USA > Indiana > History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume II > Part 63
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R EV. J. F. MATTINGLY, pastor of St. Augustine's church at Leopold, Perry county, Ind., is a native of Muskingum county, Ohio, and was born July 28, 1863.
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
Rev. J. F. Mattingly at the age of seventeen, or in the fall of 1880, entered St. Vincent's Benedictine college at Latrobe, Pa., took the full classical and philosophical course of study, and gradu- ated in June, 1887. He next entered Mount St. Mary's of the West, at Cincinnati, Ohio, in the fall of 1887, for the full theo- logical course, and was ordained by Archbishop Elder, D. D., June 13, 1890. For some time after his ordination his work was on missions and his first permanent oppointment was at Richmond, Ind., in the fall of 1890, in St. Mary's parish, as assistant to Rev. D. J. McMullen.
He was assigned to St. Augustine church, Leopold, Ind., July 24, 1896. The parish has about 219 families, with about 1, 100 souls. The church was erected many years ago of stone, but the present valuation of the parish property, $800, is placed at rather a low figure, as will be seen by a reference to the history of the church in Vol. I of this work
The most important feature of his administration will be the establishment of a school for the religious, moral and intellectual training of pupils, who will be under charge of the Bishop and his priests.
FREDERICK MAUNTEL, livery and feed stable proprietor and L undertaker of Aurora, Ind., is a son of Eberhardt and Mary (Boesenkamp) Mauntel, who came from Germany to America in January, 1853, and landed in New Orleans, La. The father was a farmer, and died in Cincinnati six months after he arrived in America.
Frederick Mauntel was born in Germany February 19, 1852. He attended the common schools, and at the age of fourteen years he began farming. He was confined in Cincinnati, April 23. 1865, by Bishop Purcell, continued farming until 1873, and then took charge of River View cemetery, and remained in charge until the Ist of January, 1882. He then embarked in the furniture and undertaking business January 17, but later gave up the furniture trade and opened a livery instead, and has continued in that business since. In 1885, he was elected city treasurer of (1010)
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
Aurora, and served four years, or two terms. He was treasurer of the St. Mary's church at the same time for two years during Bro. J. J. Schoentrup's pastorate. In November, 1896, he was. elected coroner of Dearborn county, and is still in that position.
His livery and undertaking stock is valued at $5,000, and he does a large business in both branches. He is married to Miss Louisa Wellman, a daughter of Bernard Wellman, from Germany. They have had ten children born to them, viz: Mary A. (who ied an infant a few days old), Frederick C., Anna F., Louis F., Frank, Louisa, John, Willie, Aloysius and Agnes E., and all of St. Mary's church, Aurora. Frederick C. is married to Amelia E. Schroder, daughter of E. Schroder, of Aurora, and they have one child, Amelia M. F., who was christened under Rev. Mackey on May 30, 1897. Frederick A. Mauntel is a member of St. George and St. Joseph Benevolent societies.
B DWARD D. MAZELIN, a well-known carpenter and contractor, of No. 645 Blake street, Indianapolis, was born in Wayne township, Marion county, Ind., September 23, 1846, his parents, John Baptiste and Margaret (Reigne) Mazelin, being natives of Lorraine, France, where they were married, and where the eldest two of their children were born.
John B. Mazelin came to America July 4, 1845, bringing his wife and two children, and purchased the farm in Wayne township alluded to above, and on that farm he was bereaved of his wife about the year 1854. Mr. Mazelin next married Miss Frances Beafea, also a native of France. To the first marriage were born three children, viz: Margaret, now Mrs. Royer, of Hancock county, Ind .; Mary Victoria, of Indianapolis, and Edward D., our subject. In 1873 Mr. Mazelin brought his family to Indianapolis, and here his second wife passed away in 1882, and his own death occurred here December 26, 1890, the husband and the two wives being all three devout members of the Catholic church.
Edward D. Mazelin, who was a lad of but eight years when his mother was called away, spent his childhood days on his father's
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
farm and also served an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade, following the trade while still living on the farm, and giving it his exclusive attention after the family came to Indianapolis. He remained under the parental roof until his father's death, even after he became a married man. The ceremony that changed Mr. Mazelin from a single man to a Benedict was performed by a Meth- odist minister in Greenfield, Hancock county, the bride being Miss Nona Hindren, and the marriage taking place August 23, 1882. Mrs. Mazelin is a native of Blue River township, Hancock county, Ind., and is of Irish and German extraction, although in a remote degree. The children that have blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Mazelin numbered three, viz: Irene, who died in early infancy; Walter E., who was born in January, 1885, and Johnny, who died in his fifth year.
