298 – Priscilla Weyeneth

Mark Jarvis

Recall that Benedict Weyeneth was the first elder of the Apostolic Christian Church in America. He and his wife and family settled in Roanoke, Woodford County, Illinois around 1857.

Our families descend from Benedict’s parents through Benedict’s brother Jacob Weyeneth.

Jacob and Elizabeth Weyeneth to America

Jacob and Elizabeth Weyeneth left Switzerland in 1869, intent on joining Jacob’s brother Benedict in Illinois.

They boarded the ship Westphalia in Le Havre, France around May 1, 1869, and arrived in New York May 11. From New York they traveled to Woodford County, Illinois.

Passenger List – Weyeneth family – SS Westphalia – April/May 1869

Roanoke, Illinois

The Jacob Weyeneth family arrived in Roanoke. Perhaps they stayed with Jacob’s brother Benedict when they first arrived. Benedict had helped found an Apostolic Christian Church (“New Amish”) in Roanoke. By 1869, it had a large congregation.

The Weyeneth family immigrated with seven children, all born in Switzerland. On August 30, 1870, just a few months after they arrived in Illinois, a daughter Priscilla was born.

Jacob Weyeneth was a school teacher. He taught for a year at nearby Tremont, then began teaching in Roanoke.

The Weyeneths bought a house and six lots in the town of Roanoke.

Why Art Thou Grieved? – Zion’s Harp – Hymnal of Apostolic Christian Church

Jacob Weyeneth died

Jacob Weyeneth died February 8, 1874, just five years after arriving in Illinois. He was age 49. We don’t have a death record or a cause of death.

A difficult spot

Jacob’s death left Elizabeth in a difficult position. She had no way to earn an income. She had three young daughters and one young son at home, including one daughter who had special needs. She would have to rely on her older sons and daughter to provide for the family.

Census – Elizabeth Weyeneth – Roanoke, Woodford County, Illinois – 1880

The 1880 census shows Elizabeth’s household members. Elizabeth is age 55. Son Adolph Weyeneth, age 22, is living at home, probably helping to provide for the family.

Daughter Maria, 16, has special needs, but is listed as attending school. Ernest, 12, and Priscilla, 9, also attend school. As we will see, Priscilla has taken on responsibilities as caregiver for Maria, and later for her mother too.

Priscilla Weyeneth and John Maninger

No doubt Priscilla met John Maninger at church, though she lived in Roanoke and John lived near Gridley, a distance of twenty miles. Their churches were intertwined.

The origin of the church at Gridley was a result of considerable help from the brethren at the “prairie” church of Roanoke. Ministers from there would come and conduct services in homes for the handful of members who lived in the area.

Marching to Zion – A History of the Apostolic Christian Church in America

Throughout the early 1880s, Priscilla Weyeneth and John Maninger got to know each other. In late 1884, John Maninger informed Priscilla that his family was moving to Kansas. John was 17, Priscilla 14.

It’s easy to imagine that they would grow apart living in different states. But they didn’t. It’s possible that John some made trips back to Illinois from Harper. News articles document occasional trips by Smith and Maninger relatives.

Priscilla couldn’t leave

Whatever their relationship, Priscilla wouldn’t leave home. She was a committed caregiver to her mother and her sister Maria. Priscilla’s brother Adolf was a big help too.

Elizabeth Weyeneth’s will

Elizabeth Weyeneth worried what would happen to her daughter Maria after she died. In 1886, she was age 62, but her health wasn’t the best. She had a lawyer write a will.

In a poignant declaration, she acknowledged that she valued her children equally, but she also acknowledged that Priscilla had been devoted to care for her and Maria.

She made provisions that any money from her estate would be given to her friend Fred Isch to spend on Maria’s welfare. She also acknowledged that the moneys from her estate would likely run out during Maria’s lifetime.

Will – Elizabeth Weyeneth – 1866

Elizabeth Weyeneth died

Elizabeth Weyeneth died on Monday, February 4, 1889. She was 64.

Priscilla was released from her obligations taking care of her mother.

Maria?

I wish I could tell you what happened to Maria Weyeneth. But I can’t.

Let’s hope Elizabeth’s estate afforded some way to care for Maria. And let’s thank Fred Isch if he was able to administer care for Maria.

Priscilla seems to have been released from her obligations taking care of Maria.

Perhaps Priscilla’s brother Adolph provided some funding for Maria’s care. While four of the Weyeneth siblings moved to Kansas, Adolph, Anna, Elisa, and Maria stayed in Illinois.

Adolph became a prosperous farmer. When Adolph died thirty years later, he remembered Priscilla in his will for caring for their mother.

Will – Adolph Weyeneth – Woodford County, Illinois – 1919

John and Priscilla

John Maninger traveled from Kansas to Illinois for Priscilla’s mother’s funeral.

He and Priscilla reconnected, and discussed their future.

Marriage

Priscilla Weyeneth and John Maninger married Friday, November 29, 1889, at the courthouse in Anthony, Kansas, Judge W.A. Shoemaker presiding. Anthony is the county seat of Harper County. Priscilla was age 19, John 23.

Marriage license and certificate – John Maninger and Priscilla Weyeneth – Harper County, Kansas – November 29, 1889

The bride and groom

John and Priscilla Maninger – November 1889

Sources:

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