Jacob W. Werner
[Four generations from right to left] Jacob W. Werner, his son Francis Henry Werner, his great-grandson baby Rex Fredrick
Werner, and his grandson Max Harrison Werner.
Born: June 28, 1832 in Bonlanden, Germany
Passed: March 3, 1917 in Falls City, NE (or Greenleaf, KS)
Jacob married Margaretta Barbara Siegle in 1855. His wife
was born in Wurttemberg, Germany and was related to local royality. He learned
his trade as a harness maker in Wurttemberg but his boss was both big and mean.
When they went into a restaurant to eat lunch, the apprentices had to leave
immediately when the foreman finished. Some of the work in their shop was
commissioned by the local king (of the state of Baden-Wurttemberg before German
Unification). When Jacob made a delivery to the palace, he would stop at the
local bake shop to get something to eat.
Jacob immigrated to Fairwater, Wisconsin from Germany about 1848 and moved to Greenleaf, Kansas before 1860.
They travelled by horse with Margaretta riding a white pony. One night they were informed of a cholera outbreak and so moved on travelling all night.
In the 1860 census, Jacob was living in South Park, Arapahoe, Kansas Territory.
In the 1900 census, Jacob was living with his wife in Greenleaf, Washington County, KS.
He was employed as a harness maker. They had four children of whom two were living.
In the 1910 census Jacob was widowed and living in Greenleaf, Washington County, KS.
He was living in same house as his son George L. Werner b. 1872 who was also widowed
and was born in Wisconsin. His son George Werner owned a local shop making harnesses.