USA > Indiana > History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume II > Part 60
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P ATRICK TIMOTHY McMAHON, a member of the Indian- apolis fire department, was born January 31, 1861, in the parish of Currans, county Kerry, Ireland. He is a son of Timothy and Ellen (Sullivan) McMahon, also natives of county Kerry, where they were married and where they have thus far lived. They are the parents of nine children, six of whom are still living, the names of all being as follows: Jeremiah and Michael, deceased; Patrick, John, Eugene, Julia, Mary (deceased), Timothy and Daniel.
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CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
All the living members of the family, except Patrick and Timothy, still reside in their native country. Timothy is a resident of Low- ell, Mass .; Eugene is a soldier in the English army but at present is in the West Indies, and the subject of this sketch is the only one that is married. The mother of this family died December 7, 1876; the father is still living and is a widower.
Patrick T. McMahon, after obtaining his education in his native country, emigrated to the United States when he was twen- ty-one years of age, and located first in Chicago, where he remained until 1887, being engaged in the packing establishment of Philip D. Armour at the Union stockyards. Since 1887 he has resided in Indianapolis, and from that year to December 18, 1896, was employed by the Indianapolis Car Manufacturing company, and at the latter date became a member of hose company No. 17, his present position, but in 1897 he served six months with hose com- pany No. 19.
Mr. McMahon was married at St. John's church, Indianapolis, by Mgr. Bessonies, April 30, 1889, to Miss Ellen Sullivan, a native of county Kerry, Ireland, who came to the United States alone in 1884. Her father, John Sullivan, still lives in Ireland, but her mother is dead. Mr. and Mrs. McMahon are the parents of six children, viz: Timothy Joseph, John Francis, Lawrence Edward, Charles Daniel, Patrick Michael, and Mary Ellen, all living. The family are members of St. John's Catholic church, of which Rev. Father Gavisk is pastor. Mr. McMahon is a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and of the Young Men's institute, the latter a social and beneficiary order, being a strictly Catholic organiza- tion. Politically Mr. McMahon is a democrat and lives at No. 905 South West street. Mr. McMahon has always been an indus- trions, self-supporting citizen, and is worthy of the high regard of the community in which he lives.
M ARTIN McMANUS, an accountant and ex-merchant of Indi- anapolis, was born in Steubenville, Ohio, October 1, 1852, a son of Patrick and Mary (Murray) McManus, the former of whom
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
was born in county Leitrim, Ireland, and the latter in England, of Irish parentage.
Patrick and Mary McManus came to this country in their early manhood and womanhood, and were united in marriage in Steubenville, Ohio, their union being blessed with seven children, viz: Martin, whose name opens this article; Charles, married, and a merchant at Coshocton, Ohio; Mary, wife of C. W. Cunningham, a clothing merchant of Crawfordsville, Ind .; Frank, who is unmar- ried and is engaged in business with his brother Charles; Anna, wife of C. W. Walker, a boot and shoe merchant of Coshocton; William, who died at the age of twenty-six years, while on a visit to his mother, and Edward, who is married and is engaged in mer- cantile trade at Coshocton. The father of this family, who was a railroad contractor, died a true Catholic at his home in Coshocton, Ohio, August 19, 1878, at the age of sixty-two years, and in that city his widow still makes her home.
Martin McManus received a solid public-school education in Coshocton, Ohio, where he spent his early manhood days in rail- roading. In April, 1887, he came to Indianapolis and engaged in wholesale mercantile trade and met with fair success, but reverses came, owing to trade depression throughout the country, and latterly he has been employed as bookkeeper for the Maus branch of the Indianapolis Brewing company, at the corner of New York and Agnes streets.
The marriage of Mr. McManus took place in Cooperstown, Otsego county, N. Y., June 15, 1882, to Miss Katherine Connerty, a native of Springfield, in the county just mentioned. Four chil- dren have resulted from this marriage, viz: Mary, who died at the age of six months; and Anna, Raymond and Martin, who are all congregated at the happy fireside of the parental residence, No. 1611 North New Jersey street.
Mr. McManus and family worship under the ministration of Rev. Father Chartrand, at Sts. Peter and Paul's church, of which they are devoted members. Mr. McManus is a charter member of Brownson council, No. 272, Young Men's institute, and of division No. 2, of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. In politics he is a sound and active democrat; notwithstanding that he twice served (970)
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
as treasurer of Coshocton, Ohio, he has never sought office as a reward for his labors in advancing the interests of his party. As a citizen he stands deservedly high in the esteem of his neighbors and the many warm-hearted friends he has made in Indianpolis and elsewhere.
