USA > Indiana > History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume II > Part 72
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Per H Theo Wilken
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
O'Connor, who were born in Limerick, Ireland, but were married in Indianapolis, and have reared a family of four sons and two daughters-John Charles, Patrick Francis, Richard James, Jere- miah Thomas, Mary and Ellen-the sons being all married, while the daughters are still single.
Richard J. O'Connor was a child of three years when his parents came from White county to Indianapolis to reside, and he here attended the parochial and public schools-the former until fourteen years old, and the latter until seventeen. At seventeen and a half years of age he became an apprentice to the pattern- maker's trade with the firm of Haugh & Ketchum, and this busi- ness he has followed, principally in this city, ever since, but has done some work in Terre Haute and Lafayette.
Mr. O'Connor was united in marriage November 27, 1889, in St. Bridget's church, by Rev. Father Curran, to Miss Cather- ine Flatley, a native of Richmond, Ind., and a daughter of John Flatley. Mrs. O'Connor was educated and grew to womanhood in her native city, and is a highly educated and accomplished lady. This marriage has been blessed with two children-John, born September 18, 1890, and William, born December 11, 1892. The family belong to St. Bridget's congregation, and the parents are punctual in the peformance of their church duties and fervent in their faith, Mr. O'Connor being a trustee, to which position he was chosen in 1891, and being a liberal contributor to the support of the church and its sodalities. In his politics Mr. O'Connor is a sound democrat, and a representative and popular member of the younger democracy of the city and county, and is, moreover, a highly respected citizen.
YMAN HUGH O'DONNELL, chief clerk for M. J. Carna- han & Co., of Washington, Daviess county, Ind .. was born in Lancaster, Ohio, October 28, 1869, and is a son of James F. and Clara J. (Jackson) O'Donnell, who were the parents of four children, viz: Maggie, wife of William E. Thimmes, of Ohio; Mamie, married to J. M. Rutherford, of Columbus, Ohio; Lyman H., and Jay F., a printer of Columbus.
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
James F. O'Donnell, father of Lyman Hugh, the subject, was a native of Ireland and came to the United States in 1853. He first located at Zanesville, Ohio, where he engaged in the mon- ument and stonecutting business until 1868, when he removed to Lancaster and engaged in railroading, mining, and the iron trade until his death in 1872, a member of St. Mary's parish and a dem- ocrat in politics. He had accumulated property worth $50,000, but through mismanagement this large sum has been lost to his widow, who still resides in Lanacster, and to his children, who have, however, been able to make their way through the world.
Lyman H. O'Donnell was educated in the parochial schools of Lancaster, Ohio, and at the age of thirteen years entered a hardware store as clerk, and held his situation seven years. He then went to Omaha, Neb., clerked in a hardware store one year, and in 1892 came to Washington, Ind., and was employed by M. J. Carnahan & Co., as chief salesman and bookkeeper, and this position he has satisfactorily held until the present time.
Mr. O'Donnell was most happily united in marriage, in Wash- ington, September 18, 1894, with Miss Lillian Signor, a native of the city and a daughter of George F. and Abigail Signor, the former of whom was born in Dakota and the latter in Indiana, and Mr. and Mrs. O'Donnell are now blessed by the presence of a little daughter-Margaret. The parents own a pleasant home on Main street, where they enjoy the visits of their select circle of chosen friends, in whose esteem they stand deservedly high. Mr. and Mrs. O'Donnell are devoted members of St. Simon's Catholic congrega- tion, and Mr. O'Donnell is also a member of the Catholic fraternal . association known as the Young Men's institute, which is designed for the moral, social and intellectual improvement of its members, their mutual protection and relief, and for the purpose of building up in each community a center of Catholic sentiment, and for other praiseworthy purposes.
THOMAS O'FLAHERTY, of No. 1806 East Washington street, 1 Indianapolis, and one of the early Catholic citizens, was born in county Kerry, Ireland, in 1840, a son of Thomas and Bridget 1134)
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
(Rourke) O'Flaherty. . Thomas, the father, died when Thomas, the son, was but seven years of age, leaving his widow with seven children. The second born of these seven, John O'Flaherty, was the first of the family to come to America, being at the time seven- teen years old, and is still residing where he first settled, near Prattsburg, Steuben county, N. Y. The eldest sister, Mary, then Mrs. Patrick Welsh, was the next to come, following her husband, who had preceded her, to Massachusetts, but she, also, is now a resident of Prattsburg, N. Y. Another sister, Ellen, also located at Prattsburg, but is now deceased. Thomas, whose name opens this paragraph, left his native land in 1858 and followed his brother and sisters to Prattsburg. Following him, came the other chil- dren, Kate, Michael and Patrick, and finally came the mother, all finding a home in Steuben county, but whence the mother and two of the children have been called away by death, but where the other members of the family, with the exception of Thomas, Michael and Kate, still reside. Kate, now Mrs. Edward Goggin, resides in Douglas county, Ill.
