History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume II, Part 56

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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M ATTHEW McCABE .- Among the many well-known early Catholic residents of Indianapolis is the subject of this sketch and his family, who reside at No. 817 English avenue, within the limits of the parish of St. Patrick. Both Mr. and Mrs. McCabe arrived in Indianapolis in 1855, the former on the 29th of June, and the latter on the Ist of June, and were married the following year. At the time of their arrival the only Catholic church in the place was the little brick structure in St. John's parish, in which the German and Irish Catholics worshiped on each alternate Sun- day, the officiating priest being Rev. Father Maloney. Mr. McCabe was born in county Cavan, Ireland, about 1820, and these he resided until 1845, when he came to the United States. Remaining in New York until the spring of 1846, he removed to Providence, R. I., and thence to Taunton, Mass. After a time he returned to New York and came thence to Indianapolis in 1855, as stated above. March 30, 1856, he was married to Miss Fanny Ferrell, daughter of James and Fanny Ferrell, Miss Fanny having been born in the city of Dublin, December 18, 1831. In the spring of 1844 she came to the United States, she being then the only child of the family. The family first located in Cincinnati, removing thence to Indianapolis in 1855, and there the mother died in 1864. Mr. Ferrell became a soldier in the Union army during the war of the Rebellion, and. was never heard of again.

The parents of Mr. McCabe, John and Mary (Gafney) McCabe, remained in Ireland all their lives. They were the parents of five (902)

CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

children, four sons and one daughter, all born in the parish of Killmore. The sons were named: Patrick, James, Matthew and John, and the daughter was named Catherine. Patrick and Mat- thew-the latter the subject of this sketch-are the only ones that came to the United States.

Mr. and Mrs. McCabe are the parents of three living children, two sons and a daughter. The latter, Mary, is the wife of Will- iam A. Cuttshall; Frank, the elder son, is a resident of Chicago, and Vincent, the younger son, is living at home. They have lost four children by death, viz: Fanny, Edward, George and William. All of these passed away in early life.

For more than forty years Mr. and Mrs. McCabe have been residents of Indianapolis, and they have seen the church in that city grow from a single small building, with but a few worshipers, to many beautiful and costly church buildings, in which thousands of devout worshipers assemble on each Sunday to listen to words of wisdom and comfort as spoken by able representatives of the holy religion which guides their footsteps in their earthly pilgrim- age, and which points to them the way to salvation. Mr. and Mrs. McCabe have ever borne an enviable reputation among their friends, and are highly esteemed by all that know them and are familiar with their daily walk. Mr. McCabe is now retired from business, and is living on the savings from his labors of earlier days-

AMES H. LYONS, the gentlemanly proprietor of the favorite J public place of resort at No. 840 Washington avenue, Indian- apolis, was born in the parish of Kilcar, county Donegal, Ireland, July 14, 1867, a son of Patrick and Katherine (Hegarty) Lyons, of whom the former, who is a farmer, is still a resident of county Donegal, but the latter is deceased. The family comprised four sons and three daughters, still living in Ireland, with the excep- tion of James H., the subject, and his sister, Mary. The five in Ireland are named John, Patrick, Edward, Bridget and Annie, all unmarried, the brothers being farmers.

James H. Lyons received a sound English education in his

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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,

native parish, and in September, 1889, came to Indianapolis, and for five years was employed by a dry-goods firm here as a travel- ing salesman through the southern states. He then located per- manently in this city, and about three years ago purchased his present place, which is well fitted up, with pool tables, etc., and here he enjoys a very lucrative trade. He is a member of St. John's church, under the pastorate of Rev. F. H. Gavisk, but is not now connected with any fraternal order, permissible or other- wise. His success in business is largely due to his affability and gentlemanly behavior and to his genial good nature and desire to please.

ERY REV. EUGENE F. McBARRON, pastor of the church I

of the Assumption, at Evansville, Ind., was born in Floyd > county, Ind., June 18, 1844. His father, John McBarron, a native of Ireland, was born in the year 1807, came to the United States in 1837, locating in Floyd county, Ind., and for some years there- after followed agricultural pursuits, later engaging in contracting. He resided on Floyd Knobs, Floyd county, until 1853. when he removed to New Albany, where he remained until his death, which occurred on the nineteenth day of March, 1893. He was married in St. Mary's church, Floyd Knobs, in the year 1840, to Mary O'Daly, who was born in Madison, Ind., August 15, 1822, daughter of Eugene and Sarah (Stevenson) O'Daly, natives of Ireland, and he became the father of seven children, four of whom grew to matur- ity-Andrew V., deceased; Rev. Eugene F .; Jane, wife of P. J. Ward, and Sarah; the rest of the children died young. The mother departed this life at New Albany January 7, 1855. John and Mary McBarron were members of Trinity parish, New Albany, noted for their piety and many works of charity, and they spared no pains in rearing their children according to the teachings of the Holy Cath- olic church.

Very Rev. Eugene F. McBarron received his elementary edu- cation in the public and parochial schools of New Albany and began his classical studies under the tutorship of the late Rev. Louis Neyron, M. D., C. S. C., of. Notre Dame university, with

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CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

whom he remained until his nineteenth year, and during this time learned the Latin language, fitting him for his college course. Later, he pursued his studies at the university of Notre Dame, and St. Meinrad's Benedictive abbey, remaining one year at the former and one and a half years at the latter institution, in addition to which he also spent one year at St. Thomas seminary, Kentucky. He completed his theological course at the Grand seminary, of St. Sulpice, Montreal, Canada, also learned the French language. He remained three years at the seminary in Canada, and was ordained priest, June 8, 1871, at Vincennes, Ind., by Bishop de St. Palais.

Following his ordination, Father McBarron was located at St. Mary's of the Woods, near Terre Haute, where he exercised his priestly functions from July 8, 1871, until October 27, 1879, when he was transferred to Evansville as immovable pastor of the church of the Assumption, the duties of which position he has since exercised. On taking charge of his work in Evansville the parish numbered about 200 families, but since 1879 it has greatly increased, the membership at this time being 300 families, the the great majority of whom are permanent residents.

Father McBarron built, in 1881, the beautiful parochial school-building, which accommodates 200 pupils, and in 1884 the pastor's residence, a fine modern dwelling, was completed under his personal management. In his manifold duties as pastor, many of which are exceedingly arduous, Father McBarron is assisted by Rev. Joseph F. Byrne; his first assistant was Rev. Patrick Henry Rowan, after whom Rev. Denis McCabe served for some time in the same capacity.

As a pastor, Father McBarron's labors have been of great magnitude and productive of much good in furthering the interests of the church both in a spiritual and temporal way. His life, con- secrated to the noble cause of humanity and the service of the Master, has been filled with ceaseless toil and endeavor, and the fruits of his many labors are manifest in a deeper and more abiding spirituality in the parish which he has so long and faithfully served. There are few priests more worthy, better appreciated or more loved than Very Rev. Father McBarron.

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R T. REV. ATHANASIUS SCHMITT, O. S. B., the present abbot of St. Meinrad's monastery, Spencer county, Ind., is a native of Oberweissenbrunn, parish of Bishofsheim Vor der Rhoen, Bavaria, Germany, was born October 20, 1860, and is the only son of five children born to Kaspar and Elizabeth (Reulbach) Schmitt. His primary education having been finished in the parochial schools of his native parish, he entered the gymnasium at Muennerstadt, near the world's renowned watering resort of Kissingen, in 1874, for a nine years' course of classical and philo- sophical study.

In September, 1883, he sailed from Bremen, his objective point being St. Meinrad's abbey, which he entered as a novice January 21, 1884, and made the vows as a Benedictine January 21, 1885. He here finished his courses of study for the priesthood and was ordained by Bishop Chatard on Corpus Christi day, at Jasper, Ind., in 1886. His first work after ordination was professor of mathematics and the Latin and Greek languages during the year 1886-87 at St. Meinrad's college. The first parish work was in the present cathedral at Belleville, Ill., where he remained until 1888; then he was called to mission work in Kentucky, and this work was hard and arduous, as his travels were mostly on horse- back through the woods and brush over four counties, and reached to the Tennessee line.

He then was called by his saintly predecessor, Abbot Fintan, to go to Jasper and erect the college. In 1888-89 the commercial department at Jasper was an annex to St. Meinrad's college; the scientific department was added to the commercial course. This beautiful institution stands like a sentinel on an eminence, over- looking the town of Jasper. It is a credit to the ceaseless toil and attention of Abbot Athanasius. This college was erected and finished in 1892 at a cost of $25,000. He remained as rector of Jasper college until August, 1895, and then became rector of the Ecclesiastical seminary, composing the philosophical and theolog- ical department at St. Meinrad's abbey; he filled this position for three years, until he was elected, March 16, 1898, to the high position of abbot of St. Meinrad's abbey, as the successor of Abbot Fintan Mundwiler. The documents of the election were sent to

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RT. REV. A. SCHMITT, O. S. B. (ABBOTT )

ST. MEINRAD'S ABBEY,

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ST. MEINRAD, IND,

CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

Rome for approbation and confirmation a few days after the election, were signed May 16, and arrived at the abbey on the 28th day of May, 1898.

