History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume II, Part 86

Author: Blanchard, Charles, fl. 1882-1900, ed
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Logansport, Ind., A. W. Bowen & co.
Number of Pages: 1476

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In 1885 he erected two new side altars, at a cost of $800, and in 1891 he took out the old windows and placed in the cathedral stained glass windows, at a cost of $750. In 1892 he erected a new altar, partly of stone, costing $1, 100, including the statues; in 1894 he put in a new pipe-organ at a cost of $1,000, which was manufactured by Pilger & Sons, of Louisville, Ky. His record is one which any priest may be proud of, and the condition of the parish is highly satisfactory and pleasing to pastor and congregation.

The membership of St. John the Baptist's congregation num- bers sixty-six families or 355 souls. The schools are in charge of the Franciscan Sisters, two in number, with an enrolment of sixty- three pupils. The schools have a local reputation, as regards thorough instruction, second to none in Dearborn county. The value of the Catholic property of this parish is placed at $22,000. The parish is located eight miles west of Harrison, Ohio, and four- teen miles northwest of Lawrenceburg, Ind.

H JON. MICHAEL A. SWEENEY, of Jasper, state senator for the counties of Dubois and Perry, Ind., was born in Cincin- nati, Ohio, April 26, 1858, the third of the nine children (seven sons and two daughters) born to Michael Harriet (Ried) Sweeney, natives respectively of counties Cork and Sligo, Ireland. Of the

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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,

R DEV. DOMINIC DUEHMIG, pastor of the Assumption church, at Avilla, Noble county, Ind., was born in Ebenheid, Baden, Germany, November 9, 1842, a son of Erasmus and Mary Ann (Bechtold) Duehmig. The tather, a farmer, was a native of Bavaria, and the mother of Baden, where their respective deaths occurred in 1873 and 1878. Of their twelve children, three only now survive, of whom two were prominent educators in Germany, one having taught for forty-five years and being now a pensioner.

Rev. Dominic Duehmig, the eleventh born of the above men- tioned family of twelve children, attended the village schools until 1854; then began his classical studies, which he finished at Wert- heim, on the Main, Baden, in July, 1862; he next studied theology at the university of Freiburg, Baden, until 1864. then for two years at the university of Louvain, Belgium, and was ordained priest August 5, 1866, at Liege, Belgium. He said his first mass at the home of his boyhood August 15, 1866, withstood a siege of the cholera at Freudenberg, Baden for a month, during which time he took the place of the pastor, who died with the cholera, and November 9, 1866, visited his relatives, then took steamer at Havre, France, December 6, arrived in New York December 22, and in Fort Wayne December 24. He said his first mass in the United States in the Fort Wayne cathedral, and the following week was sent by Bishop Luers to Huntington, where he preached his first sermon in English. He remained in Huntington two months as a supply, and February 22, 1867, came to Avilla as assistant to to Rev. A. B. Oechtering. May 12, of the same year, he was installed pastor, and since then this has been the field of his prodig- ious labors.

During his pastorate here, he has attended the missions at Kendallville, Ligonier, Rome City, Ege and Albion, Noble county; Millersburg and Goshen, Elkhart county; Waterloo, DeKalb county; Bremen, Marshall county; Leo, Allen county, and cele- brated mass occasionally in LaGrange and Steuben counties.' He has been a patriarch in the holy work, having cared for parishes which are now supplied with nine resident priests. His parish at Avilla has furnished to the church three clergymen, viz: Revs. Moench, Lemper and Boccard, beside many Sisters. In 1875, (1306)

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ASSUMPTION 'CHURCH, AVILLA, IND.

CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

Father Duehmig wrote to Germany and induced a number of the Sisters of St. Francis, with Mother Anastasia as superior, to come to Avilla, and here the motherhouse was maintained until 1877, when it was removed to Joliet, Ill. Father Duehmig also caused the erection of the Old People's home, about one mile from the church, in 1895. This building is of brick, is 140x48 feet, and, with the adjunctive chapel, cost $30,000. The resident chaplain is the Rev. Bernadine Abbink.

The labors of Father Duehmig, since he has had charge at Avilla, have been incessant, but always earnest, and have redounded to his own credit, the salvation of souls and the ever- lasting glory of God and his church, of which he is so faithful a servant.

R EV. ADAM FEIGEN, the efficient rector of St. Joseph's parish, at St. Leon, Dearborn county, Ind., was born Decem- ber 27, 1854, at Baden, Germany. His early training was obtained through private tuition and in the parochial schools, and also at the gymnasium in the city of Montabaur, in the province of Nas- sau, where he took a classical course of four years, ending 1873.