Thomas O'Flaherty, whose name stands at the head of this sketch, became a resident of Indianapolis in 1862, and May 21, 1872, was united in marriage, in St. Patrick's church, by Rev. Father Fitzpatrick, to Miss Isabelle Boyle, a daughter of Bernard and Hannah (Shields) Boyle, all natives of county Donegal, Ire- land, Mrs. O'Flaherty being born February 28, 1851. In 1853 the Boyle family, comprising the parents and their then only child, Isabelle, came to America and located in Bucks county, Pa., where were born three sons-Henry, now of Chicago, Ill., and Joseph and Charles, of Indianapolis. In December, 1864, Mr. and Mrs. Boyle came to this city, and here were born their young- est two children, Barbara and Mary, both now Sisters of Provi- dence. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. O'Flaherty has been blessed with five children, viz: Mary, Anna, John, Thomas and Henry, who were all baptized and partook of their first communion in St. Patrick's church. Mr. and Mrs. O'Flaherty are numbered among the best-known and most substantial members of St. Patrick's parish and enjoy a widespread acquaintance extending far beyond its limits, by whom they and family are held in the
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
highest esteem. Mr. O'Flaherty was for fifteen years clerk in, and ten years proprietor of, a grocery business, and since 1890 has been city salesman for the South Side Flouring mills. In 1897 Mr. O'Flaherty purchased a lot, and during the summer built one of the pleasant homes on Washington street, and moved into the same in October. He also owns other property, and is looked upon as one of the substantial men of Indianapolis.
C APT. MENOMEN O'DONNELL, feeder and shipper of live stock at Vincennes, Ind., is a native of county Donegal, Ire- land, was born April 20, 1830, and in his nineteenth year came to the United States, locating in Lawrence county, Ill., purchasing farming lands there in 1850. He was energetic and consequently successful as a farmer and stock-breeder, and at one time owned over 1,000 acres, all acquired through his own business sagacity and untiring industry.
In July, 1852, Charles, his only brother, came from Ireland and joined in his farming industry, and in 1858, his father, Patrick, who had lost his wife, Alice, in 1842, subsequently re-marrying in Ireland, brought his family to America, and located near his sons, where he lived until his death, at the ripe old age of ninety-one years, his second wife surviving him a short time and dying at the age of seventy-eight. Charles made his home with his brother until the close of the Civil war, when he established a home of his own, reared a family of nine children, and died September 24, 1894, honored by all who knew him.
Menomen O'Donnell was united in marriage, June 7, 1853, with Miss Mary Bailey, a native of Pennsylvania, born near Towanda, May 9, 1832, and in religion at that time a Presbyte- rian, but now a devout member of the blessed Catholic church. To this union have been born seven children, of whom two died in infancy, the five surviving being, Mary, widow of Francis Kel- ley; Sister Mary Euphemia, a Sister of Providence, at St. Mary's of the Woods, near Terre Haute, Ind .; Charles B., associated with his father in the live-stock trade; Patrick M., assistant cashier of the First National bank, of Vincennes; and Nellie M., wife of (1136)
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
Michael Taugher, chief bookkeeper of the Baltimore & Ohio Rail- road company, at Washington, Ind. About 1853 Capt. O'Donnell started a subscription for the erection of a church in his neighbor- hood, raised about $300 and to this added from his own means a sufficient sum to complete the edifice in 1856, and this church was dedicated and blessed by Rev. Father Durbin, of Kentucky, assisted by Rev. Philip Doyle, of Vincennes, Ind.
After a residence of about ten years in America, he made a visit to Ireland and other parts of Europe, spending four months in Spain and Portugal, and on his return, engaged in the impor- tation of Spanish Jacks, the first to be brought into Illinois.
In July, 1861, he enlisted in the volunteer army of the Union, his regiment of ten companies, being composed of nine from Illi- nois, and a portion of one from Missouri, Mr. O'Donnell being elected first lieutenant of company A, Eleventh regiment, Mis- souri infantry.
