Washington County Biographies



Part of the Wisconsin Biographies Project



Rev. Michael Wenker

Rev. Michael Wenker, Resident Priest of St. Kilian's Catholic Church, Hartford; is the son of Sebastian and Mary (Keiffer) Wenker, and was born in Strasbourg, Alsace, Germany, Sept. 29, 1839; came to America with his parents in 1843, and made his home in the town of Clyman, Dodge Co.; he was educated at the following institutions of learning: Notre Dame University, Indiana, where he spent two years, and at St. Francis' Seminary, Milwaukee, where he attended six years; from there went to Montreal, Canada, and spent two years at the Grand Seminary; then returned to St. Francis' Seminary, and one year later, Nov. 5, 1865, he was regularly ordained. He was assigned immediately to the town of Addison, Washington Co.; there he built the SS. Peter and Paul's church, and was in charge of that congregation three years and eight months; next went to Newberg, and served in the Trinity Church in that place for eight months; from there he went to St. Francis' Seminary, and served as Professor of the Holy Scriptures, Geography and Mathematics, two years; he was then assigned to Victor Church, at Monroe, Greene Co., where he served one year an two months; from there he came to Hartford, in 1872, and entered upon his present charge; about 1875, he sold the old church property, and, in 1876, the fine brick structure (St. Kilian's Church) was built under his supervision; he has not been in charge of St. Kilian's Church about nine years.

Sources: