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WIEDER FAMILY
Gregorie Wieder (1849-1899), the founder of the Wieder family of
Ocean Springs was an Alsatian immigrant. Circa 1873, he married
Dora Armbruster (1848-1924), a native of Wurtemberg, Germany. The
newly weds came to America in 1873, probably landing at New
Orleans. They came to Ocean Springs circa 1876, as their first
child, Magdalene “Lena” Wieder (1875-1931), was born in Louisiana.
The remainder of the Wieder children came into the world at Ocean
Springs: Joseph A. Wieder (1877-1960), Adolph Wieder (1879-1931),
Francis Antony Wieder (1881-1954), John Martin Wieder (1884-1885),
Philip James Wieder (1887-1985) and Mary Wieder Hovelmeir
(1890-1986).
In Ocean Springs, Gregoire Wieder made his livelihood as
a building contractor, a profession which most of his sons
followed. Before his demise on June 21, 1899, he and his sons were
erecting a cottage on East Porter for Ross Switzer (1875-1945).(The
Pascagoula Democrat-Star, January 1898, p. 3)
Madalene Wieder
Madalene “Lena” Wieder (1875-1931) was born April 4, 1875, in New
Orleans. She married Issac P. Carver (1873-1921), the son of David
Carver (1836-1900+) and Matilda J. Breakfield (1846-1925). The
Carvers had no children. In 1910, Mr. Carver made his livelihood as
a house carpenter. Isaac P. Carver expired at his Ocean Springs
home on December 8, 1921. Lena W. Carver died on March 11, 1931.
The Carvers were interred in the Evergreen Cemetery on Old Fort
Bayou.(The Daily Herald, December 14, 1921, p. 7 and March 12,
1931, p. 2)
Joseph A. Wieder
Joseph A. Wieder (1877-1960) was born on July 13, 1877.
In December 1900, he married Maria Mathilda “Tillie” Endt
(1873-1964) who was born at New Orleans on September 23, 1873. She
was the daughter of Michel Endt (1823-1880), a native of Baden,
Germany, and Theresa Herman (1839-1914), an 1866 immigrant
from Rheishoff, Alsace, France. Joseph A. Wieder made his
livelihood as a carpenter and house contractor. In 1910, he built
the Frank H. Bryan home at 406 Jackson Avenue and very probably the
Sheldon-Pattison-Cole home at 527 Cleveland Avenue. (Lepre, 1991, p.
103 and JXCO, Ms. Circuit Court MRB 7, p. 128)
J.A. Wieder and Tillie Endt were the parents of two children: Celia
W. Davis (1902-1956), the wife of postmaster, Oscar T. Davis
(1894-1963), and Joseph Charles Wieder (1905-1990), who married
Lelia Cox (1911-1970) of Biloxi in March 1934 and Theodora Smith
Seymour (1910-1970), a New Orleans native and the widow of Bernard
P. “Bennie” Seymour (1908-1969), in January 1973. J.C. Wieder was
a plumber and superintendent of the Ocean Springs Municipal Water
Department. Joseph Street, formerly called Middle Avenue and
Wausau, on the south side of WAMA was named for him by Sadie Catchot
Hodges (1894-1973) when she was City Clerk.(J.K. Lemon, September
1993 and JXCO, Ms. MRB 22, p. 131 and MRB 120, p. 427)
424
Washington Avenue
The
Joseph A. Wieder home, a Queen Anne raised cottage, was erected
circa 1904 on the southeast corner Washington Avenue and Joseph
Street, present day 424 Washington Avenue. The 150' by 100' Wieder
lot, a part of Lot 14 and Lot 15-Block 4 (Culmseig Map 1854) was
acquired by J.A. Wieder in May 1904 from Delphine Bellande Ryan
(1844-pre 1926) for $225.(JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 28, p. 279)
On
July 17, 1963, George A. Smith and Wanda W. Smith conveyed the
property to James W. Wilson, Dempsey M. Levy, and Earl L. Denham,
d/b/a Levi, Wilson & Denham, Attorneys-at-Law. The Denham group of
advocates occupy this structure today.(JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 469,
p. 348)
Joseph
A. Wieder expired on September 18, 1960. Mrs. Wieder lived until
April 6, 1964. She was a resident of 1006 Middle Avenue at the time
of her demise. She and J.A. Wieder are at eternal rest in the
Southern Memorial Park cemetery in Biloxi.(The Daily Herald,
April 6, 1964, p. 2)
Adolph Wieder
Adolph Wieder (1879-1931) was born at Ocean Springs on
July 15, 1879. He married Catherine “Katie” Mueller (1882-1963), on
April 15, 1918 at New Orleans. She was the daughter of Joseph
Muller and Marie Landry. They were childless.(Lepre, 1991, p. 361
and Orleans Parish, MRB 40, p. 964)
Mr.
Wieder was in the construction business at Ocean Springs before he
became caretaker of the Benjamin Estate, that seventy-acre, park and
garden setting created by Annie L. Benjamin (1848-1938) of
Milwaukee. Situated on “Benjamin Point”, now “Sea Pointe”, Mrs.
Benjamin’s domain consisted of magnolia, oak, palm, and pine on an
isolated peninsula surrounded by over one and one-half miles of
shoreline and marsh of the Back Bay of Biloxi and Fort Bayou.(The
Daily Herald, September 4, 1931, p. 5)
Adolph
Wieder was elected Alderman from Ward-at-Large and served Ocean
Springs in 1929-1930. He expired on September 4, 1931 at the Biloxi
Hospital following surgery in August 1931. Catherine M. Wieder died
on July 18, 1963, in her home at 425 Porter. Both rest eternally in
the Evergreen Cemetery in Ocean Springs.(Schmidt, 1972, p. 135)
Francis A. Wieder
Francis A. “Frank” Wieder (1881-1954) was born at Ocean Springs on
April 27, 1881. On June 1, 1912, he married Rosa C. Ladnier
(1886-1966), the daughter of Emile Ladnier (1868-1937) and Angeline
Ryan (d. 1903), at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church. Mr. Wieder made
his livelihood as a carpenter (1900) and bridge tender in his latter
years. He worked with his brothers Joseph Weider (1877-1960) and
Adolph Wieder (1879-1931).(Lepre, 1991, p. 361 and JXCO, MRB 9, p.
415)
In
March 1920, Frank A. Wieder performed a heroic act on the streets of
Ocean Springs, which may have save lives. The F.E. Schmidt bakery
wagon was driverless with only its runaway horse in harness, when it
came dashing from Government Street on to Washington Avenue.
Wieder was walking on the sidewalk near present day Moran’s Real
Estate and Insurance building when he attempted to halt the delivery
wagon by grabbing the head of the nervous horse. Foiled, he leapt
into the rear of the vehicle and rapidly got to the front of the
wagon and held the reins until the animal quit. The incident was
witnessed by the Chief of Police of Biloxi who was a pedestrian at
Washington and Government when the runaway bakery wagon turned the
corner.(The Jackson County Times, March 13, 1920, p. 5)
505
Washington Avenue
In
November 1941, Edith Thomas Armstrong (1887-1967) and Walter G.
Armstrong (1878-1945) conveyed their circa 1905 Queen Anne cottage
at 505 Washington Avenue to Frank A. Wieder and spouse for $2500.
Mrs. Rose L. Wieder legated this edifice to her nephew, Arthur D.
Webber II, in January 1965. WAMA owns this lovely structure today
which is opposite the museum.(JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 79, pp.
246-247 and Will Bk. 9, p. 277)
John
Martin Wieder
John M. Wieder was born at Ocean Springs on January 8,
1884. He died August 6, 1885. No further information.(Lepre,
1991, p. 361)
Philip James Wieder
Philip James Wieder (1887-1985) was on December 30, 1887. On August
6, 1925, Philip J. Wieder married Mary Choyce Rouse (1895-1952), the
daughter of Ambrose Rouse of Vancleave, at the St. Alphonsus
Catholic Church. Their children were: Philip J. "Jackie" Wieder,
Jr. (1926-1993) who married Georgia Nell Broome (1930-1996) and
Edith Wieder; and Dixie Ann Wieder (b. 1929) who married Emil Roman
Peltz (b. 1922) and Newton Perry Gautier (b. 1926). The family
resided at 57 Ward Avenue.(Lepre, 1991, p. 361 JXCO, Ms. MRB 17. p.
3, MRB 62, p. 9, MRB 49, 341 and MRB 71, p. 447)
Wieder-Engbarth garage
During
WWI, Philip J. Wieder received his military training at Mississippi
A&M College. While there, he was also trained in auto mechanics.
