Fayette County Biographies
GERHARD D. WESSELS. One of the men of whom the Town of Rutersville owes its present business prosperity, Gerhard D. Wessels has been the architect of his own fortunes, and from a boyhood and youth filled with hard work and numerous discouraging experiences has steadily advanced to a position of importance and influence to his community. He was born at Oldenburg on the Jade, Germany, January 11, 1867, and is a son of George and Sophie (Lange) Wessels.
Mr. Wessels father died when Gerhard D. was still a youth, and shortly thereafter, in 1872, the widowed mother brought her little family to the United States, sailing from the City of Bremen on one of the vessels of the North German Lloyd line, the Frankfort, bound for Galveston, Texas, at which place the family duly arrived. From Galveston Mrs. Wessels took her children to Fayette County, where she had relatives, and during her first year in this country she was engaged in a small way in farming. She was married during the next year to William Hancord, a farmer and sheepman of Fayette County, and who later identified himself exclusively with farming operations near Rutersville, where Mr. Hancord resided until his death. Mrs. Hancord still survives and resides on the old homestead farm. The Wessels children were as follows: J. H. Wessels, a leading farmer and merchant of Halsted, Fayette County; George D., of Rutersville; Fred, who died at La Grange and left a family; and Gerhard D., of this notice. Mr. and Mrs. Hancord had one son, Willie, who died in childhood.
Gerhard D. Wessels was a lad of four years when he came to the United States with his mother and brothers, and grew up in the vicinity of Rutersville, where he received his education in the public schools. He was a farmer for a few years and an aid to the Hancord household after leaving school, later spent a short time in selling fruit trees, and then became a clerk in the store of Herman Amberg, whose employ he left to accept a similar position with August Heinze & Company, of La Grange. He was careful of his wages and finally accumulated a small capital with which he entered the retail liquor business at Rutersville, and also for several years was clerk for his stepfather, whom he succeeded in business, continuing in that line until July 11, 1914, when he sold out. At this time Mr. Wessels is engaged in buying and selling real estate, in loaning money and in conducting the saloon and dance hall property at Rutersville. He is well and favorably known in business circles of this locality, and his means have been accumulated solely by himself and through the exercise of stalwart business ability, good judgment and clear foresight. Mr. Wessels is one of the substantial improvers of Rutersville, having erected one of the best residences of the village.
In local politics Mr. Wessels has not been engaged actively, having aimed to vote for the best business interests of his community. However, he is primarily a democrat, having cast his first presidential vote for Grover Cleveland in 1888.
Mr. Wessels was married at Rutersville, May 28, 1891, to Miss Emma Voelkel, a daughter of William and Christina (Weyand) Voelkel. Mr. Voelkel, who was born December 13, 1841, came to America from Germany and was brought to Austin County, Texas, in 1848. During the Civil war he served for some time as a Confederate soldier, following which he took up farming in Fayette County. Mrs. Voelkel was a member of the well known Weyand family of Round Top, Fayette County, in which vicinity she was reared, and they were the parents of the following children: Robert, a resident of Rutersville; Mrs. Lena Koepke, of Ellinger, Texas; Mrs. Wessels; Gus, deceased, who married Frances Hardier, also deceased, and had three children; Amelia, who married Frank Hackebeil, of the Ruterville [sic.] community; Otillie, who is the wife of H. 0. Hackebeil, of this locality; E. W.; Herman; Alvin; Lydia, who is the wife of Charles Maas; and Willie A. Voelkel.
To Mr. and Mrs. Wessels there have been born five children: Alma, Alfred, Welma, Gilbert and Milton, of whom Alfred is one of the salesmen for Herman Amberg, of Rutersville, one of the leading merchants of Fayette County. -- pp. 1579-1580.
GERHARD D. WESSELS. One of the men of whom the Town of Rutersville owes its present business prosperity, Gerhard D. Wessels has been the architect of his own fortunes, and from a boyhood and youth filled with hard work and numerous discouraging experiences has steadily advanced to a position of importance and influence to his community. He was born at Oldenburg on the Jade, Germany, January 11, 1867, and is a son of George and Sophie (Lange) Wessels.
Mr. Wessels father died when Gerhard D. was still a youth, and shortly thereafter, in 1872, the widowed mother brought her little family to the United States, sailing from the City of Bremen on one of the vessels of the North German Lloyd line, the Frankfort, bound for Galveston, Texas, at which place the family duly arrived. From Galveston Mrs. Wessels took her children to Fayette County, where she had relatives, and during her first year in this country she was engaged in a small way in farming. She was married during the next year to William Hancord, a farmer and sheepman of Fayette County, and who later identified himself exclusively with farming operations near Rutersville, where Mr. Hancord resided until his death. Mrs. Hancord still survives and resides on the old homestead farm. The Wessels children were as follows: J. H. Wessels, a leading farmer and merchant of Halsted, Fayette County; George D., of Rutersville; Fred, who died at La Grange and left a family; and Gerhard D., of this notice. Mr. and Mrs. Hancord had one son, Willie, who died in childhood.
