disposition has won for him hundreds of friends outside his immediate congregation.

An account of his fruitful and earnest labors for the past thir- teen years will be found in detail in the sketch of St. Anthony's church, given on another page.

M RS. ANNE HICKEY, of Aurora, Ind., is the widow of Will- iam Hickey, who was born in Ireland in 1812, was a carpenter by trade, and died July 12, 1873. He came to the United States in 1847, landing in New York, then went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and remained a short time; then came to Aurora and worked at his

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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,

trade until he enlisted in the Fifty-second Indiana volunteer infantry. He served in the battle of Corinth, Miss., and in the battle of Fort Donelson; was shot in the hip and came home in 1864, but never recovered from his wound. He had married, February 15, 1844, Miss Anne Dowling, who was born on the 24th of July, 1824, a daughter of Dennis Dowling, of Ireland. This union was blessed with six children, four of whom are still living, viz: Richard, Marguerite, Catherine (married to G. Hasting, of Pleasant Ridge, Ind.) and Mary, now Mrs. Giblin, of Moore's Hill, Ind. All of the children are Catholics, and are members of St. Mary's church. Mrs. Hickey lives at the old homestead that she first occupied when she arrived in Aurora, is now seventy-three years of age and is one of the most respected residents of the town.

M ICHAEL HIGGINS, retired contractor, was born in county Mayo, Ireland, in April, 1827; and is a son of John and Bridget (Waldron) Higgins, both of whom were natives of the same county, and who were the parents of three sons. These sons were Thomas, the eldest, who died in Indianapolis in April, 1875, leaving a family of two sons, and three daughters: Patrick, who enlisted in company E, Ninety-third Indiana volunteer infantry, and lost his life in the Civil war, and Michael, the subject of this sketch. Patrick never married, and his body lies buried in the National cemetery at Memphis, Tenn. The mother of these three sons died when Michael was two years old, and the father died in 1852, both in Ireland, where they await the resurrection morn.

Michael Higgins, the subject of this sketch, received his edu- cation in the common schools, and upon his father's death, coming into the possession of the old homestead, he sold his property for enough money to bring him to the United States, leaving his wife and children behind until such time as he should have saved enough of his earnings to send for them. He came to this country in 1852, locating at Edinburg, Ind., where twenty years of his life we're spent, and where he was engaged in contracting. In 1853. he sent for his family, they joining him in the same year. His wife, (726)

CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

who was Bridget Waldron, was a native of county Mayo, was mar- ried to Mr. Higgins in 1850, and after a happy life in this country of forty-seven and a half years, died in Indianapolis in August, 1897. She and her husband were the parents of five children that attained mature years, these five being Thomas, who died in New York, in July, 1891, a plumber and gas fitter by trade; Maria, now Mrs. Panse, who resides in Indianapolis; John M., who is a mem- ber of the city council from the Fifteenth ward; Ella E., unmar- ried, residing with her father, and Annie C., who shares the duties of housekeeping since her mother's death, with her sister, Ella E. All of the children that are living own real estate in Indianapolis, purchased through their own industry and frugality. Both the Higgins family and the Waldron family were prominent members of the Catholic church in Ireland, both having representatives in the clergy there, and being also represented in the clergy in the United States, one of them being educated for the clergy at Mount St. Mary's, Emmettsburg, Md.

Mr. Higgins, as has been already intimated, came to this country a poor man, but, having spent his productive years in prof- itable, industrious labor, he is now in comfortable circumstances, and is a bright, intelligent old gentleman of three score and ten. During his earlier years he acquired the habit of drinking, but twenty-five years ago he decided to abstain altogether from the pleasures of the flowing bowl. He now estimates that by so doing he has saved at least in money, to say nothing of health and stand- ing in society, $100 per year. About twenty years ago he united with St. Patrick's total abstinence society and has ever since retained his membership, faithful to the pledge. Contrary to the usual custom of his countrymen, he has never used tobacco, and hence to apply the term of a "clay pipe " to him would be a pal- pable error, and the term would be an entire misnomer. Thus he has in these two respects at least set an excellent example for his children and for the young in general. He was one of the organ- izers and a charter member of branch No. 22, Catholic Knights of America, and has been president and secretary thereof many times, and has been almost continually in office for the last twenty years. He assisted in building the first Catholic church in Edinburg, and

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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,

while living in that place was always a liberal contributor to its support. On locating in Indianapolis he promptly joined St. John's church and there the family still worship. Mrs. Higgins was a most devout Catholic, loved and revered by all that knew her, and for months prior to her death the Rev. Father Gavisk visited her at her home and there administered the sacrament each week.

Mr. Higgins is now interested in the teaming business in Indi- anapolis, owning at present three drays, each managed by a man in his employ, he having a yearly contract with a large wholesale house in the city to do their draying, this contract having been in existence for the last sixteen years. Politically Mr. Higgins is a democrat, and has voted with that party for the past forty years, but he has never sought official station, being content to confine his efforts to the management of his own private business, which he has been able to cause to bring him in a reward commensurate with the efforts put forth, which might not have been the case in the political field.

OHN HINSBERGER, a substantial farmer of Penn township, J St. Joseph county, Ind., is a native of Germany, and was born March 31, 1852, a son of Andrew and Elizabeth (Klaer) Hinsber- ger, both of whom were born in the same country-the father in 1820 and the mother in 1824-and were married in 1851.

Andrew Hinsberger was a farmer and weaver, and brought his wife and child to America in 1854. He located in Penn township, securing a lease of the Simon Ward farm for twenty-four years, to the cultivation of which he diligently applied himself and accumu- lated by his industry sufficient means to purchase a fine farm of 180 acres, which he has carefully improved, and on which he and his family all reside, the surviving children being six in number, viz: Andrew, John, Lizzie, Maggie, Mary and Veronica; a seventh, named Jacob, is deceased, and his body is interred in the conse- crated ground of St. Joseph cemetery in Mishawaka. The surviv- ing children, with their parents, are all devout members of the

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CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

Catholic church, to the support of which they contribute very liberally.

John Hinsberger, whose name opens this biographical sketch, was, but two years of age when brought to America by his parents. He first attended the district school of his neighborhood, and later the parochial school of Mishawaka, acquiring a very fair English education. Reared to manhood under his father's supervision, he became an expert agriculturist, and now has the superintendence of the home place. He is industrious, temperate and skillful as a farmer, and well deserves the high esteem in which he is held by his neighbors and the community at large of Penn township.

A LBERT HITZELBERGER, restaurant keeper and manufac- turer of fine wines, at No. 1134 Roache street, Indianapolis, is a native of Alsace, France, and was born April 1, 1855, a son of George and Helen Hitzelberger, natives of the same country.

George Hitzelberger was a soldier in the French army and died from the effects of a wound received in battle in Algiers (Africa) when the subject of this biography was but two years old, leaving his widow with two children-Albert and a sister. The latter, Mrs. Wersinger, died in her native country, in the city of Mulhausen, where the mother also passed away, leaving Albert the only living representative of the Hitzelberger family. After serv- ing a term as a volunteer in the French army, Albert came to America in 1874, and at once located in Indianapolis, where he has ever since been engaged in his present business.

Mr. Hitzelberger was united in marriage, in the spring of 1879, at St. Mary's church, by the Rev. Father Scheideler, to Miss Anna Mercklin, who was born near the river Rhine, in Baden, Germany, and to this union have been born eight children, viz: Clara, George, Amelia, Albert, Gustave, Anna, Helen and Matilda. Mr. and Mrs. Hitzelberger have together conducted their restaurant for about eighteen years, which is famous for the excellence of its viands and Mrs. Hitzelberger's culinary skill. The place is a favorite resort of bicycle parties and others who appreciate the

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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,

good things of this life. Mr. Hitzelberger also manufactures wine of an excellent quality, his grapes being shipped direct from Kelly's island, Ohio.

The family are members of St. Mary's church, and Mr. Hitz- elberger is a member of the Catholic Knights of America and of the French society. A frugal. industrious, upright citizen, Mr. Hitzelberger's faithful efforts to properly rear and educate his large family of children are worthy of all praise.

The parents of Mrs. Hitzelberger were Anton and Mary Eva (Zeizer) Mercklin, natives of Baden, Germany. Her father was a contractor and commission merchant on the river Rhine, in which he met with an accidental death by drowning in 1860. His widow later brought her family to America, and here died in March, 1894, her remains being interred in Holy Cross cemetery. Three sisters and one brother of Mrs. Hitzelberger reside in Indianapolis, viz: Mrs. Charles Schuler, Mrs. Joseph Ludwick, Mrs. Peter Schultz, and Frank Mercklin, all members of the church of the Sacred Heart; one brother, Herman, still has his home in the mother country.

OSEPH HOCK, member of the gents' furnishing firm of New- J man, Hock & Co., Shelbyville, Ind., and an ex-soldier of the Civil war, was born in Scioto county, Ohio, July 24, 1835, a son of Frank J. and Elizabeth (Bughard) Hock.

He attended public school until twelve years of age, remained with his parents. until twenty-one years old, and then learned engineering in a iron furnace in Scioto county, where he remained until 1860, when he went to Ironton, Lawrence county, Ohio, where he worked in a stove foundry until he enlisted, in 1863, in company I, One Hundred and Fortieth Ohio volunteer infantry, for three years or during the war, but on account of disability was honorably discharged in September, 1864, having made an excel- lent record and now receiving a pension of $8 per month on account of his injuries. He then worked in the stove foundry until 1875, then engaged in farming in Scioto county until 1877, when he removed to Covington, Ky , and worked in a foundry

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CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

until 1881, when he re-engaged in farming, but sold his place in 1892 and removed to Indianapolis, Ind., where he resided until 1893, and then came to Shelbyville, which has since been his home and where he owns a handsome residence.