The solemn blessing of the new abbey at St. Meinrad, which occurred June 15, 1898, was one of the grandest occasions in the southern diocese, of Indianapolis, and was attended by a great con- course of priests and prominent laity. Beside the Bishop Chatard there were the following prominent officials from abroad: Abbot of Conception, of Mo .; abbot of Atchison, Kans .; abbot of New Subjaco, Little Rock, Ark .; abbot of Chicago; Very Rev. Prior Lucas, of St. Joseph's priory, of Louisiana; Very Rev. Placidus, prior of St. Vincent arch-abbey, of Pennsylvania; Very Rev. Anthony Scheideler, vicar-general of the diocese of Indianapolis, and the superiors of the different religious communities.

There are 110 members in the abbey at present. The school year opens September 8, 1898, and the attendance averages about , 125 for the classical, philosophical and theological courses. With the abbey are connected several parishes, the different Indian schools and missions in South and North Dakota, also several mis- sionary districts in Louisiana.

R EV. DENIS MCCABE, rector of the newly erected Holy Cross church at Indianapolis, is a native of Aurora, Ind., was born January 9, 1866, and was primarily educated in the parochial schools of his native city. His classical instruction was received at St. Joseph's college, Bardstown, Ky., and his knowledge of theology was acquired at St. Mary's university, Baltimore, Md. He was ordained December 22, 1888, and entered upon his pas- toral duties as assistant at Holy Trinity church, New Albany, Ind., whence he was transferred to the cathedral at Vincennes, where he officiated three years. He was next appointed pastor at Lib- erty, Ind., and then of the church of the Assumption at Evans- ville, and from there transferred to his present charge, on the death of Rev. W. F. Quigley, who was the first pastor of this ·congregation, which is comparatively new and comprises about

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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,

300 families. Here he has done good and faithful work, and has won the hearts of his flock, who revere him for his piety and his benignant deportment, as well as for his profundity in knowledge and charity of thought and act.

REV. JOHN HERMANN HUESER, D. D., pastor of SS. Peter and Paul's church, Huntington, Ind., was born Novem- ber 8, 1839, in the diocese of Paderborn, Westphalia, Germany, made his philosophical and theological studies in Muenster and Innsbruck, where he received the degree of a doctor of divinity, was ordained priest on September 21, 1863, in Brixen, Tyrol, worked three years in the care of souls in his native diocese of Paderborn, and in October, 1866, entered the American college in Louvain, Belgium, to prepare for the missions and to study the English language. There he also taught dogmatic theology as a supplementary professor.

He landed in New York in November, 1867, and placed him- self, for the time being, at the disposal of Bishop de St. Palais of Vincennes, who sent him as pastor to Millhousen, Decatur county, Ind. In punishment for rebellion against the priest, the congrega- tion was under the interdict, neighboring priests being strictly for- bidden by the ordinary to bury the dead. The foundation for a large church of Gothic style had been laid; but the work having been interrupted, brick and other building material were in danger of being spoiled. Father Hueser gained the confidence of the people, and had the church, with the exception of the steeple, finished within fifteen months. He had the old brick church trans- forined into a school-house, and a convent built for the Sisters of St. Francis from Oldenburg, Ind., whom he had induced to take charge of the schools. He remembers this good country people with a sincere feeling of gratitude for the welcome and assistance extended to him, a recent immigrant of no experience.

At that time Father Hueser began to feel deep interest in a movement centered in Cincinnati, the object of which was to start Catholic colonies in the south. He offered his services and good (912)

CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

will to the Right Rev. Bishop of Nashville, Patrick Feehan, who sent him to Lawrenceburg, Tenn., to take care of the new settlers. There, at a distance of about 100 miles from the next priest, and without railroad facilities, he led the life of a hermit. In the next year another priest took charge of Lawrenceburg, whilst Father Hueser started a new settlement fourteen miles farther south, nam- ing it Loretto. There he built a house for himself and teacher, and erected a frame church, which, after mass, served as a school- room. Six miles farther south he located St. Joseph, where he built a frame church, which served also as a school-room. Eight miles east from there he built a log church, and named the settle- ment St. Mary's; fourteen miles south from St. Joseph, he located, with the permission and encouragement of Bishop John Quinlan, of Mobile, a settlement near Florence, Ala., and gave it the name St. Florian. There he built a frame church and priesthouse. Rev. Mike Merz, of the diocese of Vincennes, became the first pastor of St. Florian.

