USA > Indiana > History of the Catholic church in Indiana, Volume II > Part 92
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R EV. PETER JOSEPH WEBER, pastor of St. John the Baptist's church, Earl Park, Benton county, Ind., was born in New York city, May 13, 1868, a son of Joseph and Regina (Augersbach) Weber, natives of Germany. At the age of four years he was taken to the old country by his parents and left in care of an uncle, a priest, and in this priest's house he was reared until fifteen years old. During this time he took private lessons
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from his relatives in the classics, and then went to the gymnasium in Baden, whence after due preparation, he went to St. Nicholas, Belgium, pursued a course of philosophical study, and then entered the American college at Louvaine, in the same kingdom. There he was ordained priest January 6, 1891, returned to America the following April, and was appointed to a charge at Klaasville, Lake county, Ind., where he remained until August 1, 1895, when he was appointed to his present pastorate. Here he has done good and faithful work, having erected a new priest's residence, at a cost of $5, 500, and increased the membership of his congregation fully fifty per cent. This congregation is comprised of 100 fam- ilies, of mixed nationalities-chiefly French, German and Irish. But Father Weber, who is a zealous priest and a gentleman of erudition and eloquence, holds them together in brotherly concord and constantly increases their numbers. He is earnest, progressive, and devoted to the good of the church, and indefatigable in his labors for the advancement of the temporal welfare of his flock, as well as for the more important consideration-their spiritual improvement and preparation for the life to come.
F RANK J. WEHRLE, a prominent business man of Brazil, Clay county, Ind., was born September 3, 1849, in Newark, Ohio, and is a son of one of the early families connected with the church of the Annunciation of this city, being a son of the late Sebastian and Anna (Woolenschneider) Wehrle. The parents were natives of Germany, but came to America when young, and were united in marriage at Newark, Licking county, Ohio, from which county they came to Brazil, Ind., in 1870. Their marriage was blessed with eleven children, of whom five still survive, viz: George, of Carini, Ill .; Frank J., the second in order of birth, is the subject of this memoir; Henry, the youngest of the family, is a resident of Brazil; the two surviving daughters, Mrs. Eliza Sowar and Mrs. Kate Turner, also have their home in this city.
Sebastian Wehrle, the father of this family, had learned the trade of shoemaking in early life and followed the boot and shoe (1384)
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
trade, after coming to Brazil, until his death, which occurred in February, 1874, his wife surviving until January, 1890. Both were esteemed as pious Catholics, who had done much toward pro- moting the prosperity of the parish of the Annunciation.
Frank J. Wehrle, whose name stands at the opening of this sketch, was associated with his father in business, and after the death of the latter continued in the trade, which he has raised, from comparative insignificance, to be one of the most important mercantile establishments in the city of Brazil. He is a gentleman of culture, is a liberal supporter of his church, and lends his best energies toward promoting the moral, educational and material growth of the community in which his mature years have been passed.
Brief mention may here be made with propriety of John M. Wehrle, a brother of Frank J,, who was but a lad when brought to Brazil by his parents, in 1870. Here he grew to manhood, became prominent in business circles, and was especially popular with the democratic party, which elected him to the office of county clerk, in which capacity he was serving when he met his death by accident, August 18, 1895, under the most painful circumstances. He was a highly esteemed citizen, and his sad death was a source of grief and sorrowing by his family, consisting of a wife and four children, and a large circle of truly sincere friends.
N TICHOLAS WEINTRAUT, a well-to-do and respected farmer of Shelby county, Ind., is a native of Prussia, was born Octo- ber 18, 1833, and is a son of Francis and Magdalena (Huschart) Weintraut.
Francis Weintraut, father of subject, was born March II, 1797, was married in Arfweiler, Germany, in 1830, to Miss Hnschart, who was born January 8, 1806. He was a farmer by occupation, and in 1846 came to America, landing December 24, and for two years lived at New Alsace, Dearborn county, Ind., and then removed to Franklin county, where he bought a farm of 120 acres, on which he and family resided from 1848 until 1864, when he removed to Morris, Ripley county, and in 1870 came to Shelby county, where
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his death took place September 11, 1881, and that of his wife July 19, 1884, both dying in the faith of the Catholic church. The Weintraut family had long been identified with this holy church, and furnished to its service eleven priests. Of the twelve children born to Mr. and Mrs. Weintraut, eight died in Germany in childhood; of the four who reached mature years, Adeline lives in Oldenburg, Franklin county, Ind .; Nicholas is the subject of this biography; Magdalena resides in Indianapolis, and Mary is now deceased.
