WEGMANN Family, Santa Catalina Island
WEGMANN FAMILY, Avalon, Santa Catalina Island:
Family members held various important Avalon positions, including City Marshall, Harbormaster and Postmaster. John Wegman owned the launch Dixie.
WEGMANN, John Herman (Iowa 1869-1959)=[1890] Wilhelmina “Minna” Christina Victoria Zimmerman (Illinois 1870-1948)
- 1. Laura Wegmann (1891-1895)
- 2. John Casper Wegmann (1894-1969) b. in Nebraska d. in West Covina, CA
- 3. Harold Philip Wegmann (1899-1942) b. in Nebraska d. at sea in WWII
- 4. Herbert Anton Wegmann (1903-1998) b. Avalon, California d. Jan. 19, 1998 in L.A. = [1924] Mildred Margaret Bewel (San Gabriel, CA 1906-1992)
In the News~
August 10, 1915 [TI/Avalon]: “The City Council declared the office of Harbor Master vacant, and directed City Marshall, J. H. Wegmann, to attend to the duties of Harbor Master.”
1934 Directory:
- George Wegmann 318 Metropole
- Albert Wegmann 318 Metropole
- John Wegmann 320-B Metropole
- Minna Wegmann 320-B Metropole
- Herbert Wegmann 328 Whittley
- Mildred Wegmann 328 Whittley
- John E. Wegmann 220 Metropole
- Mabel Wegmann 220 Metropole
WEGMANN, John Casper (1894-1969)[SS#573-30-5408], second child born to John and Minna Wegmann. He was born in Nebraska prior to the family moving the Santa Catalina Island. He served as Avalon's harbormaster for twenty-two years (1933-1955). He resigned as harbormaster after having served longer than anyone in the position. John Casper Wegmann died on September 8, 1969 in West Covina, California.
In the News~
November 16, 1915 [TI/Avalon]: “John C. Wegmann celebrated his 21st birthday.”
April 20, 1927 [TI/Avalon]: “John Wegmann, wife and daughter, and Ed Ogle, wife and daughter, a couple of young Los Angeles construction foremen, spent the weekend in Avalon. Mr. Wegmann was a former resident of Avalon, being a son of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Wegmann.”
January 4, 1928 [TI/Avalon]: “John Wegmann, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Wegmann, paid his parents a New Year visit Sunday.”
May 19, 1938 [TI/Avalon]: “Harbor Master John Wegmann visited the continent again last week.”
June 15, 1939 [TI/Avalon]: “On June 10 at 5:30 P.M., at the Little Church of the Flowers in Glendale, in a simple but impressive service, Miss Clara Wegmann, daughter of Harbormaster J. C. Wegmann, was united in marriage with Major Overbeck of Compton… Mr. and Mrs. Overbeck will reside in Compton.”
August 25, 1955 [TI/Avalon]: “After more than 22 years as Harbor Master in Avalon, John Wegmann abruptly turned in his resignation at last night’s City Council meeting. The resignation was in the form of a letter handed to City Clerk Fern Whelan just as she entered the Council Chambers for the meeting. Apparently no one had any advance information of the move and it came as quite a shock to his many friends. Text of the resignation was as follows: ‘I hereby resign as Harbor Master for the City of Avalon, effective as of this date, Thursday, August 18th.’ The Council accepted his resignation at their meeting, and having named Charles (Chick) Upton, assistant Harbor Master, to carry out the duties of the job until a permanent one is appointed. Upton has been assistant harbor master since 1950. No reason was given for the resignation, and Mr. and Mrs. Wegmann left Avalon Monday for a short visit with their daughter and family in Los Angeles, so he could not be contacted for a statement. Wegmann has been harbor master for the city since May 15, 1933, when he was appointed to succeed Byron Halstead. His tenure at the job has been longer than any other harbor master the City has ever had. The City Council has not yet made a permanent appointment to the post, and have not indicated a time or asked for applications up to this week.”
WEGMANN, Harold Philip (1899-1942), third child born to John and Minna Wegmann. He was born in Nebraska prior to the family moving the Santa Catalina Island. He married Mary Asta (1897-1970) in 1939 in Beaumont, Texas. Wegmann was a merchant marine who served in World War II as: chief engineer aboard the steam tanker, Sylvan Arrow when it was attacked on May 20, 1942; a repatriated seaman aboard the steam passenger ship, Crijnssen when it was attacked on June 11, 1942 and he was one of 31 survivors in lifeboat #5; and as first assistant engineer aboard the turbine tanker, Caddo, when it was attached by a German U-boat on November 23, 1942. Harold Wegmann was killed at age 43. He is buried in Avalon Cemetery. His widow died in Beaumont, Texas in 1970.