After five years of a restless life, Father Hueser was no longer able to stay in the colonies, his resources being exhausted. Divine Providence induced the Reverend Fathers of the Most Precious Blood to provide for the spiritual needs of the settlers in Tennessee, and the Benedictine Fathers of St. Vincent, Pa., to take charge of St. Florian after the death of Rev. Merz from the small-pox, which plague had been brought there from Cincinnati by conta- gion. St. Florian became thus the starting point for a religious family of Benedictine monks in Alabama, where they now conduct a college and attend several congregations from St. Bernard abbey in Cullman. Father Hueser then returned north and became, for accommodation, en passant, the editor of the Wahrheitsfreund during the sickness and after the death of Mr. Baumstark. Later on he was invited by Bishop Joseph Dwenger to join the diocese of Fort Wayne. He accepted the invitation and was made acting pastor of Huntington, taking for a while the place of Father Steiner during his one year's sojourn in Florida and Minnesota for the recovery of his health. When, in October, 1877, Father Steiner received an assistant, Rev. Hueser was sent to Hesse Cassel to provide for St. Joseph's congregation. There he built a school

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and convent, for which the good people cheerfully made the nec- essary contributions. In January, 1880, after the resignation of Father Steiner, Rev. Hueser was appointed pastor of SS. Peter and Paul's congregation, which position he still holds.

The leisure. hours of Father Hueser have partly been spent in literary pursuits. Aside from his journalistic activity, he wrote four volumes of sermon sketches, which passed through three editions in America, and through more in Ireland, the work having been reprinted by M. H. Gill & Son, in Dublin. He is also the author of The Catechism in the Pulpit, a series of sermons on a catechetical plan, and, jointly with others, he wrote a Catholic Catechism, No. I and No. 2, approved and recommended by several bishops. Then he wrote an Explanation of the Little Catechism for the use of teachers and parents. His latest publication has the title "Lord, Behold He Whom Thou Lovest is Sick-a prayer and meditation book for the sick and a vadeinecum for priests when attending the sick. By Joseph Curatus."

REV. JOHN McCABE, pastor of St. Mary's parish, Daviess county, Ind., his post-office address being Loogootee, was born in Covington, Ky., December 8, 1854, and is the eldest of the three sons and four daughters born to Michael and Mary (Bryne) McCabe, natives, respectively, of county Queens and county Kildare, Ireland. The father is now deceased, and her mother has attained her sixty-fifth year. Of their seven children two have been ordained priests-John and Denis-the latter the present pastor of Holy Cross church at Indianapolis.

Rev. John McCabe was confirmed, at the age of twelve years, by Bishop de St. Palais, of Vincennes. His primary education was acquired in the common schools, and this was supplemented py an attendance at Aurora, Ind., under the Sisters of Providence. In 1869 he entered the college at Bardstown, Ky., which he left in 1874, and for one year attended St. Joseph's college, at Indianap- olis, where he finished the philosophical course. In 1876 he became a student at St. Meinrad's seminary, in Spencer county, (914)

CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

Ind., where he remained until 1878, when his theolgical studies were completed. February 2, 1878, he was ordained priest at Indianapolis by Archbishop Purcell, of Cincinnati and was assigned to St. John's parish, in Warrick county, Ind., where his duties were effectively performed for one year, when he was trans- ferred to St. Ann's parish, at Terre Haute, where he labored ardu- ously and faithfully for five years; 1885 he was appointed to the pastorate of St. Ann's, at Newcastle, Henry county, and after five years of very acceptable work was appointed, February 1, 1890, to his present pastorate of St. Mary's, to succeed Rev. T. O'Donaghue, who was transferred to the charge of St. John's church at Loogootee.

Father McCabe is dearly beloved by his parishioners for his piety and his unabated devotion to the welfare of his flock. The congregation comprises 125 families, or about 650 souls, and the position of pastor is therefore no sinecure, but Father McCabe is fully equal to the task of meeting its demands.

AMES JEROME MCCARTNEY, an enterprising grocer of South J

Bend, Ind., is a native of Milton, Chittenden county, Vt., was born April 6, 1838, and is a son of Michael and Margaret (Johnson) McCartney.

