Johann (John) Ludwig Wessels
Written by George F. Wessels Sr. to Ruth Annette (Wessels) Petty
Johann Ludwig Wessels became known in the West Point community as John L. Wessels and his first job was at Sam Shelburne's Grocery Store in West Point at approximately the age of fifteen. He walked the 3 miles to and from the farm daily and as he saved some money, he had the desire to own a business of his own. He frugally saved his money until he could start a blacksmith shop and general repair shop for buggies and then automobiles. He loved mechanic work and acquired all of his knowledge through experience, having had only a few years of schooling. He became well known for his ability to repair the "new-fangled" automobiles and had the first Ford dealership in Fayette County. He had the ability to invent and build any type of contraption necessary for anything and it often makes me wonder what he could have invented or become with education as it is today. At one time, he had applied for work with Joske's in San Antonio and was hired but that did not last for he soon realized that he was not happy in San Antonio and was anxious to be in West Point in his own business. He had his garage and shop and responded to calls, day or night, to assist people broken down on the roads, with little or no pay.
He built his business and acquired some land and built another service station on Highway 71 and a dance hall. His nephew, Johnnie Wessels, operated the service station (now known as Havemann's Grocery and Service Station) and many people came and enjoyed the dances at Wessels hall, such well-known bands in the area as Blume's, Ilse's, and Adolph Hofner played for the dances. He continued to operate Wessels Garage and Service Station, even though the new Highway 71 missed the town of West Point, until he finally retired due to ill health. He moved to Austin and resided there until his death in 1972.
Concerning your Dad's thoughtfulness and generosity, I often recall, with a growing sense of gratitude and reverence, the many courtesies and kindnesses your Dad extended to me, particularly during my youth. I remember that during my childhood, whenever I visited Shelburne's Store, in which he was employed, he would invariably give me some candy, chewing gum, or other goodies. As a result of his kindness to me, he quickly became my idol. When I was around 8 years of age, he procured a small used bicycle, which he reconditioned and gave to me. Needless to say, this made me the proudest and happiest kid in Fayette County.
I remember your dad's first automobile, which incidentally bore little or no resemblance to the current models in either appearance or performance. Sometimes it would run: sometimes it wouldn't. Your dad and mine, who frequently cooperated with each other on various projects in a spirit of mutual admiration and brotherly love, spent many hours trying to diagnose and cure the ills of this contraption. At such times as it was in a mood to run, your dad would delight in taking me for a ride. This, of course, was back in the days when the automobile was still a novelty and when a ride in one of those mechanical miracles was a big deal – an exciting and thrilling experience.
After acquiring a more modern and dependable car (Model T), your dad would sometimes stop by our house and take me to the picture show in La Grange and to other places. While I was employed in his garage, he would take time to patiently and painstakingly familiarize me with the various aspects of automobile mechanics, in which, as you know, he was generally recognized as an expert. Later, while I was attending college, he would occasionally send me a few dollars with which to enjoy myself.
And that's the kind of guy he was – a truly wonderful person whose integrity, congeniality, and altruistic spirit and deed endeared him to everyone who was fortunate enough to know him. I have been trying to emulate him and will keep on trying, because he was a real inspiration to me, as he must have been to many others, and I revere his memory.
Note: The service station and grocery burned down in 1985. (See memorial for Johann Emil Wessels - 76263569 for a picture of this building.) The dance hall was moved to Austin in 2012 to become part of the Pioneer Village. The garage and shop in West Point still stand, but the gas pump has been removed. (See memorial for Samuel Shelburne - 35129912 for a picture of this building next to the grocery store.)
Written by George F. Wessels Sr. to Ruth Annette (Wessels) Petty
Johann Ludwig Wessels became known in the West Point community as John L. Wessels and his first job was at Sam Shelburne's Grocery Store in West Point at approximately the age of fifteen. He walked the 3 miles to and from the farm daily and as he saved some money, he had the desire to own a business of his own. He frugally saved his money until he could start a blacksmith shop and general repair shop for buggies and then automobiles. He loved mechanic work and acquired all of his knowledge through experience, having had only a few years of schooling. He became well known for his ability to repair the "new-fangled" automobiles and had the first Ford dealership in Fayette County. He had the ability to invent and build any type of contraption necessary for anything and it often makes me wonder what he could have invented or become with education as it is today. At one time, he had applied for work with Joske's in San Antonio and was hired but that did not last for he soon realized that he was not happy in San Antonio and was anxious to be in West Point in his own business. He had his garage and shop and responded to calls, day or night, to assist people broken down on the roads, with little or no pay.
