Member Biographies
Johann and Anna (Reinboldt) Wagner
From the Zion Lutheran Church – Alva 1904 membership records
Johann Wagner, son of Christian Wagner, was born in Germany on 5 September 1834 and his wife and Anna, daughter of Lndl.Reinboldt, was born in Michigan on 1 October 1843. They have nine children: Christian, born in Michigan on 24 December 1876; August, born in Kansas on 3 January 1878; Ludwig, born in Kansas on 4 July 1879; Carolina, born in Kansas on 3 June, 1882; Wilhelm, born in Kansas on 3 June 1887; Carl, born in Kansas on 4 April, 1889; Johann, born in Kansas on 21 January 1892; Ida, born in Kansas on 28 October 1894; Theo, born in Michigan on 5 June 1868, and wife Anna, daughter of August Geisler.
From the Pioneer Footprints Across Woods County biography of John Wagner, Sr.
John Wagner, Sr., was born September 5, 1834 in Germany and came to Saginaw, Michigan. in 1860 where he met and married Anna Reinbold, June 13, 1866. They moved to Ellinwood, Kansas in 1878. At the opening of the Cherokee Strip they moved to Woods County and located seven miles north of Alva. They reared twelve children and endured the hardships of pioneer life. Mrs. Wagner was born October 1, 1846 and passed away November 27, 1935 at her daughter Mary’s home. Her husband John passed away, June 22, 1910. They were members of the Lutheran Church in Alva.
Their daughter Maggie married William Quast. To this marriage six children were born: Clara Frieze, Bill, Edward, Hulda Kunzman, Anna Mohs and Louie. Only Anna and Bill are still living.
Mary married Morris Koppitz. To this marriage one daughter, Anna Koppitz Meyer, and three sons were born: Carl and John, who live in the Alva area, and Augustus who died at the age of eighteen.
Hannah married Frank Winters. They lived on a farm near Capron and later moved to Amarillo, Texas. Their six sons are Charlie, Flynn, Clarence, Leonard, Elmer and Frank, Jr., who was killed in a boating accident.
Louie Wagner married Daisy Phoenix and they had one son, Billie. Their home was three miles southwest of Capron. Louis and his brother William were married at a double wedding.
William Wagner was married to Grace Sheddy only one week when he was kicked in the stomach by a horse at his home seven miles northeast of Alva. He passed away only a few hours after the accident on June 21, 1911.
August Wagner married Lydia Schneider. Their home was northeast of Alva. He lost an eye in a farm accident. To this union three children were born, all of whom live here: Neva (Mrs. Willard) Graham, Albert, and Rhoda (Mrs. Guinn Smith). The couple also had twins who died shortly after birth.
Caroline married Herman Schroeder. To this union two sons were born: Charlie who lives in Cherokee, Oklahoma, and George who passed away at age seventeen. He attended Capron school and was laid to rest in July, 1938.
Theo Wagner came to Ellinwood, Kansas in 1874 with his parents from Michigan. He came with them to the Alva area in 1893. Mrs. Wagner also made the Run and filed a claim two miles south of Capron. Theo met and married Anna Giesler. They lived on a farm six miles northeast of Alva. They were members of the Lutheran Church. He was one of the thirteen original signers of the church constitution on May 21, 1899. In 1925 they moved to 703 College Ave., the present home of his sister, Ida.
Charlie Wagner, the second youngest child, married Frances Eggstein. To this marriage three children were born: Leonard, Glen and Hazel (Mrs. Wesley Leatherman). At an early age the two boys passed away. Frances and Charlie have two grandchildren, Bonnie and Charles. Frances is living at Share Convalescent Home and is the only living in-law of the John Wagner family.
Ida Wagner White is the youngest and only surviving member of the John Wagner, Sr. family. In her confirmation class of the Lutheran Church in 1907 when she joined the church were her two nieces, Anna Koppitz Meyer and Clara Quast Frieze, and Walter Meyer. Ida’s father promised gold watches to his daughter and two granddaughters, which they wore at confirmation. Ida married Lloyd F. White. To this marriage, one daughter, Leola Faye (Mrs. Elmer Meyer), was born. The Meyers have two children, Dennis and Jeanice.
