Wernle Children's Home is still in existence today - supporting troubled
youth from all over the country. I'm sure they are very busy on a daily
basis, but perhaps someone there has access to their historical records.
Wernle Children's Home
2000 Wernle Road
Richmond, IN 47374
(765) 966-2506
Good Luck!
Jane in Richmond, IN
-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Proctor <proctor(a)lexmark.com>
To: peggy(a)zoomnet.net <peggy(a)zoomnet.net>
Cc: wayne_in-l(a)rootsweb.com <wayne_in-l(a)rootsweb.com>
Date: Tuesday, August 26, 1997 7:23 PM
Subject: Re: Wernle Orphans Home
I am of no help to Peggy, can someone on the
list help ?
Thanks,
Mike in Ky
peggy peggy(a)zoomnet.net wrote:
>
> In researching my family history I came across some information in a
> journal and letters written by my great uncle
> John Neu. He states that after his father, Joseph Neu, died
> in Scioto Co. Ohio in 1878, he, his four siblings and mother
> came to Richmond, Indiana and resided at the Wernle Orphans
> Home. This facility was started by the Evangelical Luthern
> Synod in January 1879 by Rev. Wm. Niebuhr if his information
> is correct. John and his brother Frank were among the first
> orphans admitted there. Three other siblings and his mother,
> Barbara came there to live also in January 1890. Barbara
> worked at the facility so she could be close to her children as
> she was unable to raise them after her husband's untimely
> death. One of the siblings, Karl Neu, was the first child to die
> at the home. He was sickly from birth and died at the age of
> three. The Neu family lived there for about six years. Karl's
> grave is in a cemetery located near the Wernle Home.
> The journal states that the Home was a large three story
> building with a basement, located on a hill that was called
> Rose Hill or Rose Mound. Before the church bought the
> building it was a medical institution or sanitarium.
> Do you know if this building still stands and are you familiar
> with the cemetery. My family and I would like to visit Richmond and the
> cemetery. Do you know of anyone I could
> obtain any futher information from. I appreciate any assistance you can
> offer.
>
> Peggy Neu Pollitt