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Wellemeyer, Henry Frank

Male 1822 - 1899  (76 years)


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  • Name Wellemeyer, Henry Frank 
    Born 15 Dec 1822  Kingdom of Hannover Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] 
    • It is reported that Henry was the second of four sons.
    Gender Male 
    Immigration 1845  St. Louis, Missouri, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [6] 
    Died 12 Aug 1899  Garner, Hancock County, Iowa, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [7, 8, 9, 10, 11] 

    •      Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts provided the following transcription of an obituary which she reports appeared on Wednesday, 16 August 1899 in the Garner Signal, of Garner, Iowa.

           Henry Frank Wellemeyer died at his home in Garner 12 August 1899 of dropsy, aged 76 years, 7 months and 27 days. Funeral services conducted by Revs. C. H. Priebe and W. F. Gleason, were held at his home Tuesday p.m., and his remains laid at rest in Concord Cemetery. Mr. Wellemeyer was born at Hanover, Germany 15 December 1822. He emigrated to the United States in 1845 and settled in St. Louis, Missouri. Here he married Miss Catherine Fiegenbaum, 22 August 1847 and moved to Warrentown [sic], Missouri where they resided for nearly three years. Mr. and Mrs. Wellemeyer could not reconcile the institution of slavery, which then prevailed in Missouri. With their love of personal liberty, they moved to Louisa County near Wapello, Iowa, where they resided until 1875. The rich and cheap lands of northern Iowa induced Mr. Wellemeyer to sell his Louisa County farm and buy several hundred acres of Hancock County prairie. On 4 December 1875 he moved with his family to this county and built their permanent home in Seymour's addition to Concord where they have since resided. Mr. Wellemeyer united with the German M. E. Church at St. Louis in 1845 and for more than 53 years he was an active and consistent Christian in word and deed. He was a public spirited citizen, always ready to contribute his work and mite for the public good. For about fourteen years he was one of the trustees of Concord Township and held the office until ill health compelled him to decline a re-election. During the time he was a trustee he had charge of the Concord Cemetery and his care and work made beautiful his last resting place. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wellemeyer, all of whom live to mourn his death, and seven were present at the funeral to pay the last sad rites to a loving father. His six sons, Frank, William, Fred, Edward, George and Charles acted as pall bearers, tenderly and lovingly laid his mortal remains in the grave. On 22 August 1896 Mr. and Mrs. Wellemeyer celebrated their golden wedding with their children, grandchildren and many friends present with happy greetings. An event which is given to but few in this life. For nearly twenty-three years the writer has been a neighbor and friend of the deceased and during all that time we never knew him to do an unworthy act or deed. He was honorable in all his business transactions and during his last illness he was patient and uncomplaining. It can truly be said that in his death a loving husband and father, a consistent Christian and a good citizen has passed from among us. W. H. Wellemeyer and his sister Mrs. J. Newman of Wymore, Nebraska and Mrs. Minnie Winter, a sister of Mrs. Wellemeyer were present at Mr. Wellemeyer's funeral. Two daughters, Mrs. L. Minden of Preston, Kansas and Mrs. Mary Addicks of Warrentown [sic], Missouri were unable to attend.

           Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts also provided the following appreciation of his grandfather written in 1954 or 1955 by Franz Arthur Wellemeyer.