Chris Wagner was born Christmas Day in 1876 and lived in the Capron area. He married Lena Schroeder, a sister-in-law to Carrie Wagner Schroeder. They had nine children. Pauline and Ervan passed away in Oklahoma. The family later moved to Amarillo, Texas. Louis and Wilbur are also dead. Ester is living in Iowa and Verl, Melvin and Alvin live in Amarillo.
John Wagner, Jr. married Florence Crane. He adopted her two small daughters, Vera and Ruth, who survive him. John Jr. died from the flu in 1918.
Leola White Meyer, 1976.[1]
Heinrich and Anna Maria (Wollmann) Wagner
From the Zion Lutheran Church – Alva 1904 membership records
Heinrich Wagner, son of George Wagner, was born in Russia on 18 August 1865 and his wife Anna Maria, daughter of William Wollmann, was born in Russia on 18 August 1865. They have six children: Maria, born in Russia on 25 February 1888; Jacob, born in Kansas on 12 August 1892; Alexander, born in Oklahoma on 17 August 1894; Samuel, born in Oklahoma on 23 July 1896; Heinrich, born in Oklahoma on 25 May, 1898; and Walter, born in Oklahoma on 17 June 1900.
From The First 100 Years of Alva, Oklahoma. 1886-1986 biography of Henry and Anna Wagner
Henry and Anna Wagner left Russia in their early 20s and early Spring of 1891 for the United States of America. They had enough of the long hours of toil from sun up to sun down or drudgery of making a living in Russia. They decided there was far greater opportunity in the New World (United States) as the people of Europe had spoken of the United States at that time, including liberty and the pursuits of happiness. It was 5 or 6 months before Henry and Anna set sail for the New World when this 100 year Immunity to Russian military training came to an end, and Henry did not care for any of it. When you were sent to the army in Russia, you went for a period of 10 years and no permission to go home and see your wife, relatives or anybody else. Like doing a ten year stretch in the penitentiary or worse.
In leaving Russia they had to go thru Germany to get to the sea port of Hamburg where they boarded an ocean liner for the New World. It was on there journey to Hamburg, and while crossing Germany when their first child Susanne died of pneumonia and was buried in Germany. Susanne and Mary were the only children born in Russia. Jake, Alex, Sam, Henry, Walter, Matilda, Bertha and Bill (Wm. G.) all born in the United States. Jake was born at Otis, Kansas.
Henry and Anna were thrilled and happy beyond expression when they got their first glimpse at the New World, for a while they could not believe what they were seeing. Russian government officials tried hard to scare them out of going to the New World. They would say: you want to go to that wild unsettled country and get scalped by the Indians. They soon found out there was nothing to this Russian scare. They entered the United States thru Ellis Island, main immigration point. They could not believe there was such a big town as New York over here in this wild country as Russian government officials would have them to believe.
The Russian Government used the number system in drafting men into the army. Henry Wagner drew a high number and knew he had about a year’s time to clear out, get out of Russia. Peter Brack and his family preceded Henry and Anna to the New World (United States) by 20 years. and it is he who Henry wrote to for money to bring his family to Otis, Kansas. After a month or so Henry received tickets for four and a little money to go on until they landed at Otis, Kansas..
After a delay of ten days at Ellis Island, they finally boarded a long passenger train for Great Bend, Olmitz, Glatis, Otis and other towns in that part of Kansas. Were they ever glad that the long tiresome journey from Saratof, Russia came to an end. Henry took a job with the Santa Fe Railroad Company, right away as the Santa Fe was building west. Henry walked three miles to the job for the first three months or more until he could buy himself a horse to ride. Santa Fe was paying $1.25 per 10 hour day – payday was once a month, and paid in gold. After putting in about three years with the Santa Railroad Company, the job was completed.
Henry Gallon, a brother to the late Fred Gallon who located north of Alva, took off several days to make the run in the Cherokee Strip opening and staked a claim 4 miles east and 2 north of Alva, and then went back up to Otis, Kansas to continue with his job as section boss foreman, under whom Henry Wagner worked until the job was completed. There were several other fellows who came down the same time with Henry Gallon but did not stay to prove up their claim. It was then when the Railroad job was completed, and Henry Gallon decided he wanted to go to California instead. He learned that Henry Wagner wanted to go to Oklahoma where land was cheap. It was then when Henry Gallon sold his claim to Henry Wagner for $40.00 known as the old home place and now owned by William G. Wagner “Bill” the youngest of the children. Better known as the SW 1/4 of Sec. 29-28-13. Conrad Brack (better known as Coon Brack) came down the same time and staked a claim NE 1/4 of Sec. 29-28-13 and later known as the Old Walt. Barthelmnew place. Conrad Brack stayed but a few months and returned to Otis, Kansas to enter into business there — later becoming an automobile dealer.
