Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.
Rev. Andrew Spetz

Rev. Andrew Spetz

Male 1858 - Yes, date unknown

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  • Name Andrew Spetz 
    Prefix Rev. 
    Born 16 Dec 1858  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3
    Gender Male 
    Residence 1861  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Roman Catholic 
    Residence 1871  Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    RC 
    Occupation 1906  Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Roman Catholic Priest 
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-49290 
    Died Yes, date unknown 
    Person ID I49290  Generations
    Last Modified 26 Nov 2023 

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

  • Photos
    Rev. Andrew Spetz
    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 
    1. [S229] Census - ON, Waterloo, Berlin - 1871, Div. 1, Pg. 36.

    2. [S1420] Book - Berlin To-day 1806-1906 Official Souvenir, Historical Sketch - Rev. Andrew Spetz C. R. St. Stanislaus Church, Chicago, Illinois.

    3. [S1943] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo North - 1861, Waterloo Township 1861 Div. 13 Page 91.

    4. [S7] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berliner Journal (1859-1917), Obituary of Joseph Spetz - Sept. 26, 1901.

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 16 Dec 1858 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Roman Catholic - 1861 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - RC - 1871 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Roman Catholic Priest - 1906 - Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth