USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > A history of Catholicity in northern Ohio and in the diocese of Cleveland from 1749 to December 31, 1900, Volume II, pt1 > Part 21
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MR. AND MRS. MICHAEL J. HOYNES.
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MR. MICHAEL J. HOYNES.
Mr. Daniel Hoynes and Miss Catherine Quinn, both natives of Queen's county, Ireland, were married in New York State, and removed to Ohio about 1847, selecting the village of Olmsted Falls in Cuyahoga county as their abode. Mr. Hoynes secured employment in an humble way with what is now known as the Big Four Railway Company, with which company he remained for about thirty years, or until his death, which took place May 23, 1877. To Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Hoynes were born a family of ten sons, only five of whom are living. The fifth oldest is a member of St. Edward's parish, Cleveland, is president of the Central Electro- type and Engraving Company of that city, and is the subject of this sketch.
Mr. Michael J. Hoynes was born April 5, 1860. Like other boys in his native village he got his share of what was then termed "schooling." Boylike, he early tired of school and study, and was glad of an opportunity to be employed carrying tools, doing errands, or serving water to the men employed in the local stone quarries. When sixteen years old he began to exhibit both in- creasing good sense and a degree of manliness. An opportunity to learn the electrotyper's art presented itself, and he embraced it. Before he attained his majority he was well skilled in both the mechanical and the art sides of the business. Thus equipped, he resolved to visit, in quest of further knowledge of his art, some of the principal cities of the country. As a result he held responsible positions in some of the largest electrotyping establishments in the United States.
Returning to his native State, in 1884, he located in the city of Akron. There he established an electrotyping plant of his own. He conducted it successfully during four years, when he sold the business to the Werner Printing Company of that place, and accepted the superintendency of it. He continued there twelve years. While holding that position he organized, in 1896, in Cleveland, the Central Electrotype and Engraving Company. He became the president of the company, a responsible office which he continues to hold, and to the discharge of the important duties of which he began recently to devote all his time and energy.
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In 1890, April 29th, Mr. M. J. Hoynes was married to Miss Florence M., the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Oscar E. Brownell, of Akron, Ohio. She embraced the Catholic faith of her husband, and has since enjoyed that spiritual contentment begotten of a knowledge of the truth. To Mr. and Mrs. Hoynes have been born five children whose names are: Florence E .. Daniel O., Mary A., Paul Emmet, and Denis Francis. Mrs. Hoynes is a lady of no little culture, especially in music, the teaching of that art having been her profession before her marriage. Marked refinement and many excellent qualities, the concomitants of a inusical nature, are hers, and to these she adds the domestic grace of being a good, practical housekeeper. With the Hoynes family in their home on Slater street, Cleveland, resides Grandma Hoynes, now in excel- lent health, in her seventy-fourth year. She is the old-style Irish mother, faithful to her religion, devoted to her children and her friends, and blessed with a kindly nature. She is the link binding the simplicity of the hallowed past with the strenuousness of the present. As such she is of consequence to her children, but more especially because of her maternal virtues and the filial love which her life has inspired in their hearts. Since this sketch was in type, she passed away, November 4, 1902.
Mr. M. J. Hoynes is a gentleman noted for modesty and simplicity of manner, fewness of words, and marked tolerance of both men and conditions. He feels and thinks deeply, but he is in no sense demonstrative. A smile announces a joyous emotion or a triumph in his life, but their opposites are scarcely evidenced in his countenance. His strength is in his gentleness and mildness, and those who would deem him weak because not outspoken and vehement would be poor judges of his nature. He is a good busi- ness man, a master of his art in all its branches, and in every essential he is a man among men. If "life is a perpetual see-saw between gravity and levity," between tears and laughter, he neither descends far on the teeter side nor ascends far on the tawter side. He does not venture a great distance from the pivot upon which life's beam is balanced ; hence his ups and downs are not very pronounced. His temperament is even, his nature is kind. He never offends, and, as a consequence, he has an army of friends.
THE REV. VITUS HRIBAR
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THE REV. VITUS HRIBAR.