JOHN F. MACK, of Indianapolis, was born in Michigan City, J Ind., May 13, 1867, a son of John and Mary (Hayes) Mack, natives of Ireland and Canada, respectively. The father was born in the year 1835, and for many years followed railroading as a locomotive engineer. He removed his family from Michigan City in 1867 to Pittsburg, Pa., thence three years later to Indianapolis, and later again became a resident of Michigan City, of which place he was a resident when he met his death, November 30, 1874, in a collision on the O. & M. road at Milan, Ind .; the widow then removed to Indianapolis, where she still lives.
Of a family of five children born to John and Mary Mack, John F. was the first in order of birth; James died in infancy; William, a confectioner by occupation, resides in West Indianapolis; Thomas died at the age of seven, and Margaret, a young lady, is still at home. Mrs. Mack was born in the year 1844, and is a daughter of Andrew and Johanna (Quinlin) Hayes, both natives of Ireland, where their marriage occurred. Mr. Hayes served in the late Rebellion as private in the Thirty-fifth Indiana infantry, and died, from the effects of a wound, some years after the close of the war; his wife died in early life and is remembered as a most estimable lady and a sincere Christian.
The subject of this sketch was eight and a half years old when his father died, in consequence of which he was early thrown upon his own resources. While still quite young he manifested a decided inclination toward railroading, and in due time learned to operate a locomotive, which part of the service he followed for a period of eleven years on the Belt line. During the A. R. U. strikes of 1894 he left the road, was reinstated in April, 1896, but resigned his position in October of the same year, since which date he has given his attention to other vocations.
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Mr. Mack is a single man, and, with the other members of his mother's family, belongs to the Assumption church, in the found- ing of which he took an active part. He was a member of the board of trustees when the parish was organized and during the erection of the beautiful house of worship, and has otherwise been prominent in all matters tending to its best interest and develop- ment. He is also a charter member of the Y. M. I., No. 274, of which he is corresponding secretary. His sister, Margaret, is organist of the church, and also one of its most zealous and con- scientious members. Politically, Mr. Mack is a democrat and an ardent advocate of free silver, which he believes to be for the best interest of the country.
JOHN McNELIS, who resides at No. 623 Dorman street, In- dianapolis, Ind., is a native of county Donegal, Ireland, was born February 20, 1870, and came to Indianapolis in November, 1887.
John and Nellie (Carr) McNelis, parents of subject, were also natives of county Donegal, and had born to them three children, of whom John is the eldest; Michael, next in order of birth, is a core- maker, is employed in the Atlas Iron works, Indianapolis, and is still unmarried; Nellie, the sister, also single, is the housekeeper for the brothers and father, the mother having passed away in October, 1888.
After coming to Indianapolis, John McNelis was variously employed about the city until 1893, when he went south as a salesman, and visited a number of the states of that section, but his chief field was in Georgia. Early in 1897 he returned to Indian- apolis, and in December of the same year, succeeded John Gillispie in the retail liquor trade, but continued in it about one year only.
The family are members of St. Joseph's church, under the pas- torate of Rev. Father Alerding, and freely contribute toward its support. Mr. McNelis is also a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and in politics is a democrat. He is of a genial dispo- sition and very affable, and among his friends are many of the best residents of Indianapolis.
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CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
M RS. ELLEN MADDEN, one of the most highly-esteemed ladies of St. Mary's parish, Daviess county, Ind., was born about 1829 in the city of Cork, Ireland, the third in the family of three sons and seven daughters that blessed the marriage of Dennis and Margaret (Healy) McCarthy. Of these ten children three still survive, viz: Mrs. Madden; John, a farmer of Barr township and a member of St. Mary's congregation, and Isadora, wife of Michael Foley, also a farmer and a member of St. Simon's congregation.
Ellen McCarthy was a child but two years old when brought to America by her mother, the father having preceded his family in order to secure them a home prior to their arrival. After a voyage of seven weeks and three days between Cork and New Orleans they landed in safety, and a few weeks later went to Frankfort, Ky., where Ellen was confirmed in the Catholic faith at the age of thirteen years. In or about 1841, the family settled in St. Mary's parish, Barr township, Daviess county, Ind., the township being then a wilderness. April 27, 1858, Miss Ellen was united in matrimony, by Rev. Father Mougin, with John Madden.
