USA > Indiana > History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume II > Part 76
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John Redmond, the only representative of his parent's family in America, is one of the most upright and industrious residents of Vincennes, and is of a most generous disposition, being charitable both in thought and action. Although industrious in a marked degree, he has not succeeded in securing the wealth he deserves- owing to sickness in his family and other drawbacks-but he has succeeded in securing the love and esteem of his numerous friends, whose affection for him is quite as valuable, in his eyes, as a replen- ished bank account.
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JOHN J. REED, a leading grocer of Fort Wayne, is one of nine children, of whom six are living, born to William B. and Mary (Shields) Reed. The father was born in Pennsylvania of Irish par- entage in 1827, was brought to Indiana in 1834, and was reared to farming in Allen county, where his death took place September 2, 1892, in the faith of the Catholic church. The mother is still living.
John J. Reed was born in Allen county, Ind., January 1, 1856, was reared on a farm, attended the common schools, and at the age of twenty-two years engaged in his present business, worked for others in this line until 1895, and then opened his present grocery store. He was married, in 1879, to Amelia Vaugier, a daughter of Xavier Vaugier, of France, and later of Fort Wayne. They have two children: Henry J. and Loretta T. Both he and his wife are members of the cathedral congregation of Fort Wayne, and he is a member of the Married Men's sodality. Mr. Reed has been very successful as a business man, carries an excellent stock, and is one of the most popular grocers in Fort Wayne.
N ICHOLAS S. REIFERS, proprietor of the popular restaurant at No. 81 Columbia street, LaFayette, Ind., was born in this city, April 2, 1856, and was educated in St. Bridget's parochial school.
Andrew Reifers, father of Nicholas S., was born near Berlin, Germany, learned the cabinetmaker's trade in that country, and served out the usual term of service in the Prussian army. In 1849 he came to the United States in company with a brother, Nicholas, who found a home in Blair, Neb., while Andrew stopped for awhile in Toledo, Ohio, and then permanently settled in LaFay- ette, Ind., and here followed his trade until his death, which occurred in 1858. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Hahn, was also a native of Germany, and bore her husband six children, of whom three died in infancy, and three reached mature years, viz: Nicholas, who married, but died in February, 1895, leaving no children; Nicholas S., the subject, and John, who mar-
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ried Ida Broad, and lives in LaFayette. The mother of this family, after the death of Mr. Reifers, married George Strubel, but to this union no children were born, and her death took place in 1874, in the faith of the Catholic church, in which all her family had been reared.
Nicholas S. Reifers learned the trade of painter and decorator, and followed the business about twelve years, when he entered into his present business. His restaurant is neat, clean and well con- ducted in every respect. The choicest viands are furnished to the numerous patrons at the lowest charge, and the menu is compre- hensive as well as elegant. Beside conducting his restaurant, Mr. Reifers acts as president of the Ward Furniture company of LaFay- ette, which he organized in 1893, as a stock company, and is alto- gether an active and energetic man of business.
Mr. Reifers was happily united in marriage February 6, 1879, with Miss Louisa Brown, a native of LaFayette, and a daughter of Charles and Catherine Brown, the former of whom was a gardener, but is now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Reifers have been born six children, viz: John, December 24, 1879; Charles, March 3, 1881; Joseph, July 30, 1893; Mary, August 10, 1894; Louisa died in 1888, aged three years, and Edward died in 1891, at the age of ten. Mr. Reifers is a member of the Knights of St. Paul and also of the C. B. L., and is highly respected wherever known.
J AMES REILLY, doing business at the corner of Georgia and Pine streets, Indianapolis, Ind., was born in county Longford, Ireland, August 29, 1855, and is a son of Bernard and Mary (Brady) Reilly, both natives of county Longford, where they still reside. Mr. Reilly obtained his education in the National schools of Ire- land, and when yet a young man left his native country in violation of the wishes of his parents, as a "stowaway," entirely alone, so far as relatives and friends were concerned. Landing at Castle Gar- den, N. Y., he went thence to Columbus, Ohio, and from Colum- bus as a center he worked in different states, principally in Ohio,
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as a builder of telegraph lines. Having been engaged twenty-five years in this work he resigned his position with the Western Union Telegraph company, and entered the employ of the company operating the telegraph line between Indianapolis and Vincennes, remaining seven years thus employed, being then appointed super- intendent of the Fire Alarm Telegraph line of Indianapolis: he retained the position two months, when he resigned and established himself in business on Illinois street, Indianapolis, remaining there two years, when he sold out and constructed a building of his own on the corner of Georgia and Pine streets, to which he removed from No. 199 Meek street. In business Mr. Reilly has been fairly successful, and is a man of great energy and enterprise. He has not seen his parents since leaving them in Ireland so many years ago, and only one brother, has visited him in this country.
