USA > Indiana > History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume II > Part 84
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H ENRY G. SOMMERS, proprietor of one of the most taste- fully fitted-up drug stores in Fort Wayne, Ind., his native city, was born September 16, 1863, a son of Frederick and Jennie (Mergel) Sommers, natives of Germany. The father was a miller by trade and long worked at this calling in Allen county, having come here shortly after his marriage, and here he passed the remainder of his years, dying in 1877, his widow passing away in 1879-leaving a family of six children, and both dying in the faith of the Catholic church.
Henry G. Sommers was educated in the parochial schools o Fort Wayne, and at the age of nine years began to learn the drug business. At the age of fifteen he was employed as clerk in the drug store of his uncle, Henry G. Wagner, whom he faithfully served until 1887, when he succeeded his uncle as proprietor, and now carries a stock valued at $5,000.
The marriage of Mr. Sommers took place in Fort Wayne January 21, 1890, to Miss Maggie C. Maguire, daughter of Owen
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Maguire, a native of Ireland, and this union has been blessed with three children, viz: Fred E., born in 1891 ; Robert H., born in 1892, and Marie C., bornin 1894. Mr. and Mrs. Sommers are devout Cath- olics and are never delinquent in their contributions to the support of the church. In politics Mr. Sommers is a sound democrat, and in No- vember 1893, was elected to represent his party in the city council of Fort Wayne, and so ably did he fill the duties of the office that he was re-elected in May, 1895.
Mr. Sommers is a thorough pharmaceutist, is enterprising, energetic and courteous, and is deservedly popular. He owns his business place as well as his tasteful residence, and he and wife mingle in the best societary circles of Fort Wayne, and are greatly esteemed wherever known. Mr. Sommers resides at No. 22 East Washington street, where he built and owns an excellent home.
T' HEO. SONDERMANN, doing a grocery and book business at Jasper, Dubois county, Ind., is a son of Servia and Mary T. (Kranz) Sondermann, who both died in Germany.
The subject of this sketch was born March 12, 1820, and came to the United States July 11, 1845, landing in New York. He afterward went to Detroit, Mich., and remained six weeks; then went to Pennsylvania; then went back to Germany for a few months, and returned with his wife to America in 1847, located in Pittsburg, Pa., and engaged in the grocery business until December 1, 1852. He then came to Dubois county, Ind., and engaged in farming until 1859. He was here elected county treasurer, and re-elected for the second term, and was elected county auditor the same year his office as treasurer expired, in 1863. He then moved to Mt. Vernon, Posey county, in April, 1869, and spent a few months with his son, who was the first priest of Mt. Vernon-Father Florentine. He next went to Evansville and engaged in the foun- dry business in August, 1869, remained one year, and then returned to Mt. Vernon, and engaged in the hardware and furniture busi- ness, which he carried on until 1875, when he came back to Jasper, where he has since conducted his present business.
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Mr. Sondermann was married January 30, 1844, to Miss Mary C. Theile, of Germany, a daughter of Francis Theile, and has three living children: John F., now a priest at Lawrenceburg; Sister Mary Albertine, a Sister of Providence, and August J. Mr. Son- dermann and his wife are both devout members of the Catholic church, and have always been active in assisting the church in its good work. Mr. Sondermann is one of the foremost business men of Jasper, as well as one of the oldest and most respected, and his voice has ever been potent in the councils of the democratic party.
JOSEPH S. C. SOWAR, a representative business man of J Brazil, Clay county, and a worthy member of the church of the Annunciation congregation, was born in Orange county, Ind., July 21, 1861, came to Brazil December 1, 1875, and entered upon business life in the spring of the following year.
Joseph H. W. Sowar, father of Joseph S. C., was born in the Buckeye state and there married Miss Elizabeth Wehrle, both being of German descent. Some little time after marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Sowar removed to Orleans, Ind., and later to Mitchell, where Mr. Sowar followed his trade of marblecutter until his death, which took place in 1873. In 1875, his widow, with her six chil- dren, came to Brazil, and of these six, five still survive, viz: Joseph S. C., whose name opens this memoir; Edward J., a resi- dent of Norwood, La., and engaged in cotton and sugar planting; Francis, a boot and shoe merchant of Brazil, Ind .; Ethellie, wife of Frank Smith, of Brazil, and Kate, now Mrs. Frank Lutkemeier of Frankfort, Ky. The deceased child, Alwin W., was called away in 1881.
