Photographs from the collection of Ruth (Clark) Kendrick can be found at this site. The family photos of William and Dorthea Wenk are Ruth Kendrick's grandparents; all others are from a family collection. They were submitted by Jim and JoAnn Kendrick (JayKz4@aol.com) who have put together the family genealogy history. If you have more information or questions, please contact the Kendricks.This article is taken from "Past and Present of Platte County Nebraska" A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Volume II. Chicago The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company (1915).
WILLIAM WENK, CRESTON, PLATTE COUNTY One of the most progressive and highly respected business men of Platte county is William Wenk, of Creston, who is there engaged in general merchandising. Indolence and idleness are utterly foreign to his nature, and the industry and persistency of purpose which he has displayed in managing his interests have led to the attainment of substantial success. Germany claims him as a native son. He was born January 28, 1859, of the marriage of John and Dora (Kaiser) Wenk, who were also natives of the same country. The father followed farming in Germany throughout his entire life, there passing away in September, 1889, while his wife survived until April, 1893.Jim and JoAnn Kendrick report that the Wenk family moved to Creston from Elgin, Nebraska. William J. Wenk owned businesses for 19 years in Creston, Nebraska (1894-1913). Throughout this time he bought and sold land on which to conduct his various businesses: three were inside the brick buildings on the North side of main street that have 1901 on the top. They later moved to Madison, Lake County, South Dakota. The following information was submitted by Jim and JoAnn Kendrick:Reared in the fatherland, William Wenk pursued his education in the public schools of Germany, remaining under the parental roof until he reached the age of seventeen years, when he started out in the business world by learning the mason's and also the butcher's trades. He followed those pursuits in his native country until 1884, when the favorable reports which he heard concerning business conditions in the new world led him to the determination to try his fortune on this side of the Atlantic. His arrangements completed, he crossed the ocean to the United States and, making his way into the interior of the country, settled at Westpoint, Nebraska, where he rented land which he cultivated for a year. At the end of that time he removed to Antelope county, Nebraska, and purchased a quarter section for thirteen hundred dollars. His time and energies were then devoted to the development and further improvement of that property until 1894, when he sold the place for three thousand dollars and came to Creston. Here he embarked in the butchering business and also handled farm implements, continuing active along those lines until 1897, when he disposed of his butcher shop and opened a hardware store. Success attended the new enterprise and after two years he extended the scope of his business by adding a stock of furniture. Thus he continued active in trade until 1907, when he sold the entire establishment and for a year lived retired, but he was too energetic a man to remain content without some occupation and he accordingly reentered the commercial field, this time opening a general store which he has since conducted with growing success. He has three separate store-rooms side by side and also a large implement house. He deals in everything from a needle up to a threshing machine and carries an enormous stock, thus being ready to meet any demands of the trade. His business methods are thoroughly reliable, and he has ever held to the highest standards in the personnel of the house, in the kind of goods carried and in the treatment of customers, recognizing the fact that satisfied patrons are the best advertisement. He also handles the Buick automobile and each branch of his business is bringing to him a gratifying return. He owns his own store building, which is a modern brick business block, well adapted to the purposes for which it is used. He is also a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company and the Citizens State Bank of Creston.
On the 1st of May, 1881, Mr. Wenk was married to Miss Dora Karstens, whose parents were natives of Germany and never came to America. Mr. and Mrs. Wenk have become the parents of six children. William A., who was born in July, 1882, married Sybilla Hoesley and died in November, 1910, leaving his wife and two children, Thelma and William. Minnie, who was born January 7, 1885, is the wife of Robert Thompson, of Creston. Rudolph was born May 22, 1889. George was born in 1891 and is married. Ada, born in April, 1893, is the wife of H. L. Clarke, a resident farmer of Sherman township. Ray, born March 28, 1895, completes the family.
