USA > Indiana > History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume II > Part 55
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John H. Scanlon graduated from the high school of his native city in 1882, and then entered the law office of ex-Congressman William E. Finck, under whom he pursued his legal studies two years. In 1884 he came to Indianapolis on a visit, but was offered a clerkship by the American Express company, which he accepted and filled one year, and then entered the employ of the Sarven Wheel company, with which he remained nine years; in 1894 and 1895 he served as deputy county recorder, and for the pist two years has conducted a sample room in Parnell Hall, at the corner of Maple and McCarty streets.
At the October election of 1897, Mr. Scanlon was elected, on the democratic ticket, a member of the city council from the
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John It Seandou
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
Eleventh ward, and entered upon the discharge of the duties of his office on the 14th day of the same month. Mr. Scanlon is a young man of fine business capacity, is well informed, and something worthy of note will be heard from him at no distant time. He is a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, in which order he has served as county president for two years, and is popular and respected wherever known.
R EV. WILLIAM LIESEN, formerly pastor of St. Bernard's parish, Frenchtown, Harrison county, Ind., is a native of Quincy, Ill., and was born September 25, 1865, the youngest in a family of nine children born to William H. and Elizabeth (Mid- dendorf) Liesen.
The early educational training of Father Liesen was obtained in the parochial school at St. Mary's (congregation), of his native city. He entered St. Francis Solanus college, at Quincy, at the age of twenty years, completed the Latin, classical and plilosoph- ical courses, graduated, and then entered St. Meinrad's college in September, 1892, finished the theological course, and was ordained priest in June, 1895, by Right Rev. Bishop Chatard. He was assigned as assistant priest to St. John's church, at Indianapolis, in the fall of 1895, and remained there in mission work until February, 1896, when he was selected as the successor of Rev. G. H. Moss, at the parish of St. Bernard, Frenchtown, Ind., and has adminis- tered to this congregation until the present time, September 3, 1898.
With the home parish Father Liesen had charge of St. Joseph's mission in Milltown, Crawford county, which is six miles distant, having an attendance of about 100 souls. St. Joseph's church was erected by Father Martin Andres. The home parish at St. Ber- nard has a membership of sixty families, or 200 souls. One cred- itable thing is that the parish has not a dollar's debt against it. The school is in charge of the Sisters of Providence-two as teachers and one as housekeeper-with an enrollment of about forty pupils. The congregation is in a very healthy state, and great credit is due Rev. G. H. Moss in the erection of the church, school and Sisters' home.
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G EORGE A. LITOT, of Ft. Wayne (retired), is one of five I children born to Alexis and Mary F. Litot, natives of France, both deceased.
George A. Litot was born June 15, 1828, in France, and came to the United States January 17, 1848, landing in New York, and locating, the same year, in Allen county, Ind., where he learned the miller's trade and followed this calling for thirty years in Fort Wayne. He was educated in the common schools and also attend- ed college, and was married, first, to Mary C. Simon, a daughter of Francis Simon, of France. She died March 29, 1856, and Mr. Litot next married Miss Lucy Beuret, of Switzerland, a daughter of Xavier Beuret, and this marriage has been blessed with eleven children, of whom nine are living, viz: Joseph V., Mary M., Fran- cis Eugene, Louis A., Edward L., John B., Peter J., George J. and Mary J. The family are all devout members of the Catholic church, and Mr. Litot is a member of St. Joseph's Benevolent society, and all enjoy the respect of the entire community. Mr. Litot resides at No. 425 Spy Run, where he owns a pleasant home, and has resided in the same block forty years.
M ARTIN B. LOGAN, doing business at No. 341 West McCarty street, Indianapolis, is a native of county Galway, Ireland, a son of John and Bridget Logan, but was left an orphan in early childhood and was cared for by his paternal grandparents until he was between twelve and thirteen years of age, when he came alone to the United States and lived in New Orleans about twenty-five years, and there learned the machinist's trade. After the close of the Civil war he came to Indianapolis, and was here employed by the Sinker & Davis company about thirteen months, when he went to Boston, Mass., where he worked at his trade for five years, when he returned to Indianapolis, to attend the funeral of a relative. He next spent a few months in Pittsburg, Pa., and then returned to his old employers in New Orleans, and for nine months, in 1878, assisted in overhauling the machinery in the United States mint. While in the Crescent City he married Miss
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
Bridget Connelly, a native of Ireland, and this union has been blessed with eight children, viz: John Lawrence, Mary A., Martin, Jr., Catherine Margaret, Bridget Helen, Thomas Andrew, Luke Joseph and Honora, all still under the parental roof in Indianapo- lis, in which city the parents permanently settled in 1890. The family are members of the St. John's church, and Mr. Logan is a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and in politics is a democrat. The children are attendants at St. John's parochial school, and the eldest, a bright lad, also assists his father in his business.
