Rev. Andrew Spetz

1858 - Yes, date unknown

• Name	Andrew Spetz
  Prefix	Rev.
  Born	16 Dec 1858	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1, 2, 3]
  Gender	Male
  Residence	1861	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  	Roman Catholic
  Residence	1871	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  	RC
  Occupation	1906	Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States   [2]
  	Roman Catholic Priest
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-49290
  Died	Yes, date unknown
  Person ID	I49290	Generations
  Last Modified	12 May 2025

  
  

  Father	Joseph Spetz,   b. 31 Aug 1818, Lower Sulzbach, District of Thann, Upper Alsace, Germany ,   d. 20 Sep 1901, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 83 years)
  Mother	Anna Herres,   b. 29 Jul 1823, Rhenish, , Prussia ,   d. 6 Dec 1878, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 55 years)
  Married	1843	, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4]
  Family ID	F12331	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos

  Rev. Andrew Spetz From Berlin Today 1806-1906 official souvenir located at the Kitchener Public Library

  
  

• Notes

  Rev. Andrew Spetz C. R. St. Stanislaus Church, Chicago, Illinois One of the brainiest Old Boys and one of the most useful citizens Berlin has sent forth to engage in the world's work is the Rev. Andrew Spetz C. R., of Chicago. He was born on Mr. Joseph Spetz's farm in Waterloo Township, about 3 miles N. W. of Waterloo, Dec. 16th, 1858. He came to Berlin in 1865 and entered St. Mary's parochial school when there was only one school-room. Entered St. Jerome's College in 1871 and graduated in 1876; took a post-graduate course 1877 and taught at St. Jerome's in 1877 and 1878. In July of 1878 he left for Rome to join the Congregation of the Resurrection, a missionary order; made profession on March 19th, 1880 and entered the Gregorian University in Nov. of 1880. In July of 1881, he volunteered for the Bulgarian Mission and completed a course of Theology and Canon Law in Adrianople, Turkey, in the Seminary established by the Order to form a native Bulgarian clergy. Was ordained in May, 1884 and appointed Procurator of the Mission. As such he had charge of an 1800 acre farm, where he introduced Canadian plows, mowers, reapers, rakes and steam thresher, to operate which he had to train machinists. In his extensive travels in northern Turkey and Southern Bulgaria he met with several famous brigands, but after long examination escaped arrest and got a free pass forever for the reason, as the spy expressed himself : "that he was in the same business as the brigands," namely: "collecting money from the rich to help the poor" ; differing only in ways and means of getting it. To do effective work in the mission, he was obliged to master both the Turkish and Bulgarian languages. In Dec. 1888 was appointed Vice-Rector of the Pontifical Polish College in Rome. In 1890, he made a vacation tour of Tyrol, Bavaria and Southern Germany, to collect funds for the Bulgarian Mission. In 1893, he was appointed to the Teaching Staff of St. Mary's College, Ky. In June 1896, he was transferred to Chicago to take charge of the financial administration St. Stanislaus Kostka Church (Polish)` the largest parish in the country, numbering about 30,000 souls. With this parish is connected a parochial school with 4000 pupils. St Stanislaus (Polish) College with 160 pupils, St. Vincent's Orphan Asylum with 90 inmates, St. Joseph's Home for aged and cripples with 65 inmates and a day nursery for poor children, also a Polish publishing concern, employing 35 men and operating three Lynotype machines, printing Polish school books used in most of the schools in the country ; doing job work and publishing a Polish daily with 12,000 circulation. Besides having the financial administration of all these institutions, he is a member of the District Advisory Board of the Bureau of Charities of Chicago ; is a member of a non-Sectarian Committee of Supervision of child labor legislation and legislation for charitable and penal institutions. He also took part in the framing of the Juvenile Court Laws of Illinois, which are famous over the whole world. The reverend gentleman is also a Director of the Charity Directory Publishing Co. of Chicago, publishing a Directory of all charitable institutions in Chicago. This in brief, outlines an active and successful life, one which called for as great intelligence and as great courage as that displayed by the biggest captains of industry. His record of achievements reflects credit alike on himself and Berlin. Berlin Today 1806-1906 official souvenir

  
  

• Sources

  [S229] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1871, Div. 1, Pg. 36. [S1420] Book - Berlin To-day 1806-1906 Official Souvenir, Historical Sketch - Rev. Andrew Spetz C. R. St. Stanislaus Church, Chicago, Illinois. [S1943] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo North - 1861, Waterloo Township 1861 Div. 13 Page 91. [S7] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berliner Journal (1859-1917), Obituary of Joseph Spetz - Sept. 26, 1901.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 16 Dec 1858 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Roman Catholic - 1861 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - RC - 1871 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Roman Catholic Priest - 1906 - Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States  = Link to Google Earth