THE ALVIN EARL WERKHEISER HOME PAGE

14312. Alvin Earl Werkheiser was a farmer. Alvin went by Earl until he had to use Alvin on government papers, etc. No one knows him by Alvin. He lived on a large farm in Cornwall Township, Henry County, Illinois.

As a boy, his grandfather Lane went with Earl and taught him to do chores. Earl was interested in helping the veterinarian too, when he came to the farm. The vet would like to have had Earl come and help him and become a veterinarian, but Earl thought he should help his father.

Earl was drafted, but as he was helping with raising crops he wasn't called to active duty. The family moved to Burns Township in 1914. When Earl became of age he worked several years for farmers. He was always interested in caring for the horses and all kinds of livestock.

Earl still talks about horses. Several years ago our neighbor had a horse farm across the road from us. This farmer died suddenly so Earl helped the man's wife, Mrs. Moore, by taking care of some 52 horses. He always talks about every horse he ever worked with. He remembers their name and color and all about it. He was always interested in the Cosner School that our childen went to. He was a school director for a number of years. He is a member of the State Road Church and was a trustee for a number of years.

Earl married Bessie Myrtle Robson on February 23, 1927. They resided in Kewanee, Illinois. Earl and Bessie met at the State Road Church ice cream social. She was helping to clean up afterwards, when Earl asked her for a date. This church is very dear to Bessie as her grandfather, David Anderson, bought it when it had discontinued services and was up for sale. He gave it to the community for non-denominational services. The church was built in 1857 and is still having services and is in good condition.

Bessie lived across the road fron the church with her parents, William R. and Mary L. Anderson Robson, two brothers, Lee and Henry, and a sister Eva Mae. Bessie has lived in Burns Township, Henry County, Illinois all of her life. Earl and Bessie, farmed on two different farms raising corn, oats, hogs, and cattle. Their children were Elva, Elaine, and Howard. When Elva was ten years old, she wanted to join 4-H but the leaders had quit. So Bessie started to lead the club to help out. Bessie was a 4-H leader for forty-three years. Bessie helped her daughters and granddaughters through the years of 4-H. She retired in 1984. The 4-H girls and their mothers had a banquet for her and surprised her with a 4-H quilt that was made in blocks. Each block was made by a different girl, and was a memory of something special that she remembered from her 4-H years. They had about twenty-five members every year.
Earl and Bessie had three children:

143121. Elva Mae Werkheiser married Robert Coven on April 18, 1954. Elva graduated from Wethersfield High School. She still belonged to the Burns Busy Bustlers 4-H club. She had won several Illinois State awards. One was a silver platter for her baking. The top award was a trip to the National 4-H club congress in Chicago, where top 4-H members all over the United States could go. After high school she worked as a bookkeeper for a DeSoto-Plymouth auto dealership. There she met her future husband who was working as a mechanic at that time. She married Robert after he came back from the Korean War. They farmed in Burns Township for twenty years. At that time their machinery was wearing out so they made the decision to quit farming, build a new house and pursue other interests. Elva was again working as office manager-bookkeeper in a Oldsmobile-Cadillac auto dealership. Bob worked for a while in one of the factories, took a real estate course and then became involved with selling and investing in real estate. They had three children:

1431211. Steven Robert Coven graduated from the University of Illinois. Steven is associated with a Limousine Company.

1431212. Sandra Sue Coven married Steven Fleming on April 20, 1980. They divorced on September 17, 1985. Sandra works for her parents at their photo processing lab and portrait studio. They have two children:

14312121. Alison Mae Fleming.

14312122. Amber Fleming.

1431213. Barbara Jean Coven graduated from Illinois State University in Bloomington, Illinois. Barbara has a prominent position in a County Court House.

143122. Elaine Joyce Werkheiser married Donald Dean Erdman on December 9, 1956. She met him when she went to a Rural Youth Event. Donald was in the Navy Reserves at that time. Elaine is the head bookkeeper and office manager for A.D.M. Feed Company. Don does plaster work and is self employed. Elaine was a 4-H memeber too. She was fortunate in getting to go to 4-H Club Congress in Chicago. She also won many state awards. They have two childeren:

1431221. Keneth Dean Erdman. Kenneth has a prominent position as senior engineer at the Caterpillar office. He plays the organ and sings for different events and acts in plays. They have on child:

1431222. Nancy Sue Erdman married John Wickwire on May 23, 1981. John works in the office of Keystone Wire Company. They have three children:

14312221. Kyle David Wickwire.

14312222. Amy Lynn Wickwired.

14312223. Jill Marie Wickwire.

143123. Howard Francis Werkheiser married Norma Lee Heddon on June 28, 1964. Howard was also in 4-H work. He took a number of projects, but hogs was the one he liked best, so while in high school, he worked with his projects and got the opportunity to go to the 4-H Club Congress. He continued to raise hogs. In his last year of 4-H he was selected as one of six 4-H'ers in the United States to go to Washingotn, DC and meet with Presdent John F. Kennedy and many more top officials.

Kewanee, Illinois, is the hog capital of the World. Howard and his father helped to get it started a number of years ago. They helped get everything ready and fried pork chops and gave the sandwiches to the people. They fry pork chops now, but sell them to the thousands of people that come to Kewanee over the Labor Day weekend. They have many events and a parade.

Howard was drafted and was getting ready to go, but before he left he wanted to have surgery on his arm. It had been bothering him. He went to the city and had the surgery for joint mice. Afterwards the army didn't want him.

Howard met Norma at their country church. Se was the daughter of Rev. and Mrs. Harold Hedden, who was serving the church at that time. She didn't know anything about farming and raising hogs, but soon learned. She can sort hogs with the experts. She has many sewing and handicrafts talent. They had two children:

1431231. Kathy Sue Werkheiser married James Marcelak, Jr. on June 7, 1987. Kathy was also in 4-H. She was a great seamstress and won many state awards in 4-H for her lovely dresses. She attended Augustana College and went into nurses training. She met James in college.

1431232. Gary Lee Werkheiser married Denise Perron and divorced around 1980. He then married Connie Hardy on February 20, 1981. Gary works with his Mom and Dad raising several thousand hogs a year. They had two children:

14312321. Nicole Jean Werkheiser.

14312322. Amber Lynn Werkheiser.

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