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- APPLETON POST CRESCENT MAY, 28, 1998 BY ALICE LOCY WEYERS
Henry J. Weyenberg Locy was weeding in his garden on Wilson St. in the Village of Little Chute when once again his eyes focused on the large red brick house and farm across the field on the other side of the tracks. Even though his home on Wilson St. had a small barn garage, two cows and a large garden, the house was too small for his family. As he stood there he began to daydream about his life, and how he came to live in this house.
He was born September 22, 1904, above his father's saloon, Main St. Little Chute (the building is still standing.) Henry's father, John Weyenberg, died in 1908 at the age of 34 and mother, Mary Van Domelen Weyenberg, died in 1914 at the age of 35. Henry was ten years old and a month after his mother's death, he was adopted by Bert and Louisa Locy, and came to live with them in this home.
Henry's younger brother, Sylvester, 8 years of age was adopted by Charley and Ann McGregor of Fon Du Lac. His older brothers, George 15, William 14, and older sister Mayme 12, were taken to live with a farm family in Rudolph to work for their keep. Henry was very lonely without his family and cried himself to sleep often. He kept in touch with his brothers and sister all of his life.
The Locy's had no children and at a young age, Henry did whatever work he could to make money. At the age of 15, he got a job at Thilmany's Mill in Kaukauna, which he walked to and from every day. For many years he worked the night shift. After 47 years, he retired.
In 1925 Henry married Geraldine Nelson in St. John's Catholic Church in Little Chute. Geraldine was not of age to marry, so her step father, Casey, adopted her and signed the permit.
Geraldine was born August 31, 1907 in Kaukauna, one month after her father Charles Nelson died. Her mother, Elizabeth Gertz Nelson, later married Anton Casey Jansen of Little Chute. He had a daughter, Alice Christine, who was the same age as Geraldine. Alice is the great granddaughter of Arnold Verstegen, one of the first settlers of the village.
In 1918, Geraldine's mother and Casey had a daughter and named her Mary Elizabeth. Geraldine's mother died in 1921 and left her with a step father, step sister and a half sister.
Henry and Geraldine lived in Kaukauna for a while and they operated the saloon across the canal from the Thilmany Mill for a few years. Donald, Dorothy, David and Dolores were born in Kaukauna. Dolores was born in 1929, the beginning of the depression. Henry's check from the mill, at the end of the week, was less than $3.00. Henry moved his family to his stepparents home on Wilson Street in Little Chute. Dewain, John, Alice, James and Gerald were born there.
In the spring of 1937, Henry convinced the owner of the farm, Honnaka (Anna) Derks, to trade the farm for his home on Wilson Street, plus cash. Henry didn't know much about farming and he had to keep his job in the mill, so he made an agreement with Fred Van Handel to work the farm on halves for a few years. The farm consisted of a barn, machine shed, pump house, horse barn, pig pen, chicken coop, and out house and a work shed, which stood behind the house and was filled with many hand tools, wooden buckets and bottles of every sort. The large two story red brick house was built by John Derks in 1898. There is a date plate at the peak of the house on the Buchanan Street side. Cherry trees lined the yard on the east side, ten large Maples in the front, on the south, and a large driveway on the west. We use this space for playing ball. The house is built in a form of a cross and had two white wrap around porches and a large porch off the kitchen, with six room on the first floor and five rooms on the second floor. Ten foot ceilings and hardwood floors were a big feature of the house. The largest room was the center room, with an outside entrance on the west. This room was our family and dining room. Many thresher meals were served in this dining room. Harvest time was a great time to socialize. The women in the neighborhood cooked and the men helped with the threshing.
Thomas born in 1938, was the only one of eleven children born in the farm house. The year 1944 was an eventful one for the family. My oldest brother, Don, Joined the Marines in March and was in the invasion of Okinawa, in the fall. My oldest sister, Dorothy married Harold Bissing and had their wedding on the farm. In December of that year, my youngest sister, Mary was born. The only one of eleven children to be born in a hospital.
My father sold the 80 acre farm to John Diedrick in 1950. He was still in debt, but the farm had served him well.
Having been orphaned at a young age, he and Geraldine were able to feed, clothe and give their children a Catholic education both grade and high school. They loved children and have 49 grandchildren and 82 great grandchildren. They both died in 1994.
The farm had an outdoor theater on it for some time, and now is owned by the village of Little Chute were the Municipal Garage is, and the land is being developed for an industrial park. The house has been turned into three apartments.
- Henry Locy
Colony Oaks Care Center
Formerly of 815 Jefferson St., Little Chute, age 90, died at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, December 22, 1994. He was born September 25, 1904 in Little Chute. He was the son of the late John and Mary (Van Domelen) Weyenberg. He had worked for the Thilmany Paper Company as a shipping director for 49 years, retiring in 1969. He was a member of St. John Catholic Church and the Thilmany Quarter Century Club. Survivors include four daughters: Dorothy (Harold) Bissing, Appleton; Delores Driessen, Little Chute; Alice (Bob) Weyers, Wrightstown; Mary (Roger) Gloudemans, Little Chute; five sons: David (Ruth) Locy, Little Chute; Dewain (Pat) Locy, Appleton; James (Betty) Locy, Kimberly; Gerald (Mary Ellen) Locy, Wautoma; Thomas Locy, Appleton; two daughters-in-law: Floss Locy, Kaukauna; Yvonne Locy, New London; two sister-in-laws: Alice Jansen, Little Chute; Mary Mader, Appleton; 49 grandchildren; 74 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Geraldine; two sons: Donald and John; a son-in-law, Gene Driessen; his adopted parents, Bert and Louise (Smith) Locy. He was also preceded in death by three brothers: George, Sylvester and William Weyenberg and a sister, Mayme. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, December 28, 1994 from St. John Catholic Church, Little Chute with Rev. John Doerfler officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery. Friends may call at the Verkuilen Funeral Home from 4 until 8 p.m. on Tuesday and from 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday until the time of the services. There will be a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The family would like to thank the staff at Colony Oaks Care Center and the Special Care unit.
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1904 - 1994 (90 years)
