History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume II, Part 59

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

USA > Indiana > History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume II > Part 59

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CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

he conducted until 1891, when he was appointed to his present responsible position.

Mr. McNamara was united in marriage, September 24, 1890, at St. John's church, to Miss Katie Kelly, who was born in Indian- apolis September 22, 1870, a daughter of Patrick Kelly, late sexton of the Holy Cross cemetery. One son has blessed this matrimo- nial alliance-Carl Leo, born September 9, 1894.

The family are members of St. John's congregation, Rev. Father Gavisk, pastor, and Mr. McNamara is a member of the Young Men's institute, the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Celtic club. Politically he has been a democrat from the time he was first entitled to vote, and he faithfully clings to his party and to his church, to both of which he freely contributes his financial aid.

G EORGE MCKEEVER .- The history of representative Cath- olic citizens of Indianapolis would be incomplete without at least brief mention of the family of George Mckeever, deceased, who was a native of Londonderry, Ireland, born in 1826. His father died while George was yet a boy, and later his mother brought him to the United States, or at least started to cross the ocean for this country, but did not survive the voyage, dying on the passage, her remains being committed to the sea. On reach- ing this country the son went to the home of a maternal uncle in Jersey City, N. J., where he remained until he had attained to manhood's estate, and in 1850 was married to Miss Mary Feeney, a native of Ireland, but whose parents never crossed the ocean. She was the first of the family to emigrate, but was followed to the new world by several of the others.

Soon after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. McKeever removed to Butler county, Ohio, thence to Preble county, thence to Rich- mond, Ind., and finally, in January, 1870, came to Indianapolis. Mr. Mckeever engaged in railroading when he came to the west, as an employee of the C. H. & D. railway company, but he did not long survive after becoming a resident of Indianapolis, for on the 2nd of October, 1870, he was killed while engaged in the discharge

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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,

of his duties, as an employee of that company. His death was an especially sad one, as he left his widow with three small children to rear and to train and to educate in such a way as to make them respectable and safe citizens of the republic. She, too, has now passed to the great beyond, but that she performed her duty to her children well is fully attested, not only by their verbal statements to that effect, but also by their own conduct in life, they being all worthy members of the church and also of general society. She died April 24, 1897, at the age of sixty-eight years, and her only son, Thomas Mckeever, is a locomotive engineer residing at Springfield, Ohio. The daughters are Mary A., and Margaret, the latter the wife of Prof. John B. O'Connor, an instructor in the theological seminary at Rochester, N. Y. Miss Mary McKeever was the companion of her mother at their pleasant home on New Jersey street, where she still resides. She is a teacher by profes- sion, being principal of school No. 25, Indianapolis. All the chil- dren, as were their parents, are good and consistent Catholics, and highly respectable and useful members of general society, laboring for the good of others to the extent of their opportunity and ability.

ERY REV. J. F. SONDERMANN, pastor of St. Lawrence's V church, Lawrenceburg, Dearborn county, Ind., is a son of Theodore and Mary C. (Theile) Sondermann, and was born near Attendorn, Prussia, December 2, 1844, and was brought to America by his parents, who landed at New York July 11, 1847, and located in Pittsburg, Pa.

Rev. Father Sondermann is a graduate of St. Meinrad college, which he entered in the fall of 1857, studied in Vincennes in 1859, at St. Thomas, Nelson county, Ky., from September, 1859, to July, 1860, returned to St. Meinrad in the fall of 1860, was ordained priest September 22, 1868, and was located at Mt. Vernon, Posey county, Ind., November 11, 1868, and there remained until May 15, 1874, when he was transferred to St. Mary's church, at Evans- ville, where he officiated until October, 1874. He then went to St. Joseph church, in Vanderburg county, remained until May 10, (950)

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31412 /2

ST. LAWRENCE'S CHURCH, LAWRENCEBURG, IND.

CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

1875, then came to Lawrenceburg and assumed his present posi- tion May 15, 1875. He had about 220 families at that time and has now about 300. The seating capacity of his church is 625, but can accommodate near 800. He has a school under him in charge of five Sisters of St. Francis, of Oldenburg, in which about 200 pupils are under instruction. Father Sondermann has been one of the most zealous and faithful of the servants of the church, as well as one of the most talented, and has services have been well appreciated. Further concerning the genealogy of the very rev- erend Father may be found in the biography of the venerable Theo. Sondermann, of Jasper, Ind.