When Conrad Brack heard that Henry Wagner had bought the Gallon claim and was headed for Oklahoma, Brack offered Henry a good milk cow to take along with him as milk and eggs were Henry and Anna Wagner’s main income for so many years, crop income later. Brack says to Henry this cow needs no introduction to that part of Oklahoma, as she just came from there and was ready for the trip down there. So, Henry bought the cow, put a halter on her along with a ten foot rope and tied her to the back of the wagon; few pieces of furniture in the covered wagon and some food – Henry and Anna Wagner were ready to head for their claim and Alva, Oklahoma. It was the second trip for the big red cow, and the last trip. The cow raised a number of calves.
Henry was a charter member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church which was organized May 21, 1899 by missionary J. Lill. The first resident pastor was Herman Meier of Lockport, New York, serving the congregation for a period of 14 years.
Prepared by Mr. and Mrs. Bill Wagner, 1987.[2]
Paulina Wagner
From the Zion Lutheran Church – Alva 1904 membership records
Paulina Wagner, daughter of Christian Wagner, born in Oklahoma on 8 May 1904.
— Probably the daughter of Christian Wagner, son of Johann and Anna (Reinboldt) Wagner, and Paulina “Lena” (Schroeder) Wagner There is a Louise Clara Wagner born in Alva, Oklahoma on 25 August 1908 to parents Christ and Paulina (Schroeder) Wagner and baptised on 11 October 1908 in the Lutheran Church, Alva, Oklahoma. –
From the Pioneer Footprints Across Woods County biography of John Wagner, Sr.
See the above biography of John Wagner, Sr. –
Chris Wagner was born Christmas Day in 1876 and lived in the Capron area. He married Lena Schroeder, a sister-in-law to Carrie Wagner Schroeder. They had nine children. Pauline and Ervan passed away in Oklahoma. The family later moved to Amarillo, Texas. Louis and Wilbur are also dead. Ester is living in Iowa and Verl, Melvin and Alvin live in Amarillo.
August and Augusta (Mueller “Miller”) Wiersig
From the Zion Lutheran Church – Alva 1904 membership records
August Wiersig, son of Carl Wiersig, born in Germany on 6 September 1843 and his wife Augusta, daughter of Heinrich Mueller, was born in Germany on 27 June 1849. They have four children: Anna, born in Wisconsin on 31 May 1877; Ewald, born in Wisconsin on 2 June 1879; Walter, born in Wisconsin on 24 May 1884; Rudolf, born in Minnesota on 12 June 1889.
Old Settler Passes Away – Obituary from Colby Phonograph, August 31, 1922
August F. Wiersig, one of our most respected farmers, died at the age of 78 years, 11 months, and 21 days, Sunday [ 27 August 1922] morning of Cancer of the Stomach at his home. Funeral services were held at the home and at the Zion’s Lutheran Church, Rev. Kirchhofer officiating, and interment made in the Colby Cemetery Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 1:30 P.M.
The deceased was born in Germany Sept. 6th, 1843, and came to the United States seventy-one years ago, and located in Sheboygan County. In 1886, he moved to Lansing, Minnesota, and lived there sixteen years; but in 1902 he moved to Alva, Okla. and lived there three and one half years. Then Old Wisconsin was decided to be the best place and he moved back and bought the farm known as the John J. Schueller farm in the town of Hull, Marathon County, now owned by his son, R.H. Wiersig.
On Oct. 11, 1886, he was married to Augusta Miller, daughter of H. Miller, Sheboygan County, to which union nine children were born. He served with the 6th Wisconsin regiment during the Civil War.
