USA > Indiana > History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume II > Part 83
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JOHN SHAUGHNESSY was born June 24, 1861, in North Madison, Ind., and is a son of Patrick and Mary Shaughnessy. Patrick Shaughnessy was a native of Ireland and by occupation a shoemaker. He did not follow that calling after becoming a citi- zen of the United States, but worked at other vocations, and for some years prior to his death was employed in a starch factory. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Wade, bore him two chil- dren, the subject of this sketch and James Shaughnessy, both resi- dents of the city of Madison. Some years after the death of her husband, Mrs. Shaughnessy married Barney Doyle, by whom she had three children, viz: Mary, Thomas and Ella Doyle. The mother is still living in Madison.
John Shaughnessy was educated in the St. Michael schools, Madison, and at Lexington, Ky., taking a commercial course at the latter place, and he began life for himself as a clerk in the Western hotel in his native city; later he accepted the position of ticket agent for the railroad company, at Madison, and was thus employed until 1885, in which year he became clerk and book-
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keeper for the W. Trow company, a position he still occupies. Mr. Shaughnessy possesses clerical abilities of a high order, and is a gentleman universally respected by his fellow-citizens of Madison. He was married January 13, 1886, to Mary L. Devine, daughter of Patrick and Catherine (Boyle, née Cannon) Devine, and has an interesting family of five children, viz: Kathleen, Howard, Lillian, John and Robert. Mr. Shaughnessy and family belong to St. Mary's parish, and are active in all church work. They have a comfortable residence on W'est Main street and enjoy the esteem of a large circle of friends in Madison, regardless of church affiliation.
C HARLES SHELL, of West Indianapolis, an early member of the church of the Assumption, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Feb- ruary 1, 1850. His parents were Henry and Genevieve Shell, natives of Bavaria, Germany, who came to the United States shortly after their marriage, the father at the time being twenty- six years of age. They located in Cincinnati, where their three eldest children were born, and thence to Hamilton, Ohio, and still later became residents of Shelby county, that state. After some years on a farm in the aforesaid county, the family removed to the city of Dayton, where the wile and mother died, and where the father still resides. Henry and Genevieve Shell became the parents of seven children, six living, one daughter, Elizabeth, dying after reaching the years of womanhood. The eldest of the family, Margaret, is the wife of Henry Muller; Mary is at home with her father; Charles is the next in order of birth; John resides in Dayton, and the two youngest, Henry and Joseph, are at Miamiis- burg, Ohio.
Charles Shell spent his youthful years at the various places above mentioned and in young manhood learned the trade of mill- wrighting, which he has since successfully followed. At the present time he is employed in the car works of West Indianapolis, and has the reputation of being a very thorough and skillful mechanic, also a reliable, and, in every way, a trustworthy man. February 23, 1892, was solemnized his marriage with Mrs. Lizzie Daugherty, (1264)
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whose family name was Kiley. Her parents were natives of Ire- land, and died when she was a child three years of age. She was reared in Vincennes, Ind., in the family of Stephen Meany, who gave the little orphan girl a good home and treated her as their own child, having no children of their own. Her first husband was John Daugherty, to whom she was married August 22, 1876, in St. Joseph's church, Indianapolis, by Rev. Fr. Alerding. Mr. Daugherty was accidentally killed by a railway train, March 30, 1889. He was a faithful Catholic, a worthy citizen and was known and loved by a large circle of friends in Indianapolis and else- where. By this marriage Mrs. Shell had five children, of whom Margaret, Ellen, John and Michael Daugherty are living, and James died in childhood.
Mr. and Mrs. Shell have a pleasant home on Nordyke ave- nue, West Indianapolis, and are among the most useful and highly esteemed members of the parish to which they belong.
JOHN JOSEPH SHEEHY, a favorite locomotive engineer on the Big Four, or C., C., C. & St. L. railroad, and residing at No. 1011 Harrison street, Indianapolis, was born in London, Eng- land, February 7, 1856, and is a son of Roger and Mary (O'Brien) Sheehy, the former a native of county Cork, and the latter a native of county Tipperary, Ireland, but who went to England when young and were married in London.
