Director

John E. Thomas was born in Albany on November 27, 1929, to parents Henry and Lucy Thomas. Along with attending common schools. Thomas was privately tutored by Herr August Harpprecht, who was a graduate of the Wittenberg University in Germany. After completing his studies, Thomas became a clerk in a large dry-goods and silk house, and also began studying medicine. After two years of studying, he decided he did not want to be a doctor. In 1849, at the age of 20, Thomas ventured west. He arrived in Chicago, but soon discovered that it was not for him. He continued onward, and arrived in Sheboygan County. There, he started a mercantile business, and 1853 he stablished himself when he began the first chair manufacturing company in the county. This same year, Thomas married Clara Cole, daughter of Nathan and Chloe Cole, and granddaughter of Charles D. Cole. Together, Thomas and Clara had four sons, and two daughters: Stedman Thomas, William, Charles, Harry, Mary, and Mattie.Thomas was unsatisfied with just the manufacturing business, and decided to pursue a law degree. In 1858 he was admitted to the Wisconsin Bar, and began practicing law in Milwaukee. In 1862, he sold his interest in the chair factory. This led to him setting up his own law practice in Sheboygan Falls in 1865. In addition to practicing law, Thomas held local political offices, as well as serving in the Wisconsin Assembly in 1862 and the Wisconsin Senate from 1863-1864. He is credited with assisting with the formation of the State Normal School system, and served on the State Board of Regents for six years. These schools would later become the UW schools we know today!In 1879, Thomas became the owner, editor, and publisher of the Sheboygan County News. His son William and daughter Mattie became managing partners of the paper, while their brother, Harry, served as the book-keeper and collector. With the help of his son, Stedman, Thomas also became a founding member and the president of the Dairymen's Bank in 1881. His son then became the managing resident partner. The Honorable John E. Thomas died on April 14, 1910. He was so close with the family of Silas Stedman that he was buried alongside them, and the Stedman name lived on through John's son, Stedman Thomas.

The Honorable John E. Thomas was born in Albany in 1829. In 1849 he traveled to Sheboygan, where he started a mercantile business, which soon flourished. Not satisfied with just the manufacturing business, Thomas pursued a law degree and was admitted to the Wisconsin Bar in 1858. He served in both the Wisconsin Assembly and the SEnate, before becoming the owner, editor, and publisher of the Sheboygan County News. Thomas died in 1910, and is buried alongside the Stedman family.

John E. Thomas

Join the Sheboygan County Museum for a walking tour through the historic Sheboygan Falls Cemetery

Charles H. Weisse was born in Sheboygan Falls on October 24, 1866 to parents Charles S. and Minnie. Charles attended German Lutheran School, which is now the St. Paul Lutheran School, and later the Sheboygan Falls High School. By the age of 14 he had also entered his father’s tanning business.In 1897 Charles S. retired and Charles H. and his three brothers took over the tanning business. The business continued to grow, and Weisse products soon became well known throughout the country. The Weisse Company was a major company in Sheboygan Falls, and employed a number of men in the area. It was particularly known to never shut down, even when the economy was bad. The owners were also known to have close relationships with their workers, going so far as to work alongside the workers. Charles himself served as the active head of the company, becoming well known in the leather industry. In addition to the leather business, Charles also served on various boards, held local political offices such as President of the City Council (1893-1896) and Treasurer for the School Board (1897-1900), and gave charitably to those in need. In 1896 Charles married Lena Kallenberg and the two had one son, Henry. In 1900 Charles unsuccessfully ran for congress, but was later elected in 1902 before being re-elected three times, serving from March 1903 to March 1911. In addition to serving as a congressman, Charles was selected to serve as a delegate at the National Democratic Conventions in 1904 and 1908. After his time in Congress, Charles returned to local politics and focused his attention back on the Weisse Company, building a new, four story addition to the tannery and a brand new office building. Business continued to boom until disaster struck in September of 1919. At 3:30am a fire was discovered by a night watchman in the engine room of the Weisse Factory. The flames spread rapidly to the rest of the building, and by 6:00am the only things left standing were the exterior walls of the tannery and the newly built office building.Volunteer fire departments from Sheboygan Falls and Sheboygan came to help put out the flames, which shot more than 100 feet in the air. Fortunately, there had been heavy rain in the days leading up to the fire, ultimately saving the rest of the city from burning down as well. Although devastated by the loss of his factory, Charles was determined to rebuild the tannery for the sake of his family and the community. Eight days later, Charles was joined by his brother Otto and 15 other workers. The men went out to inspect and salvage what they could from the remains. While checking on the still intact vats, a gust of wind hit a nearby wall, knocking it over. Six of the men were injured by falling bricks and taken to St. Nicholas Hospital.Unfortunately, Charles himself was buried by the collapsed wall and died instantly. Another employee was hit by a brick and knocked unconscious. He then fell into one of the large vats and drowned to death. According to The Sheboygan Press, “while the burning of the large tannery building the other day was a severe loss to the Falls, it was no comparison to the shock of the tragic death of Mr. Weisse.” In the days leading up to Charles’ funeral, many editorials were published that spoke of the loss of the great, “big hearted man.” It was estimated that there were 500 cars at the cemetery for the funeral, an especially impressive number due to the relative newness of automobiles.The funeral entourage that carried Charles to his final resting place was made up of his employees, including two of the men who were injured in the accident and who still both wore bandages around their heads. Charles was a dedicated Freemason and prominent masons from all over the state attended the funeral. In addition to these prominent men, congressmen, assemblymen, state senators, and other officials also attended this funeral. A sea of flowers was sent in sympathy from individuals, organizations, and companies from across the country, and small clusters of modest flowers were brought by mourning community members. Charles Weisse was tragically taken from his community, but is remembered for his deep love of his fellow man, his generous heart, and his dedication to political and community service. He was a man who was willing to serve beside the men who worked for him.

