USA > Indiana > History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume II > Part 87
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To the marriage of Charles F. Thiele and Marie T. Thime 1320,
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
have been born eleven children, viz: Annie E., wife of George WV. Rink, a farmer; Rev. Charles H., pastor of St. Ann's church, Monterey, Pulaski county, Ind .; Marie T., deceased; Rev. George, assistant priest at Aurora, Ind .; Marie T., second, also deceased; Frank B., a clerk in Goshen; Barbara, deceased; Henry and Jo- seph, in the ice trade in Goshen; Thomas, a student, and an infant deceased. The family are all good Catholics and prominent in church work, Mr. Thiele having been for sometime treasurer of the Total Abstinence society connected with St. John's church.
R' EV. GEORGE M. SCHRAMM, pastor of St. Peter's church, Laporte, Ind., was born in Ft. Wayne, June 16, 1867, a son of Martin and Theressa (Noll Schramm. He attended St. Mary's parochial school until thirteen years of age, and then the cathedral school for a year and a half, following which he was employed about a year as a clerk. At the age of sixteen years he entered St. Lawrence college, at Mount Calvary, Fond du Lac county, Wis., where he remained five years in the classical course of study, and then went to Mount St. Mary's seminary, in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he pursued his theological studies five years longer. May 11, 1893, he was ordained priest by Archbishop Elder for the dio- cese of Fort Wayne, and was at once stationed at Reynolds, White county, Ind., as pastor of St. Joseph's church with mis- sions at Francesville and Medaryville, Pulaski county, and North Judson and San Pierre, Starke county. There he labored zeal- ously two years, when he was taken ill and was confined in the hospital at LaFayette for nine months. On recovery, he became the assistant of Father Bleckmann, at Michigan City, La- porte county, where he officiated until October 9, 1897, when he entered upon his duties as pastor of St. Peter's, Laporte, where he since labored earnestly for the welfare of his flock.
St. Peter's church-building is 80 x 40 feet, has a seating capac- ity for 500 persons and the congregation comprises about 100 fam- ilies, mostly of Irish extraction. The school, under the direction of the Holy Cross Sisters, of St. Rose academy, is attended by about forty pupils.
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
F RANK B. THIELE, the popular and gentlemanly assistant of the Kolb Grocery company of Goshen, Ind., was born in this city February 11, 1871, and is a son of Charles. F. and Marie T. (Thime) Thiele, whose biography appears on page 1320. He attended public and parochial schools of Goshen until fourteen years of age, and was then employed in farm labor for three years, gaining therein strength of both muscle and brain. When about eighteen years of age he entered the employ of the company with which he is still engaged, and rapidly rose in the esteem of his employers and their patrons, reaching in a very short period of time his present responsible position.
Mr. Thiele was united in marriage at Mullersburg, Elkhart county, Ind .. June 29, 1892, with Miss Cynthia Niner, a daughter of Lewis and Cynthia (Messmer) Niner, and a native of the village in which her marriage took place. This marriage has been blessed with one bright child-Colette, who adds, by her presence, to the unalloyed happiness of her parents.
Mr. and Mrs. Thiele are members of St. John's church, to which they freely contribute of their means, and aid in all its good work, Mr. Thiele being a member of the School society, and Mrs. Thiele of the Ladies' sodality. In politics Mr. Thiele is a democrat.
W ILLIAM THOMPSON, a thriving farmer of Monroe town- ship, Allen county, Ind., was born in Huron county, Ohio, December 14, 1834, and received a sound English educa- tion. He married Miss Rosa G. Bell, who blessed him with eight children, born in the following order: Louisa, who was inarried, and died at the age of twenty-four years, leaving one daughter; Henry J .; Edward B .; Frederick J. ; Albert J. ; Mary B., wife of E. A. Hettel, who resides near Napoleon, Ohio; Lena M. and Jose- phine A., all true members of the Catholic church. The mother of this family died in 1878, and was also a devout Catholic.