Joseph S. C. Sowar, who engaged in business on his own account as a grocery merchant, in 1881, met with success, and married, August 1, 1883, Miss Davis, then a resident of Brazil, but a native of Illinois and a daughter of David W. Davis, who settled in Brazil in 1875. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Sowar has been blessed with five children, viz: Gertrude, Blanche, Katie, Charles and David, who are all being reared in the true faith. The firm of Shannon,
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Fast & Sowar is a very important factor in the mercantile progress. of Brazil, and Mr. Sowar is himself one of the most popular, affable and genial business men of the city, and honored by all citizens as a gentleman of strict morality and integrity.
A UGUST SONDERMANN, a popular merchant of Jasper, Dubois county, Ind., is a son of Anton and Josepha Sondermann, was born March 19, 1836, in the province of Westphalia, Prussia, and came to the United States in 1854, locating in Dubois county. He was engaged as a clerk in Ferdinand, was married to Miss Maria Sermersheim, and was blessed with two children, viz: Albert M. and Josephine. Josephine is now Sister Augusta, of the Sisters of Providence. She took the veil about 1887, and located in Hammond, Ind., taught music and took her perpetual veil August 1, 1898. Albert is a member of St. Joseph's church. Mrs. Sondermann died August 24, 1873, and Mr. Sondermann has since led a life of mourning for his departed helpmate. He has, how- ever, been prosperous in his business and is greatly respected for his moral life and strict business integrity.
Mr. Sondermann is a democrat in his politics, and cast his first presidential vote for Gen. George B. McClellan. He has been connected with the public schools of his town, as an official, and has well performed his duties.
JOSEPH F. SPIEGEL, president of the Batesville Coffin J Manufacturing company, Ripley county, Ind., is one of four children born to Joseph and Gertrude Spiegel, natives of Germany. The father was a Catholic school-teacher, was born May 13, 1813, and died June 4, 1847. The mother was born March 17, 1813, and died on the 10th of April, 1882.
Joseph F. Spiegel was born August 10, 1844, in Germany. He attended the common schools, served in the Prussian army from 1867 to 1871, was in prison for six days, and came to the (1278)
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
United States in the latter year. He worked at his trade of cab- inetmaker in Batesville until 1881, and then went to Illinois and opened up a furniture and lumber business, which he engaged in for three years. He then returned to Batesville and started the coffin manufacturing company with a captial of $20,000, and was made president in 1886, succeeding William Bennett. The company has a warehouse and stock-room that cost $9,000, and is doing a profitable trade.
Mr. Spiegel was married to Miss Flora Sippel, a daughter of Joseph and Katie (Echard) Sippel, and is blessed with four chil- dren, viz: Kregor J., Rosie E., Mary J. and Katie Z. All are Catholics and attend the St. Louis church of Batesville. In politics Mr. Spiegel is a democrat and always has been active in his support of his party. He is very liberal in his aid to the church and he and family stand with the best people of Batesville.
L EOPOLD SPITZMESSER, proprietor of the artificial ice plant at Greensburg, Ind., was born in Baden Baden, Germany, January 12, 1854, and is a son of Nicholas and Setzilia (Burk- hardt) Spitzmessers whose children were named Mary A., Dennis, Leopold, Joseph and Joanna, of whom Mary A. and Joseph are deceased. Nicholas, the father, was a stonemason by trade and died in Germany, October 14, 1877, but his widow, who came to America in 1880, is now living in Greensburg, Ind.
Leopold Spitzmesser was twenty years of age when he came to America and located in Indianapolis, Ind., where he lived two or three years, working at his trade of stonemason. In 1879 he became identified with Greensburg, and in 1881 opened a sample room, which he conducted ten years, during which he held the agency for several large breweries, and still is agent for a Newport, Ky., house. In 1895 he erected his ice plant, which is fully equipped with the most approved modern apparatus for ice pro- duction, and in the trade he has been very successful. Mr. Spitz- messer was united in marriage April 28, 1881, to Miss Caroline Leppert, daughter of Joseph and Annie (Link) Leppert, and this
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union has been blessed with six children, viz: Nicholas B., Mary, Lena, Joseph, Leo and Anna. The family belong to St. Mary's Catholic congregation, and Mr. Spitzmesser is a member of the Knights of St. John, of which society he is a past president. He is very liberal in his contributions to the support of his church and faithful in the discharge of his religious duties. In politics he is a democrat, but has never been particularly anxious for office, never- theless he works hard for the success of his party when called upon to do so. He has accumulated quite a fortune through his own good management and industry, and holds a high position in the esteem of the people of Greensburg.