Roger Sheehy was a slate planer by occupation-that is, he planed and leveled slate beds used in billiard and bagatelle tables- and he also planed all the slate used in the mammoth steamer, Great Eastern. He brought his family to America in 1859 and first located in Lawrenceburg, Ind., where he engaged in his first railroad service; thence he removed to London, in the same state, and then to Greensburg, where the family residence was maintained for twenty-nine years, and there the father passed away at the age of sixty-four years, and the mother at seventy. Their children were six in number, and of these Bridget is married and lives in Kansas; John J. is the subject of this memoir; Mary; Daniel is a
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railway engineer, of Indianapolis; James, who was a locomotive engineer, was killed in an accident at Blackstone, south of Peters- burg, Va., and his remains lie interred near the old battle field; Annie, the youngest, is also deceased.
John J. Sheehy received a good public-school education and commenced work for the C., C., C. & St. L. Railroad company in 1871, beginning as a section laborer, and has been with the Big Four ever since, with the exception of two years, when he was employed on the C., H. & I. road. From a section hand he was promoted to brakeman, and served two years; then was fireman for six years; was then promoted to be a conductor of a passenger train on the White Water Valley division, which position he held one year. and then returned to firing; in 1881 he was placed in charge of his first engine, and during his sixteen years' experience in this capacity, although he has had some "close calls"-at one time having a head-end collision and at another having his engine turned over on its side in a ditch-he has escaped all serious bodily injury. One of his successors as engineer on one of his former runs, together with his fireman, were both killed just after his transfer to his new run.
October 16, 1884, Mr. Sheehy was united in marriage at St. Patrick's church, Cincinnati, by Rev. Father Mackey, with Miss Mary Pratt, a native of Harrison, Ohio, and a daughter of John and Margaret (McCarty) Pratt. The father, who was a farmer, was a native of county Tipperary, Ireland, and the mother, of county Kerry; they were married in Dover, Ind., in 1854, and the father died in Harrison, Ohio, August 27, 1886; the mother, now aged sixty-seven years, is a member of Mr. Sheehy's household. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Sheehy has been blessed with four children, born in the following order: John Roger Daniel, Edward, James Keegan and Mary Margaret. The family are members of St. Patrick's church, Indianapolis, although for the first three years after marriage they lived in Greensburg, Ind., the succeeding five years in Cincinnati, Ohio, and for the past six years. have made Indianapolis their home.
Mr. Sheehy is the picture of robust health and vigorous man- hood, weighs over 300 pounds and yet is active enough to be able (1266)
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to leap on board a train running at the rate of thirty-five miles an hour. He is prominent as a member of the Brotherhood of Loco- motive Engineers, and is regarded as one of the most careful engineers in the employ of the Big Four. In politics he is inde- pendent.
JOHN SHERIDAN is a native of Ireland, born in county Cavan,
December 19, 1857, son of Bernard and Kate Sheridan. He remained in the land of his nativity until 1882, at which time he came to the United States and located at Indianapolis, where, within a short period, he obtained a position in the Indiana hospi- tal for the insane. He began as an attendant and filled the place for three years, and was then promoted to the dining department, over which he has since exercised supervision. This is a position of responsibility and trust, requiring faithful and prompt attention, and the fact that Mr. Sheridan has filled it for twelve years is evi- dence that he is eminently fitted for the place.
Mr. Sheridan was married in Indianapolis, August, 1888, to Mrs. Mary Sloan, who was born in county Cavan, Ireland, reared in the same neighborhood with her husband, and came to America on the same ship in which he made the voyage to the new world. Mr. and Mrs. Sheridan have four living children and one deceased, who were named: Bernard P., James William, John Joseph, Marie and Sarah Agnes; John J. died in infancy,
From his youth up Mr. Sheridan has been an ardent Catholic, and he took an active part in the organization of St. Anthony's parish, Haughville, contributing liberally of his means toward the erection of the house of worship, Sisters' residence and pastoral house. Mrs. Sheridan was born of Protestant parents, but was converted to Catholicism after her marriage.
Mr. Sheridan is a man of robust physique and has had no personal experience as to the nature of sickness. He has the unbounded confidence of his employers in the hospital and stands high in the church, also in social circles of the community, where he has for many years resided. He has one sister and a brother in Indianapolis, and his mother and one sister live in the old country,
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the brother and sisters being Mrs. Mary Mackey, in Ireland; Mrs. Kate Scheine, of Indianapolis, and Michael, an insurance agent of the Capital city.