John Logan, elder brother of Martin B. and the only other child born to John and Bridget Logan, was also reared by his paternal grandparents, but, as it was the dying request of the grandfather that one of these two brothers would remain with the grandmother until her decease, John undertook this duty and faith- fully carried out the promise. A short time after the death of the grandmother John came to the United States, and for a short time resided in Pittsburg, Pa., whence he came to Indianapolis. He was a mechanic, sawyer and wheelwright, but in his later years entered the saloon business, in which he made a competency. He was never married, and just previous to his death, in 1890, requested his brother, Martin B., to take charge of the business, which request was complied with.
Martin B. Logan and wife are liberal contributors to the sup- port of St. John's church and are faithful to their religious duties. They hold a high position with their fellow-parishioners, and as a business man Mr. Logan is both popular and successful.
M ICHAEL LOGAN, a prominent Catholic citizen of Indianap- olis, resides at No. 419 North West street, with his daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Lenihan, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Mr. Logan is one of the oldest continous residents of Indianapolis, having located here April 5, 1851. He was born in county Galway, Ireland, in 1833, lost his father when a mere lad, and on his arrival in the United States
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
came direct to Indianapolis. He had been preceded to this country by a brother and sister, the former of whom was named Patrick. Michael Logan made the voyage across the Atlantic ocean in a sailing .vessel, it having been arranged that his brother Patrick should meet him in New York. Patrick went to New York in accordance with this understanding, but on account of the wreck of the vessel bearing Michael across the sea, he was so long delayed, that his brother Patrick returned to his home before Michael arrived. Michael, therefore, upon reaching New York, came to Indianapolis alone, and here learned that about the time he reached New York his brother Patrick had died. Later, two other brothers of the subject, together with their mother, crossed the ocean, the names of the brothers being John and Thomas. The former has been dead for a number of years, and the latter is now the Rev. Thomas X. Logan, of Rushville, Ind. The Rev. Father Logan and Michael, the subject of this sketch, are the only ones of the family that still survive.
At the time Michael Logan located in Indianapolis there was but one small church in the place, of which the Rev. Father Geghan was the pastor. Since 1851 Mr. Logan has been almost a continuous resident of the city, in the early days being absent occasionally for short intervals of time. In 1856 Mr. Logan was married to Miss Ann Doyle, who was born in county Galway. She died March 31, 1871, at the age of thirty-eight, leaving five children, of whom Mrs. Lanahan is the only surviving one. The names of these five children, in the order of their ages, were as follows: Thomas, Marie, Rose Ann, Sarah, now Mrs. Daniel Lan- ahan, and Lavina. There were several other children, all of whom died in childhood. After the death of his first wife Mr. Logan married Sabina Tulley, who died August 16, 1893. Mr. Logan has witnessed the growth of both church and city from small beginnings to their present proportions. He has been in the serv- ice of Kingan & Co., meat packers, for thirty-five years, or since 1863, a fact which speaks volumes for his integrity and faithfulness to duty, which has been well performed. He has always been a useful and highly esteemed citizen, and a most worthy and valuable member of the Catholic church.
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CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
M ICHAEL LOGAN, whose residence is at No. 1132 Olive street, Indianapolis, was born February 15, 1855, has been a resident of this city since a child of one year of age, and here he has grown to manhood and reached a prominent position as a citizen.
Patrick Logan, father of Michael, the subject, was born in county Galway, Ireland, there grew to manhood and there married Miss Catharine Ward, a native of the same county. Of the ten children born to this union. three first saw the light of day in county Galway. Soon after the birth of the third child, Mr. Logan brought his family to America in a sailing vessel, landed in New Orleans, from that city came to Indiana, and for a few years lived in Madison. In 1857 the family came to Indianapolis, and located in St. Patrick's parish, but later removed to St. John's, where the father still lives, having now attained the advanced age of eighty years; the mother passed to grace in 1895, and of the children three sons and three daughters still survive.
Michael Logan received his first communion at St. Patrick's church, of which he is now a trustee, and was married in St. John's church by the Rev. Father O'Donaghue, October 3, 1877, to Miss Margaret Farrell, a native of Taylorsville, Ind., and a daughter of Thomas and Hanora Farrell. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Logan no children have been born, but they have reared an adopt- ed daughter, Kate. Mr. Logan is a highly respected citizen, has been employed by the Singer Manufacturing company, of Indian- apolis, for the past twenty-five years, now holding the position of foreman, and since 1894 has been a trustee of St. Patrick's church. His residence since 1887 has been at No. 1132. Olive street, and he and his wife are numbered among the most respected and earnest Catholics of the parish.
R EV. FRANCIS LORDEDMANN, pastor of St. Patrick's church at Kokomo, Howard county, Ind., was born in Germany and received the foundation of his superior education in his native land. He came to America in 1869, and completed his studies at St. Fran- cis academy, Milwaukee. In 1873 he was admitted to holy orders,
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being ordained by Bishop Dwenger, and in September of that year was stationed at Kokomo. During his early work at this station he did much mission service, attending the missions at Tipton, Noblesville, Buscher, Mullin's station and Frankfort, building at Tipton and Frankfort the first churches. He still attends the mis- sion at Bunker Hill, fifteen miles distant from Kokomo, driving once a month to celebrate high mass and preach a sermon. This mission has a neat and comfortable frame church, which was built by Father Kelley, but has never had a resident pastor. Father Lordemann has attended this mission for eight years or more.
R T. REV. J. H. LUERS (deceased), first bishop of Fort Wayne, was born near Muenster, Germany, September 29, 1819. He came to the United States with his parents in 1833, and settled near Minster, Ohio, and shortly afterward engaged as clerk in a store in Piqua. Incidentally meeting with Bishop Pur- cell, the young clerk made known to him his desire of entering the priesthood and was accepted as a student for the diocese of Cin- cinnati. He completed his studies at the seminary of St. Francis Xavier, in Brown county, Ohio, and was ordained a priest in 1846. The young clergyman was stationed at St. Joseph's church, Cin- cinnati, where he completed the half-finished church edifice and erected a substantial school-house. When, in 1857, the see of Fort Wayne was established, Rev. J. H. Luers was chosen the first bishop, and was consecrated January 10, 1858. In a day or two afterward Bishop Luers departed for his new home, he lost no time in taking possession of his see, and in commencing the arduous work before him. He gave his early attention to the erec- tion of a cathedral, for which Rev. Julian Benoit had already matured the plans, and in the spring of 1859 the present metro- politan church was begun. Bishop Luers attended the provincial councils of Cincinnati and the second plenary council of Baltimore. He was excused by the pope from attending the œecumenical coun- cil held in the Eternal city. In the year 1866 the bishop intended to erect an orphan asylum on a piece of land in the suburbs of (892)
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
Fort Wayne, but delays occurred. In the meantime he learned of a large tract of land, 933 acres, in Jasper county, known as the Spitler farm, which he bought for $18,000. There was a frame house upon it, which served as an orphan asylum for a number of years. In the visitations of his diocese, and in the labors among his flock, Bishop Luers was untiring. He visited town and village to instruct the people, administer confirmation, dedicate new churches and establish new parishes and schools. The bishop was noted for his charity to the poor, and to the orphans he was a kind and provident father.
In June, 1871, Rt. Rev. Bishop Luers went to Cleveland to administer holy orders. When his task had been completed he started for the railway station, but had scarcely turned away when he fell upon the sidewalk, a victim to apoplexy. He was carried back to the house and expired twenty minutes afterward. The Bishop's remains were carried to Fort Wayne in a funeral train draped in morning, escorted by clergymen and laymen from both dioceses; other delegations joined the sad cortege at various points along the way, and on arriving at Fort Wayne every honor which veneration, love, and religion could suggest, was paid to his memory. His funeral took place in the cathedral of Fort Wayne, July 4, 1871, and was attended by Archbishop Purcell, Bishops De St. Palais, O'Hara, McCloskey, Toebbe, and Borgess, and a large delegation of clergy and laity. His remains were deposited in a vault under the cathedral sanctuary. The age of Bishop Luers was fifty-one years and nine months.
