Wellemeyer, Henry Frank

Other Events:

• Immigration: 1845, St. Louis, Missouri, USA

Notes:

Birth:
It is reported that Henry was the second of four sons.

Died:

     Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts provided the following transcription of an obituary which she reports appeared on Wednesday, 16 August 1899 in the Garner Signal, of Garner, Iowa.

     Henry Frank Wellemeyer died at his home in Garner 12 August 1899 of dropsy, aged 76 years, 7 months and 27 days. Funeral services conducted by Revs. C. H. Priebe and W. F. Gleason, were held at his home Tuesday p.m., and his remains laid at rest in Concord Cemetery. Mr. Wellemeyer was born at Hanover, Germany 15 December 1822. He emigrated to the United States in 1845 and settled in St. Louis, Missouri. Here he married Miss Catherine Fiegenbaum, 22 August 1847 and moved to Warrentown [sic], Missouri where they resided for nearly three years. Mr. and Mrs. Wellemeyer could not reconcile the institution of slavery, which then prevailed in Missouri. With their love of personal liberty, they moved to Louisa County near Wapello, Iowa, where they resided until 1875. The rich and cheap lands of northern Iowa induced Mr. Wellemeyer to sell his Louisa County farm and buy several hundred acres of Hancock County prairie. On 4 December 1875 he moved with his family to this county and built their permanent home in Seymour's addition to Concord where they have since resided. Mr. Wellemeyer united with the German M. E. Church at St. Louis in 1845 and for more than 53 years he was an active and consistent Christian in word and deed. He was a public spirited citizen, always ready to contribute his work and mite for the public good. For about fourteen years he was one of the trustees of Concord Township and held the office until ill health compelled him to decline a re-election. During the time he was a trustee he had charge of the Concord Cemetery and his care and work made beautiful his last resting place. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wellemeyer, all of whom live to mourn his death, and seven were present at the funeral to pay the last sad rites to a loving father. His six sons, Frank, William, Fred, Edward, George and Charles acted as pall bearers, tenderly and lovingly laid his mortal remains in the grave. On 22 August 1896 Mr. and Mrs. Wellemeyer celebrated their golden wedding with their children, grandchildren and many friends present with happy greetings. An event which is given to but few in this life. For nearly twenty-three years the writer has been a neighbor and friend of the deceased and during all that time we never knew him to do an unworthy act or deed. He was honorable in all his business transactions and during his last illness he was patient and uncomplaining. It can truly be said that in his death a loving husband and father, a consistent Christian and a good citizen has passed from among us. W. H. Wellemeyer and his sister Mrs. J. Newman of Wymore, Nebraska and Mrs. Minnie Winter, a sister of Mrs. Wellemeyer were present at Mr. Wellemeyer's funeral. Two daughters, Mrs. L. Minden of Preston, Kansas and Mrs. Mary Addicks of Warrentown [sic], Missouri were unable to attend.

     Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts also provided the following appreciation of his grandfather written in 1954 or 1955 by Franz Arthur Wellemeyer.