W ILLIAM SHINE, who is living in retirement at No. 923. Church street, Indianapolis, was born in county Limerick, Ireland, about 1833, a son of Cornelius and Ellen (Enright) Shine -the Shine family tracing their lineage to France. Cornelius and Ellen Shine passed the greater part of their lives in their native county of Limerick, although they died in county Kerry. They reared a large and respected family, named, in order of birth, as follows: David, William, Michael, Cornelius, Margaret, Ellen, and Johanna. These children all still live in Ireland, with the excep- tion of William, whose name opens this paragraph, Margaret, who died in her native parish, and Johanna, who died in Kansas City, Mo., all good and true Catholics.
William Shine was married in his native county, in February, 1861, by Rev. Father Morochty, in the parish of Knockanure, to Miss Bridget Sullivan, a daughter of Eugene and Katherine (Connell) Sullivan, natives of the western part of county Kerry, Ireland, and who died on the farm on which they had passed all their life. They were the parents of six children, Mrs. Shine being the eldest, and the others being named Mary, Thomas, John, Eugene, and Thomas (second). The sons all passed away in Ireland, and the daughter, May, is now Mrs. Daniel McCarty, of Indianapolis. The marriage of Mr. and Mr. William Shine was blessed with thirteeen children, whose names are all given in the sketch of of John W. Shine.
William Shine had been preceded to America by his son, John W., and a daughter of about two years, and in 1886 he disposed of his lease on the farm in Ireland and brought the remainder of his family to Indianapolis, where he has prospered and now owns considerable real estate. The family are all members of St. John's church, and the parents are also members of the church sodalities, Mrs Shine being also a member of the league of the Sacred Heart, and the daughter, at home, a member of the Young Ladies' (1268)
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sodality. No family in the parish is held in higher respect, and personally Mr. and Mrs Shine are especially esteemned for their many christian virtues.
OHN W. SHINE, patrolman, and one of the most efficient J members of the Indianapolis police force, was born in the par- ish of Knockanure, county Kerry, Ireland, June 24, 1864, and is a son of William and Bridget (Sullivan) Shine, both natives of the same county.
William Shine was a farmer in the old country, but on com- ing to America, in 1886, entered the employ of the Indianapolis Belt Railroad company, with which he remained six years, and then retired. He and wife had born to them a family of thirteen children, of whom nine still survive and reside in Indianapolis, viz: Mrs. Mary Mulehill; Cornelius, employed at Kingan's packing- house; William, a bartender; Thomas, an upholsterer; Katie, a dressmaker; Michael, a porkpacker; Eugene, a sawmaker, and Maggie, a student, beside John W., the subject, who is the eldest.
John W. Shine passed his earlier business years in the employ of John Stack, a member of parliament and a dry-goods merchant in the town of Listowell, county Kerry, Ireland. He preceded his family two years to America, and for one year worked for D. J. Sullivan, a dry-goods merchant of Indianapolis, and was then, for six years, steward in the dining-room of the Central Insane hospital of Indiana, having under his charge about 500 patients. He was next employed for two years as assistant superintendent of the Prudential Life Insurance company. During the two terms that Mayor Sullivan was at the head of the city administration, Mr. Shine was a foreman on street work, and December 1, 1897, was appointed a member of the city police force.
Mr. Shine was united in marriage April 17, 1888, at St. John's church, by Rev. Father Bessonies, to Miss Katie Sheridan, a native of county Cavan, Ireland, and a daughter of Bernard and Kate (Maher) Sheridan, who also had one son, Michael, who served sixteen years in the British army. Mr. and Mrs. Shine have been blessed with two children, viz: William, who was born
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March 26, 1889, and Katie, born October 12, 1891. The family are devout members of St. John's church, contribute liberally toward its support, and politically Mr. Shine is a sound-money democrat. He is a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians and was a charter member of the Celtic club. Mrs. Shine is a member of the Ladies' Auxiliary society of the A. O. H., and both he and she are greatly respected by a large number of sincere friends.
M RS. MARGARET SMEAD, one of the well-known ladies of the church of the Assumption, Indianapolis, was born in the parish of Kelonghs, county Mayo, Ireland, and is the daughter of Edwin and Anne (Ward) Quinn. These parents never left their native land, but lived and died near the old ancestral home, where their bodies now repose side by side.
It is worthy of mention that Mrs. Smead attended school with the present priest of her native parish and was christened in the church of which he is now pastor; this is the Rev. Patrick McAlpin. Mrs. Smead belongs to a family of seven members, three brothers and four sisters, the latter all older than the broth- ers, the subject being youngest of the four.