In the News~
April 30, 1936 [TI/Avalon]: “Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Wegmann and sons John and Herbert sailed for San Pedro last Friday to meet their son and brother, Harold, who arrived in port from New York on the tanker Magnolia. Harold is first assistant engineer on this large new tanker. He asked to be remembered to all his Avalon friends.”
November 2, 1939 [TI/Avalon]: “Married at Beaummont, Texas, October 12, Harold P. Wegmann, son of Mr. and Mrs. John H. Wegmann of Avalon, and Mary Asta. The young couple have been touring the Western States, and arrived in Avalon yesterday, to visit his parents and other relatives and renew boyhood acquaintances.”
January 25, 1943 [unk]: “Beaumont, January 25. Harold Phillip Wegmann, seaman, who was lost at sea through emeny action last November 28, willed his $5000 estate to his widow, Mary Asta Wegmann of Beaumont. The document was filed with County Clerk Hill.“
WEGMANN, Albert (18XX-1931) [brother of John Wegmann]
In the News~
February 4, 1931 [TI/Avalon]: “The many friends of the Wegmanns of Avalon regret the death of the wife of Albert Wegmann, brother of John H. Wegmann. Mr. and Mrs. Albert Wegmann have been residents of Avalon for a comparatively short time, but had made many friends. The funeral services were held in Los Angeles Monday.”
WEGMANN, Herbert Anton (1903-1998) [SS#561-05-8826], fourth child born to John and Minna Wegmann, and the first to be born in Avalon. Herbert Wegmann became Avalon's postmaster from June 2, 1938 to September 10, 1942 when he went on military leave. Louise A. Geasland stood in as clerk in charge, followed by Charlotte L. Ryan. Wegmann returned June 30, 1946 and remained postmaster through his optional retirement on December 29, 1965. He died in Los Angeles on January 19, 1988.
Herbert Anton Wegmann = [1924] Mildred Margaret Bewel (1906-1992) DAUGHTER
In the News~
November 12, 1924 [TI/Avalon]: “Herbert A. Wegmann and Miss Mildred Ballou were married in Los Angeles November 6, and received a hearty reception upon arrival in Avalon the following day. Mr. and Mrs. Herbert A. Wegman are comfortably located in their new home on Metropole Avenue. The bridegroom is the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. John H. Wegmann of Metropole Avenue.”
April 15, 1925 [TI/Avalon]: “Rushing to an alarm of fire Sunday morning, from a small private boat anchored at the Standard Oil Company’s dock near Sugar Loaf, the new fire truck of the Avalon City fire department skidded and rolled down the embankment at the turn in the road near the Catalina Island Yacht Club. All the men escaped with slight injuries, it is believed, except fireman Herbert Wegmann, who was pinned under the eight-ton truck and received a broken shoulder and possible internal injuries. Mr. Wegmann was taken to a Los Angeles hospital Sunday afternoon…”
August 24, 1939 [TI/Avalon]: “What time does the next outgoing mail close? What time is it now? Do I still have time? Many of us have asked these questions when we have gone to the post office to mail a letter and did not have a watch. These questions are now answered for us by the new sign which has been placed over the mail drop in the post office. On one portion of the sign is an electric clock with the words over it ‘Correct Time.’ TO the right of the clock is a painted dial similar to the clock dial, with moveable hands that are set next to sow the closing time of the next mail. Over this dial are the words ‘Next Mail Closes At.’ The complete sign is enclosed under glass. This is not only a very clever way to answer the many questions that all of us have asked, but is a great convenience, another example of the service the local post office is endeavoring to render the public. Not only is the idea original with Postmaster Herbert A. Wegmann, but we understand that the expense of the clock and installation were paid for by him personally, as the Government does not provide any funds for such purpose. We join the public in thanks to Mr. Wegmann.”
November 2, 1939 [TI/Avalon]: “Postmaster and Mrs. Herbert A. Wegmann returned last week from a recreation trip north, which included the pier on Treasure Island, points in Nevada and Northern California and some of the mining districts of early days.”