           Henry and Catherine were married 21 August 1847 in the German Methodist Church at St. Louis, Missouri. Henry age 25 and Catherine age 20. They farmed for three years near St. Charles in Warren County, Missouri. Lisetta Matilda and Frank Henry were born here. The Mexican War was a short war. In order to raise an army of volunteers in a hurry for General Winfield Scott, the Congress of U. S. offered certain lands in Iowa, just west of the Mississippi River FREE, a farm to each volunteer who joined the army. There was a condition, that the farm be occupied. The war ended in 1848 and many of the soldier boys were eager to sell their right to the land. Adolph Fiegenbaum and Mr. Winter hustled up to Wapello, Louisa County, Iowa, 200 miles north of St. Louis on the river, and 'traded around' until they got ahold of some of this land at $3.50 per acre and less. In 1850 Henry and Catherine and two children took over one of these farms and moved to Wapello. That was raw prairie land, no buildings, no fences, they built a log house and were forced to live from the land. They put in a good garden, they had plenty of fuel from the forests along the river, and game was plenty for meat, and there were fish in the river. They had everything but money. Churches and schools were slow in getting started; Lisetta was 13 and Frank 12 when they finally started to school. They completed the six grades in about two winters. Henry and Catherine lived on the Wapello farm for twenty-five years. The first fifteen were successful years, and with the help of the children, the farm was built up and they were prosperous. Then came the Civil War, and after that the 'hard times' when the price of farm products dropped below cost of production. In about 1870 Adolph and Christine Fiegenbaum sold land near Wapello, retired, making their home with Catherine and Henry. The following year Christine died. In 1875 the Wellemeyer family sold their farm and Adolph went with them to the town of Garner, Hancock, Iowa. They built a comfortable home on a ten acre tract west edge of town. Henry started business with 16 year old Edward as a helper. Times were still hard, and our kind hearted grandparents granted a bit too freely, soon had too much money on the books, and being out of funds, sold out at a loss. I must add in fairness to Henry that experience in the lumber business was valuable to him. It made him sharper in his business dealings and no doubt was worth all it cost. He then bought eighty acres of land and rented two or more quarter sections of grassland, got back into farming again. Three of his sons were living at home, Edward, George and Charles. For about twenty years he farmed the eighty acres and ran a herd of cattle on the rented grassland, raised grain, fed steers every year, kept bulls and stallions for the convenience of neighboring farms, milked a string and was generally prosperous -- our grandpa was a farmer. He was born in Prussia Germany 15 December 1822, the second of four sons to Mathew Wellemeyer. The maiden name of his mother was Voestman. In Germany he completed his common school education, attended church with his parents, and became a member of the Lutheran Church by confirmation. He came from farm people. In Prussia every male was trained to be a soldier and served four years starting at the age of 20. At the age of 19 Henry sneaked out of Germany, alone, to avoid four years in the German Army. He came to New Orleans by ship, then by river boat he proceeded to St. Louis, Missouri, here he found employment in a boiler factory where he worked for maybe five years. The German police were looking for him, hence he did not write home until after he received his U. S. Citizen papers, after which he wrote home and refunded the passage money to his father. His height was 5' 8', stocky build, weight about 175. His hair was dark brown as was his beard, no tendency at all toward being bald. His eyes were hazel. At the time of his death, age 77, he had all of his natural teeth and they were sound except for one filling. He was a man of model habits, did not use tobacco, nor did he drink. He enjoyed his meals very much, but was a light eater, used to caution me not to eat fast and admonished me to always quit eating while it still tasted good. I marveled at the cleanliness of the man, his face was clean, his beard trimmed, his nails trimmed, his boots cleaned every night and frequently oiled. If a button came off his jacket he laid it aside, if his overalls were torn, he wore another pair. One day I mentioned to him that the pony which I rode herding the cattle was getting thin, while the 'mounts' which the other men rode into town were often slick and well groomed. "I am pleased, said Grandpa, that you noticed that, and if you will notice a little more, your horse too can have that well fed, well groomed look. The fellows with the nice horses seldom run them as fast as they will go." And he explained that people like horses would work and play in moderation and that horses should be kept well groomed and that men should keep their boots clean and their clothes in repair. If he were talking to us today (1955) no doubt he would say, drive your automobile at a moderate rate of speed, so that the machine will last longer and you will live longer. Henry Wellemeyer always carried a cane, not that he was lame, but every man who buys and sells cattle must have a cane. It seems that a cattleman cannot think clearly, or profoundly, unless he leans on a cane. Thus, the cane has become the symbol or the badge of all cattlemen. Grandfather would buy small lots of cattle at any time throughout the year, often from farmers who were short of feed. These purchased cattle varied greatly in quality. Some were poor, some were average, a few were very good. In the fall of the year other farmers would come to buy a bunch of 20 or more head for their feed lots, which granddad was glad to sell. Only the best of these purchased steers found their way into his feed lot. Grandfather would walk around among his fattening cattle, now and then he would stop -- lean on his cane -- deep in thought -- he was thinking, when and how we should change the ration to get the best gains and the nicest finish. And months later, when the cattle were finally shipped to Chicago, they would sometimes top the market. This means that he received the highest price per pound paid for fat cattle at Chicago that day. To top the market is perhaps as great an honor, and harder to achieve, than to graduate from a college with the award of 'Cum Laude thus you will understand how necessary and proper it was for grandfather to carry a cane. Henry was a member of the German Methodist Church and a member of the church board at Garner. I noticed that grandfather had trouble reading and writing by the light of the kerosene lamp, so I coaxed him to let me read the Des Moines Register to him, and write from his dictation. He and I discussed politics and other news items together. Among other things, I learned that the Republican Party was the best for farmers. (Ha ha) Grandpa said so. Grandfather was chairman of Concord Township Trustees and he planted the evergreen trees in the Concord Cemetery. He died 12 August 1899 age 77 years. The funeral service was held on the shady and spacious lawn at their residence, conducted by Rev. H. Rudolph Fiegenbaum. The family organ was placed on the front porch, hymn books were distributed and all joined in the singing. The service and the singing was in the German language. The obituary was read in English by the English Methodist Pastor.
    Buried 15 Aug 1899  Garner, Hancock County, Iowa, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [10, 12] 
    Address:
    Concord Cemetery 
    Person ID I272  Fiegenbaum
    Last Modified 2 Jan 2017 

