Growing up in York Township, Peter Weigand attended the district
schools
and spent a short time in a Catholic parochial school. When
fourteen years
old, he began working as a farm hand, continuing this for four years,
when
he began buying horses. Later he did teaming and thrashing,
always saving
money and keeping an outlook for good opportunities to invest it.
By the
time he had attained his majority, he was ready to farm himself,
so he
rented property from his mother, continuing to operate this until
1889, at
the same time keeping up with his thrashing. In the fall of
that year, he
rented the Lombard Hotel, conducting it for eight years, and firmly
establishing it's reputation for good meals and general excellent
treatment
of guests. In the spring of 1889, he retired temporarily from
the Hotel
business on account of ill health, but in March 2, 1900 he resumed
his
cares, buying his old Hostelry and running it until April 23, 1910,
when
once more he was forced to retire, and so sold his property.
In 1898, he
built a large modern residence in Lombard which is the family home.
On
November 2, 1889 Mr. Weigand married Mary Schempp, born in Philadelphia
-
November 30, 1864 - daughter of Phillip and Nanette (Elser) Schempp,
natives of Germany. After the death of his first wife he married
her
sister Mary. The Schempp family came to Lombard
July 21, 1887, and Mr.
Schempp died December 4, 1889, aged fifty-two years. His widow
later
married Carl Ketcher, and after his death was united with Carl Koseck,
and
they resided in Lombard. Mr. and Mrs. Weigand became the parents
of four
children: Albert P. Who was born August 3, 1890, a student of applied
electricity at Pratt Institute of Brooklyn, New York after having
already
been graduated from the Lewis Institute of Chicago: Ferdinand W.
Who was
born May 19,1982, a graduate of the Lombard Public School, is with
his
father: Gertrude M. Who was born February 11, 1896, a graduate of
the Lewis
Institute: and Harold G. Who was born September 29, 1903.
Mr. Weigand is a Democrat, but has never desired office, preferring
to
devote himself to his private affairs. Having been connected
with the
Hotel life for so long a time, Mr. Weigand is know all over the
State, and
affectionately remembered by those who had the pleasure of being
his
transient guests, as well as those who lived in his Hotel.
Contributed by Jim Bauer, October 1999.