Wingding Antics

Wife of John Wesley Werling. Mother of Wesley, Lynn, and Barbara Werling.

Marie Louise Feldmann was born on February 8, 1909, in Waveland, Mississippi. She was the daughter of John Feldmann and Emma Hipper.[i] Her last name is also spelled Feldman throughout the City Directories, newspapers and Census records. According to family stories she was baptized at Our Lady of the Gulf Catholic Church in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The church is still standing at 228 S. Beach Blvd.[ii] In 1910, one-year old Marie lived with her family in Waveland Town, Hancock County, Mississippi. Her family included father, John T. Feldmann, mother, Emma H., and siblings Joseph (age 16), Johanna (age 13), Ethel (age 8), and John C. (age 4). Her father was a Teamster.[iii] On 18 December 1911, her father, John, died in Mississippi leaving her mother with five children.[iv]
In New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana Marie’s mother remarried to John Patterson on 7 October 1914.[v] In 1920, Marie, age 10, lived with her family at 137 Telemachus Street in New Orleans.[vi] Her stepfather, John (age 45) was a ship’s carpenter. Her mother (age 48), and siblings, Johanna M. (age 21), Ethel G. (age 18), John C. (age 13), and Emma’s brother, William (age 60), also lived with them. In October 1922, she was part of the Pennant Winning Volleyball team from Crossman School.[vii] She was promoted to a New Orleans High School in June 1923 at the close of the second term of the public-school year.[viii]
Around 1927 she was living at 4035 Baudin Street with her family – a house she would reside in for many years. Here she started working as a compto (comptometer) operator.[ix] The comptometer was invented in the 1880s by Dorr Felt and was a mechanical adding and calculating machine and required significant training to operate. “Operators had to develop a fast, precise touch, using all fingers across the keyboard simultaneously. A skilled operator could calculate faster than most people could on paper.”[x] In May the same year the Young-Women’s Christian Association business girls’ health, educational and girl reserves’ department hosted a variety show where Marie was cast as a sailor.[xi] In the 1928 city directory her occupation was a telephone operator for the Telegraph-Cable Company.[xii] This company was founded as a competitor to Western Union and was a major telegraph and communication company.[xiii] In 1929 she returned to the occupation of comptometer operator.[xiv]
In 1930, Marie, age 20, lived with her stepfather, John Patterson (age 57), mother, Emma (age 59), and siblings, Mary J. (age 31), Ethel (age 27), and John C. (age 23). Her occupation was listed as an office helper for a cotton broker.[xv] Later in 1930 she was once again a comptometer operator for the company Fenner & Beane.[xvi]In 1931 her occupation was still comptometer operator and then in 1933 she changed occupations to switchboard operator.[xvii]
During the early 1930s Marie started engaging more with society. Along with her sister Johanna, she became a member of the Ada Zoe sorority. In April through July 1932 the society hosted several dances.[xviii] As a member of the Mannequins she also was part of hosted dances. In May 1932, the group hosted a dance at the New Orleans Athletic club where John Werling also attended.[xix] Perhaps this is where she first met her future husband as she and John were married on 7 February 1934 at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church.[xx] According to her daughter, Barbara, she believes that Marie’s brother, Cliffie, may have introduced John and Marie. John, a native of New Orleans, was the son of William P. Werling and Virginia Martinez.
In 1940, John (age 32) a cabinet maker, and Marie (age 30) lived with her step-father, John Patterson (age 66), mother, Emma (age 69), and Marie’s sister, Johanna (age 43) at 4035 Baudin Street.[xxi] In October 1948, Emile J. Niedermann transferred the property at 2757 Perdido to Mr. and Mrs. John Werling for $3000.xxii In1950, Marie (age 41) and John (age 42) lived at the Baudin Street address with their two children, Wesley (age 7) and Lynn (age 5). Her sister, Johanna (age 52) was listed as the head of household and her mother, Emma (age 80) also lived with them.[xxiii] Their third child, Barbara, was born in July 1950.
