History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume II, Part 54

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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T' HOMAS LAVELLE .- Among the well known and highly esteemed Catholic citizens that settled in Indiana many years ago, and that have now passed away, should be mentioned Thomas Lavelle and his family. Mr. Lavelle's wife was, before her mar- riage, Eleanor Pryal, and both he and she were natives of county Mayo, Ireland. Mr. Lavelle was born in the parish of Lackin, but Mrs. Lavelle in another parish. Both belonged to excellent families, whose stations in life were much above the average citi- zen's, and many members of the Lavelle family were identified with noted Catholic orders.

Thomas Lavelle came to the United States in 1846 to estab- lish a ho.ne for his family, and in 1848 his wife and three children

CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

joined him in this country. The first home of the re-united family was at Cincinnati, but in 1853 they removed to Indiana, settling at Germantown. Wayne county, removing to Richmond, in the same state, in 1861. After a residence in Richmond of some years they settled on a farm, on which they lived until the death of the father, May 4, 1881. Mrs. Lavelle died May 24, 1884. Both were devoted members of the Catholic church, and liberal in its support, as well as being worthy and esteemed citizens. They were the parents of nine children-four sons and five daughters, that still survive, and of two that have died. Of these nine children, Cath- erine, Mary and Ella live at No. 228 Tenth street, and another daughter, Mrs. Barbara Theines, lives on Alabama street, Indian- apolis; Patrick and John reside at Anderson, Ind., and the other brothers are Michael and Thomas. The daughter, Elizabeth, whose religious name is Felicitas, belongs to the order of the Sis- ters of Providence. Catherine, Mary and John were born in Ire- land, Ella and Patrick were born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the rest were born in Indiana. The children are all faithful to the instruc- tions of their parents, and are warmly attached to the Catholic church, endeavoring in their daily walk to live in accordance with its precepts. All are considered among the best citizens of Indian- apolis, and are held in high esteem by all who know them.

M ICHAEL LEARY, residing at No. 1351 Olive street, Indian- opolis, was born in county Clare, Ireland, about the year 1846, a son of Daniel and Margaret Leary, both of whom are now deceased, having passed their lives in their native land-Michael, our subject, and his sister, Mrs. Margaret Walsh, being the sole survivors of the family.

Michael Leary landed in New York, August 26, 1866, whence he went to Pittsburg, Pa., where he remained five years, when he returned to New York and was there married to Miss Mary Barry, a native of county Clare, Ireland. In March, 1874, Mr. and Mrs. Leary came to Indianapolis, which city has since been their home, and since 1875 they have been members of St. Patrick's congre-

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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,

gation. The father of Mrs. Leary died in Ireland, but her mother, two daughters and a son came to America, the mother dying at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Leary September 21, 1894, at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. The brother and sister of Mrs. Leary died in New York city, so that she is now the only living member of her father's family. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Leary has been blessed with three children-Margaret, Daniel and Charles. The family are all pious Catholics, are very liberal in their contributions toward the support of the church, cheerfully assist it in work for good whenever an opportunity offers itself, and are greatly respected throughout the parish for their morality and their irreproachable walk through life.

A DOLPH LEIMGRUBER, owner of a most respectable busi- ness room in Greensburg, Ind., is a native of Tell City, Ind., and was born December 30, 1865, a son of Sebastian and Juliana Leimgruber, natives of Switzerland, whose family consisted of the following-named children: Frank, Kate (Mrs. Klein), Mary and William (deceased), John (who died a member of the Catholic Knights of America, branch No. 557), William (second), Arnold, Adolph (subject), Henry and Peter. The elder two of this family were born in Switzerland and came to America with their parents, who for some time lived in Louisville, Ky., and then joined the Swiss colony in Perry county, Ind., and settled in Tell City, where the father, although a shoemaker by trade, opened a butcher busi- ness, which two of the sons are still conducting. The parents passed the remainder of their lives in Tell City, and died members of St. Paul's Catholic church.

