History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume II, Part 62

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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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,

John, William M., Joseph C., Daniel J. and Thomas Leo. There was also a daughter in the family, who died in infancy. Mrs. Manning and her children reside at their home, No. 825, Greer street, Indianapolis, and are a much respected family.

M ICHAEL R. MANSFIELD, a well-known passenger con- ductor on the St. Louis division of the Big Four railroad, resides with his family at No. 1322 Bellefontaine street, in St. Joseph's parish, Indianapolis. He was born at Salem, Washington county, Ind., June 1, 1856, and is a son of James Mansfield, an early resident of Salem and who assisted in the construction of the old Salem and Albany railroad.

James Mansfield was a native of Kilkenny county, Ireland, and emigrated to the United States when a young man. He was mar- ried in St. Patrick's cathedral, New York, to the mother of the subject of this sketch. Having already become a resident of Salem, Ind., at the time of his marriage, he immediately returned to that place, and there they lived for many years, or until 1877, all their children being born at that place. In 1877 they removed to the state of Kansas, where Mr. Mansfield engaged in farming, Mr. Mansfield dying in that state January 20, 1887. Mrs. Mansfield survived her husband a little more than ten years, dying May 22, 1897. They were the parents of six children, five sons and a daughter, all of whom, but the youngest son, are living.

Michael R. Mansfield, the subject of this sketch, spent his early boyhood days in his native village, obtaining such education as the schools of that village afforded. At the age of thirteen he began working for a railroad company, performing such duties as a lad of his age could be entrusted with, and by honest effort and strict attention to duty, has gradually attained his present respon- sible position, in which he is giving satisfaction to all concerned. For some years his home was at Mattoon, Ill., where he was mar- ried to Miss Kate Flynn, daughter of Thomas and Mary Flynn, both natives of Ireland, but early settlers of Mattoon, where they still live. Mrs. Flynn was a widow at the time of her marriage to (996)

CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

Mr. Flynn. Mrs. Mansfield was one of a family of five children, one son and four daughters, three of the daughters still living. Mr. and Mrs. Mansfield are the parents of one daughter and three sons, viz: Jessie M., Russell T. J., Paul Edward and John Roy. Mr. and Mrs. Mansfield are among the most highly respected and most intelligent of the members of St. Joseph's parish, and are among the best people of the community in which they live. They are liberal contributors to the support of the church, and have reared their children to be not only good Catholics, but also good citizens of their state and of the United States.

M ARTIN MANDABACH, dealer in groceries and provisions, Washington, Daviess county, Ind., was born in Massillon, Ohio, October 3, 1860, and is a son of Peter and Caroline (Kocher) Mandabach, natives of Germany, who were married in Massillon, and lived there until 1870, when they came to Washington, Ind., and here the father was employed as a miner until 1896, when he became janitor of a public school-house in the city. The father and mother are members of St. Mary's R. C. church, and of the fourteen children born to them seven are still living, viz: Martin, Nicholas, Charles, Jacob, John, Augustus and Laura.

Martin Mandabach attended a parochial school until thirteen years of age, and afterward worked in the mines until 1889, when he opened a saloon, which he conducted until 1894. when he embarked in the grocery and provision trade, carrying a first-class and well-selected stock and doing a profitable business. March 2, 1885, he married. in Washington, Miss Gertrude State, a native of Germany, born February 24, 1861, and a daughter of Jacob and Catherine State. This marriage has resulted in the birth of five children, in the following order: Henry, Theodore, Rosa, Caroline and Carl. The family belong to St. Mary's Catholic church and are held in high respect by their neighbors. In politics Mr. Manda- bach is a democrat and is now serving as councilman from the Third ward of Washington. He has always been liberal and pub- lic-spirited, has paid close attention to his business interests, and

THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,

has invested his earnings in real estate in both city and country, and is in very comfortable circumstances-the result of his own prudence and honorable conduct through life.

REV. J. A. MARK is a native of Wuerzburg, Bavaria. He was born April 1, 1822. He made his college studies with the Benedictine Fathers in Vienna, his theological course at All Hal- lows college, in Ireland, and was ordained to the priesthood, August 6, 1855, in Nova Scotia, by Most Rev. Archbishop Walsh. Father Mark served there six years, and then joined the diocese of Alton, Ills., where he remained sixteen years. He came to the diocese of Fort Wayne in 1876 and labored in the missions of Attica and Covington. The Rev. Father was appointed pastor of St. Joseph's church, Hesse Cassel, in 1880, remained until October 16, 1897, and was then transferred to the chaplaincy of St. Joseph's hospital, Logansport, where he now is, doing good and faithful service.