Charles Herman Weisse was an important businessman in Sheboygan Falls. He was instrumental in running the Weisse Company, which manufactured leather. Weisse served as a Congressman for a number of years, as well as participating in local politics. In 1919 the Weisse Company tannery burned down. Charles was killed in an accident following the fire, and is buried in Sheboygan Falls Cemetery.

Charles Herman Weisse

Dwight F. Lawton was born in 1791 in Hardwick, Massachusetts to parents James and Mary Lawton. He was baptized in 1793. Little is known about Dwight’s early life, and few records exist about him. We know that he was still living in Hardwick at age 14, and then he appears in the 1850 Census as a merchant in Milwaukee. How he came to Wisconsin or what happened between age 14 and 59 is a complete mystery to us. We also do not know who he married, but we know he had a daughter, and that he was a merchant of some kind. We also know that he eventually moved from Milwaukee to Sheboygan Falls, but again the timing is a mystery. With that being said, we do know that Lawton arrived in Wisconsin prior to 1850. He was one of the founding members of the Milwaukee chapter of Freemasons, which became the first chapter in what was then the Wisconsin Territory in 1844. He was then elected High Priest sometime between 1844 and 1849, and served in that role for a few years. The exact date is unknown, as the secretary took documents with him when he left to fight for the Union in the Civil War. Unfortunately when he died in battle, the documents were lost with him. Dwight then became a founding member of the Grand Chapter in 1850, which represented Wisconsin as an entire state. He was elected the first Grand High Priest for the Grand Chapter during the first convocation meeting held in Madison in 1850. During this time, he approved submissions for new lodge chapters. At the 1853 convocation, Dwight announced the new chapter of the Royal Arch Masons in Sheboygan. This chapter would be called Harmony Lodge, no. 19. This was in addition to the Sheboygan Lodge, No. 11, which was chartered in 1848.Around this time, Dwight moved to the Sheboygan area to join the membership of the Sheboygan and Harmony Lodges, as well as the Masonic St. John’s Lodge, No. 24, which was later chartered in 1855 for Sheboygan Falls. Early members of these lodges included William Trowbridge, John E. Thomas, and Silas Stedman, all of whom were prominent pioneers in Sheboygan Falls. They are also all buried in the Sheboygan Falls Cemetery. During this time, Dwight’s daughter began to require additional attention due to her mental illness. Dwight began to dedicate all his time to caring for his daughter, and eventually hired a nurse to assist him. Unfortunately during this time, Dwight’s business began to decline until he was bankrupt.Likely due to the stress of life, Dwight himself became very ill and was confined to his home, often restricted to his bed. His fellow Masonic brothers at St. John’s Lodge came to his aid and helped to take care of his financial needs while he and his daughter were sick. Sadly, after four months of illness, Dwight passed away on March 24, 1856. St. John’s Lodge covered the funeral costs, totalling $84.50, and erected a beautiful obelisk in Dwight’s honor. It was announced at the 1857 convocation of the Grand Chapter that their beloved brother and former Grand High Priest had died. The fraternity mourned the loss of one of Masonry’s “brightest ornaments and most devoted patrons” by wearing black mourning bands on their arms for a month; a tradition that would have been traditionally performed by family members. Upon learning that Dwight had left behind an orphaned daughter, the fraternity took it upon themselves to provide for her financially in honor of her father’s memory.

