John Frederick Vichert

John Frederick Vichert was a minister, educator, Prohibition Party politician, and 1932 Prohibition Party candidate for Governor of New York. 
     He was born on August 10th, 1874, in Ontario, Canada. His parents were of ethnic German ancestry. Vichert grew up in Canada. He married Nettie Douglas Wallace on September 20, 1899; they had two sons: Richard (1899) and Clarence (1902). He immigrated to the United States in 1904. 
     At some point before or after immigrating, Vichert became a Baptist minister. In 1907, he was the pastor of First Baptist Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana. While living in Fort Wayne, he served on the executive committee of the Chapman-Alexander evangelistic campaign.
      Vichert moved to Providence, Rhode Island in 1912, where he became a pastor for another church.  There, he began teaching and, also, traveled to give speeches in places such as Brooklyn, New York. 
     By 1916, Vichert had become Dean of the Colgate Theological Seminary in Rochester, New York (which became the Colgate Rochester Divinity School in 1928 and the Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School in 1970). He taught at the Colgate Rochester Divinity School until at least 1935, being there professor of practical theology. 
     The Prohibition Party selected John F. Vichert as its 1932 candidate for governor of New York.  Vichert was initially hesitant, but finally agreed to run. He campaigned in favor of maintaining national prohibition, in opposition to legalizing beer in New York, and in favor of strong anti-alcohol policies in New York state.
     At a rally by the WTCU in Ontario County, he ridiculed the notion that legalizing beer would bring in government revenue or reduce unemployment on any significant level. He contended that the increased police, court, and poverty costs would overbalance the revenue from liquors and that, while some jobs might be created by breweries, more jobs would be lost in other areas. He contended farmers are more than able to sell grain to dairymen as opposed to brewers and that selling gain to dairies was more profitable. In his speech he stated: “Alcohol, for which beer is drunk, is a habit-forming poison. Its consumption increases danger on the road, and in the machine shop, lessens the worker’s ability, takes food and clothing from wives and children, and is sure to make some drinkers drunkards. .... Are you willing to take the risk of causing your children and friends to become miserable drunkards?” 
     Vichert ran against Democratic candidate Herbert Lehman, Republican Candidate William J. Donovan, Socialist Party candidate Louis Waldman, Communist Party candidate Israel Amter, and Socialist Labor Party candidate Aaron M. Orange. Vichert received 83,452 votes (1.78% of the vote) and came in 4th place, behind Lehman, Donovan, and Waldman.
     After the election, in 1933, Vichert was a Dry candidate for delegate to the New York convention on whether to ratify the 21st amendment. 
    Vichert moved to St. Petersburg, Florida in 1944 or 1945. In 1947, Vichert served as a missionary in Western China.  He died in Pinellas, Florida, in 1948.

Sources:
     “1st Baptist Church Reopens”. The Fort Wayne News. (Fort Wayne, Indiana). March 12, 1916. Accessed, February 6, 2021. https://www.newspapers.com/image/34741827/?terms=john%20vichert&match=1 
     “Address by Vichert”. The Daily Messenger. (Canandaigua, New York). January 13, 1933. Accessed, February 6, 2021. https://www.newspapers.com/image/22211491/?terms=john%20vichert&match=1
      “Another Nominee Declines to Run”. St. Albans Daily Messenger. (St. Albans, Vermont). October 4, 1932. Accessed, February 6, 2021. https://www.newspapers.com/image/659813197/terms=john%20vichert&match=1 
     “Baptists are to Dedicate Seminary in East Orange”. The Courier News. (Bridgewater, New Jersey). October 6, 1921. Accessed, February 6, 2021. https://www.newspapers.com/image/220765349/?terms=john%20vichert&match=1 
     Baptist Church Hemlock NY - Hemlock and Canadice Lakes. Accessed, February 6, 2021. https://www.hemlockandcanadicelakes.com/hcl_church_hemlock_baptist.htm. 
     “Baptist Church Meetings”. The Fort Wayne Sentinel. (Fort Wayne Indiana). January 16, 1909. Accessed February 5, 2021. https://www.newspapers.com/image/29133652/?terms=john%20vichert&match=1    
     “Baptists Meet on October 23. The Yonkers Herald. (Yonkers, New York). October 20, 1928. Accessed, February 5, 2021. https://www.newspapers.com/image/676824181/?terms=john%20vichert&match=1  
     “Borough of Brooklyn Law Preservation Party”. Times Union. (Brooklyn, New York). November 2, 1932. Accessed, February 6, 2021. https://www.newspapers.com/image/577415487/?terms=john%20vichert&match=1 
     “Brotherhood to Hear Rev. John F. Vichert”. The Daily Messenger. (Canandaigua, New York). December 2, 1931. Accessed, February 6, 2021. https://www.newspapers.com/image/21830137/?terms=john%20vichert&match=1 
     “Charles H. Hughes”. The Agitator. (Wellsboro, Pennsylvania). March 19, 1941. Accessed, February 5, 2021. https://www.newspapers.com/image/36987214/?terms=john%20vichert&match=1 
     “Church Services”. The Huntington Herald. (Huntington, Indiana). October 19, 1907. https://www.newspapers.com/image/40035114/?terms=john%20vichert&match=1 
     “Class Sponsors First Banquet”. The Daily Messenger. (Canandaigua, New York). January 21, 1937. Accessed, February 6, 2021. https://www.newspapers.com/image/20829168/?terms=john%20vichert&match=1
     "Death Claims Leroy Baby; Club to Resume Meetings”. Buffalo Courier. (Buffalo, New York). January 3, 1926. Accessed, February 6, 2021. https://www.newspapers.com/image/441145778/?terms=john%20vichert&match=1 
     “Does Not Choose to Run”. Montpellier Evening Argus. (Montpellier, Vermont). October 4, 1932. Accessed, February 6, 2021. https://www.newspapers.com/image/661389544/?terms=john%20vichert&match=1 
     “Dr John F Vichert: mentioned in the record of Alexander Shaw.” FamilySearch. Accessed February 6, 2021. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q59M-9RDZ 
     “Dr John Vichert: mentioned in the record of Mrs Helen W Graves.” FamilySearch. Accessed February 6, 2021. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q59M-Q9Y9
      “Dr. Vichert at the Normal”. The Oneonta Star. (Oneonta, New York). Jun 17, 1922. Accessed, February 6, 2021. https://www.newspapers.com/image/23046765/?terms=john%20vichert&match=1
      “Drys Finish Slate of Anti-Repeal Delegates”. The Daily Messenger. (Canandaigua, New York). April 17, 1933. Accessed, February 6, 2021. https://www.newspapers.com/image/22221353/?terms=john%20vichert&match=1 
     “Election Notice”. Times Union. (Brooklyn, New York). November 1, 1932. Accessed, February 6, 2021. https://www.newspapers.com/image/577421120/?terms=john%20vichert&match=1
      “First Baptist Church”. The Brattleboro Reformer. (Brattleboro, Vermont). February 27, 1932. Accessed, February 5, 2021. https://www.newspapers.com/image/547834581/?terms=john%20vichert&match=1     
     ”How Old is He or She” Question Answered Here”. The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette. (Fort Wayne, Indiana). April 9, 1911. Accessed, February 6, 2021. https://www.newspapers.com/image/29160905/?terms=john%20vichert&match=1
      Kestenbaum, Lawrence. “Index to Politicians: Verna to Vikramjit.” The Political Graveyard. Accessed February 6, 2021. http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/verna-vigorito.html. 
     “John Vickert: Ontario Births and Baptisms, 1779-1899.” FamilySearch. Accessed February 6, 2021. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XLB6-QG4 
     “John F Vichert: Canada Census, 1901.” FamilySearch. Accessed February 6, 2021. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KHV2-SPQ 
     “John F Vichert: Florida State Census, 1945.” FamilySearch. Accessed February 6, 2021. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNN6-4ZP 
     “John F Vichert: New York State Census, 1925.” FamilySearch. Accessed February 6, 2021. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KS4F-F2R 
     “John F Vichert: United States Census, 1910.” FamilySearch. Accessed February 6, 2021. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKLT-575 
     “John F Vichert: United States Census, 1920.” FamilySearch. Accessed February 6, 2021. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJLR-LWJ 
     “John F Vichert: United States Census, 1940.” FamilySearch. Accessed February 6, 2021. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K317-BNS. 