Not much more information can be found on Marie following her marriage. She is mentioned two more times in the newspapers. In 1952, John and Marie sold the Perdido property to Eureka Homestead for $3,500.[xxiv] In July 1964, Johanna sold the residence at 4035 Baudin to John Werling for $7,750.[xxv] Her husband, John, died on 20 December 1977.[xxvi] According to her daughter, Barbara, Marie stayed at home until Barbara was 10 and then she returned to work. She was urged on by a friend to take the Civil Service exam and went to work as a secretary and retired from Charity Hospital where she was the main secretary to the Director of the Housekeeping Department.[xxvii]
Marie Louise Werling passed away on February 1, 1998, in Monroe, at the age of 88.[xxviii] She was later laid to rest beside her husband at Greenwood Cemetery in New Orleans.

i U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, database online; Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/60901/records/27703326?tid=115065397&pid=230193364340&ssrc=pt : accessed 25 May 2026). Record states her birth date was 8 February 1909 and she was born in Waveland, Mississippi. No birth records could be found in Waveland, Hancock County, Mississippi.
ii Our Lady of the Gulf, Catholic Church, Bay St. Louis, MS, https://www.olgchurch.net/.
iii U.S.1910 census, Hancock County, Mississippi, Population Schedule, Waveland Town, Enumeration District (ED) 29, sheet 8A, dwelling 107, family 107, image 1165, Marie Louise in John Feldmann Household; Family Search (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RVR-SMK?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AMP8D-ZQZ&action=view&cc=1727033&lang=en&groupId= : accessed 8 April 2026).
iv Copies of Carkeet family Bible records, source unknown, author’s possession. Note: I believe the Bible belonged to Mathilda Treffs, wife of William Hipper. William Hipper was the father of Emma Hipper. Marie’s mother. Mathilda may have married Thomas Carkeet after William Hipper died in 1873.
v Louisiana Parish Marriages, 1787-1958, 7 October 1914, image 204, marriage of John Petterson to Emma Hipper (wife of John Feldman); FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:2:77TK-3JW5?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AQKJH-JPT7&action=view&cc=1807364&lang=en&groupId= : accessed 25 May 2026.
vi U.S. 1920 census, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, Population Schedule, New Orleans, Enumeration District (ED) 56, sheet 16B, line 81, image 498, 137 Telemachus St., dwelling 328, family 343, Marie Louise in John Patterson Household; Family Search (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RND-BFL?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AMV7H-WFV&action=view&cc=1488411&lang=en&groupId= : accessed 8 April 2026).
vii “Crossman Team Pennant Winner in Volley Ball”, 3 October 1922, New Orleans States, p. 12, col. 3; image copy, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/1317441594/?match=1&terms=Marie%20Feldman : accessed on 24 May 2026).
viii “Elementary Pupils Promoted to Three N.O. High Schools: Crossman”, New Orleans States, 12 June 1923, p. 12, col. 2; image copy, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/1321406608/?match=1&terms=Marie%20Feldman : accessed on 24 May 2026).
ix Soards’ New Orleans City Directory, 1927 (New Orleans, LA: Soards Directory Co., Ltd., 1927, Vol. LIV), pg. 628, image 319, entry for “Feldman, Marie L.; Ancestry ( https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2469/records/1237294799?tid=11044836&pid=-537396741&queryId=569d7e85-7fbd-475f-8ae9-136f078a57ca&_phsrc=qCq1602&_phstart=successSource : accessed 20 April 2026).
x Synopsis on the comptometer operator, Claude, (https://claude.ai/chat/80eb5efd-46e7-46b2-81da-7dd4f7372dad: generated 25 May 2026).
xi “Y.W.C.A. Benefit Set for Tonight: Musical Maids, Revue, Playlets and Dances to Be Features”, The Times-Picayune, 6 May 1927, p. 12, cols.2-3; image copy, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/1248069883/?match=1&terms=Marie%20Feldman : accessed on 24 May 2026).
xii Soards’ New Orleans City Directory, 1928 (New Orleans, LA: Soards Directory Co., Ltd., 1928, Vol. LV), pg. 630, image 318, entry for “Feldman, Marie L.; Ancestry ( https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2469/records/1237294799?tid=11044836&pid=-537396741&queryId=569d7e85-7fbd-475f-8ae9-136f078a57ca&_phsrc=qCq1602&_phstart=successSource : accessed 20 April 2026).
xiii The Old Tube Radio Archives: Old Tube Radios and Electronics Database, Postal Telegraph-Cable Company, 20 May 2026, (https://oldtuberadio.com/manufacturers/postal-telegraph-cable-company/ : accessed 25 May 2026).