Miss Lena M. Thompson, next to the youngest of the eight children enumerated above, has for the past four years conducted a fashionable millinery establishment in Monroeville, in partner-
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CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
ship with Mrs. Theresa Kauffman, and carries an excellent and extensive stock of the handsomest goods in this line to be found in any establishment of the kind outside of a large city. Her amia- ble disposition, superb taste and undeviating adherence to truthful- ness in the representation of her wares, have made her a universal favorite, and have secured for her a leading portion of the trade of Monroeville and surrounding country.
F RANCIS ADOLPH THUIS, late a well-known dealer in har- ness and horse supplies at No. III Main street, Vincennes, was born in Dedham, Gelderland, Holland, March 23, 1837, son of Francis A. and Johanna H. (Hendrickson) Thuis, who were the parents of twenty-three children, but three of whom are now living-Henry F., Albert J. and Theodore G., all located at Vin- cennes, and the only members of the family who came to America, with the exception of the deceased, Francis A.
Francis A. Thuis learned his trade while yet a resident of Holland. In 1854 he and his elder brother, Henry, came to Amer- ica, landing at New York May 7, of that year. They stopped at Brooklyn a few months and then went to Cleveland, Ohio, where for three years our subject worked at his trade. In the fall of 1857 he came to Vincennes, where for two years he was employed as a passenger brakeman on the E. & T. H. railroad. The suc- ceeding two years he spent as a clerk in a general store. July 10, 1861, he enlisted as a musician in the band of the Twenty-fourth Indiana infantry, and served until August 16, 1862, when by rea- son of a special act of congress, military bands, enlisted as such, were discharged. Mr. Thuis then returned to Vincennes, but in 1863 he re-enlisted as a private in company A, Ninety-first Indi- ana infantry. Here he was detailed as a musician and served until the end of the war, receiving his honorable discharge at Indianapolis. Returning again to Vincennes he re-engaged at his trade, and worked as a journeyman until 1884, when he entered business on his own account, and was quite successful. He began with limited means, but by careful attention and study to please
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
the trade, he built up a business of considerable note. He car- ried a stock of about $5,000 value, and employed quite a force of workmen. He owned his own store building and his home, and was comfortably to do in the world.
Mr. Thuis was a great lover of music and for many years was a member of the choir at St. Francis' cathedral. Politically he was inclined to be independent in his views. He was originally a Douglas democrat, but lately became a free-silver republican, and was a member of Jeff C. Davis post, G. A. R.
On April 18, 1866, Mr. Thuis was married to Miss Mary J. Page, daughter of John B. and Elizabeth (Millette) Page, repre- resentatives of two of the early French families in Vincennes, the former's father, Dominique Page, being also a native of Vincennes. Mr. and Mrs. Thuis had born to them six children, as follows: Johanna Esther, at home: Louis Edmond, of whom further men- tion will be made; Mary Elizabeth, a student in the Cincinnati col- lege of Music; Francis Eugene, a clerk in a mercantile house in this city; Charles A., and Silas Leo, a student at St. Rose academy. The latter, though but a lad of fourteen, has a marked taste and talent for music, in which line he already exhibits a degree of pro- ficiency which is exceedingly promising.
The father of this family was called from earth Jannary 13, 1898, and died in the faith of the Catholic church, from stomach trouble incurred while in the army. He was a highly respected gentleman, and his funeral was attended by an immense throng of friends and neighbors, irrespective of religious affiliations, by whom his death was as sincerely, if not as deeply, mourned as by his immediate family.
Louis Edmond Thuis, eldest son of Francis Adolph and Mary J. (Page) Thuis, was born in Vincennes April 22, 1868. He attended the parochial school eight years, was then employed as clerk, etc., in mercantile trade about eight years in Vincennes, and for six years was in the grocery business on his own account in Cincinnati. He then entered the Ohio Medical college at Cincin- nati and was preparing himself for the practice of medicine when his father was called away, and it then became incumbent on him to assume charge of the business of the deceased parent. The (1324)
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
family are members of St. Francis Xavier cathedral congregation and are devoted to their faith.
