DEAR COUSIN:
Eleanor Note Wettig gave me your address a few weeks ago and I am just getting around to this letter. The weather has been up and down here since the last of November. This is the first time in forty years that I have lived in a house without a central heating system and I surely do miss the heat. I have a small gas stove in the living room which I bought from St. Vincent DePaul for $21.50. It has never been satisfactory. I could have added a little more and bought a brand new stove. It heats but has an odor and smokes the vapor pan on top. I have a large new gas Premier in the large bedroom, but the heat fan has never worked. I have as large a gas bill with the two heaters as I had with the gas fired hot water heater for the four rooms on Jefferson Avenue. You just can't beat the cold weather. It gets me and always did. I'll take solid heat, coal or coke in preference to gas heat. Of course, there are ashes with solid fuels but you can depend on it heating the house.
This is my first winter in this 100 year old house and I hope it will be my last winter here. I have had three real estate agents trying to sell it. It was badly in need of repair and still needs a lot of attention. People have abused the property and it costs so much to make repairs. The cold weather has moderated here within the last few days. I don't know how the warmer weather will affect our health. People here just close every door and every window. This is a two family house and the woman and her 17 year old son close everything up as airtight as possible. She never opens her kitchen window or the bathroom window and she sits by the hours and nurses a cigaret. The son is just as bad. Both people look like dried out mummies and my place on the second floor gets all of her stench. I don't believe that the negroes homes smell as loud as this woman's rooms. Has three cats and a dog in the house.
Do you ever hear from the Wettig Families and where is Anna, Harry's sister that lived in Baltimore, Md.? She is the only cousin in Uncle Henry Wettig's family that I have met. I wrote a letter to George Wettig, 4824 Canton Street, Detroit, 7 Michigan just before Christmas. This is the address that an acquaintance sent to me back in May 1, 1954. He could be dead by this time. Anna came up here from Atlanta, Ga., and she called me at 12:30 PM and asked me how to get to Cousin Ida Leger's home. That was years ago. I went to Ida Leger and Sophia Wettig's home after 12:30 PM and they had me take a cab to the Grand Central Railway Station and picked her up and brought her back to Covington. Aunt Sohpia was old and broken in health. Ida went out working by the day and she wasn't so young. It was a mixed up group. Anna was too young for either woman and young people have young ways that don't always work out mutually. I had my own home and family so I stayed out of their affairs. Although I carried Anna's trunk up to the Koenig Residence when Anna went to live with her girl friend Alma Koenig. Alma Koenig married and had a family. She died this past year.
Cousin Albert Wettigs son, (Albert Richard) who lives in Louisville, works for a laundry company and he met a nurse who graduated at the same time that Anna graduated in Louisville, Ky. This nurse told Albert's son all about the years that she had been in training with Anna and wondered where Anna was and how she was getting along. Anna sort of dropped us. We were older and had different ideas about life.
I have an older brother who lives in the suburbs of Cincinnati. Unfortunately, when I was born I stole his father's attention so young Theodore never had much use for me. We have never been close, and I have gone my way and he has gone his. I stood by my father in his last sickness and tried to settle his small estate. Ida Leger had borrowed over a thousand dollars from him without a note or any security and we never saw or heard anything about it other than when Ida had a violent sick spell and I was there she admitted the debt and told me she was unable to pay it. What she did with the money, I will never know, but she kept her big, lazy brother, Henry Leger, who had rooms in Indianapolis. She went first and he died in the charity ward at Indianapolis, and was buried by the County. As soon as winter came along, after Aunt Sophia died, Henry Leger and his wife and her mother would come down to the old home where Ida was living, and Ida put them up for the winter. And, when they would leave in the Springtime for Indianapolis, Henry would carry groceries out in a washtub. Not one load but several loads, so I assume that is where some of Uncle Theodore's money went. Well, thank God it is all over.
We have lived through a lot of unnecessary unpleasant events. I suppose I am a little sour but I have found the best thing is to let people take care of their responsibilities and keep my nose clean,
I live alone, a widower, almost 70 years old. My children and daughters in law are very good to me. However, I try not to meddle in their affairs and maintain my own home, even though it is a little tumbled and dusty at times.
