Wille, Henry F.

WILLE, WULKE, CULLEN, HEIL, SCOTT

Posted By: Janelle Martin (email)
Date: 5/20/2009 at 21:20:07

History of Hamilton County Iowa,1912,Vol II, p.60

HENRY F. WILLE

Among the citizens of Williams who have actively and persistently aided in the development of the town by enthusiastically cooperating in every progressive movement and thus assisting in carrying to a successful issue its various public projects, must be mentioned Henry F. Wille, who for seven years has been most efficiently serving the municipality in the capacity of mayor.

Mr. Wille is one of the thrifty, enterprising citizens Germany has furnished Hamilton County, his birth having occurred in Mecklenburg-Schwerin, June 18, 1835. He is the only surviving member in a family of eight children born of the marriage of Ralph and Hannah (Wulke) Wille, who passed their entire lives in the fatherland.

The first nineteen years in the life of Henry F. Wille were passed in the land of his birth, where he received a common-school education. Together with a sister he emigrated to the United States in 1854, landing in New York City. From there he went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and thence to Galena, Illinois, where he resided for two years and during that period he made the acquaintance of General U. S. Grant. He subsequently returned to Wisconsin, where he was employed until October 13, 1861, when he enlisted as a private in Company I, Sixteenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry and went to the front in defense of the Union. On the 1st of January, 1864, he re-enlisted, remaining in the service until honorably discharged July 29, 1865. His first battle was Shiloh, where Captain Saxe, of Company A, Sixteenth Wisconsin regiment, General Prentiss' division, was the first man killed. Mr. Wille was under Grant's command until after the fall of Vicksburg, when his regiment was attached to Sherman's army. After his discharge, he returned to Grant county, Wisconsin, where he resumed his agricultural pursuits until the spring of 1870, when he came to Iowa and has ever since been a resident of Hamilton County. Soon after coming here he acquired a farm in the vicinity of Williams, which he successfully cultivated until 1892, when he located in the town. He still retained his farm, however, until about two years ago.

In Grant County, Wisconsin, on the 7th of September, 1867, Mr. Wille was united in marriage to Miss Hannah M. Cullen, who was born in Pennsylvania, October 25, 1843, and died in Williams on the 14th of August, 1897. She was one of three children born to Joseph and Hannah Cullen, natives of Ireland, who emigrated to America in early life and passed their last days in Wisconsin. The other two children of Mr. and Mrs. Cullen, Anna, now Mrs. Heil, and George, are still living and make their home in Cuba City, Wisconsin. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Wille numbered six children, all of whom, with the exception of the two eldest, were born in Hamilton County. In order of birth they are as follows: Joseph H., who was born in Grant County, Wisconsin, June 4, 1868, and is now a resident of Williams; Hannah R., who was born in Grant County, December 13, 1869, and is the wife of Charles Scott, of Kankakee, Illinois; Charles F., who was born January 7, 1872, and died on the 9th of February, 1904; George F., who was born on the l0th of September, 1874, and is now a resident of Algona, Iowa; Paul R., who was born July 5, 1877, and lives in Buckeye, Iowa; and David W., who was born April 8, 1882, and died on the 31st of January, 1907.

Mr. Wille was reared in the Lutheran faith, but as there is no church of that denomination in Williams he affiliates with the Presbyterians. He maintains relations with his old comrades through the medium of his connection with Fairchild Post, No. 431, G. A. R., of Williams, and he is a member of Lodge No. 458, I. O. O. F. In his political allegiance Mr. Wille is a stanch republican. He is public spirited and possesses a full appreciation of the duties as well as the privileges of citizenship and therefore takes an active and helpful interest in all political affairs. He has held the various township offices and is now serving his seventh year as mayor of Williams, the length of his term being substantial evidence of his efficiency. He is a well informed man, of broad, general knowledge with progressive, yet practical ideas, lenient in his judgment and kindly in his criticism. He has been successful in his business undertakings and has an attractive, comfortable residence in Williams and a competence that is more than sufficient for his needs. Needless to say Mr. Wille is very popular personally as he is a man whom it is a delight to meet and a privilege to know; his radiant, wholesome personality, unfailing optimism and faith in his fellowmen enabling him to win and retain the confidence and esteem of those with whom he comes in contact.

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