USA > Indiana > History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume II > Part 71
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Mr. O'Brien and family are members of St. Patrick's congre- gation, and live fully up to the teachings of the church. They lead in all secular movements designed to promote to the material condition of its people, and freely contribute of their means to defray the necessary expenses of the church proper. Their social position is a most enviable one, and Mr. O'Brien is himself a gentle- man who cannot fail to make a friend of every one with whom he comes in contact.
T HOMAS O'BRIEN, now living in retirement in Indianapolis, was born in the parish of Killairn, county Galway, Ireland, in August, 1826, a son of Thomas and Mary (Roseman) O'Brien, parents of two sons and two daughters, one of the latter, Mrs. Sarah Cashion, late of Chicago, being now deceased. The living sister is Mrs. Kate Lally, of Indianapolis, and the brother, Richard, is a farmer in the old country.
Thomas O'Brien came to the United States in 1849, landed in New Orleans, and for a short time worked on the lower Mississippi river, then lived in Cincinnati, Ohio, and other places, until 1854, when he came to Indianapolis and for twenty-seven years was employed as a stone-sawyer by one firm, and for sixteen years by another, when advancing years compelled his retirement. ยท Mr. O'Brien was married in this city, in 1861, by the Right
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Rev. Mgr. Aug. Bessonies, to Miss Sarah Baggott, also a native of county Galway, and this union has been blessed with five children, viz: Mary, wife of John Lally; Thomas, a machinist; Sarah and Lizzie, at home, and John, a molder by trade. The family are all devout Catholics and are highly respected socially. In politics Mr. O'Brien is a democrat, but is liberal, and sometimes votes for a good man taken from the ranks of other parties. Liberality, in fact, has been the characteristic feature of Mr. O'Brien's life, as is evidenced by his unstinted contributions to the support of his church and to the promotion of all projects designed for the good of the community in which he has passed so many years.
W ILLIAM O'BRIEN, a retired railroad employee of Monroe- ville, Allen county. Ind., was born in county Limerick, Ire- land, about 1822, and is one of the eleven children born to Terrence and Margaret ( Reading) O'Brien. He came to the United States in June, 1852, landed in New York city, and at once found employ- ment on the Saratoga railroad in that state. Two years later he went to Ottawa, Ill., where, for a short time, he was engaged in farming, and then removed to Marion county, Ohio, where he fol- lowed the same calling until 1860, when he went to Lima, in the same state, and entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad company, with which he remained thirty-five years, or until 1893, when, owing to his advanced years, he was retired on a pension of $6 per month, is the only known pensioner of the company named, and has since resided in Monroeville, Ind.
Mr. O'Brien was first married to Miss Catherine Murthie, who died in 1871, and his second marriage was to Mrs. Mary Carney, which union was blessed with eight children, of whom one only- Margaret, the youngest-still survives. Mr. O'Brien was reared a Catholic and still adheres to this church. He is a member of the St. Joseph Benevolent society, and as a citizen is greatly respected in Monroeville, as he has always been wherever he has resided.
Mrs. O'Brien's maiden name was Mary Cleary. She first mar- ried John Carney, who lost his life at Fort Wayne by being struck (1118)
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
by a railroad train. By this union two children were born: James, who died November 19, 1893, aged twenty-five years; Thomas is a telegraph operator. The boys have assumed the name of their step-father, O'Brien.
D ANIEL O'CONNELL, who resides at No. 217 North State avenue, is a worthy repreic itative of an early Catholic family of Indianapolis. He is a son of Thomas and Catherine (O'Brien) O'Connell, the former of whom was a native of county Cork, Ireland, where he married, his wife being a native of the same county. Emigrating to the United States, Mr. and Mrs. O'Con- nell settled at Springfield, Mass., a short time thereafter coming to Indianapolis, this being at a time when the only parish was St. John's, and the only church-building a little brick structure on Georgia street. Here Thomas O'Connell and his wife passed the remainder of their lives. They became the parents of twelve children, five sons and seven daughters, of whom the following survive: Ellen, wife of Thomas Linahan; Nancy, wife of Henry Hamberg; Maurice, Daniel and Thomas. These all live in Indian- apolis, and Margaret, wife of William Buckhart, lives in Chilli- cothe, Ill.
