Clayton co IAGenWeb bios

Walker, Pearl: Lockmaster; born Reads Landing, Minn Apr 12, 1890; son of John S. Walker & Emma Dietrich; educated Reeds, Minn; married Esther Marie Schwark Nov 19, 1921 Milwaukee, Wis; son John S.; daughters Ruth Emily, Ethel Dorothea, Jane Ann; 1909-11 independent pearl fisher, Reads, Minn.; 1911-12 ship keeper on US Dredge Vesuvius, Rock Island, Ill; 1912-28 engineman, St. Paul division, 1928-29 district dredge master, St. Paul; 1939- lockmaster Guttenberg lock & dam 10, Guttenberg; during World War enlisted Apr 1918 sent to Univ. of Ohio for 8 weeks course in mechanics to Camp Jackson, S.C., overseas France, in sectors in Alsace Lorraine, St. Mihiel, Argonne & Verdun, July 23, 1918, battery E, 130the regiment field artillery, 35th division, cannoneer, returned Apr 23, 1919, discharged May 1919 from Camp Dodge; American Legion post 56; AF & AM 283; hobbies: motor travel, fishing; office & resident Guttenberg. (pg 302)

Walter, John A.: Dentist; born McGregor, Iowa Jan 9, 1861; son of Peter Walter & Mary Rice; educated McGregor HS 1878; married Odilda E. Bergman Nov. 18, 1885 McGregor; sons William B. & John Frederic; daughters Helene Emma (Mrs. Harry Wenzel), Margaret Katherine (Mrs. C.M. Nelson), Anna Marie (Mrs. W.A. Kean) & Charlotte Odilda (Mrs. V.M. Lager); 1879-81 apprentice dentist to Dr. A.O. Hunt, McGregor; 1881- dentist, McGregor, 1919- son John F. practice with him; has played cornet & violin in concerts & for various musical organizations, past leader of several bands, played in 1st parade July 4, 1876; 1897-1911 & 1920-27 mayor; member League of Iowa Municipalities, an organizer 1898, president 1902; Dubuque District Dental Society; charter member, VP & president of past Northern Iowa Dental Society which 1908 reorganized & included in Iowa State Dental Society; American Dental Association (ADA), past member BPOE, Dubuque; past member Knights of Pythias (KP), Modern Woodmen of Amer. (MWA), Woodmen of the World (WOW) & Yeoman; past member IOOF, past noble grand & past major of encampment; past member Af & AM; hobby: music; parents born in Germany, came to Ohio with parents, later to Dubuque 1856; office & residence McGregor. (pg 302)

Walter, John Frederick: Dentist; born McGregor, Iowa Mar 16, 1893; son of John A. Walter & Odilda E. Gergman; educated McGregor HS 1913; Univ. of Iowa, DDS 1918; married Hilda Marie Lungwitz May 3, 1920 Iowa City; daughters Joanne Adele & Mary Margaret; 1918-19 accociat in Univ of Iowa Dental College as demonstrator in dept of prosthetic & crown & bridge work; 1919- with father in dental practive, McGregor; 1929- mayor; 1920-27 member board of education, McGregor; National League of Municipalities; Iowa League of Municipalities, past trustee, past president, past chairman legislative committee; veteran of volunteer fire dept; during World War member Natl U.S. army Oct 29, 1917 McGregor, disch. Nov 8, 1917, re-enlisted Nov 9, 1917 in medical reserve corps of regular army, Iowa City, demonstrator in Univ of Iowa Dental College, discharged Jan 4, 1919; American Legion post 267, charter member & past director; Dubuque District Dental Society, past president; Iowa State Dental Society; American Dental Assoc.; McGregor Conservation League; past member Iowa State Fish & Game Commission; Mississippi River Highway Assn, treasurer; McGregor Service Club; past member Izaak Walton; BPOE, Dubuque; AF & AM 135; Methodist Church; Republican; hobbies: hunting, fishing, boating; father was president of Iowa League of Municipalities 1905, & both father & son have been president of any state league; daughter Joann, junior at Iowa State College; office & residence McGregor. (pg 302)

Walter, Joseph L.: Farmer & Stockman; born Wagner twp, Clayton Co, Iowa July 10, 1882; son of Henry Walter & Eva Jones; educated Wagner twp; Wisconsin Business Univ., La Crosse, Wis. 1902; married Amanda Minnie Koth Jan 23, 1907 Clayton Co, Wagner twp; sons Kenneth Elmer & Lester William; prior to 1907 farmer with father Clayton Co; 1907- farmer 340 acre, Clayton Co; president Luana Farmers Co-op Creamery; director St. Olaf Farmers Commission Co; Wagner twp trustee; Clayton Co Agricultural Conservation Assn, reporter & member committee; Clayton Co. Farm Bureay, past director; member Iowa State & American Farm Bureaus; hobby: motor travel; his & wife's parents born in Wagner twp; grandfather came from Germany homesteaded in Wagner twp; residence Rout 1, Luana. (pg 302)

Ward, William Henry: Automobile Dealer; born Millville, Iowa Mar 17, 1878; son of Thomas Henry Ward & Jane Kauffman; educated Clayton Co.; married Nellie Lorena Collins May 30, 1900 Osterdock; sons Chester Mason (deceased) & Stanford Collins (deceased); daughters Crystal Victoria (Mrs. Ray Yoerger) & Averyl Marguerite (Mrs. L.W. Bishop); 1900-07 owner & operator farm; 1907-19 farmer, Clayton Co.; 1919-26 buyer & seller cattle, Perry, MO, also manager 2 farms, Monroe Co., MO; 1926- Chevrolet dealer, Central City; has won several awards from Chevrolet Co. for outstanding salesmanship; C of C; AF & AM 284; Democrat; hobbies: fishing, hunting; grandfather came from Maine 1848, early pioneer of Clayton Co.; father was farmer in Clayton Co.; office Chevrolet Garage; residence Central City, Linn Co., IA (pg 762)

Weger, Otto Fred: Creamery Operator; born Cass twp, Clayton Co, Iowa May 9, 1887; son of Michael Weger & Anna Baumgartner; educated Cass twp; business college, Oelwein; married Emma Meinken Sept 14, 1921 Oelwein; son Howard Otto; daughters Vana & Vera; prior to 1904 with father on farm Clayton Co; 1904-08 apprentice machinish & steam fitter for CW RR, Oelwein shops; 1908-12 farmer, Clayton Co; 1912-15 steam fitter for CGW RR shops, Oelwein; 1915-18 pipe fitter for Oliver Kringle contractor, Strawberry Point; 1919-22 helper Strawberry Point Creamery; 1922- operator & buttermaker Strawberry Point Farmer's Co-op Creamery, largest whole milk creamery in US, makes over 1,000,000 pounds of butter yearly; operator of 2 farms Clayton Co, Cass twp, specializer in dairy Holstein cattle; has won many cups, medals & plaques at national & state buttermaking contests & has firsts from National Dairy Show, Waterloo Cattle Congress, Iowa State Fair & Iowa Creamery Operators Assn; during World War enlisted in US army Feb 1918 88th division, Camp Dodge then Camp Gordon, 82nd division 327th machine gun company, overseas 1918 in St. Mihiel, the Meuse-Argonne & defense sector, discharged May 1919, decorated for distinguished service; American Legion; Clayton Co, Iowa State & National Farm Bureuas; Iowa State Creamery Operators Ass; National Buttermakers Assn; Lutheran Church; hobbies: farm improvement, travel; office Farmers Co-op Creamery; residence Strawberry Point. (pg 302)