     Henry and Catherine were married 21 August 1847 in the German Methodist Church at St. Louis, Missouri. Henry age 25 and Catherine age 20. They farmed for three years near St. Charles in Warren County, Missouri. Lisetta Matilda and Frank Henry were born here. The Mexican War was a short war. In order to raise an army of volunteers in a hurry for General Winfield Scott, the Congress of U. S. offered certain lands in Iowa, just west of the Mississippi River FREE, a farm to each volunteer who joined the army. There was a condition, that the farm be occupied. The war ended in 1848 and many of the soldier boys were eager to sell their right to the land. Adolph Fiegenbaum and Mr. Winter hustled up to Wapello, Louisa County, Iowa, 200 miles north of St. Louis on the river, and 'traded around' until they got ahold of some of this land at $3.50 per acre and less. In 1850 Henry and Catherine and two children took over one of these farms and moved to Wapello. That was raw prairie land, no buildings, no fences, they built a log house and were forced to live from the land. They put in a good garden, they had plenty of fuel from the forests along the river, and game was plenty for meat, and there were fish in the river. They had everything but money. Churches and schools were slow in getting started; Lisetta was 13 and Frank 12 when they finally started to school. They completed the six grades in about two winters. Henry and Catherine lived on the Wapello farm for twenty-five years. The first fifteen were successful years, and with the help of the children, the farm was built up and they were prosperous. Then came the Civil War, and after that the 'hard times' when the price of farm products dropped below cost of production. In about 1870 Adolph and Christine Fiegenbaum sold land near Wapello, retired, making their home with Catherine and Henry. The following year Christine died. In 1875 the Wellemeyer family sold their farm and Adolph went with them to the town of Garner, Hancock, Iowa. They built a comfortable home on a ten acre tract west edge of town. Henry started business with 16 year old Edward as a helper. Times were still hard, and our kind hearted grandparents granted a bit too freely, soon had too much money on the books, and being out of funds, sold out at a loss. I must add in fairness to Henry that experience in the lumber business was valuable to him. It made him sharper in his business dealings and no doubt was worth all it cost. He then bought eighty acres of land and rented two or more quarter sections of grassland, got back into farming again. Three of his sons were living at home, Edward, George and Charles. For about twenty years he farmed the eighty acres and ran a herd of cattle on the rented grassland, raised grain, fed steers every year, kept bulls and stallions for the convenience of neighboring farms, milked a string and was generally prosperous -- our grandpa was a farmer. He was born in Prussia Germany 15 December 1822, the second of four sons to Mathew Wellemeyer. The maiden name of his mother was Voestman. In Germany he completed his common school education, attended church with his parents, and became a member of the Lutheran Church by confirmation. He came from farm people. In Prussia every male was trained to be a soldier and served four years starting at the age of 20. At the age of 19 Henry sneaked out of Germany, alone, to avoid four years in the German Army. He came to New Orleans by ship, then by river boat he proceeded to St. Louis, Missouri, here he found employment in a boiler factory where he worked for maybe five years. The German police were looking for him, hence he did not write home until after he received his U. S. Citizen papers, after which he wrote home and refunded the passage money to his father. His height was 5' 8', stocky build, weight about 175. His hair was dark brown as was his beard, no tendency at all toward being bald. His eyes were hazel. At the time of his death, age 77, he had all of his natural teeth and they were sound except for one filling. He was a man of model habits, did not use tobacco, nor did he drink. He enjoyed his meals very much, but was a light eater, used to caution me not to eat fast and admonished me to always quit eating while it still tasted good. I marveled at the cleanliness of the man, his face was clean, his beard trimmed, his nails trimmed, his boots cleaned every night and frequently oiled. If a button came off his jacket he laid it aside, if his overalls were torn, he wore another pair. One day I mentioned to him that the pony which I rode herding the cattle was getting thin, while the 'mounts' which the other men rode into town were often slick and well groomed. "I am pleased, said Grandpa, that you noticed that, and if you will notice a little more, your horse too can have that well fed, well groomed look. The fellows with the nice horses seldom run them as fast as they will go." And he explained that people like horses would work and play in moderation and that horses should be kept well groomed and that men should keep their boots clean and their clothes in repair. If he were talking to us today (1955) no doubt he would say, drive your automobile at a moderate rate of speed, so that the machine will last longer and you will live longer. Henry Wellemeyer always carried a cane, not that he was lame, but every man who buys and sells cattle must have a cane. It seems that a cattleman cannot think clearly, or profoundly, unless he leans on a cane. Thus, the cane has become the symbol or the badge of all cattlemen. Grandfather would buy small lots of cattle at any time throughout the year, often from farmers who were short of feed. These purchased cattle varied greatly in quality. Some were poor, some were average, a few were very good. In the fall of the year other farmers would come to buy a bunch of 20 or more head for their feed lots, which granddad was glad to sell. Only the best of these purchased steers found their way into his feed lot. Grandfather would walk around among his fattening cattle, now and then he would stop -- lean on his cane -- deep in thought -- he was thinking, when and how we should change the ration to get the best gains and the nicest finish. And months later, when the cattle were finally shipped to Chicago, they would sometimes top the market. This means that he received the highest price per pound paid for fat cattle at Chicago that day. To top the market is perhaps as great an honor, and harder to achieve, than to graduate from a college with the award of 'Cum Laude thus you will understand how necessary and proper it was for grandfather to carry a cane. Henry was a member of the German Methodist Church and a member of the church board at Garner. I noticed that grandfather had trouble reading and writing by the light of the kerosene lamp, so I coaxed him to let me read the Des Moines Register to him, and write from his dictation. He and I discussed politics and other news items together. Among other things, I learned that the Republican Party was the best for farmers. (Ha ha) Grandpa said so. Grandfather was chairman of Concord Township Trustees and he planted the evergreen trees in the Concord Cemetery. He died 12 August 1899 age 77 years. The funeral service was held on the shady and spacious lawn at their residence, conducted by Rev. H. Rudolph Fiegenbaum. The family organ was placed on the front porch, hymn books were distributed and all joined in the singing. The service and the singing was in the German language. The obituary was read in English by the English Methodist Pastor.

Henry married Fiegenbaum, Christine Elisabeth 22 Aug 1847, St. Louis, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA. Christine (daughter of Fiegenbaum, Adolph Heinrich and Peterjohann, Christine Elisabeth) was born 25 Oct 1827, Lengerich, Province of Westphalia, Kingdom of Prussia; died 1 Feb 1918, Warrenton, Warren County, Missouri, USA; was buried 5 Feb 1918, Garner, Hancock County, Iowa, USA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Married:

     Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts provided the following transcription of an article which she reports appeared on 26 August 1897 in the Hancock County (Iowa) Democrat.

