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 The Weidenthal Brothers
 Three journalists who helped change the face of Cleveland 100 years ago		  
by Maurice "Bud" Weidenthal
IN THE BEGINNING
 

The family home in the "Old Country"

This building, which seems to be a residence with an inn or tavern that uses the left door, is in the village of Hostitz (Hostice) in Bohemia (Czechoslovakia). Family records show that it came into the possession of Aaron Weidenthal in the year 1785. Upon his death in 1807, it was transferred by his widow to her eldest son, Moses. Here were born all the children of Moses and Rebecca Weidenthal ... Bernard, Fannie, Lottie (Charlotte), Leopold, Abraham and Emanuel." (As written by Evelyn Weidenthal Sperling (1876-1963) - sister of Henry, Maurice and Leo, sent to us along with old family photos, by Susan Weidenthal Saltzman.)

Around 1868-70 Emanuel, wife Julia, and six children (Moses, Ruth, Rose, Bertha, Edward and Celia) arrived in Cleveland. They lived near where the eastern end of the Superior Bridge is today.

 


Emanuel's brother Abraham, older by eight years, had settled in Cleveland about ten years before Emanuel arrived.

The 1880 census

The 1880 U. S. Census shows the Emanuel Weidenthal family living at 63 Ontario Street between Lakeside and St. Clair Avenues, and with three Ohio-born children: Henry, Lilly, and Leo. The father is a shoe maker. Son Moses (Maurice) is 23 years old and clerk in a grocery store. Son Edward, had died in 1873, age 11. Those at school are at Rockwell School, built in 1864, on or near where the present Board of Education building stands.
 


The nine Weidenthal siblings, about 1895


 
Back row (left to right)



 
 
Middle row (left to right)


Front row (left to right
Lillie Weidenthal   1873-1954,
Ruth Weidenthal Klein (polka dots) 1868-1938
Bertha Weidenthal Kline  (standing center) 1858-1942
Maurice Weidenthal  age 42  1853-1917
Henry Weidenthal   age 25  1870-1940

light colored dress: Celia Weidenthal Glick  1865-1950
dark dress: Evelyn Weidenthal Sperling  1876-1963

Rose Weidenthal  1856-1915
Leo Weidenthal   age 17   1878-1967
 

The Weidenthal Brothers

Introduction

They were brothers, born into a family of Bohemian Jews who came to America and to Cleveland soon after the Civil War. Their names were Maurice, the oldest, Henry, and Leo, the youngest. As young men (see the family portrait above) Maurice and Henry looked very much alike, with handsome handlebar-type mustaches. Leo was a soft-spoken young man with sad looking eyes.

Each Weidenthal brother was endowed, perhaps genetically, with a way with words and the rare skills of observation and curiosity and love for of their city. Each in his own very distinctive way helped change the face of Cleveland.

Maurice Weidenthal
ca 1910		 Henry Weidenthal
ca 1930		 Leo Weidenthal
ca 1960

Maurice Weidenthal   1856-1917
Came to Cleveland with his parents in 1870. A journalist whose jobs included reporter for the Herald (later the News), drama critic and editorial writer for the Cleveland Press, and city editor for the Plain Dealer. In 1906 he founded the Jewish Independent and became its publisher and editor, positions he held until his death.
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Henry Weidenthal  1870-1940
Born in Cleveland, A journalist who became a sports writer of note and then a widely read daily columnist and an editor of the Cleveland News.
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 Leo Weidenthal  1878-1967
 Born in Cleveland. A journalist who worked for the Cleveland World, the Leader, then the Plain Dealer for 11 years where he covered City Hall. On the death of his brother Maurice he took over the Jewish Independent and was its publisher-editor for 47 years. He is widely recognized as the founder of the Cleveland Cultural Gardens.
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About Maurice (Bud) Weidenthal

Maurice (Bud) Weidenthal, a journalist himself, is the grandson of journalist Maurice Weidenthal, described on these pages.

A native Clevelander, he graduated from Cleveland Heights High School and was a decorated combat veteran of World War II where he served in a unit of General George Patton’s Third Army.

He was editorial writer, assistant city editor and education editor for the Cleveland Press. In 1981 he became vice president for Public Affairs for the Cuyahoga Community College District. From 1989-2005 he was publisher and editor of the Urban Report. Currently he is a free lance writer and consultant for Ranc Associates in Georgetown Texas.

  

We thank Bud Weidenthal and his daughter Susan Weidenthal Saltzman, the family archivist, for the family pictures, text and other images for these pages. For more of their contributions, see our Confirmations pages.