USA > Indiana > History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume II > Part 74
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Mr. Phelan was born in the parish of Freshford, county Kil- kenny, Ireland, in March, 1835, his parents being Dennis and Rose Ann (Dalton) Phelan. Rev. Father Dalton, of Kansas City, Mo., is a cousin of the subject of this sketch. Dennis and Rose Ann Phelan spent all their lives in their native land, and were the par- ents of eight children, three of whom, John, of this sketch, and two daughters, being all that ever came to the United States. The two daughters were named Anne and Catherine. They set- tled at St. Louis, Mo., which is now the home of the former of the two, who has attained an advanced age, while the latter is deceased.
John Phelan was the youngest of the eight children. He came to the United States in 1869, going to the state of Connecti- cut, and, after living there a short time, removed to St. Louis, Mo., and thence to New Orleans, whence he went to New York. After a time he went to Boston, Mass., and was married at Cam- bridge, Mass., in 1872, to Miss Mary O'Hara, who is a native of the same parish with himself. As before stated in this sketch, Mr. Phelan settled in Indianapolis in 1875. By trade and occupation he is a carpenter and builder, and is an industrious and honorable man. Mr. and Mrs. Phelan have four children living, one son and three daughters, viz: Rose Ann, Dennis, Mary and Anne. Two of their children, John and Richard, died in childhood. Those that remain have been well educated in St. Patrick's school, and
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CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
are all bright and intelligent, a credit to their training, and full of hope and promise. Mr. Phelan and his family are among the most highly esteemed members of St. Patrick's church, and all are highly esteemed, also, in general society.
C HARLES PIENING, a highly respected resident of Richmond, Ind., and one of the most industrious laboring men of the city, is a native of the Buckeye state, and was born in Auglaize county, November 7, 1844, a son of John B. and Mary Anna Piening.
John B. Piening, father of subject, was born in 1807, in the parish of Damme, Oldenburg, the capital town of the grand duchy of Oldenburg, Germany, and by vocation was a farmer. In 1833 he came to America, landed in Baltimore, Md., whence he went to Dayton, Ohio, where he married in 1834, the union being blessed with five children, viz: Henry, of Tampa, Fla .; Frank, who died in Minster, Ohio; August F., now at St. Henry, Ohio; Benjamin, at Minster, in the same state, and Charles, whose name opens this notice. From Dayton, John B. Piening and wife removed to Au- glaize county, where all his children were born, and there he passed his remaining years as an agriculturist, and died a true Catholic, May 1, 1864. Mrs. Mary Anna Piening passed away on October 30, 1878.
Charles Piening was educated in Auglaize county, Ohio, and came to Richmond, Ind., in 1865. He was here married, in 1868, at St. Andrew's church, by Rev. Father Seepe, to Miss Josephine Maria Rottinghaus, and this union has been blessed with ten chil- dren, of whom Mary, Carrie, Johanna, Charles, Bernadetta and Elanora are at home; Henry, Francis, Leona and Flora have all been called away and their remains lie interred in St. Andrew's cemetery.
Mr. Piening has been a trustee of St. Andrew's church, of which congregation the surviving members of the family are con- sistent members and to the support of the church give freely of their means. The family are all much respected for their moral life, and Mr. Piening is personally recognized as a useful and indus- trious citizen.
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
H ENRY PFAU, poultry and egg dealer, of Jasper, Dubois county, Ind., is a son of Xavier and Magdalena (Fehrenbach) Pfau, from Baden, Germany. Both parents are now deceased.
Henry Pfau was born in Dubois county on June 20; 1854, was educated in the common schools, and at the age of seventeen learned the blacksmith trade in Jasper. He gave that up, how- ever, and went back to farming, which he continued for six years. He then returned to Jasper and was employed in a planing-mill for a short time, and then opened a general poultry and egg business in the fall of 1889. He was married August 22, 1876, to Miss Mary Biggeleben, by Father Fidelis, and to their union have been born eight children, named as follows: Theresa M., Gertrude, Helen F., Amelia, Veronica, Albert F., Alphonse and Herbert S. All the above children, together with the parents, are strict and devout Catholics, and all stand high in the esteem of the commu- nity of Jasper and surrounding country, with the residents of which Mr. Pfau has many pleasant dealings in his line of trade.
Socially, Mr. Pfau is president of the local council Y. M. I .; politically, he is a democrat and cast his first presidential vote for Hon. S. J. Tilden. Mrs. Pfau was born August 15, 1855, and Mr. and Mrs. Pfau were both confirmed by Bishop de St. Palais.
