Henry Wilkening

Henry Wilkening, aged 99 years and 2 months, and considered the oldest man in Nebraska, died at the home of his son, Henry W. Wilkening, Friday afternoon, after a few day’s illness. About Christmas Mr. Wilkening took a cold and failed to rally from its severity. The funeral was held from the German Lutheran Church at Fontenelle Sunday afternoon at 1 o’clock. Mr. Wilkening was 99 years old Saturday, October 27, last. He was strong, bright and happy. His son, Henry W. Wilkening, with whom he lived is 70 years old, has two grown sons and two daughters, and their farm embraces 1,000 acres of rich Washington county land. The farm house is a fine brick building, well protected by beautiful trees and large enough to shelter two or three families. Mr. Wilkening was born in Westphalia, Germany, October 27, 1807, and brought his family to America in 1854. They first settled in Illinois, but moved to Washington county, Nebraska, in 1859. The only son, Henry W. Wilkening, became the prosperous farmer with whom the old gentleman lived. One daughter married Henry Sprick, another married William Hildenkamp and a fourth married August Lallman, all of Washington county.