Weil, Theodore Henry: Retired; born Clayton Center, Iowa Nov 9, 1860; son of Frederick Weil & Sophia Meyer; educated Blairstown Academy; Shenandoah Business College, Shenandoah; married Caroline C. Muller Feb 2, 1915, Chicago, Ill; prior to 1893 farmer with father, Benton Co.; 1893-1909 farmer for mother, Benton Co.; 1895-1915 raiser of purebred Percheron horses imported from Europe; 1915- retired from active farming, Blairstown, continues to operate 2 farms; past twp. assessor 8 years; LeRoy twp past trustee 22 years; Benton Co. Farm Bureau; with wife donated land for town park, Blairstown; Protestant; Democrat; hobbies: purebred horses, travel; residence Blairtown, Benton County, IA (pg 86)

Welch, Dale D.: University President; born Strawberry Point, Iowa Apr 19, 1896; son of Oscar Eugene Welch & Nora Ianthia Stalnaker; educated Univ. of Dubuque, BA 1921; Cornell Univ., MA 1928; Coe College, LLD 1936; Pi Kappa Delta; married Margaret Lucile Aitchison June 25, 1920 Epworth; daughter Margaret Jean; 1918-1920 instructor Univ of Dubuque; 1923 ordained minister Presbyterian Church; 1928-36 manager Dubuque Clinic; 1936- president & director Univ. of Dubuque; Dubuque Planning & Zoning Commission, 1929- VP & membr; National Educational Assoc.; Iowa State Teachers Assoc.; YMCA, dir since 1932; Rotary since 1923, 1929-30 VP; AF & AM; Republican; office Univ. of Dubuque; residence 1904 Delhi, Dubuque, Dubuque Co., IA (pg 418)

Welch, John Milton: Retired; born Volga, Iowa Jan 29, 1867; son of John Herbert Welch & Racheal A. Chilson; educated Strawberry Point; married Mertie E. Smith March 7, 1888 Strawberry Point; son Leslie LeRoy; daughters Ethel Blanche & Gladys Marie; 1887-88 buttermaker in creamery, Strawberry Point, 1888-90 Aurora; 1890-94 part owner & manager, Scott; 1894-97 farmer, Fayette Co.; 1897-1904 with brother Rufus R. Welch owner Welch Brothers Creamery, also general store, Scott; 1904-05 proprietor & manager J.M. Welch General Merchandise Co., Stanley; 1905-19 owner & operator J.M. Welch General Merchandise, Arlington, 1919-30 partner of son Leslie; 1930- retired, Arlington; past member city council; past mayor; Iowa Retailers Assn.; Grocer Wholesale Co-op, Inc; AF & AM 212; Methodist Church; Democrat; hobby: travel; office & residence Arlington, Fayette Co., IA (pg 445-446)

Welch, Virgil Cleon: Professor; born Strawberry Point, Iowa Sept 1, 1892; son of Oscar E. Welch & Nora Stalnaker; educated Hampton HS 1914; Upper Iowa Univ., BA 1920, DD 1935; Northwestern Univ., MA 1931; Garrett Biblical Inst, BD 1924; Pi Kappa Delta; married Deone W. Grenelle Sept 20, 1914 Hampton; sons Robert Virgil, Claude Raymond, Wesley James; daughter Irene Deone; 1914-16 farmer near Arlington; 1920-21 pastor Methodist Church, Randalia; 1925-28 Buck Creek rural church, near Hopkinton; 1928- prof dept of Bible & religious education, Upper Iowa Univ., 1933- public relation work; past director leadership training, churches of Fayette Co.; National Assn, treas.; Upper Iowa Annual Conference of Methodist Churches; Fayette Businessmen's Club, past pres.; AF & AM 248; Methodist Church; Republican; hobbies: football, baseball' office Upper Iowa University; residence Fayette, Fayette Co., IA (pg 446)

Welterlen, Frank Edward: Automobile Dealer; born Delaware Co, Iowa Mar 31, 1894; son of John Joseph Welterlen & Anna C. Menge; educated Manchester HS 1911; Highland Park College, Des Moines 1913; married Gladys H. Day Feb 19, 1919 Oelwein; son Frank Day; daughters Margery Ann & Marian Alice; 1914- auto director, Edgewood; director Community Savings Bank; director Edgewood Oil Co.; director Edgewood independent school district; past member city council; Commercial Club, past pres; KP 358, trustee; AF & AM 606, past master; Methodist Church, president board of trustees, Sunday School teacher; hobbies: motor traveling with family & the outdoors; office & residence Edgewood. (pg 302)