Nicholas Weintraut attended a parochial school in Germany until twelve years of age, and was a little over twelve years old when he arrived with his parents in America. He remained with and assisted his father until his marriage, by Rev. Father Stall, at New Alsace, Franklin county, Ind., November 9, 1852, to Miss Mary A. Schaaf, who was born in Alsace, Germany, October 13, 1832, a daughter of Nicholas and Barbara (Hallerd) Schaaf. After marriage, Mr. Weintraut resided on a farm near Oldenburg, Ind., until 1864, when he moved to Morris, Ind., where, being a natural mechanic, he learned carpentering and cabinetmaking, and conducted a furniture store until 1870, when he came to Shelby county and purchased a farm of 140 acres, which, by good manage- ment and persistent industry, he has increased to 200 acres, which has since been his home, and where he has also been fortunate enough to acquire other possessions and to aid his children, in their start in life, with lands and money.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Weintraut has been blessed with fourteen children, born in the following order: Mary, wife of John Schreiner, of Shelby county; Magdalina, married to N. B. Bachman, of Kansas; John H., Peter and Nicholas, Jr., of Shelby county; Lizzie, wife of O. Lindner; Josephina, a sister in the convent at Oldenburg; Barbara, widow of John Thibo; Sophronia, deceased; Rosa, at home; George F. and Frank, of Shelby county; Anna, wife of William Bogeman, and Joseph at home. The family were all reared in the Catholic church, and the members still living in Shelby county belong to St. Vincent's parish. Mr. Weintraut is quite prominent in his church relations and has served as trustee and as a member of the building committee of
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CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
the St. Vincent church committee; he has also served his fellow- townsmen two terms as a member of the board of equalization. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' National bank, of Shelbyville, and is universally recognized as one of the most prominent agri- culturists and useful citizens of Shelby county.
G EORGE F. WEINTRAUT, son of Nicholas and Mary A. (Schaaf) Weintraut, whose biography is given above, was born in Dearborn county, Ind., April 18, 1870, received his preliminary education in the common schools, and was confirmed in the Cath- olic faith at St. Vincent's church, in Shelby county, Ind., at the age of thirteen years. In 1885 he attended the Brothers' school. in Dayton, Ohio, six months, and then returned to his father's farm. In 1891 he went to California, worked a year on a farm, and then came back to Shelby county, Ind.
October 15, 1892, Mr. Weintraut married Miss Lena Roell, who was born in Franklin county, Ind., April 28, 1872, a daughter of Balhasia and Lena Roell, now residents of Oldenburg, Ind., where Mr. Roell is engaged in the manufacture of beer. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Weintraut has been blessed with three- children, named Albert, Adam and Edward. On marrying, Mr. Weintraut settled in Waldron, Shelby county, where he opened a public business place, which he still carries on, and, it may be added, that it is conducted in a most orderly manner. Beside attending to this, his immediate business, Mr. Weintraut manages a farın of 240 acres, on which he resides, and which Mrs. Weintraut inherited from her father. In politics Mr. Weintraut is a demo- crat, in religion he is, with his family, devout in his worship at St. Vincent's church, and in the community in which he has his home enjoys a large measure of respect and popularity.
R EV. BARTHOLOMEW WEISS, O. F. M., pastor of St. Louis church, at Batesville, Ripley county, Ind., is a native. of Bavaria, Germany, was born May 28, 1854, a son of Frank J. and Barbara (Muelhoffer) Weiss, parents of six children. The
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
father is a millwright, and he and wife still retain their home in Bavaria.
Rev. Bartholomew Weiss received his early education in Germany, and came to the United States in June, 1873, and for a short time resided in St. Joseph, Minn., whence he removed to Macon, Ga., where he attended Pio Nono college until 1877, when he located in Cincinnati, to prepare for the priesthood in St. Francis Ecclesiastical college. He was ordained priest at Louis- ville, Ky., June 29, 1886, by Bishop McCloskey, and said his first mass at Lourds, Ill., June 11, 1886. He was then assigned to Olpe, Kans., where he remained until October 18, 1897, when he was transferred to his present more important charge at Batesville. Here he relieved the Rev. Clemens Steinkamp, who was trans- ferred to Cincinnati, and here he has since labored zealously and assiduously for the welfare of his congregation, both in a spiritual and temporal sense, and enjoys the sincere love and deep respect of his flock.
