John Wombacher
Encyclopedia
John David Wombacher was an American football
player.
Wombacher grew up in Peoria, Illinois
. His father, Ferdinand Wombacher (1851-1931), was an Illinois native and a dairyman. His mother, Louisa (Wurst) Wombacher (1850-1937), was also an Illinois native. Both of his parents were the children of German immigrants. Wombacher had an older brother, Joseph, and a younger brother, Ferdinand, Jr. Wombacher played for the undefeated Peoria High School football team of 1893.
He enrolled at the University of Michigan
and played at the center
position for the 1895
and 1896 Michigan Wolverines football team
s. In February 1897, he was elected by his teammates as the captain of the 1897 team. However, he contracted typhoid fever and was unable to report to the university in September 1897. Wombacher had played every game at center for Michigan in 1896. Shortly before his illness, The World of New York had published a football preview feature in which Wombacher had been touted as the key to Michigan's success:
At the time of the 1900 United States Census, Wombacher was living in Peoria and working as a chemist.
He worked for many years for the Steel Mills Co. in Joliet, Illinois
. In September 1918, Wombacher completed a draft registration card in which he indicated that he was living at West Marion, Illinois
and employed as an assistant superintendent at the Illinois Steel Co. At the time of the 1920 Census, Wombacher was living in Joliet with his wife, Louise, and was working as an assistant superintendent at a steel mill.
In April 1953, Wombacher died in Peoria at age 76.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player.
Wombacher grew up in Peoria, Illinois
Peoria, Illinois
Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...
. His father, Ferdinand Wombacher (1851-1931), was an Illinois native and a dairyman. His mother, Louisa (Wurst) Wombacher (1850-1937), was also an Illinois native. Both of his parents were the children of German immigrants. Wombacher had an older brother, Joseph, and a younger brother, Ferdinand, Jr. Wombacher played for the undefeated Peoria High School football team of 1893.
He enrolled at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
and played at the center
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
position for the 1895
1895 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1895 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1895 college football season. The team, coached by medical student William McCauley, compiled an 8–1 record, won seven of their games by shutouts, and outscored their opponents by a combined score of 266 to...
and 1896 Michigan Wolverines football team
1896 Michigan Wolverines football team
The 1896 Michigan Wolverines football team represented the University of Michigan in the 1896 college football season. They played their home games at Regents Field in Ann Arbor, Michigan and competed in the newly-established Western Conference, later to be known as the Big Ten Conference...
s. In February 1897, he was elected by his teammates as the captain of the 1897 team. However, he contracted typhoid fever and was unable to report to the university in September 1897. Wombacher had played every game at center for Michigan in 1896. Shortly before his illness, The World of New York had published a football preview feature in which Wombacher had been touted as the key to Michigan's success:
"The man who will captain the Unlversity of Michigan eleven is a big, strapping fellow, who was forced into the game by his classmates because of his size and ability to get over the ground. His name is John B. Wombacher, and he hails from Peoria, IllWombacher was unable to play in 1897, remaining at his parents' home in Peoria to recuperate from the illness. Halfback, James R. Hogg, was elected to replace Wombacher as the 1897 team captain.Peoria, IllinoisPeoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...
. He plays centre rush and is something terrific."
At the time of the 1900 United States Census, Wombacher was living in Peoria and working as a chemist.
He worked for many years for the Steel Mills Co. in Joliet, Illinois
Joliet, Illinois
Joliet is a city in Will and Kendall Counties in the U.S. state of Illinois, located southwest of Chicago. It is the county seat of Will County. As of the 2010 census, the city was the fourth-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 147,433. It continues to be Illinois' fastest growing...
. In September 1918, Wombacher completed a draft registration card in which he indicated that he was living at West Marion, Illinois
West Marion Precinct, Williamson County, Illinois
West Marion Precinct, formerly township, is Congressional Township 9 South, Range 2 East of the Third Principal Meridian located in Williamson County, Illinois. It is named for the community of Marion, Illinois.-References:...
and employed as an assistant superintendent at the Illinois Steel Co. At the time of the 1920 Census, Wombacher was living in Joliet with his wife, Louise, and was working as an assistant superintendent at a steel mill.
In April 1953, Wombacher died in Peoria at age 76.