Mr. Reilly was married in St. John's church, Indianapolis, by Mgr. Bessonies, May 1, 1881, to Miss Catharine Dougherty, a native of Canada, but of Irish parentage. He and his wife have had a family of three sons and two daughters, viz: Bernard, Maurice killed by the cars . Mary Josephine, Catherine and John James. The family are all members of the church of the Holy Cross, and the children are attending the school of that church. Bernard, the eldest child, has been president of the Aloysius society for the last three years. Mr. Reilly has been a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, but is not now an affiliating member. He is, however, an active member of the Young Men's institute. Politically he is an influential democrat, and as such was elected a member of the board of aldermen in 1890, by a very large majority. After serving one term a new charter went into effect, which legis- lated him out of office.
Though Mr. Reilly left his native country in defiance of parental authority, he has never had occasion to regret the step he took, and perhaps it may be stated that the fact of his having done so is indicative of a spirit of independence. In business and social affairs, as well as affairs political, he is active and successful, and is recognized as a leader in local matters. He is a man of advanced and progressive ideas, and such is his character and conduct that he is everywhere held in high esteem.
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CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
JOHN J. REILLY, the energetic and trustworthy real-estate, insurance and loan agent, of No. 146 East Market street, Indi- anapolis, is a native of this city and was born August 31, 1868, a. son of John and Bridget (Costello) Reilly, who were born in county Kerry, Ireland, and were married in Madison, Ind., in 1862.
John Reilly was a shoe manufacturer by trade, came to Indi- anapolis about 1865, and here followed his trade until his death, which occurred November 23, 1895. his wife having departed November 9, 1886. Of their nine children, eight are still living, viz: Maurice J., who is bookkeeper in the office of the Western Union Telegraph company; Hannah; John J., the subject of this memoir; James W. is a salesman for the Indianapolis Millinery company; Robert M. is a clerk in the mercantile house of L. S. Ayers & Co .; Katherine; Mary, and William L., an employee of the Indianapolis Fire Insurance association. The surviving mem- bers of this family all reside in the dwelling where the parents died, the sisters performing the household duties.
John J. Reilly received a sound education in St. John's paro- chial school, and then entered the office of C. F. Sayles, where he familiarized himself with the details of his present business. Feb- ruary 1, 1896, he united in partnership with H. E. Fieber, and opened his present office, where he has since done an excellent real estate and loan business, and where he represents, beside, some of the strongest insurance companies in the country, and does a collecting business, in all of which he has had an experience now extending over a period of fifteen years.
Mr. Reilly is a member of St. John's church and of the Young Men's institute, and, politically, is a democrat. He is a young man of most exemplary habits, and has earned for himself a busi- ness reputation that gives every promise for a future success, brighter than all the past has been.
P: ATRICK REILLEY. a popular citizen of Hammond, Lake county, Ind., mayor of the city, and a representative, business man in the grocery trade, was born January 1, 1848, in the village of Verplanck, Westchester county. N. Y., about thirty miles up the
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Hudson river from New York city, a son of James and Bridget (O'Donnel) Reilley, natives of Ireland.
Patrick, the subject of this sketch, by some means reached the city of New York, where he was educated in a parochial school, and then by some other means, reached Philadelphia, Pa., where he enlisted as a drummer boy, October 23, 1863, at the age of fifteen years, in the marine corps, and served on the frigates Don (Admiral Parker's flagship), De Soto and Brooklyn. On board the De Soto he was at the capture of Fort Fisher, and later took part in the chase after and capture of John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of Abraham Lincoln. His service on board the Brooklyn was under a re-enlistment, and on board that vessel he made a voyage to Europe, returning, in 1872, to Boston, Mass., where, from 1872 until 1875, he was foreman in the United States navy yard. Mr. Reilley was also one of the earliest oleomargarine (factitious butter) makers in the country, serving about three years as superintendent for Reed & Hobbs in their butterine factory in Boston, and later as superintendent for John Riordan & Son, at Cambridgeport, Mass., but a few years later returned to Boston and for one year had charge of R. T. Cochran's oleomargarine factory.