Some of my grandfather's, brother's grandchildren live in Cincinnate and I hear from them at Christmas time. I believe dad use to call his uncle, who lived in the west end of Cincinnati, Louis or Ludwig. Great Uncle Louis had one daughter who never married. Her name was Leah Wettig. She had several brothers: Charles, Albert and John. Charles left a daughter whose married name is Anderson. Albert had a son, John Robert, and a daughter, Helen. Helen died in her teens with a strep throat. John Robert goes by the name of Robert Wettig, and he had a married son with three daughters. His daughter's name is Nancy, and she is married and lives in the same house (upstairs) with her parents. She has a boy and a girl. Uncle Theo's cousin, John Wettig, lived in Norwood, and had two sons, Richard and Raymond. This John Wettig's wife had cancer of the throat and died in April 1951 (?). John applied for a home in the Masonic Home at Springfireld, Ohio and was admitted and died there several years ago. His son Richard, nicknamed Dick, is a swell looking six footer, and very attractive, married, and has a good job, a nice wife named Ruth, and two grown daughters. Dick has a married brother, Raymond, but he has the Wettig personalities and is not as likable as Dick. I believe he has two daughters. Raymond works for Frisch's Restaurant in Reading, Ohio, that is a suburb of Cincinnati.
I hope I have not worn you down with this long letter. I am enclosing some of the family tree. I am sure there are a few mistakes and I could do a lot of correcting if I had the necessary data.
Best wishes to you and the family. If you are ever down this way give me a call or drop in. I guess I will be around this part of the country until I die. Write when you can.
Uncle Theo's Son, John.
Henry Frederick Wettig married Louisa Woebking in Hanover which later became a part of the German Empire.
Louisa Woebking had a sister Sophie who married a Wickie. Of the Wickie marriage, there was a daughter named Sophie and this daughter married a Fred Weitkamp. This family was reared in Cincinnati and some of the Weitkamps migrated to California. An older Weitkamp son studied for missionary work and had a knowledge of medicine. He later became a Medical Doctor in California.
Back to the Wettig family.
Grandfather Henry Frederick Wettig and his wife came to America in an old sail boat. From New York they went first to Pittsburgh and down the Ohio River in a steamboat to Cincinnati, Ohio. At that time Cincinnati was the queen city of the west and there was plenty of work for everyone. Grandfather Wettig had learned the woodworking trade in Europe, and was able to find work in Cincinnati. After making a home for his wife, he became concerned for his parents. After accumulating enough money he sent for his parents and his brothers and sister. He provided them with rooms, a barrel of flour and a barrel of potatoes. Some of the brothers and sisters migrated to Richmond, Indiana. It could be possible that Greatgrandfather Wettig and his wife are buried in Richmond, Indiana.
Henry Frederick Wettig and his wife Louisa
moved across the River from Cincinnati, Ohio, to a little river
town called Covington in the State of Kentucky. Land was cheaper
on the Kentucky side and Henry Wettig built several houses in
Covington. One house, a brick in the 600 block on Main street.
and he built a five room house on Bakewell Streey facing Emma
Street. At the time he built the old home on Emma and Bakewell
Streets (825 Bakewell) this community was on the edge of Covington.
. There were no streets beyond Bakewell and Grandfather had a
cow that had to be taken to pasture in the morning and brought
home in the evening.. The pasture is now a part of Devou(n) Park.
There was a low bottom land between Bakewell Street and the cow
pasture known in those days as Willow Run. Later a big drainage
sewerage system was built and now this is almost covered by the
new Highway named Interstate 78.
Henry Wettig had bought a double lot at 825 Bakewell Street and
in later years built a small two story brick on the north lot.
Henry Wettig and his Wife were among the founders of Saint Paul
Evangelical Church which at this time is located at 11th and Banklick
Streets in Covington. The first small church was located on Craig
Street and as the church grew in numbers they, the members, bought
a corner lot and built a one story brick Church. As soon as money
could be raised they built a second floor. If my memory serves
me correctly, the writer as a small child recalls attending the
funeral service for Grandmother Wettig in the second floor Church
Auditorium.
