Head of Christ - Part 2

We previously reported that a figure of the Head of Christ had been created by Joseph Wilberding, the 7th child of Carl Wilberding, and was presented to Henry and Anna Wilberding on the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary. Subsequently it was passed on to his son Carl Wilberding and finally his son, (Henry) Kenneth Wilberding. Kenneth donated it to the Dickeyville Grotto in Dickeyville, WI, but later it could not be found there.

Well, thanks to the investigative pursuit of Cathy Wilberding-Burmseister, the Head has been located and returned to Kenneth. She reports "I got a call a week ago, made the trip to pick it up and last Tuesday, delivered it to my father, Henry Kenneth Wilberding at Bethany Home in Dubuque. Needless to say, he was overwhelmed with joy! Both my hands and his shook as I placed it in his lap! I cannot tell you how happy I was to place it back with him! It will now be placed in the Chapel in Bethany Home in Dubuque Iowa and my parents will be able to see it every time they go to mass. My father placed a label on the back side of the carving with his name and orders that upon his passing it be given back to the family."

"The Carving of Christ is absolutely beautiful and I studied it long and hard
before I took it to my dad. On the back, there is no signature, but there is
a JW (Joseph Wilberding) carved into the wooden back."

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1. Carl Wilberding (1827-1888)

**2. Henry Wilberding (1865-1942)

***3. Carl L. Wilberding (1900-1979)

****4. Henry Kenneth Wilberding (Living)

*****5. Catherine (Cathy) Wilberding-Burmeister (Living)

**2. Joseph Wilberding (1869-1942)********************************************************************

Head of Christ

Head of Christ
Sculpted by Joseph Wilberding

This Head of Christ was made by Joseph Wilberding and presented to Henry and Anna Wilberding on the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary, July 13, 1937. Cathy Wilberding-Burmeister reports that her father, (Henry) Kenneth Wilberding, gained possession of it upon the death of his grandparents, and proudly displayed in his office. Kenneth donated the figure to the Dickeyville Grotto in Dickeyville, WI, since he knew that Joseph had done so much work for them and should be preserved in their display. Unfortunately, no one at the Grotto knows anything about this figure, and its whereabouts remains a mystery for now. Hopefully the figure will be located hanging on some one's wall. In any event, Kenneth wants it back, so it can remain in the family.
Anyhow, thanks to modern technology – photography, Internet, Scanners, etc. - we are proud to display the Head of Christ for all to see. Thanks to Sue Wilberding-Bowers, who took pictures of the Head of Christ before her dad gave it to the Grotto.

"Wilberding House"

The following is a clipping (Page 152) from "Norwood, Ohio - a Centennial Remembrance", Margaret Guentert, Editor 1976. Students from Norwood High School researched and composed these articles:

OLD ARCHITECTURE The Wilberding House"Somewhere in the 1700 block of Mills Avenue, thought to be 1745 or 1747, was a very unusual home. It was the home of "Holy Joe" Wilberding, an eccentric sculptor. It was filled with molded statues and figures made of clay. The home, taking fifteen to twenty years to build, was well worth the time, for it was filled with many small rooms and numerous stairways. It was said that because the house was so designed and had so many pieces of sculptured art in it, the neighborhood boys called it "Michaelangelo's Angel House". Unfortunately, the house burned down and now an apartment building has taken its place. The only way one can gaze at this house now is through the miracle of photography."

Joseph - Bio

There are eight (8) Joseph Wiberding's in this family. This entry only refers to Joseph Wilberding who is the 7th child of Carl and Maria Anna Wilberding. He isprobably the least known of Carl's children. City Directory shows Joseph living with his mother Maria Anna in Cincinnati, Ohio (1890) and Norwood, Ohio (1893).Joseph is listed as a sculptor in the U.S. 1930 Census. One word comes to mind when trying to describe Joseph : Eccentric - a true artist! Born 23 Jun 1869 - Holdorf, Oldenburg, GermanyBaptized 26 Jun 1869 - Sts Peter & Paul Church, Holdorf, Oldenburg, Germany

Married 26 Dec 1923 - St. Anthony church, Browns Valley, Daviess Co, KY
Died 17 Feb 1942 - Norwood, Hamilton Co, OH
Buried 20 Feb 1942 - St. Mary Cemetery, St. Bernard, Hamilton Co, OH

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Joseph met his wife, Margaret, while he was working in Kentucky. It is reported that he was building grottoes in various areas while working with a local priest. He married Margaret Knott-Hite, a widow on 26 Dec 1923, Browns Valley, Daviess Co, KY. They had no children; however, Margaret had six children from her previous marriage They continued to live at 1745 Mills Avenue, Norwood, Ohio.

