| Mother |
Wesseler, Katherine Wilhelmenia, b. 27 Feb 1853, Weldon Springs, St. Charles County, Missouri, USA  , d. 3 Nov 1946, Genoa, Nance County, Nebraska, USA (Age 93 years) |
Linwood (Nelson) Jungerman, in her history of the family, wrote this sketch of Christian and Katherine's life:
"Christian Andrew and Katherine Wilhelimena first lived in St. Charles, MO, later farmed near there. It was on this farm that all the children were born and some grew to adulthood. This farm home was unusual then and still is today. It had been built before the Civil War, three stories high, of solid brick construction. Bricks were probably burned on the farm and labor was possibly slave. Rooms were spacious, ceilings were high, cool in summer, and warm in winter. It was to this home that Fred, Andreas' son born in 1861, came in need of a family home. He was only a child, but he felt that his room was more desirable than his presence in the home of his step-mother. Christian and Katherine welcomed him and there he remained for twenty years. In this way Christian could repay his brother Andreas for bringing him to the New World and providing a home for him. Through out life Katherine's motto was 'the house is always big enough if the heart is.'
"Another incident that happened in this home had to do with the arrival one evening of [a] sick and weary veteran of the Confederate Army. He was given food and lodging and when he was better, he asked Christian A. if he had any type of light work he might do for his 'keep.' Christian had long talks with him, realized he had been seriously wounded, and also realized here was an educated Englishman. The upshot of the matter was he offered this man a room in the upper story of the house where he could operate a subscription school in exchange for teaching his children the proper use, pronunciation, reading and writing of English. They spoke German entirely in the home. How long this lasted we do not know but the teacher remained until his death. We are also sure that many a long winter evening was spent by the two old soldiers, on in blue, the other grey, refighting the campaigns of the war.
"Life was very pleasant and comfortable in this farm home. They were near their church home and many of Christian Andrews family had come to St. Charles County as well as innumerable Wesseler family relations. As the children grew to man and womanhood Christian realized there was not work or room for all on so small a farm. He began to look westward. He found a purchaser for his land among the descendants of Andreas family. The fourth generation descendants live in this home today. The house has been re-modeled and is very comfortable and beautiful. On the east side of the house runs a road, Jungerman Road, on local maps.
"In the spring of 1894 the family moved to Audrain County near Rush Hill, Mo. Christian Andrew was in search of a larger farm and better soil. Finding the soil of Audrain County not up to their expectations, they moved on to Saline County around the turn of the century. Christian suffered a stroke in 1907 and remained an invalid the rest of his life.
"They moved to the town of Blackburn after his stroke. When the wife of Julius died, they moved to his home. After Julius re-married, they spent some time with their daughter, Anna, who lived near by. He died in 1917 while in the home of Julius. He is buried in the Mayview Cemetery as are a number of his descendants.
"Christian's youngest son, Theodore, attended his father's funeral. He was then in training to go back to fight against the country Christian had left so long ago.
"Christian Andrew has been portrayed to me as a very stern man - a strict disciplinarian. Life and the army had left its mark on him and he ruled his family of fun-loving children with a firm hand. His wife was rather prone to spoiling her children. She could never conceal her love for them. In her eyes they were perfect, so between the two they created a family of well-balanced children.
"After her son, Theodore, returned from the army, he began farming in Nebraska. His mother made a home for him there as he never married. Her greatest pleasures in her later years were in planning the family reunions which they held in Nebraska around Thanksgiving."
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1882 - 1960 (77 years)
