Henry Ead Wiest1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 17306, (1902 - 1992)
FatherJohann Wiest4,5,6 (1870 - 15 Jun 1926)
MotherElizabeth Schmidt4,7,8 (9 Jun 1877 - 29 Nov 1940)

Key Events:

Birth: 28 Mar 1902, Friedrichsfield, Russia9,10,11,12
Marriage: Mabel Ruth Webster (2 Apr 1902 - 26 Nov 1946)13,14,15
Marriage: about 1946, Frances Louise Collier (1 Apr 1904 - 17 Oct 1983)16,17
Death: 14 Nov 1992, Stockton, San Joaquin Co., California18,19,20
Burial: Chico Cemetery, Chico, California21

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     Henry Ead Wiest was born on 28 Mar 1902 in Friedrichsfield, Russia.9,10,11,12
     Friedrichsfeld, Russia, now known as Rosdol, Ukraine, was a settlement established by ethnic Germans who left their homelands in the late-18th and early-19th centuries at the behest of Emperor Alexander I of Russia and settled in territories off the north coast of the Black Sea. Changing political conditions and growing hostilities towards Germans from Russia later caused many to migrate to Canada, the United States and Argentina.22
     Henry arrived in Boston, Massachusetts, with his parents, Johann Wiest and Elizabeth Schmidt, on 12 Jul 1907, aboard the S. S. Cymric, having departed Liverpool 3 Jul 1907.23,24,25 He apparently used the German spelling Heinrich originally, but adopted the Americanized spelling Henry after immigrating.26,1,27
     He appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Adams Co., North Dakota, in the household of his parents.5 He appeared on the 1915 State Census of St. Paul, Stutsman Co., North Dakota, in the household of household of his parents.28 He appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Neburry Twp., Stutsman Co., North Dakota, in the household of his parents.29
     It appears that as they grew older Henry and his brothers attempted to conceal their actual birth place. In the 1930, 1940 and 1950 census John reported that he had been born in North Dakota, and gave the same information to his nephew Lee Pound when he was researching the family history in the late 1960's. Jack reported the same in the 1940 census and his WWII draft card, and his death records show that he was born in that state as well. Henry reported in 1940 that he was born in Montana and in 1950 he was born in North Dakota. The reason may well have been the widespread antipathy toward eastern Europeans after the first World War.30,31,32,33,34,35,36
     Henry married first Mabel Ruth Webster.13,14,15
     Henry and Mabel appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Barrington, Lake Co., Illinois, enumerated 14 Apr 1930, reporting they owned a home valued at $4,000, and owned a radio. Their daughter Ruth was listed as living with them, as were his mother and his sister Emma.8 He was a laborer for a private club.37
     Henry and Mabel moved their family, including his mother, to Chico, California, in 1938 or 1939.
     Henry, his brother John and John's brother-in-law, William Frederick Glabe, all moved their families to Chico, to open an International Harvester dealership there. According to family lore, John knew of an opening there, likely because of his work with the company in Phoenix. The business, called North Valley Tractor and Equipment Company, opened at 820 Broadway, probably very late in 1938. It does not appear in the 1939 city directory, which was apparently prepared late in the prior year, but does in the 1940 edition. Further, each of them reported working 52 weeks in 1939.38,39,40,41 John was president and headed the sales force, Henry was vice president, and William was secretary and treasurer and acted as bookkeeper.42,43,44,45,46
     Henry and Mabel appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Chico, Butte Co., California, at 177 E. 4th Ave., enumerated 4 Apr 1940, reporting they owned a home valued at $4,000. Their children Ruth and Henry were listed as living with them, as was his mother, Elizabeth Schmidt.14
     John and Henry's brother Jack had joined the business as a salesman by 1942, initially in the Willows branch, later moving to the Chico office.47
     Henry registered for the draft for World War II on 14 Feb 1942, while living at 177 E. 4th Ave., Chico, Butte Co., California, reporting he was self employed.2
     By 1945 the business had moved to new quarters at 2450 Park Ave.. In the 1950 census Henry reported he had worked 48 hours the prior week. He also reported working 52 weeks in 1949, earning $5,000 from his own business, and $600 in interest, dividends, etc.48,49,50 About the same time Henry and Mabel moved to 608 La Vista Way.51
     His wife died on 26 Nov 1946 in Chico, Butte Co., California.52,53,54
     Henry married second Frances Louise Collier, daughter of James J. Collier and Mattie C. Fisher, about 1946.16,17
     After their marriage, Henry and Frances lived at 767 E. 5th St. for several years.55
     North Valley Tractor declined and by 1953 was closed.56,41 William's brother Charles worked at the business as a parts man for a time about 1950.57,58 They appeared on the 1950 Federal Census of Chico, Butte Co., California, at 232 East 5th St., enumerated 5 Apr 1950, reporting they lived in a home that was not on a farm and they lived in the same house the year before.59
     Henry and Frances moved his home at 608 La Vista Way by 1952.60 Henry was a driver for Chico Wood Products for a time after the failure of the tractor business.61
     His second wife died on 17 Oct 1983 in San Joaquin Co., California.62,63
     Henry died on 14 Nov 1992 in Stockton, San Joaquin Co., California, at age 90.18,19,20 He was buried in Chico Cemetery, Chico, California, next to his first wife.21