The subject of this biographical sketch and accompanying portrait, was born in Zgornji, Tuhinj, Carniolia, in the southern part of Austria, May 29, 1870. His mother's maiden name was Agnes Zajec. His father, Martin Hribar, was a farmer whose greatest ambition was to see his son Vitus a priest, and he actually made the journey to this country, in 1893, to assist at the first Mass celebrated by his reverend son.
Father Hribar made his preparatory and also his classical studies in Ljubljana, in his native country. To classics alone he devoted eight years. Those years were well spent, judging from his scholarly attainments. Having been apprised of the great need there was in the Diocese of Cleveland for a priest who could speak the Slovenic (Krainer) tongue, on invitation, he set out for the field of his future labors, bidding a long farewell to friends and home. He arrived in Cleveland September 8, 1890, and the next day entered St. Mary's Theological Seminary. The needs of the diocese and his own ability combined in shortening his seminary course. He was ordained priest in the Cathedral chapel, July 29, 1893, by Bishop Horstmann, and was at once appointed to organize St. Vitus' parish, Cleveland, of which he is yet pastor. It is the first parish comprised of Catholics of that nationality in the diocese, and he is also the first and only priest speaking that tongue and ministering to Catholics in Ohio.
The parish property consists of a spacious lot at the corner of Norwood and Glass avenues, and the improvements are a commo- dious and tasty frame church with stone foundation, and also a pastoral residence. The whole cost many thousands of dollars, and is practically out of debt. This fact is an evidence of the executive ability and business capacity of the pastor. It also implies those qualities which in a priest serve to unify his people and inspire them with ardor for religion.
That he is a devoted, zealous, and capable man is borne out by his reputation among his people and also by his character. In addition to his native language, Slovenic, he speaks also the Croatian, German, and English tongues. Not only in the semi- private labors of his calling, such as hearing confessions, visiting
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the sick and teaching the children, is he zealous, but he is credited, by those who know, with combining that zeal with great ability and eloquence in the pulpit. Being a musician of no little skill, he is equipped to conduct the public service of the church most acceptably and becomingly, and the effect of this on the congre- gation is quite marked.
The personal traits of Father Hribar are kindness, gentleness and simplicity of manner. Notwithstanding these he is strong in his convictions and is resolute beyond change in all matters where duty and right demand him to decide and act. For a man of his years and experience his mental and moral forcefulness is quite remarkable. His strength and decision of character make an assuring background to the picture that might be drawn of him, the foreground of which would be softened and rendered more inviting by his many mild and agreeable qualities.
THE REV. FRANCIS J. HROCH.
The pastor of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Port Clinton, Ottawa county, Ohio, with Marblehead in the same county attached as a mission, is the Rev. Francis J. Hroch. He was born in the village of Kralova Lhota, near Prague, Bohemia, September 13, 1864. His parents, Joseph and Mary (Stanek) Hroch, with their family, emigrated to the United States when he was five years"old and took up their permanent abode in Cleve- land, Ohio. The elder Hroch died there April, 1899.
The preparatory training of young Hroch was had in the parish school of St. Procop, Cleveland. Rev. Joseph M. Koudelka, now pastor of St. Michael's Church in that city, was at that time in charge of St. Procop's. He took note of the talents displayed by the boy and was so much impressed by them that he gave him private instructions in Latin for the space of a year. This was followed by a two years' course in the Franciscan College, Chapel street, Cleveland. He was next sent to the Canisius (Jesuit) Col- lege at Buffalo, N. Y., where, after a course of four years, he grad- uated in the classics in the spring of 1884. In the autumn of that year he entered St. Mary's Theological Seminary, Cleveland, where
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he studied for over five years, and was ordained priest by Bishop Gilmour December 21, 1889.