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Family tales re: Joseph..........
"Joseph Wilberding came to Dubuque on a "one-way ticket" from his wife,Margaret, for Henry's 50th wedding anniversay celebration - set up shop inthe garage and created lots of plaster dust, making plaques of Jesus and Mary for his brothers and sisters - a life sized head of Christ with "moving eyes" for Henry - stayed until Henry bought him a return ticket to Cincinnati." Margaret Wilberding-Upstone, July 1991
"Uncle Joe was a quiet, gentle looking person to a 10-11 year-old Bob Wurtzler around 1938. At that time he would ride the Cincinnati streetcar on a Sunday 25¢ all-day pass from Norwood and visit our family in Oakley. He was always alone. We had an old-dilapidated shed in the backyard, and Joe took upon himself to remove it and build us kids a fine play house/storage shed - two separate rooms, windows, concrete floor tinted pink, and a stucco exterior. No doubt that he was quite a carpenter, builder, mason, etc. I recall that he stayed with us until the job was completed." Bob Wurtzler, Mar 2004

"He (Joe) visited here (Dubuque) when Henry and Anna celebrated their 50th wedding anniversay, and there was much talk about Joe. There was an instance of his sleeping on the piano one time. I hope it was a "grand"! Did I mention that a statue in Grant Park in Chicago had been cast by Joe. I don't remember whether it was a horse or man or both." Dorothy Lassance-Wilberding, Dec 1989

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I received the following comment to a previous posting regarding Jospeh Wilberding and his many artistic talents, etc.

Steve Hutzel Jan 17, 06: "Uncle Joe Wilberding was considered quite an artist, particularly working on Catholic churches. He built beautiful Lourdes grottoes for many churches as well decorating their interiors. He also carved the headstones for various members of the family, while he does not have one on his own grave. I was told he was acquainted with Frank Duvenek, the famous painter. "
............................................................Thanks, Steve.

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NOTE: If anyone has any info to add or correct for Joseph, please drop me a note, and I will follow through on it. I would really appreciate getting an individaul photo of him if any exist. (E-mail: w4903@fuse.net)

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1. Carl Wilberding (1827-1888)
**2. Joseph Wilberding (1869-1942)

Rev Johanning Letter

This letter confirms the character of this quiet, unassuming person, as I recall! I could not help but grin and enjoy the story related by Fr. Johanning, who also was a bit weak in the English grammar/syntax, although the letter has the characteristics of writing in those early days!

(Note: The following is an exact copy of Fr. Joahanning’s letter - keeping in mind that he too, as a German immigrant, was not completely proficient in the English language/syntax. His description of Joseph as “honest, pious, bashful” is quite accurate, as I recall in lateryears.)

Fryburg, Auglaize Co, O., August 24, 1894

Professor James Edwards,Notre Dame, Ind.

Dear Sir!

A nephew of mine, Jos. Wilberding, came with his parents from Germany (Oldenburg)about 7 years ago. In Germany already he began to work as a prentice of a well knownartist, sculptor in religious articles. Then here in Cincinnati he was for some years atheoretical and practical pupil of the Art School & Museum under the instruction anddirection of a great artist, Mr. L. Rebisso, Professor of modeling. By him Wilberdingwas employed at the magnificent statue of General Grant on horseback, erected in theWashington (?) Park in Chicago. The composer and erector of the celebrated monument was Mr. Rebisso.

Wilberding himself produced the last time many artificial things in modeling and carving. So in the spring of 1897 a Columbus statue in a little more than life size, made of plasterof paris. His intention was first to send it to the Chicago Exposition, and by many friendsand connoisseurs of art he was encouraged to do so. But it was not sent, I don’t know particularly the reason why not. This statue represents Columbus standing as commanderof all on the forepart of his ship and looking out for land.

Now, nephew Wilberding writes me, that he had read in the papers of some fine paintings in your university, representing scenes of the discovering of America, and that he would take the liberty to ask if he could hope to sell his Columbus to you to be put in any place in your Alma Mater. He would sell that statue very cheap, as he, like many other artisits, is a poor but a very honest, yet pious fellow, to his own disadvantage, often too bashful. Not a good scholar in German and in the English language - even worse than myself -he preferred to request me to write for him this letter. As references he gives his teacher, Mr. L. Rebisso and the faculty of the Cin. Art Museum Assc. Also a photograph of said statue can be had on demand. Therefore, should you, req. your superiors be willing to yield to his wish, please let him or me know it at your earliest convenience.

If you can’t come to Cincinnati the nexttime and look at that statue, any Rev. Father or Brother of St. Joseph’s College there might do so at Mr. Wilberding’s residence, Mills Ave, Norwood, near Cin., to be reached from Fountain Square by Norwood electric car in 45 minutes for 5 Cnts. My address is: Fryburg, Auglaize Co, O.

Very repectfully,

J. Johanning, Rector St. John Ch.