F RANK TOBIN, a native of Indianapolis, and by trade a boiler- maker, in the employ of the Belt shops, was born November 25, 1870, and is a son of Thomas and Margaret (Bradley) Tobin, the former of whom is a native of county Waterford, and the latter of Londonderry, Ireland.
The parents were single when they came to America, and were married in Indianapolis in 1858, at St. John's church, Rev. Father Bessonies officiating. This marriage has been blessed with seven children, four of whom still survive, viz: Mary, Rose, Margaret and Frank-all married, with the exception of Frank, who makes his home with his aged parents, who own a comfortable dwelling at No. 306 West McCarty street, which they have occupied the past twenty-three years. Thomas Tobin was himself a boilermaker during the active business years of his life, but, having been indus- trious and frugal, has been able to live in retirement for the past fifteen years or more. The family are members of St. John's con- gregation, now under the pastorate of Rev. Father Gavisk, and, faithful to their church duties, liberal in their contributions to the support of the church itself, and enjoy the respect of the congre- gation and of their neighbors and many warm friends throughout the city.
R )EV. MEINRAD TOELLE, pastor of the church at Napoleon, Ripley county, Ind., but formerly assistant pastor at St. Mary's church, Indianapolis, was born in the diocese of Fulda, Prussia, on the fourth day of June, 1859. He pursued a prepara- tory course of study in his native country, and in June, 1883, came to the United States. For some time after coming to America he was a student in St. Joseph's college, Teutopolis, Ill., and from that institution went to St. Paul, Minn., where he continued his studies until 1887. In that year he went to St. Meinrad's college,
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
Spencer county, Ind., for his philosophical and theological course, and was ordained priest in Sts. Peter and Paul's church on the 12th of August, 1894.
Immediately following his induction into the priesthood, Father Toelle was made assistant pastor of Holy Trinity church, Evansville, Ind., and exercised the functions of his office at that place until assigned as assistant to Rev. Father Scheideler, pastor of St. Mary's, Indianapolis, March 13, 1897, where he did faith- ful and effective duty until assigned to his present pastorate.
R EV. FRANCIS JOSEPH RUDOLF, pastor of St. Gabriel's church, Connersville, Fayette county, is a native of Batten- heim, in Alsace, Germany, and was born November 17, 1842. His early educational training was begun in the parochial schools of his native land, and at the age of thirteen years he came with his parents to America, and located at Oldenburg, Ind.
Young Francis Joseph attended the parochial schools of Oldenburg for a short time, and subsequently studied at Enochs- burg, where he was taught the rudiments of Latin by Brother John Mary. He next attended the diocesan seminary at Vincennes for one term and the following year went to Mount St. Mary's seminary, near Cincinnati, Ohio, where he completed his studies, was ordained priest May 4, 1867, by Archbishop Purcell, and cele- brated his first mass at Oldenburg, May 12, 1867. After a short stay at Lancaster, Ohio, Father Rudolf asked to be transferred to the diocese of Vincennes. Consequently, in November, 1868, he was assigned to the pastorate of St. Vincent's, Shelby county. In 1870 the parsonage was there erected; in 1877 preparations were made for the erection of a new church, which was completed in 1880, its dimensions being 112 x 43 feet, with a steeple 138 feet high. During his pastorate at St. Vincent's Father Rudolf also attended St. Joseph's congregation at Shelbyville, where he com- menced a school conducted by the Franciscan Sisters.
Right Rev. Bishop Chatard next assigned Father Rudolf to St. Gabriel's parish at Connersville, where the latter arrived May
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ST. GABRIEL'S CHURCH, CONNERSVILLE, IND.
