Wiegner, Daniel

The following data is extracted from A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans.

Daniel Wiegner is one of the veteran merchants and business men of Salina, went to that city more than thirty-five years ago, and while he is now retired from active merchandising he still looks after his extensive interests as a land owner in that section of the state.

Mr. Wiegner is a native of Germany. He was born February 2, 1852, a son of Frederick and Catherine (Sipe) Wiegner. His early life in the old country was a combination of training in the common schools with practical vocational discipline that would fit him for a worthy place in life. He learned the baker's trade, and was thoroughly experienced in that line when he came to America in 1880. The first two years he spent at Kansas City, Missouri, working as a journeyman baker, and on September 18, 1882, he arrived at Salina. After a few months of employment as a baker he opened a restaurant on his own account, and subsequently operated a bakery and confectionery store for three years. In 1887 Mr. Wiegner erected a two-story brick building in which he installed a stock of general merchandise, with the upper floor for his residence. As a merchant he continued actively and successfully until 1913. In the meantime his surplus capital was invested in farm and city property, and as a result of his good judgment he now had financial independence represented by the various properties under his ownership. In 1916 Mr. Wiegner added one of the most substantial structures to Salina in the Colonial Apartments, which are perhaps the most modern buildings of the kind in the city.

He had always concerned himself with those movements and affairs which are intimately related with Salina's progress and development. Fraternally he is a Knight of Pythias. He and his family are members of St. John's Lutheran Church.

On April 23, 1883, at Salina, Mr. Wiegner married Miss Susan C. Shiffert, a daughter of Samuel H. and Mary L. (Burke) Shiffert, who were natives of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Wiegner was born at Ashland, Pennsylvania, January 2, 1857. Her father came to Kansas in 1880, and was a prominent building contractor at Salina until his death on November 24, 1903. In the Shiffert family were ten children, one daughter dying in infancy and the three daughters and six sons who grew up were: Charles H., Stephen D., Irvin, Susan C., Anna L., Frederick R., Eugene, Grace L. and William.

Mr. and Mrs. Wiegner have one child, Harry Irvin, a merchant of Salina. He was born at Salina May 30, 1885, was graduated from the Salina High School with the class of 1904, and in 1911 completed the course of the Kansas Wesleyan Business College.

Source: A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans

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