WEIK, Louis - Putnam

LOUIS WEIK. Of the men closely identified with the early commercial history of Greencastle no one has contributed more to its proper development and success than the late Louis Weik, who died at his home in that city April I1, 1898. Mr. Weik was born in the grand duchy of Baden, one of the little states or divisions of the German empire, June- i8, 1830. His birthplace was called Bischofsheim, in English, the Bishop's Home, a village near the eastern bank of the Rhine and about seven miles from the city of Strassburg, famed alike for its great cathedral and its memorable siege during the Franco-German war of 1870. His father was the village baker, as also was his grandfather in fact, for generations back, that industry had been controlled by the Weik family. Even today the business is still carried on by a member of the present generation and in the same room in which the common ancestor, Christian Weik, erected the oven and molded bread in the latter half of the eighteenth century. After learning the trade, the subject of this sketch crossed the Rhine into French territory, where he found work in Strassburg, near the house where Gutenburg, the inventor of printing, experimented with his "movable types." Meanwhile he had been an earnest and diligent student at the public schools of the day and by virtue of persistent application had made unusual progress in his studies. In the curriculum of the German schools great stress has always been laid upon mental arithmetic and in this regard the young pupil was remarkably apt and proficient. There being thirteen children in his father's family, of which he was the fifth in order of birth and also the eldest son, Louis Weik conceived the idea of setting out in the world for himself and thus making a little more room for the already crowded household. Besides, he yearned longingly for a sight of the great, unsettled and inviting land across the Atlantic. In due time his opportunity came. Two of his friends having determined to emigrate to America, he secured the consent of his parents to join them. Accordingly, on the 1st day of August, 1848, he bade his family and friends farewell, took a seat in the diligence for Paris and rode away from his birthplace destined never to see it again. Two days later he sailed from Havre in the good ship "L'Aurore" bound for New York. An ocean voyage in those days was no inconsequential matter, especially if one shipped as a steerage passenger; and, in this instance, it was forty- three days before the young immigrant passed through the gates of Castle Garden in New York harbor. A few days later he left the great city on Manhattan island en route to his destination, Cincinnati. The journey was long and tedious, by river, canal, lake and rail; but once arrived, he promptly went to work at his trade. The river traffic of that day outstripped all other kinds of inland transportation and Cincinnati, being the most important point between Pittsburg and New Orleans, was indeed the Omen City and reigned supreme. It was a splendid school for the young artisan, eager, vigorous and determined to win. After several years spent in Cincinnati he decided to try life in a country town and accordingly accepted a situation in Greencastle, Indiana, to which place he removed in the spring of 1853. It was the last removal he ever made. For several years he followed his trade, being employed by John Weinhart, Jesse Holmes, J. F. Duckworth, Pleasant Hubbard and John Burley in succession till 1858, when he became the partner of the last named in a business already established. In 1862 he withdrew from the firm and formed a partnership with William WT. Lyon, which continued till 1875. From the latter year until 188o he was associated with Edward Allen, after which he carried on the business himself, with the assistance of his sons, until his death. On February 11, 1854, Mr. Weik was married to Mary E. King, who gave birth, to a daughter July II, 1855, and died December 17th in the same year. On November 17, 1856, he was united in marriage with Katherine Schmidt, who died October 1o, 1881. Of this latter union were born seven children, one daughter and six sons, two of whom died before attaining manhood. Before he had left Cincinnati Mr. Weik had joined the order of Odd Fellows and also the Everett Street Methodist church and shortly after his removal to Greencastle he became a Freemason. After 1861 he affiliated with the Republican party, but never sought any sort of political reward or preferment. The only public office he ever, accepted was that of city councilman, to which position he was chosen by his fellow citizens and neighbors without his solicitation and despite his refusal to become a candidate. Louis Weik was a splendid type of the foreign-born American citizen. Although he had passed through the fanaticism and violence of the Know- nothing period and had endured the opprobrium and abuse heaped upon those who happened to have migrated from beyond the national boundaries, yet he was, from the beginning, a steadfast, uncompromising and unyielding champion of America and American institutions. He had unquestioned faith in the people and the profoundest affection for the government and allowed no man to surpass him in loyalty, zeal and veneration for the country of his adoption. At the same time he was not ashamed of the land of his nativity in fact was proud of her history and her achievements. Born to labor, he took pride in his calling and in every way strove to elevate and improve it ; he was honest and invariably square in all his dealings, thereby winning and maintaining the approval and good will of his neighbors ; instinctively modest, he never boasted, never prated of his own doings ; candid and sincere by nature, he could not flatter, could not cajole ; unremitting in his devotion to his family, and sacrificing much that they might receive the best education and training that his means would admit, he labored to the very end and, although he could bequeath to them no great estate, he left them that which is beyond all material accumulations the aroma and sanctity of a good name.