Gerhard D. Wessels was a lad of four years when he came to the United States with his mother and brothers, and grew up in the vicinity of Rutersville, where he received his education in the public schools. He was a farmer for a few years and an aid to the Hancord household after leaving school, later spent a short time in selling fruit trees, and then became a clerk in the store of Herman Amberg, whose employ he left to accept a similar position with August Heinze & Company, of La Grange. He was careful of his wages and finally accumulated a small capital with which he entered the retail liquor business at Rutersville, and also for several years was clerk for his stepfather, whom he succeeded in business, continuing in that line until July 11, 1914, when he sold out. At this time Mr. Wessels is engaged in buying and selling real estate, in loaning money and in conducting the saloon and dance hall property at Rutersville. He is well and favorably known in business circles of this locality, and his means have been accumulated solely by himself and through the exercise of stalwart business ability, good judgment and clear foresight. Mr. Wessels is one of the substantial improvers of Rutersville, having erected one of the best residences of the village.
In local politics Mr. Wessels has not been engaged actively, having aimed to vote for the best business interests of his community. However, he is primarily a democrat, having cast his first presidential vote for Grover Cleveland in 1888.
Mr. Wessels was married at Rutersville, May 28, 1891, to Miss Emma Voelkel, a daughter of William and Christina (Weyand) Voelkel. Mr. Voelkel, who was born December 13, 1841, came to America from Germany and was brought to Austin County, Texas, in 1848. During the Civil war he served for some time as a Confederate soldier, following which he took up farming in Fayette County. Mrs. Voelkel was a member of the well known Weyand family of Round Top, Fayette County, in which vicinity she was reared, and they were the parents of the following children: Robert, a resident of Rutersville; Mrs. Lena Koepke, of Ellinger, Texas; Mrs. Wessels; Gus, deceased, who married Frances Hardier, also deceased, and had three children; Amelia, who married Frank Hackebeil, of the Ruterville [sic.] community; Otillie, who is the wife of H. 0. Hackebeil, of this locality; E. W.; Herman; Alvin; Lydia, who is the wife of Charles Maas; and Willie A. Voelkel.
To Mr. and Mrs. Wessels there have been born five children: Alma, Alfred, Welma, Gilbert and Milton, of whom Alfred is one of the salesmen for Herman Amberg, of Rutersville, one of the leading merchants of Fayette County. -- pp. 1579-1580.
Fayette County Biographies
GERHARD D. WESSELS. One of the men of whom the Town of Rutersville owes its present business prosperity, Gerhard D. Wessels has been the architect of his own fortunes, and from a boyhood and youth filled with hard work and numerous discouraging experiences has steadily advanced to a position of importance and influence to his community. He was born at Oldenburg on the Jade, Germany, January 11, 1867, and is a son of George and Sophie (Lange) Wessels.
Mr. Wessels father died when Gerhard D. was still a youth, and shortly thereafter, in 1872, the widowed mother brought her little family to the United States, sailing from the City of Bremen on one of the vessels of the North German Lloyd line, the Frankfort, bound for Galveston, Texas, at which place the family duly arrived. From Galveston Mrs. Wessels took her children to Fayette County, where she had relatives, and during her first year in this country she was engaged in a small way in farming. She was married during the next year to William Hancord, a farmer and sheepman of Fayette County, and who later identified himself exclusively with farming operations near Rutersville, where Mr. Hancord resided until his death. Mrs. Hancord still survives and resides on the old homestead farm. The Wessels children were as follows: J. H. Wessels, a leading farmer and merchant of Halsted, Fayette County; George D., of Rutersville; Fred, who died at La Grange and left a family; and Gerhard D., of this notice. Mr. and Mrs. Hancord had one son, Willie, who died in childhood.
Gerhard D. Wessels was a lad of four years when he came to the United States with his mother and brothers, and grew up in the vicinity of Rutersville, where he received his education in the public schools. He was a farmer for a few years and an aid to the Hancord household after leaving school, later spent a short time in selling fruit trees, and then became a clerk in the store of Herman Amberg, whose employ he left to accept a similar position with August Heinze & Company, of La Grange. He was careful of his wages and finally accumulated a small capital with which he entered the retail liquor business at Rutersville, and also for several years was clerk for his stepfather, whom he succeeded in business, continuing in that line until July 11, 1914, when he sold out. At this time Mr. Wessels is engaged in buying and selling real estate, in loaning money and in conducting the saloon and dance hall property at Rutersville. He is well and favorably known in business circles of this locality, and his means have been accumulated solely by himself and through the exercise of stalwart business ability, good judgment and clear foresight. Mr. Wessels is one of the substantial improvers of Rutersville, having erected one of the best residences of the village.
In local politics Mr. Wessels has not been engaged actively, having aimed to vote for the best business interests of his community. However, he is primarily a democrat, having cast his first presidential vote for Grover Cleveland in 1888.