His wife, Mrs. A. Wiersig, seven children, three brothers and one sister morn his loss. The children are: Ed F. Wiersig, Colby; J.W. Wiersig, Abbotsford; O.A. Wiersig, Colby; Mrs. A.L. Runzheimer, Colby; E.R. Wiersig, Colby; W.E. Wiersig, Colby; and R.H. Wiersig, Colby. The brothers and sisters, still living are: Herman Wiersig, Volley, Ala; Mrs. Dave Haas, Adell, Wis;, Robert Wiersig, Milwaukee; and Gottlieb Wiersig, Alva, Okla. Those attending the funeral from out of town were: Robert Wiersig, Milwaukee; Mrs. Dave Haas, Adell; Mrs. Louise Ferk, Plymouth; Gust Haas and family of Loyal.
Robert and Charlotte (Standau) Wiersig
From the Zion Lutheran Church – Alva 1904 membership records
Robert Wiersig, son of Carl Wiersig, was born in Wisconsin on 1 February 1857 and his wife Charlotte, daughter of Heinrich Standau, was born in Germany on 13 October 1856. They have two children: Friedrich, born in Wisconsin on 14 January 1884; and Frida, born in Wisconsin on 2 June 1886.
From The US Census 1900
Name: Robert T Wiersig; Age: 43; Birth Date: Feb 1857; Birthplace: WIsconsin; Home in 1900: Sherman, Sheboygan, Wisconsin; Relation to Head of House: Head; Marital Status: Married; Spouse’s Name: Charlotte M Wiersig; Marriage Year: 1880; Years Married: 20; Father’s Birthplace: Germany; Mother’s Birthplace: Germany; Occupation: Farmer; Household Members: Robert T Wiersig 43, Charlotte M Wiersig 43, William J Wiersig 19, Clara A Wiersig 17, Fred A G Wiersig 16, Frieda M Wiersig 13
From The US Census 1910
Name: Robert T Wiersig; Age in 1910: 53; Birth Year: abt 1857; Birthplace: Wisconsin; Home in 1910: Milwaukee Ward 6, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Relation to Head of House: Head; Marital Status: Married; Spouse’s Name: Charlotte M Wiersig; Father’s Birthplace: Germany; Mother’s Birthplace: Germany; Occupation: Laborer; Industry: Box Factory; Years Married: 30; Household Members; Robert T Wiersig 53, Charlotte M Wiersig 53, Frieda L Wiersig 23
From Ancestry.com, Wiersig-Kuse Family Tree
When Robert Theodor Wiersig was born on February 1, 1857, in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, his father, Carl, was 49 and his mother, Johanne, was 34. He married Maria Charlotte Elisabeth Standau in 1880 in his hometown. They had seven children during their marriage. He died on October 26, 1928, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, at the age of 71, and was buried there.
Edmond and Hilda (Dommann) Wiersig
From the Zion Lutheran Church – Alva 1904 membership records
Edmond Wiersig, son of August Wiersig, was born in Minnesota on 23 November 1871 and his wife Hilda, daughter of Fr.Dommann, was born in Wisconsin on 3 October 1876. They have one child: George, born in Minnesota on 22 October 1899.
From Ancestry.com, Wiersig-Kuse Family Tree
Edmund F. Wiersig, 96, of Elkhart Lake, died late Sunday afternoon, April 14, 1968, at Rocky Knoll Sanatorium and Hospital, where he had been a patient for three weeks. He had been a resident of Rocky Knoll for five years.
Born Nov. 23, 1871, at Sherman Center, he was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. August Wiersig. He was educated in Sherman Center and Austin, Minn. Lutheran schools. His first marriage to Hulda Dohman took place in Oklahoma in 1898. She died in 1900, and on Jan. 16, 1905, he married the former Emma Bendernagel in Philadelphia. The couple moved to the Colby area in 1907, where they operated a farm for 17 years. During much of this time, Mr. Wiersig served as town treasurer. After moving to Plymouth in 1924, Mr. Wiersig was a construction worker, retiring and moving to Elkhart Lake in 1941. His wife died March 6, 1963. Mr. Wiersig was a charter member of Grace Lutheran Church, Elkhart Lake.
Survivors include two sons, George of Joshua Tree, California, and Paul of Waukegan, Illinois; two daughters, Mrs Edward (Edna) Giebler of Elkhart Lake, and Mrs. Karl (Claire) Vierck of Milwaukee; 11 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; one brother, Rudolph of Colby; and a sister, Mrs. Anna Runzheimer of Milwaukee. Four brothers also preceded him in death.