    Father Wellemeyer, Mathew,   d. Yes, date unknown 
    Mother Vöstman, [--?--],   d. Yes, date unknown 
    Married Kingdom of Hannover Find all individuals with events at this location  [13] 
    • Apparently this couple had at least 4 sons. Further information about the marriage and the children is not known at this time.
    Family ID F1460  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Fiegenbaum, Christine Elisabeth,   b. 25 Oct 1827, Lengerich, Province of Westphalia, Kingdom of Prussia Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1 Feb 1918, Warrenton, Warren County, Missouri, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 90 years) 
    Residence (family) Between 1847 and 1850  Warrenton, Warren County, Missouri, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [14] 
    Married 22 Aug 1847  St. Louis, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [14, 15, 16, 17, 18] 

    •      Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts provided the following transcription of an article which she reports appeared on 26 August 1897 in the Hancock County (Iowa) Democrat.

           Mr. and Mrs. H. F. Wellemeyer of this place celebrated the 50th anniversary of their marriage last Saturday, 21 August. A large number of relatives and friends graced the happy occasion showing their congratulations and good wishes together with more substantial tokens of their regard upon the worthy old couple. At about half-past four o'clock the guests were called in to partake of an old fashioned wedding dinner with their host and hostess. About ninety persons partook of the bounteous repast prepared. After dinner while the friends were gathered on the lawn around father and mother Wellemeyer, a short address was made by Rev. F. H. Wellemeyer, another by Mr. August Beinke of St. Louis, Missouri, which was followed by the reading of a short poem by C. L. Wellemeyer. After the short impromptu program the whole company led by the children again filed past the old people with hearty and heart felt congratulations. It was a very affective scene and one never to be forgotten. Tears flowed on every side, but they were tears of joy. When the invited guests had taken their departure, the children and grandchildren gathered in the pleasant sitting room and closed the day with songs and speeches and happy converse. All in all a most enjoyable occasion. Gifts were as follows: $50 in gold, Mr. and Mrs. Beinke; $50 in gold from the children; $2 in gold each from Rev. and Mrs. C. Schuler, Mr. and Mrs. H. T. Schneider and Mr. and Mrs. John Ulrich; $1 in gold each from Mr. and Mrs. Louis Able, Mr. and Mrs. A. Schneider, Rev. and Mrs. H. R. Fiegenbaum and Rev. and Mrs. Fiegenbaum. One dozen gold coffee spoons in a handsome case from Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Lauf; two gold tablespoons from Mr. and Mrs. H. Woestman; gold crescent pin from Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Gove; chased silver cup and saucer from Mr. and Mrs. William Schneider, two gilded china cups each from Mr. and Mrs. August Grunze and Rev. and Mrs. A. Haefner; one gold salad fork from Mr. and Mrs. Charles Schroeder; bread plate from Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Wells and a dinner set in china and glass from the grandchildren.
    Residence (family) Between 1850 and 1875  Wapello Township, Louisa County, Iowa, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [19] 
    Residence (family) From 1875 to 1899  Concord Township, Hancock County, Iowa, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [20] 

    •      According to a passage from an obituary for Heinrich Frederick Wellemeyer:

