WI BIO - Dane Co - WOELFEL, S. G.
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol II, pp 634-636

Rev. S. G. WOELFEL, came to East Bristol [Dane County], Wisconsin, from 
Farmersville, Dodge County, Wisconsin, 07 November 1886, to become priest in 
charge of St. Joseph Congregation. He [S. G. WOELFEL] was born at Elm Grove 
[Waukesha County], Wisconsin, of Bavarian parents, who [p 635] came here in 
1844, being pioneers of the locality. [At that time Waukesha County was not 
yet created, and was still part of Milwaukee County, Territory of Wisconsin, 
until Waukesha County was created on 31 January 1846; WI became a state on 29 
May 1848.] The father bought a farm at Franklin, near Elm Grove, Wisconsin, 
and there he died 11 October 1889, but his [S. G.'s] mother resided with our 
subject [S. G.] There were three children in the family: Cornelia, of 
Franklin; John, a farmer of Franklin; and our subject [S. G. WOELFEL]. The 
father was a very industrious man, his means were small, but he labored on 
with the great desire of educating his children. Thirteen acres were all he 
owned at Elm Grove, but by dint of the closest economy, he managed to save 
enough to enable him to take his little family to Milwaukee and educate them.

The grandfather of our subject, Oldrich WOELFEL, was a Bavarian, who after 
the death of his wife, decided to come to America. He started to America in 
a sailing vessel, landed in New York, came by way of the Erie Canal to 
Buffalo [Erie County, NY], by lake to Milwaukee, and after some 
investigation, bought eighty acres of land at Elm Grove for $150 [less than 
$2 per acre]. His son George now owns the place, which he could sell for 
$250 an acre. Here the grandfather [Oldrich WOELFEL] bought land and built a 
log house in which were sheltered six persons, and there commenced a pioneer 
life in earnest. It was a toil and privation, which is remembered with 
amazement by many who passed safely through those days of discouragement and 
danger, and which is read of by a younger generation almost with incredulity. 
Fifteen years passed away here, things growing better and more comfortable 
every year. Wheat and potatoes were raised on the farm and hauled to market 
to Milwaukee, some miles distant. The family then removed to Charlesburgh 
[Charlesburg], in Calumet County [created in 1836], where a few years later 
the grandfather died. He [Oldrich WOELFEL] had a family of seven children as 
follows: (1) Frederick, a large farmer at Elm Grove [Waukesha County]; (2) 
Conrad, who was drowned in the Milwaukee River in 1846 [when Waukesha County 
was still part of Milwaukee County, until 31 January 1846, and when both 
counties were still part of the Territory of Wisconsin]; (3) the father of 
our subject [whose name is not provided]; (4) John, who went to California 
in 1850 and was never after heard from, probably dying of yellow fever [no 
evidence for biographer's conclusion as to cause of death provided]; (5) 
George, a large farmer of Elm Grove; (6) George, a farmer of Charlesburgh 
[Charlesburg, Calumet County], Wisconsin; and (6) Catherine, who married 
John WOELFEL. [John WOELFEL related to this WOELFEL family? Note there are 
two children listed who are named George.]

The father of our subject was the third child in the family, and was born in 
Rohldorf, in Bavaria, and was married in December 1844. All the family have 
been identified with the Roman Catholic Church. Father [S. G.] WOELFEL was 
thoroughly educated in St. Francis Seminary in Milwaukee, and was ordained at 
that place. His first pastorate was at Caledonia [Racine County], Wisconsin, 
where he remained four years and had two congregations. Then he went to 
Orockie [?], where he remained four years more, thence to Mayville, Dodge 
County [WI], and from there to Farmersville [Dodge County, WI], where he 
remained four years, and then came to his present charge [East Bristol, Dane 
County, WI].

At this place Father WOELFEL has a congregation of 125 families. The old 
church was built in 1864, at a cost of $6,000, but when the present incumbent 
came he soon found it inadequate, and the old building was used in part 
construction of the new, being used in the basement. The new church, erected 
in the three years of our subject's pastorate, cost $19,000, but it is not 
yet completed, perhaps the whole cost will be as much as $24,000. The school 
building was erected in 1866 at a cost of $4,000. There are about 100 
children in attendance here, with three sisters [nuns] from Milwaukee as 
teachers. No doubt Father [S. G.] WOELFEL is doing a grand work here. He is 
a genial, pleasant gentleman, who exerts a great influence for the betterment 
of not only his own community, but for the people at large. The citizens owe 
him a debt for the wise way he has [p 636] managed affairs, and his own 
people are to be congratulated that they have secured so good and competent a 
man to look after their spiritual matters.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly