Henry Wehmeyer 1854-1915

WEHMEYER, BRIGGS, BUTLERMILLER, GAUSS, HANK, WEBER, OTTO, BROWN, OWENS, SCHMEISER

Posted By: Beverly Gerdts (email)
Date: 3/22/2023 at 06:11:17

Columbus Gazette, Columbus Junction, Iowa
Thursday, September 23, 1915
Page 1

Wapello, Sept 20 - What was reported at first as a fatal accident, causing the death of Mr. Henry Wehmeyer, upon further investigation of facts and evidence seems to have been death by heart failure, there being no evidence of a runaway or accident. When the 12:42 Rock Island train reached here today, trainmen and passengers reported that a man had been killed, or at least seriously injured, about three quarters of a mile north of here, as they had seem him lying in the road, and a team without a driver. A physician was hastily summoned and several other people went to the scene and found Mr. Wehmeyer, a prominent farmer, who lived across the road from the Wapello cemetery, lying dead in the road. The team had gone on to the gate, but the passing train prevented them from going in and they were caught a few yards down the road by a neighbor. The first supposition was that the team had become frightened by the train and had run away, throwing Mr. Wehmeyer out. After a careful examination of the body no bruises could be found, nor did the tracks of the wagon show that it had swerved any. The team, when stopped were trotting, but showed no signs of fright or nervousness.
County Attorney Briggs, after going over the evidence, decided that the decision of all present was that Mr. Wehmeyer had been stricken with heart failure as he was returning to the field after dinner and had fallen out of the wagon.

Henry A. Wehmeyer was born in Warren county, Missouri, February 2, 1854, a son of August and Wilmelmina (Butlermiller) Wehmeyer, both of whom were born in Germany. Two years later he came to this county and settled on a farm with his parents near Wapello. Here he grew to manhood and after the death of his father, who died a number of years ago, he has made his home on the family homestead. He was one of the prosperous farmers of the county and engaged extensively in stock raising. On the 24th of December 1892 he was married to Miss Mary Gauss. To them was born one son, Fred. Mr. Wehmeyer was a consistent member of the Methodist church and was a man highly esteemed by all who knew him. He is survived by his wife and one son, Fred and by his aged mother, who makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Albert Hank and the following brothers and sisters, Mrs. J. H. Weber, of this county; John, of this county, Mrs. Gus Wehmeyer, of Butte, Nebraska, Mrs. Henry Otto, Mrs. Wm. Brown, Mrs. R. E. Owens, Mrs. Albert Hank, Mrs. Emanual Schmeiser and Daniel, all residents of this county.