Woodford County in History: UNCLE SAM SEIZES FARM

Hegler Farm, Owned by Aliens, Taken Over—Romance Connected With Ownership

[MINONK] The 240 acre farm five miles southeast of Minonk occupied by Charles Hasselman has been taken over by the government as alien property and Uncle Sam is Mr. Hasselman’s new landlord, says the Minonk News-Dispatch.
W. C. McFarlane of LaSalle, who was agent for the owners of this farm, has been made custodian by the government, and to him Mr. Hasselman must make all reports and returns. Mr. Hasselman has been on this farm for twelve years.
There is a touch of romance in the story of the ownership of this farm. The original owner was the late E. C. Hegler of LaSalle, the big zinc manufacturer. Mr. Hegler was in the habit of making numerous trips to Germany, and on one of these visits he met a Mr. L. Z. Von Veitinghoff, an expert chemist. The zinc manufacturer had need of such a man for his LaSalle plant and he induced Von Veitinghoff to come to America and take a position as chemist with him.
Mr. Von Veitinghoff made his home with the Hegler family, and in due time he learned to love one of the wealthy daughters. The feeling was reciprocated, and a wedding was the result.
As time went on the chemist became restless and he longed to go back to the Kaiser and his people and fifteen years ago he induced his wife to cast her fortunes with him across the seas. Before their departure, Mrs. Von Veitinghoff came into possession of the valuable farm now taken over by the government. They have resided at Berlin, Germany, during these past fifteen years.
John Ruskowski’s business property in Minonk has also been seized as alien property and M. H. Pfaffle is custodian. This property will not be sold, but Mr. Pfaffle expects to receive a license from the war trade board any day now so that he can rent it.

Friday, June 28, 1918
The Chillicothe Bulletin
--Courtesy of Hon. Gary W. Fyke, Mayor, Chillicothe, IL

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