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
4, 1881. During his first year's work he paid all the debts of the parish, bought five additional lots adjoining the school-house, and then began to make arrangements to erect a new church. The corner-stone was laid by Bishop Chatard, June 11, 1882, the build- ing was completed in 1884, and was dedicated to the service of God, June 15, of the same year. The church is a beautiful edifice, 145 x 54 feet, with a transept 74 x26. The building has a stone foundation, with brick walls and Bedford stone triminings. The roof is of black Bangor slate, and cornices, gutters and finials of galvanized iron, and the height of the tower is 165 feet, in all. The interior is elegantly and richly finished in ash. The cost was $27,000.
Father Rudolf has a special pride in keeping the church grounds neat and attractive. On one side stands the school-house --- a fine commodious two-story brick building; on the rear of the school-house stands a hall lately built. On the other side of the church stands the rectory, a handsome two-story building of brick and stone. No parish in the diocese has a more handsome and valuable church property, and it is a standing monument to the financial ability of the pastor and the liberality of the parishioners.
From one of the Connersville city papers, the following record is taken:
Father Francis J. Rudolf was sent to this charge May 3, 1881, and it has since proven a wise move. He has won the confidence of the members of his congrega- tion by his devout and Christian manner. He is genial, social and makes himself at home with his members. He is ever ready to do a kindness, to visit the sick, and always greets his friends with a smile, and a cheerful word, thus winning a warm spot in the hearts of all. As a gentleman and a citizen he enjoys the respect and esteem of every one.
This brief biography shows that Father Rudolf has beenin the ministry thirty-one years, and his work has been fruitful in happy results. When he had attained twenty-five years as a priest his friends and parishioners gave him a celebration, May 4, 1892, which was fitting and just in its mission, in deference to a good man. This occasion was designed as his silver jubilee, and the following well known clergy were present: Revs. Alerding and Scheideler, of Indianapolis; Seibenfoercher, Kenton, Ohio; Fischer, Spring- field, Ind .; Sondermann, Lawrenceburg, Ind .; Fleischmann, St.
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65
THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
Peter's Franklin county; David and Dr. Averdick, Oldenburg; Seepe, Madison; Very Rev. John Murray, Cincinnati, Ohio; Revs. Joseph Carey, Oxford, Ohio; T. X. Logan, Rushville, Ind .; E. J. Spelman, Cambridge; Very Rev. D. J. McMullen, Richmond ; Revs. A. Kaelin, Shelbyville, and J. M. D'Arco, Liberty. The above named priests were also present at solemn high mass on Wednes- day morning preceding the silver jubilee, with Father Rudolf as celebrant. This meeting was fraught with many pleasing reminis- cences of the ministry of Father Rudolf, which will go down in his- toric remembrance in the Catholic parish of Connersville.
M ARCUS H. THOMAS, M. D., interne at the Indianapolis city dispensary, is a son of Dr. Elias B. and Ann M. (Frayne) Thomas, and was born in La Gro, Wabash county, Ind., February 18, 1876.
Dr. Elias B. Thomas was born in Fayette county, Ind., June 18, 1822, was of Welsh extraction. He studied medicine in Wabash county, and there practiced for forty-five years, was well known and decidedly successful and died of apoplexy in LaGro, June 22, 1882, a convert to Catholicity. He had served in the Fourth Indiana volunteer cavalry as assistant surgeon, but resigned on account of the sickness and death of his first wife, who left three children. To his second marriage, which was to Miss Frayne, there were also born three children, of whom, Dr. Marcus H. Thomas is the sole survivor.
