WEHLER, FRED W.

WEHLER, SHEPARD, HUEBESCH

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 7/6/2003 at 15:53:18

Biography reproduced from page 605 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

Fred W. Wehler, who has owned and conducted a jewelry business in Algona for the past four years, was born in Clayton county, Iowa, on the 1st of July, 1867, and is a son of Gustav and Regina (Shepard) Wehler. The father was born in Germany and there passed the first eight years of his life. In 1840, he came to Clayton county, Iowa, where he was reared to manhood and subsequently learned the carpenter's trade. In his early manhood he located in McGregor and engaged in contracting and building, continuing to follow that business during the remainder of his active life. He passed away in 1910. The mother, who is a native of the state of New York, of German extraction, was married in Iowa and has ever since made her home in McGregor. Mr. and Mrs. Wehler were the parents of six boys and one girl: Fred W., our subject; Henry, deceased; Louis, a carpenter by trade, who is living at home; Herman, who is engaged in the jewelry business with his brother; Gustav, who is in the creamery at Pocahontas, Iowa; William, deceased; and Anna, who is at home with her mother.

The education of Fred W. Wehler was pursued in the public schools of his native town and at home until 1886, but from the age of twelve years he also worked, having at that time begun his apprenticeship in a local jewelry store. He continued in the service of this firm for fourteen years, and at the expiration of that time went to Michigan. Later he located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, going from there to Chicago, in which city he was employed for four years. In 1898 he came to Algona and for seven years managed a jewelry store for Mr. Dingley and then traveled on the road for three years. His long and varied experience had well qualified him for conducting a business of his own and in 1908 he purchased the store he is now conducting. He is associated in this enterprise with his brother Herman and through their united efforts they have succeeded in building up a gratifying trade. Mr. Wehler possesses rare mechanical ability, and has been most fortunate in receiving a thorough training, so that as a watchmaker he has few equals. The store of Wehler Brothers is favorably located and they carry a nice assortment of jewelry and silverware and a fine stock of optical goods, all of which they offer at very reasonable prices. They are both enterprising and intensely diligent and have established a reputation for reliability in their commercial transactions that has proven to be of incalculable value to them in the development of their business.
In 1889, Mr. Wehler was united in marriage to Miss Frances Huebesch, a native of Clayton county, and to them have been born four children, as follows: Harry, who died at the age of seven years; and Raymond, Marie and Gertrude, all of whom are at home.

The family attend the local Catholic church, toward the support of which Mr. Wehler generously contributes. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, No. 236, Prudence Lodge No. 205, F. & A. M.; Chapter No. 70, R. A. M.; the Mystic Workers; and the Knights of Pythias, being a charter member of the latter lodge at McGregor. He keeps in touch with other members of his business through the medium of his connection with the National Retail Jewelers Association, and he also belongs to the State Optical Society, while in politics he is a democrat. In matters of citizenship, Mr. Wehler is intensely loyal and progressive and is one of the helpful members of the Algona Commercial Club. He is interested in the Algona Manufacturing Company, and is regarded as one of the capable and worthy representatives of the commercial interests of the town, having adopted in the conduct of his enterprise a policy that fully entitles him to the esteem and regard he is accorded.