Henry Frederick Wettig was quite a philanthropist in his better days. Too much for his own family's welfare. He was always trying to find ways and means to help his countrymen. He would walk down to the Ohio River, take a ferry to cross over to the Cincinnati wharves where the upriver steamers arrived from Pittsburgh, bringing the German, Irish and other immigrants who were seeking a home and employment in this country. Always looking to see if someone had come from the heimland. Unfortunately,, Louisa Woebking Wettig, his wife, never learned to speak the English language and folks and the children took advantage of this handicap to misinform her of events.
Henry Frederick Wettig and several others in the Cincinnati vicinity pooled their money into forming a large furniture manufacturing plant which they called the Cincinnati Cabinet Makers Union. It was located in the bottoms of the then successful business district of Cincinnati. Perhaps somewhere between Plum and Central Avenue. This Company did quite well for a time. Fire insurance was not known back in the 19th century as it is today. It was very expensive and these frugal, pressured immigrants did not realize the need as we do today. Needless to say Henry Frederick Wettig, as well as the other members of the Union, lost everything they possessed, outside of their homes when an intense fire destroyed the plant with a loss of lives. I can only repeat what a disinterested old man who had been in the mahogany import business told me. "The fire was brought under control after three days of fire fighting. Firemen had taken doors from buildings to use as shields. A hole was chopped in the door to thrust a hose through. The fireman stood as close to the holacost as he could. When the door became ignited from the heat, the fireman was forced to flee. HENRY F. WETTIG was a broken, disappointed, ruined man. Perhaps this is the reason that folks considered him a morose old man. Henry F. Wettig, on one of his visits to Hanover, brought a niece and a nephew to America with him. They were brother and sister, Louisa Korte and Henry (?) Korte. The brother had learned the baking trade in the old country and had a bake shop in the west end of Cincinnati. Cousin Louisa was a much beloved cousin by the Wettig family. She married a Henry Twachtman, had one son Albert. She and her son and husband are buried close to the Wettig lot in Highland Cemetery, Fort Mitchell, Ky.
Henry Frederick Wettig was a great walker, in his prime. Family history has it that he walked from his home at New State on Rutabach Hill, in the Province of Hanover, into the city of Hanover to visit with a cousin. He would get up in the morning at three and start for the city of Hanover. Sometimes he would get a lift and sometime he would have to walk it both ways. Twenty miles each way. In the early part of the 20th century, he would walk out to Highland Cemetery to visit his wife's grave. He would walk both ways, a good six miles round trip. I recall that I was, as a small kid, down home and I developed an ear ache. The poor, tired and aged man carried me out to 10th & Jefferson.
Grandmother Wettig was buried Sept 2, 1901. Aunt Sophie was buried February 18, 1925. Uncle Edward was buried March 5, 1926. Uncle Theodore was buried October 15, 1937. His sons put a headstone on his grave, otherwise there is no monument.
ORIGINAL HENRY FREDERICK WETTIG FAMILY TREE
Grandmother, Louisa Woebking Wettig, was born January 4, 1819. Her Father's name was Coxel Heinrich Woebking, a carpenter of Munchehagen, Parrish of Loccum, Province of Hanover. Possibly, this Coxel Heinrich was born about 1790 and married a Catherine Sophie Eberhard, and to this union was born three girls and a son. Girls were Louisa Maria and Catherine Louisa Sophia. Louisa Maria married our Grandfather Henry Frederick Wettig. Catherine Louisa Sophia married a Mr. Wickie. Catherine Sophia Eberhard was supposed to have died around 1833.
To the union of Henry Frederick Wettig and Louisa Maria Woebking were born the following: Henry, Augusta, George, Sophia, Edward, Theodore.
Son Theodore remarked that his parents had twins who died in infancy. However, there are no records of the event.
Henry Frederick Wettig was buried on Lot 12 of Section 7, September 1, 1901 (75 Years old) in Highland Cemetery, Fort Mitchell,, Ky. Louisa Maria Wettig was buried on the same lot 29 March, 1899.
Sophia was buried on the family lot 18 Feb, 1925.
Edward Wettig was buried on family lot 5 March, 1926.
Theodore Wettig was buried on family lot 15 October, 1937. There is a small head stone placed on Theodore's grave, otherwise there isn't any markers on the Wettig-Leger Lot.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WETTIG-LEGER LOT
Augusta Wettig, wife of Louis Leger died at Indianapolis, Indiana, 15 April, 1907, age 56 Years. From Quincy remains were brought back to Covington. She was buried from 825 Bakewell Street.
Louis Leger, husband of Augusta, died at the age of 60 years, was buried in Linden Grove Cemetery and was transferred to Highland Cemetery where his wife was buried. Born in France. Died2 April 1887. Final Burial 17 April, 1907.
Louis Leger and his wife, Augusta "Wettig Leger had three sons and a daughter. All the family, with the exception of son Albert Leger, Sr. who was buried in Section 5 Lot 166, are buried on the Leger side of the Wettig-Leger Lot. There is another exception. Henry Leger, nicknamed Legs Leger, who is buried near Indianapolis, Indiana, with his in-laws.
Albert Leger died at the age of 54 - buried in Section 5, Lot 166, 13 July, 1926. Albert's wife, Anna Mande Leger, was buried in this same lot 29th September, 1961. Anna Mande Leger was a sod widow with two sons and a daughter when she married Albert, Sr. They had one son of her second marriage, Albert Jr, who is married and lives in Skokie, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Albert, Jr. has a married daughter Peggie, who has a family. Albert E. Leger lives at 5233 Greenwood Street, Skokie, Illinois.
Ida Leger, daughter of Louis and Augusta Leger died at the home of Henry Leger, 1105 Division Street, Indianapolis, Indiana. The remains were brought back to the Allison and Rose Funeral Home in Covington, where funeral services were held. Rev. O B Steger of the South Side Baptist Church, in charge. Buried on Leger side of the Wettig-Leger Lot in Highland Cemetary 19 May, 1944.
Henry A., known as Arthur Leger, died in Los Angeles, 2 April, 1945, and his remains were buried on the family lot 9 April, 1945. The name Hy is confusing, but that is the information as given by the cemetery office.
Henry Leger, caslled Legs Leger, by the kids of Covington, Ky., died at City Hospital in Indianapolis. There was a grave for him on the Leger side of the Wettig-Leger Lot but his wife, Florence, requested that he be buried with her folks who owned a large lot in a country cemetery near Indianappolis.
So ends the Leger family.
CONTINUING THE HENRY FREDERICK/LOUISA MARIA WETTIG FAMILY
Henry Wettig, son of Henry Frederick and Louisa
Maria Wettig, married Ella Patricia O'Halloran at Atlanta, Georgia.
Both Henry and his wife died in 1916. Both were buried in the
City Section of a cemetery. There are no records. At the suggestion
of ,Sophia Wettig, and the expense of the Henry Frederick Wettig
(father's reserve for a memorial stone) the remains of Henry Wettig,
Jr. and his wife Ella, were disinterred and buried on a private
lot under the supervision of Ida Leger, in Atlanta, Georgia.
Henry Wettig followed in the same business as his father. He had
the woodworkers trade and had patented several worthy necessities.
To this union of Henry, Jr. and Ella O'Halloran were born the
following: Harry, born 4 July, 1890; William, born 1 September,
1893; George, born 25 November, 1895; Anna Catherine born 1 May,
1898; Georgia, born 5 May, 1900; Theodore, born 14 February, 1903;
Danny Edward, born 5 August, 1907.
Harry Wettig, born 4 July, 1890, died -. Married Ida Leigh of Jacksonville, Florida. Two daughters were born to this union. Ella Corrine was born 2 February, 1913. Ella married Joseph Everett Jacobs 19 February, 1940. Grace Juanita was born June 5, 1915. Grace married Henry J Gieschen, 7 September, 1939. Gieschen died 15 August, 1941.
