WEGSTEIN, Henry 1824-1910

WEGSTEIN

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 10/12/2016 at 13:56:17

Death Of A Pioneer

Henry Wegstein Died at an Early Hour Sunday

Had Run Hotel Here for 33 Years

Henry Wegstein, Grundy Center's oldest hotel keeper and one of its pioneer citizens, died at an early hour at his home in this city Sunday morning. Mr. Wegstein fell down a portion of a flight of stairs Thursday afternoon, and it is believed that the injuries he sustained there brought on a paralytic stroke which caused the end to come very suddenly.

Funeral services conducted by Rev. Father Hogan were held in the Catholic church in this city at ten o'clock Tuesday forenoon. Interment was made in the Catholic cemetery. As a fitting token of the esteem in which the deceased was held in the town all of the business houses were closed during the funeral service.

Next to J. C. Bourne, Mr. Wegstein has been engaged in business in Grundy Center for a longer period of time than any other business man now living here. He came to Grundy Center 33 years ago and at once went into the hotel business and remained at it in the same building up to the time of his death. His hotel was known as "The Farmers Home" and it has been all that its name implies to the thousands of farmers who have put up there during the many years that Mr. Wegstein was its landlord.

Obituary
Mr. Wegstein was born in Bavaria, Germany eighty-seven years ago the 22nd of last December. He came to this country sixty years ago and located in New Jersey. He was twice married. The first marriage took place fifty years ago in New Jersey. Three children were born to the first union, Harry L., Mrs. Frank Wass, of this city and Mrs. Ida Shoothorn from Fairbury, Nebraska. His second marriage to the wife that now survives the husband took place in New Jersey. Mrs. Joseph Figler, Otto and Anna Wegstein are the surviving children from this union. After leaving the east the family live for a time at Waterloo, LaPorte and at Traer. From the latter place they came to Grundy Center.

Mr. Wegstein was a generous hearted most obliging citizen and neighbor. He leaves only friends after a long period of residence in this county.

Those from a distance who were here at the funeral were Mrs. Ida Schoothorn from Fairbury, Nebr., Mrs. Christ Kroope from Traer and Mr. and Mrs. Al Vehrey from Dike.

--Grundy County Democrat (Grundy Center, Iowa), 17 February 1910, pg 1