Editing Franz Xaver Gruber (section)

==Life==
Gruber was born on 25 November 1787 in the village of [[Hochburg-Ach]], Upper Austria, the son of linen weavers, Josef and Maria Gruber. His given name was recorded in the baptismal record as "Conrad Xavier," but this was later changed to "Franz Xaver". The Hochburger schoolteacher Andreas Peterlechner gave him music lessons.<ref name=stille>{{Cite web |url=http://www.stillenacht.at/en/gruber.asp |title="Franz Xaver Gruber", Stille Nacht Gesellschaft |access-date=3 September 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130118231411/http://www.stillenacht.at/en/gruber.asp |archive-date=18 January 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
 {{multiple image
 | width = 250
 | image1 = Volksschule Arnsdorf.JPG
 | caption1 = Gruber taught at the primary school in Arnsdorf
 | image2 = Stille Nacht kapelle Bild Franz Xaver Gruber.JPG
 | caption2 = Portrait in the Silent Night Chapel in Oberndorf bei Salzburg
 }}
{{listen|type=music|image=none|help=no
 | filename    = Silent Night (choral).ogg
 | title       = Silent Night
 | description = Choral version by United States Army Chorus
 | format      = [[Ogg]]
}}

Gruber worked as a weaver until the age of 18, then trained to become a schoolteacher. He completed his music education studying with the church organist of Burghausen, Georg Hartdobler. In 1807 Gruber became a schoolteacher in Arnsdorf. He also became the church caretaker and organist. In 1808 he married a widow, Maria Elisabeth Fischinger Engelsberger. They had two children, both of whom died young. After the death of his first wife in 1825, Gruber married a former student, Maria Breitfuss. They had ten children, four of whom survived to adulthood. In 1829 Gruber moved to Berndorf, and in later years to [[Hallein]], [[Duchy of Salzburg|Salzburg]], where he was named choir director, singer and organist.<ref name=stille/>

Maria Gruber died in childbirth in 1841. The following year he married Katherine Wimmer.<ref name=stille/>