Children:
     Children with Mabel Ruth Webster:

  • Ruth Charlotte Wiest8,64,65 (21 Nov 1929 - 28 Dec 2005)
  • Henry E. Wiest Jr.14,59 (1 Apr 1933 - 3 Nov 1999)

Children:
     There were no children with Frances Louise Collier

Citations

  1. [S1941] Ralph Pendleton household, 1910 U.S. Census, Adams Co., North Dakota, shows name as Henry Wiest.
  2. [S13307] Henry Ead Wiest, WWII Draft Registration Cards for California, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947.
  3. [S885] "California Death Index, 1940-1997," Ancestry.com, record for Henry Ead Wiest, Soc. Sec. No. 345012300.
  4. [S1945] S. S. Cymric arrival 12 Jul 1907, Passenger Lists, Boston, 1891-1943, shows them apparently as parent and child.
  5. [S1941] Ralph Pendleton household, 1910 U.S. Census, Adams Co., North Dakota.
  6. [S1943] John Wiest household, 1915 North Dakota Census, Stutsman Co., North Dakota, St. Paul, shows them apparently living as parent and child.
  7. [S1941] Ralph Pendleton household, 1910 U.S. Census, Adams Co., North Dakota, shows him as the son of her husband, and that the parents had been married longer than the age of the child.
  8. [S3919] Henry E. Wiest household, 1930 U.S. Census, Lake Co., Illinois.
  9. [S1945] S. S. Cymric arrival 12 Jul 1907, Passenger Lists, Boston, 1891-1943, shows age 6, town, and country.
  10. [S1941] Ralph Pendleton household, 1910 U.S. Census, Adams Co., North Dakota, shows age 8 and country.
  11. [S885] "California Death Index, 1940-1997," Ancestry.com, record for Henry Ead Wiest, Soc. Sec. No. 345012300, shows date, and "other country."
  12. [S1949] Wiest, "Descendants of John Wiest", shows date, town, and country.
  13. [S1949] Wiest, "Descendants of John Wiest."
  14. [S3916] Henry Wiest household, 1940 U.S. Census, Butte Co., California.
  15. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 61816575, Henry E Wiest, shows married, and includes photo of joint tombstone photo.
  16. [S3460] Polk's Chico and Oroville (California) City Directory, 1948 pg 334, shows her has his wife.
  17. [S13308] Henry E. Wiest household, 1950 U.S. Census, Butte Co., California, shows married and 4 years since last married, widowed, divorced or separated.
  18. [S1949] Wiest, "Descendants of John Wiest", shows date, city, and state.
  19. [S885] "California Death Index, 1940-1997," Ancestry.com, record for Henry Ead Wiest, Soc. Sec. No. 345012300, shows date and county.
  20. [S1000] "Social Security Death Index," Ancestry.com, record for H. E. Wiest, Soc. Sec. No. 345-01-2300, shows date and last residence as 95209 Stockton, San Joaquin, California.
  21. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 61816575, Henry E Wiest, includes photo of joint tombstone photo.
  22. [S1265] Wikipedia, online, article "Black Sea Germans," viewed Jan 2024.
  23. [S1945] S. S. Cymric arrival 12 Jul 1907, Passenger Lists, Boston, 1891-1943, shows ship, arrival and departure dates and ports, and destination.
  24. [S1941] Ralph Pendleton household, 1910 U.S. Census, Adams Co., North Dakota, shows year, as 1907, for the parents, John, Rosa, Henry, Jacob, and Katie.
  25. [S13043] John Wiest, Jr., petition for naturalization (29 Jun 1922), shows date, as 13th, city, state, ship, and departure.
  26. [S1945] S. S. Cymric arrival 12 Jul 1907, Passenger Lists, Boston, 1891-1943, shows name as Heinrich Wiest.
  27. [S1943] John Wiest household, 1915 North Dakota Census, Stutsman Co., North Dakota, St. Paul, shows name as Henry Wiest.
  28. [S1943] John Wiest household, 1915 North Dakota Census, Stutsman Co., North Dakota, St. Paul.
  29. [S1942] John Wiest household, 1920 U.S. Census, Stutsman Co., North Dakota.
  30. [S1224] John Wiest household, 1930 U.S. Census, Cook Co., Illinois, shows born in North Dakota.
  31. [S13039] John R. Wiest household, 1950 U.S. Census, Butte Co., California, shows born in North Dakota.
  32. [S54] Pound, Glabe Family, shows born in Bentley, North Dakota.
  33. [S885] "California Death Index, 1940-1997," Ancestry.com, record for Jack W Wiest, shows born in North Dakota.
  34. [S3916] Henry Wiest household, 1940 U.S. Census, Butte Co., California, shows birth state as Montana.
  35. [S12721] Jack William Wiest, WWII Draft Registration Cards for California, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947, shows birth place as Hetteringer Co., North Dakota.