      The rich and cheap lands of northern Iowa induced Mr. Wellemeyer to sell his Louisa County farm and buy several hundred acres of Hancock County prairie. On 4 December 1875 he moved with his family to this county and built their permanent home in Seymour's addition to Concord where they have since resided.
    Children 
    +1. Wellemeyer, Lisette Matilda,   b. 12 Aug 1848, Warren County, Missouri, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 10 Sep 1925, Meridian, Ada County, Idaho, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 77 years)
    +2. Wellemeyer, Rev. Frank Henry,   b. 11 Dec 1849, Warren County, Missouri, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 2 Jul 1909, Rudd, Floyd County, Iowa, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 59 years)
    +3. Wellemeyer, William Henry,   b. 26 Feb 1852, Wapello Township, Louisa County, Iowa, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 29 Mar 1930, Wymore, Gage County, Nebraska, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 78 years)
    +4. Wellemeyer, Amelia Catherine,   b. 1 Sep 1854, Wapello Township, Louisa County, Iowa, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 29 Mar 1930, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 75 years)
    +5. Wellemeyer, Henry Frederick,   b. 26 Feb 1857, Wapello Township, Louisa County, Iowa, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 2 Mar 1917, Early, Sac County, Iowa, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 60 years)
    +6. Wellemeyer, Edward Mathew,   b. 16 Nov 1860, Wapello Township, Louisa County, Iowa, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 23 Feb 1931, Washington, Washington County, Iowa, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 70 years)
    +7. Wellemeyer, Mary Wilhelmine,   b. 17 Oct 1862, Wapello Township, Louisa County, Iowa, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 31 May 1936, Webster Groves, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 73 years)
    +8. Wellemeyer, George Leonard,   b. 8 Oct 1865, Wapello Township, Louisa County, Iowa, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 8 Apr 1932, Afton, Union County, Iowa, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 66 years)
    +9. Wellemeyer, Charles Louis,   b. 6 Nov 1870, Wapello Township, Louisa County, Iowa, USA Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 19 Nov 1946, Wichita, Sedgwick County, Kansas, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 76 years)
    Last Modified 6 Aug 2018 
    Family ID F99  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsImmigration - 1845 - St. Louis, Missouri, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 22 Aug 1847 - St. Louis, St. Louis County, Missouri, USA Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Sources 
    1. [S175] Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts, Descendants of Father Fiegenbaum (Chinook, Washington: F. Leenerts, 2002), p. 24.
      Henry Frank Wellemeyer, son of Mathew Wellemeyer, was born on 15 December 1822 at "Hanover, Prussia, Germany."

    2. [S175] Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts, Descendants of Father Fiegenbaum (Chinook, Washington: F. Leenerts, 2002), pages 26-27.
      Transcription of an obituary reported to have appeared in the Garner Signal, of Garner, Iowa, on Wednesday 16 August 1899.
           "Mr. Wellemeyer was born at Hanover, Germany 15 December 1822."

    3. [S175] Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts, Descendants of Father Fiegenbaum (Chinook, Washington: F. Leenerts, 2002), pages 27-28.
      Transcription of a biographical sketch written in 1954 or 1955 by Franz Arthur Wellemeyer.
           "He [Henry Wellemeyer] was born in Prussia Germany 15 December 1822, the second of four sons to Mathew Wellemeyer. The maiden name of his mother was Voestman."

    4. [S113] Web site, IAGenWeb Project. Burial Index for all Hancock County Cemeteries. Submitted by the Hancock County Genealogical Society, 1986.
      Accessed March 2010. (http://iagenweb.org/hancock/Cemeteries/burialindex.htm)>. Burial Index - W (http://iagenweb.org/hancock/Cemeteries/bi_w.html).
           Wellemeyer, Henry F; born: 1822; died: 1899; cemetery: Concord.

    5. [S113] Web site, "Julius Neumann-Amelia Catherine Wellemeyer Family Group Descendant Tree.".
      (http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~drpatek/gp401.htm). D. R. Patek Family Ancestors - Rushton, Todd, Black, Neumann. 12 August 2010. Accessed 12 October 2012.
           Henry F. Wellemeyer was born in 1822 in Germany.

    6. [S175] Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts, Descendants of Father Fiegenbaum (Chinook, Washington: F. Leenerts, 2002), pages 26-27.
      Transcription of an obituary reported to have appeared in the Garner Signal, of Garner, Iowa, on Wednesday 16 August 1899.
           Henry Frank Wellemeyer "emigrated to the United States in 1845 and settled in St. Louis, Missouri."

    7. [S5] Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts, Genealogical research.
      Died 12 August 1899 in Garner, Hancock County, Iowa.

    8. [S175] Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts, Descendants of Father Fiegenbaum (Chinook, Washington: F. Leenerts, 2002), p. 24.
      Henry Frank Wellemeyer died 12 August 1899 at Garner, Hancock County, Iowa.

    9. [S175] Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts, Descendants of Father Fiegenbaum (Chinook, Washington: F. Leenerts, 2002), pages 26-27.
      Transcription of an obituary reported to have appeared in the Garner Signal, of Garner, Iowa, on Wednesday, 16 August 1899.
           "Henry Frank Wellemeyer died at his home in Garner 12 August 1899 of dropsy, aged 76 years, 7 months and 27 days."

