William Wesley Ulerich

WILLIAM WESLEY ULERICH, present county superintendent of public schools for Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, has served in such educational capacity for the past twelve years, during which time he has succeeded in raising high the standard of the public schools. He was born in Ligonier Valley, Pennsylvania, February 5, 1860, the son of John Nicholas and Mary Ann (Caylor) Ulerich. 

The grandfather, Samuel Ulerich, was the first member of this family to locate in Westmoreland county. He came from Germany about 1808, settling in Carlisle, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. He was a tanner by trade. From family records it appears that he took little part in either politics or religious work, but was an industrious, faithful citizen of his adopted country. His wife was Mary Elizabeth McDowell, of whose family history but little is known. Their children were: Julia Ann, Joseph, John Nicholas and William. 

John Nicholas Ulerich (father) was born in Ligonier township, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and his wife Mary Ann Caylor, in Unity township, same county. The former was born in 1834 and the later in 1833. They followed farming for a livelihood. John Nicholas had a good common school education. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics was a Republican. For many years he served his district as school director. The mother was the daughter of Mr.. and Mrs.. John Caylor. Her father was a justice of the peace in Unity township for many years. 

William Wesley Ulerich, so of John N. and Ann (Caylor) Ulerich, was educated in the public schools of his native county, the Ligonier Classical Institute, and the Indiana State Normal, from which institution he graduated in 1884. He followed farm labor until seventeen years of age, and then began to teach school, and has ever since been connected with educational institutions. He continued to teach until 1884 in rural schools, but in the summer of that year was elected to the assistant principalship of the Irwin public schools. He served in that capacity one year, and was then chosen as principal of the schools at Latrobe, where he remained eight years. In 1893 he was elected county superintendent of public schools for Westmoreland county, and has served twelve years and is still in office by the reason of his efficiency. Politically Mr. Ulerich has always supported the Republican party. He is an active member of Latrobe Methodist Episcopal church, and is a member of the board of trustees of that society; is also chairman of the missionary and music committees. He has been the Sunday school superintendent for the past sixteen years. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity; I.O.O.F., and the I.O.H. Mr. Ulerich was one of the founders of the Ridgeview Chautauqua, serving on its executive committees for six years. He was also a member of the Ridgeview Park, and trustee of the committee for six years. His has been an active life. His efforts to build up good schools and advance the interests of his chosen church have been crowned with unusual success. Mr. Ulerich married December 9, 1896, Nora B. Walter, at Markleton, Pennsylvania. She possessed a good public school education. She died February 28, 1903. Her parents were William and Mary Walter. Her father taught school and later became a merchant. Mr. Ulerich married (second), August 17, 1905, Anna Susan Keener, daughter of Henry F. Keener, a minister of the German Reformed church, and his wife, Julia Elizabeth. Henry F. Keener is deceased, and hi wife lives in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Anna Susan Keener was educated at the Indianan State Normal; and at the Oswego State Norman, Oswego, New York. She is a teacher by profession, principal of the third ward primary school at Latrobe. She is a member of the Methodist church and superintendent of the primary department of the Sabbath school connected therewith. 

Source Pages 72 & 73 History of Westmoreland County, Volume II, Pennsylvania by John N. Boucher. New York, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1906 
Transcribed June 5, 2000 by Marilynn Wienke for the Westmoreland County History Project. 
Contributed for use by the Westmoreland County Genealogy Project (http://www.pa-roots.com/westmoreland/)

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