Michael McCartney was born in county Louth, Ireland, in 1789, was educated in the parochial school, was reared a farmer, and in 1823 married Miss Johnson, who was born in county Louth in 1790. Soon after marriage, Mr. and Mrs. McCartney came to America and settled in Vermont. The father died in Georgia, Franklin county, of that state, July 9, 1854, and the mother died, at the same place, in December, 1859, both in the faith of the Catholic church, their remains now resting, side by side, in St. Alban's cemetery. Of their six children, Peter enlisted to serve in the war against Mexico, and at its close joined a force under Col. Crittenden, to aid Gen. Lopez in freeing Cuba (1850-51), was taken prisoner by the Spaniards, was released through the inter- vention of the American consul, but died shortly after and buried

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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,

at Mobile, Ala. James Jerome is the subject of this sketch; and of the other four, who were daughters, two died in Vermont, one lives in Oregon, and one lives with James J., the subject.

James Jerome McCartney attended the public school at Milton, Vt., until sixteen years old, and was then apprenticed to carriage- making, which trade he followed at Fairfax, Vt., until 1861, when he enlisted in April, in company H, Second Vermont volun- teer infantry, under Capt. William T. Burnham, and served until the war closed, the greater part of the time, however, in the quartermaster's department, as he had sustained serious injuries at the battle of Bull Run. After the war was over he returned to Vermont, but he did not remain long, as he came to South Bend, Ind., in 1866, and was here employed for fifteen years in the shops of the Birdsell Manufacturing company. In 1884 he embarked in the grocery trade, and in this has met with abundant success, continuing it until the present time.

Mr. McCartney was united in marriage, November 4, 1869, in St. Patrick's church, South Bend, by Rev. Father Cooney, with Miss Anna Mulligan, and this union has been blessed with four children. Mr. and Mrs. McCartney are devout members of St. Joseph's Catholic church, in which faith their children have been carefully reared, and all are highly esteemed in church and social circles. Mr. McCartney is suave and attentive to the needs of his patrons, and well deserves the success with which he has met and the respect in which he is universally held.

JOHN JOSEPH MCCARTHY, a well-known and substantial J business man of South Bend, Ind., was born in county Kerry, Ireland, June 24, 1843, and is a son of John and Jane (Lother McCarthy, natives of the same county, and born, respectively, in 1796 and 1813.

John McCarthy, the father, was educated in the parochial school of Abbeydorney, and completed his schooling at the age of fourteen years. He was a freeholder, was a farmer all his life, and was married in his native parish, in 1835, by Rev. Father (916)

CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

Thomas Fitzgerald. His marriage was blessed with six children, viz: Jeremiah, now a resident of Harrisburg, Canada; Johanna, still living in county Kerry, Ireland; Margaret, wife of Daniel O'Haley, of the same county; Mary, wife of Dennis O'Conners; Thomas, of South Bend, Ind., and John Joseph, whose name opens this sketch. The mother of these children was called to rest in 1848, and the father in 1871, both dying in the faith of the Catholic church, and their remains now lie side by side in the Catholic cemetery of their native parish in county Kerry.

John Joseph Mccarthy was educated in the parochial school of his native parish, which he attended until he reached the age of sixteen years. At his majority he came to the United States, via Quebec, Canada, where he landed in June, 1864, and thence, via Detroit, Mich., he came to St. Joseph county, Ind., and for two years was employed at Notre Dame. In 1866 he made a trip to Canada, remained there two years, and finally settled in South Bend, in 1868, and engaged in the grocery trade, in which he was very prosperous and which occupied his time and attention for eight years; he then engaged in the wood and coal trade, and in this he also met with splendid success and acquired considerable property, and finally relinquished trade altogether, in order that he might devote his attention solely to his real estate interests.

Mr. McCarthy was first married April 17, 1868, to Miss Julia Murphy, the ceremony taking place in St. Patrick's church, South Bend, with Rev. Father John Louth as the officiating clergyman. Of this union there was no issue, and Mrs. McCarthy passed away April 27, 1889, her remains being laid to rest in Cedar Grove cem- etery. Mr. McCarthy, shortly after this sad event, made a trip to his native land, visited his relatives, and after a surcease of sorrow returned to South Bend. June 13, 1892, at St. Patrick's church, he was again united in matrimony, the bride being Miss Mary E. Donovan, and the officiating clergyman the Rev. Father Spellard, and this happy union has been blessed with three children-Mary Ellen, Monacha Jane and John J.

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History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume II, Part 56

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