Biography - William Wiegreffe
WILLIAM WIEGREFFE. Among the early settlers in Litchfield, Ill., who came here in 1855 and have witnessed the growth and development of the place with pride, may be mentioned the gentleman whose name opens this article. He is one of the natives of another land, who came here to enjoy free speech, free religion and free exercise of his inclinations, and has made his adopted country better than he found it. He was born February 13, 1828, in Hanover, Germany, and reached the United States in 1851, when he at once came to the Prairie State. He located at first in Alton, and lived for a time in Jersey County, but in 1855 he made his way here, and secured a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. In the fall of 1868 he moved to this town to engage in the planing-mill and lumber-yard business. Here he built a mill and started a lumber yard, but in 1877 he left the mill. Since that time he has given his undivided attention to the lumber business. This has been a very good one, because the building in this place and vicinity has been uninterrupted. Until 1891, Mr. Wiegreffe had a partner, but at that time he took his son in with him and made the business more comprehensive. He now deals in sash, doors, blinds and building material, and is the oldest dealer in these things in this locality. Twenty-five years is a long period to be in one line of business, but that is the time that Mr. Wiegreffe can look back over and note the wonderful changes which have taken place in his vicinity, and throughout the county and State.
Our subject has been considered a man of good business qualifications and of good judgment, to which his fellow-citizens testified by making him Alderman of the Second Ward of the town for six years. He is a man of property, and owns stock in the Litchfield Hotel Company. He is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity and is devoted to the interests of that order.
The marriage of Mr. Wiegreffe took place January 17, 1861, to Miss Eva Sinn, and six children have been added to the household since that happy occasion. These are, Charlotte, who is the wife of Mr. George P. Hood; Emma, who is the wife of Mr. William Cotter; Frederick; Augusta, who is the wife of Mr. August Aldos; Wilhelm and Matie.
The great prosperity of our country interests all good citizens and none more than the industrious, frugal ones who have watched the growth of their surroundings from a wilderness to a peaceful and prosperous city, where education is encouraged and religion holds sway. Such may be the feelings of our subject, as he now enjoys the plenty and content of a comfortable home and family and realizes that he has done his share in bringing about the present state of affairs.
Extracted 10 Jan 2017 by Norma Hass from 1892 Portrait and Biographical Record of Montgomery and Bond Counties, Illinois, pages 406-407.
