Ozaukee County News Articles

The Cedarburg News
Wednesday, November 10, 1920

Golden Wedding Observed

On October 29th, 1920, Mr. and Mrs. J. Henry Wittenberg, two of the pioneer residents of this city celebrated the fiftieth or Golden Wedding Anniversary of their marriage at the Turner Hall; the invited guests consisting mostly of relatives, immediate friends and business associates, were about 175 in numbeer. The celebration began about 6 P.M. with an informal reception at which all those present congratulated the venerable couple upon this day of joy and happiness.

At 7 o'clock the guests marched with the accompanying strains of Herziger's orchestra to the dining hall to partake of a splendid chicken supper. After supper the couple and assembled guests listened to Rev. W. Behrens, who delivered a brief address, very appropriate to the occassion, and which was certainly enjoyed by all.

The entire hall, including the stage and dining hall were decorated as they were never before, in full harmony with the occasion and Halloween season and due credit must be given to Carl Bauer and son for their artistic arrangement.

The evening was spent in card playing and dancing, interspersed with vocal and instrumental music, rendered by relatives of the couple. At midnight a superb luncheon was served. There was enjoyment for old and young, and everyone had the time of his or her life; the event will long be remembered as one of the most enjoyable gatherings in the history of several generations.

The couple were the recipients of many appropriate and costly presents and also received a large number of congratulations and goodwishes from friends by mail and otherwise.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Wittenberg enjoy comparitively good health so that the wishes of their friends for many more years of married happiness are on a fair way of being realized.

Mrs. Dorothea Wittenberg is a daughter of the late Hon. Frederic Hilgen and was born August 21, 1847 at the old homestead now owned by Jas. Hilgen, her brother. She is endowed with an amiable disposition and beloved by her family, relatives and friends.

Mr. Wittenberg is in every sense of the word a self-made man; below we give a short synopsis of his life.

Born in Cedarburg October 21, 1844, on the old Wittenberg farm later the Reynold's farm and now owned by Wm. Buch. He attended the primitive public school and worked on his father's farm until his 18th year. He then engaged in teaming for his brother, the late D. Wittenberg, for about two and one half years, hauling flour and other products to and from Milwaukee. Next he was employed in the Woolen Mills owned by Hilgen and Wittenberg at that time and later became partner in the business, which thereafter was incorporated under the title of Cedarburg Woolen Mills, its present name. In the establishment, Mr. Wittenberg spent his next years and helped to build up the business to its present proportion; he held the position of Mill Supt. and dye house manager and worked continuously for 32 years after which he retired.

In 1830 he became one of the incorporators of the Hilgen Mfg. Co. and is one of the largest stock holders of this Co. up to the present date. In 1908 he started with his sons to engage in the growing, harvesting and canning of peas under the present name of Cedarburg Canning Co. of which he is the president and as we all know, is now in a prosperous condition. In 1910, Mr. Wittenberg in conjunction with David Rosenheimer, Chas. Wirth, and others, established the Cedarburg State Bank in which he is one of the largest stock holders; he has held the office of vice-president up to last spring and is still active as director of this fast growing banking institution.

Besides the foregoing, he was, and is still largely interested in Texas and northern Wisconsin timber land, and other real estate.

Mr. Wittenberg was always an active and industrious man and through his honesty and thrift in business as well as private matters, he has reaped the success in life, to which he is entitled.

The Jubilee couple have four children now living: Theodore F., George W., James J. and Meta (Mrs. Alfred Vollmar) who are all active in the canning industry and helping their father in his various interests.