Adolph Leimgruber received a good common-school education in Tell City, and there learned the cabinetmaker's trade, which he followed for several years. He was married to Annie Fromer, who was born in Napoleon, Ind., February 10, 1873, a daughter of Herman and Elizabeth (Leinhart) Fromer, who were both mem- bers of St. Mary's church, at Greensburg. Nicholas Fromer, the grandfather was born and married in Germany, and brought his family (870)

CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

to the United States about 1840. He settled near Napoleon, Ind., where he bought a farm, which he cultivated until his death, a member of the Catholic church at Napoleon. After his mar- riage, Mr. Leimgruber continued to reside in Tell City for a year, and then came to Greensburg. His marriage has been blessed with three children, Lillian M., Herman and Gustave, and he and his family are members of St. Mary's congregation. Mr. Leimgruber is a member of branch No. 557, Catholic Knights of America, at Tell City, also of council No. 31, Knights of St. John, and in politics is a republican. He is genial and pleasant in his demeanor and has made many friends since coming to Greens- burg.

A NTHONY F. LENAGHAN, member of hose company No. 17, Indianapolis city fire department, was born in county Mayo, Ireland, May 1, 1858, a son of Cornelius and Mary (Conway) Lenaghan, where the father passed away his life, dying about 1869, after which sad event the widow came immediately to Amer- ica and located at North Vernon, Ind., but subsequently came to Indianapolis with her family of five children, viz: John, of this city; Anthony F., the subject of this sketch; Cornelius; Catherine, wife of Anthony Lenaghan, of Missouri, and Margaret, residing with her mother.

Anthony F. Lenaghan gained his education through his own exertions, that is to say, he paid from his earnings his tuition fees in the night-schools of Indianapolis and in a business college, and his early days of labor were passed as a skilled workman in the Kingan packing house, where he worked many years after reaching full manhood. October 8, 1895, he was appointed a member of the city fire department, and was assigned to duty with company No. 12, and on the organization of company No. 17, became one of its constituents, and is still one of most effective members.

Mr. Lenaghan was united in marriage, May 4, 1885, at North Vernon, Ind., in the church of the Immaculate Conception, to Miss Rose O'Hara, a native of Brownstown, Ind., of Irish parent-

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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,

age and far-reaching Catholic ancestry. The result of this union has been five children, to-wit: Cornelius, aged twelve years; Ger- trude, ten; James, eight and a half; John, four, and Rose Marie, one year. The family are members of St. John's church, and Mr. Lenaghan is a member of division No. 2, Ancient Order of Hiber- nians, of which he was for six years financial secretary, but resigned that office on being appointed to the fire department. In politics he is a democrat.

One little incident in the life of Anthony F. Lenaghan, out- side of Indianapolis, is well worthy of mention, inasmuch as it resulted in an important family event-the bringing of the young- est three members of his mother's family to America. In 1880, he went to Florida, and for seven months was employed as track repairer on the Jacksonville & Fernandina railway, and in that short time saved the money necessary for the commendable pur- pose mentioned.

REV. JOHN RYVES, pastor of St. Ann's church, Terre Haute, is a native of Indiana, born in the city of New Albany, Floyd county, on the third day of November, 1858. He studied at St. Meinrad's Benedictine abbey, and was ordained priest at Indian- apolis October 16, 1881, by Rt. Rev. Dr. Chatard, Bishop of Vin- cennes. His first active labors were at Newcastle, Henry county, Ind., where he remained for a period of eighteen months, during which time he succeeded in paying off all the debts of the church and placed the mission there upon a substantial basis. His next charge was at Richmond, where he again found occasion to exer- cise his ability in the way of discharging, in a short time, a large financial obligation. Father McMullen had previously with pecul- iar zeal and success carried on the work which required only the finish given by his successor. When, after nearly two years, he left that point, the congregation was stronger, and much more prosperous than when he found it. From Richmond, Father Ryves was transferred, July 3, 1885, to St. Ann's parish, Terre Haute, succeeding the Rev. John McCabe as pastor, and he has since (872)

Respectfully fro. Buye

ST. ANN'S CHURCH, TERRE HAUTE, IND.

CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

remained rector of this congregation. When he took charge of this parish the house of worship was an indifferent frame structure, 35 x 66 feet in size, situated on the corner of Locust and Four- teenth streets, but in 1890 the building was removed to Locust and Fourteen-and-a-Half streets. It was enlarged and otherwise improved in order to accommodate this increasing suburban con- gregation. On the first of July, 1894, this building was almost totally ruined by fire. The loss was fully met by insurance. Grieved but not discouraged by the disaster, Father Ryves imme- diately went to work, and, nobly aided by his parishioners, suc- ceeded, by the following November, in rebuilding and enlarging the frame church, which at this time (1898) proves commodious enough for the contented people who gather there to the number of 800 souls every Sunday morning. The present building, 35 x 112 feet in size, is interiorly well finished and furnished. It awakens, in those who visit, a sense of pleasure and of peace due to the order and due proportion of all its belongings. In April, 1893, Father Ryves began the erection of the present handsome rectory on the corner of Locust and Fourteenth streets - a large two- story frame structure, containing ten rooms, with all modern con- veniences, which was completed the following year at an outlay of $5.000.