T "HOMAS MCKEEVER, of Vincennes, Ind., section foreman on the Indianapolis & Vincennes railroad, was born at Moyvalley hotel, county Kildare, Ireland, October 31, 1830, a son of Michael and Elizabeth (Rock) Mckeever, both now deceased. He was reared on his father's farm, and on the 27th day of April, 1849, left his native land for America. He landed in New York city, came west to Pittsburg, Pa., thence went to Coalport, Ohio, then to Ironton and to Franklin Furnace, in the same state, and in 1851 came to Indiana. June 4, he began his railroad work by laying track on the Evansville & Illinois road, and during the same year was promoted to a foremanship, and has held the position ever since with the exception of two years-1858-59-when he was overseer of a plantation in Kentucky, but, finding the employment uncongenial, returned to railroading, worked for his former employers until 1865, and in 1866 went back to Kentucky and was employed on the Henderson & Nashville railway for two years, when he again came to Indiana, and in 1868 was elected assessor of real estate in Evansville, filling the office one term. In 1869 he came with his family to Vincennes and assumed the duties of his present position. Forty-five years have been devoted by Mr. Mckeever to this class of work, and it is an established fact that anything in this line left to the hands of Mr. Mckeever will be well done, as he has assisted in building every railroad entering Vincennes, having been assistant

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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,

roadmaster on the E. & T. H., in connection with his present sit- uation, and prior to this assistant road-master on the Louisville & Nashville R. R.

The marriage of Mr. Mckeever took place in the church of the Assumption, Brooklyn, N. Y., February 19, 1860, to Miss Katherine Stenson, who was born in county Kildare, Ireland, and came to America three years prior to the arrival of Mr. Mckeever. The marriage ceremony was performed by Rev. Father Keegan, and the happy union has been blessed with three sons and three daughters, of whom five survive, viz: Robert S., a supervisor of the Indianapolis & Vincennes railway, with his residence at Spen- cer, Ind. ; Thomas, a locomotive fireman on the Big Four road, mar- ried, and father of two children; Eliza, married to Mr. Lehan, of Seymour, Ind .; Mary, now Mrs. Connaty, of Washington, Ind. ; and Michael, a fireman on the Big Four, with headquarters at Indianapolis. The deceased child, Jane, died at the age of one year. The family have been members of St. Francis Xavier cathedral congregation since 1869, and in politics Mr. Mckeever has been a democrat since his first entrance into politics. He is a constant reader, especially of religious publications, possesses an exception- ally retentive memory, and is an intelligent, clear-headed gentle- man, respected by all who know him for his many excellent quali- ties of head and heart.

T' THOMAS W. MCKENZIE, dealer in groceries and provisions, at No. 1004 South West street, Indianapolis, is a native of Ohio, and was born in Chillicothe, Ross county, February 22, 1850, a son of John and Jane Mckenzie, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of Ohio.

The ancestors of John McKenzie came to America with Lord Baltimore, who sought refuge in this country, in 1634, from relig- ious persecution in England, founded the colony of Maryland, and of this the Mckenzie family were prominent members, and have ever since been identified with the history of the country through their descendants. John Mckenzie was a farmer for many years and died in Chillicothe, Ohio, when his son, Thomas W., was (956)

CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

three years old. His widow then married a Mr. Jeffries, and is now à resident of Circleville, Ohio, a highly respected Catholic.

Thomas W. Mckenzie is the eldest and only survivor of a family of three children, his brother, Samuel, having died at the age of twelve years, and his sister, Sarah, at the age of eighteeen. He was reared a farmer, but in his early manhood learned the carpenter's trade in Circleville and Columbus, Ohio. In 1873 he came to Indianapolis and for some years worked at his trade prior to engaging in the mercantile business. June 29, 1878, he was united in marriage, by the Right Rev. Father Bessonies, to Miss Celia Nolan, who was born in Baltimore, November 14, 1857, a daughter of Barney and Bridget (Galvin) Nolan, natives, respect- ively, of county Galway and county Roscommon, Ireland, but who were married in Baltimore, and became the parents of four sons and three daughters, of whom three are still living, viz: Mrs. Mc- Kenzie; Mary (who resides in Richmond, Ind.), and Barney William, of Mendota, Ill. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Mckenzie have born three children, viz: Thomas, now fourteen years old; Edward, aged twelve, and Celia, aged ten years. The family are members of St. John's church, and in politics Mr. Mckenzie is a free-silver democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Mckenzie stand in high repute among their neighbors, and there are no residents of the parish more faithful to the church than they and their children.