TI THOMAS J. MARKEY, a representative citizen of Indianapolis, was born in the city of Dublin, Ireland, in 1852, and in 1870 came with his parents and their family of eight children to Amer- ica, settling in Indianapolis, where the parents passed away the remainder of their lives, dying members of St. Patrick's church, of which Thomas J., their son, has long been a trustee, and also a charter member of Capital council, No. 267, Young Men's institute.

Thomas J. Markey has long been an active member of the democratic party, and for six years served as a member of the city council of Indianapolis. In 1889 he was appointed by Gov. Hovey trustee of the insane asylum of this city, but in 1893 ten- dered his resignation of this office to the democratic governor, Claude Matthews.

Mr. Markey was united in marriage, September 26, 1878, with Miss Anna Broden, daughter of Patrick and Ellen Broden, pioneer Catholic citizens of this city, but both now deceased. Patrick Broden

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CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

was born in Tipperary county, Ireland, came to America in 1848 a single man, and was married in Indianapolis by the pioneer Catholic clergyman, Rev. Father Maloney. Here his six children were born, of whom five are still living, viz: John, Thomas, Mrs. Markey, Augustus and Ellen-Mary being deceased. The biog- raphy of James Broden, brother of Patrick, will be found on another page of this work, in which are given further details. relating to the Broden family. Mrs. Markey was educated in St. John's parish school, as were her brothers and sisters, and she has blessed her husband with four children, viz: Nellie, a vocalist of superior excellence; Joseph, a law student; Thomas and Charles. Mr. and Mrs. Markey have a pleasant home at No. 1016 High street, and are numbered among the most prominent members of St. Patrick's parish and most respected citizens of Indianapolis.

A MOS WILLIAM MARKLE, deceased, whose family reside at No. 19 Eastern avenue, Indianapolis, was born in Wayne county, Ind., in Angust, 1835. He was of Lutheran parentage, but later in life adopted the Catholic faith, in which he thereafter lived and died. Growing to manhood in his native county he there married the wife who still survives him, the marriage taking place in 1859. Her maiden name was Margaret Gerrity, a native of county Westmeath, Ireland, a daughter of Thomas and Bridget (Dempsey) Gerrity, who brought her to the United States when she was but thirteen years old. They passed the last years of their lives near Connersville, Ind., and there, together with their eldest daughter, they lie buried.

Amos William Markle, upon the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, enlisted in the Eighth Indiana volunteer infantry, and later re-enlisted in the Sixty-fourth Indiana volunteer infantry, serving his country faithfully until he was discharged by reason of injuries received in the service, which injuries were of so serious a nature that they ultimately led to his death in 1884, when he was but little more than forty-eight years of age. Mr. Markle was con- nected with the Catholic church from a time soon after his marriage

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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,

up to the time of his death, and was ever faithful to his religious duties, and, as the priest who prepared him for death, said, he was, if any man ever was, prepared to meet his God. He was always as true to his religion as he was to his country during her dark hours, caused by the rebellion against its authority.

Mrs. Markle, his widow, and six children survive him, the chil- dren being four sons and two daughters, as follows: Charles Mon- roe, a boilermaker by trade and a resident of Richmond, Ind .; Francis Louis, a railway or locomotive engineer in the employ of the Panhandle Railway company, and residing with his mother in Indianapolis; Mary, wife of Louis Melle, of Hamilton, Ohio; The- resa, wife of James La Porte, of Indianapolis; Thomas Sylvester and William Henry are both at the maternal home. There were five children that died in infancy. Mrs. Markle and her family removed to Indianapolis in 1895, and are among the most respected citizens of their community.

T THOMAS SYLVESTER MARTIN, who resides in retirement on East Washington street, Indianapolis, was born in Preble county, Ohio, March 20, 1854, and is a son of William and Ann (Merritt) Martin, the former a native of county Tipperary and the latter of county Clare, Ireland. They both came to the United States in early life, were married in Troy, N. Y., and removed thence to Preble county, Ohio. Later they removed to Ripley county, Ind., and finally to Indianapolis, Ind., about 1870, where they remained the rest of their lives. They were residents of St. Patrick's parish and members of that church for many years. Mrs. Martin died September 26, 1892, at the age of sixty-seven years, her husband surviving her but a few months, dying January 17, 1893. They were the parents of four children, three sons and a daughter, the latter of whom, Mary, is now Mrs. James B. King, of Chicago. She and Thomas Sylvester, the subject of this sketch, are the only members of the Martin family now known to be living.