OHN B. POIRIER, of Indianapolis, was born in Cincinnati, J Ohio, August 21, 1850, a son of Henry and Maria (Wallace) Poirier, the father born in Canada of French parentage, and the mother a native of the state of New York. The marriage of Henry and Maria Poirier was solemnized in Rochester, N. Y., and some time thereafter they moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, later to Kentucky, and thence, in 1861, came to Indianapolis. Mr. Poi- rier, Sr., was a well educated man, both in the English and French languages. By trade, he was a molder and followed his chosen calling in various places, removing at the close of the war of the Rebellion to Louisville, Ky. Later he went to Chicago, Ills., where Mrs. Poirier departed this life on January 5, 1897. Mr. Poirier still lives in Chicago, and is a member of Holy Name par- (1160)
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
ish. They were the parents of six sons and three daughters, all but one of whom are living, the subject of this sketch being the eldest of the family. Charles is a member of St. Patrick's parish, Indianapolis; Eugenia resides with her father in Chicago; Mrs. Kate King lives in St. Louis; and William is a member of St. Joseph's parish, Indianapolis.
John B. Poirier was reared at home and came with his par- ents to Indianapolis in 1861. He was, for some time, a student at St. John's school, this city, and before attaining his majority served a four years' apprenticeship as a molder with his father. He accompanied the family in several removals, but, since 1874, has been a resident of the Capital city, and, since 1883, has been identified with the United States mail service.
On the second of October, 1889, occurred his marriage to Miss Annie McNulty, a native of England and daughter of John and Mary (Redding) McNulty. These parents were born in Ire- land, but early went to England, where the father is still living, the mother dying in that country. Mrs. Poirier is one of a fam- ily of twelve children, six of whom are living; her father, both by education and material possessions, being much above the average, was enabled to give his children excellent opportunities for intel- lectual advancement; he sent her and a sister to the Ursuline con- vent, at Thredorck, Belgium, where she pursued her studies for a period of four years, becoming well versed in the French and English languages and the various branches taught in the mean- time. Shortly after her return to England, Mrs. Poirier sailed for America, accompanied by 'her two sisters, but both the latter soon went back to the old country. She has a brother in the Assump- tion parish-James McNulty-and a sister, Sarah, also lives in Indianapolis.
Mr. and Mrs. Poirier have one son and one daughter-Henry and Eugenia. Mr. Poirier is a member of Weber council, No. 274, Y. M. I., of which he was the first president. The family are earnest church workers, and highly esteemed by the citizens of the community, irrespective of religious affiliation. Mr. and Mrs. Poirier reside at 26 Lynn avenue, where they built and own a pleasant home. They also own other dwellings in the city.
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
DEV. ROBERT J. PRATT, pastor of St. Patrick's church, adjacent to Arcola, Allen county, Ind., was born in Johns- town, Licking county, Ohio, November 19, 1863, a son of Dr. B. W. and Jane M. (Bean) Pratt, natives of Vermont.
The preliminary education of the reverend subject of this sketch was acquired in the public shools of his native town, which he attended until seventeen years of age, when he entered the State Journal office at Columbus, Ohio, and there remained about four years. On the feast of St. Joseph, 1885, he was baptized by the Rev. D. A. Clark, of Holy Family church, Columbus, Ohio. In September, of the same year, he began the study of the classics at St. Charles college, in Howard county, Md., and finished the course in 1886, as far as that institution was concerned, and then resumed his studies of the classics at Viateur's college, Kankakee, Ill., where he completed his classical studies in 1889. He next entered St. Mary's seminary at Cincinnati, Ohio, and pursued his philosophical and theological studies until June 19, 1894, when he was ordained by Archbishop Elder for the diocese of Fort Wayne. His first appointment was as assistant to Very Rev. John R. Din- nen, of St. Mary's, LaFayette, Ind., where remained until June, 1895, when he was transferred to the pastorate of St. Patrick's, at Arcola, where he has labored most faithfully and inade many improvements upon the condition of affairs as they existed when he assumed the duties pertaining to the parish.