The parents of Mrs. Mazelin are Jeremiah and Sarah (Gates) Hindren, both natives of Rush county, Ind., born, respectively, in 1831 and 1829. For forty years Mr. Hindren was engaged in agricultural pursuits in Hancock county, but is now living on the well-earned competency secured through his early industry. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Hindren, beside Mrs. Mazelin, were Vina, wife of George Bixler, of Greenfield; Mrs. Eugene Royer, of the same place; William J., of Madison county; Charles and Johnny, who died in childhood, of diphtheria, and Arabel, who was scalded to death.
Mr. and Mrs. Mazelin are respected members of St. Bridget's church, and in politics Mr. Mazelin is a democrat. He is not a member of any of the church sodalities, but is a liberal contributor to the support of the church, and is highly respected, not only in his parish, but throughout the city and county, where he is widely known.
H I ENRY MEER, ex-county treasurer and ex-sheriff of Shelby county, and a prominent business man of Shelbyville, Ind., is a son of Bernard H. and Euphemia (Wessling) Meer, and was born in Elbergen parish, Hanover, Germany, April 1, 1847.
Bernard H. Meer was a farmer and blacksmith in the old (1012)
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
country, and in 1858 came to the United States, bringing his family and settled in Oldenburg, Ind., where he engaged in farming until his death, in the faith of the Catholic church, March 1, 1873-his widow being still a resident on the old place. Their children were six in number and were named as follows: Henry, the subject; Elizabeth, deceased; Louis, of Hamburg, Franklin county; Ber- nard, of Oldenburg; Elizabeth, twin of Bernard and wife of Chris- topher Scherer, of Ripley county, Ind., and one who died in early infancy.
Henry Meer was but eleven years of age when brought to Indiana by his parents. He was educated primarily in the paro- chial school of Oldenburg, where he also received his first com- munion, lived with his father until fifteen years old, and then was apprenticed to the shoemaker's trade for the period of three years, and afterward followed the trade until 1880, when he embarked in the general merchandise and grain business at Pres- cott, which he followed until 1885, in the meantime acting as express agent and filling the offices of postmaster and justice of the peace. In the year last named he came to Shelbyville, in the capacity of express agent, and in the fall was elected on the demo- cratic ticket sheriff of the county by the large majority of 700. After filling out his term of two years, he in 1889 engaged in the shoe trade, which he carried on three years, and in 1892 was triumphantly elected county treasurer, which office he filled to the entire satisfaction of his constituents until the close of the term- two years later-when he bought an extensive mill in Shelbyville, in partnership with his eldest son, John H. Meer, in which was done every class of planing, sash, blind and door work, with an output of $15,000 per annum, until he sold out in September, 1897.
The marriage of Mr. Meer was solemnized in Shelby county, November 17, 1868, to Miss Rebecca J. Newton, a native of the county, born January 28, 1849, and to this happy union have been born twelve children, viz: John H., already mentioned as his father's partner in the milling business; William T., deceased; Annie E .; Charles, deceased; Dora B., deceased; George L .; Clarence O., deceased; Arthur F., Frederick K., Mary A., Rosa E., and Aldrich. This family are all members of St. Joseph's
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
church, to which Mr. Meer has been a trustee for over four years, and is now the treasurer. Mrs. Meer is a member of the Altar society of St. Joseph's and also of the Sacred Heart league. The Meer family are highly respected socially, and Shelby county owes much of its prosperity to the enterprise and industry of just such citizens as Henry Meer.
JOHN MEIBER, one of the pioneer Catholics of Adams county, J and for fifty-seven years an honored resident of Decatur, was born in the kingdom of Hanover, Germany, on the 6th day of Jan- uary, 1822. His father, John Meiber, also a native of Hanover, was born in the year 1800 and was reared a farmer, which calling he followed in the old country until immigrating to the United States, in 1845. He married in Germany, in 1820, Kerstine Brake, and by her had seven children, four of whom are living at the present time: Mary, wife of George Smith, of Decatur; Nich- olas, Barney, and John, the subject of this biography.