Politically Mr. Wenk is independent, while in religious faith he is a Lutheran. His name is on the membership rolls of the local organizations of the Modern Woodmen of America, the Highlanders and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. In 1910 he returned to Germany, where he has three brothers living, and he had much pleasure in visiting again the scenes of his youth and renewing the friendships of his boyhood. He has never had occasion, however, to regret his determination to come to the new world, for here he found the opportunities which he sought and which, by the way, are always open to ambitious, energetic young men. He brought with him no false ideas concerning the ease with which success might be won but recognized the fact that advancement must depend upon individual effort, close application and determination and, employing these qualities, he has steadily advanced on the high road to fortune. Today he has important business connections and is regarded as one of the foremost residents of Creston.
Fredrick "William" J. Wenk was born January 28, 1859 Germany and died February 18, 1931 Madison, Lake County, S.D. We believe he is buried at the Creston Fairview Cemetery. "William" was married on May 1, 1881 in Germany to:
Dorthea M. (Karsten) Wenk, who was born October 1857 in Germany and died June 5, 1932 in a car accident.
They immigrated in 1884 from Germany to the United States with their oldest son.
1st child of William and Dorthea Wenk: William A. M/H. Wenk, who was born July 1881 in Germany and died November 1910 age 28/29; buried in Creston Fairview Cemetery; married Sybilla (Hoesley) Wenk Gigax who died January 1982
Children of William and Sybilla Wenk: William and Thelma2nd child of William and Dorthea Wenk: Minnie A. (Wenk), born January 7, 1885. She was possibly married prior to being married to Robert H. Thompson (born ca 1879 in Illinois). He was a farmer in Franklin Township, Lake County, S.D as of 1920.
Child of Sybilla and 2nd husband Ernest Gigax: Erna M. Gigax (born ca 1918)Children of Minnie and Robert Thompson: Vera B. born ca 1915/1916 in Nebraska and Roberta D. born ca 1923 in South Dakota3rd child of William and Dorthea Wenk: Rudolph H. Wenk - born May 22, 1889 in Elgin, Nebraska; died May 10, 1970; burial Graceland Cemetery, Lake County, South Dakota; married on June 14, 1932 Minnehaha County to Myrtle (Westby) Wenk - born June 4, 1897; died February 9, 1992; burial Graceland Cemetery, Lake County, South Dakota4th child of William and Dorthea Wenk: George Albert C. Wenk - born April 24, 1891 in Elgin; married to Fern (Moore) Wenk - born ca 1893; (note graduated from Creston High School in 1910)
Children of George and Fern Wenk: Lowell born ca 1914; died April 20, 1962; married to Grace C.( ) b-1909 d-1975; Maxine Wenk, born ca 1917; Betty Lou Wenk, born ca 1922; Kathyrn Wenk, born ca 19255th child of William and Dorthea Wenk: Ada Dora "Adie" (Wenk) Clark was born August 31, 1892 in Elgin, Nebraska and died October 23, 1984 Albion, Nebraska; burial at the Creston Fairview Cemetery. She graduated from Creston High School in 1910; and married Herbert Larsen Clark - born March 11, 1890; died December 13/14, 1975 Loretto, Nebraska; burial at the Creston Fairview Cemetery.Children of Adie and Herbert Clark: Delores F. (Clark) Daniel; Herbert Ray Clark; Infant died December 20, 1920; Marjorie Mae (Clark) Barnhard; Darwin I. Clark; Ada Ruth (Clark) Kendrick; and Robert L. ClarkNOTE: Herbert Larsen's mother died after he was born and he was put up for adoption. His step parents were Darwin I. and Francis Roxanna Clark. Herbert's blood brother was James Larsen of Albion. James was taken in by the Andrew Iverson family of Leigh, Nebraska. We would like to know who Herbert's and James Larsen's parents might be. Their parents were Danish immigrants and James was born shortly after they arrived ca 1887.6th child of William and Dorthea Wenk: Ray Ernest Wenk was born March 28, 1895 in Creston, Nebraska; died June 26, 1980 Lake County, South Dakota. He married Vera M. (___), who was born November 3, 1894; died December 4, 1983 Madison, Lake County, S.D.
Child of Ray and Vera Wenk: William B. born ca 1928
Please contact Jim and JoAnn Kendrick (JayKz4.aol.com) if you have any further information on this family.