As a matter of history, it may be stated that St. Patrick's parish was founded, or organized, in 1862, by Rev. Dr. Mathen. It was attended by Rev. H. Schoeffer, of Columbia City, Ind., until 1867, when it was placed in charge of Rev. Theodore Vande- pohl, its first resident pastor, who remained in charge until 1872. He finished the church-edifice, and erected the parsonage, the lat- ter being a two-story building of seven rooms, adjoining the church-building, the two structures being erected on a lot of three acres in extent and well inclosed. A cemetery, a mile and a half distant to the east of the church, and named Calvary cemetery, contains one acre, and is handsomely laid out. A school, accom- modating seventy-five pupils, is cared for by three Sisters of the Poor Handmaids of Christ, and this was erected, through the
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CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
energy of Father Hartmann, near the church-building. Father Pratt erected, subsequently, the Sisters' residence.
The nationality of St. Patrick's congregation is of a mixed character, its members being Irish, German, and French, either by birth or descent. The order of succession of resident pastors, since Father Vanderpohl's day, has been as follows: Rev. Father Wilken, Hartmann, Twigg, Werdine, W. J. Quinlan and Miller, the last named being succeeded by Father Pratt.
E LZEAR POULIN, a prosperous grocer and respected citizen of South Bend, Ind., was born on the Ile d' Orleans, Quebec, Canada, January 3, 1844, a son of Alexander and Eleanore (Turcot) Poulin, both natives of the Ile d'Orleans, and born, respectively, in 1809 and 1819. Alexander Poulin was a miller by occupation, was industrious and thrifty, and much respected in the community in which he lived. He was married in St. Famille, Ile d'Orleans, Canada, in 1839, and became the father of thirteen children, of whom nine are still living, viz: Leander, Eugene, Arthur, Samuel, Frederick, Xavier, Onesime, Theophoare and Elzear -- the last named being the subject of this biography.
Elzear Poulin was reared a true Catholic. He attended the parochial school at St. Famille until fifteen years of age, and then learned the milling business, which he followed until 1868, when became a member of the pope's body guard at the Vatican in Rome, in which he served until 1870, under Gen. Klenzler. Return- ing to Canada, he remained at home two years, when he came, by the way of Detroit, Mich., to South Bend, arriving here in Febru- ary, 1872, and finding employment with the Singer Manufacturing company, with which he remained four years. He next passed two years in Chicago, and in 1878 returned to South Bend, and for ten years was employed by the Birdsell Manufacturing com- pany. In 1889 he engaged in his present vocation of groceryman, which he has made profitable, and to which his affability and genial disposition well adapt him.
November 3, 1879, Mr. Poulin was united in marriage, at St.
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
Joseph's church, South Bend, to Miss Aglie LaRose, and three bright and handsome children now bless his happy home, and are named in order of birth, Joseph, Henry and LaRetto. The family are truly pious Catholics, and Mr. Poulin is noted for his straight- forward and honest methods in conducting his business, of which he has made a complete success.
G UIDO R. PRESSLER, one of the leading fresco painters of Indianapolis, residing at No. 613 North Liberty street, though not a communicant of the Catholic church is yet in sympathy with it, and his wife and children are connected therewith. Mr. Press- ler was born in Germany, July 20, 1853. Mrs. Pressler is a native of Louisville, Ky., and was before her marriage Miss Agnes A. F. Miller. Mr. and Mrs. Pressler have three children, viz: Antoinette, born March 6, 1885; Aaron Guido, born Novem- ber 23, 1887, and Fredericka Mary, born July 31, 1894. The eldest, Antoinette, took her first communion May 9, 1897, and she and Aaron Guido are students at St. Mary's school.
As a fresco painter Mr. Pressler stands at the head of his pro- fession, and his handiwork may be seen in many of the finest buildings in the city. Both he and his wife are considered among the best citizens of the place, and enjoy the confidence and regard of their neighbors and friends to a high degree.
M ICHAEL PRICE, a well-known business man of Crawfords- ville, Montgomery county, Ind., and a politician of much local prominence, was born in county Carlow, Ireland, in 1820. At the age of twenty-four years he went to Liverpool, England, where he was employed in the grain trade until 1859, when he came to the United States, settled in Crawfordsville, and engaged in handling farmers' produce for several years. He then became grain purchaser for a large milling company at New Albany, Ind., and for others, and in 1869 purchased his present warehouse in (1164)
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
Crawfordsville and has since been in trade on his sole account. He is very popular with the democratic party and the general pub- lic, for fourteen years served in the Crawfordsville city council, and in 1880 was elected county commissioner of Montgomery county.
Mr. Price was united in marriage, in 1864, to Miss Jane A. Reagan, of New York, and this union has been blessed with five children, viz: Mary, Margaret, Mrs. Deering, Jesse and Bernard Joseph. Mr. Price, who is a devoted Catholic, contributed most liberally toward the erection of St. Bernard church-building, is a trustee of the church, and is a most active worker for the promo- tion of the welfare of the congregation and the progress of the parish.
