Johann Heinrick "Henry" Weber

WEBER GOERTHLER FELDNER

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 10/15/2010 at 23:13:02

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

Johann Heinrick ‘Henry’ Weber
By Retha Weber Lillie

Johann Heinrick ‘Henry’ Weber, 1802, was born to Frederick Daniel Weber, 1773-1848, and Marie Catharine Goerthler, 1774-1831. Henry was born, baptized, and confirmed in Rumback, Germany. His father was a farmer in Rumback and his grandfather, Christoph Weber, 1742-1828, was owner and Master Miller of the Swedish Mill in Bundenthal, but resided in Rumback. Christoph purchased the mill in 1761 from his heirs after his father suddenly died. This Weber Mill stayed in the family until 1823 when Christoph’s son sold it.

Henry married Caroline Feldner, daughter of Michael Feldner and Marie Catharine Schaub, August 12, 1828. It is unknown at this time whether there were any children born to this marriage. Henry came to America sometime between 1830-1838, settling in Monroe County, Ohio. He married Margret (Jackey) Yockey and two boys were born to this union.

Phillip Weber, 1838-1910, a farmer was born in Monroe County, Ohio; he married Margret Stuember in 1860. They had two boys, Arthur Edward, 1880, and Clemence Wilhelm, 1882, both baptized at Germany City Church, Willow Township, Woodbury County, Iowa.

Frederick Weber, 1848-1925, second son, was born in Monroe County, Ohio; he married Wilhelmina Steinhoff, 1850-1898, daughter of Henry Steinhoff and Julie Yost. They moved to German City around 1880, bought land and farmed. Relatives came and settled at German City because it reminded them of home in Rumback, Germany. They had six children:

Henry Jacob, 1868-1953;

Charles, 1870-1909;

Edward, 1871-1971;

Elizabeth, 1873-1949;

Anna, 1878-1974; all born in Ohio; and

John, 1887, born in Iowa and still living at his home in Sloan, Iowa.

Henry married Mae Ferguson and had one daughter;

Edward married Christina Rose and had ten children;

Elizabeth married Charles Callaghan and had four children;

Anna married William Rose and had no children;

John married Minnie Burkhart and had two boys, one died as an infant.

Charles married Anna Barbara Rose, and then they bought the home place, Lun {Lum} Hollow Stock Farm, three miles east of Holly Springs on Old Hwy 141, from her parents, George Rose and Cathern Arn. Charles was one of the best known and most prosperous farmers and stock raisers in Woodbury County, exhibiting fine cattle at the Interstate Fair and the Iowa State Fair held in Des Moines.

Charles died from a farm accident at the age of 39 years. His death left Anna with their eight living children to raise:

Ella, 1892, married Ray Goodsell and had no children;

Edith, 1893-1964, married Ben Claus and had five children;

Elnora, 1894-1899;

Ruth, 1897, married Roy Molloy and had two daughters;

Gertrude, 1898-1965, married Everett Persinger and had six children; Elise, 1900, married Wm F Lange and had five boys;

Lizzie married Earl Hanner and had six children;

Alice, 1907, married Gus Nirenberg and they had no children;

Alfred, 1901, the only boy, married Joyce Cox, and had three children.

The children of Charles and Anna are very close yet today.I n Charles and Anna’s honor, thankful for the good foundation they set, every 4th of July Weekend we have a big reunion. It has became very special, as we gather on Saturday night and have entertainment in the barn on the Home place. The entertaqinment, put on by great-grandchildren and grandchildren, might be barn dance, mock wedding, talent show, etc. Then Sunday morning we pack the little German City Church for morning worship, followed by a pot luck in Fowler Park, Smithland, Iowa. This is a fun time for meeting new additions, catching up on family news and reminiscing of the past. Our oldest member present is Uncle Johnnie Weber who was 96 this year, and the oldest child of Charles, Ella Goodsell (91 years old) still attends.

When Alfred married in 1934 they lived on and farmed the Home Place where his 3 children were born and raised as well as all his sisters and him. As of 1984 the farm will have been in the family for 100 years. After Anna died Alfred and Joyce bought the farm from the heirs. He still owns it and rents the land to his nephew, Chester Claus and his son, Greg. If Alfred had not had 2 boys, the Charles “Weber” branch would have ended. His oldest son Eldon (1935) married Jeannie Hummel and they have 3 boys; Bradley (1961), Brian (1964) and Brent (1970), Eldon lives in Ames and is a State Soil Conservationist. Keith, his other son, married Pat Large and they have Amy (1971) and Monte (1975). Keith lives in Boone, North Carolina, and is President of Hound Ears Corporation. Alfred and Joyce also have a daughter, Retha, who married Sherman Sawin and had three children, Daniel (1960), Gregory (1964), and Michelle (1966). She was divorced and married Richard O. Lillie in 1973 and had twin stepdaughter Jean and Joan Lillie (1961). Richard is a Comptroller in Air National Guard, Sioux City, Iowa.
Thanks to our Great Ancestors, we have many fond memories of them, Our Home Place, and German City Church where it all began.