Little is known about Dwight Lawton, outside of his involvement in the Masonic Temple. We do know that he was born in 1791 in Massachusetts, and that he later moved to Wisconsin as a merchant of some kind. He became involved with the Freemasons after this move, and spent much of his life helping to establish the Masonic order in Wisconsin. We also know that Dwight had a daughter, and near the end of his life he dedicated himself to her care. Ultimately, Dwight died of illness in 1856, but he remains an important figure in the Masonic history of Sheboygan County.

Dwight F. Lawton

Helen Brainard Cole was born in Oneida, New York on July 20, 1838. Her family moved to Sheboygan Falls when Helen was 7 years old. Little is known of her childhood, but we do know that her father worked as a blacksmith. In 1858 Helen married William Cole, the son of Charles D. Cole, a Sheboygan Falls pioneer. Unfortunately, two years into their marriage, William contracted tuberculosis and died, leaving Helen alone with their 11 month old daughter, Hattie. At the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, Helen felt the need to serve the Union army as both her father and brother enlisted. Fortunately, Helen would get her opportunity. The need for medical care in the war was so great that a woman, Dorothy Dix, was appointed by the government to enroll women as hospital nurses. This role was not traditionally available to women, and it marked an opportunity for individuals like Helen. At age 21, Helen became the personal secretary for Dix in Louisville, Kentucky. At this point Helen was too young to serve as a nurse, as women were required to be at least 30 years old. However, after repeated requests, Helen became a hospital nurse for Campbell Hospital in Washington, D.C. While serving in the hospital, Helen met and befriended many significant figures, including the president, Abraham Lincoln, who frequently visited the hospital to spend time with the wounded soldiers. When Lincoln’s son, Tad, became sick, Helen was selected as one of the nurses to care for him. Later in her life, Helen would speak of her time during the war with pride.After the war, Helen was sent to Memphis, Tennessee, to oversee the closure of a hospital for African American veterans, before moving to Boston to work in a home for women. During this time, Helen returned to school, believing that everyone should be a student their whole life. She painted illustrations for books, wrote histories and featured stories for newspapers, and formed acquaintances and friendships with many famous and important individuals. These friendships included people like General and Mrs. Grant, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Horace Mann, Josephine Peabody, Theodore Roosevelt, and Henry Ward Beecher. Eventually, Helen returned to Sheboygan Falls in order to care for her father who was quite ill. She cared for both her father and mother until their deaths, promising her mother that she would remain in their family home for as long as her brother, Benjamin, was alive. She fulfilled this promise, and upon Benjamin’s death Helen sold the family home and moved into the Grand Hotel in Sheboygan. There she would live for eighteen years, until her own passing.Helen was an incredibly active and patriotic woman for her time. She was a member and served as an officer in many local, state, and national societies and organizations. There are 12 groups listed in her obituary, including The National Association of Army Nurses of the Civil War, the Washington, D.C. chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Daughters of Union Veterans (which was renamed the Helen Brainard Cole Tent in her honor during her life), the Veterans of the Foreign Wars Auxiliary, and the Women’s Relief Corps. In addition, Helen was a popular speaker nationwide. She traveled every year to be part of the national encampments of the Grand Army Republic and the Army Nurses of the Civil War, even into her old age.While she lived in the Grand Hotel, Helen had a favorite corner of the lobby that she sat in and received guests. She would recount her life experiences and share a friendly smile and wave to those passing by outside. One day, however, Helen fell at the bottom of the steps and broke her hip. She was then taken to St. Nicholas Hospital, and although she remained cheerful, Helen passed away two weeks later on September 4, 1931 at the age of 93. Helen’s funeral took place four days later, after days of visitation at the Hanchett Mortuary due to the number of people who wanted to pay their respects. On the day of the funeral, the body was escorted to Grace Episcopal Church by many military organizations. The church itself was filled to capacity, with standing room only. The procession then moved here, to the Sheboygan Falls Cemetery, with a group of 400 people gathered around the grave. The American Legion then provided a firing squad, and presented taps. The Helen Brainard Cole Tent (the local chapter of the Daughters of the Union Veterans) erected a memorial in the form of a boulder two years later, in 1933. You can still see it at the corner of Calument Drive and 20th street, across from the Cooper Elementary School in Sheboygan. It was designed to “ever be an inspiration to all who gaze upon it to emulate the noble acts and deeds of women, and is a fitting memorial to Helen Brainard Cole.”

Helen Brainard Cole was a beloved, patriotic woman who served her country during the Civil War as one of the first female nurses. During the war, Helen served at the Campbell Hospital in Washington, D.C., where she befriended president Abraham Lincoln. She later moved to Boston, before returning to Wisconsin. Helen passed away in 1931 at the age of 93, and is buried here in Sheboygan Falls Cemetery.