Thomas S. Martin was about eight years of age when his par- (1000)

CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

ents removed their family to Ripley county, and there he attended school from the time he was eight years old until he was fourteen. When not in school his time was spent in assisting his father with the farm labor, which has been of advantage to him in many ways, especially in giving him bodily strength. When sixteen years of age he began railroading in the capacity of brakeman, his life on the railroad extending over a period of twenty years, the last ten of which he spent in the capacity of a conductor in charge of a passenger train. For six years he filled the position of city salesman for the Van Kamp Packing company, and then he established himself in business as a grocer, from which he has recently retired.

Mr. Martin has been twice married, his first wife having been Miss Eliza Meyers, to whom he was married in 1878, and whose death occurred January 26, 1890. November 9, 1892 he was married to Mrs. Margaret Connelly, daughter of Dennis and Mary (Sullivan) Foley, the former of whom is now deceased, but the latter is a resident of Indianapolis. Mrs. Martin was born in county Kerry, Ireland, and was two years of age when brought to the United States in 1863 by her parents. She attended school at Cumberland, Ind., completing her education at St. Patrick's school in Indianapolis. She first married John William Connelly, who died in 1889. By his first marriage our subject had three children, Nannie Ellen, now at home, and two sons, Maurice and Walter, who died in early life. By his present wife Mr. Martin . has no children.

Mr. and Mrs. Martin are faithful members of the parish of the Holy Cross, of which Rev. Father McCabe is the esteemed pastor. They are both excellent people and are highly respected by all that know them.

A LEXANDER A. MARTIN, of Fort Wayne, Ind., is one of eight children born to August J. and Josephine (Rassett) Mar- tin, the father being a native of France and still living.

Alexander A. Martin was born in Allen county, Ind., June 10, 1859, attended the common schools, and at the age of twenty years

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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,

engaged in the grocery business, and continued that until October, 1886, and then opened his present business.

In 1884 he married Jennie Glynn, a daughter of Matthias and Mary J. (Ryan) Glynn. The father, Matthias, was from Ireland, and both he and wife are now deceased. Two children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Martin, viz: Irene and Mabel. The parents are members of the Cathedral congregation, and Mr. Mar- tin is a member of the Catholic Knights of America, and in politics is a democrat. His business place is very popular, is elegantly fitted up, and the stock and fixtures are valued at $1, 200.

REV. FATHER JOHN FRANCIS STANTON, pastor of St. Thomas church, Knox county, Ind., was born September 25, 1864, in Richmond, Wayne county, in the same state, and is a son of James and Mary (Stanton) Stanton, who, although bearing the same surname, were not of the same consanguinity. Both, how- ever, were natives of Ireland, and were there married and soon after this event came to America and until 1857 resided in New York city, when they came to Indiana and settled in Richmond, where the father, who was a patternmaker, died September 21, 1871, and where the mother still resides. Of their five children, Ulick R. is foreman of the Richmond City Mill works; Katie and Cecilia live with their mother, John Francis is the subject of this memoir, and James, a machinist, also resides with his mother.

Rev. Father John Francis Stanton acquired his early educa- tion under the tutorship of the Sisters of Providence at St. Mary's parochial school in Richmond. At about sixteen years of age he entered the Jesuit college, at St. Mary's, Kans., where he passed one year, and then for three years attended St. Joseph's college, at Bardstown, Ky., from which he graduated in June, 1884. His the- ological and philosophical course was pursued at St. Surplice, Bal- timore, Md., and his ordination in the ministry, by Bishop Chatard, took place November 1, 1889, at St. John's church, Indianapolis, Ind. He read his first mass on the 3d day of November following at St. Mary's church, Richmond, and November II, of the same (1002)

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ST. THOMAS' CHURCH, VINCENNES, IND.

CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

year, entered the Catholic university of America, at Washington, D. C., where he completed a post-graduate course in June, 1890. In July, 1890, he entered upon his ministerial duties as assistant pastor of the Holy Trinity church, at New Albany, Ind., where he officiated four years, and was then transferred to St. Patrick's church, Terre Haute, where for four months he officiated in the same capacity, when, on the recommendation of Rev. Father Schnell, of Terre Haute, he was appointed to the pastorate of St. Thomas parish, his present charge.