The school attached to St. Louis church is presided over by three Sisters of St. Francis, is attended by about 130 pupils, and over these Father Weiss exercises a tender and fatherly care.
JOHN R. WELCH, of the firm of Welch & Ward, real estate, loans, insurance, etc., at Indianapolis, was born in the town of Warsaw, Gallatin county, Ky., on the twenty-third of October, 1856. His parents, Thomas and Anna (Whelan) Welch, both natives of county Wexford, Ireland, were married in the city of Dublin, and immediately thereafter came to America, locating, in 1855, at Petersburg, Ky. Later, the family removed to Indian- apolis, Ind., where the mother died in March, 1896, aged sixty-four years. The father was born March 27, 1827, has spent all of his mature years as an engineer, and is spending his old age in Indianapolis.
Thomas and Anna Welch reared a family of five sons and five daughters, viz: James and John R., twins-the former a well- known lard refiner of Chicago, and the latter being the subject of (1388)
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
this sketch; Anna is a Sister of Charity, in Philadelphia; Joseph M., who died at the age of thirty-three, was a business man of Indianapolis; Ella is also a Sister of Charity, in Milwaukee, Wis .; Maggie, William, Katie and Dora are at home and Thomas is employed in an extensive dry-gcods house of Allegheny, Pa.
John R. Welch attended parochial schools at Carrolton, Ky., and spent his early life in the state of his nativity, coming to Indianapolis in 1875. He was first employed in the city in a paper-mill, and, subsequently, became bookkeeper for a business firm, which position he filled for several years. In 1888 he estab- lished his present business, real estate, loans, etc., which has grown from year to year until it is now one of the most extensive of the kind in the city.
Mr. Welch has been associated with John C. McClosky and Charles Callan, and at the present time his partner is Stephen J. Ward. The firm of Welch & Ward transacts a general loan and real estate business, giving employment to six persons, and having a most commendable reputation for fair and successful dealing in the several lines presented.
Mr. Welch was united in marriage, in Indianapolis, in the year 1886, to Miss Alice Callan, who was born in Indiana of Irish parentage, and their union has been blessed with six children, four living and two deceased; those living are Anna, Leo, Lawrence and John; Thomas and Mary both died in infancy.
Upon the organization of the Holy Cross Cemetery associa- tion, in 1891, Mr. Welch was elected secretary, a position he has since held, and in 1884 he was chosen secretary of the Celtic Sav- ings & Loan association, an organization composed principally of Irish Catholics. This organization enjoys the distinction of being the oldest building and loan association in the state of Indi- ana, its history dating from 1874; it is also considered one of the most solid and reliable of such institutions, having a capital of $1,000,000, with $683, 000 in force at the last report.
Mr. Welch's church affiliation is with SS. Peter and Paul's cathedral congregation, of which he is an earnest and faithful member; Mrs. Welch holds membership in the Chapel club, Altar society, and other organizations having for their object the promo-
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tion of Catholicity, and is one of the influential workers of the con- gregation with which she is identified. Mr. Welch is a democrat in politics, but not aggressively partisan; he is essentially a busi- ness man, and as such ranks with the progressive element of the city of his adoption.
M ICHAEL D. WELSH, deceased, whose family reside at No. I241 Lexington avenue, Indianapolis, was during his life a worthy citizen, an esteemed member of the Catholic church, and a trusted and prominent railway employee. He was born in Indianapolis, March 23, 1855, and was a son of John and Bridget Welsh, early residents of this city.
Michael D. Welsh was reared and educated in Indianapolis, obtaining an excellent education in the public schools and in the Catholic school of his parish. In his youth, having learned the trade of an iron molder, he was afterward employed in the shops of the Big Four railway company for some time, and later began running on the road as a fireman. In 1882 he was promoted to. the position of locomotive engineer, and met his death in the ter- rible accident that occurred at the depot in LaFayette, Ind., May 7, 1893. In this accident there were ten others killed beside him- self, the accident being one of the worst that has ever occurred on that road.