Ann M. Frayne was born January 1, 1841, of Irish ancestry. She was left an orphan in childhood, but had early been taught the holy lessons of the Catholic church, from which she never swerved. Becoming a milliner, she prosecuted that vocation with profit, and accumulated sufficient means to enable her to visit Europe prior to her marriage. She is a cousin to Miss Bridget Roach, who is having erected a church in Huntington, Ind., for the benefit of the English-speaking Catholics of that city. This edifice, with the pastor's residence and a home for the Sisters, which she donates free of all incumbrance, will incur an expenditure of (1332)
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
$90,000. Ann M. Frayne, now the widow of Dr. Elias B. Thomas, is living in quiet retirement with her son, Dr. Marcus H., in Indian- apolis.
Marcus H. Thomas received his elementary education in the common and high schools of LaGro, and in April, 1893, accompa- nied his mother to Indianapolis. Here he entered upon his pro- fessional studies in the Central college of Physicians & Surgeons, from which he was graduated March 24, 1897. Under competitive examination, held under and by authority of the city board of health, Dr. Thomas was selected for and appointed to his present responsible position, upon the duties of which he entered May I, 1897.
The city dispensary is maintained by the board of health, at the expense of the city, for the treatment of the worthy indigent, and emergency cases are provided for by the maintenance of a train of ambulances. Its office records show that, for the past three years, over 12,000 patients have been treated annually under its auspices-being an average of nearly thirty-three patients per day, making an excellent school of practice for the neophyte in medi- cine. The tenure of office of interne is one year, which insures the incumbent a diploma signed by the city staff of physicians-a doc- ument of intrinsic value to a young practitioner.
Dr. Thomas is a devout Catholic and a young man of unim- peached morality, and under his present constant and varied oppor- tunities for practice must necessarily attain prominence as a physi- cian in the not distant future.
J AMES TONER, an ex-soldier of the late Civil war, and now a printer for the Kingan Packing company, was born in county Derry, Ireland, September 12, 1835. He is a son of Patrick and Mary (Conlin) Toner, both of whom were natives of the same county in which he was born and in which they passed their entire lives. Patrick Toner was a provision merchant in Ireland and lived to a ripe old age. He and his wife were the parents of nine children, of whom James, the subject of this sketch, was the eldest.
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
In the fall of 1861 James Toner came to the United States, reaching Cincinnati November 1. From Cincinnati he went to St. Louis and was employed by a firm that took government con- tracts to supply the army with pork. After being thus engaged for some time he enlisted in company K, Sixth Missouri volunteer infantry, which formed a part of the First brigade, Second division, Fifteenth army corps, under command of Gen. John A. Logan. The first battle in which he was engaged was that at Resaca, and his second was at Rome, Ga., but he had participated in a series of skirmishes leading up to these battles. Remaining in the service to the end of the war he was discharged at Little Rock, Ark., and then returned to Cincinnati, where for some time he was engaged as bookkeeper in Morrison's packing house. From Cincinnati he removed, in 1873, to Indianapolis, became an employee of the Kingan Packing company, and has since been continuously in this company's employ, at the present time being engaged in printing blanks of various kinds, circulars, etc., for the firm.
Mr. Toner was married in Cincinnati, Ohio, March 4, 1862, to Miss Catherine Hennessy, a native of county Kerry, Ireland, and by her had five children, only two of whom are now living. They were named as follows: Patrick; Mary, deceased; Katie, deceased; Sarah, and Joseph, deceased. Those that died, died in childhood. Patrick is married and is employed in the wheel works at Cincinnati, and Sarah is now Mrs. Bennett, residing on Row street, Indianapolis, her husband being a painter. Mrs. Toner. wife of the subject, died January 21, 1886, since when he has lived single. He is a member of St. John's church, is a devout Cath- olic, and contributes liberally to the support of his church. He is also a member of the sodality of the Blessed Virgin, and of the Sacred Heart society. Politically he is a democrat, but never has sought office, is unobtrusive and modest in his demeanor, is a most kind-hearted gentleman, and claims no credit for what he has done or accomplished in life, maintaining that any other man might have done at least as well. His services during the war of the Rebellion are certainly deserving of special mention and will always be remembered by all patriotic American citizens. Otherwise as a citizen he is highly esteemed, and enjoys the respect and friend- (1334)
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
ship of a large circle of acquaintances, who rejoice with him in his prosperity, and mourn with him whenever misfortune comes, as it did when he lost his excellent wife.