    10. [S113] Web site, IAGenWeb Project. Burial Index for all Hancock County Cemeteries. Submitted by the Hancock County Genealogical Society, 1986.
      Accessed March 2010. (http://iagenweb.org/hancock/Cemeteries/burialindex.html). Burial Index - W (http://iagenweb.org/hancock/Cemeteries/bi_w.html).
           Wellemeyer, Henry F; born: 1822; died: 1899; cemetery: Concord.

    11. [S113] Web site, "Julius Neumann-Amelia Catherine Wellemeyer Family Group Descendant Tree.".
      (http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~drpatek/gp401.htm). D. R. Patek Family Ancestors - Rushton, Todd, Black, Neumann. 12 August 2010. Accessed 12 October 2012.
           Henry F. Wellemeyer died in 1899 in Iowa.

    12. [S175] Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts, Descendants of Father Fiegenbaum (Chinook, Washington: F. Leenerts, 2002), pages 26-27.
      Transcription of an obituary reported to have appeared in the Garner Signal, of Garner, Iowa, on Wednesday, 16 August 1899.
           "Funeral services conducted by Revs. C. H. Priebe and W. F. Gleason, were held at his home Tuesday p.m., and his remains laid at rest in Concord Cemetery."

    13. [S175] Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts, Descendants of Father Fiegenbaum (Chinook, Washington: F. Leenerts, 2002), pages 27-28.
      Transcription of a biographical sketch written in 1954 or 1955 by Franz Arthur Wellemeyer.
           "He [Henry Wellemeyer] was born in Prussia Germany 15 December 1822, the second of four sons to Mathew Wellemeyer. The maiden name of his mother was Voestman."
           Other sources indicate that Henry was born in the Kingdom of Hanover, which in 1822 was not yet part of Prussia.

    14. [S175] Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts, Descendants of Father Fiegenbaum (Chinook, Washington: F. Leenerts, 2002), pages 26-27.
      Transcription of an obituary reported to have appeared in the Garner Signal, of Garner, Iowa, on Wednesday 16 August 1899.
           Henry Frank Wellemeyer "emigrated to the United States in 1845 and settled in St. Louis, Missouri. Here he married Miss Catherine Fiegenbaum, 22 August 1847 and moved to Warrentown, Missouri where they resided for nearly three years."

    15. [S119] Harriet L. Fiegenbaum and Judith L. (Fiegenbaum) Miller, Genealogical research.
      Rev. Wellmeier and (Catherine) Christine Elisabeth Fiegenbaum; married 1905 [sic].

    16. [S175] Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts, Descendants of Father Fiegenbaum (Chinook, Washington: F. Leenerts, 2002), page 24.
      Henry Frank Wellemeyer and Catherine Elisabeth Fiegenbaum were married 22 August 1847 at St. Louis, St. Louis County, Missouri.

    17. [S177] Ancestry.com (library edition), Missouri Marriage Records, 1805-2002 [database on-line]. Provo, Utah: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.
      Original data from: Missouri Marriage Records. Jefferson City, Missouri: Missouri State Archives. Microfilm.
           Henry "Wellemeir" and Catherine Fiegenbaum were married in St. Louis, Missouri on 22 August 1847.

    18. [S113] Web site, "Julius Neumann-Amelia Catherine Wellemeyer Family Group Descendant Tree.".
      (http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~drpatek/gp401.htm). D. R. Patek Family Ancestors - Rushton, Todd, Black, Neumann. 12 August 2010. Accessed 12 October 2012.
           Henry F. Wellemeyer and Katherine Elizabeth Fiegenbaum were married in 1847. No place given.

    19. [S175] Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts, Descendants of Father Fiegenbaum (Chinook, Washington: F. Leenerts, 2002), pages 26-27.
      Transcription of an obituary reported to have appeared in the Garner Signal, of Garner, Iowa, on Wednesday 16 August 1899.
           "Mr. and Mrs. Wellemeyer could not reconcile the institution of slavery, which then prevailed in Missouri. With their love of personal liberty, they moved to Louisa County near Wapello, Iowa, where they resided until 1875."

    20. [S175] Frances Gretchen (Klein) Leenerts, Descendants of Father Fiegenbaum (Chinook, Washington: F. Leenerts, 2002), pages 26-27.
      Transcription of an obituary for "Henry Frank Wellemeyer" reported to have appeared in the Garner Signal, of Garner, Iowa, on Wednesday, 16 August 1899.


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