St. Patrick's Church, South Thompson, Ohio, was his first charge. His labors there began January 1, 1890, and continued until January 24, 1892, when he was appointed to St. Joseph's Church, Marblehead, to which, the following year, Port Clinton was added as a mission. Father Hroch has labored in these two fields until the present, the only change being the transfer of his residence to Port Clinton, thereby making Marblehead a mission. At the latter place he has built a fine residence, and is now en- gaged in the erection of a splendid new church at the former .*
The Rev. Joseph M. Koudelka made no mistake when, over twenty years ago, he saw in the boy Hroch the present useful, talented priest. The promising youth is truly the father to the great man, since to the close observer he exhibits those budding qualities which develop under careful training and favorable conditions, thereby improving his native talents and forming his character. It has thus been the case with Father Hroch. He has grown to be a man of parts in knowledge and language, and possesses a character remarkable for its ecclesiastical trend. Through his forcefulness and considerateness he is enabled to wisely direct and successfully lead his people, not merely in tem- poralities, but especially in spiritual things, which, after all, are the prime essentials. Besides the Latin, he is acquainted with the Bohemian, Slovak, Polish, German and English languages. He has call for the use of five of these in dealing with his parishioners. As a student, he does not fail to appreciate the advantages he enjoys through the literature of these tongues, while his practica- bility brings all to subserve the great work he is called to perform.
The becoming modesty and approachableness of Father Hroch commend him to the public, and are a sort of stepping- stone by which he is brought into communication with many he might not otherwise reach. St. Paul is his favorite apostle, a fact which can be inferred from his zeal and great earnestness. Every straying sheep is to Father Hroch a second King Agrippa to be addressed after the style of the great priest of the Gentiles so as to reach his heart, convince his intellect, and gain him for Christ.
*Since this work was in press Father Hroch was appointed, October 1, 1902, to organ- ize in Cleveland the congregation of St. John Nepomucene.
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EDWARD V. HUG, M. D.
Among the professional men of note in the Diocese of Cleve- land the record and standing of Dr. Edward V. Hug, of St. Joseph's parish, Lorain, Ohio, are such as to entitle him to honorable mention in this work.
He was born at Navarre, Stark county, Ohio, May 12, 1869. He made his preparatory studies in the parochial schools and in the high school of his native place. Following this, he entered Mt. Union College, Alliance, Ohio, where he graduated in the summer of 1889. Returning to Navarre he became a teacher, which calling he followed for some time. Having made choice of the practice of medicine as his profession, he entered the Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia, where he received the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1893. Succeeding in the competitive examinations held under the city civil service board, he won his appointment as one of the resident physicians of the Philadelphia Hospital, an office which he filled for nearly two years.
December, 1894, he removed to Lorain, where he has acquired both a large practice and more than local fame. He is president of the Lorain County Medical Society, which society he helped organize. He holds membership also in the Northern Ohio Dis- trict Medical Society, the Ohio State Medical Society, and the American Medical Association. He is the medical examiner for the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association, and also for the Ladies' Catholic Mutual Benefit Association; is a charter member of the Knights of St. John, and is grand knight of the Knights of Columbus. He was honored with the nomination for the office of coroner by the Democratic party of Lorain county, and at present holds the position of health officer of Lorain.
Doctor Hug is a conscientious and careful practitioner. Besides being an up-to-date man in his profession, he has a natural aptitude in the field of the diagnostician. No man is free to go ahead, especially in medicine, unless, in Davy Crockett parlance, he is sure he is right. It is, possibly, because he has nearly always been correct in his diagnoses and prognoses that he has been so successful in his cases. To say this may be somewhat unethical, but it is nevertheless the truth and quite proper and germane to
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EDWARD V. HUG, M. D.
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the purpose and scope of this mention. Not only does medical literature claim and receive his attention as a student, but even general literature-the English and German classics-has a share of his time. This would imply culture and wide information, both of which stand much to the credit of a man so young as the subject of this article.
Independent of his professional knowledge, the physician is expected to be a man of education. This education, coupled with his special training, which implies a knowledge of pathology, physiology, and kindred sciences, presupposes a big man intellec- tually and professionally, and, indeed, also in the way of symmetri- cal rounding out and finish. It is true this standard is a high one, to which few attain in our modern money-loving country ; but the gentleman here mentioned is well advanced toward the top of this long ladder, and the progress he has made is the measure of his talents, application, and determination.
