NORTHWESTERN IOWA ITS HISTORY AND TRADITION VOLUME II 1804-1926 AUGUST WILLIGES America has never proven to be "the land of opportunity" in a more emphatic way than in the noteworthy career of August Williges. Coming to the United States with limited financial resources, but possessing elements of character which will invariably win success, he faithfully and conscientiously performed every duty that fell to him and in the course of time forged ahead, gaining not only valuable experience, but also winning the confidence and good will of with whom he was associated. His career since coming to Sioux City thirty years ago has been characterized by a very gratifying measure of prosperity and he has long been numbered among the representative men of this community. August Williges was born in Mueden, Hanover, Germany, on the 26th of March, 1858, and is a son of William and Mary Dorothea (Isensee) Williges, both of whom died in Germany, their native land, the father at the age of ninety-one years. He had served for thirty-five years as postmaster at Mueden and for a number of years prior to his death had been a pensioner of the government. August Williges was educated in the public schools of his native city and at the age of fourteen years apprenticed himself to the furrier trade. After serving four years, he spent the following five years as a journeyman furrier, as was the custom in that country, two years of that time being passed in Switzerland. In 1881, desiring a field of larger opportunity for individual advancement, he came to the United States, locating in New York city, where he was employed for six years - 1881 to 1887. In 1886 he took out his final naturalization papers and cast his first vote for Henry George for mayor of New York city. In 1887 he went to Springfield, Illinois, where he became manager of the fur department of C. D. Roberts, a position which he held until 1895. During the latter years of his service here he was casting about for a place in which to locate and establish business. He had friends in the same business at various places in Illinois and did not care to complete with them. At that time Sioux City was advertising its "Corn Palace" and was running a special train through from massachusetts. Notwithstanding the fact that the city was then practically bankrupt, it seemed to be a live town and in June, 1895, Mr. Williges arrived here, leaving hi family in Springfield. He at once established business as a manufacturing furrier and having decided that he had made the right move he sent for his family, who arrived here six months after he had come. During the three decades that he has been established here he has enjoyed a steady and continuous growth in trade and is now one of the leaders in his line in this section of the country. While living in New York city, Mr. Williges was married to his old sweetheart from Heidelburg, Miss Regina Schruff, two children being born to them in that city. They are now the parents of five children, namely: Mathilda, the wife of Martin Jorgenson, who is associated with her father in the fur business; William A., who is in charge of the skin department and is factory manager of his father's business; Henry George, who is in charge of the sales department of the business; and Elsia and Eleanor at home. The former is president of the Business and Professional Girls' Club of Sioux City. Mr. Williges is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and served three years on its board of directors. He belongs to Landmark Lodge, No. 103, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Sioux City Consistory, No. 5, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite; Abu-Bekr Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; Sioux City Lodge, No. 112, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks; War Eagle Tribe, No. 45, Improved Order of Red Men, and the Germania Club of Sioux City. He has long been an active member of the Sioux City Rotary Club and he was one of the six men who comprised a committee which drafted the Rotary code of ethics, which was adopted by the rotarians of Iowa in 1914, by the national Rotary convention in San Francisco in 1915, and later by the International Rotarians. Despite his age, Mr. Williges retains his physical vigor to a remarkable degree, walking being his favorite recreation, and not infrequently he will walk ten miles after closing his business house for the day. He is regarded as a good business man, an excellent manager, possessing sound judgment and keen forsight, and, because of his success, his fine public spirit and his cordial and friendly manner, he enjoys to a marked degree the respect and esteem of all who know him. Debbie Clough Gerischer Iowa Gen Web, Assistant CC, Scott County http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/ IAGENWEB: Special History Project: http://iagenweb.org/history/index.htm Gerischer Family Web Site: http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/