Weardus H. Wumkes Biography


	This biography appears on page 689 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. I (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	WEARDUS H. WUMKES is a native of the Fatherland, having first 
seen thy light of day in the province of Hanover, Germany, in 1859. He 
accompanied his parents upon their emigration to America and located 
first in Hardin county. Iowa. Later they removed to Grundy county, the 
same state, where the subject was reared to manhood. Mr. Wumkes' father 
was a sea-captain by profession owning his own vessel, and he sailed to 
nearly every part of the world. The subject continued to reside under 
the paternal roof until 1882 assisting his father the meantime on the 
farm, but in the year 1884 he married and shortly thereafter came to 
Lennox, Lincoln county, Dakota, and there engaged in, the furniture and 
farm implement business. Subsequently he made some changes in the 
character of the stock, so that he now handles farm implements and a 
general line of hardware. He has always a good line of articles, and 
has enjoyed a satisfactory patronage, being now counted among the 
leading merchants and enterprising business men of his town. Some years 
ago he erected a splendid home at Lennox, in which he still resides. 
Five and a half miles northeast of Lennox he owns a section of land 
which he operates himself, and in all owns seven hundred and fifty 
acres in the state. He operates two hardware stores, at Lennox and 
Chancellor, under the firm name of Wumkes Brothers, his partner being 
Justus J. Wumkes.  

	In 1902 Mr. Wumkes organized the Lennox State Bank, of which he 
is president, the other officers being C. C. Kuper, vice-president, and 
M. J. Gotthelf, cashier. The bank was opened for business September 8, 
1902, and is doing a very successful business, occupying an elegant 
banking building which was built by the banking company.  

	March 14, 1884, Mr. Wumkes was united in marriage with Miss Talea 
Huisman, a resident of Franklin county, Iowa, and to them have been 
born three children, Peter T., Swannie and William. In politics the 
subject is a Democrat and has taken an active part for his party, 
having acted as a delegate to several state conventions.