The late John Madden was born in Baltimore, Md., July 13, 1832, and was reared to hard toil. After coming to Indiana he helped to excavate the canal at Terre Haute, and also to grade the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. On reaching his majority he had no capital, but by thrift and industry succeeded in acquiring a competency, and in this he was largely aided by his willing wife. His first ownership of land was in Martin county, in 1845, which land was purchased for him by his father, and in 1855 he made his first purchase in Daviess county; at his death, which occurred March 18, 1896, he possessed 618 acres in Barr and Van Buren townships, all the result of his own good management and the frugality of his helpmate. In politics he was a democrat, and in religion one of the most devout of Catholics, and as a citizen was honored by all who knew him. As a husband and father he was extremely affectionate, and his loving wife and children have erected a beautiful granite monument, in sacred remembrance of him, over his resting place in St. Mary's cemetery.
The children that blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Mad- den were eight in number-three sons and five daughters-and of
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
these the following-named five still survive: Jeremiah M., who was confirmed by Bishop de St. Palais, is now a prominent mem- ber of St. Mary's congregation, and in politics he is a democrat; Margaret A. was confirmed by Bishop de St. Palais, and is now a Sister of Providence at St. Mary's of the Woods; Hannah A. was also confirmed by Bishop de St. Palais, and is the chief reliance of her mother in the care of the homestead; William D. was confirmed by Bishop Chatard, at the age of fourteen years, is a democrat in politics, and manages the home farm; Malachi J., also confirmed by Bishop Chatard, at the age of fifteen, May 24, 1886, is a dem- ocrat in politics, and, like his brother, William D., cast his first presidential vote for Grover Cleveland; he, also, makes his home on his mother's homestead.
Mrs. Madden is very liberal in her contributions to the church, and no lady in the parish is held in higher esteem than herself.
H ON. ROBERT M. MADDEN, member of the Indianapolis city council, and foreman of the Udell Woodenware works, is an example of what may be accomplished by determined and well- directed effort in a country which furnishes every opportunity for even the humblest of its citizens to rise to independence, wealth and influence.
He was born in Jeffersonville, Clark county, Ind., May 11, 1857, and is a son of John and Mary (Dolan) Madden, both natives of Ireland, the former of Garriston, county Dublin, and the latter of Mulaghbon, county Leitrim. They came to this country about 1853, and were married in Dutchess county, N. Y., in 1855. Soon afterward they located on a farm near Jeffersonville, Ind., on the old plank road and known as the Isaac Prather farm, upon which farm they remained about one year and then removed to Jefferson- ville, Ind., where they remained until their death, the mother dying January 6, 1867, and the father May 9, 1884. They both lie buried in the Portland, Ky., Catholic cemetery. They were the parents of four sons and one daughter, of whom the subject of this sketch is the eldest. The second, Peter, is an engineer, is married, (974)
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
has one son, John M, and is a resident of Jeffersonville, Ind .; John is an iron molder, and is a resident of Birmingham, Ala .; Michael J. is married and is a merchant located at the corner of Tenth and Walnut streets, Louisville, Ky., and Mary M. is the wife of Carl Peters, who has been engaged as " chef " in hotels in various cities of the United States for many years. He is now in Illinois.
Hon. Robert M. Madden, the subject of this sketch, was edu- cated, first at the German Catholic school in Jeffersonville, Ind., taking his first communion under Father Audrain. Later he entered the public schools of Jeffersonville, in which he obtained a common English education. The first independent effort of his life, looking toward self-support, was in pumping water in a brick- yard at Jeffersonville for James Burk and afterward he was "pro- moted " to the position of " off-bearer " of brick, still later being employed in the Ohio Falls Car shops at the same place, where he started to learn the molder's trade. This line of labor he followed for seventeen months, when the shops were destroyed by fire. He was then engaged for some time in hauling bricks to re-build the shops, and while thus employed he determined to remove to Indian- apolis, where he went to work for the Udell Woodenware works, and for this company he has been at work for the last twenty-five years, and has been foreman about twelve years of that time. With one exception he has witnessed the building of every house in North Indianapolis, and has thus resided in the city as long as North Indianapolis has been in existence.