  36. [S3918] Jack W. Wist household, 1940 U.S. Census, Tehama Co., California, shows born in Dakota.
  37. [S3919] Henry E. Wiest household, 1930 U.S. Census, Lake Co., Illinois, shows occupation as laborer, industry as private club.
  38. [S3460] Polk's Chico and Oroville (California) City Directory, 1939, pg 6, has Library of Congress date stamp showing received 10 Mar 1939, pg 184 shows no business at 820 Broadway, there is no listing for an International Harvester dealer, only one for Caterpillar and John Deere and another for Allis-Chalmers; 1940 pg 146, shows North Valley Tractor & Equipment Co at 820 Bway.
  39. [S13039] John R. Wiest household, 1950 U.S. Census, Butte Co., California, shows occupation as part-owner & salesman and industry as howester co.
  40. [S24] Interview, Carmen Glabe Reigel, 7 Oct 1998.
  41. [S110] Personal knowledge of author, recalling stories heard from his mother and grandparents.
  42. [S3460] Polk's Chico and Oroville (California) City Directory, 1940 pg 146, shows "North Valley Tractor & Equipment Co J R Wiest pres H E Wiest v-pres W F Glabe sec 820 Bway ."
  43. [S3915] John R. Wiest household, 1940 U.S. Census, Butte Co., California, shows occupation as implement dealer, industry as farm equipment.
  44. [S3916] Henry Wiest household, 1940 U.S. Census, Butte Co., California, shows occupation as agent, industry as farm equipment company.
  45. [S3457] William F. Glabe household, 1940 U.S. Census, Butte Co., California, shows occupation as auditor, tractor and farm implement co.
  46. [S12946] William F. Glabe household, 1950 U.S. Census, Butte Co., California, shows occupation as secretary-treasury and industry as retail tractor dealer.
  47. [S12721] Jack William Wiest, WWII Draft Registration Cards for California, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947, shows him in Willows, working for North Valley Tractor.
  48. [S3460] Polk's Chico and Oroville (California) City Directory, 1945 pg 196, shows the business at new address, pg 263 shows Jack as employee; 1948 pg 334 shows Jack as salesman.
  49. [S13039] John R. Wiest household, 1950 U.S. Census, Butte Co., California.
  50. [S13308] Henry E. Wiest household, 1950 U.S. Census, Butte Co., California, shows occupation as proprietor and industry as farm implements.
  51. [S3460] Polk's Chico and Oroville (California) City Directory, 1945 pg 263.
  52. [S1949] Wiest, "Descendants of John Wiest", shows date, town, and state.
  53. [S885] "California Death Index, 1940-1997," Ancestry.com, record for Mabel Ruth Wiest, shows date and county.
  54. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 61816591, Mabel R Wiest, shows year includes tombstone photo showing same.
  55. [S3460] Polk's Chico and Oroville (California) City Directory, 1948 pg 334 and 1950, pg 329, at 767 E. 5th.
  56. [S3460] Polk's Chico and Oroville (California) City Directory, 1952 pg 221 shows Mrs. E E [sic] Wiest as sec-tres; 1953 shows no listing of the firm; 1955 pg 73 shows Chico Tractor under new management at the same address.
  57. [S3460] Polk's Chico and Oroville (California) City Directory, 1950, pg 152.
  58. [S13038] Charles E. Glabe household, 1950 U.S. Census, Butte Co., California, shows occupation as tractor parts man (sales clerk) and industry as farm equipment.
  59. [S13308] Henry E. Wiest household, 1950 U.S. Census, Butte Co., California.
  60. [S3460] Polk's Chico and Oroville (California) City Directory, 1952 pg 298 and 1953 pg 271 show them on La Vista.
  61. [S3460] Polk's Chico and Oroville (California) City Directory, 1953 pg 271.
  62. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 61820664, Frances L. Moody Wiest, shows date and includes tombstone photo showing same.
  63. [S885] "California Death Index, 1940-1997," Ancestry.com, record for Frances Louise Wiest, Soc. Sec. No. 558467491, shows date and county.
  64. [S3921] Wiest, "Re: Update on the California Wiests," e-mail to author, 4 Nov 2012, includes transcription of obituary for Ruth Charlotte Eisenhour from Chico Enterprise-Record on 30 Dec 2005.
  65. [S1500] "U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007," Ancestry.com, record for Ruth Charlotte Wiest, Soc. Sec. No. 562-38-1878.