WILLIAM WIRGES, son of John Joseph Wirges and Elizabeth Stark, was born January 30, 1902 at Cedar Rapids, Nebraska. John Joseph was born in Niederheimbach, Germany to Arnold Biith and Anna Gertrud. John Joseph came to America in 1880 and settled in Nebraska. On November 1, 1884 he married Elizabeth Stark at Crete, Nebraska. They had eight children. William was next to the youngest. Elizabeth died in June, 1906 and John in 1922. William’s brothers, Frank, Joe, John and Pete and sisters, Anna and Mary are all deceased. He and his sister Catherine remain. Alice Sullivan was born on June 24, 1906 to Simon and Belle Sullivan at Randolph, Iowa. Simon was the son of Jeremiah Sullivan and Bridget Torpy. Belle was the daughter of David and Mariah Longinaker. Alice had six brothers and sisters. Harry died at age one, Inez died in 1983, Robert in 1975 and Charles in 1977. Alice, Jerry and Katherine remain. Alice graduated from Elgin High school. On June 24, 1930, William and Alice were married in Elgin. They had four children: William Jr, July 11, 1931; Patricia, June 2, 1935; Richard, August 17, 1942 and Mary, October 7, 1946. William worked in the oil business and later worked for John Deere Implement and Chevrolet cars. They moved to Elgin in 1934 where William became interested in auction work. He obtained his real estate license in 1943. William Jr. married Jeanette Dinslage. Patricia married Mel Selting; Richard married Linda Kramer and Mary married Lonny Dixon.
Source Unknown: Originally submitted for this website in Dec 2007