JOHN A. SPITZNAGLE, a well-to-do carriage and wagon- maker, of Peru, Ind., was born in Baden, Germany, Decem- ber 27, 1841, a son of John and Mary (Noll) Spitznagle, and was educated in a Catholic school until he was seventeen years of age, in the meanwhile also assisting his father on the home farm. About 1 858 he came to America, landed in New York, and at once came through to Indiana, and for two years served an apprenticeship at the wagonmaker's trade in Romney. After working as a journey- man at Romney and La Fayette a few years, he opened a shop for himself in Romney, but in 1863 moved to Logansport, where he remained until 1869, when he came to Peru, and has here prospered in his business up to the present hour.
In 1867 Mr. Spitznagle married Miss Gertrude Miller, a native of Prussia, who was brought to America when six months old. To his marriage have been born the following children: Mary, wife of J. W. Volpert, whose biography is given on another page: Anna, John and Louisa, at home with their parents; Lena, deceased, and Jacob, still under the parental roof. The family are all devout Catholics, Mrs. Spitznagle being a member of St. Charles Borro- meo's Rosary society. Mr. Spitznagle is a Catholic Knight of America, and is ever ready to assist his church in its work for the support of the poor and afflicted and for promoting the interests of the church in general. He has been very successful as a business
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man, and is the owner of his business place and two good resi- dence properties in Peru, and has gained all he owns through his tact, good judgment, skill and industry. He has many warm friends inside and outside church circles, and is recognized through- out the city as a man who strictly attends to his business and fol- lows it in an honest and straightforward manner.
M RS. APOLLONIA SPRAUER, of Huntingburg, Dubois county, Ind., is the widow of the lamented Joseph Sprauer, who died April 3, 1891. Mr. Sprauer was a son of Andrew and Barbara (Binder) Sprauer. Mrs. Sprauer was born May 16, 1851, in Dubois county, and is the daughter of Adam and Magdalina (Hochgesang) Schmitt, and to her marriage with Mrs! Sprauer were born ten children, four sons and six daughters, of whom three are now deceased. Mrs. Sprauer is a devout member of St. Mary's Catholic church, and has reared her surviving children in the same holy faith. She is a large property holder in the village, and is its leading photographer. She is a lady of many estimable qualities and is greatly respected by all who know her.
O SCAR F. STEHLIN, a member of the Indianapolis fire department, at headquarters, was born in Terre Haute, Ind., April 16, 1864, a son of Martin and Caroline Stehlin, natives of Germany, who came to the United States when young and were married in the state of Indiana. To their union were born seven children, named as follows: John H., who died in Indianapolis, October 5, 1897, leaving a wife and three children; George, mar- ried and living at the corner of West and North streets; Oscar F., whose name opens this paragraph; Augustus, a wood worker by trade, and employed in this city; William, a pressman in Bur- ford's bookbinding establishment: Martin died in early life; Carrie is the wife of William Essick. The father of this family died in Indianapolis at the early age of thirty-five years, a devoted Catho-
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lic; his widow, who is a Lutheran in religious belief, resides in this. city, Oscar F. and William, her sons, being inmates of her home.
Oscar F. Stehlin was educated in the city schools of Indian- apolis and in the German-English free school. He then learned the iron-molder's trade, which he followed about twelve years- seven years with Dean Bros., and five years with Sinker & Davis and others. In 1893 he became a member of the fire department, being for the first two years a member of Chemical company No. 3, from which he was transferred to Engine company No. I, and from that to headquarters in 1896.
Mr. Stehlin was united in wedlock, in 1888, to Miss Mary Con- nors, a native of this city, and a daughter of John Connors, deceased. After three years of wedded bliss Mrs. Stehlin passed from earth in the faith of the Catholic church, November 7, 1891, leaving no children. Mr. Stehlin was himself, through her benig- nant influence, converted to the true faith prior to his marriage, and is still a devout Catholic. His brother, George, is also a con- vert to Catholicity. Mr. Stehlin is a member of St. Bridget's con- gregation, under the pastorate of Rev. Father Curran. He is also a Knight of Father Mathew, is a democrat in politics, and is a young man of excellent moral character, who enjoys the respect of all who know him.
DEV. GEORGE S. STEIGERWALD, chaplain of St. Vin- cent's orphan asylum, and rector of St. Vincent de Paul parish, Ind., is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, was born October 11, 1857, and is a son of Michael and Dorothea 'Reinhard) Steigerwald, who were natives of Franco-Bavaria, but when young came to America early in the 'forties, and were married in Cincinnati. Of the chil- dren born to these parents, the only brother of subject was educated in Cincinnati, became a professor of St. Francis college of that city, and died in 1888; the only sister of subject, Magdalena Wuest, is also deceased; the father, while on a visit to Europe for the ben- efit of his health, died there in 1861, and the mother, who has made fourteen trips across the Atlantic ocean, is now living in the old country.