Daniel O'Connell was born in Springfield, Mass., in 1855. For a time during his early boyhood he was a student in the school in St. John's parish, and he has been a railroad employee since he was fourteen years of age. At the present time he is one of the most trusted locomotive engineers of the "Panhandle" railway company. On September 27, 1882, he was married to Miss Alice Delaney, daughter of William Delaney, of Indianapolis. He and his wife have four children, viz: William Thomas, Albert, Nellie Frances and Maurice Richard. Mr. and Mrs. O'Connell have a most pleasant home, and are esteemed as worthy Catholic citizens.
William Delaney, father of Mrs. O'Connell, lives at No. 1037 High street, Indianapolis. He was born in Queen's county, Ire- land, January 1, 1822, and was one of three children, viz: Edward, William and John, the last two being twins. William is the only one of the family that has come to the United States. In 1849,
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when he was twenty-seven years of age, he left his native land with the view of bettering his condition in the new world, and lived in Burlington county, N. J., until April, 1861, when he came to Indianapolis, which city has since been his home. He was mar- ried in New Jersey to Miss Maria Cassin, a native of the same parish as her husband. She died April 11, 1896, having lived a most exemplary life, and having been a most worthy wife and mother. She and her husband were the parents of seven children, two sons and five daughters. The eldest of the children, Mary, resides in Denver, Colo .; Alice, wife of Daniel O'Connell; Cather- ine, wife of Dennis Colvart; Anna, wife of Michael White; Mi- chael, living in San Francisco, Cal .; William, of Denver, and Mar- garet, living at home. Mr. Delaney is a member of St. Patrick's Catholic church, and a highly esteemed citizen.
JOHN O'CONNELL, who has charge of the most popular bil- liard hall in Fort Wayne, is one of two children born to Thomas and Johanna (Coffee) O'Connell. By a second marriage, the mother of subject had eleven children, her second husband being David Fitzgerald. She was born in 1814, and is still living at Decatur, Ind. The father was a contractor and died in 1838 or 1839.
John O'Connell was born January 17, 1836, at Wallington, Pa., and at the age of sixteen years engaged in the trade of car- riage wood-working and continued in this business until 1860. In July, 1862, he enlisted in company F, Eighty-eighth Indiana vol- unteer infantry, and served all through the war, after which he returned to Fort Wayne and opened a billiard room; then went into the contracting business for railroad and city work, which he carried on some years. For fifteen years he was a member of the police department and since has had charge of the Home billiard hall.
Mr. O'Connell was married in October, 1863, to Miss Johanna Burt, of Fort Wayne, daughter of John Burt, and this marriage has been blessed with thirteen children, six living: Agnes, William,
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John H., Charles, Joseph and James F., all members of the Catholic church. Mr. O'Connell was a member of the Catholic Knights of America, No. 103, was its vice-president, and is now a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, division No. 1. Mr. O'Connell is a self-made man, from a business point of view, and is well deserving of the high respect in which he is held by numerous friends.
T HOMAS O'CONNELL, a pioneer of St. Paul the Apostle con- gregation at Greencastle, Putnam county, Ind., and an hon- ored citizen, was born in county Kerry, Ireland, in August, 1829, near the birthplace of Daniel O'Connell, the famous lawyer, ora- tor, statesman and Irish patriot, of whom the subject of this memoir still has a vivid recollection.
In 1845, Thomas O'Connell began an apprenticeship of six years at boot and shoemaking, and faithfully and honestly served out his term, becoming an adept in his trade. He had barely completed his apprenticeship, however, when, in 1852, he came to America, accompanied by a sister and a youth, named Patrick O'Connell-a distant relative. An elder brother, Michael, and a sister, had preceded this trio to America and had landed in Can- ada, but Michael, ere the arrival of Thomas, found a home in Greencastle, Ind., and was employed in the construction of the Van- dalia railway. Hither then, as a matter of sequence, after having carefully provided for the safety of his sister and young kinsman, Thomas O'Connell wended his way, reaching his destination in November, 1852, and here has ever since prosperously engaged in the boot and shoe business -- a period of forty-five years.
The marriage of Thomas O'Connell and Miss Mary Kinerke has been blessed with seven children, four of whom still survive, viz: Thomas, who learned the trade of printing, and is now engaged in newspaper work in Boston, Mass .; John, also a printer, still has his home under the parental roof; Maggie is the wife of John Doland, and Nellie is at home with her parents. The family are all faithful inembers of the Catholic church and are very liberal in contributing of their means to its support, and no family in Green-
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
castle is more respected than that of Thomas O'Connell, who has passed so many years of an industrious and honorable life within its corporate limits.