Harry Wettig's wife, Ida, died in 1916 in Atlanta. On 3 July, 1921, Harry married a widow, Vina Marshall. Mrs. Marshall had a son, Jesse L., by her first marriage. From this marriage of Harry and Vina Wettig were born the following children: Frances, born 6 May, 1922. Frances married a Victor Johnson and at this writing they are living in Florida. They were married when her mother was living in Wilmington, N. C..
Jeanette was born1n 1924.
Harry, Jr. was born 1 January, 1925.
Elizabeth was born 12 February, 1927.
Harry Wettig has since died and is buried in Wilmington, N. C.. Mrs Wettig, at this time is living at 1404 South 4th Street Wilmington, N. C..
We would like to add this bit of humor to show that the world is small. Several years ago, two men were playing golf on the Wilmington, N. C. Golf Course. The native resident inquired of the stranger where he was from and the stranger replied, Cincinnati. What's your name, stranger? The stranger replied, Paul Wettig. The native resident's eyes widened and he said inquiringly, "Wettig?' Stranger you must come over to my Mother-in-law's house tonight. She is Mrs. Harry Wettig. The native was Mr. Johnson, who married Harry's daughter, Frances. Paul Wettig and his family have visited with the Johnsons at their Florida Home.
You will note that the full details of marriages and deaths have not been typed due to the fact that we Wettigs so seldom hear from each other.
William Wettig, born 1 September, 1893.
Willie married the widow Ada Davies, who had a daughter from her former marriage, Edna Davies. To this union of Willie and Ada Wettig were born: Lewis, Hyman, Daniel and Margaret. We understand Ada passed on and William married a widow with a family from her first marriage. Her name is Clara and the last known whereabouts were Detroit, Michigan.
George Wettig, born 25 November, 1895 and died in San Diego, California, about 1965.
Anna Catherine, born 1 May, 1898. How can I forget Anna, the only cousin from Uncle Henry's family I have met. Anna came to Covington about 1919 and lived with Aunt Sophie Wettig, Uncle Ed and Cousin Ida Leger. Anna was young. The others were old. Won't do!
Anna Catherine trained in Louisville, Ky. for a registered Nurse. It was darned hard going, but all of us were glad to see that Anna had made good. Anna married August C. Hildebrand, and lived at 1637 Montpelier Street, Baltimore, Maryland. It was Mr. Hildebrand's second marriage and he had a son from the first marriage named John Andrew Hildebrand. Anna had two children: George, born 26 September, 1932; and Patricia Veronica, born 7 July, 1938.
Georgia, born 24 May, 1900, married James Strickland in 1918. They had one child, Marion Elsie who married a Rodney Duchemin in 1941. Mr Strickland died and Georgia married a Coleman Hall in 1922. This marriage ended in divorce.
Theodore Wettig, born 14 February, 1903.
Daniel Edward Wettig, born 5 August, 1907. He married a girl named Dorothy from Detroit. They had four children: Delores, Helen, Georgia and George.
Theodore Wettig (the first). Pap must have been born during the Rebellion, on 18 June, 1863. Anyhow, My Grand Pap was on a tour of the continent - AWOL.
Pap left home as soon as possible. Sister Sophia was Hell Bent for making Saints out of Sinners and all of that Hog Wash! One of the old Nabors down home said that she saw Aunt Sophia tie Pap to a tree and proceeded to beat the Hell out of him on his bare back. Pap bore the marks, the Welts, on his back to his dying day. (Son, you ortent tell people this cause it ain't going to help matters any!). They are both gone in. Poor Sophia was left at the post while the rest went on and she had such a violent temper when she got riled up that it would shame Satan. Time and age left her a broken old woman but whenever there was any patching or sewing to be done, that blessed old maid Aunt did the dirty work. There is always a reason for tantrumss. One is on the outside looking in and the other is on the inside looking out.