Although he had worked with his father and brothers in the
contracting business, Philip J. Wieder returned to Ocean Springs in
1919, and went into the auto repair business with Claude Engbarth
(1893-1967) another local of German ancestry. The Wieder-Engbarth
Garage building was located at 14 County Road, which is present day
1025 Government Street. It was erected in January 1920, on “County
Road”. The name of this local, east-west thoroughfare was changed
to Government Street in February 1920, by the Mayor and Board of
Aldermen. A petition presented by a group of citizens requesting
the name change. The city government, headed by Mayor A.J. Catchot
(1864-1954), deemed this request appropriate.(The Jackson County
Times, July 27, 1918 and January 24, 1920)
At this time, the automobile industry was rapidly growing in America
and the rural South. The transition in transportation from animal
power to machines was progressing geometrically. In 1920,
Mississippi was estimated to have 55,000 automobiles. Of the
coastal counties, Harrison led with 1300 motorcars. It was followed
by Jackson County with 700 autos, while Hancock County had only 350
cars at this time.
In the spring of 1922, P.J. Wieder and Claude Engbarth dissolved
their partnership. In May 1922, Engbarth built a garage and auto
dealership structure on Washington Avenue at the present day
location of Miner’s Big Stuff Doll & Toy Store at 927 Washington
Avenue. Blossman Inc. demolished the old Engbarth garage in 1971.(The
Daily Herald, May 23, 1922, p. 8 and The Ocean Springs Record,
January 7, 1971, p. 1)
Phil
Wieder continued his garage and repair business on Government Street
and Cash, until September 1926, when he built a small gas station
and associated garage building just west of his original garage.
The new operation was called the Weider Service Station. Mr. Wieder
sold Texaco products. Phil Wieder also had a coal yard on the
property. The Jackson County Times of September 18, 1926,
announced that:
Phil Wieder has opened his new auto repair and oil station
near his former business place. He carries a line of auto
accessories and tires. Phil is a good mechanic and should do well
in his new place.
In February 1949, Philip J. Wieder sold his now Pan-Am Station on
Government Street to Merril F. Scharr (1904-1977) and E.S. Josey.(The
Jackson County Times, February 4, 1949, p. 1)
The
original Wieder-Engbarth Garage was vended by Philip J. Weider to
Casie M. Parker and Arnold Lavois Parker (1915-1953) in July 1944.
The Parkers operated their feed store business from this building.
The derelict structure was demolished in the fall of 1996 and
replicated by Jerry Pelham, a native of Graceville, Florida. Lady
Di's, a floral gallery, which opened in June 1997, is situated in
the east half of the edifice today.(JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 87, p.
15)
Philip J. Wieder and Choyce Wieder resided on Ward
Avenue. She expired on August 5, 1952. He lived a full life
passing on August 16, 1985. Both were interred in the Evergreen
Cemetery on Old Fort Bayou.(The Gulf Coast Times, August 7, 1952,
p. 8)
Mary Wieder
Mary Wieder (1890-1986) was born August 21, 1890, at Ocean Springs.
She married Henry B. Hovelmeier (1888-1954). He was born in
Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, the son of Joseph Hovelmeier and Louise
Shrettcocke. His siblings were: Mrs. Andrew Thompson; Annie
Hovelmeier (1887-1971); Katherine Hovelmeier (1893-1975); and Gus
Hovelmeier (1896-1982).(The Daily Herald, March 22, 1954, p. 13
and SSDI)
Mary and Henry B. Hovelmeier were the parents of: Dorothy Hovelmeier
(1918-2003) who married George V. Borries (1917-1974); Frances
Hovelmeier (1923-1992) who married Arthur W. Carman (1923-1990), a
native of St. Maries, Idaho and the son of Frances Carman and Pearls
I. Ells; and Mary Alice Hovelmeier who married Ralph D. Owen.
Henry B. Hovelmeier was a career US Navy
serviceman. He enlisted in 1909 and was a veteran of WWI and WWII
retiring as a Chief Petty Officer. In February 1926, Hovelmeier was
recalled to active duty after sixteen years of service. He reported
to Hampton Roads for training before his duty assignment at New
Orleans. Mr. Hovelmeier settled at Ocean Springs in 1917. He was a
member of the VFW, American Legion, and worshiped at St. Alphonsus
Catholic Church. Henry B. Hovelmeier expired on March 21, 1954.
Mary Wieder Hovelmeier lived until July 23, 1986. She and Mr.
Hovelmeier rest for eternity in the Evergreen Cemetery on Old Fort
Bayou.(The Jackson County Times, February 27, 1926, p. 3 and The
Daily Herald, March 22, 1954, p. 13 and The Sun Herald, July 25,
1986, p. A-2)
Epilogue
This
particular series “German families of Ocean Springs” commenced in
March 2003. Thank you for your patience, if the subject didn’t
interest you. Hopefully, some benefited from my research. To
close, I sincerely thank the many descendants of the aforementioned
families who contributed their time and information in educating me
about their forbearers.