The first engagement in which Lieut. O'Donnell figured was under Col. Plummer, at Frederickstown, Mo., against Gen. Jeff Thompson, which resulted in a Union victory, the first in the state. Following this, in the spring of 1862, his regiment was attached to the Second brigade, Second division, Sixteenth army corps, under Gen. Stanley, and took part in the engagements at New Madrid, Island No. 10, Pittsburg Landing, the siege of Corinth, and the later battle at that point; was at Boonsville, Holly Springs, LaGrange and Memphis, and was in the siege and cap- ture of Vicksburg, and on May 22, 1863, planted his regimental flag on a fort of the enemy, to be immediately shot away, but also to be immediately replaced by himself -- an act for which he was deservedly promoted to a captaincy, and for which he has received a medal of honor.
Soon after the fall of Vicksburg, Gen. Joseph A. Mower had the captain detailed as general picket officer on his staff, doing duty in Tennessee and Mississippi until March 10, 1864, when they passed down the Mississippi river from Vicksburg, and up Red river, landing at Simmesport, La., on March 13. About six miles from Simmesport, with seven mounted men, he captured a Con- federate supply train of seven wagons and thirty-two men.
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
On the 14th, Fort DeRussy was captured and Gen. Mower, in his report as published by the war department, says-" I deem it my duty to mention the conduct of Capt. O'Donnell, of my staff, who rendered mne most efficient and valuable aid in putting troops into position. He was always ready when his services were required and was one of the first in the enemy's works."
On April 5, 1864, near Grand Ecore, La., in a skirmish with the enemy, he received three gun-shot wounds in the left arm, dis- abling him for duty and causing him to be absent from his com- mand until the roth of June following, at which time he again joined his command at Memphis, Tenn., remaining there until July 4, when the command started for Tupelo, Miss., at which point severe fighting occurred on the 14th and 15th: in this engagement the captain had two horses shot from under him, the fall of the last crushing his left shoulder and injuring anew his previously wounded arm.
The captain was finally mustered out at St. Louis, Mo., August 9, 1864, returned home, and resumed his farming, stock- raising and shipping, at which he was very successful. During this reign of prosperity, the captain did not forget his church, which he had in early manhood so nobly aided by the erection of the chapel already alluded to, and in 1870 assisted in building the church of the Immaculate Conception, at Bridgeport, Ill., of which Rev. Joseph Meckel, pastor of the original chapel, assumed the spiritual charge.
In 1870, he engaged, with others, in the pork packing business at Bridgeport, of which he had no practical knowledge, and during the panic of 1873 his entire fortune, about $70,000, was swept away. In 1879, he removed to Vincennes. Ind., since when he has been a member of St. Francis Xavier parish.
In politics, the captain has always been an ardent democrat, has been very popular with his party, and while a resident of Lawrence county, Ill., was nominated on the democratic ticket as a candidate for sheriff, but the county was strongly republican, and with the remainder of his party nominees met with a defeat he had never sustained while a soldier.
Fraternally, he is a member of the Catholic Knights of Amer- (1138)
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
ica, and was one of the organizers of that order in Vincennes; is a member of Jeff C. Davis post, No. 16, Grand Army of the Repub- lic, and has been a director in the Knox county Agricultural soci- ety, as well as its president for several years. He is, and has been since its organization, about fifteen years ago, a director in the Knox Building & Loan association, and for the last three years its president. Communities are built up of just such men as Capt. O'Donnell, and even old-established ones cannot fail to feel his influence when he becomes a member thereof.
M ICHAEL O'FLAHERTY, a well-known resident of St. Patrick's parish, Indianapolis, with his home and place of business at the southwest corner . of Fletcher avenue and State street, was born in county Kerry, Ireland, November 11, 1845, a son of Thomas and Bridget (Rourke) O'Flaherty, of whom and their interesting family an account in full will be found in the biog- raphy of an elder brother, Thomas O'Flaherty, given on page 1134.
Michael O'Flaherty grew to manhood in his native land, but before he had reached his majority, came to the United States, landing in New York city September 14, 1865. He joined the other members of the family who had settled in Steuben county, N. Y., and a short time afterward found employment with the Urbana Wine company at Hammondsport, in the same county, with which he remained six years. He was next employed by the Rochester Native Wine company for one year, and then came to Indianapolis, arriving here December 24, 1872. For the first year after his arrival he was employed by Louis Lang, a wholesale liquor dealer, and next by Christian Schatter, a grocer, with whom he remained nine years, and then engaged in business on his own account at the corner of Shelby and Fletcher avenues. In 1891 he purchased the lot he still occupies and erected his present building.