In 1884 Mr. Reilley came to Hammond, Ind., and for ten years was superintendent in the meat-packing house of G. H. Hammond & Co. During the year 1894 he was engaged in the plumbing business, under the firm name of Reilley & O'Shea, and then engaged in his present grocery trade in partnership with his sons. In politics a democrat, he was for nine years a member of the city council of Hammond, and was its president in 1890-91; in 1892 he was appointed mayor to fill out an unexpired term, and in 1894 he was nominated by his party as its candidate for the mayoralty, but through an aggressive campaign made against him by the A. P. A., he was defeated. In religion, Mr. Reilley is a devout Catholic and is prominent as a member of All Saints church of Hammond, of which his family also are members, and Mr. Reilley is, beside, state chief ranger of the Catholic Order of Foresters.
The marriage of Mr. Reilley took place in Boston, Mass., May 1, 1876, to Miss Mary A. McSweeney, the Rev. Father Galvin (1186)
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
performing the ceremony, and this marriage has been blessed with the following named children: Mary A., James C., Edward, Catharine, Bridget, Bessie, Julia, living, and five others deceased. All the family are generous in their contributions to the support of the church, and their social standing is with the best circles of Hammond, while Mr. Reilley, as a business man, is upright in all his dealings and bears an untarnished reputation.
In the spring election of 1898 Mr. Reilley was elected mayor of the city by the gratifying majority of 300.
JOHN REINSEL, the well-known boot and shoe merchant of J Washington, Daviess county, Ind., was born in Lebanon, Pa., August 20, 1822, a son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Seifert) Reinsel, both now deceased.
Daniel Reinsel was born, reared, educated and married in Lebanon, Pa., was a farmer in good circumstances, and followed his vocation until his death, which was caused by a stroke of lightning in 1822-the year in which John, the subject of this bio- graphical sketch, first saw the light of day. His widow survived him until 1845, when she died in the faith of the Catholic church, of which her husband had also been a member, in St. Mary's parish, Lebanon county. Of their six children-Joseph, Hannah George, William, Daniel and John-the last named, the subject, is the only survivor.
John Reinsel received a good common-school education and remained with his mother until thirteen years of age, when he went to work in a tanyard in Berks county, where he was employed four years, and then apprenticed for three years to the shoemaking trade at Meyerstown, Lebanon county. After serving out his time, he went to western Pennsylvania and worked as a journey- man until 1844, when he went to Philadelphia, where he found employment at his trade until 1850, when he came west, reaching Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1851, where he worked one year, then worked in Indianapolis, Ind., until the spring of 1853; he then returned to Cincinnati, and a year later went back to Lebanon, Pa .; the
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next year he went to St. Paul, Minn., and a short time afterward again went to Cincinnati, where he remained until 1861, when he came to Washington, Ind., and this city has since been his home. Here, for some little time he continued to work as a journeyman, but soon found an opportunity to lay in the necessary stock of goods and to open his present shoe emporium.
Mr. Reinsel was united in marriage, in Cincinnati, January 13, 1861, with Miss Elizabeth Hopkins, a native of Ireland, who bore him one child-Francis Xavier. Mrs. Reinsel, a devoted Catholic, was called to rest December 12, 1896, and her remains lie interred in St. John's cemetery. Mr. Reinsel and his sons are members of the St. Simon congregation, and in politics are demo- cratic. Mr. Reinsel carries a fine line of goods, is honest in all his representations, is popular as a tradesman and citizen, and his is the favorite shoe mart of Washington. Francis X. Reinsel was born February 8, 1862, and was reared in the mercantile business by his father, and is now a member of the firm. He was mar- ried in June, 1895, to Terese B. Leahigh, who was born at Cairo, Ill., and this union has been blessed with one danghter -Catherine Elizabeth, born September 17, 1897.
