Rev. Charles S. Wieand and Leonora M. Sell [11-130]

[11-130] REV. CHARLES S. WIEAND, b Feb. 28, 1848; d Oct. 7, 1919; s Charles W. and Susanna (Krauss) Wieand [11-54]; m July 1, 1875, LEONORA M. SELL, b Sept. 3, 1856; d Nov. 10, 1916; dau Charles R. M. Sell.

Children (7):

j. Irma C., b Apr. 20, 1877; 4615 Sansom St., Phila., Pa. Teacher of Languages, West Phila. "High School for Girls.

Rev. Charles S. Wieand was graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in June, 1874. Even before his graduation, Rev. Dr. C. Z. Weiser, who lived next door to his home in East Greenville, Pa. at the time, urged that after Mr. Wieand’s graduation he should open a private school in East Greenville.

Mr. Wieand was loath to do this as his plan was to enter the Reformed Theological Seminary at Laneaster, Pa. in order to prepare for the regular ministry. Dr. Weiser, however, urged so strongly the necessity of founding a school in this section in which he was particularly interested that Mr. Wieand allowed himself to be diverted from his original plan, chose a plot between East Greenville and Pennsburg, Pa. on the line dividing the two boroughs, laid out roads and built a home and school combined.

Dr. Weiser had pledged himself to share the responsibility of instruction in the school, but he soon wearied of this and the whole responsibility, financial as well as educational, devolved upon Mr. Wieand.

Before opening the school in the fall of 1875, Mr. Wieand had married a talented lady, Miss Leonora M. Sell who had studied abroad for two years, and who assisted him by giving instruction in music and foreign languages. Her dowry had made the school possible, but the school was not a financial suecess owing to lack of support from the residents of the section and to the fact that the Normal Schools, having State aid, could afford to take pupils at much lower rates than could Perkiomen Seminary.

For nine years Mr. and Mrs. Wieand made ‘their home is the school and carried it on with many impediments and little support from those who had pledged aid, when at Christmas time in 1883, diphtheria broke out in their family and in a week deprived them of three of their four children—and weakened Mr. Wieand’s constitution to such an extent that he had to give up the school.

During the years at the school in addition to teaching Mr. Wieand had been studying theology with Dr. Weiser, and he was licensed by the classis of Goshenhoppen in 1880. In 1883 he was ordained by the same classis and installed as pastor of the Chestnut Hill congregation in Lehigh Co., Pa.,which congregation he served for one year while still principal of Perkiomen Seminary. During part of this time he also supplied the Zion’s congregation in Pottstown, Pa., and in 1884 accepted a call from that congregation, removed to Pottstown, and was installed as pastor of the Zion’s charge. For twentyfour years he labored here, building up a congregation, which owing to a church fight had been divided, from 60 to over 500 members. A chapel was completed, a parsonage was built, a new pipe organ was installed and the church was renovated three times.

In 1908 Mr. Wieand resigned and for five years served charges which happened to be without a regular pastor, the Schwenksville, the Great Swamp-Chestnut Hill, and the Shenkel charge in Chester Co., and in 1913 was elected pastor of the Shenkel charge.

After serving for five years in this charge, he resigned in 1917 and moved to Philadelphia to live with his daughter, Irma, as Mrs. Wieand had died in 1916 and his other daughter, Helen, had married and moved to New England.

For two years he enjoyed a well-earned rest but even during this time he occasionally preached in his old charge or in various churches in Philadelphia.

Rev. Wieand died on Oct. 7, 1919, from the effects of an attack of cardiac asthma.