Joseph Wegener Biography


	This biography appears on page 1876-1877 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	JOSEPH WEGENER, one of the leading business men of Hecla, Brown 
county, is a native of the Hawkeye state, having been born in the city 
of Dubuque, Iowa. He was educated in private schools in Dubuque and 
then entered a local drug store, where he learned the science of 
pharmacy in a most practical way. When twenty years of age he came to 
South Dakota and located in Columbia, Brown county, while in the 
following year he took up a claim of government land. He resided on 
this claim until he had perfected his title to the same, and then came 
to Hecla and opened a drug store, gaining a representative support from 
the start and now having one of the most popular and attractive 
business places in the town. He has ever shown himself ready to give 
his aid and influence in support of all measures for the general good 
of the community, being essentially public-spirited and progressive. 
Fraternally he has attained to the thirty-second degree in the Ancient 
Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, being thus crowned a Sublime 
Prince of the Royal Secret and standing high in the circles of this 
time-honored fraternity. He is a member of the consistory at Aberdeen, 
and a charter member of Humanity Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted 
Masons, in Hecla, while he is also affiliated with the Ancient Arabic 
Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine and the Ancient Order of 
United Workmen.

	Mr. Wegener was married to Miss Jennie A. Myra, and they have 
five children.