Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1932-01-28

John Francis Wegner, in the history
of two nations.
Mr.. Wegner was born April 16, 1874,
at Baden, Germany. His father was
born in Germany and resided there
until the German revolution Of 1874.
The elder Wegner was anoag the lead
ing revolutionists in the battle for
freedom from the restrictions of the
autocratic empire and when the rev.
olution was quelled, Wegner was forced
to flee. His companions were Franz
Siegel, John Hecker and Robert Blum
the originators Of the movement The
party reached Vienna, where Blum wa
captured and shot. Wegner and thu
others reached Switzerland and con-
tinued on to America.
Locates at New Orleans
The elder Wegner located at New
Orleans in 1849 and then moved +
Chicago, where he amassed hug
fortune which he lost during the so
called great money famine" Of 1851
| Mrs. Wegner and two sons, Charlie
and James Francis, had followed thei
husband and father to the Unite
States. Mrs. Wegner died in Chicago
and the others Of the family moved 7
Kansas City, Mo-, where the eide
Wegner purchased and operated
hotel
| At the outbreak of the Civil wa
the father became an ardent Unio
sympathizer. His hotel was confiscate
when rebels overran Kansas City. In
family then moved across the Missou
river and located between Leaven
worth and Lawrence. The elder M
Wegner died Oct n, 1877.
Charles Wegner attended the put
lie schools in Chicago until IA yea
Of age and when his father moved
Kansas City accompanied him and W
apprentced to locksmith He w
working at this trade in 1852, whit
the federal government organized u
state volunteer militia under Colon
Robinson of Lawrence, Kan.
Enlist in Army
Mr.. Wegner Immediately enlisted
+ comnanv G.. under command of Cal
Martin Smith Of the First Kansas reg
ment For two years the company sa
: service in southwestern Missouri al
i eastern Kansas, much of the time ben
+ spent in quelling the guerrilla Warfa
on the borders.
From the close of the Civil war I'm
1872. MIR. Wegner resided on kans
I farm. In the spring OF the latter We
he came to Montana, making the trip
\ the steamer Nellie Peck"
On arrival at Fort Benton on June
! 1872, Mr.. Wegner decided TO mo
i father west and took farm near era
For 10 years he followed farming al
i then assumed the management OF t
Hotter Brothers Lumber company s.
: mills.
:, IN 1895. he moved from Craig
Great Falls, where he organized I
/. Hotter Lumber company For sew
j Years he was general manager OF tn
g concern.
4 In 1892 he entered the livery a
! feed business and was associated
the operation Of the old Axtell St
: bles. In July, 1893, he disposed OF
! interest that he might become POI
!, master Of Great Falls, having been a
! nointed to the office by Preside
] Grover Cleveland. In more recent ye'
i he was engaged in the real estate Du
i ness.
!, While the part Mr. Wegner play
i. +ha industrial and business lite
!. Montana and Cascade county was
: portant his achievements as a puf
official are better known
. Elected County Commissioner
v, In 1885. he was elected county co
ID missioner Of Choteau county oi
members of this board were the !
lie p s Ford and the late W. G. Conr
in There was no Cascade county at U
time and the service of MIR. Wegl
antedated the birth of Great Falls a
III city.
J. In 1887 on redivision OF count
hv the legislature, Cascade county '