R EV. FATHER FRANCIS B. LUEBBERMANN, of Mt. Ver- non, Ind., is a son of Bernard and Mary Ann (Schmidt) Luebbermann, both of northern Germany; they located in Indiana in 1865, coming from Cincinnati, Ohio, where our subject was born in June, 1857, and remained there until 1865. Francis B. attended the Christian Brothers' school of Cincinnati, and at the age of fourteen began preparing for a priest. He was ordained in 1880, and was located at Evansville, Ind., as assistant in Trinity church,
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
and remained there until 1883, in all, three years. Then his health failed and he made a few changes for a short period. He located in Mt. Vernon in December, 1883, and after a brief respite returned in 1884, under permanent appointment to St. Matthew's church, and has remained ever since. He has a congregation of 125 fam- ilies, but, when he came, he had seventy-eight families only-an increase of forty-seven.
Rev. Father Luebbermann has been indefatigable in his labors to advance the prosperity of St. Matthew's parish, and being a gentleman of scholarly attainments and eloquence, and withal pos- sessed of a genial temperament, he has won the sincere affection and esteem of his flock, and these amiable qualities have proven to be no small factors in the successful prosecution of the good work he has set before him. His zeal in church labor is untiring and unflagging, and being still in his early prime, no clergyman could well have been found to carry out, with as favorable prospects for the desired results, the commendable, yet arduous, duties to the performance of which he has been appointed.
REV. ANTHONY A. SCHENK is the beloved pastor in charge of St. Michael's church, at Brookville, Franklin county, Ind. He first drew the breath of life in Posey county, this state, Feb- ruary 12, 1849, one of nine children born to Theodore and Frances Schenk, who were natives of Westphalia, Germany, and came to America when quite young. The father being a farmer, Anthony was also reared to agricultural pursuits until sixteen years of age, when he began a course of studies for the priesthood at St. Mein- rad's college, Spencer county, where he completed the classics; then, for two years, studied philosophy at St. Joseph's college at Bardstown, Ky. Returning to St. Meinrad's, he studied theology, and was ordained on the 2nd day of November, 1873, by Bishop Maurice de St. Palais. December 6th of the same year he was placed in charge of the St. Ambrose congregation, at Seymour, Ind., where he remained until he was appointed to St. Joseph's, Vanderburg county, in November, 1887. During his stay at Sey-
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ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH, BROOKVILLE, IND.
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
mour the congregation built the St. Ambrose academy and day school, at a cost of $10,000; also bought a house and lot for a parsonage, at a cost of $1,000, and in 1884 the church-edifice received an addition costing $4,000, the total expenditures for building, etc., being about $16,000. The remaining indebtedness was only $7,500.
Upon his locating at St. Joseph's, Vanderburg county, services were held in a school-room, there being no church; however, the first stone for the new church was laid on April 17, 1888, and the church completed (by the Rev. Schenk) in November, 1888. He also purchased a very handsome pipe organ. In connection with St. Joseph's parish, the Rev. Schenk had a congregation of 100 families, and also had under his supervision a school that was attended by two Franciscan Sisters, the pupils numbering about eighty. The school was built by Rev. Joseph Schock in 1878; a slate roof was also added later. After a service of ten years and one month, Father Schenk, notwithstanding the great improve- ments he had made, left the parish with an indebtedness of $3,000 only.
On December 10, 1897, Father Schenk was placed in charge of St. Michael's church at Brookville, to replace the Rev. M. Fleischmann, now at Vincennes. It might be well to mention that few priests have gained such confidence of the Protestants, as well as the Catholics, as that accorded to Father Schenk in his various parishes. The work that he has done is a standing monument of his faithfulness, industry and ability, and his standing is such as to command the highest respect of all his congregation. (Father Schenk is a great admirer of fine horses, and owns and drives a noble trotter and road horse, which is the admiration of all beholders.)