xiv Soards’ New Orleans City Directory, 1929 (New Orleans, LA: Soards Directory Co., Ltd., 1929, Vol. LVI), pg. 274, image 297, entry for “Feldman, Marie L.; Ancestry ( https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2469/records/1237294799?tid=11044836&pid=-537396741&queryId=569d7e85-7fbd-475f-8ae9-136f078a57ca&_phsrc=qCq1602&_phstart=successSource : accessed 20 April 2026).
xv United States 1930 census, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, Population Schedule, New Orleans City, Enumeration District (ED) 36-23, sheet 11A, line 37, image 471, 4035 Baudin Street, dwelling 179, family 185, Marie Louise in John Patterson Household; Family Search (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9R4X-X6T?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AXMYB-Q45&action=view&cc=1810731&lang=en&groupId= : accessed 8 April 2026).
xvi Soards’ New Orleans City Directory, 1930 (New Orleans, LA: Soards Directory Co., Ltd., 1930, Vol. LVII), pg. 356, image 284, entry for “Feldman, Marie L.; Ancestry ( https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2469/records/1237294799?tid=11044836&pid=-537396741&queryId=569d7e85-7fbd-475f-8ae9-136f078a57ca&_phsrc=qCq1602&_phstart=successSource : accessed 20 April 2026).
xvii Soards’ New Orleans City Directory, 1931 (New Orleans, LA: Soards Directory Co., Ltd., 1931, Vol. LVIII), pg. 350, image 271, entry for “Feldman, Marie L.; Ancestry ( https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2469/records/1237294799?tid=11044836&pid=-537396741&queryId=569d7e85-7fbd-475f-8ae9-136f078a57ca&_phsrc=qCq1602&_phstart=successSource : accessed 20 April 2026). Soards’ New Orleans City Directory, 1933 (New Orleans, LA: Soards Directory Co., Ltd., 1933, Vol. LX), pg. 507, image 247, entry for “Feldman, Marie L.; Ancestry ( https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2469/records/1237294799?tid=11044836&pid=-537396741&queryId=569d7e85-7fbd-475f-8ae9-136f078a57ca&_phsrc=qCq1602&_phstart=successSource : accessed 20 April 2026).
xviii “Society”, The Tribune, 18 April 1932, p. 11, col.6; image copy, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/1323640407/?match=1&terms=Marie%20Feldman : accessed on 25 May 2026).
xix “Society in New Orleans”, The New Orleans States Item, 2 May 1932, p. 13, cols. 2-3; image copy, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/1322036754/?match=1&terms=Marie%20Feldman : accessed on 25 May 2026).
xx Louisiana. Orleans Parish. Louisiana Parish Marriages, 1837-1957. Database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 9 January 2022), John Wesley Werling and Marie Louise Feldman, 05 Feb 1934.
xxi 1940 U.S. Census, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, population schedule, New Orleans, SD 1, Enumeration District (ED) 36-61, sheet 2B, ward 3, page 104 (stamped), dwelling 4035 Baudin Street, family 32, John Werling in John Patterson Household, National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) microfilm publication T627.
xxii “Conveyance Office Recordations: Real Estate Transfers First District”, the Official Daily Court Record, 14 October 1948, p. 6, col. 2; image copy, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/1326315506/?match=1&terms=Werling : accessed on 14 May 2026).
xxiii 1950 U.S. Census, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, population schedule, Enumeration District (ED) 26-52A, sheet 11, 435 Canal St, dwelling number 103, William P. Werling Household, National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) microfilm publication T627; accessed on 16 November 2025, Ancestry.com
xxiv “Real Estate Transfers of the Week: Second District”, the Times-Picayune, 4 May 1952, p. 8, col. 1; image copy, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/1249802219/?match=1&terms=Werling : accessed on 14 May 2026).
xxv “Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard Real Estate Transfers”, the Times-Picayune, 19 July 1966, p. 26, col. 1; image copy, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/1251276072/?match=1&terms=Werling : accessed on 3 May 2026).
xxvi Deaths, New Orleans States-Item, 21 December 1977, p. A-14, col. 7; image copy, GenealogyBank (https://genealogybank.com : accessed 9 January 2022).
xxvii Interview with Barbara Michaelides 3 May 2026.
xxviii Obituaries, The News Star, 3 February 1998, p. 8A, col.3; image copy, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/1246307303/?match=1&terms=Werling : accessed on 25 April 2026).