Mr. Madden was married December 25, 1889, by Father Cur- ran, of St. Bridget's church, to Miss Sarah Gertrude Benner, daughter of Arthur and Mary (Burns) Benner, the former of whom is a native of Ireland, and the latter of Utica, N. Y. To this mar- riage there have been born three children, viz: Mary Evelyn Mad- den, born December 12, 1890; Robert Arthur, born January 22, 1892, and Gertrude, born October 2, 1895. They were christened at St. Bridget's church. Mr. Madden is a devout Catholic and is very active and faithful in the performance of his religious duties. In his political opinions Mr. Madden is a democrat and has always been an ardent supporter of the principles of his party. In Octo-
45
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
ber, 1895, he was elected councilman at large, a position to which he was re-elected in 1897, running ahead of the other candidates on his ticket in the number of votes polled. He is a member of the finance, contract, and franchise committees, and is also chairman of the committee of investigation, beside being a member of the committee on ordinances. During his first term he was a member of the committee on contracts and franchises, and was chairman of the committee on fees and salaries. Thus it will be seen that Mr. Madden is a man in whom his associates place the utmost con- fidence, and it is true of him in every sense of the words, that he is a self-made man, having won his way to his present prominent position through his own efforts and determination to succeed.
JAMES MOHAN, engineer at the Belt shops, Indianapolis, is a native of Ireland, where his birth occurred in the year 1848. His parents, James and Kate (Smith) Mohan, were both born in the Emerald isle and they lie buried in the old cemetery.near the family home. The only member of the Mohan family in the United States, aside from the subject, is a sister-Mrs. Bessie Clark, who resides on West street, Indianapolis.
James Mohan grew to manhood in the country of his nativity, and, at the age of twenty-two, came to the United States, locating first in Pennsylvania, whence he came, in 1869, to Indianapolis, where for one year he was employed in a flouring-mill. The suc- ceeding three years he spent in the employ of the Western Union Telegraph company, and for some time thereafter worked as porter in the Ray house, resigning the latter place to accept a position with the Belt road, by which he has now been employed for a period of nineteen years, thirteen of which as engineer of the shops in this city.
Mr. Mohan was married in Indianapolis, in 1874, to Miss Sarah Wyatt, of Martinsville, Ind., who died January 3, 1880. leaving three children; Mary, wife of George Morrow, Indianapo- lis: Patrick, who was killed by the cars while returning from school, aged thirteen years and seven months, and Annie, who is still
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
under the paternal roof. Mr. Mohan married, for his second wife, Mrs. Mary Manley, a native of Ireland, the ceremony being solemnized in St. John's church by Rev. D. O'Donovan. There has been no issue to this second union.
Mr. Mohan was one of the leading spirits in establishing the Assumption parish and is now one of the oldest residents of West Indianapolis. He and family are active workers in the above parish and are widely and favorably known among other Catholic circles of the city.
P ATRICK J. MAHER, well known as a business man of Kokomo, Ind., was born in county Tipperary, Ireland. November 17, 1847, son of Timothy and Julia (Hogan) Maher, both natives of Tipperary. He was one of five children (Thomas, resident of Kokomo, married Mary Eagan and has five children: Winifred, wife of William McCarty; Michael, and one who died in infancy), and came with his parents to America in 1853. They first settled at Wilmington, Ohio, where the father followed farming and remained until 1860, when they located in Howard county, Ind., purchasing and clearing a farm of sixty acres five miles east of the then village of Kokomo. This land was densely timbered and it was no small task for the settler and his family to clear it and render it habitable. That was the day of log cabins in that region, and it was in such a home that our subject spent his boyhood. His early schooling was also secured in the log school house which was built in that district with his father's assistance. His parents both died in 1878.
Although but a lad when the war broke out, Patrick J. Maher could not restrain his impulse to put in his lot with that of thou- sands of brave hearted adopted sons of the Union, and enlisted in the service of the country when but fifteen years of age. He was assigned to duty as a teamster between Camp Nelson and Knox- ville, Tenn. During this service he had a narrow escape from capture by the enemy, the wagons being taken by the opposing forces. He succeeded in making his way to Camp Nelson and was on duty there until the next year, when, his time of enlistment having expired, he re-enlisted with company H, One Hundred and Fifty-
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
third Indiana volunteer infantry. With this company he partici- pated in the engagements at Green River, Cross Plains, Knoxville and others, receiving his honorable discharge in August, 1865.
