Der Wahrheitsfreund
Encyclopedia
Der Wahrheitsfreund or Der Wahrheits-Freund (“The Friend of Truth”) 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. Aloysius Orphan Society.
, had circulated for several years. The Wahrheitsfreund’s founder, vicar general
John Henni
, served as editor from its founding to his appointment as the first Bishop of Milwaukee
in 1843. By 1875, the paper had 14,400 subscribers. In 1907, the Wahrheitsfreund merged with Rev. Joseph Jessing
's Ohio Waisenfreund (Ohio Orphan's Friend).
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
Catholic newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and one of four German newspapers in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
. Published by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati covers the southwest region of the U.S. state of Ohio, including the greater Cincinnati and Dayton metropolitan areas. The Archbishop of Cincinnati is Most Rev...
, proceeds went to the St. Aloysius Orphan Society.
History
At the time of the paper’s first issue on July 20, 1837, the Diocese of Cincinnati covered the entirety of Ohio and its English-language weekly, The Catholic TelegraphThe Catholic Telegraph
The Catholic Telegraph is a newspaper published by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati, which covers the Cincinnati metropolitan area, the greater Dayton area and other communities in the southwest region of Ohio, with a total diocesan population of approximately 500,000...
, had circulated for several years. The Wahrheitsfreund’s founder, vicar general
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
John Henni
John Henni
John Martin Henni was a Swiss-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the first Archbishop of Milwaukee, serving from 1843 until his death in 1881.-Early life and education:...
, served as editor from its founding to his appointment as the first Bishop of Milwaukee
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee
The Archdiocese of Milwaukee is a Roman Catholic archdiocese headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the United States. It encompasses the City of Milwaukee, as well as the counties of Dodge, Fond du Lac, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha, all...
in 1843. By 1875, the paper had 14,400 subscribers. In 1907, the Wahrheitsfreund merged with Rev. Joseph Jessing
Joseph Jessing
John Joseph Jessing a German-American immigrant, who became a Catholic priest in the United States, and was a pioneer in Catholic orphanage work and Catholic education...
's Ohio Waisenfreund (Ohio Orphan's Friend).
Editors
- Most Rev. John HenniJohn HenniJohn Martin Henni was a Swiss-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the first Archbishop of Milwaukee, serving from 1843 until his death in 1881.-Early life and education:...
(1837–1843) - John James Maximilian OertelJohn James Maximilian OertelJohn James Maximilian Oertel was a German-American journalist.-Life:...
(?–1846) - Joseph A. HemannJoseph A. HemannJoseph Anton Hemann was a German-American educator, newspaper publisher, and banker. He was born in Germany in the town of Ösede near Osnabrück and studied at the Gymnasium Carolinum in Osnabrück, one of the most celebrated colleges of Germany. He acquired a thorough knowledge of the Latin, Greek,...
publisher from 1850–1863 - H. Baumstark (c. 1877)
See also
- Cincinnati VolksfreundCincinnati VolksfreundThe Cincinnati Volksfreund was a daily and weekly German-language newspaper based in Cincinnati, Ohio, and published between 1850 and 1908. The paper was founded in October 1850 by Joseph A. Hemann and his editorials began appearing in March 1853 in the weekly edition called the Cincinnati...
- Cincinnati Volksblatt
- HochwächterHochwachterThe Hochwächter, literally "High Guard", was an American German language newspaper published in Cincinnati, Ohio.The paper was established by German political activists who fled the German states after the failed revolution of 1848...
A Cincinnati newspaper critical of the Catholic church