Julius and Louisa (Haberkorn) Wiersig
From the Zion Lutheran Church – Alva 1904 membership records
Julius Wiersig, son of August Wiersig, was born in Wisconsin on 30 September 1873 and his wife Louisa, daughter of Haberkorn was born in Wisconsin on 24 January 1876.
From Ancestry.com, Wiersig-Kuse Family Tree
Word has been received of the death of Julius H. Wiersig of Phoenix Arizona, on August 14, 1957, of cancer of the bladder, at the age of 83 years, having been born in Adell, Wis., on September 30, 1873.
He was married on June 19, 1902, to Louise Haberkorn. They lived successfully in Alva, Okla., Waltham, Minn., and Minneapolis, Minn. He was a carpenter-contractor by trade in the days when houses and barns were built mostly by hand. He was especially adept in the open staircases and cabinetwork of that time. In 1917 they moved onto a farm east of Abbotsford, where they resided for 20 years, and they moved to Wausau, where they made their home until 1950. His father came from Schleswig, Germany, at the age of eight years. His grandfather was a shoemaker there.
Mr. Wiersig is survived by his wife and a daughter, Mrs. Selma Tepe, also of Phoenix; a sister, Mrs. Henry Runzheimer of Colby; three brothers, Ed of Elkhart Lake, and Walter and Rudolph of Colby. Two brothers preceded him in death: Otto of Milwaukee and Ewald of Colby.
Burial was made August 20th from Zion Lutheran Church, and interment was in Greenwood Memorial Park, Phoenix.
Ernst and Maria (Meyer) Wamhof
From the Zion Lutheran Church – Alva 1904 membership records
Ernst Wamhof, son of Wamhof was born in Germany on 22 August 1856 and his wife Maria, daughter of Heinrich Meyer), was born in Indiana on 12 December 1865. The have six children: Heinrich, born in Kansas on 22 July 1886; Emma, born in Kansas on 30 August 1888; Ludwig, born in Kansas on 28 December 1891; Eduard, born in Kansas on 11 May 1894; Christian, born in Kansas on 26 September 1896; Emilie, born in Oklahoma on 24 December 1899; and Helen, born in Oklahoma on 27 October 1903.
From the Pioneer Footprints Across Woods County biography of Ernst George Wamhof
WAMHOF, ERNST GEORGE
Ernst George, the son of John Christian and Marie (Engel) Wamhof, was born October 24, 1855 in Hanover, Germany. On November 3, 1855 Ernst was baptized as a small infant in the Lutheran church in Venne, Germany.
He came to the U.S.A. as a young man to the Holland, Indiana area. Here he made the acquaintance of Marie Anna Meyer, a first cousin to Chris Mauntel.
On September 27, 1883 he and Marie Anna Meyer were married at Holland, Indiana. They moved to Carson, Kansas. On March 7, 1898, Ernst and his family homesteaded a farm 2 1/2 miles east of Alva now known as the Ray Sellers farm.
Ernst Wamhof was a charter member of the Zion Lutheran church in Alva. He served on the building committee for the first church building which was located on Second Street where the Lutheran School is now standing.
Ernst and Marie remained in the Alva area until moving to Long Beach, California. in 1919. They had seven children: Henry, Emma who married Oscar Kletke, Louie, Edward, Amelia who married Maurice Wathem in California, Christ, and Helen who married Norman Remnington in California.
Ernst died May 1, 1941 in Long Beach and Marie also died in California.
Prepared Mildred (Brunken) Kletke, 1976.
From the Pioneer Footprints Across Woods County biography of Henry Carl Wamhof
WAMHOFF, HENRY CARL
Henry Carl Wamhoff, son of Ernest and Maria Anna Meyer Wamhoff, was born near Holyrood, Kansas, near Carson in Bown County. He and his parents and family moved to a farm east of Alva. Henry married Helen Busse, daughter of Carl and Bertha Klug Busse November 26, 1908.
They had three children, Arnold, Melvin and Edna. They went to school east of Alva at the school on the Rev. Herman Meyer place. They moved to Keyes, Oklahoma and later to California, because of the dust bowl and drought. Henry was one of the members of Zion Lutheran church who signed the paper for the cornerstone of the red brick church, July 16,1911.