He built his business and acquired some land and built another service station on Highway 71 and a dance hall. His nephew, Johnnie Wessels, operated the service station (now known as Havemann's Grocery and Service Station) and many people came and enjoyed the dances at Wessels hall, such well-known bands in the area as Blume's, Ilse's, and Adolph Hofner played for the dances. He continued to operate Wessels Garage and Service Station, even though the new Highway 71 missed the town of West Point, until he finally retired due to ill health. He moved to Austin and resided there until his death in 1972.
Concerning your Dad's thoughtfulness and generosity, I often recall, with a growing sense of gratitude and reverence, the many courtesies and kindnesses your Dad extended to me, particularly during my youth. I remember that during my childhood, whenever I visited Shelburne's Store, in which he was employed, he would invariably give me some candy, chewing gum, or other goodies. As a result of his kindness to me, he quickly became my idol. When I was around 8 years of age, he procured a small used bicycle, which he reconditioned and gave to me. Needless to say, this made me the proudest and happiest kid in Fayette County.
I remember your dad's first automobile, which incidentally bore little or no resemblance to the current models in either appearance or performance. Sometimes it would run: sometimes it wouldn't. Your dad and mine, who frequently cooperated with each other on various projects in a spirit of mutual admiration and brotherly love, spent many hours trying to diagnose and cure the ills of this contraption. At such times as it was in a mood to run, your dad would delight in taking me for a ride. This, of course, was back in the days when the automobile was still a novelty and when a ride in one of those mechanical miracles was a big deal – an exciting and thrilling experience.
After acquiring a more modern and dependable car (Model T), your dad would sometimes stop by our house and take me to the picture show in La Grange and to other places. While I was employed in his garage, he would take time to patiently and painstakingly familiarize me with the various aspects of automobile mechanics, in which, as you know, he was generally recognized as an expert. Later, while I was attending college, he would occasionally send me a few dollars with which to enjoy myself.
And that's the kind of guy he was – a truly wonderful person whose integrity, congeniality, and altruistic spirit and deed endeared him to everyone who was fortunate enough to know him. I have been trying to emulate him and will keep on trying, because he was a real inspiration to me, as he must have been to many others, and I revere his memory.
Note: The service station and grocery burned down in 1985. (See memorial for Johann Emil Wessels - 76263569 for a picture of this building.) The dance hall was moved to Austin in 2012 to become part of the Pioneer Village. The garage and shop in West Point still stand, but the gas pump has been removed. (See memorial for Samuel Shelburne - 35129912 for a picture of this building next to the grocery store.)
Johann (John) Ludwig Wessels
Written by George F. Wessels Sr. to Ruth Annette (Wessels) Petty
Johann Ludwig Wessels became known in the West Point community as John L. Wessels and his first job was at Sam Shelburne's Grocery Store in West Point at approximately the age of fifteen. He walked the 3 miles to and from the farm daily and as he saved some money, he had the desire to own a business of his own. He frugally saved his money until he could start a blacksmith shop and general repair shop for buggies and then automobiles. He loved mechanic work and acquired all of his knowledge through experience, having had only a few years of schooling. He became well known for his ability to repair the "new-fangled" automobiles and had the first Ford dealership in Fayette County. He had the ability to invent and build any type of contraption necessary for anything and it often makes me wonder what he could have invented or become with education as it is today. At one time, he had applied for work with Joske's in San Antonio and was hired but that did not last for he soon realized that he was not happy in San Antonio and was anxious to be in West Point in his own business. He had his garage and shop and responded to calls, day or night, to assist people broken down on the roads, with little or no pay.
He built his business and acquired some land and built another service station on Highway 71 and a dance hall. His nephew, Johnnie Wessels, operated the service station (now known as Havemann's Grocery and Service Station) and many people came and enjoyed the dances at Wessels hall, such well-known bands in the area as Blume's, Ilse's, and Adolph Hofner played for the dances. He continued to operate Wessels Garage and Service Station, even though the new Highway 71 missed the town of West Point, until he finally retired due to ill health. He moved to Austin and resided there until his death in 1972.
Concerning your Dad's thoughtfulness and generosity, I often recall, with a growing sense of gratitude and reverence, the many courtesies and kindnesses your Dad extended to me, particularly during my youth. I remember that during my childhood, whenever I visited Shelburne's Store, in which he was employed, he would invariably give me some candy, chewing gum, or other goodies. As a result of his kindness to me, he quickly became my idol. When I was around 8 years of age, he procured a small used bicycle, which he reconditioned and gave to me. Needless to say, this made me the proudest and happiest kid in Fayette County.
I remember your dad's first automobile, which incidentally bore little or no resemblance to the current models in either appearance or performance. Sometimes it would run: sometimes it wouldn't. Your dad and mine, who frequently cooperated with each other on various projects in a spirit of mutual admiration and brotherly love, spent many hours trying to diagnose and cure the ills of this contraption. At such times as it was in a mood to run, your dad would delight in taking me for a ride. This, of course, was back in the days when the automobile was still a novelty and when a ride in one of those mechanical miracles was a big deal – an exciting and thrilling experience.