Father Ryves is recognized as one of the ablest pastors of Terre Haute; he is an eloquent pulpit orator and has frequently responded to invitations to deliver public addresses before relig- ious and educational assemblages in Terre Haute and elsewhere. On the day of the Terre Haute Columbian celebration, he deliv- ered an address to the teachers and high school pupils which bore evidences of research and wide scholarship, and which by request of the public was published in full by the daily press of the city. He has been invited several times to address teachers' institutes and scholars at chapel exercises. Eulogies are annoying to him always and will be till he is dead. He calls attention to the fact that Terre Haute is an educational center, and, on account of the Sisters at St. Mary's and their school, Catholics are better under- stood here than elsewhere, and this city is the very home of relig- ious tolerance. The pulpits here are notably free from rancor,

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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,

polemics are eschewed and the non-Catholics insist on an intel- lectual and broad-gauge method in presenting the Catholic side of religious questions.

JOHN N. LENAGHAN, wholesale and retail merchant, located at No. 909 South West street, Indianapolis, was born in Baly- croy, county Mayo, Ireland, November 19, 1857. He is a son of Cornelius and Mary (Conway) Lenaghan, both of whom were natives of county Mayo, and both of whom were highly connected in their native country, the latter being a cousin of Bishop Con- way, so well known in the history of the Catholic church in Ire- land. The father died in county Mayo in 1864, and the mother soon afterward came to the United States with her eldest two children, John N. and Anthony, settling at North Vernon, Ind., leaving three children in Ireland, who all joined her in this country about 1879.

John N. Lenaghan is the eldest of the family, and hence it ·devolved upon him in large measure to be its head and support for a number of years. On this account his education was somewhat neglected, but he managed to obtain a knowledge of the rudiments of an English education in the public schools, to which he has largely added by wide and careful reading of the best books and periodicals. Beginning life as an employee in a stone quarry, he entered in 1873 the employ of the J., M. & I. Railway company, changing after a few months to the Ohio & Mississippi Railway company, now the Baltimore & Ohio Railway company. Seven years of his life were spent with this company, and in 1882 he removed to Indianapolis, where he became an employee of the Kingan Packing company, remaining with them about two years, when he returned to railway work, becoming a contractor for the loading of cars. In 1888 he became engaged in the grocery trade, which in 1889 he exchanged for his present business. At first he was located on Missouri street, but six years ago he located at his present place, where he carries on both the wholesale and retail selling of liquors.

Mr. Lenaghan was married October 29, 1890, at St. Mary's (878)

CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

church, North Vernon, Ind., by Rev. G. M. Ginnsz, to Miss Mary Clark, a native of that town, and daughter of James and Margaret Clark, both natives of county Mayo, Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Lenaghan have two children-James and Margaret-the former born August 3, 1891, the latter April 15, 1894. The family are all members of St. John's Catholic church, of which Rev. Father Gavisk is pastor. Mr. Lenaghan is a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, has been recording secretary of his lodge, and has also been a delegate to state conventions of the order. Dating back as his membership does for a period of seventeen or eighteen years, it has given him standing and importance in this well-known Irish society that nothing else could have done. He is also a member of the Improved Order of Knights of Pythias, and of the Ancient Order of Druids. Politically Mr. Lenaghan is a democrat, but he has neither held nor sought office; but his abil- ities and character have been long so well known that he has been called upon to fill many positions of trust and responsibility, notably those of guardian and administrator of estates, perform- ing his duties in such positions to the satisfaction of all concerned.

C ORNELIUS LENAGHAN was born in county Mayo, Ireland, June 11, 1862. He is a son of Cornelius and Mary (Conway) Lenaghan, the latter being a relative of Bishop Conway, of Ire- land. They were both natives of county Mayo, in which the father died and where the mother still resided until 1869, when she came to the United States with her eldest two children, John and Anthony. She located in North Vernon, Ind., and there the family remained until 1883, removing at this time to Indianapolis. Mrs. Lenaghan is a member of St. John's Catholic church and lives with her son, John.