Arnold married Gladys Boe. They have one daughter, Patricia.
Melvin married Ovella Bohannon. They live at Clovis, California. They have four children, David, Donald, Lloyd and Betty. David married Shannon Tweedie and they have four children, Darrell, Signe, Holly and Amber. They live at Fresno, California where he is a chiropractor.
Donald married Susan Hill. They have three children, Michelle, Annette and Catrina.
Betty married Bruce Barnett and they have two children, Beverly and Barbara.
Edna married Vaughn Kessler and they have three children, Stacy, Lavonnie and Harley who married Marilyn Frost. They live at Fresno.
Helen Wamhoff also lives at Fresno, California.She had seven brothers and sisters, Emil, Ida, August, Emilie (Lizzie), Carl, Hulda and Otto Busse.
Prepared by Mrs. Harold Busse, 1976.[1]
Wilhelm “Bill” and Emma (Tegler) Weinrich
From the Zion Lutheran Church – Alva 1904 membership records
Wilhelm Weinrich, son of Phil. Weinrich, was born in Missouri on 20 November 1874 and his wife Emma, daughter of L. Tegler, was born in Missouri on 17 February 1873. They had one child: Everett, born in Oklahoma on 8 October 1902.
From the Pioneer Footprints Across Woods County biography of William H. Weinrich
William H. Weinrich “Bill” came to Alva, Ok. together with a brother Phillip in 1901. He was born in New MeIle, Missouri on Nov. 20, 1874 the second eldest of 10 children, and later lived in Concordia, Missouri. When he was 26 years old, having heard of the opportunities that Oklahoma Territory afforded for new settlers, he decided to move to Alva, where he was first employed in a grocery store owned by Everett Rail. He returned to Concordia and was married there on January 19, 1902 to Emma Tegeler. They took their honeymoon trip to Alva and set up their first home. At that time Alva was a small village and Emma often remarked about the discouragements she and Bill endured. There were few trees, little grass, sidewalks were of wood, if there were any at all, the weather was usually hot and windy, and dust blew freely, so it was difficult to keep a clean house.
Their first child was a son, Everett. At that time the Weinrichs lived in a small house on Center Street, just a block south of the town square. Mr. Weinrich named his son after his employer, but it was not long thereafter that he terminated his employment with the Rall Grocery and took a new job as a sales clerk in the E. A. Haines Clothing Company. In the meantime his brother Phillip and wife, Nellie had also moved to Alva. Phil worked a few years with Share Brothers Mercantile. He, however, did not care for the Oklahoma climate and atmosphere, so they left Alva and moved to Winfield, Kansas. The association of Bill Weinrich with E. A. Haines was a fortunate one. It gave him the opportunity to meet many new people of Alva and the community and he formed friendships which endured throughout his lifetime.
In 1903 Mr. Weinrich built a new house on a lot located on a corner at 827 Third Street. It was there that two more children were born, Margaret, now Mrs. Joseph C. Much, Salem, Oregon, and Carl now associated with Continental Oil Company and living in Ponca City, Oklahoma.
As the years went by the clothing business flourished. Stores opened at 7 o’clock in the morning and stayed open until six or seven at night. On Saturday nights, especially during the harvest season, the stores stayed open as long as there were customers coming in, which generally meant a closing hour of midnight. On Christmas Eve it was a tradition of the Haines Store to engage an orchestra which would play on the upper landing at the back of the store building until late into the evening while many people were still buying their last minute Christmas gifts.
At the close of World War I Mr. Haines sold his clothing business to Mr. Weinrich and Jake Greuter who formed a partnership. Mr. Greuter sold out to Bill Warnhoff, who later sold out to Ray Eastman. Shortly thereafter Mr. Weinrich bought out his partner and formed the Weinrich Clothing Company. The place of business remained in the same location during all this time in the middle of the west side of the square.