At this time, at the age of seventeen years, Mr. Feigen came to America and entered the well-known Mount St. Mary's semi- nary at Cincinnati, Ohio, and there finished his classical and phil- osophical courses of study in 1877, and then entered St. Meinrad's college, Spencer county, Ind., in September, 1877; and was there until December 9, 1879, when he completed the theological course, was ordained priest December 22, 1879, by Right Rev. Bishop Chatard, and his first work was at Greensburg and St. Paul, Ind., as assistant or substitute, inasmuch as Rev. Kessing, the pas- tor in charge, was sick and unable to perform the functions of his holy office. He was there a short time only and was then transferred to St. Maurice parish, at Napoleon, and St. John the Baptist's at Osgood, which was a mission of Napoleon. He took charge of this work February 22, 1880, and remained until his appointment to St. Joseph's at St. Leon, having filled an administration of six- ·teen years and eight months.

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THE CLERGY ANIY CONGREGATIONS,

During his stay in these parishes Father Feigen did a wonder- ful work. He found twenty-five families at St. John's, paid $400 debt there, and purchased two acres of ground for a cemetery. In Napoleon he found almost $5.000 indebtedness, and paid the entire amount, and, beside paying off the debt, he purchased a new pipe- organ, new altars, new pulpit and new bell, had the church fres- coed and the church roofed twice. There were fifty families in this parish, and the schools were under the direction of the Franciscan Sisters, with an enrolment of fifty pupils. He left the parish with a credit of $2, 500, after all debts were paid. November 1, 1896, he came to St. Joseph's parish, at St. Leon, and found 104 fami- lies or 400 souls, and he had the church consecrated September S. 1897, by Bishop Chatard, there not being a dollar of debt against the parish. He placed in a new furnace and a new vestry, improved the main altar and paid $1,000 for the frescoeing of the church. In 1898 he had the school-houses and premises put in excellent repair at a cost of $325. Since he took charge of the parish of St. Joseph, he has expended $3.150 in improvements. The congre- gation is composed of a thrifty and industrious class of Germans. and the parish is in a healthy state. The fair cost value of the parish property is placed at $20,000.

JOHN J. CAMPBELL, proprietor of Campbell's steam laundry at Logansport. Ind., the oldest in the city, was born in Pittsburg, Pa., May 26, 1863, a son of Michael and Margaret Mulherin) Campbell.

Michael Campbell, the father, is a native of the west of Ire- land, and came to the United States at about the age of twenty- one years, and of two brothers and a sister who came with him Patrick and James passed away in Pittsburg, and the sister, who became Mrs. Cook, died in St. Louis, Mo. Michael Campbell first located in Pittsburg, was there married, and in 1863 removed to Columbiana county, Ohio, where he bought a large tract of land, which he devoted chiefly to fruit growing, and there he still resides, although he has had the misfortune to lose his wife. Of their ten

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children, two died young: Charles A. died at the age of twenty-one years, and Theressa, unmarried, also died when twenty-one years . old. The six survivors are Margaret, James E., John J., Mary, Francis and Estella.

John J. Campbell was reared on the home farm in Columbiana county. Ohio, until about nineteen years of age, receiving his education in the common and parochial schools. For five years after leaving the homestead, he and his brother, James E., in partnership traveled throughout the country as dealers in nursery stock. In 1887, John J. went to Chicago, Ill., and secured employ- ment in a laundry, for the purpose of learning the business, and in July of the same year the two brothers came to Logansport and established the first steam laundry in the city, and, although they had several imitators who have come and gone. Mr. Camp- bell still operates the oldest steam laundry in Logansport. although for a very brief period, it on one occasion changed hands. But it had been a success from the start, and its business increased constantly until 1896, when Campbell Bros. sold the plant and John J. went to Columbus, where he conducted business from Sep- tember until March following, when he returned to Logansport and re-purchased the plant, of which he is now sole proprietor. This laundry is one of the best equipped in the state, and, in addition to its immense city patronage, it does work for some forty towns out- side, gives employment to thirty people, and is probably the largest shipper of landried goods in the state.

In 1890 Campbell Bros. also purchased the steam laundry at Chattanooga, Tenn., which was likewise an extensive plant, and this they conducted about one year, when the failing health of James E. Campbell caused the firm to sell, since when James E. has not been engaged in any active business.

