Henry M. Wiener

From History of Frederick County. p. 1121-1122:

Henry M. Wiener, a retired farmer, who is the oldest continuous resident, of Burkittsville, Md., and a prominent member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, was born in Middletown, Frederick County, Md., September 2, 1840, son of Michael and Margaret (Goetz) Wiener.

Mr. Wiener’s grandfather, George Wiener, was a farmer, who was born, passed his life, and died in Bavaria, Germany. The names of but two of his children are known to his descendants here; they are, George, who died in Germany, leaving two sons and a daughter; and Michael.

Michael Wiener was born in the town of Allzuheim (meaning all at home), in Bavaria, on February 5, 1804. He worked on his father’s farm, and attended the village schools until he was fourteen years of age, when he was engaged to work in a brewery. He married Miss Margaret Goetz, who was born in Germany, May 15, 1802. In June, 1834, Michael Wiener and his wife set sail, with their son Andrew, from Bremen, bound for Baltimore, where they landed on the 3rd of August. It was a courageous undertaking, for they had but little means wherewith to begin life in the “new world.” They soon set out from Baltimore for Point of Rocks, Frederick County, by rail; the cars were at that time propelled by horsepower. Mr. Wiener’s object was to obtain employment on the railroad, which was then being extended westward. But, being attacked by chills and fever, he was compelled to remain for three months at Frederick.

Leaving Frederick, they went to a farm near the present location of the town of Harmony; there they lived with a family named Stufflemichael, and worked on the farm for three years. They then removed to Middletown. Md., where for ten years Mr. Wiener was employed in the tannery of George Schlosser. The next removal was to Burkittsville, where he bought the tan yard of Ezra Slifer, at the western end of the town, on October 1, 1846. A rough-cast log house stood on the property, which afforded a home for the family until 1849, when Michael Wiener bought from the Rev. David Biddle, of Roanoke, Va., the house now owned by his son, Henry M. Wiener. Michael Wiener conducted the tannery alone until 1864, when he admitted his son to partnership, the firm being thenceforth known as Michael Wiener & Son. In 1879, Henry M. Wiener purchased his father’s interest in the business, and continued to conduct it until 1893, since which date he has lived retired.

Michael Wiener died, March 11, 1891; his burial place is the cemetery of the Catholic Church at Petersville, of which church he was a member from the time of his arrival until his death. In politics, he was always a Democrat of the Jackson stamp; he served in some minor offices. His wife died, June 11, 1872, and was buried in the cemetery beside him. Their children are:

1, Andrew, who died in Frederick, in 1890. He was a tanner. Andrew Wiener married Miss Cutshall; 2, Mary Ann, now the widow of David Arnold, of Burkittsville; 3, Catherine, wife of Dr. Thomas E. Hardy; she died in Burkittsville; Dr. Hardy also died in 1906; 4, Henry M. Wiener, born in Middletown, Frederick County, Md., September 2, 1840. He was but six years old when his father bought the Slifer tannery at Burkittsville, and grew to manhood in this village. He was educated in the public schools of Burkittsville, and at the age of eighteen began work in his father’s tanyard; his subsequent connection with the business has already been described.

Henry M. Wiener was married at St, Martin’s Church, Baltimore, by the Rev. John Foley, now Bishop of Detroit, on May 6, 1868, to Miss Frances A., daughter of Delaroy and Ann Margaret Miller, of Howard County, Md. Their children are: 1, Bertha Marie, at home; 2, Michael Jenkins, at home.

Mr. Wiener and his family are members of St. Mary’s Catholic Church. In politics, he has always been Democratic. He was made a Justice of the Peace in 1900, and served until May, 1908.