Carl Heinrich Friedrich Wettig (63) born in Neustadt am Rüebenberge on 30 May 1826 and died in Covington, KY on 1 Sep 1901
Louisa Maria Wöbbeking (64) born Münchhagen on 4 Jan 1819 and died 29 Mar 1899 in Covington, KY - They Emigrated to Cincinnati in 1849 and then Covington, KY, in 1852/54
5 It is supposition that the first movement toward the United States of this part of the Family Wettig was in 1840. Carl Heinrich Friedrich Wettig, who was 14 years old at the time, left his homeland to determine if there was opportunity for the family in the new world. It may be that he left with other members of the family, although we do not know anything about these emigrations to the USA. We do have good reason to believe that an older sister, Wilhelmina (747), preceded the family with her husband, Lorenz Decker (Decken) 1057). None of Heinrich Friedrich's travels at that time, or for the next seven years is documented.
It is supposition that he left Hannover, probably through the port of Hamburg, and set sail for either New York or Philadelphia. It may be that he went down the Ohio river to Cincinnati, where he lived for the next seven years. He evidently did very well in those years and returned to Neustadt am Rübenberge, Hannover, in 1847 at the age of 21. Well, it's a good way to begin this story!
And, in a nearby town, Münchehagen, in Loccum Parrish, also in Hannover, there was a young lady waiting for the return of Heinrich Friedrich. Conrad Heinrich (289) and Catherine Sophia (Eberhard) (288) Wöbbeking had two daughters. The oldest was Louisa Maria (64), born in 1819, 7 years before the birth of Carl Heinrich Friedrich Wettig. We don't know when these two met, but they were married after Heinrich's return to Hannover and before the emigration of the Wettig Family, probably in 1849.
A letter from John S. Wettig (285) to Vina (Wolf) Wettig (4), in 1963, gives a story of the Wettig family from 1850, after the emigration from Neustadt am Rübenberge, Hannover, Prußia. Immigration to Cincinnati from Germany was in 1847 and 1849. The U S Census 1850, Cincinnati, Ohio, shows Henry, 24 (born 1826), a Carpenter, his wife, Mary , 28 , and their daughter, Augusta, 1, born in Ohio, living with Lewis Wettig , 30, and Mary , 28, and their son, Henry, 2 (born in Germany) and daughter, Wilhelmina, 4 mo, born in Ohio. There was a Wilhelmina Wettig (669), age14, living with Lorenz , 33, and Wilhelmina Decker (maybe Decken) (745), 28, also in Ward 10 Cincinnati. Living close by was George Wettig (417), 17, a Varnisher, living with Friedrich Mueller, 60, Augustus Mueller, 22, a Locksmith, and their daughter, Henrietta Mueller, 19, all born in Germany. It may be that there were others related to this family living in that area, but we have not been able to determine this. We can tell, however, that there was a massive emigration of the Wettig family from what is now Germany to Cincinnat in the years 1847 - 1850.
U S Census 1860 Kentucky, Covington, Kenton County, lists Henry Wettig, Cabinet Maker, born Hanover, who owned Real Estate valued at $3000, W/M/33 (born 1827), his wife Mary, 40 (born 1820), Hanover; children: Augusta, age11, born OH; Sophie age 8, born OH; Henry age 6, born KY; George age 4, born KY; Edward age 2, born KY. This places the move of Henry and Louisa Marie from Cincinnati to Covington between 1852 and 1854.
According to the letter from John Snyder Wettig, Son of Theodore (*1863+1937) and Sarah (Snyder) Wettig, the family moved from Cincinnati to Covington, KY, because the price of land was much better there. Carl Heinrich Friedrich, or Henry as he was known then, built a house at 825 Bakewell Street. He later built another house next door and the family lived in one or the other through the years. In the 1963 letter, John Snyder recounts his winter living in the old house with upstairs tenants that were not very pleasant to have as neighbors. This picture of the two houses was taken by the editor while visiting Jack and Vicki Wettig in 1995. The houses are still in use and appear to be in good repair. (Click on the picture for a better view - use your Back button to return here.)
John Wettig's 1963 letter states that Henry Frederick and Louisa Maria were "the founders of Saint Paul Evangelical Reformed Church" which at this time (1963) is located on the corner of 11th and Banklick Streets in Covington."There is a Grace Reformed Church which superceded the Evangelical Reformed Church on December 1, 1918. I do not know if this is the successor to Saint Pauls." Records of the Grace Church, back to 1869, show only one reference to a Wettig Family: Virginia Schraberg Wettig (593), born July 30 1913, was Christened on November 4, 1914. Her parents were Albert Wettig (594) and Grace (Schraberg) (595) Wettig, and her sponsor was Mrs. Carrie Schraberg (597). There was no other reference to Albert, Grace or Virginia, but Mrs. C. Schraberg was in Communion in 1914 and 1915. She rejoined the Church on 17 May, 1918, and died on 24 May, 1932.