M ARK F. PURCELL, deputy postmaster at Rushville, Ind., is one of the best known and most popular young men of that city. Born and raised there, he has grown up before the people and walked in and out among them in a manner entirely becoming the confidence and respect reposed in him by his large following of friends. His father, James Purcell, whose death occurred in Rush- ville September 2, 1890, was for many years a worthy and respected resident of this city and a prominent and active member of the Roman Catholic church. He was a native of Ireland, but while yet a young man came, in the footsteps of so many of his com- patriots, to America. He was married at Cleveland, Ohio, to Miss Mary A. Barrett, and to them were born the following children: Celia, Catherine, Mary, Elizabeth, Edward, Mark F., Richard, Gertrude and Margaret.
Mark F. Purcell was born March 30, 1869. Early in life he took a fancy to that most honorable of crafts, the " art preservative of all arts," and served the necessary apprenticeship at the printer's case. He worked at his trade in this city until the change of fed- eral offices during President Cleveland's second administration, when he received the appointment of deputy postmaster at Rush- ville, a position which he has filled with credit to himself and inan- ifest satisfaction to the whole public, whose requirements he serves
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in this responsible capacity. Mr. Purcell is one of the most active among the younger members of the Rushville parish. He was a leader in the organization of the local Y. M. I., instituted here March 15, 1897, and was unanimously called to act as the first president of the order, in which capacity he still serves.
REV. JOSEPH J. MERKL, rector of St. Paul's parish of New Alsace, Dearborn county, Ind., is a native of Hamilton county, Ohio, and was born October 15, 1849. His primary education was finished in the parochial schools at Dover, Ind., after which he took private instruction under Prof. J. Schiffer; he next entered the celebrated St. Meinrad's college, December, 1867, and he there pursued the classical course. He next entered St. Joseph's semi- nary, at Bardstown, Ky., took the full philosophical course, re-en- tered St. Meinrad in 1871, and was ordained priest November 2, 1873, by Bishop de St. Palais.
His first work was as assistant at Holy Trinity church, Evans- ville, from December, 1873, until October 27, 1874, having at the same time charge of Newburg, and the St. Mary's hospital, which was very arduous work. Then, until May, 1875, he had entire charge of Holy Trinity church at Evansville, Vanderburg county, and six schools, Newburg, Warrick county, and also the chapel of the hospital, which was a herculean task. From May, 1875, to July, 1875, he remained with Father Duddenhausen at Evansville; then in July, 1875, took charge of St. James and Princeton, which charge he relinquished in December, 1889, on account of sickness, and in March, 1890, left for good. During his long administration at these two places he accomplished a great and good work.
April 23, 1890, Father Merkl, came to St. Paul's parish, where he found 156 families, or about 700 souls. He has consoli- dated the factions in the parish, and there is now perfect harmony. He has paid off $1,900 debt of the congregation, has made valu- able improvements, including a new altar, new pews, two fine oil paintings, the stations, four statues, a new pulpit and furnace, and the cost in all will amount to $2, 500.
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ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, RECTORY AND SCHOOLS, NEW ALSACE, IND.
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
The school is under the tutelage of two Franciscan Sisters, with an enrollment of 109 pupils. The conservative value of St. Paul's parish property is placed at $25,000.
T HOMAS A. BLESS, superintendent of the Mishawaka Water Works company, was born in Mishawaka, St. Joseph county, Ind., November 16, 1851, a son of Jacob and Mary (Jaeger) Bless, natives of Germany. The father, who was born in 1815, came to America in 1831, landing in New York city, whence he went to Chicago, Ill., then a mere village or military post, known as Fort Dearborn. But he did not long remain there, as he traveled through the southeastern part of the Union for several years, returning from Florida to Chicago in 1848, whence he came to Mishawaka in 1850. While in New York he was married, in 1837, to Miss Jaeger, the union resulting in the birth of the following children: Christian, now of Toledo, Ohio; Catherine, wife of John Nowell, of Kansas; Elizabeth, living in Dakota; Jacob and Thomas A., of Mishawaka, Ind. On settling in Mishawaka, Jacob Bless engaged in undertaking and cabinetmaking, a trade he had learned when young, prospered in his business, and died in 1895, a faithful member of the Catholic church, of which he was one of the pio- neers in St. Joseph county. His widow is now eighty-four years of age, the oldest Catholic lady living in Mishawaka.
