Charles Frederick Weigle was born November 20, 1871 in LaFayette, Indiana, into the family of a God-fearing, German-Lutheran baker and his wife. One of twelve children, five boys and seven girls, young Charles was accustomed to hearing his father pray and every morning after breakfast, Bible reading was observed at the family worship time.When Charles was twelve, the Methodist Church of LaFayette, where his parents attended, was having a series of revival meetings. A great number of his friends and playmates came under conviction and were going forward during the progress of the meeting. This made an quite an impression on young Charles. Even though he resisted longer than most of the others, one night a strong, overpowering realization that he was lost came over him and Charles was converted.
As he grew up, his keen interest in music led him to attend the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, where he received training that later helped him in his ministry. Not only did Charles become an inspiring preacher, but he was also a gifted songwriter, having written more than 1,000 songs.
Charles Weigle's most famous song, No One Ever Cared for Me Like Jesus, was the product of one of the darkest periods of his life. He spent most of his life as an itinerant evangelist and gospel songwriter. One day after returning home from an evangelistic crusade, he found a note left by his wife of many years. The note simply said she had had enough of an evangelist's life and was leaving him.
He later said that he became so despondent during the next several years that there were times when he contemplated suicide. He even wondered if anyone really cared for him, but after a time, his faith was again restored and he became active for the Lord again. Soon he felt compelled to write a song that would be a summary of his past tragic experience.
From a heart that had been broken came these words that God gave to comfort him.
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