OHN O'CONNOR, depot master, Big Four R. R. company, J
Indianapolis, is a native of Ireland, born in county Kerry on the sixth of June, 1850, a son of Martin and Mary (Breen) O'Con- nor. He received his educational training in his native country, and, after leaving school, decided to try his fortunes in America; accordingly, on May 27, 1869, he took passage, and on the sixth of June following landed in New York city. Thence he came at once to Indianapolis, Ind., where he first found employment as a common laborer with what, at the time, was known as the Bee Line R. R. company, now a part of the Big Four system. Pos- sessed of unusual energy and intelligence, Mr. O'Connor did not long remain in the humble position with which he started, but was soon promoted to one of greater responsibility, and in due time, by a series of like promotions, succeeded in reaching the important place he now so ably fills. He was appointed depot master in September, 1880, upon the consolidation of the Bee Line with the Big Four, and, since that date, has had charge of the entire system at Indianapolis, having under his control 160 men, comprising foreman, tally men, receiving and delivery clerks, freight handlers and others, said to be the largest supervision of the kind in the United States under one person.
Mr. O'Connor was married October 19, 1875, in St. John's cathedral, Indianapolis, by Very Rev. D. O'Donaghue, to Miss Sarah Ryan, a native of county Kerry, Ireland, who came to the United States with her parents in early youth. After five brief years of happy wedded life, Mrs. O'Connor died October 14, 1880, leaving two children, Mary and John.
On December 31, 1883, Mr. O'Connor entered into the mar- riage relation with Miss Bridget Cain, of county Limerick, Ireland, the ceremony being solemnized in St. John's church by Very Rev. D. O'Donaghue. Mr. O'Connor and family are faithful members of the above church. He has been a member of and director in (1122)
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
the Holy Cross Cemetery association ever since its inception, and is otherwise engaged in church work. He is a man of public spirit, and is now serving his fourth term as member of the city council, in which body he has been instrumental in promoting much important municipal legislation. He was first elected in 1879, serving two successive terms, and again in 1885 he was chosen for one term, and in 1895 was elected councilman at large for a term of two years. Mr. O'Connor is prominent in the councils of the democratic party in Indianapolis, and has con- tributed much to its success in a number of local, state and national campaigns.
Mr. O'Connor's parents were both natives of county Kerry, Ireland, the father dying there in 1881; the mother is living in Indianapolis at this time. A brother and sister, named respect- ively Thomas and Honorah, still live in the old country, and two sisters and one brother reside in Indianapolis, viz: Mar- tin, Mary and Ellen, all of whom are married and the heads of families.
B ERNARD S. O'CONNOR, retired capitalist of Fort Wayne, Ind., was born in Lancaster county, Pa., June 17, 1842, and is a son of Bernard and Elizabeth (McGonigle) O'Connor, the former of whom was a native of Ireland, and was brought, at the age of twelve years, to the United States by his uncle. The father, who was born in 1817, on coming to America became a railroad contractor, and also built the telegraph line from Buffalo, N. Y., to New Orleans, La., was engaged in other work of a similar character, and died in 1895, a sincere Catholic and a man of wealth.
Bernard S. O'Connor removed with his parents to Illinois when eight years old, but returned to Lancaster a year later. From 1852 to 1855 he resided in Dayton, Ohio, and there attended school. He finished his education at St. Mary's Landing, Mo., at a Catholic institution, where his brothers also were educated. During this time the family removed to Alton, Ill., where Charles, a brother, died. In 1859, he came to Fort Wayne, and learned
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the crafts of machinist and marble-cutter. But his father being then engaged in levee work on the Missisippi river, Bernard S., joined him and afterward was engaged with him in this enterprise. His brothers, John and James, subsequently joined them, and the firm of O'Connor & Sons was formed in building the Houston & Texas Central railroad, and then in the banking business, of which James C. now owns a controlling interest and is president. The latter in 1873 went to Europe, where he was joined the next year by Bernard S., and they made a trip through England, Ireland and France. Mr. O'Connor, with an energetic spirit, has inter- ested himself in various enterprises. He was a stockholder in the Salamonia (Ind.) Gas company, the Natural Gas company of 1888, which was bought by eastern capitalists known as the Deitrick syndicate, the Gladstone Land company, of Kansas City, Mo., and has interests at Duluth, Minn. ; he is also interested in the Paragon .paper mill at Eaton, Ind., and the Utility, at Hartford City.
Mr. O'Connor was married November 4, 1878, to Marietta Fox, of Mansfield, Ohio, and he and wife are faithful members of the cathedral at Fort Wayne. They are among the most highly respected residents of the city, and occupy one of its finest mansions.
C HARLES O'CONNOR, a tailor by trade, was born in the city of Sligo, Ireland. He came to America when a young man, traveled extensively through the country, and married, in 1873, in New York city, Miss Catherine Millea, and located in Indi- anapolis about 1880, remaining here a short time only, when he resumed his nomadic habits and again indulged in his love of travel.
Miss Catherine Millea was born in the city of Kilkenny, Ire- land, a daughter of Mark and Anna (Bradley) Millea, natives of county Kilkenny, where their lives were passed away, Mr. Millea dying in the Catholic faith and Mrs. Millea as a Protestant. Mrs. Millea having died while Catherine was yet a child, the latter was reared in the Catholic church, and to its faith she has always fer- vently adhered. To the marriage of Catherine Millea with Charles (1124)
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
O'Connor have been born nine children, eight of whom are still living, viz: Anna Bradley, Mary Agnes, Mark Charles, Desmond Matthew, Catherine Oberta, Gertrude Wilhelmina, Lenora Lor- etta and Evelyn Miriam; Loretta Agnes, a lovable young lady, died at the age of nineteen years. These children were all edu- cated in the parochial schools of Indianapolis and Terre Haute, and the eight survivors still have their home under the parental roof, 902 Huron street. The family are members of St. Patrick's church, are very punctual in their attendance and faithful in the performance of their duties, and are much esteemed by their neigh- bors for their genteel deportment and general amiability of dispo- sition.
P ATRICK O'CONNOR, boilermaker at Belt shops, was born in county Mayo, Ireland, March 25, 1857, son of Patrick and Mary (McLaughlin) O'Connor, both natives of the same country. The father is a resident of Cleveland, Ohio, where he located on coming to the United States in 1886, but Mary O'Connor died in her native isle. The family of Patrick and Mary O'Connor con- sisted of five children, four sons and one daughter, viz: Dominick, Patrick, Martin, John and Mary, wife of John Doyle, all living in the city of Cleveland, with the exception of Patrick.
The subject of this sketch was educated and grew to maturity in his native country, and came to America in 1880, locating at Cleveland, Ohio, where he spent the succeeding seven years at various kinds of employment. In 1886 he came to Indianapolis, where he has since resided, and since July, 1894, has been em- ployed at the Belt shops as a boilermaker.
Mr. O'Connor and Miss Mary A. McGinty were united in the holy bonds of wedlock in 1886, at Cleveland, Ohio, Rev. Father Sidley solemnizing the ceremony, and three children have blessed their union, viz: John, born May 8, 1890; James, born April 25, 1892, and Irene, born January 29, 1897. Mr. O'Connor and fam- ily are members of St. John's church, Indianapolis, and he also belongs to the Ancient Order of Hibernians and Y. M. I .; politic- ally, he is a democrat, and, while taking an active interest in the
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welfare of his party, has never sought nor desired political prefer- ment. He is a master of his trade, thoroughly reliable, and a most excellent and trustworthy gentleman.
D ANIEL O'DONNELL, yardmaster of Kingan's packing house, was born at Warsaw, Ind., January 6, 1854. He is a son of Patrick and Mary (O'Connor) O'Donnell, both natives of county Kerry, Ireland. They came to the United States at the age of nineteen and eleven respectively, and were married at Chillicothe, Ohio, in March, 1853, when Mrs. O'Donnell was but little more than fifteen years of age, and she is just sixteen years older than the subject of this sketch. Almost immediately after their mar- riage they settled at Warsaw, Ind., where they remained about two years, when they removed to Danville, where they now reside, and in the suburbs of which city Mr. O'Donnell is a prosperous farmer.
Patrick and Mary O'Donnell are the parents of six sons and four daughters, seven of whom are still living, as follows: Daniel, the subject of this sketch; Mary, the wife of James Wenn, of Indianapolis; Patrick, who resides in Indianapolis, and is a railway postal clerk; John F. is inspector for the City Water company; Ellen, wife of Edward Geis, a non-Catholic, as is also Mr. Wenn, husband of Mary; James, a grocer's clerk in Danville for the last two years, and Charles, who is attending school in Danville. Those who have died were named Johanna, Honora, and Terrence, the first two dying in childhood, the last when eighteen years of age.
