1925 Biography - Charles O. Wieck

Charles O. Wieck is one of the leading representatives of real estate enterprise in his native city of Baton Rouge, and in his various operations has done and is doing much to advance the civic and material progress of the capital city and of East Baton Rouge Parish. He is president of the Wieck Realty Company, which owns the Wieck Building, at the corner of Third and Laurel streets, this being one of the leading commercial and office buildings of Baton Rouge. Mr. Wieck is the owner of valuable real estate aside from his interest in this building, and prominent among his local holdings is his fine home place, at the corner of St. Philip and America streets. He is distinctly to be designated as one of the most liberal and progressive citizens of Baton Rouge.

Mr. Wieck was born in Baton Rouge, on the 9th of August, 1866, and is a son of the late Charles F. W. Wieck, who was born in Germany, in 1831, and whose death occurred at his home in Baton Rouge on the 25th of January, 1889.

Charles F. W. Wieck was reared and educated in his native land and there learned the carpenter's trade. In 1858, when twenty-seven years of age, he came to America and engaged in the work of his trade in the City of Quebec, Canada, where he remained two years. He then, in 1860, established his residence in Baton Rouge, where he continued for three years his operations as a carpenter and builder. He then engaged in the general merchandise business, and he was for many years one of the leading merchants of the Louisiana capital city, and he became the owner also of a large amount of valuable real estate in Baton Rouge, as well as an extensive plantation estate in East Baton Rouge Parish. By his ability and well ordered activities he achieved substantial success, and his sterling character and gracious personality won to him inviolable place in popular confidence and esteem. He was a staunch supporter of the cause of the democratic party, and his civic loyalty was shown in a service of several years as a member of the City Council. He and his wife were zealous members of the First Presbyterian Church, and he was prominently identified with the Masonic fraternity, in which his affiliations were with St. James Lodge No. 47, A. F. and A. M., and Washington Chapter No. 57, R. A. M., in his home city, and with DeMolay Commandery of Knights Templar in the City of New Orleans. His wife, whose maiden name was Catherine Wagenblast, was born in Germany, in 1834, and was nearly eighty years of age at the time of her death, December 29, 1913. She was a daughter of Conrad Wagenblast, who was born in the year 1802, and who lived retired in the City of Baton Rouge for a number of years prior to his death, which here occurred in 1876. Upon coming with his family to America, Mr. Wagenblast engaged in farm enterprise in the State of New York, near Buffalo, and there he remained until his removal to Louisiana. Mr. and Mrs. Wieck are survived by five children: Sophia is the wife of Edward Wax, and they maintain their home in Baton Rouge, Mr. Wax being a large property owner and still actively identified with farm industry, and being. in 1924, a member of the police jury of East Baton Rouge Parish; Charles O., of this sketch, was the next in order of birth; John A. is au accountant by vocation and resides at Baton Rouge; Miss Annie D. still maintains her home in her native city, as does also Edward F., who is the youngest of the children and who here holds the position of master of transportation for the Standard Oil Company of Louisiana.

Charles O. Wieck attended both private schools and the public schools in Baton Rouge, and thereafter was for three years a student in the Louisiana State University. Upon leaving the university, in 1882, he took a position in the contracting department of the Yazoo & .Mississippi Valley Railroad, and after five years of service in this connection he was for two years in the employ of the Texas & Pacific Railroad Company. He then became associated with his father in the mercantile business, and this alliance continued until the death of his honored father in 1889, when he assumed control of the large and old established business, which he successfully continued until 1919, when he made a profitable disposal of the same. In the meanwhile he had become proprietor of the well-known hotel designated as the Sumter House, and this likewise he conducted until 1919. He also identified himself actively with plantation industry in East Baton Rouge Parish, and after the lapse of almost fifteen years he sold his fine plantation property in 1915. Since 1919 Mr. Wieck has been one of the leading exponents of the real estate business at Baton Rouge, and his operations have been of broad scope and importance, his offices being maintained in the Wieck Building, of which mention is made in the opening paragraph of this review. He has been for a bug period of years a member or the democratic executive committee of the City of Baton Rouge, and has given yeoman service in advancing the party cause. He is one of the active members and staunch supporters of the Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Wieck is affiliated with the following named Masonic bodies: St. James Lodge No. 47. A. F. and A. M., of which he is a past master; Washington Chapter No. 57, R. A. M.; Plains Commandery No. 11, Knights Templar and, in the City of New Orleans, Jerusalem Temple of the Mystic Shrine.

He is a member also of Capital Lodge No. 29, Knights of Pythias, and he and his wife are active members of the First Presbyterian Church.

September 11, 1904, recorded the marriage of Mr. Wieck and Miss Laura Randolph, daughter of the late Dr. Peter Randolph and Josephine (Courtney) Randolph, both of whom died in New Orleans, Doctor Randolph having been a prominent physician and surgeon and having had valuable plantation interests. Mr. and Mrs. Wieck have no children.

Contributed 2021 Nov 04 by Mike Miller, from A History of Louisiana, by Henry E. Chambers, published in 1925, volume 2, pages 392-393.