Moeller, Henry K., 1849-1925

Henry K. Moeller was born in Cincinnati on Dec. 11, 1849 - the first native son to lead the Archdiocese. He was the eldest child of Bernard and Teresa (nee Witte) Moeller, who were immigrants from Westphalia. Moeller had six younger siblings, one of whom became a nun and two brothers who also became priests. He attended St. Joseph School in the West End and St. Xavier College. He was ordained to the priesthood in Rome in 1876. He served briefly as pastor of St. Patrick Church in Bellefontaine and was then appointed to teach at Mount St. Mary's Seminary.

As Secretary to the Coadjutor, Bishop Elder, and later as Chancellor of the Archdiocese, Rev. Henry Moeller was very involved in the administration of the Archdiocese between 1880 and 1900. From 1900 to 1903 he served as Bishop of Columbus, Ohio. In 1903, when Archbishop Elder's health was failing, Bishop Moeller returned to Cincinnati as Coadjutor Bishop, virtually running the Archdiocese until the death of Archbishop Elder in 1904. That year Bp. Moeller became the Ordinary of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.

As Archbishop of Cincinnati from 1904 to 1925, Abp. Moller presided over continued but slower growth in the Church. The number of churches increased from 154 to 190. Abp. Moeller strongly supported and encouraged Catholic education, establishing an Archdiocesan School Board and appointing the first Superintendent of Parochial Schools in 1907. Other important changes under Abp. Moeller included the establishment of the Bureau of Catholic Charities, St. Rita School for the Deaf was built, the Catholic Student Mission Crusade headquarters established in Cincinnati, and hiring Edward J. "Judge" Dempsey as the attorney of the Archdiocese, and the new seminary building in Norwood. Abp. Henry Moeller died on January 5, 1925 and the funeral was held on January 13, 1925.