Wilhelm, the fourth oldest child of Joachim & Caroline Persohn was stricken with disease in childhood which crippled his legs. He was obliged to live on crutches into his old age. To earn a livelihood, Wilhelm provided himself with a cobbler's equipment & established himself in the business of making shoes in an addition to the house in which his family lived. His handicap didn't stop him from enjoying life. He attended regularly as he was able. He stayed a bachelor all his life. He died in Brillion October 3, 1915. Multiple newspapers carried an article regarding his legacy to his church.
"CRIPPLED COBBLER GIVES $65,000 TO A VILLAGE METHODIST CHURCH
Chicago, Oct. 26--Wilhelm Persohn, a congenital cripple, the romance of whose life lay in his devotion to the little Methodist church at Brillion, Wis. left $25,000 to the pension fund of the church.
Persohn never was able to stand on his feet unaided, and his parents, who brought him to this country from Germany when he was 13, taught him to be a cobbler. He invested his meager savings in land and the land grew in value. All went to the church.
"The Lord has given money in such a wonderful manner that it belongs to Him and I shall return it to Him", was the cobbler's motto.
During his life he gave $65,000 to institutions of the church. For his last years, he reserved the interest on $25,00 and upon his recent demise it was left to the pension fund. For twenty-seven years he was preacher, organist & choir leader of the church at Brillion."
"CRIPPLED COBBLER GIVES $65,000 TO A VILLAGE METHODIST CHURCH
Chicago, Oct. 26--Wilhelm Persohn, a congenital cripple, the romance of whose life lay in his devotion to the little Methodist church at Brillion, Wis. left $25,000 to the pension fund of the church.
Persohn never was able to stand on his feet unaided, and his parents, who brought him to this country from Germany when he was 13, taught him to be a cobbler. He invested his meager savings in land and the land grew in value. All went to the church.
"The Lord has given money in such a wonderful manner that it belongs to Him and I shall return it to Him", was the cobbler's motto.
During his life he gave $65,000 to institutions of the church. For his last years, he reserved the interest on $25,00 and upon his recent demise it was left to the pension fund. For twenty-seven years he was preacher, organist & choir leader of the church at Brillion."
Wilhelm, the fourth oldest child of Joachim & Caroline Persohn was stricken with disease in childhood which crippled his legs. He was obliged to live on crutches into his old age. To earn a livelihood, Wilhelm provided himself with a cobbler's equipment & established himself in the business of making shoes in an addition to the house in which his family lived. His handicap didn't stop him from enjoying life. He attended regularly as he was able. He stayed a bachelor all his life. He died in Brillion October 3, 1915. Multiple newspapers carried an article regarding his legacy to his church.
"CRIPPLED COBBLER GIVES $65,000 TO A VILLAGE METHODIST CHURCH
Chicago, Oct. 26--Wilhelm Persohn, a congenital cripple, the romance of whose life lay in his devotion to the little Methodist church at Brillion, Wis. left $25,000 to the pension fund of the church.
Persohn never was able to stand on his feet unaided, and his parents, who brought him to this country from Germany when he was 13, taught him to be a cobbler. He invested his meager savings in land and the land grew in value. All went to the church.
"The Lord has given money in such a wonderful manner that it belongs to Him and I shall return it to Him", was the cobbler's motto.
During his life he gave $65,000 to institutions of the church. For his last years, he reserved the interest on $25,00 and upon his recent demise it was left to the pension fund. For twenty-seven years he was preacher, organist & choir leader of the church at Brillion."
"CRIPPLED COBBLER GIVES $65,000 TO A VILLAGE METHODIST CHURCH
Chicago, Oct. 26--Wilhelm Persohn, a congenital cripple, the romance of whose life lay in his devotion to the little Methodist church at Brillion, Wis. left $25,000 to the pension fund of the church.
Persohn never was able to stand on his feet unaided, and his parents, who brought him to this country from Germany when he was 13, taught him to be a cobbler. He invested his meager savings in land and the land grew in value. All went to the church.
"The Lord has given money in such a wonderful manner that it belongs to Him and I shall return it to Him", was the cobbler's motto.
During his life he gave $65,000 to institutions of the church. For his last years, he reserved the interest on $25,00 and upon his recent demise it was left to the pension fund. For twenty-seven years he was preacher, organist & choir leader of the church at Brillion."
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