After acquiring a more modern and dependable car (Model T), your dad would sometimes stop by our house and take me to the picture show in La Grange and to other places. While I was employed in his garage, he would take time to patiently and painstakingly familiarize me with the various aspects of automobile mechanics, in which, as you know, he was generally recognized as an expert. Later, while I was attending college, he would occasionally send me a few dollars with which to enjoy myself.
And that's the kind of guy he was – a truly wonderful person whose integrity, congeniality, and altruistic spirit and deed endeared him to everyone who was fortunate enough to know him. I have been trying to emulate him and will keep on trying, because he was a real inspiration to me, as he must have been to many others, and I revere his memory.
Note: The service station and grocery burned down in 1985. (See memorial for Johann Emil Wessels - 76263569 for a picture of this building.) The dance hall was moved to Austin in 2012 to become part of the Pioneer Village. The garage and shop in West Point still stand, but the gas pump has been removed. (See memorial for Samuel Shelburne - 35129912 for a picture of this building next to the grocery store.)
Written by George F. Wessels Sr. to Ruth Annette (Wessels) Petty
Johann Ludwig Wessels became known in the West Point community as John L. Wessels and his first job was at Sam Shelburne's Grocery Store in West Point at approximately the age of fifteen. He walked the 3 miles to and from the farm daily and as he saved some money, he had the desire to own a business of his own. He frugally saved his money until he could start a blacksmith shop and general repair shop for buggies and then automobiles. He loved mechanic work and acquired all of his knowledge through experience, having had only a few years of schooling. He became well known for his ability to repair the "new-fangled" automobiles and had the first Ford dealership in Fayette County. He had the ability to invent and build any type of contraption necessary for anything and it often makes me wonder what he could have invented or become with education as it is today. At one time, he had applied for work with Joske's in San Antonio and was hired but that did not last for he soon realized that he was not happy in San Antonio and was anxious to be in West Point in his own business. He had his garage and shop and responded to calls, day or night, to assist people broken down on the roads, with little or no pay.
He built his business and acquired some land and built another service station on Highway 71 and a dance hall. His nephew, Johnnie Wessels, operated the service station (now known as Havemann's Grocery and Service Station) and many people came and enjoyed the dances at Wessels hall, such well-known bands in the area as Blume's, Ilse's, and Adolph Hofner played for the dances. He continued to operate Wessels Garage and Service Station, even though the new Highway 71 missed the town of West Point, until he finally retired due to ill health. He moved to Austin and resided there until his death in 1972.
Concerning your Dad's thoughtfulness and generosity, I often recall, with a growing sense of gratitude and reverence, the many courtesies and kindnesses your Dad extended to me, particularly during my youth. I remember that during my childhood, whenever I visited Shelburne's Store, in which he was employed, he would invariably give me some candy, chewing gum, or other goodies. As a result of his kindness to me, he quickly became my idol. When I was around 8 years of age, he procured a small used bicycle, which he reconditioned and gave to me. Needless to say, this made me the proudest and happiest kid in Fayette County.
I remember your dad's first automobile, which incidentally bore little or no resemblance to the current models in either appearance or performance. Sometimes it would run: sometimes it wouldn't. Your dad and mine, who frequently cooperated with each other on various projects in a spirit of mutual admiration and brotherly love, spent many hours trying to diagnose and cure the ills of this contraption. At such times as it was in a mood to run, your dad would delight in taking me for a ride. This, of course, was back in the days when the automobile was still a novelty and when a ride in one of those mechanical miracles was a big deal – an exciting and thrilling experience.
After acquiring a more modern and dependable car (Model T), your dad would sometimes stop by our house and take me to the picture show in La Grange and to other places. While I was employed in his garage, he would take time to patiently and painstakingly familiarize me with the various aspects of automobile mechanics, in which, as you know, he was generally recognized as an expert. Later, while I was attending college, he would occasionally send me a few dollars with which to enjoy myself.
And that's the kind of guy he was – a truly wonderful person whose integrity, congeniality, and altruistic spirit and deed endeared him to everyone who was fortunate enough to know him. I have been trying to emulate him and will keep on trying, because he was a real inspiration to me, as he must have been to many others, and I revere his memory.
Note: The service station and grocery burned down in 1985. (See memorial for Johann Emil Wessels - 76263569 for a picture of this building.) The dance hall was moved to Austin in 2012 to become part of the Pioneer Village. The garage and shop in West Point still stand, but the gas pump has been removed. (See memorial for Samuel Shelburne - 35129912 for a picture of this building next to the grocery store.)
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