July 4th was always a big business day. The store would open earlier than usual and with the many migrant and itinerant harvest hands who slept on the ground in the square around the Court House looking for work and being ready for hire, and with farmers coming in to get help during harvest, the 4th was frequently the best single business day of the entire year. Monfort’s Drug Store as well as Bradbury’s Book Store would have a stand built on the street in front of their places of business decorated with flags and bunting. Here they sold firecrackers, fireworks and all sorts of things to help in the observance of the “Grand and Glorious Fourth” in the old time way. Alva usually had a celebration. One year on the Fourth the corners of the square were piled high with bales of hay, as Bill McNeeley was to give a demonstration of motorcycle trick riding standing on the seat of his Harley Davidson while circling the square and racing his machine to set a speed record. It was an exciting day.
Oklahoma after statehood was a prohibition state and no intoxicating beverages were sold. Having been born and raised in Missouri Mr. Weinrich enjoyed an occasional bottle of beer in the summer. Since it was legal to ship beer into the state for private use he sometimes had a barrel of Pabst Blue Ribbon sent to him from Kansas City which he kept in a storm cellar about 15 feet from the house. He kept the cellar locked, of course, but one night the door was broken into and the barrel containing some 72 bottles had been stolen. In the cellar was a note thanking Bill for the beer and saying those who had taken it would enjoy it.
Mr. and Mrs. Weinrich were members of Zion Lutheran Church located directly across the street east of their residence.
They sent their children to the Lutheran School a block east of the church until they completed the 6th grade and then they attended the Eastside Public School. Their son Everett attended the 8th grade in the Central School on College Avenue, formerly the Congregational Church, and graduated from this school in 1917. Later Alva built its first high school located several blocks west of the square. The first commencement was held in the school in 1919. Prior to that time, classes were held in the old City Hall and in a vacant store building at the extreme northeast corner of the square. Everett graduated from the University of Kansas in 1925. He now lives in Rochester, Minnesota.
In 1925 Mr. Weinrich sold part of his business to Meade McClure. He and his family moved to Winfield, Kansas where he and three brothers operated a department store, later expanding to several other Kansas towns. He retained his part ownership in the Alva business until 1932 when it was taken over by Milford Rice and Lewis Huff. He then became a district representative for the Aid Association for Lutherans, a Lutheran Life Insurance Company, having Oklahoma and Kansas for his territory. From 1932 until his retirement at the end of 1950 he traveled Oklahoma extensively and was often in Alva.
Daughter Margaret and son Carl graduated from Southwestern College in Winfield.
Mr. and Mrs. Weinrich lived in Winfield until his death in August, 1958. Mrs. Weinrich passed away in December, 1968. They are buried in Winfield.
Prepared by Everett L. Weinrich, 1976.[1]
From The US Census 1910
Name: William Weinrich; Age in 1910: 35; Birth Year: abt 1875; Birthplace: Missouri; Home in 1910: Alva Ward 4, Woods, Oklahoma; Relation to Head of House: Head; Marital Status: Married; Spouse’s Name: Emma Weinrich; Father’s Birthplace: Missouri; Mother’s Birthplace: Missouri; Occupation: Salesman; Industry: Retail; Years Married: 8; Household Members: William Weinnch 35, Emma Weinrich 37, Everet L Weinrich 7, Margaret L Weinrich 0
George and Susanna (Baepler) Weinrich
From the Zion Lutheran Church – Alva 1904 membership records
George Weinrich, son of Phil. Weinrich, was born in Missouri on 28 June 1873 and his wife Susanna, daughter of Heins Baepler, was born in Missouri on 2 September 1875. They have one child: Phillip, born in Missouri on 8 August 1877.
From Ancestry.com, Riensche – Weinrich – Little Family Tree
Weinrich Family of Cowley County
Members of several Weinrich families lived in Germany for many generations, some dating back to 1621. The Weinrich family which moved to Winfield was descended from George Justice Weinrich, who was born in 1781 in Alten Buseck, Hessen County, Germany.
George Justice married Anna Marie Koerber and they were the parents of nine children. He died July 11, 1832 in Alten Buseck, Germany. Three of their children immigrated to America in 1834 and settled in Missouri. In 1837, his widow and the remaining children made the journey to Missouri. A son, Johannes, died of cholera on the trip and was buried in Paducah, Kentucky.