     “John Frederick Vichert: Florida Death Index, 1877-1998” FamilySearch. Accessed February 6, 2021. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VVS7-V18 
     “John Frederick Vichert: United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918” FamilySearch. Accessed February 6, 2021. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KXTB-38K 
     “John Frederick Vickert: Ontario Marriages, 1869-1927”. FamilySearch. Accessed February 6, 2021. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZB4-ST1
      “Local Baptists to be Hosts to Oil Creek Unit”. Bradford Evening Star and Daily Record. (Bradford, Pennsylvania). September 17, 1935. Accessed, February 6, 2021. https://www.newspapers.com/image/77050498/?terms=john%20vichert&match=1
      “Love Takes Dry Nomination from Men Who Beat GOP”. Times Union. (Brooklyn, New York). November 3, 1932. Accessed, February 6, 2021. https://www.newspapers.com/image/577421327/?terms=john%20vichert&match=1 
     “Missionary to Speak at Baptist Church”. The Daily News. (Huntington, Pennsylvania). April 26, 1947. https://www.newspapers.com/image/10642965/?terms=john%20vichert&match=1
      “News of the Colleges”. The Indianapolis News. (Indianapolis, Indiana). March 9, 1916. Accessed, February 6, 2021. https://www.newspapers.com/image/37331862/?terms=john%20vichert&match=1 
     “NY Governor Race - Nov 08, 1932.” Our Campaigns. Accessed, February 6, 2021. https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=95209. 
     “Other Past Candidates: New York”. Partisan Prohibition Historical Society. Prohibitionists.org. Accessed December 29, 2020. http://www.prohibitionists.org/Candidates/candidates.html 
     “Our History.” Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School. Accessed, February 6, 2021. https://www.crcds.edu/history/. 
     “Over the Hill from Franklin”. The Oneonta Star. (Oneonta, New York). January 23, 1918. Accessed, February 6, 2021. https://www.newspapers.com/image/9185519/?terms=john%20vichert&match=1     
     “Preliminary Plans for Great Missionary Movement”. The Fort Wayne Sentinel. (Fort Wayne Indiana). June 8, 1910. Accessed, February 5, 2021. https://www.newspapers.com/image/7367726/?terms=john%20vichert&match=1
      “Rev. J. F. Vichert Will Speak at Baptist Gathering”. The Fort Wayne Sentinel. (Fort Wayne Indiana). February 19, 1909. Accessed, February 5, 2021. https://www.newspapers.com/image/29148573/?terms=john%20vichert&match=1
      “Rhode Island for Wilson”. The Allentown Democrat. (Allentown, Pennsylvania). January 14, 1913. Accessed, February 6, 2021. https://www.newspapers.com/image/74020612/?terms=john%20vichert&match=1 
     "Second Lenton Service Sunday." The Brattleboro Reformer. (Brattleboro, Vermont). March 6, 1931. Accessed, February 6, 2021. https://www.newspapers.com/image/548270801/?terms=john%20vichert&match=1
      “See No Good in Return of Beer”. The Daily Messenger. (Canandaigua, New York). November 29, 1932. Accessed, February 6, 2021. https://www.newspapers.com/image/22016204/?terms=john%20vichert&match=1 
     “Smith-Hibbins”. Fort Wayne Daily News. (Fort Wayne, Indiana). June 18, 1908. Accessed, February 6, 2021. https://www.newspapers.com/image/28878782/?terms=john%20vichert&match=1 
     “Society”. The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette. (Fort Wayne, Indiana). February 4, 1912. Accessed, February 6, 2021. https://www.newspapers.com/image/29074655/?terms=john%20vichert&match=1 
     “Sunday in the Churches”. Brooklyn Daily Eagle. (Brooklyn, New York). August 2, 1913. Accessed, February 6, 2021. https://www.newspapers.com/image/54204841/?terms=john%20vichert&match=1
      “Sunday in the City Churches”. The Daily Messenger. (Canandaigua, New York). March 1, 1935. Accessed, February 6, 2021. https://www.newspapers.com/image/21283764/?terms=john%20vichert&match=1 
     "The Annual Banquet”. The Fort Wayne News. (Fort Wayne, Indiana). January 21, 1911. Accessed, February 6, 2021. https://www.newspapers.com/image/34813882/?terms=john%20vichert&match=1
      “The Rev. John F. Vichert”. The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette. (Fort Wayne, Indiana). November 27, 1910. Accessed, February 6, 2021. https://www.newspapers.com/image/29067445/terms=john%20vichert&match=1 
     “Vichert Agrees to Run”. Times Union. (Brooklyn, New York). October 6, 1932. Accessed, February 6, 2021. https://www.newspapers.com/image/577421119/?terms=john%20vichert&match=1 
     World Heritage Encyclopedia. “NEW YORK STATE ELECTION, 1932.” 
     Project Gutenberg Self-Publishing Press. Accessed February 5, 2021. http://self.gutenberg.org/articles/eng/New_York_state_election,_1932.

-- Contributed by Jonathan Makeley

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