M RS. W. M. McKINNIE, a native of Fort Wayne, is one of ten children born to William Fleming and Helen F. Mayer, and was born March 24, 1865, in Fort Wayne, was educated in the Catholic schools of Cincinnati, and was married June 15, 1887, to William M. McKinnie, a son of Henry McKinnie, of Pittsburg, Pa. Mr. McKinnie has been connected with various hotels for many years. Three children have blessed this marriage and are named, respectively, Gerald F., Linda F. and Carlotta. These children are being reared in the faith of the Catholic church, of which the mother is a devout member, and all three are bright and interesting.

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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,

J AMES MCLAUGHLIN, a respected railroad man, living in retirement on his farm in Salt Creek township, Decatur county, Ind., is a native of Ireland and was born in county Tip- perary, August 24, 1836, a son of James and Catherine (Fahy) McLaughlin, who were the parents of four children, viz: James, Mary, Michael and John, of whom Michael went to Australia, but has not been heard from, now, for several years. The father died in Tipperary county, a member of Kilcommon parish, and in 1853 the mother brought her three children to America and made her home in LaGrange, Ky., where she died a devout Catholic.

James McLaughlin, our subject, was about seventeen years of age when the family came to America. For a year he lived in New Jersey, then a year in the state of New York, and then for sixteen years in Campbellsburg, Ky., where he was section foreman on the L., C. & L. railway, now a part of the Louisville & Nashville sys- tem; he then became superintendent of track-laying on the Louis- ville, Evansville & St. Louis road, and supervised the laying of the track through the tunnel, 5,680 feet long, near New Albany. After- ward, for three years, he was employed on the C., N. O. & T. P. road as a conductor of a construction train, and then resigned and retired to his farm of 300 acres, in Salt Creek township.

Mr. Mclaughlin was united in marriage, in 1858, with Miss Margaret O'Day, daughter of James and Nora (Bourk) O'Day, who were natives of county Clare, Ireland, but who lived for some time in Salt Creek township, Decatur county, and were members of St. Mary's church, Greensburg, but who afterward went to Tuscaloosa, Ala., where they passed the remainder of their lives. The union of Mr. and Mrs. McLaughlin was blessed with six children, viz: Catherine, James T., John W., Joseph M., Edward E. and William, but of these, the eldest, Catherine, died at the age of eighteen years, a devout Catholic and just as she was about to finish her education under the care of the Sisters. The mother of the family was called from earth January 12, 1897, and died in the full faith of the Catholic church. Mr. McLaugh- lin is also strong in the faith and has been a liberal contributor toward sustaining his church, having, among his many other acts of generosity, donated $200 toward the erection of St. Mary's

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CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

church-edifice at Greensburgh. In politics he is a democrat, is a self-made man, and stands very high in the esteem of his former railroad associates and officials, and equally high in the respect of his neighbors.

THOMAS McKONE, a well-to-do business man of LaFayette,

Ind., a member of St. Mary's church, and a highly-respected citizen, was born in county Cavan, Ireland, in 1826, a son of Nicholas and Catherine (McCann) McKone, who were the parents of eleven children, six sons and five daughters; three of the sons came to America, but the subject is the only one still residing here. One brother, Nicholas, was in business with the subject several years, but returned to Ireland and now resides in county Mona- ghan; another brother, Owen, a partner in business, died here Jan- uary 3, 1859, leaving one son, William J., now a resident of Kan- sas City, Mo. The parents, who were very respectable people and in comfortable circumstances, died in their native land.

Thomas McKone, the subject, became a resident of LaFay- ette, Ind., in 1849, purchased a small grocery, and had barely started in trade, when his store was destroyed by fire. In 1850 he took possession of his present store and for many years has done an extensive trade in groceries and liquors.

November 11, 1851, Mr. McKone was united in marriage with Miss Rosette Balfe, a native of Ireland, and this union was blessed with eleven children, six only of whom survive, viz: Catherine, Laura, Charlotte, Mary and Josephine (twins) and Owen. Mrs. McKone was called to the home of the blessed October 6, 1871, dying a sincere and pure Catholic; but her death was a sad blow to the bereaved father and children, who have never ceased to mourn her loss. The family are all good Catholics, and Mr. McKone was formerly treasurer of St. Mary's church. In 1874 he was a member of a party who made a pilgrimage to Rome, and while abroad availed himself of the opportunity to visit his birth- place in Ireland, and many other places. Upon his return he re-assumed charge of his business and has been very prosperous. He owns his place of business, as well as other business property,

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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,

has a good home on State street, and is the owner, beside, of other valuable residence property in various parts of the city. Mr. McKone is a whole-souled, generous man, with hosts of friends, who admire him for his personal merits, and, although a strong democrat in politics, he has steadily declined every tender of nom- ination for office, which his friends have frequently pressed him to accept.

