Portraits

August Weigel

August Weigel was born 20 April 1856 at Weigelsdorf in Schlaeisan, Germany (now Wigancice, Dolnoslaskie, Poland). After his service in the German military, he followed his 3 brothers (Paul, Joseph, Herman) and sister (Marie Weigel Luecke) to the US. August appears to have come directly to Wisconsin after his arrival in New York on 13 May 1882. In 1885, he is most likely the 3^rd male living in the home of his brother Joseph in the town of Day in Marathon Co, Wisconsin.

On 29 June 1886, August married Rosina Franzel from St. Nazianz in Manitowoc County, WI. Rosina was the daughter of Anton and Carolina Frederike Schramm Franzel. (Rosina’s sister Anna married August’s brother Paul) A son, Phillip, was born 28 October 1887, and a second son, Arthur August, was born 19 June 1889. Rosina died from complications of childbirth on 11 July 1889. Family tradition states that Arthur was taken to Manitowoc to be raised by his maternal grandmother until he reached adulthood.

August Weigel remarried to Katherine Kayser on 2 July 1892 in Wood County, WI. Katherine and August would have 5 more children: Agnes, Nicholas, Susanna, Benjamin, and Margaret.  August and Katherine raised their family in the community of Weigelsdorf in the town of McMillan from the time of their marriage until December of 1917 when August sold his 120 acre farm to John Weissenbeck for $19,450 and moved into the city of Marshfield. The family bought the former Laufenberg home on 6^th street in the 6^th ward.

August died of lung cancer on 28 March 1935 at his home at 715 N Central Avenue in Marshfield. Katherine moved to Wisconsin Rapids in 1942 and remained there until her death in 1960.