John Meiber, the father, came direct west from New York, where he landed. to Toledo, Ohio, whence, after a brief residence, he came to Decatur, Ind., near which city he purchased a farm and followed the pursuit of agriculture until his death in 1867. His wife survived him twenty years, dying in 1887; the remains of this devoted couple are resting side by side in St. Mary's cemetery, Decatur.
During the first fourteen years of his life, the subject of this sketch remained under the parental roof, attending, in the mean- time, the parochial schools of his native town, and at the age of seventeen began life for himself as a tiller of the soil. About that time he decided to try his. fortunes in the new world; accordingly, In 1839, he set sail, and, after a somewhat lengthy voyage, landed at Philadelphia. From that city he proceeded at once to Cincin- nati, Ohio, thence, after a brief residence, went to St. Mary's, in the same state, where he made his home for a period of two years. In 1841 he came to Decatur, Ind., in which city, as already stated, he has resided for over half a century, having seen the place grow
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CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
from a small hamlet to its present proud place among its sister cities of Indiana.
In his youth Mr. Meiber learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed in Decatur for over twelve years. His next venture was in the mercantile business, which he followed from 1854 until 1857 as a grocer, and for some time after the latter year was en- gaged in the hardware trade in Decatur. In 1868 Mr. Meiber was elected treasurer of Adams county, in which position he served from 1869 to 1873, two terms, after which he again embarked in merchandizing, continuing in the hardware business until about the year 1877, where he disposed of his stock and retired from the active duties of life.
The first marriage of Mr. Meiber was solemnized at Fort Wayne, Ind., in 1843, with Miss Catherine Heideman, the cere- mony being performed by Father Rudolph according to the beauti- ful service of the holy Catholic church. Four children blessed this union, viz: Elizabeth, who lives in the city of Toledo; Mary, wife of Henry Voglewede, of Decatur; Henry, of Chicago, and Kerstine, deceased. Mrs. Meiber departed this life in the year 1854, and on the 17th day of February, 1859, Mr. Meiber was united in mar- riage with Margaret Smith, Father Meyers, pastor of St. Mary's church, officiating. The following are the names of the children born of the second marriage: Etta, wife of Joseph Tonelie; Charles, John, Michael, Rosa and Anna, the latter of whom mar- ried D. Drappleman.
Previous to Mr. Meiber's arrival in Decatur, there were but two Catholic families in the place-the Closses and Fettichs-and at the time the only Catholics in the county outside the town were the Spoolers (or Spullers), Holthauses, Smiths, Heidemans, Mill- ers, Coffees and Schroders. The first mass Mr. Meiber attended was celebrated in the dwelling of Mr. Fettich, in 1841, on Second street, by Father Rudolph. There being no resident priest in Decatur in those days and no regular place of meeting, the old court house was engaged for the purpose and worship was held there and in private residences from time to time by priests sent from neighboring cities. In 1842 a movement was inaugurated to erect a house of worship, and after considerable agitation the
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building was commenced in 1843, and in due time completed. It was a small structure, 30 x 40 feet, to which additions were made from time to time as circumstances would warrant. Mr. Meiber was one of the prime movers in this noble undertaking, and to him, as much, if not more, than to any other man, is due the credit of placing the church in Decatur upon its present substantial and prosperous basis. He has been a member of St. Mary's church ever since its organization, being the oldest communicant of the parish now living.
JOHN H. MEER was born in Addison township, Shelby county, Ind., October 10, 1869, a son of Henry and Rebecca J. Meer, of whom full mention is made on a previous page.
John H. Meer attended the parochial school until thirteen years of age, and the public school until fifteen, and then entered an express office as an assistant to his father. His father having now been elected to the sheriffalty, he was appointed a deputy, and served in the sheriff's office two years. He next clerked in a clothing house for a year, and then became bookkeeper in the lum- ber yard of D'Heur & Swain, which position he held until January I, 1895, when, in company with his father, he bought the plant, comprising a planing mill, lumber yard, sash, door and blind fac- tory, etc., and, as co-equal partners, they carried on the business under the firm name of Henry Meer & Son, until August 1, 1897, when the firm was succeeded by P. J. D'Heur.
February 5, 1896, John H. Meer was united in matrimony with Miss Jessie Carter, who was born in Shelbyville December 10, 1871, a daughter of W. L. and Emma Carter, and this union has resulted in the birth of one child-Mildred, now deceased. Mr. Meer is a member of St. Joseph's church, and is also a Knight of St. John, in which order he has served as captain. and is now colonel of the Fourth district of Indiana. He has always been a bright and progressive young business man and as such his name stands without a blemish. He owns a fine residence at No. 275 West Broadway, and he and wife are highly esteemed in the society circles of the city. In politics he is a stanch democrat.
