John James Maximilian Oertel
Encyclopedia
John James Maximilian Oertel (born at Ansbach
, Bavaria
, 27 April 1811; died at Jamaica, New York, 21 August 1882) was a German-American journalist.
early in 1839. Things were no better there, so he returned to New York. Denominational dissensions weakened his faith, and in 1840 he became a Roman Catholic. An account of his conversion in pamphlet form published 25 March 1850, had quite a vogue in the controversial literature of the day.
After his conversion he taught German at St. John's College, Fordham; later he edited in Cincinnati the "Wahrheitsfreund
", a German Catholic weekly, and in 1846 he left for Baltimore
where he founded the weekly "Kirchenzeitung". Under his editorial direction, it was the most prominent German Catholic publication in the United States. In 1851, he moved the paper to New York. In 1869 he published "Altesund Neues".
In 1875 Pope Pius IX
made him a Knight of St. Gregory in recognition of his service to the Church and Catholic literature.
Ansbach
Ansbach, originally Onolzbach, is a town in Bavaria, Germany. It is the capital of the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Ansbach is situated southwest of Nuremberg and north of Munich, on the Fränkische Rezat, a tributary of the Main river. As of 2004, its population was 40,723.Ansbach...
, Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
, 27 April 1811; died at Jamaica, New York, 21 August 1882) was a German-American journalist.
Life
Born a Lutheran, he was sent to the Lutheran University of Erlangen, where he studied theology and five years later was ordained a minister. After his ordination he accepted a call to care for his countrymen in the United States, and arrived in New York in October, 1837. The unorthodox opinions of the New York Lutherans displeased him, and he left for MissouriMissouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
early in 1839. Things were no better there, so he returned to New York. Denominational dissensions weakened his faith, and in 1840 he became a Roman Catholic. An account of his conversion in pamphlet form published 25 March 1850, had quite a vogue in the controversial literature of the day.
After his conversion he taught German at St. John's College, Fordham; later he edited in Cincinnati the "Wahrheitsfreund
Der Wahrheitsfreund
Der Wahrheitsfreund or Der Wahrheits-Freund was the first German-language Catholic newspaper in the United States and one of four German newspapers in Cincinnati, Ohio. Published by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati, proceeds went to the St...
", a German Catholic weekly, and in 1846 he left for Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
where he founded the weekly "Kirchenzeitung". Under his editorial direction, it was the most prominent German Catholic publication in the United States. In 1851, he moved the paper to New York. In 1869 he published "Altesund Neues".
In 1875 Pope Pius IX
Pope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
made him a Knight of St. Gregory in recognition of his service to the Church and Catholic literature.