Frank Wecker (abt. 1847 - 1908)

Born about 1847 in Bavaria, Germany

Ancestors

Husband of Martha Beverly (Boehm) Wecker — married 8 Sep 1869 in Owensboro, Daviess, Kentucky, United States

Descendants

Died 10 Aug 1908 at about age 61 in Owensboro, Daviess, Kentucky, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: E Borgman [send private message]

Biography

Frank was listed as Franciscus aged 3, on 31 Aug 1850, along with his parents and siblings in the Murray Co. Georgia Census.

Eventually, George brought his family to Louisville where there was a moderate population of German and Irish Catholic immigrants. It appears that George set up a "beer house" there on Main street between Floyd and Preston streets.^[1]

After surviving the Bloody Monday Massacre on August 1855 where twenty-two Catholic immigrants were killed by a mob George decided to leave the city and it's anti-immigrant sentiment. It is not known exactly when he and his family packed up to go, but, it appears that it did not occur until late 1857 or 1858. The family boarded a steamer bound for New Orleans.

Stopping along the way at Owensboro George had time to visit the city and when he saw that he liked the place he asked about the peoples tolerance of immigrants. He was encouraged to stay by the folks he engaged in conversation with and did just that.

By October 2, 1860, Frank was listed as 13 and living along with his family in Owensboro, Kentucky.

Frank was a drummer in the "Dixie Guards" Company G of the 1st Kentucky (Volunteers) (Infantry) (some sources even say Cavalry?) CSA during Civil War which was the first company to leave Daviess County, Kentucky for service in the Confederate Army on 28 May 1861.

"His first experience as a soldier drummer was when he went away from Owensboro with captain Jack Thompson's company of "Dixie Guards." This company left Owensboro May 28, 1861." -- March 26, 1905, in the Owensboro Messenger

"Two companies, averaging one hundred and fourteen men each, were recruited in Louisville, at the corner of Fifth and Jefferson streets, at once upon the outbreak of the war, under command of Captains B. M. Anderson and F. Van Osten. On the 20th of April, 1861, they left by steamer from the foot of Fourth street, with a Secession flag flying, for New Orleans. At Owensboro a third company, commanded by Captain J. Thompson, was embarked on the same vessel. From New Orleans the companies were ordered to Richmond, and were there organised as the Third Kentucky Battalion, with Anderson as major." -- History of the Ohio falls cities and their counties with illustrations and bibliographical sketches, Volume 1, extract; Louisville men in the Southern army, from a statement by Colonel John D. Pope, of the Attorney's bureau in the Louisville and Nashville railway offices.

"Capt. Jack Thompson left Owensboro, Kentucky, on Tuesday with eighty-five men for service in Virginia." 31 May, 1861 -- Kentucky soldiers and their regiments in the Civil War: Abstracted from the pages of contemporary Kentucky newspapers, Volumes 4–5, by Steven L Wright

"Company G Dixon (Dixie) Guards: CAPT. J P Thompson The company was organized at Owensboro, Kentucky, on 1 June, 1861, and was assigned to the 3rd Kentucky Battalion Infantry, Company A, at Richmond, Virginia, under the command of Major B M Anderson (See the 3rd Kentucky Battalion Infantry)." -- http://www.firstbullrun.co.uk/Shenandoah/Second%20Brigade/1st-kentucky-infantry.html

"He (Frank Wecker) & William Wallace are the only members who live in Owensboro of the Dixie Guards that left Owensboro during the Civil War 27 years ago, most of company of about 50 were killed at the Battle of Bull Run. (July 16-22, 1861)" - Owensboro Monitor, May 29, 1888, page 1.

It seems that Jack Thompson's Company, the "Dixie Guards," became company A of the 3rd Kentucky Battalion Infantry after the battle of Bull Run in August 1861.

"Stationed at Camp Bartow... (Smith's Farm, four miles northeast of) Manassas Junction, Virginia, July–August, 1861. 8 August – Left Richmond for Manassas and met with a severe smash-up on the Central Railroad but none of us were seriously injured. We lost by this accident, several guns, knapsacks, etc., which have in due time been replaced and the company is improving rapidly in efficiency and discipline." Company G, Captain J P Thompson -- Supplement to the Official Records: Part II, Record of Events, Volume 23, Serial No.35, edited by Janet B Hewett

"After one year's service (circa Spring 1862 "March 12 and 13, 1862?") the whole company was mustered out, but Wecker had such a taste for soldier life that he at once joined the Third Virginia Battery as a drummer."

"Soon after enlisting in this division he was sent by his captain to Louisville with important letters to Cols. Throckmorton and Alexander, who were noted friends of the Confederacy, and who then lived in Louisville. One of the purposes of these letters was to have these gentlemen procure quinine then badly needed. This could not be obtained at once and the delay gave Mr. Wecker a chance to visit his old Owensboro home. On his arrival here he was arrested by Provost Marshal John R. Grissom and placed in military prison here. There he lingered for sometime until Gen. Forrest entered the city and released him." -- March 26, 1905, in the Owensboro Messenger

In 1879 a military company known as The Monarch Rifles was formed in Owensboro to which Frank was a member. He took part in the Centennial Celebration of the Surrender at Yorktown in the Fall of 1881 in Washington, DC.

He traveled in 1888 to Jacksonville, Florida "to help nurse the yellow fever sufferers." - Owensboro Messenger & Examiner, September 20, 1888, page 3. And was promptly arrested and put into quarantine. He was eventually released and made it back to Owensboro without having been able to help anyone.

Frank and Mattie had at least 12 children. One interesting note is that according to the records of the Catholic Diocese of Owensboro Archives Frank's son Isadore was born November 25, 1879 and he was baptized on September 23, 1882. He is listed as William Isadore. Isadore's death certificate and grave report that he was born in 1882.

Frank, in his later years was given the honorary title "Colonel" by his friends and associates.

In 1890, Frank became a member of the Rice E. Graves Confederate Veteran's Camp of Owensboro, Kentucky. He received a Confederate Medal of Honor in 1904 which he is seen wearing in his second photograph.

He died in 1908 and was buried in the Catholic Cemetery in Owensboro.

Name Variations

Being born in Germany, it is possible that Frank was baptized as Johan, making his name actually John Frank Wecker. His son, listed as Junior, was named John Frank, so he may be under some records as John. Also, his name has sometimes been listed as "Wicker," in records including a census record. So it is possible that he may be listed under records under these variations.

Research Notes

Sadly, the only grave remaining in the Wecker section is that of Frank's sister Anna Inglis. The grave is small and can hardly be read now.

One hundred and nine years after his death Frank was honored and remembered by being portrayed by Owensboro actor Grey Hurt at the 2017 Voices of Elmwood event.

Note: Interestingly, Google Images, in a rare instance of censorship, blanked out the photograph of Frank Wecker as a 16 year old Confederate drummer from its page for several years. As of 1 September 2022, his image has finally been restored to Google's images search page.

Sources

1. ↑ Wecker, George, 1858 Louisville City Director, page 182.

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11999498/frank-wecker