Daniel O'Donnell, the subject of this sketch, obtained his education in the public schools of Danville, which was supple- mented by a two-years' course in the Brothers' school in Indian- apolis. He attained his manhood when at work on his father's farm, and thus became a sound, healthy man, inured to labor and acquiring habits of industry and self-reliance. When little more than eighteen years of age he engaged in railroad work on the I., B. & W. railroad, afterward transferring his services to the I. & St. L. Railway company. After spending six years with this com- pany he returned to the first-named company, remaining with it (1126)
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
until 1888, a portion of the time being section boss or foreman. In 1888 he secured his present position, a responsible and respect- able one, and one in which he is implicitly trusted. He has charge of the yards of the Kingan Packing company, and attends to the receiving and shipping of all the supplies and products of that mammoth establishment, the company sending out on an average twenty-five loaded cars per day.
Mr. O'Donnell was married September 11, 1878, at St. John's church, Indianapolis, by Rev. Father Bessonies, to Miss Delia Flattley, a native of Hamilton county, Ohio, and a daughter of Patrick Benjamin Flattley, a native of Mayo county, Ireland. Her mother was a Miss Mary Hanley, also a native of county Mayo, and they were married there. Her father was originally a druggist, but later became an employee in the supreme court room, in Indianapolis, where he met with an accidental death in May, 1876. The mother died the following year.
Mr. and Mrs. O'Donnell have had five children, two of whom are living, viz: Terrence and Frank, both of whom are in St. Bridget's school. The eldest of the family was Patrick Benjamin, who died at the age of five weeks; Hanora, called Annie in the home, died at the age of fourteen years and nine months, a bright and promising maiden, whose untimely death was a severe blow to her parents, and John William was drowned at eleven years and nine months of age. Mr. O'Donnell is a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and has held the position of treas- urer since the organization of the division, No. 5, of which he is a member, having transferred his membership from division No. I. The family are members of St. Bridget's church, of which Rev. Father Curran is the pastor. Mr. O'Donnell was one of the organizers of this parish, and has always been a liberal contributor to its support. Mrs. O'Donnell is a member of the Altar society, and both are in every way devoted and faithful members of their church. Politically Mr. O'Donnell is a democrat in his views, and is a firm supporter of the doctrine of the free coinage of silver at the ratio of sixteen to one, as enunciated in the Chicago platform of 1896. He is a man of intellect, ability and character, and enjoys the respect and esteem of all that know him.
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R EV. HERMAN THEODORE WILKEN, pastor of St. Mary's church, Decatur, Ind., is a native of the kingdom of Hanover, Germany, born in the town of Soegel, on the 19th of October, 1844. Benedict Wilken, his father, was born in the year 1802, in Werpelo, Germany, was a farmer, came to the United States in 1860, and died in Cincinnati, Ohio, March 7, 1861. The mother, whose maiden name was Thekla Volmering, also a native of Ger- many, was born in 1802, departed this life in 1872 and lies buried beside her husband in the cemetery of St. Bernard, Cincinnati.
Father Wilken, the only son born to his parents, attended the parochial schools of Soegel until his fourteenth year, and in 1860, in company with his parents, came to the United States, locating at Cincinnati, where he was graduated from St. Xavier college in 1870. He then entered upon the pursuit of his ecclesiastical studies in Mount St. Mary's seminary, Cincinnati, completing the prescribed course of that institution in 1872; on November 9, of the same year, he was ordained priest by the Rt. Rev. Arch- bishop Purcell.
Immediately following his ordination, Father Wilken was appointed, by Bishop Dwenger, pastor of the congregation at Arcola, Allen county, Ind., in addition to which he also had charge of the missions at Monroeville, Bluffton, Hartford City and Blee settlement from 1872 to 1880. In July, of the latter year, he was appointed pastor of St. Mary's church, Decatur, where he has since exercised the priestly functions to the material and spiritual advancement of the parish. It is only sufficient to state, in this connection, that the pastorate of Father Wilken in Decatur has been eminently satisfactory and productive of great good. His life has been bravely and uncomplainingly devoted to the service of religion, and directing humanity to the higher life has been his greatest reward.
R ICHARD JAMES O'CONNOR, foreman of the patternmnak- ing department of the Hetherington & Berner structural iron and machine foundry, is a native of White county, Ind., was born January 21, 1864, and is a son of Michael and Mary (O'Mara) (1128)
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