John J. Campbell was united in marriage October 11, 1892, by Very Rev. M. E. Campion, of St. Vincent de Paul church, to Miss Jennie M. Gorman, a native of Logansport, and this union has been blessed with two children, viz: Naoma, born in July, 1895, and Charles Otis, born in 1897. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell are mem- beis of St. Vincent de Paul congregation, and Mr. Campbell is a member of the Catholic Knights of America, and both are faithful

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in their religious duties and liberal in their donations to the support of the church. In 1894 Mr. Campbell erected his handsome resi- dence at No. 2026 Broadway, and this is,the abode of true domestic happiness. Mr. Campbell is very affable and is recognized as one of the best business men in Logansport.

M ICHAEL GARRIGAN, now living in retirement at No. 308 North Street, Logansport, Ind., is a native of Westmore- land county, Pa. ; was born August 17, 1825, and is a son of John and Cecilia (Devers) Garrigan, natives of Ireland.

Michael Garrigan was reared a farmer's lad and received his education in the common schools of his native county. At the age of eighteen years he was apprenticed to blacksmithing, served two and one-half years, and, besides being thoroughly taught the trade, was compensated with $50 in cash. After finishing his apprenticeship, he worked in Pennsylvania as a journeyman some- thing more than two years, and then came to Indiana, reaching Logansport July 2, 1851, and here, for two years, continued to follow his trade as a journeyman. He had been temperate, indus- trious and frugal, and at the end of the two years mentioned was able to begin business on his own account, in which he prospered, and, indeed, acquired a competency, on which he retired after forty-four years of labor.

In politics a democrat, and quite popular with his party, Mr. Garrigan, in 1880, was elected trustee of Eel township, and so faith- fully and satisfactorily did he perform the duties of this position, that he was re-elected in 1882, but, after filling out his second term, withdrew from politics, and has since lived in comfort and well-earned enjoyment of the fruits of his early industry.

The marriage of Mr. Garrigan took place in Logansport, August 2, 1852, his bride being Miss Catherine Pierce, daughter of Thomas and Johanna (Cassidy) Pierce, natives of Ireland, but who came to America in childhood. This marriage has been blessed with seven children, who all lived to reach the years of maturity, and were named as follows: Mary J., Genevieve, (1314)

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Thomas A. (deceased) and Catherine I .; Cecelia, John E. and Peter died young.

Mr. and Mrs. Garrigan are among the most respected Catholic residents of Logansport, have been very liberal in the support of St. Vincent de Paul church, and enjoy to a large degree the esteem of their co-religionists, as well as that of many outside the pale of Catholicism.

B ERNARD A. KROEGER, of the well known funeral directing firm of Kroeger & Strain, at No. 613 Broadway, Logansport, Ind., is a son of Anthony and Elizabeth (Hochherz) Kroeger, also a nephew of Rev. B. Kroeger, pastor of St. Bridget's church, Logansport, and a brother of Rev. Anthony J. Kroeger, pastor of St. John's church at Tipton, Ind.

Bernard A. Kroeger was born in Cloppenberg, Germany, May 31, 1856, received excellent school advantages in his youthful days and continued his studies until seventeen years of age, and then be- came an assistant in the post-office and telegraph service, serving in several cities in his native land as tutor or instructor of other employees in their duties. In 1878 Mr. Kroeger came to the United States and arrived in Logansport August 1. He attended St. Francis school one year at Milwaukee, aquiring a good knowledge of the English language, and then became bookkeeper for W. T. S. Manley & Son and also for Manley & Smith, of Logansport, serving until 1882, when he became associated with R. W. Weaver, and, under the firm style of Weaver & Kroeger, succeeded to the undertaking business of Manly & Son. In 1884 the firm name was changed to that of Kroeger & Strain, the junior partner being Rodney Strain, and this firm now conducts one of the most finely appointed establishments in its line in the city of Logansport

The marriage of Mr. Kroeger took place in 1887 to Miss Fronie Hoffman, a native of Logansport and a daughter of George and Mary (Stoltz) Hoffman, and this was the first marriage ceremony performed in the new St. Joseph's church by Rev. H. Koehne, of whom full mention will be found on another page. This marriage has been blessed with six children, born in the following order:

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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,

Bernard, Florence, Marie, Edith, George and Francis. Mr. Kroeger resides in his own comfortable home at No. 407 West Broadway, and he and family are liberal supporters of St. Bridget's church, of which they are devoted members, Mr. Kroeger being beside an active member of the Catholic Benevolent legion.

FATHER GEORGE J. LOESCH, at St. Philip's, Posey county, Ind., is a son of George and Veronica (Schmitt) Loesch, and was born at Nauvoo, Ill., April 18, 1857. He graduated at St. Meinrad's college, Spencer county, Ind.

