Karl Friedrich Christian Wegner
Born in Lutzenberg, Germany, Chris Wegner was a son of Hinrich and Johanna Wegner. There has always been some question about his date of birth, but based on his immigration papers and the birth dates of his siblings, 04/26/1883 seems to be the most logical date. Chris had red hair and freckles as a young man, and loved to dance and play cards. In Germany, he used to work on farms during the summer just to have enough money to buy a pair of boots for winter. Chris came to the USA, through Ellis Island, New York on a visitation VISA. He couldn't get a work permit VISA because he was of the age for military service (WWI). He went to live with his brother Henry and his grandfather Ernst in Cheney, KS. He shortened his name to Chris Wegner when he was naturalized.
Chris worked for Rock Island Railroad for a while, then for Bedendorf shops (where he broke his back). He began farming for a company from Iowa. The company bought land between Dimmitt and Hereford, TX and Chris moved there to farm around 1927-28. The land adjoined the property owned by H.B. Medley. On January 2, 1934, Chris eloped with Martha Elizabeth Medley, only daughter of H.B. Medley, against her father's wishes. Chris was about 25 years older than Martha. They were married in Clovis, New Mexico. The date 1-2-34 was inscribed in her wedding ring.
The story has been told that the reason Chris remained single so long was because when he was younger, he was heartbroken over the daughter of one of his landlords.
Chris began farming for himself on land between Hereford and Vega, TX, which he rented from a bank. He was a dry-land wheat farmer. The bank sold the property he was renting, so he went to work in a factory in Hereford that build and repaired farm equipment. The family attended the Lutheran Church in Hereford which met upstairs in the courthouse. Chris helped to build the Lutheran Church building in Hereford, but moved to Arkansas right before its completion.
His shop foreman owned land in Quitman, AR. Around 1948-49, Chris traded his house and land in Hereford for the land in Quitman (for which he also had to pay off the mortgage) and began farming in Quitman.
Martha Wegner was a school teacher certified to teach in 13 different subjects. In 1954 they moved to Rison, AR where she was teaching. Chris was practically disabled because of his back injury, and his last job was as caretaker for Greenwood Cemetery in Rison.
Chris died in 1961 from uremic poisoning (a result of his back injury) and hardening of the arteries.
Martha Wegner was born in Roby, TX on 7-4-1907. Her parents were H.B. Medley and Lucy Ruth Robins Medley. Martha died in an automobile accident near Kingsland, AR on 5-23-1972.
Chris and Martha had 4 children:
Lucy Martha Wegner Gillespie
Chris Henry Wegner
Fred Benjamin Wegner
and
Robert Lee Wegner
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
Page 9
Page 10
Page 12
Page 13
Page 14
Page 15
Page 16
Page 17
Chris and Martha Wegner
