Carroll County IAGenWeb

HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY IOWA

A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement

VOLUME II ILLUSTRATED

CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1912

Transcribed by Sharon Elijah November 1, 2020

Germany has furnished a valuable class of citizens to the new world. They have brought with them from the old country the unremitting energy and perseverance characteristic of that nationality, and in the great majority of cases have attained success in the management of varied business affairs. To this class belongs Frank Wegman, who is now the owner of extensive farm lands and one of the progressive and prosperous agriculturists of Carroll county, Iowa. He was born in Westphalia, Germany, on the 13th of May, 1840, a son of Clem and Clara (Shaddemann) Wegman, also natives of Westphalia, who passed their entire lives in the fatherland. Their family of four children, all sons, included the following: Anton, who passed away in Germany; Frank, of this review; Barney, whose death occurred in Iowa; and Theodore, who also passed away in this state.

To the public school system of Germany Frank Wegman is indebted for the educational privileges which he enjoyed during the period of his boyhood and youth, and on the home farm he acquired thorough practical training in agricultural pursuits under the direction of his father. From time to time he heard interesting reports concerning America, its business conditions and its opportunities, and at length these proved to him an irresistible attraction, so that he bade adieu to friends and native country and in 1869 came to America. He first located in Cook county, Illinois, where he was employed as a farm hand for one year, after which he came to Carroll county in 1871, and has since continued to reside within its borders. At the time of his arrival in this state there were still vast stretches of raw prairie land, unbroken and unclaimed, and his first purchase made him the owner of a tract upon which not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made. He at once directed his energies to its development and cultivation, and by unwearied efforts transformed the crude prairie land of his first farm into fertile fields, from which he soon reaped excellent harvests. He erected good, substantial buildings, planted trees and built fences, and as the years passed introduced such conveniences and equipment as were essential to the advantageous pursuit of a farming enterprise. Prosperity attended his efforts and from time to time he was able to invest in more land until today he is the owner of four hundred acres in Wheatland township, composed of some of the finest farming land in the county, in addition to one hundred and sixty acres in Pierce county, Nebraska, and one hundred and sixty acres in Lyman county, South Dakota. He does a general farming business, and his interests are so carefully managed that today he ranks among the substantial and well-to-do agriculturists of his locality.

Mr. Wegman was married twice. In 1877 he wedded Miss Elizabeth Lengling, and unto them were born six children, only two of whom, however, are now living, namely: Frank, Jr., and Mrs. Anna Vonnahme. The wife and mother passed away in 1887, and two years later Mr. Wegman was again married, his second union being with Miss Mary Werneng. They became the parents of five children, but one is now deceased. The others are: Heiney and Clara, both at home; Anton, engaged in farming about one mile west of his father’s homestead; and Leo, also under the parental roof. The entire family hold membership in the Catholic church at Breda, and Mr. Wegman also belongs to the Catholic Protective Association of Iowa. He gives his political support to the democratic party and for one term served as assessor and two terms as township trustee. He has now been a resident of America more than forty years, and never feels that he has any reason to regret his determination to seek his fortune on this side of the Atlantic, for he has here found the opportunities for advancement which he sought, has met with a substantial degree of success in business and has gained many friends whose regard and companionship make life pleasant for him.

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