October 1, 1885, Mr. Welsh was married to Miss Mary Gan- non, who was born and reared in Greensburg, Ind., and is a daugh- ter of Patrick and Catherine Gannon, they still residing at that place. Mr. and Mrs. Welsh became the parents of two children, a son and a daughter, viz: Maurice, born July 11, 1886, and Annie, born April 16, 1889. Mr. Welsh was always a kind hus- band, an indulgent father, and was much attached to his family and his home. He was a useful and honored member of the Locomo- tive Engineers association and in every way a highly esteemed man and citizen. His widow resides with her children at her home, No. 1241 Lexington avenue, where her numerous friends and acquaint- ances regard her highly, and where she is doing all in her power to rear her children in the way that they should go. (1390)
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J
OSEPH WERNER, SR., merchant tailor, of Richmond, Ind.,
was born in Bavaria, Germany, January 10, 1834, and is a son of Joseph and Josephia Werner, the former of whom was born in the parish of Grosenbrough, Bavaria, in 1810, and was a farmer.
Joseph Werner, the father, married Josephia Seifert in 1833, and this union was blessed with eight children, four of whom are still living, viz: George, whose home is still in Bavaria; Margarita, wife of Casper Ghendenz; Josephia, wife of Adam Beitner, and Joseph, subject of this memoir.
Joseph Werner came to America in 1853, landed in New York, and went thence direct to Dayton, Ohio, where he was engaged in merchant tailoring for two months; he then went to Berlin, Ohio, and was engaged in, the same business until 1859, then returned to Dayton, remained a few weeks only, and the same year came to Richmond, Ind., where he has since devoted his attention to merchant tailoring and repairing.
Mr. Werner was first married, in 1853, in St. Michael's par- ish, Shelby county, Ohio, to Miss Deraka Schlerett, and this union has resulted in the birth of eight children, viz: Joseph, Jr., and Andrew, of Richmond, Ind .; George, who lives in Dayton, Ohio; Caroline, deceased; Mary, wife of John Feltman; Anna, wife of John Snyder, both of Richmond; Isaac, of Columbus, Ohio, and Clara, at home. His first wife died February 19, 1878, and her remains were interred in St. Andrew's cemetery, Richmond. His second marriage took place October 1, 1878, to Miss Catherine Thomas, the ceremony being performed by Rev. Father Seibertz, at St. Andrew's church. The entire family are ardent Catholics, and members of St. Andrew's congregation, and of this church Mr. Werner was a trustee in 1868-9, and also in 1882 -3.
G EORGE MICHAEL WENGER, deceased, and his wife were among the early well-known Catholic citizens of Indianapolis. Mr. Wenger was born in Germany February 19, 1812, but came to the United States at an early age, so that all his mature years were spent in this country. When he reached the United States at the
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age of nineteen, he went almost immediately to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he worked at his trade of stonecutter, and where he married Miss Catherine Theines, a native of Prussia. In 1850 Mr. Wenger brought his family to Indianapolis, and here became a well-known business man and was unusually successful. A short time previous to his death he removed his family to North Vernon, hoping that by the removal his health would be materially benefited, but in this he was doomed to disappointment, the change of residence being of no avail, and his death occurred at that place June 23, 1869. Soon after this melancholy occurrence the family returned to Indianapolis and have resided here ever since.
Mr. and Mrs. Wenger were the parents of thirteen children, eight of whom grew to mature years and seven of the eight are still living. The three sons and five daughters that reached manhood and womanhood are as follows: Frank, who resides at the maternal home; Elizabeth, wife of George Knarzer, of Indianapolis; Barbara, wife of Henry J. Blodau, of Nashville, Tenn .; Caroline, Jacob and Lena, at home; Andrew, who died January 5, 1894, and Katie, wife of Andrew Smith, she being the youngest of the family, and resid- ing at No. 126 North Noble street, Indianapolis.
Mr. Wenger, while living, was a devout Catholic, and his entire family, both before and since his death, have been and are closely identified with the Catholic church and active in its support. Their home has been, for the most part, in St. Mary's parish, in the school of which the children were educated. The mother of the eight children named above is spending her declining years at her new home with her unmarried children, near the Catholic ceme- tery, where she and they possess and enjoy the confidence of the entire community.
JOHN L. WHEELER, farmer and justice of the peace, Shelby J county, was born in this county, Ind., November 29, 1841, and is a son of Tilson and Rachael (Worland) Wheeler. He attended the common schools of his district until twenty-one years of age, when he began farming on his own account by buying 250 acres of land, to which he subsequently added fifty-five acres, and (1392)
CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
devoted himself industriously to the calling which he had decided to make his life-work, and in consequence has prospered.