The marriage of Michael O'Flaherty took place September 13, 1875, to Miss Anna Larnard, daughter of Matthew and Sarah (Keenan) Larnard, Rev. Father Fitzpatrick performing the sacred ceremony. Mr. Larnard was born in county Clare, and Mrs.
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
Larnard in county Tyrone, Ireland, but came to the United States in early life and were married in the state of Vermont, where Mrs. O'Flaherty was born May 1, 1849, and when a child came west with her parents, who settled in Sunman, Ripley county, Ind., where they passed the remainder of their lives. Mr. and Mrs. O'Flaherty have adopted, as their own, Sarah, a daughter of a deceased sister of Mrs. O'Flaherty, whom they are rearing in the blessed faith, which is their own and has been that of their ances- tors for generations long since passed away.
A NTHONY O'HARA, a member of the Indianapolis fire depart- ment, was born at Madison, Ind., October 15, 1859. He is a son of Michael and Mary (Laley) O'Hara, natives of county Mayo, Ireland, but who were married in Madison, Ind. They became residents of Indianapolis in 1862, and died in this city, the mother in May, 1862, and the father in March, 1889. He was an employee of Kingan's packing house for many years, and an honorable, upright citizen. He and his wife were the parents of the following children: Mary, now Mrs. Calvin Fletcher, and residing in Indianapolis; Bridget, unmarried and keeping house for the subject of this sketch; John, who was a machinist, and who died in Indianapolis in February, 1890; Michael, who was a spoke finisher in a wheel factory, and who died in March, 1891, and Anthony, the subject of this sketch.
Anthony O'Hara was educated at St. Sophia's school in Indi- anapolis, and was afterward employed in Kingan's packing house for fifteen years. Under President Cleveland's first administration he was appointed to a deputy's position in the custom house, retaining the position four years. Retiring from this position he was engaged one year in the liquor business, and in 1890 he was appointed a member of the Indianapolis fire department, which he has retained ever since. Mr. O'Hara is a young man of excep- tional character and abilities, and is faithful to the duties devolv- ing upon him in every position, is of good repute and highly esteemed. He was married in Indianapolis at St. John's church by
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CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
the .pastor, Rev. Father Gavisk, June 7, 1893, to Miss Ella Dris- coll, a native of county Kerry, Ireland, who lost both her parents in Ireland, and who came to the United States alone at the age of twelve years. She died February 16, 1894, since which time Mr. O'Hara has lived with his sister, Bridget, at the old home. Politic- ally Mr. O'Hara is a democrat, and is active and efficient in the support and work of his party, and he is a member of St. John's church, but of no other organization.
JOHN O'LOUGHLIN, a well-known machinist of Richmond, J Ind., is a native of this place, was born April 12, 1856, and is a son of Thomas and Ann (Kerins) O'Loughlin, of whom the former was born in county Clare, Ireland, in 1816.
About 1854 Thomas O'Loughlin landed in New Orleans, La., whence he went to Eaton, Ohio, where he worked as a laborer on the Eaton & Hamilton railroad, and in 1855 came to Richmond, Ind., where he worked at the same employment five or six years, and then engaged in gardening on a plat of ground on the site now known as Railroad and Laurel streets, and also worked a piece of land near the Insane asylum. In the meanwhile he had married in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1854, Miss Ann Kerins, the result of the union being eight children, viz: John; Michael, in the government employ at Terre Haute, Ind .; Thomas, at Jeffersonville. Ind., in the employ of the J., M. & I. Railroad company; William, of Richmond; Henry, deceased; Mary, deceased; Maria, of Richmond, and Anna, wife of Daniel McManus, also of Richmond. Mr. O'Loughlin was always an ardent Catholic and active in promoting the interests of St. Mary's church in Richmond, and was also one of the founders of St. Patrick's society of this city. His death took place in 1889, and his remains were interred in St. Mary's cemetery.
John O'Loughlin, the subject of this sketch, received a very good education in the parochial schools of Richmond, which he attended until sixteen years of age, and was then apprenticed for three years to the Quaker City Machine Works company, of Rich-
54
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
mond, and after learning the trade worked for nine years as a journeyman in Indianapolis, after which he returned to Richmond, where he still follows his calling, in which he is a recognized expert ..