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CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
Father George S. Steigerwald was educated in the classics in Mount St. Mary's college, Cincinnati; he then went to Wuerzberg, Bavaria, and in the university of that city studied philosophy, the- ology and the natural sciences, and during the years of his study there occasionally found time for travel, which was extended through the Orient, including the Holy Land. July 30, 1882, he was ordained with Holy orders, and immediately thereafter returned to America, and was assigned to St. John's cathedral, at Indianap- olis, Ind., where he remained one year. He was then appointed to the rectorship of St. Mary's church at Greensburg, Ind., where he officiated for fourteen years, performing most arduous duties the while, so that, in March, 1897, he felt called upon to resign, on account of his overtaxed physical condition, and was then appointed to his present rectorship.
The parish of St. Vincent de Paul is composed of about fifty families, who worship at the chapel of the orphans' asylum. The members of the congregation are chiefly French, or of French descent, some of the latter representing the pioneer families of this historic stronghold of Catholicity. Father Steigerwald, although he has never enjoyed perfect physical health, and being afflicted with a throat trouble that is very annoying to a public speaker, and more particularly to a clergyman, is nevertheless a true soldier of the cross, a devout son of the church, a profound scholar and theo- logian, whose mentality never tires in the performance of church work and in the saving of souls. He is a good man and a good priest, and good follows his footsteps wherever he treads.
C HARLES STEIGENWALD, grocer of Aurora, a son of John and Bertha (Billman) Steigenwald, was born in Dearborn county, Ind., June 29, 1864, attended common schools and at the age of twenty years began learning the furniture trade as finisher, and worked for the Aurora Furniture company for twelve years. He went into his present business in 1890, and now carries a good stock. He was married September 2, 1886, to Miss Anna Lansing, a daughter of Benjamin Lansing, of Aurora, and born March 5,
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
1864. Their children are Katie, Otto, Eugene, Marie and Lawrence, all the family being members of St. Mary's church of Aurora.
Mr. Steigenwald is a member of the Knights of St. George, and is highly respected by the citizens of Aurora for his strict integrity.
M ICHAEL L. STEINHART, the affable proprietor of the pop- ular hardware store at Ireland, Dubois county, Ind., is a native of this county, was born May 24, 1861, and is the fourth in the family of six sons and three daughters born to Michael and Mary A. (Miller) Steinhart-all the children having been con- firmed by Very Rev. Bishop de St. Palais. Michael Steinhart, father of subject, was born in Baden, Germany, and was a pro- fessional musician, although his business vocation was that of a fisherman. He was well educated in Germany, and in 1840 came to America, settling in Dubois county, Ind., in 1846; here he passed the remainder of his life and died August 4, 1888, a devout Cath- olic; his remains now lie interred in St. Joseph's cemetery, beside those of his wife, who died May 3, 1898, also a faithful and devoted member of the Catholic church.
Michael L. Steinhart was reared in Dubois county and edu- cated in the public schools. In March, 1883, he commenced at his trade for himself as wagonmaker in Ireland, and later opened a first-class hardware store, in which he carries a full line of shelf and heavy goods, stoves, ranges, etc., and handles agricul- tural implements, being the local agent for the McCormick har- vester; he likewise handles standard carriages, buggies and other vehicles, beside which, being a practical mechanic, he manufac- tures all classes of wagons and buggies to order.
May 12, 1885, Mr. Steinhart wedded Miss Margaret Schwank, a native of Dubois county, Rev. Father Fidelis officiating, and this union has been blessed with two children-Fredrich M. and Urban Theodore. Fredrich M. was born February 15, 1886, and Urban Theodore was born July 30, 1889. Mrs. Steinhart was born April 1, 1865, is a daughter of Philip and Katharine (Birk) (1284)
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
Schwank, and was confirmed by Bishop de St. Palais at the Sisters' school at Jasper.
Politically, Mr. Steinhart is a democrat, and cast his first presidential vote for Grover Cleveland. He and wife are members of St. Mary's church at Ireland, and have always been active in advancing the cause of Catholicity and liberal in their contributions to the support of the church, and socially they enjoy the esteem of all the residents of the village and surrounding country.
