Wedel, Jacob P. (1860-1950)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1950 Jun 15 p. 1

Birth date: 1860 Jan 6

text of obituary:

Pioneer Settler Called

Aberdeen, Idaho. — Funeral services were held at the First Mennonite church here on June 4 for Jacob P. Wedel, pioneer settler of this community who died June 1. He was 90 years of age.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1950 Jul 13 p. 6

text of obituary:

JACOB P. WEDEL

Jacob P. Wedel was of German parentage and was born in Warsaw, Poland, on January 6, 1950 [sic 1860]. He died June 1, 1950, at the age of 90 years, five months and 25 days, at the family home, from ailments incident to old age. He was bedfast, without pain, for only two weeks; however, confined to his home for about a year. He retired from active business at the age of 81, in 1941.

He had four brothers that grew to manhood and one half sister. One sister died while crossing the Atlantic ocean and was buried at sea.

He was the son of David and Susie Wedel. This family, in company with a shipload of others of like experience, left Europe in 1875 to escape religious oppression. At the invitation of the Santa Fe railroad, they settled on virgin soil, tributary to this company, in central Kansas. Mr. Wedel was employed by the Santa Fe for a time when the road was extended to Pawnee Rock, Kansas.

Jacob P. Wedel was married to Lizzie Unruh at Pawnee Rock, Kansas on May 2, 1884. To this union were born four sons and three daughters: Tobais [sic Tobias], familiarly known as "Tobe," preceded him in death as result of an accident in 1916. Lincoln of Washington, D. C., Alfred, Frank, Mrs. Mae Polhemus, Mrs. Ed Moser and Mrs. Henry Tiahrt, all of Aberdeen, Idaho. His wife preceded him in death in 1927 on June 28 at Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. Surviving besides the six children are 16 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren and a host of friends.

Mr. Wedel was possessed with a pioneering spirit. After pioneering in Kansas, he came to Aberdeen, Idaho, where the American Falls Canal and Power Co. sent out agents to induce settlers to this tract, about to be opened for irrigation. He came in the fall of 1906 and settled on the farm the F. G. Wedels still hold one mile west of Aberdeen, having sold his extensive land holdings in Kansas. His education was limited to the equivalent of the lower common school grades.

He established the Aberdeen Lumber Co. yard in 1908 with son Tobias as manager. In 1909 he established the Valley Supply Co. with Albert Pletz as partner. This partnership was dissolved on January 1, 1911, when son Alfred became partner and manager. In this store Mr. Wedel was active, for 30 years, until 1941, during which time he made a host of friends and established a reputation of honesty and integrity.

Church was a major interest of our father as he was deeply religious from his youth up. He was baptized upon confession of faith in his lord and Saviour, and received into membership at the age of 13. He was a charter member of the First Mennonite Church at Aberdeen, Ida., organized July 4, 1907. Soon he was elected deacon of the church, a position he held until death. Previous to coming to Aberdeen he was active in the Mennonite church at Pawnee Rock, Kansas, as Sunday school teacher of the adult classes, which duty he enjoyed in Aberdeen also for many years. The family will remember his spiritual concern of them and others, as well as his interest in the spiritual welfare of the church.

Funeral services for Mr. Wedel were conducted June 4, 1950, at the home at 2 p. m. and in the church at 2:30 p. m. Rev. H. N. Harder, pastor of the First Mennonite church, Aberdeen, officiated. He was assisted by Rev. F. L. Carrison, pastor of the Assembly of God Church. Burial took place at the Homestead cemetery. A quartet composed of Herbert and Otto Hege, Edwin Becker, and Harold Isaac sang at the church and cemetery. Randolf Moser, a grandson of the departed, sang "Face to Face." Six grandsons served as pallbearers; Robert and Maurice Wedel, Earl and Elmer Moser, Kenneth Tiahrt, and Willis Wedel. Alice Lehman and Mrs. Maurice Wedel sang at the house.