George Philip, born December 11, 1814, in Alten Buseck, Germany, was one of the three sans of George Justice Weinrich who immigrated to America and settled in New Mella, St. Charles County, Missouri. He married Dorothea Schnare on July 7, 1844. They had three children, one of whom was Phillip, born January 22, 1847. As a young man, Philip served in the Army during the Civil War between the States. He later married Christine Wilhelmina Schroeder on October 27, 1872 in New Mella, Missouri. They had ten children. Their sons included George F., Wilhelm H., Philip F., Louis, Leonard, and a son who died in infancy. Their daughters were Augusta, Leona Weinrich Fink, Rose M. Weinrich Hoel, and Lenora D. Weinrich Watkins.
Philip Weinrich was a very patriotic Civil War Veteran. He was a god-fearing man, and many times during the early Chautauqua sessions in Winfield he was asked to give his own biblical interpretation of the American flag. His interpretation is included here: “This is the Bible history of the United States flag. The blue in the United States flag is the sky above us. The stars in the United States flog represent the star that was shown the Three Wise Men when Christ was born in Bethlehem. The stripes in the United States flag were given Christ before they crucified Him. The red stripes are the blood He shed for sinners on the cross. The white stripes in the United States flag represent the coming of the Holy Ghost upon His disciples on Pentecost Day. And that is the Bible history of the United States flag.
I claim for myself that the flag won’t go to war unless she goes for justice. When we went into the Civil War, we went for justice and got it. When Spain blew up the Maine, our boys went for justice and got it. And when old Kaiser Bill and some body else undertook to lick the whole world, they kept licking France and England, until our boys got over there with Old Glory. Then they found out that they were up against some thing they couldn’t lick, so they quietly signed the Armistice and quit. Thank You.” Philip Weinrich, Sr.
Submitted by Edith Weinrich Shields
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 319.
Phillip & Christine Wilhelmine (Schroeder) Weinrich
In 1902, Phillip Weinrich, a veteran of the Civil War, and his wife, Christine Wilhelmine Schroeder, moved from Lafayette County, Missouri to Alva, Oklahoma. In the fall of 1907, they came to Winfield where they resided for many years. A daughter who never married, Augusta, lived with them.
A son, George F., was born on June 28, 1873. In 1905, he had his wife, Susanna, moved to Winfield from Springdale, Arkansas. In 1907, they became the Superintendent and:
Matron of the Lutheran Children’s Home in Winfield, a position they held for thirty-two years. Their children were Edith Weinrich Shields, Ralph, and Ruth Weinrich Nichols.
Another son, Wilhelm H., born November 20, 1874, and his wife Emma (Tegeler), owned a men’s clothing store in Alva, Oklahoma. Later they also moved to Winfield with their children, Everett, Margaret Weinrich Much, and Carl.
A son, Phillip F., was born on August 8, 1877. He and his wife, Nellie (Collinson), were early residents of Winfield. He and his brother, Wilhelm, were the owners of the A.F. Dauber Mercantile Company which was located at 10th and Main Streets in Winfield. They had a son named Paul.
A daughter, Leona, was born on December 18, 1883. She married Homer Leroy Fink, who was a partner in Fink and Jenkins Pharmacy, located at 812 Main in Winfield. They had a son, Allen.
Leonard was born on November 16, 1892 in Higginsville, Missouri. He came to Winfield with his parents. He married Tillie Weaver and their children were Carol Weinrich Mitchell, and Phillip. Leonard was a World War 11 veteran.
Another daughter, Rose, was born on July 9, 1856. She married Leonard Hoel in Winfield and they had one daughter, Wilda.
Elenora D., another daughter, was born on March 27, 1880. She married Harvey L. Watkins and their children were Dorothy and Frances.
A son, Louis, was born when the family still lived in Lafayette, County, Missouri. He then resided in Winfield with his parents, but later lived in Humbolt, Kansas for a time before moving to California. His children were Mabel Weinrich Hatteberg and James C.
The members of the Weinrich family were, and continue to be, active and productive citizens of Cowley County. Deceased members of the family, with the exception of Louis, are buried in Highland Cemetery, located at the southwestern edge of Winfield.
Submitted by Edith Weinrich Shields
Scanned out of the Cowley County Heritage book, Page 320.
Notes
- Cherokee Strip Volunteer League. “Pioneer Footprints Across Woods County”, 1976.
- Seekers of Oklahoma Heritage Association. “The First 100 Years of Alva, Oklahoma. 1886-1986″ Curtis Media Corporation, Dallas, Texas, 1987.