Wessel, George Henry: Retired; born Clayton Co., Iowa Aug 15, 1863; son of Henry H. Wessel & Catherine Datisman; educated Oak Grove public schools; German-English College, Galena, Ill 3 years; married Clara A. Hartwick Oct 1, 1891 McGregor; son Earl Herschel (deceased 1896); daughter Lurena Kathryn; 1885-87 rural school teacher, Delaware Co.; 1887 entered ministry, La Crosse, Wis; 1887-88 organizer & pastor Methodist Episcopal Church, North La Crosse; 1888-89 pastor Methodist Church, Faulkton, S.D., 1889-91 & 1897-98 Fenton & Burt, 1891-92 near Le Mars, 1892-96 Dubuque; 1896-97 ret; 1899-1904 & 1916-18 pastor, Gladbrook, 1904-10 Klemme, 1910-16 district superintendent Methodist Church, Reinbeck, 1929-35 Dows; 1935- retired, Burt; Republican; hobby: carpenter work; residence Burt, Kossuth Co., IA (pg 698)

White, Valmah Sherman: Attorney; born Elkader, Iowa June 16, 1894; son of Glenn G. White & Lucy May Clark; educated Elkader HS 1912; Univ. of Minnesota 1916; Univ. of Iowa, BA 1922, LLB 1922; Delta Theta Phi; married Ruth Elizabeth Appelman Sept 2, 1920 Clermont (divorced); son Robert Sherman; 1922-23 partner of John Hammil, practice law, Britt; 1923-30 private law practice, Britt; 1930- practive law, partner of M.F. Condon, New Hampton; 1926-30 Hancock Co. attorney, Britt; 1932-36 Chickasaw Co. attorney; 1934-38 mayor, New Hampton; during World War enisted in French army 1916, Paris France Mallet res, re-enlisted in US army Soissons Oct 1917 in 162nd infantry 18th division, ret June 1919, disch from Long Island as sgt; American Legion, past commander; C of C, New Hampton; Benevolent Protective Order of Elks (BPOE) 418; AF & AM, Britt; Congregational Church; hobby: fishing; office & residence New Hampton, Chickasaw County, IA (pg 270)

Wilke, Elmer Frederick: General Merchant; born St. Olaf, Iowa Nov 26, 1897; son of Henry W. Wilke & Anna Heiden; educated St. Olaf; Wisconsin Business Univ., La Crosse, Wis 1915; married Lenora Embretson May 19, 1926 St. Olaf; sons Warren Elmer & Thomas Henry; prior to 1924 with father clerk in Wilke General Merchandise Store, St. Olaf, this store was purchased by father 1901; 1924- manager & owner Wilke General Merchandise Store, St. Olaf; president independent school board, St. Olaf; mayor; 1920-28 town assessor; past member city council; Commercial Club, past secretary; member Elkader Golf Cluf; VP St. Olaf Chapel Assn.; Norway Lutheran Church; Republican, committeeman Wagner twp; hobby: golf; grandfather F.W. Wilke came to Clayton Co. from Germany when young man; office Wilke's Store; residence St. Olaf. (pg 302)

Wirkler, Reuben E.: Manager Department Store; born Monona, Iowa June 4, 1905; son of Arthur Wirkler & Rocelia Schierholz; educated Monona HS 1923; Pennsylvania College 1925; married Hazel F. Cook Aug 7, 1929 Elkader; daughters Patricia Ann & Nancy Louise; 1925-28 clerk in Monona Dept. Store; 1928-32 manager & owner men's clothing dept in Monona Dept. Store, 1933- manager store; 1922 store founded by father, E.G. Kaiser & W.E. Weithorn, 1929 father sole owner, consolidated with the men's clothing dept; director Monona independent school district; member Interstate Mercantile Council, Chicago, Ill; Commercial Club; AF & AM 70; hobby: gardening; office & residence Monona. (pg 302)

