WETZEL, Paul Rev. 1832-1899

WETZEL, LEIPHANT

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 2/24/2019 at 17:38:16

Rev. Paul Wetzel

Paul Wetzel was born in Germany in November, 1832[sic], and died in Kansas City, Mo., June 24, 1899, at the age of 77 years.

At the age of twenty-one deceased was united in marriage to Elizabeth Leiphant and they came immediately to America and located in Somerset county, Pennsylvania. Soon after their arrival in this country Mr. Wetzel was converted and joined the German Baptist church, and at the age of thirty was ordained as minister. He then moved with his family to Lee county, Ill., preaching at Franklin Grove about ten years. He then moved to a farm near Lena, Ill., where he remained fourteen years and preached at Waddam's Grove ad circuit. For ten years Rev. Wetzel was a resident of Grundy county, having partial charge of a large farm and also his church in Grundy Center. From here he moved to McPherson, Kansas, where he lived a retired life on account of advanced age. In the spring of 1895 he went to Los Angeles, California, and remained there until the fall of 1897, when he went to Kansas City, Mo., to make his home with his daughter, Mrs. H. A. Yonge, at 1001 West 16th street, where he died June 24, 1899, after an illness of several months.

Rev. Wetzel was for eight years vice-president and director of the Sumner National Bank of Wellington, Kansas.

To Rev. and Mrs. Wetzel were born eleven children, and there are now thirty grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. The surviving sons and daughters are: George Wetzel of Lena, Ill.; Joel Wetzel, Ashton, Ill.; Peter Wetzel, Kansas City, Mo.; Dr. J. L. Wetzel, Springfield, Mo.; Dr. D. P. Wetzel, Wellington, Kansas; Mrs. M. E. Phillips, Holdridge, Neb.; Mrs. Harrison Crouse and Mrs. H. A. Yonge, Kansas City, Mo.; and Mrs. T. M. Lynn, Los Angeles, California, all of whom were present at the funeral except Mesdames Phillips and Lynn.

The remains were brought to Grundy Center Monday and funeral services were held at the First Baptist church. Rev. S. G. Parker of the Ivester German Baptist church officiating. He was assisted by Rev. C. H. Marsh and Rev. C. M. Garner made appropriate remarks to the children and friends. A large number of sympathizing friends followed the remains to the cemetery where the body was laid to rest beside the wife who died Dec. 27, 1888. Thus one who spent nearly half a century in preaching the gospel has completed his life work and gone to his reward.

--The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 29 June 1899, pg 8