A DAM A. REINHART, of Fort Wayne, is one of four children born to Matthias and Anna (Bargus) Reinhart, natives of Ger- many, where the father, who was born in 1830, was engaged in the shoe business, but came to the United States in 1848, and settled in Fort Wayne, where he was employed by John Mohr. The father died in 1890, a faithful member of the Catholic church.
Adam A. Reinhart was born June 2, 1868, in Fort Wayne, attended the common schools, and, at the age of thirteen years, began work for J. B. White, as cashier, in which position he remained for eight years. He then entered the employ of Siemon in his book store, where he worked for three years; then was one year with another firm of Fort Wayne; then, in 1892, entered the employ of Reuben S. Patterson, has charge of the fur goods, and still holds this position.
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Mr. Reinhart was married August 8, 1893, to Miss Lizzie Heing, a daughter of Nick and Mary (Schele) Heing, of Fort Wayne, by whom he has two children: Marguerite M., three years of age November 30, 1897, and Edward J. R., one year old October 6, 1897. The parents are ardent Catholics, stand high in the esteem of the community, and are well deserving of the respect in which they are held within and without the pale of the church.
H ON. GERHARD REITER, vice-president of the German National bank, of Vincennes, Ind., is a son of Kasper and Mary E. (Bultman) Reiter, and was born in Vincennes September 1, 1849.
Kasper Reiter, father of subject, was born near Osnabrueck, a village in the province of Hagen, kingdom of Hanover, February 9, 1823, and Mary E. Bultman, mother of subject, was born in the same place November 11, 1826. They were single when they left their native land in different ships, and Kasper arrived in New Orleans, La., December 22, 1846. Omitting mention of interven- ing incidents, it will suffice to say that they were married in St. John's parish, Vincennes, Ind., May 23, 1848, Rev. C. Schnied- erjans officiating. The result of this marriage was nine children, of whom five died either in infancy or childhood, the Hon. Ger- hard Reiter being the first born. Of the other survivors of the nine, Kasper H. is a mechanic, residing in Vincennes; Frank G. is deputy circuit clerk of Knox county, Ind. ; Katherine is the widow of Andrew Caulup, and resides with her parents in Vincennes. The father was carpenter and builder, having retired from active life ten or more years ago.
Hon. Gerhard Reiter received a thorough business education, and at the age of fifteen years entered the office of the county audi- tor and filled the position of deputy there for eleven years. At the age of twenty-six years he was elected to fill the position of auditor of his county and was re-elected, making a continuous service in that important position of nineteen years. His familiar- ity with business pertaining to public affairs became so well recog-
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nized that he was frequently consulted by officials in the counties throughout his congressional district. In ISSo he was elected secretary of the Knox County Agricultural & Mechanical associ- ation. This is one of the largest and most successful. agricultural societies in the state, involving a high degree of executive ability and the knowledge of successful agricultural methods. While auditor his reports and official communications to the state officers were marked for their neatness and systematic accuracy, and so his reports to the agricultural board have received special recognition. In 1881 the state board awarded its silver medal to his society for the superior excellence of his official report. In 1884 he was nominated as a joint representative for the counties of Knox, Greene and Sullivan, and was elected by over 2,000 majority.
In the spring of 1888 Mr. Reiter was one of the organizers of the German National bank of Vincennes, Ind., with a capital stock of $100,000. Since that time he has held continuously the position of vice-president. The German National is considered one of the solid institutions of the state. Mr. Reiter has many times been honored by his fellow-citizens in local affairs, having for several terms filled the position of treasurer of the school board and has been treasurer of St. John's church for the past fifteen years. The great esteem in which he is held is indicated by the numerous wills and testaments probated in the circuit court, nam- ing him as executor. He is an honored and prominent member of the Catholic Knights of America, is an earnest and conscientious supporter of assessments as advocated by fraternal societies, and his early career well fits him for the arduous work required of suc- cessful fraternal exponents. It may be added that the Fraternal Monitor, the able organ of fraternal societies, published in Newark, N. J., in its edition of January 1, 1897, heartily commended the action of the various branches of the Catholic Knights of Vincennes, as well as other branches throughout the United States, in pre- senting his name for the office of supreme treasurer of this sterling organization, to which he was elected May 15, 1897, at Mobile, Alabama.