I am including a chronological index of the German families in this
article, which follows: Arndt-March 27, 2003; Bechtel-April 10,
2003; Behrens-May 1, 2003; Bellman-May 8, 2003; Beuhler-June 12,
2003; Boes-June 19, 2003; Buttner-June 19, 2003; Domning-July 3,
2003; Eglin-August 28, 2003; Endt-September 25, 2003; Engbarth-October
9, 2003; Forkert-October 30, 2003; Geiger-November 6, 2003; Goos-November
6, 2003; Gottsche-November 6, 2003; Granitz-November 27, 2003;
Hellmers-November 27, 2003; Hoffman-December 4, 2003; Hovelmeir-December
18, 2003;
Illing-December
18, 2003; Joachim-January 1, 2004; Kuppersmith-January 29, 2004;
Letzler-January 29, 2004; Lorenzen-January 29, 2004; Mohler-February
5, 2004; Pabst-March 11, 2004; Pfefferle-March 18, 2004; Rehage-March
18, 2004; Riehm-April 1, 2004; Rupp-April 1, 2004; Scharenberg-April
8, 2004; Scharr-April 15, 2004; Schluter-April 29, 2004;
Schmidt-April 29, 2004; Shrieber-May 13, 2004; Sidenstricker- May
27, 2004; von Rosambeau-June 3, 2004; Weyerstall-July 8, 2004;
Wieder-July 15, 2004.
REFERENCES:
Chancery Court
Jackson
County, Mississippi Chancery Court Cause No. 4773, “American
Telephone & Telegraph v. Frank Wieder”, December
1926.
Jackson
County, Mississippi Chancery Court Cause No. 11569, “Georgia
Nell Wieder v. Philip W. Wieder”, November 1951.
Jackson
County, Mississippi Chancery Court Cause No. 11866, “Georgia
Nell Wieder v. Philip W. Wieder”, September 1952.
Jackson
County, Mississippi Chancery Court Cause No. 12480, “Philip W.
Wieder v. Georgia Nell Wieder”, March 1954.
Jackson
County, Mississippi Chancery Court Cause No. 12511, “Last Will
of H.B. Hovelmeier”-December 1954.
Jackson
County, Mississippi Chancery Court Cause No. 56132-“Estate of
Joseph Charles Wieder”-(see JXCO, Ms. Land Deed Bk. 964,
p. 54)
Journals
The
Biloxi Daily Herald, “Local and Personal”, June 23, 1899.
The
Daily Herald, “Ocean Springs”, December 14, 1921.
The
Daily Herald, “Ocean Springs”, May 23, 1922.
The
Daily Herald, “Madalene W. Carver”, March 12, 1931, p. 2.
The
Daily Herald, “Adolph Wieder Dies”, September 4, 1931.
The
Daily Herald, “Hovelmeier Death”, March 22, 1954.
The
Daily Herald, “Mrs. Mathilda Wieder”, April 6, 1964.
The
Daily Herald, “Mrs. Lelia Wieder”, December 26, 1970.
The
Daily Herald, “George V. Borries”, December 19?, 1974.
The
Gulf Coast Times,
“Mrs.
Wieder Dies Early Tuesday At Local Home”,
August 7, 1952.
The
Jackson County Times,
"Local News Interest", January 24, 1920.
The
Jackson County Times, “Stopped Runaway Horse”, March 13,
1920.
The
Jackson County Times, “Death of Mrs. G. Wieder”, February
2, 1924.
The
Jackson County Times, “Local and Personal”, February 27,
1926.
The
Jackson County Times,
“Pan-Am Service Station Sold By Phil Wieder”,
February 4, 1949.
The
Ocean Springs Record,
"Former Essex Agency Falls To Progress", January 7, 1971.
The
Ocean Springs Record, “Joseph Charles Wieder”, June 28,
1990.
The
Ocean Springs Record, “Philip J. Wieder Jr.”, July 29,
1993.
The
Pascagoula Democrat-Star, “Ocean Springs Locals”, January
21, 1898.
The
Sun Herald, “Mrs. Mary Hovelmeier”, July 25, 1986.
The
Sun Herald, “Mrs. Dorothy Hovelmier Borries”, June 12,
2003.
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By
Ray L. Bellande