At the age of thirteen years, George J. entered a furniture store at Evansville, Ind., and did general work for five years. He then began to study for the church, was ordained May 30, 1885. and was appointed assistant priest to Holy Trinity church, under Father Duddenhausen, Evansville, Ind. After the death of Rev. Father Duddenhausen, which occurred October 27, 1886, he had charge of Holy Trinity until the appointment of Rev. H. J. Dies- tel, December 1, 1886. He was assistant priest under Father Diestel until November, 1887, when he was transferred to Rock- port, Ind., and Cedar Grove, Ind. On August 7, 1888, he was appointed to take charge of St. Philip's congregation, then num- bering about ninety-three families. At present St. Philip's has 120 families. Three Sisters of St. Benedict were given charge of the parish school in 1896, and ninety-two children are now enrolled and are attending. Father Loesch at once set to work after his arrival and began improvements. St. Philip's is in a flourishing condition, with an indebtedness at present of about $500, which will be liquidated at an early date. The addi- .tion of two new sacristies has been made and the church hand- somely frescoed and painted; two new side altars have been added, and a slate roof put on the church and parsonage; almost the entire furnishing of vestments and regalia has been supplied by Father Loesch and a new Sisters' house erected at a cost of $2,000, as well as other improvements too numerous to mention. The net cost of improvements alone amounts to over $8,000. (1316)

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The societies connected with St. Philip's are the Men's society. St. Mary's Ladies', St. Aloysius Young Men's, St. Rose Young Ladies', Poor Souls, Holy Childhood of Jesus, Holy Family and Catholic Knights of America.

P ATRICK F. McHALE, deceased, was at one time a most prominent business man of Logansport and a member of the city council. He was born in county Mayo, Ireland. November 15, 1844, and was a member of a family of six children, of whom three came to America, viz: Patrick F., Martin and Ann. Of these, Martin settled in Logansport and was engaged in the whole- sale grocery business until his death; Ann was the wife of William Dolan, of the same city, and of Patrick F. further mention will shortly be made. The names of the three who remained in Ire- land were Richard, Henry and Mary, and all the family were reared in the faith of the Catholic church.

Patrick F. McHale came with his sister, Ann, to the United States in 1861, and at once joined his brother, Martin, who had preceded him to Logansport, and with whom he made his home and for two years attended school, after which he was employed by his brother as a clerk and later a while as bookkeeper for his brother-in- law. In May, 1871, he visited his old home in Ireland, and in July returned to Logansport and engaged in business on Fourth street. Some years later he sold out this business and for two years re-en- gaged in bookkeeping, but was then obliged to take back his original business place, which he conducted until his death, which occurred August 17, 1889, a devoted member of St. Joseph's church and a member of the A. O. H.

Although Mr. McHale began life in America a poor boy, he was very successful as a business man and erected the excellent residences at Nos. 308, 310 and 314 North street and the Dolan & McHale business block on Broadway. As a democrat he was exceedingly popular, and served his party as a member of the city council several years, holding this position at the time of his lamented death.

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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,

Mr. McHale was united in marriage, May 19, 1874. with Miss- Mary Garrigan, who was born in Logansport, October 11, 1855, a daughter of Michael and Catherine (Pierce) Garrigan, who now make their home with Mrs. McHale. The marriage of Patrick F. and Mary McHale was blessed with five children, viz: Patrick Henry , who died at the age of six months; Genevieve, born Decem- ber 25, 1876; Catherine, who died when ten years old; Nora, born December 24, 1884, and Louisa, who died at the age of. three years. Mrs. McHale is now living in retirement at No. 308 North street and is one of the most respected residents of the city of Logansport.

R' EV. PETER JOSEPH QUINN, pastor of St. Patrick's church, LaGro, Ind., is a native of county Tyrone, Ireland, and was born in June, 1866, a son of Michael and Margaret (McGladrigan) Quinn, who were the parents of nine children, viz: Michael and Mary, still at home on the old homestead with their mother; John, who studied theology at Maynooth college for six years, was ordained priest in 1880, and is now administrator for Cardinal Logne, primate for all Ireland and located at St. Patrick's cathe- dral, Armagh; Alice, James and Patrick, at home; Peter J., whose name opens this paragraph; Frank, a member of the Chicago (Ill.) police force, and Catherine. The family were identified with the parish of Donaghmore, Tyrone county, where the mother still resides, the father having been called away some years since, a true and faithful Catholic.

