The Schlepers and Weidners of Minnesota:Information about Pancraz-Georg Bonagratius Weidner

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Pancraz-Georg Bonagratius Weidner (b. April 07, 1825, d. October 11, 1893)

Picture of Pancraz-Georg Bonagratius Weidner

Pancraz-Georg Weidner

Pancraz-Georg Bonagratius Weidner (son of Johann Weidner Sr. and Margaret Popp)¹⁰⁸ was born April 07, 1825 in Schederndorf, (Stadelhofen), Bavaria, Germany, and died October 11, 1893 in Lake Henry, MN, USA. He married Ursula Hennemann in Buffalo Grove, IL, daughter of Johann Simon Hennemann and M. Kunigunda Dutsh.

Notes for Pancraz-Georg Bonagratius Weidner:
Pancraz-Georg or Bonagratius Weidner was born on April 7, 1825 in Schederndorf, Bavaria and came to Buffalo Grove with his family in 1846 at the age of 21.

Ursula Henneman was also born in Bavaria, on October 14, 1826, daughter of Simon Henneman and M. Kunigunda Dutsch. Ursula’s father, John Simon Henneman, was the first German immigrant in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. He arrived in Buffalo Grove from Schederndorf, Bavaria, Germany in 1846, the year before the Weidners moved to Buffalo Grove from New Trier. When Henneman sent word for his family to join him there, Ursula was 22 years old. It was in the Henneman’s log home that the first Catholic Mass in Buffalo Grove, Illinois was held in 1847.

Bonagratius Weidner and Ursula Henneman met in Buffalo Grove, Illinois and were married in the second Catholic Church (their wedding date is unknown). They had five boys and two girls: John, George, Jacob, Mary, Barbara, Michael, and Andrew. They also had 35 grandchildren. After they were married, Bonagratius and Ursula lived in Buffalo Grove for almost 40 years, farming and raising their family. They provided land for the first church in 1852 and were undoubtedly active, contributing members of the community.

In 1885 Bonagratius turned 60 years old. His mother had died 25 years earlier, and his father was 88 years old. Bonagratius was concerned about the future of his seven children, and he made an important decision that would affect future generations of Weidners.

Bonagratius was very concerned about the intermarriage that was happening within the close-knit German community of Buffalo Grove, Illinois among the immigrant families that had come over from Bavaria. The Henneman, Raupp and Schoeneberger families and others had become so intimately entwined through marriage that nearly everyone in the next generation was a first cousin/ This concern had caused his brothers Big Jake and John, Jr. to move to Nebraska in 1880. Bonagratius felt that it was time to leave Buffalo Grove, so, like his father before him, Bonagratius decided to move his family to ensure the future success.

Bonagratius and Ursula wanted to settle in another German-speaking community that would offer both economic opportunity and the chance for their children to find spouses, so in 1885 the family moved to Minnesota. They settled in a small town called Lake Henry, south of Melrose and west of Cold Spring, near Paynesville, Minnesota.

In those days when people moved, they moved by railroad. The Weidners put their horses, cattle and machinery in a boxcar along with barrels of water for the animals. When they arrived in Lake Henry, Minnesota, Bonagratius did not buy a farm for himself. Instead for $5 to $10 per acre he bought farms for each of his children. He even bought one for his daughters, which was uncommon at the time. He and his wife lived with their youngest son, Andrew.

The Weidners surely fit in well in Stearns County. With its large German Catholic population, Lake Henry was probably a lot like Buffalo Grove. The town of Lake Henry was founded in 1869. By the time the Weidners arrived 16 years later in 1885, Lake Henry, Minnesota was a well-established pioneer town with its first church which was built in 1881.

Four years after Bonagratius’ family moved to Minnesota, John Weidner, Sr. died in Buffalo Grove, Illinois on April 13, 1889. Ursula died three years later on April 23, 1892. Bonagratius died the following year on October 11, 1893, of a heart attack at age 68.

Even though Bonagratius had lived in Lake Henry for only eight years, he was very highly regarded as an outstanding man in the Lake Henry community. His obituary said, “He was known as a quiet and benevolent man who freely gave service to the glory of God, whose just rewards he is certain to enjoy in eternity.” In the late 1800’s it was not the practice of the Catholic Church to eulogize its deceased members. A funeral was considered a solemn occasion, a time to reflect on man’s eternal judgment and not to sing the praises of the deceased. However, in a stark departure from the practice at the time, the priest himself delivered a stirring eulogy for Bonagratius. The priest’s action alone indicated that Bonagratius’ character was beyond reproach, and he talked extensively of Bonagratius’ status in the community, his character, and his contributions to Lake Henry, Minnesota.

More About Pancraz-Georg Bonagratius Weidner:
Date born 2: BAVARIA.¹⁰⁹
Residence: 1880, Wheeling, Cook, Illinois.¹⁰⁹

More About Pancraz-Georg Bonagratius Weidner and Ursula Hennemann:
Marriage: Buffalo Grove, IL.

Children of Pancraz-Georg Bonagratius Weidner and Ursula Hennemann are:

John Simon Weidner, d. date unknown.
+George A. Weidner, b. March 31, 1856, IL, d. January 09, 1924, St. Paul, Ramsey County, MN.
Jacob Weidner, d. date unknown.
Mary K. Weidner, d. date unknown.
Barbara Weidner, d. date unknown.
Michael Weidner, d. date unknown.
Andrew Weidner, d. date unknown.