In his early career he encountered many difficulties; during his college days they beset his path on every side; and since his advent into the professional world the way of his every-day life has not always been fringed with sweet-smelling shrubs and flowers. Summer-evening quiet was not expected by him, but rather the closest application and the hardest of work. He had to fight to gain the victory. He had to struggle to win the crown. Success calls ever for effort, and it is to the credit of the subject of this sketch that he has fought the good fight, kept the faith, and attained to far more than he expected in professional life thus far. In the social order, too, his advances have been equally noted and have ever kept pace with his merits.
The accompanying portrait of Dr. Hug will impress the reader with his even temperament, self-possession, and thoughtful, enquiring mind. He is a believer through grace and intellect, and his deep drinking from the Pierian Spring but strengthens his faith in the great truths of Revelation as taught by the Catholic Church.
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MR. HENRY HUGHES.
In Scott township, Sandusky county, Ohio, was born, December 16, 1866, the gentleman selected for this mention. His father was the late Michael Hughes, and the maiden name of his mother was Catherine Connolly. Both were natives of the county of Tyrone, Ireland. Mr. Henry Hughes is, and for upwards of eleven years has been, a citizen of the city of Fremont, Ohio.
The advantages of a country school education were all he had originally. When seventeen he began to teach school at Millers- ville, in his native county. He taught seven successive terms and declined an eighth appointment. He was elected assessor of Scott township in his twenty-first year, and was re-elected. Developing a taste for mathematics, he attended the Normal University at Ada, Ohio, where he graduated in civil engineering in 1889. He forth- with opened an office in Fremont, Ohio, for the practice of his chosen profession. He was employed by the Standard Oil Com- pany for some years, and later made sufficient progress in his calling to attract the attention of both the local authorities and the general public. In 1894 he was elected county surveyor, and, in 1897, he was re-elected to the same office. He was appointed city civil engineer in 1895, which position he continues to hold.
To have the citizens of Sandusky county and the officials of the city of Fremont select him to set their metes and bounds, and to otherwise determine as to their important interests, is the very best evidence of his ability as.an engineer and surveyor and also of his character as a man. In this connection it is proper to say that Mr. Hughes recognizes no interest and no individual where the mathematics and the justice of a case'intervene. His lines are straight, his measurements accurate. and no power, with his per- mission and sanction, can deflect the former or miscalculate the latter. It follows, therefore, that honesty, as well as professional accuracy, has a place in his practice and vocabulary, and sooner might the heavens fall than he depart from the straight line of duty the width of the spider's thread in his theodolite.
Mr. Henry Hughes was married, in 1894, to Miss Mary E. Quilter who, like himself, is a native of Sandusky county, Ohio. She is a domestic and companionable person whose good sense and
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simple, unaffected tastes harmonize well with her duties as wife and mother, and reflect her high regard for the riches begotten of religion, the affections, and the intellect, as distinct from those so much loved by the world. Six children have been born to them. the oldest and the second youngest of whom, Melvin and Harold, have passed away. The names of the remaining children are: Adrienne, Dawn, Elden, and Mildred. The Hughes family are members of St. Ann's parish, and are recognized as representatives of the best moral and Christian sentiments prevailing in the city of Fremont. Mr. Hughes for years has been and now is one of the . councilmen of the congregation.
A closer scrutiny of Mr. Henry Hughes would discover many qualities and capacities other than those which he calls into activity in his profession, for he is generous, considerate, practical and approachable, and loyal to his convictions. He has besides a mathematical mind. Tangibilities and figures attract him more than mere theories. From his acquaintance with the topography and partly with the nature of the territory whose surface he measures, he has been brought to take a deep interest in the oil fields. That interest has greatly developed within recent years and has become so profitable to him that many style him the "Oil King," and the "Prince of Scott." His success in oil speculations and telephone enterprises has been quite remarkable, but his highest achievements have been and are in maintaining his reputa- tion for honest manhood and in keeping himself "unspotted before the world.".