For three years after the war he remained at home, assisting his father in developing the home farm. He was then attracted by . the possibilities of the great west, and for nearly ten years lived in the saddle on the plains, as a cattle-driver, making yearly trips from Texas to Colorado. In 1877 he returned to Indiana. For a year he was employed on the police force at Kokomo and then engaged in the retail liquor, in which business he has attained a considerable degree of success.
Mr. Maher was married in 1869 at Wilmington, Ohio, to Mary Shea, who died in 1871 leaving him one son, William, who now resides near Wilmington. Mr. Maher's second marriage was con- tracted in 1879, when he led to the altar Eliza Farrell, a native of Vermont, born in 1850. To this union have been born five chil- dren, viz: An infant, deceased; Mary, Frank, John and Alice. Mr. Maher owns a pleasant home at No. 222 Washington street, beside which he has other residence property of considerable value in the city. He is a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and of the Grand Army of the Republic. In politics he is an ardent democrat, and takes an active interest in the local affairs of his party. His property and business interests afford him a compe- tence, every dollar of which has been secured by his own efforts.
JOHN J. MADIGAN, assistant depot master at the Union depot,
Vincennes, Ind., was born in county Limerick, Ireland, Novem- ber 1, 1848, and is a son of Michael and Ann (Dailey) Madigan, natives of the same county.
Michael Madigan, about the year 1850, came to America, leaving his wife and second son, James, in Ireland, with the under- standing that they were to follow him a year or two later, while John J., our subject, the eldest of a family of seven children born to his parents, was to remain in the old country a few years longer. Accordingly John J. lived with his maternal grandmother about (978)
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
five years, and then, being nearly eight years old, crossed the ocean in company with his maternal uncle, Timothy Dailey, a lad of fifteen years, and joined the parents, who at first located in New York state, whence they removed to Chillicothe, Ohio, and finally settled in Vincennes, Ind., July 27, 1866. While living in Ohio, Michael Madigan, although engaged in farming, became a railroad employee, later a contractor, and died in Vincennes at the age of seventy-three years; his widow, at about the same age, still resides in Vincennes, but is in feeble health. Of the children born to Michael Madigan and wife, beside John J., the second born, James, was drowned near Chillicothe, Ohio; Mary Ann, who was married to Wesley Sprinkle, a farmer of Knox county, Ind., died some years after marriage, leaving one daughter, who also died when about sixteen years old; Margaret is still unmarried and lives with her mother; Michael, still unmarried, is employed in the baggage-room at the Union depot in Vincennes; Henry, yet sin- gle, is a machinist, and makes his home with his mother.
John J. Madigan has passed over thirty years of his life in the employ of railroad companies in various departments, including work as tracklayer, section hand, brakeman and baggage-master. For four years prior to being placed in his present position he was employed as car repairer for the E. & T. H. Railroad company, and for a time was a member of the Vincennes police force, his experience in the latter capacity leading to his appointment to the office he now holds, which partakes of the character of a private policeman to the Union station, and this appointment was made about two years ago. All these years Mr. Madigan has faithfully performed his duty, and his advancement from post to post fully proves that he has given satisfaction to his various employers.
The marriage of Mr. Madigan took place in St. Louis, Mo., in November, 1877, to Miss Katherine Healey, who was born in Ireland, July 11, 1852, but was brought to America in childhood by her parents. Mr. Healey, who was a farmer, became dissatis- fied with life in America and with his wife returned to Ireland, leaving Mrs. Madigan to make her home with an elder sister, the wife of Thomas Murray, an engineer of Pacific City, Mo., who died in 1893, leaving two sons and one daughter. Daniel and Margaret
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
(Desmond) Healey, the parents of Mrs. Madigan, were natives of county Cork, Ireland, where, after their return from America, with their two sons, John and Timothy, they passed the remainder of their lives. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Madigan have been born five interesting children, viz: Michael Joseph, Shirley May, Mary Ann, John Daniel and Stephen Christopher- the eldest being a telegraph operator at the Union depot, and the others attending St. John's parochial school, at Vincennes. The family are all members of St. Francis Xavier church, and Mr. Madigan is a member of the A. O. H. In politics he is a democrat, and as a citizen is highly esteemed by all who know him.
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