W ILLIAM HENRY TORBECK, an expert furniture finisher, of Richmond, Ind., was born in Bieste, Hanover, Ger- many, September 12, 1850, and is a son of William F. and Mary Elizabeth (Shawe) Torbeck, natives of the same country, who came to America in 1858.
William F. Torbeck, the father of William H. Torbeck, was born in the province of Bieste, Hanover, in 1825, led the life of a general laborer, and to his marriage with Mary Elizabeth Shawe were born eight children, viz: William Henry, Henry R. and Katherine, of Richmond; John, deceased; Frank, Dena, Mary (deceased), and Joseph, who resides in Troy, Ohio. On coming to America, William F. Torbeck landed in New York, came west to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he passed three months, and reached Richmond, Ind., in the spring of 1859, and here, for three years, was employed as a laborer in a cooper shop. In 1862 he engaged in contracting for stone-masonry work, and was thus occupied until his death, which occurred March 19, 1874, in the Catholic faith, and a charter member of St. Joseph's society. His wife is still living, and is a devout member of St. Andrew's church.
William Henry Torbeck was educated in St. Andrew's school, in Richmond, and in 1863 was apprenticed to the furniture and finishing trade under Clem Scott & Co., on Fort Wayne avenue, south of the railroad, with whom he served a term of five years. He then went to work for William Fulgum & Bro., furniture dealers, on North E street, remained with that firm one and one- half years, and since 1870 has been continuously employed (for twenty-seven years) as foreman in the finishing department of J. M. Hutton & Co.'s coffin and casket works at Richmond, Ind.
Mr. Torbeck was happily married, September 5, 1872, to Miss Mary Amelia Witte, the ceremony being solemnized by Rev. Father Huber, of St. Andrew's church, and this union has been blessed
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
with eight children, viz: Clare L., Edward P., Gertrude (deceased), Mary R., Andrew F., Nora K., Ida Anna (deceased) and Farona (deceased). The surviving members of the family are faithful members of St. Andrew's church, to the support of which they liberally contribute, and of which Mr. Torbeck has served three terms as trustee. For the past ten years he has been president of St. Joseph's Benevolent society, and no resident of Richmond is held in higher esteem, both inside and outside of his parish.
R EV. FRANCIS TORBECK, pastor of the German church of the Immaculate Conception (or St. Mary's church), at Wash- ington, Daviess county, Ind., was born in Warendorf, Westphalia, Germany, December 13, 1853, and is the youngest of the seven children that have blessed the marriage of Henry and Theresa Torbeck. These children have all reached maturity, and two of them, daughters, are teachers in their native land.
Rev. Francis Torbeck, the only member of his family to come to America, was educated in his native city of Warendorf. August 15, 1874, he landed in New York city, where he had two cousins engaged in the practice of law, and after a short stay in the Empire city came to Indiana and entered St. Meinrad's theo- logical seminary, in Spencer county, where he finished his theolog- ical studies. February 2, 1878, he was ordained at St. John's church, Indianapolis, by Archbishop Purcell, and his first appoint- ment was as assistant to Father Brandt, of St. Mary's church, Madison, Ind. Father Brandt was called from earth in April, 1881, and May 4, of the same year, Father Torbeck was trans- ferred to St. Vincent's, in Shelby county, and while there had also a charge at Shelbyville, where he purchased the school property, also the cemetery. In July, 1886, he was transferred to New Alsace, Dearborn county; April 23, 1890, was placed in charge of St. James', in Gibson county, and April 3, 1893, was appointed to his present pastorate of St. Mary's, at Washington. Here he has labored assiduously and made many improvements, and it can be said, to his credit, that he has always been able to lessen the
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