Mr. Wessels was married at Rutersville, May 28, 1891, to Miss Emma Voelkel, a daughter of William and Christina (Weyand) Voelkel. Mr. Voelkel, who was born December 13, 1841, came to America from Germany and was brought to Austin County, Texas, in 1848. During the Civil war he served for some time as a Confederate soldier, following which he took up farming in Fayette County. Mrs. Voelkel was a member of the well known Weyand family of Round Top, Fayette County, in which vicinity she was reared, and they were the parents of the following children: Robert, a resident of Rutersville; Mrs. Lena Koepke, of Ellinger, Texas; Mrs. Wessels; Gus, deceased, who married Frances Hardier, also deceased, and had three children; Amelia, who married Frank Hackebeil, of the Ruterville [sic.] community; Otillie, who is the wife of H. 0. Hackebeil, of this locality; E. W.; Herman; Alvin; Lydia, who is the wife of Charles Maas; and Willie A. Voelkel.
To Mr. and Mrs. Wessels there have been born five children: Alma, Alfred, Welma, Gilbert and Milton, of whom Alfred is one of the salesmen for Herman Amberg, of Rutersville, one of the leading merchants of Fayette County. -- pp. 1579-1580.
GERHARD D. WESSELS. One of the men of whom the Town of Rutersville owes its present business prosperity, Gerhard D. Wessels has been the architect of his own fortunes, and from a boyhood and youth filled with hard work and numerous discouraging experiences has steadily advanced to a position of importance and influence to his community. He was born at Oldenburg on the Jade, Germany, January 11, 1867, and is a son of George and Sophie (Lange) Wessels.
Mr. Wessels father died when Gerhard D. was still a youth, and shortly thereafter, in 1872, the widowed mother brought her little family to the United States, sailing from the City of Bremen on one of the vessels of the North German Lloyd line, the Frankfort, bound for Galveston, Texas, at which place the family duly arrived. From Galveston Mrs. Wessels took her children to Fayette County, where she had relatives, and during her first year in this country she was engaged in a small way in farming. She was married during the next year to William Hancord, a farmer and sheepman of Fayette County, and who later identified himself exclusively with farming operations near Rutersville, where Mr. Hancord resided until his death. Mrs. Hancord still survives and resides on the old homestead farm. The Wessels children were as follows: J. H. Wessels, a leading farmer and merchant of Halsted, Fayette County; George D., of Rutersville; Fred, who died at La Grange and left a family; and Gerhard D., of this notice. Mr. and Mrs. Hancord had one son, Willie, who died in childhood.
Gerhard D. Wessels was a lad of four years when he came to the United States with his mother and brothers, and grew up in the vicinity of Rutersville, where he received his education in the public schools. He was a farmer for a few years and an aid to the Hancord household after leaving school, later spent a short time in selling fruit trees, and then became a clerk in the store of Herman Amberg, whose employ he left to accept a similar position with August Heinze & Company, of La Grange. He was careful of his wages and finally accumulated a small capital with which he entered the retail liquor business at Rutersville, and also for several years was clerk for his stepfather, whom he succeeded in business, continuing in that line until July 11, 1914, when he sold out. At this time Mr. Wessels is engaged in buying and selling real estate, in loaning money and in conducting the saloon and dance hall property at Rutersville. He is well and favorably known in business circles of this locality, and his means have been accumulated solely by himself and through the exercise of stalwart business ability, good judgment and clear foresight. Mr. Wessels is one of the substantial improvers of Rutersville, having erected one of the best residences of the village.
In local politics Mr. Wessels has not been engaged actively, having aimed to vote for the best business interests of his community. However, he is primarily a democrat, having cast his first presidential vote for Grover Cleveland in 1888.
Mr. Wessels was married at Rutersville, May 28, 1891, to Miss Emma Voelkel, a daughter of William and Christina (Weyand) Voelkel. Mr. Voelkel, who was born December 13, 1841, came to America from Germany and was brought to Austin County, Texas, in 1848. During the Civil war he served for some time as a Confederate soldier, following which he took up farming in Fayette County. Mrs. Voelkel was a member of the well known Weyand family of Round Top, Fayette County, in which vicinity she was reared, and they were the parents of the following children: Robert, a resident of Rutersville; Mrs. Lena Koepke, of Ellinger, Texas; Mrs. Wessels; Gus, deceased, who married Frances Hardier, also deceased, and had three children; Amelia, who married Frank Hackebeil, of the Ruterville [sic.] community; Otillie, who is the wife of H. 0. Hackebeil, of this locality; E. W.; Herman; Alvin; Lydia, who is the wife of Charles Maas; and Willie A. Voelkel.
To Mr. and Mrs. Wessels there have been born five children: Alma, Alfred, Welma, Gilbert and Milton, of whom Alfred is one of the salesmen for Herman Amberg, of Rutersville, one of the leading merchants of Fayette County. -- pp. 1579-1580.
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