     Mr. and Mrs. H. F. Wellemeyer of this place celebrated the 50th anniversary of their marriage last Saturday, 21 August. A large number of relatives and friends graced the happy occasion showing their congratulations and good wishes together with more substantial tokens of their regard upon the worthy old couple. At about half-past four o'clock the guests were called in to partake of an old fashioned wedding dinner with their host and hostess. About ninety persons partook of the bounteous repast prepared. After dinner while the friends were gathered on the lawn around father and mother Wellemeyer, a short address was made by Rev. F. H. Wellemeyer, another by Mr. August Beinke of St. Louis, Missouri, which was followed by the reading of a short poem by C. L. Wellemeyer. After the short impromptu program the whole company led by the children again filed past the old people with hearty and heart felt congratulations. It was a very affective scene and one never to be forgotten. Tears flowed on every side, but they were tears of joy. When the invited guests had taken their departure, the children and grandchildren gathered in the pleasant sitting room and closed the day with songs and speeches and happy converse. All in all a most enjoyable occasion. Gifts were as follows: $50 in gold, Mr. and Mrs. Beinke; $50 in gold from the children; $2 in gold each from Rev. and Mrs. C. Schuler, Mr. and Mrs. H. T. Schneider and Mr. and Mrs. John Ulrich; $1 in gold each from Mr. and Mrs. Louis Able, Mr. and Mrs. A. Schneider, Rev. and Mrs. H. R. Fiegenbaum and Rev. and Mrs. Fiegenbaum. One dozen gold coffee spoons in a handsome case from Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Lauf; two gold tablespoons from Mr. and Mrs. H. Woestman; gold crescent pin from Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Gove; chased silver cup and saucer from Mr. and Mrs. William Schneider, two gilded china cups each from Mr. and Mrs. August Grunze and Rev. and Mrs. A. Haefner; one gold salad fork from Mr. and Mrs. Charles Schroeder; bread plate from Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Wells and a dinner set in china and glass from the grandchildren.


Residence (family):

     According to a passage from an obituary for Heinrich Frederick Wellemeyer:

The rich and cheap lands of northern Iowa induced Mr. Wellemeyer to sell his Louisa County farm and buy several hundred acres of Hancock County prairie. On 4 December 1875 he moved with his family to this county and built their permanent home in Seymour's addition to Concord where they have since resided.

1. Wellemeyer, Lisette Matilda was born 12 Aug 1848, Warren County, Missouri, USA; died 10 Sep 1925, Meridian, Ada County, Idaho, USA; was buried , Nampa, Canyon County, Idaho, USA.
2. Wellemeyer, Rev. Frank Henry was born 11 Dec 1849, Warren County, Missouri, USA; died 2 Jul 1909, Rudd, Floyd County, Iowa, USA; was buried 6 Jul 1909, Garner, Hancock County, Iowa, USA.
3. Wellemeyer, William Henry was born 26 Feb 1852, Wapello Township, Louisa County, Iowa, USA; died 29 Mar 1930, Wymore, Gage County, Nebraska, USA; was buried , Wymore, Gage County, Nebraska, USA.
4. Wellemeyer, Amelia Catherine was born 1 Sep 1854, Wapello Township, Louisa County, Iowa, USA; died 29 Mar 1930, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, USA.
5. Wellemeyer, Henry Frederick was born 26 Feb 1857, Wapello Township, Louisa County, Iowa, USA; died 2 Mar 1917, Early, Sac County, Iowa, USA.
6. Wellemeyer, Edward Mathew was born 16 Nov 1860, Wapello Township, Louisa County, Iowa, USA; died 23 Feb 1931, Washington, Washington County, Iowa, USA; was buried 26 Feb 1931, Garner, Hancock County, Iowa, USA.
7. Wellemeyer, Mary Wilhelmine was born 17 Oct 1862, Wapello Township, Louisa County, Iowa, USA; died 31 May 1936, Webster Groves, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA; was buried 3 Jun 1936, Warrenton, Warren County, Missouri, USA.
8. Wellemeyer, George Leonard was born 8 Oct 1865, Wapello Township, Louisa County, Iowa, USA; died 8 Apr 1932, Afton, Union County, Iowa, USA; was buried 10 Apr 1932, Garner, Hancock County, Iowa, USA.
9. Wellemeyer, Charles Louis was born 6 Nov 1870, Wapello Township, Louisa County, Iowa, USA; died 19 Nov 1946, Wichita, Sedgwick County, Kansas, USA.

Mathew married Vöstman, [--?--] Kingdom of Hannover. [--?--] died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Married:
Apparently this couple had at least 4 sons. Further information about the marriage and the children is not known at this time.