Mr. Reiter was most happily united in matrimony October
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24, 1871, in Vincennes, with Miss Ellen Greene, a native of Bel- ,fast, Ireland, who came to America with her sister and widowed mother in 1866. The father died in Belfast, in middle life, and the mother, who bore the maiden name of Hunter, died in Vin- cennes November 5, 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Reiter have no children, but contribute very freely to the care of the orphanages of the city as well as to the support of St. John's church, of which both are devout members. Mr. Reiter is a courteous and intelligent gentle- man, and well deserves all the honors that have been bestowed upon him, as well as those which are undoubtedly yet to come.
F CRANK G. REITER, one of the popular young men of Vin- cennes, was born in affluence on this historic spot of Catho- licity, August 24, 1862. He received a thorough education in the parochial schools of his church, and in the high school of his native city of Vincennes.
When a mere lad, he began his public career as deputy county auditor, serving from 1877 until 1886, and his life has thus far been spent in honorable official stations. From 1886 until 1889 he filled acceptably the position of deputy postmaster. In the year last named he accepted a position, as clerk and account- ant, in the service of the Indianapolis & Vincennes Railway com- pany, serving this company and the Big Four in that capacity until 1892, when he accepted his present position as deputy clerk of circuit court of Knox county, Ind. The genealogy of the Reiter family is fully represented in the sketch of Hon. Gerhard Reiter, an elder brother. The family life is therein traced to the parent country, and its social, religious and business characteristics fully presented.
On the twenty-third day of February, 1886, Mr. Reiter was united in wedlock with Miss Ella Terhar, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, though her childhood years and married life have been spent in Vincennes, her parents having removed to this city when she was a child, and here she received a thorough scholastic training in the parochial schools. Mr. and Mrs. Reiter are members of St.
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John's German Catholic church, of which their respective families have been prominent and active members for many years. Mr. Reiter has also been prominently identified with St. John's branch, No. 533, C. K. of A., from its organization in 1888, from which date he has been the secretary. He is also an active and influen- tial member of the uniform rank, C. K. of A., is first lieutenant of the local organization, and a member of St. John's Benevolent society-a social and beneficial order sanctioned and encouraged by the church.
THOMAS RILEY, an ex-policeman of Washington, Ind., and proprietor of one of the leading retail liquor establishments of that city, was born in Daviess county, February 27, 1845, and is the son of Patrick and Mary (Cassidy) Riley, both natives of Ire- land. His father was born in county Cavan, Ireland, in 1804, son of Thomas and Bridget (Bigelow) Riley, the former of county Cavan, the latter of county Monaghan. They were faithful Catholics, and the parents of Patrick, our subject's father, and Owen, deceased. When Patrick was about twenty years old he caine to America and located in Pennsylvania His first net earnings in this country were applied to procuring the passage of his father across the ocean. He had entered some land in Barr township, Daviess county, Ind., in 1838, and in 1839 was joined by his father (his mother having previ- ously died), who died at New Albany in 1854. Patrick Riley married Mary Cassidy, at Cincinnati, Ohio. He died in June, 1850; she in November, 1872. They were the parents of the following children: Mary A., Julia, Thomas, Margaret and Mary, of whom Thomas, our subject, alone survives. All were earnest Catholics and pro- gressive farmers, accumulating an estate of 240 acres in Daviess county, which fell to Thomas, the subject of this sketch.
Thomas Riley was educated in the common schools of the county, remaining at home until 1874, working on the farm during the summer months and being engaged in railroad work during the winters. In 1874 he sold the farm and engaged in the retail liquor business in Washington, in which business he has continued since,
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CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
with the exception of two years-1883-84-when he served on the Washington police force.
July 3, 1870, Mr. Riley married Miss Mary Collins, who was born in Daviess county in June, 1847, daughter of Patrick and Mary Collins, natives of Ireland. To them have been born four children: Mary, deceased; Julia; Mary and Helen. Mr. Riley owns his residence property on Flora street, and has been prosperous in his business. Politically, he is a democrat, and takes a proper degree of interest in local affairs. He and his family are members of St. Simon's parish, and contribute liberally to the church.
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