Weidauer, Teckla Marie 1848-1920

WEIDAUER, DRECHAEL

Posted By: Plymouth CC
Date: 2/14/2004 at 13:47:41

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
Friday Feb. 27, 1920

OLD SETTLER DIES
Mrs. Weidauer Had Been Ill For More Than a Year
CAME TO IOWA THIRTY YEARS AGO

Mrs. Weidauer, wife of August Weidauer, residing at 1123 Franklin street, died at her home on Monday evening after a long illness. Mrs. Weidauer had suffered with stomach and heart trouble for the past fourteen months and on Friday lapsed into unconsciousness passing away on Monday evening. She bore her suffering with patience and fortitude and gratefully received the ministrations of her family who tenderly watched and nursed her through long nights and weary days.

Mrs. Weidauer was a native of Germany. Her maiden name was Teckla Marie Drechael and she was born at Breenlos, Saxony, on May 12, 1848. She grew to young womanhood in her home village and was united in marriage on September 29, 1868 with August Weidauer. They celebrated their golden wedding in LeMars on September 29, 1918. The first few years of their wedded life were spent in Germany.

Having heard of the possibilities and opportunities to be realised in America the young couple decided to emigrate to a new country and in 1881 Mr. Weidauer decided to sail to the United States and arrived in New York on July 4 of that year. Mr. Weidauer had practically nothing left in the way of money after paying his passage. In New York he boarded a train for the west and secured work on the Wasbash railroad then building a branch from Sidney to Champaign, Ill. He went to work on a farm near there later and in the fall of the year he sent money back to his wife and six children, who joined him in America in November. Mr. and Mrs. Weidauer bought a small piece of land and by their exertions and with the help of their children obtained a foothold towards the prosperity and success that which ultimately crowned their efforts. They subsequently bought more land and by continued toil and industry became well to do. In 1892 they came to Iowa from Champaign, Ill. and bought a large farm near Pomeroy in Calhoun county. On July (?) 1893 they suffered a heavy loss when a cyclone struck that ___(?) and swept away all the buildings on their place and killed the live stock, entailing a loss of many thousand dollars. But they lived to overcome these losses and recuperate their fortunes.

Mr. and Mrs. Weidauer paid a visit to their former home in Germany in 1899. On returning from their visit they decided to retire from the farm and came to LeMars to live. Mr. Weidauer buying two farms, one near Merrill and one near Dalton. Mr. Weidauer made two other trips to Germany. On the last trip he was in Germany when the war broke out in 1914 and had difficulty in getting back to his home in America.

Mrs. Weidauer ably assisted her husband in all his undertakings and was a faithful helpmate and competant manager, besides being a devoted wife and mother. She leaves to mourn her death her husband and a large family of sons and daughters who all pay tribute to her loving care, kindness and forethought. The children are Emil, Paul and Rudolph of Pomeroy, Ia., Herman of Marshall, Minn., Otto of Stanton township, and Reinhart, of Washington township, Mrs. Will Seiler, Marshall, Minn., Mrs. Theo. Pfenning, Elliot, N.D., Mrs. Chris Kammerer of LeMars. One son, Alvin died in Minnesota a few weeks ago and two children died in infancy. There are also fifty-five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

The funeral was held Thursday afternoon at half past one at the house and services were conducted at St. John's Lutheran church, Rev. J.J. Vollmar officiating.

Contributed by Bobbie