“The Church Would Look Foolish Without Them”: Martin Ibert, Brooklyn, New York

Last updated on: April 13, 2011 at 6:24 am by Pat McNamara

“The Church Would Look Foolish Without Them”: Martin Ibert, Brooklyn, New York 2011-04-13T06:24:00-06:00 Pat McNamara

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

MARTIN IBERT.
A man of commanding presence in the Williamsburg and Bushwick sections of Brooklyn, Mr. Ibert has resided in that section of the city for over fifty-three years. He was born in the village of Niederhausen, in the Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, June 15, 1831. His parents were Martin and Mary Anna (Foerstel) Ibert, also natives of Niederhausen. His father was a cabinetmaker by trade and pursued that occupation in addition to farming. He won the respect and confidence of men and died at the age of fifty-six, esteemed by all who knew him. His faithful wife, surviving him many years, passed away at the age of eighty-four years. Both were consistent Christian people of the Roman Catholic faith. By their marriage they had nine children, three of whom came to America, namely: Mary Anna, now the wife of Joseph Maurer, of Springfield, Illinois; Valentine, who resides in the town of Franklin, Louisiana; and Anthony, who settled in the Bushwick district of Brooklyn, where he died October 2, 1880.

Martin Ibert acquired his education in the schools of his native village and remained in the fatherland until his sixteenth year, when he came with his brother Anthony to America. With adventurous spirits and determined purpose, recognizing the importance of the step they were undertaking, these brothers severed the ties that bound them to the fatherland and sailed from France on the good ship “Elen,” which, after a voyage of twenty-seven days, reached New York harbor on the 15th of April, 1847.

Soon after their arrival they located in the eastern district of Brooklyn, where Martin Ibert secured a clerkship in the grocery store operated by Henry Zimmer, who carried on business at the corner of Manhattan and Montrose avenues. For six months he remained with Mr. Zimmer, and was then employed by John A. Saul at the corner of Scholes and Leonard streets, with whom he remained until 1851, when he began business on his own account, at the corner of Leonard street and Montrose avenue.

The new enterprise met with more than an ordinary degree of success, and Martin Ibert continued to conduct this store until 1895, when he retired from active business cares. During the long fifteen years of his commercial experience he was the proprietor of a flour store in the Sixteenth Ward, and in 1889 he became interested in the brewing business, in connection with his nephew, operations being carried on under the name of the Frank Ibert Brewing Company.

In the Most Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, on the 6th of August, 1851, the Rev. Father Raffeiner pronounced the words which united the destinies of Martin Ibert and Catherine Beck, a daughter of Peter and Margaret (Faerber) Beck. Their union was blessed with eight children who reached mature years, namely: Anthony, who married Mary Enders; Martin, who died June 17, 1888; Peter, who married Catherine Zimmer; Frank, who is in partnership with his brother Theodore, on Graham avenue, in the wholesale grocery trade; and Joseph, Louise, Elizabeth and Ida, who are at home. The mother died September 1, 1896, and her loss was deeply mourned by her family and many friends.

Mr. Ibert and his children are communicants of the Most Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church. His business career has been one characterized by unfaltering determination and by marked diligence. Steadily he has worked his way upward, undaunted by the obstacles in his path, which have served but as an impetus to renewed effort. He is now practically living retired, being in possession of a handsome competence.

Peter Ross, A History of Long Island: From its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time (Two Volumes) (New York: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1902), Volume II, p. 390.

NOTE
Beginning in the 1840’s, Brooklyn became home to a sizeable German community, a large portion of which was Catholic. Many of these Germans had come across the river from an overcrowded Manhattan. From there they would into other Brooklyn neighborhoods, including Bushwick and East New York. Most Holy Trinity Church, the first Catholic Church in Brooklyn for Germans, was founded in 1841. It was recently merged with St. Mary’s Church on Maujer Street.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

April 12, 2011

This Week's Column at Patheos

Next Post

April 14, 2011 Convert and Poet: Mary Ann Spooner (1794-1877)

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category African-American Catholics Alabama Catholics American Catholic History American Catholic women American History Anniversaries Anti-Catholicism Arkansas Catholics Benedictines Bishops Blessed John Henry Newman Book Reviews Books Boston College Brooklyn churches Brothers California Catholics Capuchins Cardinals Carlo Carretto Carmelites Catholic authors Catholic Cemeteries Catholic Historians Catholic History in Less Than 5 Minutes Catholic musicians Catholic Poetry Catholic Press Catholic School Textbook Catholic University of America Catholic Worker Catholics and Music Catholics and Race Catholics in Politics Catholics in the American Revolution Catholics in the Military Catholics in the Movies Catholics in the South Catholics in the West Catholics on Stage Catjolic Women Catolic Poetry Charles de Foucauld Children's Masses Christian Brothers Christmas Church Reform Civil Rights Movement Civil War Colleges and universities Converts D.C. Catholics Deaf Catholics Dominicans. Dorothy Day English Catholics Florida Catholics Fordham University Franciscans French Catholics Georgetown University German Americans Good Shepherd Sisters Hispanic Catholics Historians and Archivists Holy Cross Fathers Holy Name Society Idaho Catholics Illinois Catholics Indian Wars Indiana Catholics Irish Americans Irish Catholicism Italian Americans Italian Catholics Jesuits Josephite Sisters Kentucky Catholics Know-Nothings Laetare Medal Recipients laity Liturgical Movement Maine Catholics Manhattan College Maryland Catholicism Michigan Catholics Middle Ages Minnesota Catholics Missionaries Mississippi Catholics Missouri Catholics Monasteries Montana Catholics Native Americans New England Catholicism New Jersey Catholics New York Catholics North American College Ohio Catholics Oratorians Oregon Catholics Parish Mission Parishes Passionists Pat McNamara's Books Paulists Pennsylvania Catholics Popes Presidents Priests Quotations Religious Orders Rhode Island Catholics Saints Salesians Seminarians Seminaries Sermons Servants of God Siisters of Charity Sisters of Mercy South Carolina Catholics Spanish-American War Sports St. Francis of Assiai St. John Henry Newman Suplicians Tennessee Catholics Texas Catholics The year in review Thomas Merton Throwback Thursday Photograph Trappists Uncategorized University of Notre Dame Video Presentations Vincentians Virginia Catholics Visitation Nuns Washington West Point West Virginia Catholics West Viriginia Catholics Wisconsin Catholicism Women Religious World War II

Select a Month December 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 April 2012 March 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

I am a goat released into the wilderness, carrying away the sins of the people. What am I?

Select your answer to see how you score.

A sacrifice An atonement goat A sin offering The scapegoat