On the 3d of May, 1875, Mrs. Smead left her native home and three days later sailed from Queenstown for New York, where she landed in due time after an uneventful voyage. On the 26th of the above month she arrived in Indianapolis, which city has since been her home. She was accompanied by none of her fam- ily or friends on her journey to the new world, but was met at Castle Garden by a friend of her father, Patrick Doudle, who had preceded her and who, at the time, was living in the city of New York. This gentleman kindly cared for her and saw her safe off for the city to which she was destined. Four of the family of Mrs. Smead have since come to the United States, and of these all but one are living; they are Bridget, now Mrs. Gleason, of Indian- apolis; Anthony Quinn, of Indianapolis, and Thomas Joseph, of Brazil. Two of the family, Mary and Edward, are still in Ireland.
September 17, 1885, was solemnized the marriage of Margaret
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Quinn and William H. Smead. Mr. Smead was born in Terre Haute, Ind., March 31, 1848; his parents were natives respectively of Vermont and Virginia. When he was a lad the family moved to Michigan, and later returned to Indiana, locating in Brazil, where his parents ended their days. He is one of four brothers, and, while not a Catholic, is in sympathy with the church and a man of most excellent record as a citizen. At this time he fills the position of yardmaster of the Indiana Railway company, which operates what is known as the Belt.
Mrs. Smead has been active in church work, especially since the establishment of Assumption parish, and in all her efforts to promote the cause of religion she is seconded by her husband, whose sympathy and encouragement have ever proved potent factors. They have a pleasant home on Nordyke avenue, and number among their warm personal friends many of the leading ·citizens of West Indianapolis.
T THOMAS B. SHOEMAKER, of No. 1516 Spann avenue, Indianapolis, was born in Columbus, Ohio, July 28, 1854, and is a son of Frederick and Mary Shoemaker, natives of Germany, who came to America in early life and eventually settled in Indian- apolis in 1855, were a long time members of St. Mary's parish, and here passed away some years since, devout in the Catholic faith. They were the parents of ten children, one of whom died before the parents were summoned from earth, and nine still survive.
October 29, 1878, Thomas B. Shoemaker was united in mar- riage with Miss Mary R. Greany, a daughter of Dennis and Mary Greany, of whom more may be read in the article relative to Thomas Greany, on another page. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Shoemaker has been blessed with two children, Frank and Ger- trude, and all the family now belong to St. Patrick's church, of which the parents have been members ever since their marriage. They are faithful to their religious duties and freely contribute to the support of the church, lending their aid to all its methods for
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doing the work of charity, for which the congregation is noted, and live in the enjoyment of the good will and esteem of their many friends, and especially respected by their immediate neighbors. Mr. Shoemaker is a tinner, employed in the shops of the Panhandle Railroad company.
JOSEPH G. SMELTZER, foreman in the blacksmith depart-
ment of the railway shops at Washington, Ind., and a respected member of St. Simon's parish, was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, April 26, 1864. His parents, Ansnam and Mar- garet (Keller) Smeltzer, were natives of Ohio and of German extraction. The father was a well-to-do farmer, and was a soldier in the Civil war, serving two years in an Ohio regiment; both were members of St. Joseph's parish, Sugar Grove, Ohio. The mother died in 1871. The father is still living and enjoying the quiet retirement fitting to his age. He is an ardent democrat and still takes much interest in political matters.
Joseph G. Smeltzer received a fair education in the district schools, and very early began to " do " for himself, at the age of fourteen leaving the parental roof to make his own way. He went to Columbus, Ohio, where he attended school for a year, and then spent a year in the employment of the Columbus Buggy com- pany. He then went to Perry county, Ohio, where he worked as a blacksmith in the mines for a year. He returned to Colum- bus, and, securing employment in the blacksmith department of the Pennsylvania company's shops, remained there for thirteen years. He then moved to Huntington, Ind., where he was employed as a " boss " blacksmith by the C. & E. Railway com- pany for nearly two years, after which he returned to Columbus, resuming his position in the Pennsylvania company's shops, remaining there for a year. In 1892 he was tendered the position of foreman in the blacksmith department of the railway shops at Washington, and may now be considered a permanent resident of this city.
On April 22, 1885, Mr. Smeltzer was married, at Columbus, to Rosa Conlon, who was born at Athens, Ohio, December 25,
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1869, daughter of Patrick Conlon. To them have been born five children: Edward H., deceased; Bertha E., Nora E., Anna B., and Richard. Mr. and Mrs. Smeltzer take much interest in the affairs of St. Simon's church, and politically he is a republican.