Witt, William John: President Furniture & Undertaking Co.; born Volga, Iowa June 24, 1884; son of William E. Witt & Amelia Krieg; educated Elkader & Postville High Schools 1900; Univ. of Iowa, college of pharmacy 1905; Hohenschuh-Carpenter School of Embalming 1921; married Virginia Crouse Sept 22, 1915 Des Moines; sons William Ernest & Donald Charles; daughters Elizabeth Anna & Marjorie Catherine; 1900-01 clerk in Hulver Lein Grocery Store, Postville; 1901-02 clerk in Frank Niemer Grocery Store, Elkader; 1902-05 clerk in H.H. Hagensick Drug Store, Elkader; 1907-09 registered pharmacist Lawrence Drug Co., Des Moines; 1909-11 manager & pharmacist William Schmidt Drug Co., Newport, Wash; 1911-12 pharmacist William Steadman Drug Co. & J.A. Martin Drug Co., Denver, Colo, 1912-13 Nelson Drug Co, Hammond, Ind, 1913-14 T.L. Drug Co, Tucson, Ariz.; 1914- in furniture & undertaking business with father, Elkader, business established 1889, 1931 incorporated as Home Service Co., father retired 1922, 1922- president, son William E. in business also, secy since 1939; Iowa Funeral Directors & Embalmers Assn, past director; NE Iowa District Funeral Directors Assn; National Funeral Directors Assn; honorary citizen Fahter Flanagan's Boys Town, near Omaha, Neb; Kiwanis, past secretary; Commercial Club; AF & AM 72; RAM, Des Moines; Scot Rite, Clinton; El Kahir Shrine, Cedar Rapids; hobby: golf; wife was school teacher in Elkader 4 years; son William E. president Commercial Clib 1939, mades the 3rd generation of family to graduate from Hohenschuh-Carpenter School of Embalming; office Home Service Co.; residence Elkader. (pg 302-303)

Wolf, Henry Martin: Manager Light & Power Co; born Elkader, Iowa Sept 18, 1883; son of George Wolf & Elizabeth Taake; educated Elkader HS 1900; married Olivia L. Tangeman June 12, 1907 Garnavillo; sons Milton Henry, Douglas Edward, Louis Gearld, Donald Christian & Richard Charles; 1900-25 helper in Schmidt Brothers & Co Light & Power Co., Elkader, 1917 incorporated Elkader Light & Power Co., 1923 People's Electic Service Co; 1925- manager Elkader district Northeastern Iowa Power Co, 1927 company became Central States Light & Power Co, manager of Elkader district; past member Elkader school board; Commercial Club, president; Iowa Fellowship Assn president; Order Eastern Star (OES); White shrine; AF & AM 72, past master; RAM, Postville; Knights Templar (KT); McGregor York Rite; Oxus Grotto, Dubuque; Lutheran Church; hobbies: gladiolus, flowers, colored moving picture photography; office & residence Elkader. (pg 303)

Woods, Kenneth L.: Associate Publisher & Advertising Manager Newspaper; born McGregor, Iowa Jan 16, 1900; son of Paul C. Woods & Amy L. Luther; educated Sheldon HS 1918; married Olive Nohlgren Dec 22, 1921, Sheldon; son Paul Kent; daughter Janet Lois; 1918-25 employed by Sheldon Mail, 1925- assoc publisher & advertising manager; 1938-39 member city council, chairman building committee, active in construction of new community building; state VP Iowa Safety Council; during World War member SATC, Morningside College; American Legion, commander 1930-31, county commander 1935; Iowa Press Assoc.; C of C; Businessmens Luncheon Club, past pres.; Sheldon Golf & Country Club; Methodist Church; Republican, chairman O'Brien Co. Republican Service League 1935; hobby: fishing; office & residence Sheldon, O'Brien County, IA (pg 902)