Pap (Theodore Wettig) married Sarah Snyder, the daughter of John and Catherine Snyder of Columbus, Ohio in about 1888. They had two sons: Theodore A, born 10 February, 1890; and John S, born 1 June, 1895. Pap went home in October 1937 and Sarah passed away in October 1945. Pap is put away on his parent's Lot. Sarah is resting in the Lord on her parent's Lot in Russellville, Ohio.
Theodore A. married Edna Donahue fifty one years ago (1912). They reside in Cheviot, Ohio. They have a son James Richard, who lives in Indian Hill, a suburb of Cincinnati,who is married and who also has a son, Keith.
John S. Wetig, born in Covington, Ky., on Saturday AM, 1 June, 1895. He married Violet Buckley on 25 December, 1916. Violet was the last born child of Thomas Sharpless and Elizabeth Burns Buckley, originally from Manchester, England. Two sons were born to them: John Thomas Wettig, born at 1610 Banklick Street, Covington, on 9 February 1918; Paul Edward Wettig, born in Booth Salvation Army Hospital, the old Millionaire Amos Shickle's Mansion in Covington on Thursday, 12 December, 1923.
John Thomas married a Miss Reeda Austin, 1954.. They have a son named John Thomas born 1955 residing at 434 Swan Circle, Elsmere, Ky.
Paul Wettig, married a Miss Eleanore Note, daughter of John Note of Wilmington, N. C.. The wedding took place in the Bethlehem Methodist Church, Walnut Hills, Cincinnati, Ohio. They have three children: David Allen (12), Martha Ann (9), Janette (5). They reside at 10 Barbara Circle, Port Wright, Covington, Ky..
George Louis Wettig (given by Mrs. Albert E. Wettig of 2508 Greenwood Avenue, Louisville, Ky.). born 27 March 1856, died 6 April 1942, buried in New Albany, Indiana. He married Sarah, (known as Sallie) Margaret Droate, born 11 September 1856, died 11 January 1937, buried in New Albany, Indiana. Their descendents are: Cora Louise Wettig, born 13 January, 1880, died 5 June, 1955; Walter D. Wettig, born 2
ary, 1889; Kathryn Marie, born 2 May, 1891.
Cora Louise Wettig Left no heirs. Cora is buried in New Albany, Indiana
Walter D. Wettig married Clara Kleiber, born 26 February, 1884. Their Children and Grandchildren: Son Wilburn Kleiber Wettig, born 23 January, 1905married Mildred Bennett, died January 1946. Wilbur(n) and Mildred had two daughters: Gloria Jean and Barbara Ann; both married. Wilbur(n) remarried. This wife's name is Estelle, and they live in Glendale, California.
Walter & Mildred's second son, Walter Voris, born 8 December, 1907. was not married and lived with his mother in New Albany, Indiana.
Albert Edward Wettig, born 9 January, 1889, married Jessie Catherine Winn, born 25 July, 1891. Their descendents are: Albert Richard Wettig, George Winn Wettig and Joan Elizabeth Wettig.
George Wettig Family Grandsons, Granddaughters and Greatgrandchildren: Albert Richard, born 19 June, 1912, married Virginia Clark, born 16 May, 1913.They have three single children: David Richard, Albert Edward (321) (nickname Tony), Philip Clark.
George Winn Wettig, born 11 January, 1916, married Mary Murphy, born 22 May, 1923. They have four children: Maureen, Michael,Kathleen and Margaret, living in the vicinity of Louisville, Ky..
Joan Elizabeth Wettig, born 11 July, 1929, single and living with her parents, Albert and Jessie Wettig at 2506 Greenwood Avenue in Louisville. Joan is teaching in vicinity of Louisville, Ky. - children who are visually handicapped.Last report is that she is teaching in a Catholic School and because of her liberal contributions to the handicapped children, she was given an honorary degree.
Kathryn Marie Wettig, born 2 May, 1891, married Lum Howell. born 11 April, 1871, died October 1948. They had one daughter, Margaret Ann Howell, born 1 July, 1923, who married Thomas Mimmo and is living in California. The Mimmo;s have four children: Lynn, Lauren, Thomas, Lary. Kathryn Howell is living in St. Petersburgh, Fla as of this date (1/16/63).
