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LOUIS WIEGMANN
is cashier of the German State Bank of Hoyleton, Illinois, with which community this influential family began its connection in 1875. It was founded by the late Dr. Karl Wiegmann, father of Louis, who brought his family from Hamm, Westphalia, a province of the German Empire, in 1867, and settled first near Sheboygan, Wisconsin, subsequently going to St. Paul, Minnesota, and eventually beginning his career among his countrymen in Washington County, Illinois. Like professional men of his nationality generally, Dr. Wiegmann was a university man, and his modest history was made in the domain of science. He died here in 1884, at the age of sixty-five years. His first wife was Louise Schniedermann, and their two children were Reverend Karl and Louis. He married for his second wife Caroline Scheuten, of Crefeld, Germany, and she died at Hoyleton in 1894. The surviving issue of this union are: Gustav, a teacher in Chicago; and Mrs. Henry Weigel, residing in St. Louis.
The public schools of St. Paul, Minnesota, and Hoyleton educated Louis Wiegmann, and Elmhurst College, Illinois, prepared him for a professional career. He was organist and teacher in the parochial schools of the German Evangelical church at Davis, Illinois, and remained there from 1885 to 1893, when he took a like position with the church school at Waterloo, Illinois, remaining there until 1900. He continued his educational work at Hoyleton until 1906. At that time he resigned to aid the movement for opening a bank in Hoyleton, this being consummated in 1906, and the institution was chartered as the German State Bank, with a capital of $25,000 This bank now has deposits aggregating $150,000; J. E. Haun is president. L. Wiegmann cashier and W. E. Breuner, vice-president. The board of directors includes the officials, with H. F. and W. C. Rixmann and H. W. Schnitker of Hoyleton, and H. W. Rixmann of Irvington, Illinois.
Mr. Wiegmann was married in Davis, Illinois, March 16, 1886, to Miss Sophia Meier, a daughter of Henry and Barbara (Weber) Meier of German and French nativity, respectively. They celebrated their
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sixtieth wedding anniversary before death parted them. Louis D. is the only child of his parents. He was born in 1887, was educated in the public schools and business college, and is now his father's assistant in the bank. He married Miss Minta Roper.
The Wiegmann politics are those of the Democratic party, and in religious matters the family is connected with the German Evangelical church.