On assuming the important and somewhat onerous duties connected with the congregation of St. Thomas, Father Stanton found the parish to be sadly in need of his services and oversight, not so much, perhaps, in a spiritual as in a temporal sense, although he found ample scope for the exercise of his energies in both the cure of souls and securing accessories for divine worship. The church edifice was devoid of furnishings, neither did there exist a pastoral residence, and seemingly the needs of the parish had been neglected in almost every particular. During the short period of two and a half years he has labored hard with his parishioners, and. aroused a patriotic and loyal recognition of their duties to the holy faith, and has secured the means with which to erect a pastoral res- idence, at a cost of about $4,000, and to furnish it handsomely throughout.

The parish of St. Thomas comprises 135 families, who prin- cipally represent the rural or agricultural population, and in nation- ality are composed of French, German, and a few Irish-born people, and some creoles-that is, persons natives of the country, born of foreign parents. Beside St. Thomas, Father Stanton has · charge of St. Rose congregation, two miles distant, which was established about sixty years ago and which now comprises about thirty families, for whom mass is read and other ministerial serv- ices rendered once each month, while the services at St. Thomas' are regular and constant. Father Stanton is a cultivated and refined gentleman, and very genial in his intercourse with both parishioners and strangers. Beside erecting the beautiful parochial home before alluded to, which was designed wholly by himself, he has also had constructed, principally by volunteer labor, a con-

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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,

venient gallery in the church-edifice, where formerly was useless space. This, beside beautifying the interior of the church, also adds a seating capacity for fifty persons. He has also recently had built a handsome and substantial fence, inclosing several acres of the church property, which includes forty acres of timber land, which has yielded profitably in the various building processes. Hav- ing to deal, however, largely with a class of people who are averse to improvements, and seem to think anything is good enough for the church, he has been compelled to assume an aggressive attitude, and in no instance has he come off " second best."

Recently, on the construction of a telephone line just from the church and residence, the workmen maliciously cut a tree and were somewhat insolent when spoken to concerning this breach of faith, as only permission had been given to properly trim the trees. Father Stanton secured the necessary legal aid, and collected $50 from the company. This only evidences his characteristic of aggressiveness when the rights of others are ignored. He is a faithful friend and wise counselor, but stands ready at all times to prove that " the way of the transgressor is hard." He is hospita- ble in his home, and entertains with an open hand. Though this feature is self-evident to the visitor, he is frugal and economical in his care of the public property over which he is the loyal steward. A young man, yet on the threshold of life, he bids fair to wield a powerful influence for good in the church of his fathers.

E 'DWARD W. MATHEWS, hardware merchant, formerly a practical blacksmith at Montgoinery, Ind., is a native of Daviess county, was born April 4, 1845, and is the fifth of the seven children that constituted the family of Michael and Ellen (Owens) Mathews.

Michael Mathews, a native of county Longford, Ireland, was reared a farmer, came to the United States about 1825, and first located in Baltimore, Md. About 1835 he came to Indiana, lived in Madison until 1838, when he settled in Daviess county, where he passed the remainder of his life. His wife was a native of Vir- ginia, and also died in Daviess county, Ind.

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Edward W. Mathews lived on the home farm until sixteen years old, when he engaged in blacksmithing, a trade he followed for twenty years. He began business on his own account with a cash capital of $5, and first started in Loogootee, but soon after- ward came to Montgomery, leased a lot, and hauled lumber from Raglesville, with which he erected a little shop, hired a good helper and prospered. In 1878 he began dealing in grain, and still con- tinues to handle that commodity. In 1886 he embarked in the hardware and agricultural implement trade, and his enterprise, fair dealing and attention to business have met their just reward, the volume of his trade now reaching $30,000 per annum.

Mr. Mathews was first married July 3, 1866, by Father Gue- guen, of Loogootee, to Miss Margaret Reilly, the result being nine children, of whom six, however, are deceased. The survivors are Francis M., the eldest, who was confirmed by Bishop Chatard, is married, and has been engaged in the hardware trade; Mary, who was confirmed by the same bishop, makes her home with her father, and Leo, who was also confirmed by Bishop Chatard, is a dealer in live stock. Mrs. Mathews passed away in the faith of the Catholic church December 18, 1882, and Mr. Mathews took for his second wife Miss Elizabeth Feagan, a native of Daviess county, whom he married April 13, 1885. This union has been blessed with five children, of whom three are still living and are attending St. Peter's church parochial school.