Cornelius Lenaghan, the subject of this sketch, remained in Ireland after his mother and two brothers came to this country, and attended school in Balycroy during his youthful years. Com- ing to the United States in 1879 he joined his mother at North Vernon, and there continued his studies. After leaving school he

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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,

began to work for himself, the first money he earned being obtained by selling blackberries at five cents per quart, having picked the blackberries himself. Most of his youthful days were spent as an employee of railroad companies. From 1883 to 1890 he was an employee of the Kingan Packing company, of Indianapolis, and on September 9, 1890, he opened his present place of business, which has a fine location and excellent trade.

Mr. Lenaghan was married at St. John's church, Indianapolis, by Rev. Father Gavisk, the pastor, January 18, 1893, to Miss Maggie McMahon, a native of county Clare, Ireland, where her father lived and died and where her mother now lives. Mr. and Mrs. Lenaghan have two children: Mary Adelaide, born Novem- ber 5, 1893, and Anthony Thomas, born December 29, 1894. The family are all members of St. John's church, to the support of which they are liberal contributors. Mr. Lenaghan is a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and he was one of the origi- nators of the Celtic club. He is also a member and a trustee of the Irish American club. Politically he is a democrat, and is an influential member of his party, thoughi not an office seeker. He is a young man of correct personal and business habits, and stands well as a citizen in his community, performing his duties as a mem- ber of his church, of the various social organizations to which he belongs and to general society in a commendable manner.

B ERNARD LENGERICH, a progressive and respected farmer of Washington township, Adams county, Ind., is a native of Westphalia, Germany, born November 30, 1840, and is a son of John Henry and Elizabeth (Kottreye) Lengerich, the former of whom was born in 1789 and died in 1851, and the latter, born in 1815, died in 1885-both in the faith of the Roman Catholic church.

Bernard Lengerich was educated in the parochial schools of his native province, which he attended until fourteen years of age, and then followed farming, which had been his father's occupa- tion, working on the home place and elsewhere in Westphalia (880)

CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

until he was twenty-eight years old, when he came to America. In 1868 he landed in New York city, but immediately left that city for Ohio, where he joined his brother Wilhelm, who had come to this country a few years previously, and had settled on a farm near Minster. His stay with his brother was not of long duration, however, as within a few months he came to Indiana and engaged in farming on his own account three miles from Decatur, in Adams county. April 1, 1869, he married, at St. Mary's church, Decatur, Miss Nettie Bermann, the ceremony being solemnized by the Rev. Father Wemhoff. This union has been blessed with seven children, born in the following order: Bernard, Henry, Theodore, Joseph, August, Anna, and Herman- the last named being deceased.

The home farm of Mr. Lengerich comprises 100 acres, which he has improved in all respects, and through his untiring industry has been able to purchase another farm not far away, and this he has also improved to the utmost. The family are members of St. Mary's Catholic church at Decatur, and are very faithful in per- forming their religious duty, and liberal in their contributions to the support of the church and parish, and are well deserving of the high regard in which they are held by the members of the community in which they live.

OHN S. LENHART, the extensive furniture dealer and cab- J inetmaker of Peru, Ind., was born in Mahoning county, Ohio, March 22, 1830, a son of Jacob and Lydia (Sprinkle) Lenhart, natives of York county, Pa., and of whom the former was a farmer all his life.

John S. Lenhart attended public school and lived with his parents until eighteen years old, when he was apprenticed to the cabinetmaker's trade, which he learned thoroughly and has fol- lowed up to the present time. He came to Peru, Ind., in May, 1859, and worked at his trade as a journeyman until 1874, when, in June of that year, he opened a furniture store, meeting with success from the start, and now carries a stock valued at $8,000.

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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,

He was married in Plymouth, Marshall county, Ind., in 1857, to Miss Ellen E. Sparks, the fruit of this union being six children, of whom four are still living, viz: Charles H., William F., Maud and Maggie-the sons being interested in the furniture business with their father.

Mr. Lenhart was converted to Catholicism in 1869, and on December 25 was baptized in the faith by the late Rev. Joseph Dwenger, afterward bishop of Fort Wayne, since when he has been an active and faithful worker in the church. He is also a charter member of branch No. 42, Catholic Knights of America, and for sixteen years has been its treasurer. In politics he is a democrat. He is an upright business man, and thoroughly under- standing the quality of each article he handles, his patrons fully understand that he is not to be deceived by conscienceless manu- facturers, and, as a consequence, carries no shoddy nor poorly- made-up articles for sale. His family, social, and church connec- tions are very pleasant, and he enjoys the esteein of a wide circle of sincerely attached friends.