DEV. THOMAS A. McLOUGHLIN, the beloved pastor of the church of St. Paul the Apostle, at Greencastle, Putnam county, was born in Madison, Ind., March 27, 1859, a son of Andrew and Ellen McLoughlin, natives of county Galway, Ireland, who came to America when young, and were married in Jefferson county, Ind., where the remainder of their lives was passed. They were the parents of eight children, of whom six sons still survive, one son and a daughter having joined their parents in the eternal realm of glory.

The primary education of Father McLoughlin was acquired in the parochial schools of his native city, and at the select school of Dr. Piedfourck, a profoundly learned educator. At the age of fif- teen years (in 1874), he entered St. Meinrad college, in Spencer county, Ind., where he remained until 1881, on the 16th day of October, of which year, he was ordained. His first clerical duties were those of assistant pastor at the cathedral in Vincennes, where he officiated until appointed to the charge in Greencastle, in Sep- tember, 1889, where he has since most faithfully and assiduously labored to advance the good work of the church and in promoting the spiritual and temporal well being of his flock. He is an elo- quent pulpit orator and a devout Christian, and his urbanity as well as unwearying labors in the care of his parishioners have won for him the respect of the residents of Greencastle, irrespective of church affiliations, and have done more toward annihilating the prejudice that existed against Catholicity when missions were first established here than had been accomplished in any similar period of time.

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CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

A NTHONY McMANAMON, of Indianapolis, was born in North Vernon, Ind., March 31, 1870. He is a son of Patrick and Bridget (Gallagher) McManamon, both natives of county Mayo, Ireland, but who came to the United States in their youthful days and were married in Indiana.

Patrick McManamon wasa plumber by trade, and died in Indian- apolis in 1883. The family for generations has been a prominent and representative Catholic one, and has had many members follow- ing the learned professions. Mrs. McManamon is still a widow and resides in Indianapolis at 109 Church street. Patrick and Bridget McManamon were the parents of eight children, the subject of this sketch being the fifth in order of birth. The eldest of the family is Katie, wife of John Rail, chief engineer of the city waterworks; Mary is still single; Bridget is the wife of Thomas Nelan and resides in Indianapolis; John is a core-maker and single; Anthony, the subject of this sketch; Thomas; Alice is a clerk in Brossnan Bros. department store; and Sadie is a stenographer and bookkeeper for an Indianapolis drug store.

Anthony McManamon was educated in St. John's Catholic schools, the family having removed to Indianapolis from North Vernon when he was a child, and here his life, since that removal, has been spent. His earlier years were spent in various employ- ments, twelve years in the wheel works, two years in the iron works, and two and a half years as a cutter in an overall factory. Mr. McManamon is still unmarried and, with the other members of the family, is a member of St. John's Catholic church of Indianapolis, of which Rev. Father Gavisk is the pastor. Mr. McManamon is also a member of the Young Men's institute, and in politics he is a democrat.

A RTHUR McMAHON, checkman for Bird's Transfer company,

union depot, Indianapolis, Iud., was born in Providence, R. I., October 23, 1858, a son of Bernard and Bridget (Clarking) McMahon, natives of county Cavan, Ireland, but now residents of Indianapolis. They were married in their native country, and are the parents of five children, viz: Arthur, Thomas, Ella, Rose and

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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,

Mary -- the last named being the wife of William McShea, a machinist at the Atlas works, Indianapolis. The others, except the subject, are unmarried.

Arthur McMahon removed with his parents to Cambridge City, Ind., in 1867, there acquired a common-school education, and worked for a time at the business of marble polishing, his father being a marble worker. He came to Indianapolis in 1880, and was for three years employed by the Sisters of Providence at St. John's academy, where he had charge of the heating apparatus. He was next engine caller at the Panhandle engine house for one year, and then secured his present position in 1886. Mr. McMahon was married in this city July 9, 1890, the lady of his choice being Miss Dora Kersey, of Lebanon, Ind., and a daughter of Nathan and Emma (Hemphill) Kersey, both natives of North Carolina, where their respective families were prominent. One daughter has blessed this union-Edith, born September 12, 1892,

Mr. McMahon is a member of St. Patrick's church, under the pastorate of Rev. Father O'Donaghue, and is an exemplary Chris- tian gentleman, and a teetotaler, as far as intoxicants are con- cerned. He is not identified with any of the secret societies, but is devoted closely to his business, though he always finds time to render a kindly service to any one in need. Politically he is a democrat and an advocate of the free-silver doctrines as repre- sented in the Chicago platform of 1896.