Thomas A. Bless received a very good parochial-school educa- tion in the old Catholic church-building of Mishawaka, when Father King was pastor of St. Joseph's parish, and then, at the age of fifteen years, was apprenticed to the trade of woodturning, finish- ing his trade in 1870, following which date he was employed as foreman for the Bostwick refrigerator company for several years, when he was appointed to his present responsible position of super- intendent of the Mishawaka Water Works company. Mr. Bless was joined in the holy bonds of matrimony September 20, 1880, at St. Joseph's church, Mishawaka, by Rev. A. B. Oechtering, with Miss Rosella McMichael, which union was blessed with four chil- dren-May, George, Gertie and Hattie. The estimable mother of
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these children was too early called from earth in 1890, her bereaved husband and children being left to mourn her loss. Mr. Bless has always been an active worker for the church of which he is a mem- ber, and has ever been ready to lend a helping hand in the promo- tion of its good work. His life has been an industrious one, and the consequence is that he has gained the respect of the entire community of Mishawaka.
M AURICE QUILL, whose home is at No. 1113 Hoyt avenue, Indianapolis, is a respected trustee of St. Patrick's parish, of which he has been a resident since 1885. He was born in county Kerry, Ireland, May 14, 1850, and is a son of Thomas and Helen Quill. In the fall of 1855 the family left their native land on a sailing vessel and reached New Orleans January 1, 1856. Their destina- tion was New Westville, Preble county, Ohio, and they accordingly embarked on a steamboat and proceeded up the Mississippi river, but on entering the Ohio river found navigation greatly impeded by ice; after many delays the family succeeded in reaching their future home in Preble county, where Maurice Quill was reared to man- hood. There the mother passed away in 1880, and the father on the fourth day of September, 1885-both in the faith of the Cath- olic church, to which their forefathers had belonged for very many generations.
Maurice Quill passed his youthful days and the earlier years of his manhood on the homestead in Preble county, Ohio, and on attaining his majority engaged in the sale of nursery stock, and he has ever since been connected with horticultural, pomological and arboricultural pursuits. In 1885, just after the death of his father, Mr. Quill came to Indianapolis, and has made his home ever since, and of the sons and daughters who survived the parents, beside the subject, Thomas G. and Mrs. Mary Jefferson reside in Indian- apolis, Mrs. Ellen Gallivan resides in Wells county, Ind .; Michael also resides in Wells county, Ind., and several children were called from earth before their parents were summoned hence.
The marriage of Maurice Quill took place in Ohio to Miss Anna C. Ward, who was called to glory July 8, 1895. Mr. Quill is now
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serving his fifth term as trustee of St. Patrick's parish, and is also a member of the executive committee of Capitol council, No. 276, Y. M. I. He is very attentive to his church duties and faithful in his observance of the teachings of his pastor. He is respected by all who know him, regardless of church affiliations, and his business prosperity is due to his knowledge of his vocation and the courteous demeanor which characterizes his intercourse with his patrons.
C APT. THOMAS F. QUINN, of truck company No. 3, Indian- apolis city fire department, was born in the parish of Kiline, county Galway, Ireland, December 21, 1847, a son of Luke and Dora (Farrell) Quinn, both now deceased. Luke and Dora Quinn were the parents of seven children, born in the following order: Michael, who died in early manhood; Martin, now in Ireland; John, an ex-soldier of the American Civil war; Thomas F., the subject of this sketch; Mary, who is the wife of Lawrence Killelea, of Indianapolis; Patrick, also a resident of this city, and Katherine, wife of John Killelea, who also resides here.
Thomas F. Quinn came to America in 1867, and at once set- tled in Indianapolis, and for six years was in the employ of the Kingan Packing company. In May, 1874, he was appointed a member of the city fire department, in which he has passed through various grades, served as captain of engine company No. I thirteen years, and since 1894 has been captain of hook and ladder truck, No. 3. He was united in marriage, February 13, 1877, St. John's church, by Very Rev. Father O'Donaghue, to Miss Annie E. Gleason, a native of Ireland, who was brought to America in childhood by her parents. The marriage of the captain and his wife have been blessed with eight children, viz: Mary J., Annie, Dora, Catherine A., Maggie, Thomas L., John G., Florence and Mildred, all still under the parental roof, and attendants at school, although Mary J. graduated from the city high school in 1897; Dora is being prepared for teaching and Catherine A. graduated from the Sisters' school in June, 1898. The family are members of St. Bridget's church, Rev. Father Curran, pastor. The captain was
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