D ANIEL LENIHAN, who resides at No. 419 North West street, Indianapolis, has been a member of St. John's parish since 1882. He was born in county Galway, Ireland, but lost his parents when he was a child, and when he was ten years old he emigrated to the United States, having been sent for by an elder brother. This elder brother, named John, was located at Browns- burg, Ind., and still lives near that place.

Daniel Lenihan, his brother, John, and a sister, are all of the family that came to the United States, and are all that are now living. Two sisters have died, viz: Mary and Ellen. For a number of years after arriving in this country Daniel Lenihan lived with his brother John, and came from Hendricks county to Indian- apolis. He was married June 12, 1889, to Miss Sarah Logan, daughter of Michael Logan, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs Lenihan have four children. viz: Julia, Thomas, Rose and Logan. Ellen, another child, died in early

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CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

infancy. Socially Mr. Lenihan is of a genial and pleasant disposi- tion, and has many friends in all walks of life, without regard to religious preferences. He is a good citizen and is highly esteemed by all.

H [ ERMAN B. LODDE, the skilled watchmaker and jeweler, at at 198 East Main street, LaFayette, Ind., was born in Mun- ster, Westphalia, Germany, April 26, 1862, a son of Frederick and Gertrude (Trenkpohl) Lodde, who died in their native land in 1878 and 1872, respectively, leaving ten children, viz: Anthony, a farmer, residing near LaFayette with his wife and two children; Theodore, a dairyman of LaFayette, and the father of three chil- dren; Henry, Frederick, Bernhart and William, all four still living in Germany; Herman B., the subject of this sketch; Frank, who is. married, resides in Kansas City, Mo., and has three children, and Mary and Elizabeth are still in Germany.

Herman B. Lodde learned his trade of jeweler in Germany, serving an apprenticeship of four and a half and working as a journeyman two and a half years in various cities of his native land; in 1883 he came to America, joining his three brothers, who resided in LaFayette. For a few week she worked at his trade in. order to acquaint himself with American methods of doing business, and then opened a shop on his own account, chiefly for repairing. He was skillful, and soon secured a good trade, but in September, 1884, was robbed of over $800 worth of goods, chiefly watches left with him for repair, and these, poor as he was at that time, he was compelled to replace, yet he did not give way to despair, but set manfully to work to redeem his fortune, and in this effort he was fully rewarded.

Mr. Lodde has been twice married. In 1885 he was joined in matrimony with Miss Emma Gosling, a native of LaFayette and a daughter of Henry S. Gosling. This lady died in 1891, the mother of four children, of whom two are still living-Elmer and Herman. In 1892 Mr. Lodde married Miss Kirkhoff, also a native of LaFayette, and a daughter of Anthony Kirkhoff, and this union has been blessed with one child, Vincent.

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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,

Mr. Lodde and family are members of St. Boniface congrega- tion, of which he is a trustee, and are liberal in the support and advancement of the church's prosperity. Mr. Lodde is a Knight of St. John, a Knight of St. Paul, and a member of St. Joseph society, and is also a member of St. Boniface society and the C. B. L. Ile has his home at No. 162 North street, where he and wife most hospitably entertain their numerous friends.

JOHN HENRY SCANLON, councilman from the Eleventh

J ward, Indianapolis, was born in Somerset, Perry county, Ohio, December 23, 1860, a son of Michael and Margaret (Lynch) Scan- lon, natives of county Kerry, Ireland.

Michael and Margaret Scanlon were married in their native county and in 1852 came to the United States, settling in Somer- set, the oldest Catholic settlement in the state. The father was a farmer, and to his marriage with Miss Lynch were born seven chil- dren, yiz: Michael, a raiload section foreman on the Baltimore & Ohio road; John Henry, whose name opens this article; James A., a liveryman; Thomas Joseph, a professional bookkeeper; Mary, wife of Richard McGonigle, a machinist at Junction City, near Somerset; Margaret, wife of Samuel B. Dittoe, and Kate, house- keeper for her brother, John Henry. Both parents of this family were called to rest at Somerset in 1888 and 1889, respectively.

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History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume II, Part 54

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