Rev. Father Quinn received his primary education in the paro- chial school of his native parish, which he attended until sixteen years of age, and then passed through his classical studies at St. Patrick's college at Armagh, from which he graduated in 1887, and in 1888 came to America and entered St. Viateur college at Kan- kakee, Ill., where he studied one year, when he commenced his theological studies in the seminary at Cincinnati, and was ordained priest June 18, 1897, by Archbishop William Henry Elder. July 9, 1897, he was assigned as an assistant to Very Rev. John; R. Dinnen, dean of St. Mary's, LaFayette, and shortly after was

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CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.

appointed pastor of St. Patrick's church, LaGro, Ind .; here has since performed the onerous duties of his position with a zeal and devotion that have won for him the approval of his superior and the love and esteem of his congregation.

R EV. M. J. POWER, pastor of St. Malachy's church at Browns- burg, Ind., is a native of the townsland of Bally-Boy, county of Waterford, Ireland, and was born July 29, 1851. His early educational training was begun in the parochial schools of his- native parish, and he entered, in 1871, St. John's college, Water- ford, and spent eight years in that celebrated institution, finishing the courses in rhetoric, logic, metaphysics, and a full three years" course in theology; June 15, 1879, he was ordained priest by Right Rev. Dr. John Power, of Waterford, and was immediately assigned to the curacy of St. Decelan's church, Abbey Side, at Dungarvan, county Waterford, at which place he remained three months; then he was appointed chaplain to the Christian Brothers, Mount Zion, city of Waterford, Ireland, from which place he became an adopted subject of the most Rev. Dr. Chatard, the bishop of Vincennes.

Father M. J. Power set sail from Queenstown, bound for New York, and arrived at Indianapolis in June, 1881. He was assigned to St. John's church, at Indianapolis, and at the end of three months was given charge of St. Paul's church at Greencastle, Put- nam county, Ind. He arrived there August 20, 1881, and was pastor of that congregation four years. At that time this was an important parish. To him the parish owes a debt of gratitude for establishing the first parochial school, which was taught by Miss Alice Cullen. She was the efficient organist of St. Paul's church, and was an admirable teacher. Father Power had a hard and arduous work to accomplish, but he did it successfully. From that parish he was sent to St. Malachy's, at Brownsburg, Ind., where he has administered to the parish for almost fourteen years. He is a gentleman who has the happy faculty of harmonizing fac- tions, and the parish is in a very healthy state, in every sense. Some of his parishioners reside eighteen miles away from the

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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,

rectory, which occasions heavy work to him as a pastor. Since he assumed charge of the parish, he has purchased five acres . of land, for the cemetery, and fenced it, costing, entire, $1, 500. The cemetery was consecrated in 1893 by Bishop Chatard. Father Power also re-roofed the church and built an addition to the rectory, costing $400. There is no debt resting against the parish, which speaks commendably of priest and people alike.

C HARLES FREDERICK THIELE, a leading grocer of Goshen, Elkhart county, Ind., was born in Danzig, Prussia, May 18, 1836, a son of Charles and Ann Elizabeth (Steingraber) Thiele, natives of the same province. The father was a stonemason by trade, and also a soldier in the Prussian army, in which he served twenty-five years. He was a devout Catholic, and died in the faith in 1842, his widow surviving until 1852, when she, too, expired in the same faith. Of their twelve children, two only are now living, viz: Henrietta, of Baltimore, Md., and Charles F.

Charles F. Thiele attended a parochial school in his native land until ten years of age and was then placed in an orphan asylum, where he remained until fifteen years old, receiving his first communion fron Father Smalley, and returning to his mother's home. He then served an apprenticeship of four years at cabinet- making, worked as a journeyman three years, and in 1858 enlisted in the Fifth regiment, Second battalion, Eighth company, infantry, in which he served until 1861, then went to Hanover, and July 31 married Miss Marie T. Thime, a native of that city, born May 27, 1836. He remained in Hanover five years, working at his trade, and then, in April, 1866, sailed for the United States and landed in Baltimore, Md., in June. He then worked at cabinetmaking two years. He next came to Goshen, Ind., and was here employed fifteen years as foreman for a furniture factory, and in the fall of 1883 opened his present grocery store, which he has since con- ducted with the most satisfactory results, carrying as well selected a stock as can be found in the city.

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History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume II, Part 86

Author: Blanchard, Charles, fl. 1882-1900, ed Publication date: 1898 Publisher: Logansport, Ind., A. W. Bowen & co. Number of Pages: 1476

Author: Blanchard, Charles, fl. 1882-1900, ed
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Logansport, Ind., A. W. Bowen & co.
Number of Pages: 1476