Louis Weik was my great granduncle who was born on April 20, 1846, in Katholisch, Ketsch, Mannheim, Baden, Germany. His parents are Jacob Weik 1813-1876 and Gertraud Huber 1813-1878.
His other siblings are Eduard Albert 1837-1913, Franz Wilhelm (Frank) 1837-1908, Otto Weik 1840-1913, Eva Katharina 1843-1916, Ludovikus 1844-? Verena Susanna 1847-? John Edward (my great-grandfather) 1848-1927 and Richard Weik 1849-1905. All were born in Germany and most of them came to America around 1854.
Louis Weik was eight years old when he came to the new land called America. The family for whatever reason settled near Freeport, Stephenson, Illinois. Usually, a family member comes to America first then tells other relatives of what could be found here such as work, etc. and the rest soon follow. The 1920 Illinois Census says he was a naturalized citizen since 1858.
At the young age of eighteen years old he enlisted as a Union soldier in the 46th Illinois Infantry Company C on January 26, 1864, under the command of Captain Phillip Arno at Freeport, Illinois. He went in as a Private, and was five eight inches tall, black hair, gray eyes, and complexion light. He served three years as a union soldier in the same regiment as is older brother Eduard Albert Weik. He mustered out of service on January 20, 1866, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana under Lieutenant Mitchell.
Sometime between 1866 and 1869 he married Jennie Emeline Dale in Illinois. I have not been able to find a marriage document at this writing. Their first child was Louis Charles 1869-1947, other siblings soon followed. Bertha 1872 – ?, Leonard George 1876-1955 and Ella May Weik 1880-1946.
The city of Ridott is where the family settled and raised their children. Louis learned to be a blacksmith either during the Civil War or after returning home. A blacksmith is a metalsmith who creates objects primarily from wrought iron or steel. Sometimes from other metals, by forging the metal, using tools to hammer, bend and cut. They make gates, grilles, railings, furniture, sculpture, tools, agricultural implements.
Louis Weik was seventy-seven years old when he died on August 26, 1923, and Jennie was eighty-six when she died on August 11, 1927. They are both buried in the Ridott Township Cemetery.
Louis Charles Weik was a teacher in Everett, Snohomish County, Washington. He married Nellie B Austin who was also a teacher in Spirit Lake, Washington. They were married on June 21, 1900, in Spokane. Louis and Nellie had four children: Joe M 1901-1925, Harold L 1905-1925, and Marie Jeanette 1918-2007. Harold L Weik was born on January 14, 1905, in Lincoln County, Washington and died October 22, 1915, in Spokane. He was only ten years old. Marie Jeanette Weik was born on October 14, 1918, and died on April 10, 2007, she was born and raised in Odessa, Washington. She married Leon I Walter and to this union there are three children: Noel Lewis, Wade and Forey Walter.
Bertha Weik was born about 1872 and died on May 4, 1901 in Freeport. She married August Haegele in 1888 and to this union there was at least one child, Rena about 1888. Bertha was only twenty-nine years old when she died. August died in 1905 in Ridott and he was forty-three.
Leonard George Weik was born on April 25, 1876 in Ridott and died May 25, 1955 in Winnebago, Illinois. Leonard was seventy-nine years old. He married Tena Mae De Groote 1884-1973 on May 23, 1916 in Cook County. It is not known if this couple had any children.
Ella MayWeik was born on March 17, 1880 in Ridott and died November 12, 1946 in Freeport, she was sixty-six years old. Her first marriage was to Abraham A Hershey in 1903. Her second marriage was to Oscar Smith Obenchain on October 1, 1915 in Black Hawk, Iowa. To this marriage there were four children born David W, Russel G, Mary and Marjory Obenchain. Oscar died June 22, 1945 in Freeport.
If anyone has any more information on this family line, please contact me. Thank you for reading my blog post.
Brumley Family Branches 