Mr. O'Loughlin was united in marriage, January 7, 1880, by the Rev. Father Bessonies, at St. John's church, Indianapolis, with .Miss Mary Driscoll, who has borne him six children, viz: . William, Thomas (deceased), Edward James, Nellie, John Clarence, and Joseph LeRoy, all, with the exception of the second born, still living. to bless the parental home. The family belong to St. Mary's Catholic congregation of Richmond, and Mr. O'Loughlin is a mem- ber and is a trustee thereof; he is also a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians. The family is held in great respect both in church and social circles, and Mr. O'Loughlin well deserves, by his moral and temperate course of life, the high esteem in which he is held.
H ENRY O'HARA, the popular and genial telegraph operator of La Gro, Wabash county, Ind., was born in Rush county June 19, 1860, and is a brother of J. W. O'Hara, of Peru, Miami county, in whose biography, on another page of this volume, will be found the genealogy of the O'Hara family.
Henry O'Hara received a good common-school education at Bunker Hill, Miami county, Ind., and at the age of twenty years began the study of telegraphy, in which he soon became an expert. His first appointment in the exercise of this profession was at Bunker Hill, where he remained one year, was then at Attica seven months, operated at Logansport and LaFayette, and was then appointed to La Gro, in 1891, and here he has since made his home. He was united in marriage at Attica, April 12, 1888, with Miss Mary Sheridan, who was born in that city August 7, 1862, and this marriage has been blessed with five children, born in the following order and named Marie, Thomas, Herman, Margaret and Catherine. The family belong to the Catholic congregation at La Gro, Ind., of which Mrs. O'Hara is a member of the Rosary society. They are generous in their support of this church and aid it in its usefulness and good work on all occasions. Mr. O'Hara
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CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
has led an honest and temperate life, owns a tract of eighty acres of land in Cass county, Ind., and is highly respected wherever known. In politics he is a sound democrat, but has never been an office seeker.
JOHN O'NEAL was born in county Galway, Ireland, in the year 1842. He passed his youth and early manhood in the land of his nativity and in 1865 came to the United States, locating in Indianapolis. From this city, proper, he later removed his family to the suburban village of Haughville, which is now included within the city limits, and here he has reared his family.
Mr. O'Neal was married, in Indianapolis, in 1870, to Miss Mary Murphy, also a native of Ireland, the ceremony being solem- nized according to the beautiful formula of the Catholic church by Rev. Father Bessonies, pastor of St. John's parish. Mr. and Mrs. O'Neal are the parents of six children, viz: Cecelia, wife of Andrew Wall; Mary, William, Thomas, John and Annie.
Mr. O'Neal was active in the organization of St. Anthony's parish and contributed liberally in labor, as well as otherwise, when such support was essential to the successful prosecution of the work. He has always been an industrious man, as well as relig- ious, and is endeavoring to rear and educate his family in such a way as to make them good Catholics and useful citizens.
PATRICK J. O'MAHONEY, a well-known business man, at No. 1360 Shelby street, Indianapolis, at which locality he also has his residence, has been a resident of St. Patrick's parish since 1877.
Mr. O'Mahoney was born in county Kerry, Ireland, in 1846, a son of John and Lenora O'Mahoney, who passed all their lives on their native island. He received as good an education as the schools of his parish afforded, and gained his mercantile knowl- edge by serving three years as a salesman prior to reaching his majority. On attaining manhood he married Miss Mary O'Con-
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
nor, and in 1877 came with his wife and two children to America and at once found a home in Indianapolis, where he has been engaged in merchandising from a year after his arrival, and since 1881 at his present location.
January 13, 1897, Mr. O'Mahoney was bereft of his amiable wife, who died a true Catholic at the age of forty-five years, the mother of ten children, who ranged between six and twenty-three years of age at the time of her death, and who are named, Mary, John T., Patrick, Michael (dead), Edward Joseph, Nora Ellen, Margaret, Joanna, Julia and Joseph James. These children have all been well educated, and the boys are pupils at the present day of the Sacred Heart school, and the girls, as a rule, have been under the instruction of the Sisters of Providence at St. Patrick's parochial school.
Mr. O'Mahoney, one of the most devoted and active members of St. Patrick's congregation and a liberal supporter in a pecuniary sense, is also a member of Capital council, No. 276, Young Men's institute, also of the Catholic Knights of America and the Ancient Order of Hibernians, in both of which he holds an excellent stand- ing. As a business man his name stands without reproach, and his stock of groceries, especially of teas and coffees, is considered to be the best in the parish.
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