Person:Minnie Wessels (1)

Friederike W Gerh. Wessels, born Jan. 31, 1879 (This name & date furnished by Shanda Jaremus)

[RRW] "In August 1997, I wrote Irma Mueller and asked her what Minnie Wessels real name was. She sent me some Wessels' history that she had obtained from Wendell's cousin, that stated that Minnie's real name was "Wilhelmina Gerhardina" and she did not like it, so she became "Minnie."

                   ---------- + ----------

The following newspaper clipping (penciled date of 1962) was discovered in May 1997 in my late Aunt Ollie (Wessels) Rudowske's scrapbook:

Minnie Wessels, Milford Native, Dies In Watseka

MILFORD (JNS) -- Miss Minnie Wessels, 83 a lifelong resident of the area, died early today in a Watseka nursing home after being in failing health for several years. Born in Crescent Township Jan. 30, 1879, a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. George Wessels, she lived on the family farm until moving here 25 years ago. Miss Wessels was a member of Our Saviour Lutheran Church here. Funeral services will be at 2 pm Wednesday in Our Savior Church with the Rev.C. F, Knauft officiating. Burial will be in Crescent City Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation hours at Jameson Funeral Home here are until noon Wednesday.

[RRW] Notes that my Father had made through the years which I acquired from my Mother in 1996, listed 6 names of George's children, of which Minnie was one of them. There is one day difference between Shanda's date of birth and what the newspaper article had.

[RRW] Minnie Wessels was found in the 1910 U.S. Census as a daughter of Gerd Wessels. (State of Illinois, Iroquois County, Crescent Township, Sheet 11A) I have a copy in file. The Census listed her birth month as Jan 1879 and her age 31, and single.

                   ---------- + ----------

According to several sources Minnie never married.

Geneva Wessels: She took care of her parents until their death, never marrying.

_FSFTID: L6L9-XXX

_AMTID: 250108267576:1030:113160583