November 19, 1879, Mr. Wheeler married Miss Ellen Farrell, who was born in Shelby county, March 27, 1860, a daughter of James and Elizabeth (Smith) Farrell, and this union has been blessed with ten children, viz: Tilson, Rachel, Mary, Susan, Thomas, Linnie (deceased), Cecile, Grace, John (deceased) and Nora. The family are all members of St. Vincent's Catholic church and liberal in their contributions toward its support, as well as devout and punctual in the observance of their religious duties, and for many years Mr. Wheeler has been a church trustee.
Mr. Wheeler is very highly esteemed by his fellow-citizens, whom he has served as justice of the peace. He has prospered in his farming operations, owns stock in the Farmers' National bank of Shelbyville, and is regarded as one of the most enterprising and substantial residents of Shelby county.
P ETER WERST, grain merchant and lumber-yard proprietor, of Brookville, Franklin county, Ind., was born February 6, 1858, near New Alsace, Dearborn county, this state, and is a son of Peter and Susan (Hammerly) Werst.
Peter Werst, the father, was born in Bayern, Germany, in 1819, was educated in the parochial schools, and afterward learned nailmaking, which trade he followed in the old country until twen- ty-three years old, when he came to America, landing in New Orleans about 1842. From that city he came up the Mississippi and Ohio rivers as far as Cincinnati, Ohio, where he remained but a few days, then came to Indiana and located in Lawrenceburg, Dearborn county, where he was engaged in milling and distilling from 1843 until 1856. He then moved to Petersburg, Ky., and re-engaged in milling, adding to his plant a distillery, and contin- ued in business until 1860, when he bought a farm near New Alsace, Ind., which he cultivated until his death, which occurred in 1867. His marriage took place in Lawrenceburg in 1844, to Miss Susan Hammerly, Rev. Father Ferneding performing the ceremony. The
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THE CLERGY AND CONGREGATIONS,
fruit of this union was seven children, viz: Henry, deceased; Louisa, widow of Martin Willhelm; Susan, at home in Brookville; Katharine and Barbara, deceased; Elizabeth, wife of John Feusner, of Cin- cinnati, Ohio, and Peter, the subject of this sketch.
Peter Werst, whose name opens this biography, received his early education in the common schools of New Alsace, and then, for two and a half years, attended St. Meinrad's school. At the early age of thirteen years he was apprenticed to a wagonmaker in Hamilton, Ohio, whom he served three years; he then returned to New Alsace and engaged in general merchandizing for a few years; in 1882 he came to Brookville and embarked in the wholesale and retail grain trade, and in addition to this business he also carries ·on a lumber yard, making thorough successes of both.
Mr. Werst was united in marriage May 23, 1882, at St. Mi- chael's church, Brookville, with Miss Rosa Seible, and this union has been blessed with four children-Ferdinand, Mary, Nora and Josephine-all still at home. Mr. Werst was elected a trustee of St. Michael's church in 1893; he is also a member of St. Michael's society and of St. Peter's Benevolent society, and Mrs. Werst is a member of St. Marie's society. They are generous in their church ·contributions, and faithful in their church duties and enjoy in a high degree the respect of the community in which they live.
TIMOTHY WHELAN, master mechanic of the Indiana cotton- inills at Cannelton, Ind., and a well-known and respected citi- zen, was born in Ireland, November 1, 1833, a son of James and Mary Whelan, whose deaths occurred within three months, each of the other, when their son, Timothy, was but six years of age, the father, by occupation, having been an agriculturist, and both true Catholics.
Timothy received a sound education in the National schools of his native country, then recently established, on quitting which he came to America , landing here January 16, 1850, and here, at the age of seventeen years, entered upon the battle of life on his own account, and since 1869 has held his present position of master mechanic of the Indiana cotton-mills.
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CATHOLIC CHURCH OF INDIANA.
May 2, 1859, Mr. Whelan was united in marriage with Miss Mary Ann Gilligan, who was born in Scituate, R. I., March 9, 1833. a daughter of Peter and Rosanna Gilligan, and this union has been blessed with seven children, born in the following order: James W., John E., Mary R., Eliza L, Mary P., Margaret E. and Thomas T., of whom two, Mary R. and Mary P., are deceased. The family are members of St. Patrick's congregation, of Cannel- ton, to the support of which Mr. Whelan contributes quite freely from his means, and Mr. Whelan is also a member of branch No. 519, Catholic Knights of America. Politically, Mr. Whelan has been identified with the democratic party since he attained his major- ity, but has never been desirous of office. Socially, the family are highly esteemed, and individually Mr. Whelan bears a first-class reputation as an industrious, temperate and upright gentleman.
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