Born in 1832 in Austria, Raymond Woehl (pronounced "Whale"), immigrated to the US along with his wife Anna Seltbrecht probably in the mid 1850’s. They later settled in Centralia, IL in 1858. Raymond served in the Civil War as a private with Company H, First Illinois Cavalry from Apr 1861 to Jan 1862. There is a transcript of a journal written by him during the time he was serving in the Civil War. The original journal was written in German and eventually became the property of Phyliss Hatfield. She had it translated by a dentist friend of hers and the translation is all that exists today. Raymond became a naturalized citizen of the US on April 14, 1869.

Raymond worked most of his life as a Saloon Keeper in Centralia, IL and he and wife Anna Seltbrecht had two children, Anna Virginia and Minnie. Anna Seltbreck died on Jan 25, 1866 and on March 31, 1868 Raymond and Sophia J.A. Pfrang, a woman 19 years his junior, were married in Centralia at the Presbyterian Parsonage by Rev. J.W. Stark. At the time of the 1870 US Census, Raymond is living with daughters Anna and Minnie, Raymond’s new wife Sophia, and a Joseph Brunig who is possibly Sophia’s father. However, in their wedding announcement Sophia’s last name is given a Pfrang. They do not have the same last name which is strange. Sophia and Joseph apparently immigrated together from Baden, Germany sometime prior to 1870.

Raymond and Sophia Pfrang had five children; Carl Raymond, Clara, Ida, Raymond Jr., Josephine, and Carl. Carl died in infancy in 1869. Sophia’s father Joseph Franks (he had changed the spelling of his name assuming this is the same Joseph as above) died on Mar 10, 1893. He was 90 years old at the time.

Raymond Woehl seems to have been a quiet and private man and does not seem to have been very much interested in the active social life available to him through the German community in Centralia. He was a member of the Metropolitan Lodge, No. 108 IOOF and took part in organizing Memorial Day activities in his later years but did not seem to be interested in the parties and activities of the Turner Society like so many others of his day. Maybe this had something to do with his working a saloon keeper. The Woehl home was on South Walnut Street between Second and Third Streets.

Raymond Woehl died on Apr 27, 1886 at age 54. Sophia married again in 1894 to Robert Jennings. Robert had divorced his wife Elizabeth one year before. Robert adopted the Woehl children, because in the 1900 US Census they are all listed as step-children. There is also a granddaughter named Lillian Woehl who is possibly is the illegitimate daughter of Ida Woehl.

There is a monolith grave marker in Elmwood Cemetery in Centralia inscribed with the names and dates of Raymond and Anna Seltbreck. It is broken into three pieces and the inscriptions are badly weathered. Just behind this marker are two smaller stones for Sophia Pfrang and her father Joseph Pfrang.

Raymond’s daughter Anna Virginia Woehl married John Rettinger on November 15, 1883.

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