WUEST, Matthias

WUEST - KOPP - BESSEMAR - HANCHETT - WALLING - FERROR

Posted By: Mary E Boyer <mebgen@yahoo.com>
Date: 2/15/2007 at 13:01:59

MATTHIAS WUEST
(1883 History of Bremer County - page 1054)

MATTHIAS WUEST was born in Rhine Province, Prussia, near Cologne, August 24, 1813. He learned to read under his father’s instruction, then attended the high school until he was eighteen years of age. His English education has been acquired at odd moments. Until he was seventeen years old, his life was passed on his father’s farm, except the time spent at school. At the age he began learning the carpenter’s trade, and at nineteen, volunteered in the army, and served three years. Upon returning to civil life, he followed his trade, and in 1837, was married to Miss Mary KOPP, who also was born near Cologne. During the lat five years spent in his native country, Mr. WUEST was engaged exclusively in stair-making. In 1848 - during the Revolution - he became a Liberal and was chosen a delegate to elect a representative. About this time he read a book descriptive of America, and thinking he would like the country, decided to cross the ocean and settle here. Accordingly in 1852, he, with his family, came and located first in Chicago, but one month after his arrival, left because of cholera becoming an epidemic. Upon quitting that city he settled in Freeport, Illinois, where he remained, working at his trade until the summer of 1855, when he came to Bremer County, Iowa, and entered eighty acres of land on section 14, Fremont Township, where he has since resided. Since his settlement here, he has added one hundred acres to his original eighty. Mr. WUEST has held the office of trustee several terms, besides being assessor and holding other minor offices. He belongs to no political party, but he believes in “equal rights to all,” and his religion is the “Golden Rule.” They have had nine children, seven of whom are now living - Peter who now lives in Nevada; Frank now living in Nashua, Iowa; Christine, wife of David BESSEMAR of Waverly; Kate, wife of Hon. Louis HANCHETT; Sabella wife of Leroy WALLING; Mary wife of Sanford FERROR; and Albert who now owns a drug store in Tripoli.

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