Henry Louis Wiech is one of the prosperous and wealthy farmers of Thompson Township, in which he owns 384 acres of land; all earned and paid for by his own exertions. His parents, Joseph and Henrietta Louisa Wiech, were natives of Germany, the father born in Wittenberg, and the mother near Guterbusch, in Mecklenburg-Schwerin. The father was was a soldier in the royal service in his native country, and was the father of three children—Sophia, Henry Louis, and Henrietta. The mother died on the voyage; and the father died in 1887, at the home of our subject. The subject of this sketch was born near the village of Guterbusch, in 1841. He was brought up in the Lutheran faith, and after his confirmation, at the age of fourteen, he began to work to support himself, and to aid his parents. lie was married in his native land, in 1865, to Miss Mary Bonhoff, a daughter of John and Catherina (Wolf) Bonhoff, who were the parents of six children: Henry, Mary, Frederick, John, Dora, and Sophia; the latter of whom died in Germany.

Our subject and his wife emigrated to America in November, 1865, embarking from Hamburg in the ship "Odla", and landing in New York after a voyage of seven weeks and four days. Mr. Wiech had some cousins named Richert living at Galena, and he came to that place at once on his arrival. Being entirely without means, he began to work at anything which he could find to do. For nine months after his arrival at Galena, he was employed at chopping cord-wood, and then hired out to a farmer named John Combellick, in Council Hill Township, for $300 a year. He staid with him until the spring of 1868, when he was offered increased wages; but, resolving to make a home for himself, he rented for a year a farm at Scales Mound. He then began purchasing land for himself, his first tract being ninety-two acres, which he bought in 1861) from Mr. William Whitham, On this he lived and worked industriously for several years, and in 1878 purchased forty acres more- adding in 1881 160 acres more yet, in 1884 eighty acres, and in 1886 made his hist purchase of twelve acres, giving him his present magnificent property of 384 acres in all. On this he has a fine home, handsomely furnished, and has all the buildings and conveniences necessary to conduct his farming: operations on a first-class scale. This residence, however, is soon to be supplanted by a still finer one, which he intends to build on a beautiful site one-half mile north of his present home. Here he will also erect barns, corn-cribs, and all the other buildings necessary. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Wiech has been blessed by the birth of three children: Mar}', Louis, and Henrietta; the latter of whom died in infancy. Mary is the wife of Adam Dodsel, has two children, and lives on a part of her father's farm; Louis is fifteen years old, and is attending school.

The life of our subject has been a very successful one in every particular. Starting without any advantages, and with but a limited education, he has, by his own unaided exertions, raised himself to a proud position in the community, of which he is to-day a most important factor, being not only one of its wealthiest, but one of its most influential members; and having, in a great degree, the confidence and respect of the people with whom he is brought into daily contact. This result has been achieved by the once poor German emigrant, solely by his own industry, thrift and good habits, aided by a wife who has in every respect been to him a true helpmate.

Our subject has been particularly prominent in connection with the German Lutheran Church at Schapville. of which he is the leading member, and in which he and his wife have ever taken a warm interest. When they first came to tin's neighborhood the nearest church of their denomination was at Richland; although sometimes services were held in the school-house near by. Mr. Wiech has been largely instrumental in building the beautiful church-edifice, which was erected in 1866. at a cost of between $3,000 and $4,000. In politics he now acts with the Democratic party, although he was formerly a Republican .

Transcribed by Christine Walters - Portrait and Biographical Album of Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties, Illinois (1889)