Henry Frederick Wettig was a Carpenter and, according to John Wettig's letter, was a leader in forming the Cincinnati Cabinet Makers' Union. This Furniture factory, at Plum and Central Streets, was formed in the early 1860's by a group of German Immigrant Cabinet Makers, including Carl Heinrich Friedrich Wettig. The Williams City Directories confirm the Cabinet Makers Union and that Henry Wettig worked there. There was a fire which destroyed the factory and killed several people. It took a lot of searching, and the help of Jack (John T.) Wettig, of Covington, but here is the story of the fire:
The Cabinet Makers Union Fire I received a letter from the Director of the Cincinnati Fire Museum who had researched their files and had found a report of the fire which destroyed the Cabinet Makers Union, and led to the breakdown of Carl Heinrich Friedrich. John S. Wettig reported in his 1963 letter, that his father died a broken, disappointed, ruined man...he became very morose during the last years of his life. The Cabinet Makers Union advertised for the last time in the 1880 Williams City Directory. Several of the Wettig Clan were working there at the time. The 1881 Directory had no ad. That was the year that the entire business district and much of the residential area of Cincinnati was destroyed by fire. The newspapers of the time described this as the "worst calamity ever to befall the Queen City!" The report reads in part: July 7, 1881, a conflagration took place in Cincinnati of such magnitude that it threatened to lay waste the entire city....The entire building occupied by the P. J. Marqua Co., a manufacturer of baby carriages and toys ... was discovered in flames....the 'Hobby Horse' factory had a large shavings box that extended from the basement up ... When the alarm sounded the men on the top floor made a frantic rush for the windows, and some of them jumped for their lives. Charles Peake, who was foreman of the upholstering department, jumped from the fourth floor to the pavement, striking upon his head and shoulders, killing him almost instantly...The flames soon spread to the Cabinet Makers Union building, a large six story structure, then east...a call for help was responded to by the engines across the Ohio river in Covington, Kentucky...it was feared the gas works would be destroyed, but the wind drove the flames in another direction...For a time it appeared as if the city would be swept away...men lost their reason and a reign of terror prevailed...before eight o'clock the fire was under control..."
I received a letter from the Director of the Cincinnati Fire Museum who had researched their files and had found a report of the fire which destroyed the Cabinet Makers Union, and led to the breakdown of Carl Heinrich Friedrich. John S. Wettig reported in his 1963 letter, that his father died a broken, disappointed, ruined man...he became very morose during the last years of his life. The Cabinet Makers Union advertised for the last time in the 1880 Williams City Directory. Several of the Wettig Clan were working there at the time. The 1881 Directory had no ad. That was the year that the entire business district and much of the residential area of Cincinnati was destroyed by fire. The newspapers of the time described this as the "worst calamity ever to befall the Queen City!" The report reads in part: July 7, 1881, a conflagration took place in Cincinnati of such magnitude that it threatened to lay waste the entire city....The entire building occupied by the P. J. Marqua Co., a manufacturer of baby carriages and toys ... was discovered in flames....the 'Hobby Horse' factory had a large shavings box that extended from the basement up ... When the alarm sounded the men on the top floor made a frantic rush for the windows, and some of them jumped for their lives. Charles Peake, who was foreman of the upholstering department, jumped from the fourth floor to the pavement, striking upon his head and shoulders, killing him almost instantly...The flames soon spread to the Cabinet Makers Union building, a large six story structure, then east...a call for help was responded to by the engines across the Ohio river in Covington, Kentucky...it was feared the gas works would be destroyed, but the wind drove the flames in another direction...For a time it appeared as if the city would be swept away...men lost their reason and a reign of terror prevailed...before eight o'clock the fire was under control..."
Henry Frederick is reported by John T. (Jack) Wettig (296), as buried in Highland Cemetery, Fort Mitchell, Kentucky, on 1 September 1901 on Lot 12 of Section 7. Louisa Maria Wettig is buried on the same lot. ca 3-29-1899.
A letter from Joan E. Wettig (318), Louisville, received as part of the Wettig Survey of 11/5/92, states that she has the Sea Chest that was used by Greatgrandmother Louisa Maria. She expressed the opinion that the trunk was not made for Maria by Heinrich Friedrich. It was probably not new when used by Louisa Maria. It was probably made ca. 1800 and was already a half century old when she used it on her trip to this country from Hannover. Joan also has a victorian Doll dresser made by Henry Frederick. These were given to her by Aunt Ida (312) (really her father's cousin), who lived in the Wettig House at 825 Bakewell Street with Uncle Ed (67) and Aunt Sophie (66) when Joan was a very young girl.
She also reported that Henry Frederick had made at least one trip to visit the family remaining in Germany. This may have been the trip in 1863, reported by John S. Wettig in his letter of 1963. He brought back a French Doll, which was later given to Joan Elizabeth. and then to a friend of hers who was a collector of dolls., She also has some pieces of Linen which he brought from the homeland.
Heinrich Friedrich and Louise Marie had six Children:
# Henry Wettig (8),b. 1854, d 1916 # Augusta Wettig (65), b. 1849, d 15 Apr 1907 # Sophia Wettig (66), b. 1852 # Edward Wettig (67), b. 1858 # Theodore Wettig (68), b. 18 Jun 1863, d Oct 1937 # George Louis Wettig (69), b. 27 Mar 1856, d 6 Apr 1942.