When a youth and just beginning to garner the first fruits of his professional labors, it was his delight to furnish his mother during her fatal illness with whatever he could afford for her comfort. When later he became administrator of his father's estate he faithfully discharged the trust and saved the property for the heirs, to whom, in the language of his neighbors, "he became both father and mother."
Mr. Hughes' palatial home on West Croghan street, corner of Wayne, has recently been enlarged and beautified. It is, both exteriorly and interiorly, the finest residence in Fremont, indicat- ing not only the taste but also the affluence of its owner. His neighbors of all classes rejoice in his prosperity, and wish both him and his family long life and good health to enjoy the rewards of his sagacity, professional ability, and industry.
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THE REV. FRANCIS L. HULTGEN.
The pastor of St. Mary's Church, at Kirby, Wyandot county, Ohio, the Rev. Francis L. Hultgen, was born in Lorraine, France, April 3, 1864. His father, John Hultgen, who died in his native country, in 1886, was a member of the famous body-guard of Napoleon III, and was a true soldier and patriot. The maiden name of Mrs. Hultgen was Anna Weiland. She yet lives in her native Diocese of Metz, in Lorraine.
For generations in France the Napoleonic spirit was in the air, and babes were not only called after the great Napoleon, but they were early taught to copy after his martial spirit. A striking resemblance to the first Napoleon is found in the facial expression and cranial development of Father Hultgen. In not a few charac- ter traits also is he like unto him, notably in his marked reserve, his philosophical mood, his ability to plan and devise, and the indomitable energy displayed in carrying his undertakings to suc- cessful conclusions. Possessing these and employing them to uplift men rather than pull them down is as praiseworthy in him as it is fortunate on the other hand that he is entirely free from Napoleon's lawless ambition, his tyrannical spirit, and the multi- plied imperfections which stained his life and almost ruined his country.
Francis L. Hultgen finished his classics in the gymnasium, at Metz, when he was in his twentieth year. He had already been accepted for the Diocese of Cleveland, and, having graduated, he was prepared to depart for this country, but the late Father Moes, better known as Old Father Moes, who was to escort him thither, was not ready to set out at that time. Young Hultgen thereupon devoted the succeeding six months to the study of philosophy at. Luxemburg, which was counted a full year for him later on in the Cleveland seminary.
Father Moes, having finished the business connected with his trip abroad, started with his charge for America. in 1885, and that winter the young man found himself pursuing his theological studies in the diocesan seminary in Cleveland. December 19. 1889, he was ordained priest by Bishop Gilmour, and was at once appointed to the charge of his present church, at Kirby. The
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following year he undertook the erection of the new St. Mary's Church, a beautiful and imposing edifice. The corner stone was laid June 22, 1890, and near the close of the succeeding year, November 17, 1891, it was dedicated. It was a great work for the young priest, and it remains one of the evidences of his energy and zeal. In fact, he may point with a laudable pride to it as the great work of his life thus far in the temporal order.
At this writing, having been eleven years on the mission, a fair estimate of both the man and the priest in Father Hultgen may be arrived at. As a man he is modest-mannered, but manly. He possesses an even, happy temperament. By nature he is agree- able, candid and obliging. He is a man of not a few parts and speaks the French, German, and English tongues. His spare hours he spends with his chosen friends, his pet doves, pigeons, lambs, and bees. They come to him to be fed, the birds light on his shoulders and hands and appear to appreciate his kindness and gentleness.
When the ecclesiastical character is superimposed upon such a nature as his, even an additional mellowing and refining effect may be looked for. The expected is realized in him, and from this again we are enabled to have an idea of the priest in the man. That priest is faithful, zealous, active, always concerned about his ยท spiritual children. He is alive to their every need, and it rejoices him to be about the business of instructing, training, guiding, and consoling. His parishioners come in from the farm; they come a long distance, and being a people who have much to occupy them, they get immediate attention from their pastor. A call from the sick comes. He almost anticipates it, so prompt is his response. His people glory in the public service of the Church, and he adds to their satisfaction by his decorum and his excellent singing and preaching. It is true he is not so much an orator as he is a lucid, fluent speaker, the appropriateness and reasonableness of the matter of his discourses far transcending the merely rhetorical.
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