R EV. CLEMENT STEINKAMP, of Batesville, Ripley county, Ind., is a son of Henry and Catherine (Taben) Steinkamp, of Germany, both deceased. Rev. Clement was born March 22, 1842, in Germany, and came to the United States March 26, 1865, landing at New York. He attended the college of Meppen, Han- over, entered the order April 5, 1866, was ordained of June 6, 1869, at the cathedral of Louisville, and said his first mass at Louisville. He was first located at Oldenburg on July 25, 1873. He then went to Detroit, Mich., and remained for six years; then to Hamilton, Ohio, for five years; then two years in Reynolds, Ind .; then to Hamburg, Ind .; then three years in Louisville and six years in Bloomington, Ills. He came to Batesville, Ind., his present location, on November 7, 1895, where he has a school of two Sisters, and a church membership of 162 families. He is esteemed for his piety and unselfish devotion to the spiritual and temporal welfare of his congregation, and his personal merits and unassuming deportment have won for him the esteem of the residents of Batesville, irrespective of church affiliation.
R EV. CHARLES V. STETTER, pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul's church, Lake county, Ind., was born in Milwaukee, Wis., February 22, 1859, a son of Charles Joseph and Mary Sabine (Stadt- mueller) Stetter, natives, respectively, of Baden and Wurtemberg, Germany. Young Charles V. was primarily educated in a paro-
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
chial school in St. Nazianz, Wis., and received his classical educa- tion at the Canisius college in Buffalo, N. Y., at St. Nazianz, Wis., and at St. Lawrence's college, in Calvary, Wis. He then attended St. Francis seminary in Milwaukee, where he studied philosophy and theology, and finished the latter study in Rome, where he was ordained priest March 24, 1883, by Cardinal Monaco LaValletta. The degree of D. D. was conferred on Rev. Stetter at the col- lege of the Propaganda, and that of Ph. D. by the academy of . St. Thomas Aquinas in the Eternal city. On returning to America, Father Stetter was assigned to the pastorate of Dyer, where he labored faithfully for five years, and was then placed in charge of his present pastorate at Lottaville.
W TILLIAM A. STEVENS, postmaster of Columbus, Bartholo- mew county, Ind., is a native of this city, and was born in June, 1864, of a long line of English ancestry.
William Stevens, great-grandfather of subject, was the founder of the family in America, and on coming from England settled in Hamilton, Ohio, where he married Nancy Somerington. He was a distiller and secured an ample competency. In politics he was a whig, and he and wife passed the remainder of their lives in Hamilton, dying in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Frank Stevens, father of William A. Stevens, was born in Hamilton, Ohio, June 3, 1842, was educated in his native city, and at maturity settled in Columbus, Ind., and for several years was engaged in the dry-goods trade and thenembarked in the agricul- tural implement business, but is now retired, after carrying on the latter traffic for eighteen years. His wife bore the maiden name of Catherine Brown, and was born in Bartholomew county, Ind., in June, 1844.
William A. Stevens is a graduate of the Columbus high school, and was always associated with his father in business until the retirement of the latter. He married Miss Lu Belle Wilson, and both are members of St. Bartholomai church of Columbus. Mr. Stevens is also a prominent member of the Catholic Knights of (1286)
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
America. In politics he is a stanch republican, and in September, 1897, in recognition of his own merits and his unselfish devotion to his party, he was appointed, under the Mckinley administration, postmaster of Columbus. He is a recognized leader in his party, especially with the younger element, and is a genial and accom- modating gentleman.
A NTHONY STOLL, proprietor of a popular meat market at Brookville, Ind., was born in Dearborn county, this state, February 5, 1857, a son of Anthony and Katherine (Bussalt) Stoll.
Anthony Stoll, the father, was born in Germany, in 1820, received a common-school education, and was then apprenticed to the carpenter's trade, which he followed in his native land until 1841, when, at the age of twenty-one years, he came to America and located in New Alsace, Dearborn county, Ind., engaged in carpenter work and also followed farming. In 1842 he married, at St. Peter's, in Franklin county, Miss Katherine Bussalt, to which union eleven children have been born, of whom five died in infancy, the six survivors being Elizabeth, wife of Peter Geiger, of St. Mark's, Kans .; Margaret, wife of John Stallman, of Wiscon- sin; Frances, wife of Jacob Sax, of Cincinnati, Ohio; Katherine, wife of Joseph Sketler, of Kentucky; Andrew, of Dearborn county, Ind., and Anthony, our subject. The mother of this family was called away in 1862, and the father in 1878, both in the Catholic faith, and their remains rest side by side in the ceme- tery of St. Peter, Franklin county.
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