John and Martha (Ampe) Wehe

Loyal, Clark Co. Wisconsin

A bit of family oral history interesting as related to the two pictures above of John Wehe’s farm on Pelsdorf Rd.

In 1926 Boniface purchased the farm that he later sold to his son John Wehe. The Deed shows that he purchased the farm from the Arquettes in 1926 for $7600.00. Bernie Wehe, son of Boniface Wehe, seems to recall that his father may have loaned the Arquettes some money and then took the farm instead of being paid back in cash. There is a story that the people who lived on the farm made moonshine. This was during the prohibition era. Boniface would walk the cornfields looking for the moonshine so he could drink it! Suzie Anderegg the wife of neighboring farmer Edwin Anderegg confirmed this story to Albert Wehe on a visit in 1996. She said that the people wanted to make the moonshine in the Anderegg’s basement because they didn't have any children. They offered Suzie and Edwin a percent of the profit but their offer was declined. Louise Wehe (Sister Imelda) also recalls that one summer before Boniface sold the farm to John, Boniface kept his cows at that farm. After supper Boniface, Louis and John would walk over to milk the cows and do the chores. They would spend the night in that house to do the milking in the morning and then walk home. Louise recalls that her mother didn't much like that because she was all alone with the little ones.

Boniface Wehe sold the farm to his son and daughter in law John and Martha Ampe Wehe some time after they married in 1933. Bernie Wehe (John's brother) writes the following: As I recall after the wedding your Mom and Dad stayed with us while the house was being made ready or livable. The walls had plaster board on them so I guess we spackled the seams and I think wallpapered them and woodwork on the window and door frames. The kitchen was painted and as I recall the cooking was done on an oil stove in the pantry or its possible our old black iron stove was put in the kitchen. At some date I recall when they got the kitchen stove "Monarch" I believe. Just when the house was ready to move in I don't recall. I suppose Pa, Bonie Wehe, gave John some cows and so the got started. Since Leander (Schuld) rented the land on share of the hay was put in the barn. So there would have been some feed there for the cows and horses; Nig and Nellie?

Contributor

Peggy Carter Wehe