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CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
R EV. ANTHONY MESSMANN, pastor of St. Joseph's parish, Laporte, Ind., is a native of Germany, and was born Deceni- ber 11, 1839, a son of F. H. Messmann.
Young Anthony received his preliminary education for the priesthood in Cincinnati, Ohio, studying under the Fathers of the Society of Jesus four years; he then entered the university at Notre Dame, Ind., where he remained one year, after which he passed three years in Mount St. Mary seminary, at Cincinnati. January 6, 1870, he was ordained priest by Bishop Luers, for the diocese of Fort Wayne, and for a short time thereafter served as assistant priest at Logansport, and next officiated for eleven years as pastor of St. Joseph's church at Kentland, Newton county, Ind. He was then, December 16, 1880, transferred to St. Peter's parish, Fort Wayne, where his assiduity was rewarded by seeing completed the church-edifice, which he himself originated and consummated through his untiring and faithful devotion to the cause of Catholi- city and the well-being of his parishioners. In 1896, he was placed in his present charge, and here has since fully manifested his zeal in the same cause.
JOHN F. MEIGHAN, assistant city engineer of South Bend, J Ind., was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, July 25, 1847, a son of Patrick and Margaret (Hagerty) Meighan. The father was a native of Ireland, was born in 1803, and in 1829 came to the United States, locating in Lancaster, Pa .; he was a contractor, and was employed on all kinds of public works, realizing a competence. His marriage took place in 1842, and his death occurred at New- tonville, Ohio, in 1883, in the faith of the true church.
John F. Meighan received his elementary education in private schools, and when sufficiently well prepared entered college at Lebanon, Ohio, taking a scientific course. In 1871 he commenced the practice of civil engineering at Logansport, Ind., and made that city his home for twelve years, being engaged in railroad and other branches of civil engineering in Indiana and other states. For six years, also, he was county surveyor of Carroll county, Ind., having been elected as a democrat and serving three terms. Dur-
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ing President Cleveland's first administration he was appointed United States deputy surveyor of public lands in New Mexico, by Hon. Geo. W. Julian, then surveyor-general of that territory, with headquarters at Santa Fé. In 1888 he returned to this state, and has ever since made his home in South Bend. Since coming here he has added new laurels to his already well-established reputation as a civil engineer, and for three years filled the position of hydraulic engineer for the South Bend Manufacturing company. perfecting a system of measurements regulating and controlling the discharge of water through the many turbine water wheels in use on that noted water power.
The marriage of Mr. Meighan was solemnized in Logansport, in 1879, with Miss Anna Carroll, Rev. Father Walters performing the ceremony. This union has been blessed with three sons, who have been, or are being, reared in the true faith, and the family all are members of St. Patrick's congregation, and are highly respected wherever known. Mr. Meighan has won for himself a proud position as a civil engineer, and his social position is equally elevated with his professional.
REV. AEGIDIUS J. MERZ, late pastor of St. John's German Catholic church, of Vincennes, of which he had held the pas- torate since 1863, was suddenly called from earth on the morning of Saturday, March 27, 1897, through a stroke of paralysis of the heart. He was born in Fulda, Germany, a city well known in church history, on September 30, 1832, and was therefore sixty- five years of age at the time of his death.
He received a first-class education, and graduated in the lead- ing schools of his native country. For a few years he filled appointments as teacher, given him by the government; he also filled the position of instructor in the wealthiest families. Becom- ing tired of government tyranny and meanness and miserable drudg- ing generally, and wishing to carry out the dream of his youth - to be a priest-he emigrated to America, arriving in New York, August 21, 1857. After a short stay in Brooklyn, he came to St.
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CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
James, Gibson county, Ind., where he successfully taught school until July, 1858.
Bishop de St. Palais received him into his seminary, where he spent two years and three months preparing for the ministry. He was ordained as follows by Bishop de St. Palais at Vincennes: Tonsure and minor orders, January 2; subdeacon, October 14; deacon, October 18, and priest on October 21, 1860.
Immediately after his ordination he was appointed pastor of St. Mary's church, Richmond, Ind., and had charge also of Centre- ville, Washington and Hagerstown, in Wayne county, and New Castle and Middletown, in Henry county. He remained there until September, 1863, when he was transferred to Vincennes.