G J EORGE SMITH, the genial proprietor of the Broadway hotel, Madison, Ind., was born in Hessen, Germany, July 11, 1833, a son of John and Mary Schmidt, as the name was then spelled, who came to the United States in 1846, landing from a sailing ves- sel in Baltimore, Md., August 6, after a voyage of thirteen weeks.
John Schmidt was a weaver by trade, but, on coming to America settled near Newport, Ky., and engaged in gardening and vine culture, but died in Dayton, a suburb of Newport, November I, 1890; the mother died December 1, 1893, and of their six chil- dren five were born in Germany and one in America. These were George, the subject of this memoir; Elizabeth, married to John Lynch, and residing in Louisville, Ky .; Lawrence, who died in Dayton, Ky., leaving two children, Anna and Elizabeth; Gertrude is married to John Haak, of Dayton; Catherine became Mrs. Ulleib, but is now deceased, and Mary was married to Casper Rheinhard, of Madison, Ind., and here died, leaving one son, John.
George Schmidt, paternal grandfather of subject, and his wife came to the United States in 1834, and passed the remainder of his life in Madison. Of his six children, five sons also came to America, and were named Lawrence, John, George, Conrad and Jacob, all now deceased, and one daughter, Mrs. Kraut, died in Germany.
George Smith, the subject proper of this memoir, came from Dayton, Ky., to Madison, Ind., November 2, 1858, and on the Ioth of the same month became associated with his uncle, Jacob Schmidt, in the conducting of the Broadway hotel, and in June, 1860, was married, immediately after which happy event he became sole proprietor, is now the oldest hotel man in the city, and since April, 1868, has owned the property.
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To the marriage of Mr. Smith with Miss Mary Pittgen, a native of Germany and a daughter of John Pittgen, were born eleven children, viz: Elizabeth, wife of Charles E. Pfau, of Indian- apolis; Mary (Sister Olevia), in a convent at Louisville, Ky. ; Mar- garet (Sister Larevilla), a teacher in Maryland; Magdalena, Carrie, Kate and Anna, at home; George, studying for the priesthood; Theresa, Genevieve and John A., also at home. The mother of this family died in the faith of the Catholic church August 9, 1886, at the age of forty-eight years, and was a woman of many chris- tian virtues and ladylike accomplishments. Mr. Smith is a lead- ing member of St. Mary's church, in which he has served as trustee; in politics he is a democrat and has done good service as a member of the city council. As a landlord he is genial, hospita- ble and obliging, and as a gentleman is respected by all who know him.
JOSEPH J. SOETE, bookkeeper and accountant, was born in Vincennes, Ind., February 15, 1861, a son of Henry and Mary (Drexelius) Soete, natives of Germany, who were married in Cin- cinnati, Ohio, in the fall of 1859, Henry Soete being at that time a widower.
Henry Soete was by trade a shoemaker, and was among the earliest German settlers in Vincennes. In his later years he opened a shoe store in this city, where his death took place in 1877. His widow has her residence on Seventh street and is living in comfort- able circumstances. Their family consisted of ten children, of whom Joseph J. is the eldest, and all were reared to be good Catholics.
Joseph J. Soete was educated in St. John's German Catholic school and in the public schools of Vincennes, and the first twelve years of his business life were passed in a general store. In the fall of 1889, when the John Ebner Ice company was established under its present management, Mr. Soete became its bookkeeper and accountant, which position he has filled in a most satisfactory manner until the present time.
Mr. Soete was united in marriage, September 24, 1889, to (1274)
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Miss Mary Kapps, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Deibold) Kapps, and this union has been blessed with two children-Edwin Joseph, now seven years of age, and Helen Teresa, now three years old. Mrs. Soete was educated in St. John's German Catholic school, and the family worship at St. John's German Catholic church. Mr. Soete is a member of branch No. 533, Catholic Knights of Amer- ica, of which branch he is a trustee, and of which he has served as secretary; he is also a member of St. John's Benevolent society, in which he has filled nearly every official station. In politics he is a democrat and all the Soete family entertain the same political views. Mr. Soete has three sisters and one brother who reside in Vincennes, and these are Mary, wife of Henry Bloom; Lizzie, widow of George J. Reinbold; Louisa, unmarried and living with her mother, and Edward, clerking for a mercantile firm. Another brother, Anton, makes his home in California on account of failing health. Mr. Soete is an accomplished accountant, is diligent in his duty, leads a moral life, and is consequently respected by all who know him.
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