P HILANDER H. FITZGERALD, attorney and counselor at law, Indianapolis, is a native of Decatur county, Ind., born on the 14th of February, 1848, in the city of Greensburg. His paternal ancestors for many generations lived in Ireland, from which country his grandfather, John Fitzgerald, came to the United States in an early day and established the family name in America. John Fitzgerald settled originally in Virginia, and from the latter state representatives of the family settled in Kentucky, and Dearborn county, Ind., where John died. His son, Joseph, father of the subject, is at this time a prosperous farmer of Marion (962)

THE JOURNAL

JOURNAL BUILDING, INDIANAPOLIS, IND.

CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

county, Ind., residing near the town of Acton, having reached the ripe old age of eighty-two years. The maiden name of subject's mother was Laura Northrup. She was born in the state of Con- necticut and died at her home in Marion county in the year 1893. Philander is the only son of the above-named parents, but he has three living sisters, viz: Mrs. Rebecca Farr, of Winchester, Mass .; Mrs. Clara Trower, of Pana, Ill .; and Mrs. Laura Blass, who resides on the home farm near Acton.

The subject of this sketch was educated at Manchester col- lege, Dearborn county, Ind., from which he received a degree in 1867, and three years later began the study of law, pursuing the same under competent instructors for a period of two years. In the meantime a new field was opened to him, to-wit, govern- ment claims, to which he decided to give his attention and which he has followed almost exclusively for twenty-five years, the greater part of the time in the Capital city. During this period he secured the allowance of more than 50,000 claims, almost all of which grew out of war pensions, arrears of pay and claims for property taken by the enemy during the prevalence of the late Civil war.

In 1880 Mr. Fitzgerald was appointed by Gov. Williams to file a large class of indemnity claims and subsequently became the attorney for the majority of them, and was largely successful in prosecuting the same. He was also one of the prime movers in the organization of the Indiana Mutual Building & Loan associ- ation, one of the largest and most successful institutions of the kind in the state, and has filled the responsible position of treas- urer of the same from its beginning to the present time.

In February, 1888, Mr. Fitzgerald founded the American Tribune, a weekly publication devoted to the interests of the old soldiers, which he still owns and edits, and which has an exten- sive circulation throughout Indiana and other states. He is a pleasing and forcible writer, and many of his articles in the Trib- une have been largely quoted and given publicity in some of the leading journals of the country.

Mr. Fitzgerald was united in marriage June 24, 1872, to Miss Mary B. Mullin, of Greensburg, Ind., daughter of Bernard Mul-

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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,

lin, a well-known citizen of that place. Four sons and two daughters constitute the family of Mr. and Mrs. Fitzgerald: Frank, a rising young attorney of Indianapolis; Laura, Rose E., Bernard G., John P. and George H., all under the parental roof, except the first named, who is married. The three oldest members of the famlly have received collegiate educations and are graduates, and the others are still in school. Mr. Fitzgerald and family are members of SS. Peter and Paul's cathedral; he belongs to the Friendly Order of St. Patrick, a social and benevolent frater- nity made up of Erin's descendants in the United States.

In July, 1895, Mr. Fitzgerald organized a colony consisting of northwestern people, who desired to locate in a milder and health- ier climate. He decided to locate in the state of Georgia, and purchased a tract of land consisting of 35,000 acres in a healthy part of the state. The colony continued to grow until the date set for the members to take up their lands and make their homes. It was then found that the organization numbered over 20,000 people. They entered the new location, virtually a pine forest some twenty-five miles away from a railroad. They went to work with a will, laid out a city of 1,000 acres of land and the remain- der was divided into farm tracts. They built a city that now has 10,000 people, and some 4,000 more upon the farm lands, with two railroads entering the city; with stores, churches, city water works, and electric light plant, and everything now moving along in perfect harmony. The city is named after the founder and is known as Fitzgerald, Irwin county, Ga.

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History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume II, Part 59

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