When Rev. Merz took charge of this parish the congregation was small, but by his untiring labors and earnest devotion to the cause of Christianity, he built it up until it became one of the largest in the diocese. The congregation now numbers almost 400 families. The grounds, church, parsonage, schools and adjuncts make this the most attractive church property in the diocese, and all this is due almost wholly to the untiring efforts of the distin- guished dead prelate.
The funeral took place Tuesday and was largely attended by friends of the distinguished dead, as well as members of the church. It was one of the largest funerals that has ever occurred in the county, and many notable personages from a distance were present to pay a farewell tribute to the dead priest.
The church had been draped in deep mourning, exterior and interior, and the body had been removed from the parochial resi- dence to the church, where it was viewed by hundreds.
At 9:30 the services were begun by chanting of the miserere by the clergy. At 10 o'clock requiem high mass was solemnized by Rt. Rev. Francis Silas Chatard, bishop of Vincennes diocese, assisted by Mgr. Bessonies, Revs. Kaelin and Stricker, deacons, and Barron and Boersig, sub-deacons.
The funeral sermon was then conducted in German by Rev. Frances, of Indianapolis, which was followed by Rt. Rev. Bishop Chatard, in a short but an eloquent address in English on the many virtues of the distinguished dead.
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At 11:30 o'clock the march to the cemetery was taken up and was composed as follows: School-boys, school-girls, Young Ladies' sodality, City band, Tentonic club, Y. M. I., U. R. C. K. of A., altar boys, hearse, carriage with clergy, St. John's Benevolent society, branches 256 and 533, C. K. of A., St. Annis Ladies' society and citizens.
When the cemetery was reached brief services were conducted by Rev. Unterreitmeiere, when all that was mortal of Rev. Merz was consigned to the tomb to await the resurrection morn.
The following named clergymen attended the funeral: Rt. Rev. Francis Silas Chatard, bishop of Vincennes diocese, Indian- apolis; Rev. Father Scheideler, vicar-general, Indianapolis; Rev. Fathers Stricker, New Albany; Kaelin, Shelbyville; Boersig, York- ville; Mclaughlin, Greencastle; Stanton, St. Thomas; Steigewald, Highland Orphan asylum; Bergman, St. Francisville; Widdering, North Vernon; Dannenhafer, Prescott; McCabe Olerding, Indian- apolis; Rhoan, Montgomery; Doyle and Torbeck, Washington; Snell, Terre Haute; Dickman, Fitzpatrick, Burkhart, McBarron and Diestal, Evansville; Benno, St. Meinrad, and Seibertz, of Richmond.
R EV. STEPHEN STENGER, pastor of St. Joseph's church, at Jasper, Dubois county, Ind., is a son of John C. and Cuni- gundis (Knecht) Stenger, was born June 20, 1854, in St. Leon, Dearborn county, Ind., and reared in the same place. He attended St. Meinrad's college, was ordained February 8, 1880, and was stationed in Arkansas for six months. In 1882-3, he was assistant priest at Ferdinand, Ind., and from there he went to Belleville, Ill., where he remained until 1887. He then located at Brook- ville, Ind., to replace F. M. Fleischmann during the absence of the latter in Europe. He was then appointed to collect in Ohio, and remained there from September, 1887, to April, 1888; he next had charge of St. Stephen's mission, S. Dak., and remained until 1889. He then returned to St. Meinrad and had charge of the congregation there until January, 1896, when he came to Jasper to relieve Father Fidelis Maute, who was then ill, and died
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REV. STEPHEN STENGER, JASPER, IND.
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ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH, JASPER, IND.
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
the 22nd of June, 1897. Father Stenger has a congregation of 650 families, and his school, numbering over 250 attendants, is taught by eight Sisters of Providence, besides two male teachers for the larger boys (eighty pupils). There are eight district schools in the vicinity of the town of Jasper, with a large attend- ance; these schools have Catholic teachers, and the children belong to the St. Joseph's congregation at Jasper, Ind.
Rev. Father Stenger has ever been zealous and active in the performance of his holy office wherever it has been his lot to offi- ciate, and in Jasper has made many warm friends within and with- out the pale of the church.
JOHN T. MELCHIOR, merchant, was born March 25, 1858, in J Jasper, Dubois county, Ind., of which place he is still a resi- dent. The village of Jasper was then small, there being but three dwellings north of Eleventh street, one east of Mill street and four west of Clay street.
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