H ENRY LUKING, a popular shoe dealer and shoemaker of Connersville, Ind., was born in Springfield, Ohio, February 22, 1852, a son of E. H. and Fannie Luking, natives, respectively, of Hanover, Germany, and Strasbourg, France. E. H. and Fannie Luking, however, were married in Dayton, Ohio, in 1851, and
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subsequently located in Springfield, where Mrs. Fannie Luking died in 1860. Mr. Luking continued to reside in Springfield until 1864, when he removed to Bellefontaine, Logan county, Ohio, where he followed his business of shoemaker and dealer until his death, which occurred in 1873, at Quincy, in the same county.
Henry Luking, the eldest of the five children born to his par- ents, learned shoemaking from his father, and worked as a jour- neyman at different places until 1880, when he came to Shelby- ville, and here worked on the bench for another year, when he started a repair shop on his own account. In 1890 he laid in an assorted stock of footwear, valued at about $200, and since has added to this until he now has one of the most complete establish- ments of the kind in the city, with stock valued at $4,000, although he still works on the bench, in order to accommodate his custom- ers with the best class of work.
Mr. Luking was united in marriage, at Bellefontaine, Ohio, October 25, 1882, with Miss Mary Kirk, a native of Kentucky, and to this union have been born five children, viz: William H., Jose- phine, Mary, Frances J. and Kathleen. Mr. and Mrs. Luking, with their children, live on their own property on Grand avenue, and are greatly respected by their neighbors. Mr. Luking is a devout Catholic, having united with the church at Connersville, under Father Rudolf, in 1881, and for four years held the position of trustee. Mrs. Luking is also very attentive to her religious duties and is a member of St. Ann's sodality. In politics Mr. Luking is a democrat, but has never been an office seeker. He has made his success in life through industry and good manage- ment, and well deserves the high esteem in which he is held by his fellow-citizens.
D ANIEL LYNCH, a well-known citizen of Terre Haute and member of St. Patrick's parish, is a native of Ireland, born on the first day of February, 1835. He remained in the land of his nativity until 1852, at which time he came to the United States, landing in New York city, thence went to Ware village, Mass., with the intention of joining a brother who had preceded him to
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CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
the new world; this brother having in the meantime moved to Chillicothe, Ohio, the subject followed him thither and made that city his home until 1854, in July of which year, in company with his brother, John Lynch, he came to Terre Haute, Ind., where he was joined fifteen days after his arrival by another brother, Pat- rick. Subsequently, about 1857, another brother, Michael Lynch, became a resident of Terre Haute, but in the meantime John went to Missouri, thence to Keokuk, Iowa, where his death occurred in 1862; Michael departed this life at the latter place in 1857, and Patrick, who is still living, is now a resident of the state of Illinois.
Immediately following his arrival at Terre Haute the subject of this sketch began learning the blacksmith trade, at which he served an apprenticeship of one year, after which he was employed by the new owners of the shop as a regular hand.
On the 15th day of May, 1859, Mr. Lynch and Mary Dela- ney, a native of the Emerald isle, were united in the holy bonds of wedlock by Rev. Father Damarin, and about three years later, . on account of failing health, he discontinued his trade and for some time thereafter followed railroading for a livelihood. He returned to Terre Haute in 1862, from which time until 1877 he was in the employ of the railroad company, but in the latter year severed his connection with the road and embarked in mercantile pursuits, which he continued with varied success for a period of about four years.
Disposing of his stock, Mr. Lynch next engaged in tin and roofing business, and was thus interested until 1885, in the fall of which year he was appointed gauger in the United States revenue department, the duties of which position he discharged in a very efficient manner until February, 1892, when, by reason of change in the federal administration, he was obliged to resign the office. In the following fall, after the county election, he was made deputy sheriff of Vigo county, and continued as such for two years. Sub- sequently, upon the change in the national administration, he was reappointed to his former position as United States gauger for the south Indiana district, which he still holds.
Mr. Lynch has served as trustee of St. Patrick's church sev- eral terms, and has ever been active in looking after the interests
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
of his beloved parish. He has never wavered in his allegiance to the religion in which he was born, and all charitable and benevo- lent movements incident thereto find in him an earnest friend and liberal patron. He is a member of the Benevolent Order of Hiber- nians, and belongs to the Catholic Knights of America. Mr. and Mrs. Lynch have a family of eight children, whose names are as follows: Ella, Elodie, Eugene D., John, Margaret, Mary Honore, Katie and Daniel, all of whom are being piously trained in the holy religion of their parents.
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