In politics Mr. Mathews is a democrat, cast his first presiden- tial vote for Horatio Seymour and his last for William J. Bryan. He has himself served as township trustee for six years, and given entire satisfaction to the people. He is a leading member of St. Peter's congregation and freely contributes to the support of the church, of which his family are all members, and his business career shows him to be one of the most sagacious managers in the county, the original capital of $5, with which he began, having developed into 320 acres of land in Barr, Bogard and Van Buren townships, Daviess county, his place of business and twelve residences in Montgomery, a business block and flats on the corner of Lake and Ada streets, Chicago, Ill., and a residence property in Loogootee. Comment is unnecessary.

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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,

DEV. JOSEPH P. MATTHEWS, pastor of St. Michael's church, Daviess county, with his post-office at Trainor, Ind., is a native of this county, was born October 30, 1859, and is a son of Michael and Eleanor (Owens) Matthews, of whom further men- tion is made in the biographical notice of E. W. Matthews, a brother of the reverend gentleman whose name heads this sketch.

Rev. J. P. Matthews, at the age of fourteen years, was con- firmed by Bishop de St. Palais. He was educated primarily in the common schools, and later attended the school of the Sisters of Providence at Loogootee. In 1876 he entered St. Meinrad's col- lege, in Spencer county, where he remained two years, and in 1878 began a classical course of study at St. Joseph's college, which ended at the close of three years. In 1881 he entered Preston Park seminary, Wayne county, Pa., where he completed his theo- logical studies in 1884, and, June roth of that year, was ordained priest by Bishop McCloskey, of New York. His first appointment was as assistant to Rev. D. O'Donaghue, of St. Patrick's church, Indianapolis, but eighteen months later was transferred to the Church of the Holy Trinity, at New Albany, as assistant to Rev. John B. Kelly, and, in 1887, was placed in charge of his present parish of St. Michael, with the mission of St. Joseph, in Martin county, ten miles distant. When he assumed his duties at St. Michael's, the congregation comprised thirty or forty families, while that of St. Joseph's was constituted of eighty families. With these two charges, Father Matthews labored arduously for seven long years, when he relinquished his charge of St. Joseph's and has since devoted his entire attention to his duties at St. Michael's.

Prior to the coming of Father Matthews to St. Michael's, services had been held by the venerable Father Piers in the homes of the leading members of the congregation. Although the erec- tion of a church edifice had been discussed, the project had been discouraged by both Father Piers and the bishop; but Father Mat- thews, aided by Nicholas Ryan, John Daily, Thomas Wade and other determined and ardent members of the congregation, suc- ceeded in raising funds sufficient to pay for the erection of the present frame church-building at a cost of $3, 500, and this was (1008)

CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

dedicated by Bishop Chatard in 1888. A year or two later a par- sonage was erected at a cost of $1,600, and of the total, $5. 100, not one cent is now unpaid. The present congregation numbers about sixty families, or 300 souls, and is in a most flourishing condition. Father Matthews has been untiring in his labors for both the spiritual and temporal welfare of his flock and in promot- ing the growth and prosperity of the Catholic church, and well deserves the love so freely bestowed upon him by his devoted con- gregation.

REV. C. MAUJAY, pastor of the church of the Immaculate Conception at Portland, Jay county, Ind., is a native of France, was born June 14, 1848, and is a son of John B. and Jane (Brohn) Maujay, both of whom are now deceased.

Father Maujay received his preliminary education in a paro- chial school, which he attended until fourteen years of age. Being thus properly prepared, he entered the seminary of Angers, where he continued his studies until twenty-one years old, and then entered a seminary at Paris, where he passed through the philo- sophical course and also began and finished his theological educa- tion. As a deacon he came to the United States in 1871, and at Wheeling, W. Va., was ordained priest by the Right Rev. Richard Vincent Whelan, D. D., the first bishop of the diocese of Wheel- ing. After a year passed in Wheeling, Father Maujay came to Indiana and was first stationed at LaFayette, Tippecanoe county, as assistant at St. Mary's church; later he officiated at Fowler, in Benton county, and finally was assigned to his present pastorate at Portland, where his duties have since been performed with great credit to himself and to the glorification of the church, as will be evidenced by perusing the brief historical record of the church, to be found in Volume I of this work.

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History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume II, Part 62

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