The marriage of Mr. Hock took place in Franklin county, Ind., July 21, 1859, to Miss Elizabeth Biltz, a native of Germany, and to this union have been born seven children, viz: Elizabeth, wife of John H. Hirshauer, of Shelby county, Ind. ; Mary, wife of Jacob Meehling; Frank, deceased; George H .; John, deceased; Annie, deceased; and Eva, wife of Harry Dipple, of Indianapolis. Mr. and Mrs. Hock are members of St. Joseph church, to the support of which they liberally contribute, and their social stand- ing is with the most respectable families of Shelbyville.

A NTHONY HIRSCH, a respected citizen of Indianapolis, who lives at No. IIII South Harlan street, has been a resident of this city since June, 1886, and of St. Patrick's parish since 1894, but before that date had attended St. Mary's church. He was born in Bavaria, Germany, January 17, 1865, the village of Lau- bach being the place of his birth. His parents, Joseph and Walburga Hirsch, are still living in Germany.

Anthony Hirsch, the subject of this sketch, is the only son now living, though there was one other, younger than him, that died in his early youth. The only daughter of the family, named Eva, is still living in Germany. On May 16, 1886, Anthony Hirsch left the parental home and came to the United States, landing in Baltimore, Md., and coming directly to Indianapolis, which city has since been his home. He was married, June 12, 1894, in St. Patrick's church, by Rev. Father O'Donaghue, to Miss Mary Agnes Gehrlich, daughter of Jacob and Frances Gehrlich, of Indianapolis, and to this marriage there has been born one daughter, Evelyn Catherine Hirsch, born May 23, 1896. Mr. Hirsch is an iron molder by trade and occupation, and he and his wife are highly esteemed members of St. Patrick's church. They own a pleasant home at the location given, which Mr. Hirsch built in 1894, prior to his marriage.

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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,

R EV. L. RAPHAEL PAQUET, pastor of St. Rose of Lima church, at Monroeville, Allen county, Ind., is a son of Willford and Lucie (Lapointe) Paquet, and was born in Canada April 24, 1865, and after the usual preparatory educational course was admitted to the Quebec seminary, and later completed his studies at Kankakee, Ill., where he was ordained by Bishop Otto Zardetti for the diocese of New Orleans, and said his first mass at Chebanse, June 25, 1893, whence he was sent to New Orleans, La., where he remained two years and ministered to a negro congregation at Bayou Lacomb, and was then appointed to his present pastorate in Monroeville, of which he took charge January 8, 1896. Here he ministers to a congregation comprising sixty families, has a neat residence and has succeeded in raising funds for the laying of a foundation for a school-house, which, there is every reason to believe, will be completed in the near future. Father Paquet has been very energetic in his work for the advancement of the tem- poral as well as spiritual welfare of his congregation, and his efforts have been duly appreciated by his superiors as well as by the flock itself, by whom he is dearly beloved and reverenced as a talented, conscientious and faithful pastor.

G EORGE VALENTINE HOCK, son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Biltz) Hock, was born in Ironton, Lawrence county, Ohio, December 8, 1870, and was there baptized by Father Fischer. His first communion was administered at Wheelersburg, Scioto county, Ohio, by Father Reider, in 1882, up to which time he had attended a parochial school in Covington, Ky.

After leaving school he assisted his father on the home farm until 1893, when the family came to Shelbyville, and the subject engaged in the gents' furnishing business, in company with John Newman, under the firm name of Newman & Hock; in 1896 the style was changed to that of Newman, Hock & Co., through the admission of Joseph Hock as a partner, although the business is still managed by the two original founders. The firm carry a stock of goods valued at $5,000, and this is one of the best assorted and (732)

L. R. Paquet

ST. ROSE OF LIMA, MONROEVILLE, IND,

CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

most varied in Shelby county. Mr. Hock is a member of uniform. rank, Knights of St. John, William Tell commandery, No. 178, and also of St. Joseph's congregation. As a salesman, Mr. Hock has few equals, and his pleasant manners make him a great favorite with the younger members of Shelbyville society.

Mr. Hock was married September 22, 1897, to Minnie Eliza- beth Reipenhoff, the ceremony being performed by Father Gable at St. Peter's church, Wheelersburg, Scioto county, Ohio, in which county Mrs. Hock was born July 4, 1871.

JACOB A. HOFFMAN, dealer in machinery, farm implements,. and doing repair work in general, in Ferdinand, Dubois county, Ind., is a son of Valentine and Marguerite (Dourson) Hoffman. He was born February 21, 1862, and was reared in and came from Ohio when nine years old. His mother died in June, 1896; his. father still lives in Dubois county, aged sixty.

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History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume II, Part 44

Author: Blanchard, Charles, fl. 1882-1900, ed Publication date: 1898 Publisher: Logansport, Ind., A. W. Bowen & co. Number of Pages: 1476

Author: Blanchard, Charles, fl. 1882-1900, ed
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Logansport, Ind., A. W. Bowen & co.
Number of Pages: 1476