Helen Brainard Cole

Silas Stedman was born November 24, 1785 in Chicopee, Massachusetts, to parents Phineas Stedman, Jr., and Sarah Howard. Silas became a prominent member of the community, and from 1831-1832 served as a House Representative in the Massachusetts legislature. In 1827, Silas married Elizabeth "Betsy" Bowles. In the 1830s, Silas felt the urge to move West. He arrived in Chicago and walked along the shores of Lake Michigan until he arrived in Sheboygan in 1835. The story goes that, while exploring the area, Silas heard rushing water coming from a steep incline. Upon investigation, he found the waterfall in what would later become Sheboygan Falls. Once Silas recognized how many resources were available in the area, he traveled to Milwaukee to await the Wisconsin land sales in November. Along the way, he stopped at Payne's Mill and met Lt. Randolph Marcy and Samuel Beall. Together, they decided to bid for the land that Stedman had found. While in Green Bay for the land sale, they met three other men; Governor James Doty, a man named Jones, and Albert G. Ellis. All three men agreed to join their bid for the land. The land was then sold to the group at $13.50 per acre. After the purchase of the land, Stedman briefly returned to Massachusetts to bring back his wife, Betsy. While he was gone, he contracted a man to build a sawmill for him. Unfortunately, the project was not complete upon his arrival, and would not be completed until a year later. Over the coming years, Stedman slowly bought out his partners, and is ultimately credited with the plotting what was then the town of Rochester. Later, the town would be renamed Sheboygan Falls, as there was already a Rochester in the area, and mail carriers were struggling to direct mail.In 1863, Silas was appointed the Post Master of Sheboygan Falls. This role became a military position during the Civil War, and led to him becoming Colonel Stedman. He was referred to as Colonel for the rest of his life. In 1869, Silas passed away.Interestingly, sometime between 1850 and 1860, Silas and Betsy invited John E. Thomas and his family to live with them in their home. Since Silas and Betsy never had children, John E. Thomas became the son that they never had. They were so close that the two families are buried together here, in Sheboygan Falls Cemetery.

Silas Stedman is considered the founder of Sheboygan Falls. He was born in Massachusetts in 1785, and moved to 1835. Seeing how many resources were available in the Sheboygan area, Stedman decided to bid on the land. In 1837 Stedman initially plotted out what was then the town of Rochester (now Sheboygan Falls), and in 1846 the town was officially plotted. Stedman died in 1869, and is buried here, in the Sheboygan Falls Cemetery.

Silas Stedman

Charles D. Cole was born in Schenectady, New York, on October 19, 1806. He attended public school while also working on canal boats. At the age of sixteen, he was made captain of a canal boat in Cleveland, Ohio, proving his leadership and authority. On August 22, 1831, he married Sarah Trowbridge in Ithaca, New York. Sarah was born in 1813, to parents Deacon William and Dorothea Trowbridge. They are also buried in the Sheboygan Falls Cemetery, and are also considered important founders of the area. Charles and Sarah had six children, George, William H. (who married Helen Brainard Cole), James R., Nathan, Charlotte, and Hattie. Charles ran a successful canal business until he sold his boats in 1836 to move his family to the Wisconsin Territory. There, the family landed by the mouth of the Sheboygan River, and Charles set up the fur trade with his business partner, Farnsworth. Together, they bought furs from the Native American people. In 1836, Charles was appointed the first Postmaster of Sheboygan, and when the county was organized he was chosen to be the first Register of Deeds; it was his job to register the new Sheboygan County with the land office in Green Bay. In 1838, after the financial panic of 1837, the Cole family moved to Sheboygan Falls and bought 320 acres of land. They lived in the mill house, which today is the Sheboygan County Historical Research Center. Charles built a sawmill on the Pigeon River in 1848, and later bought a water powered mill in Sheboygan Falls. He then converted that mill into a sawmill and gristmill. At the same time, the Cole family continued to operate their own farm.On March 20, 1867, Charles passed away at the age of 60. His wife, Sarah, lived for another 20 years, passing away on March 24, 1887. Charles was one of the first people to be buried in the new Sheboygan Falls Cemetery. He is considered to have been a good business man and a prominent and influential citizen. He is credited with encouraging emigration to the area, and promoted the growth of what is now Sheboygan and Sheboygan Falls.

Charles D. Cole is considered to be one of the earliest pioneers in Sheboygan County and in Sheboygan Falls. His name lives on in the Cole Historic District, which includes Water, Monroe, Adams, and Michigan streets. Cole was born in New York in 1806, and married Sarah Trowbridge in 1831. In 1836, Cole and Sarah moved to Sheboygan, where Cole set up a fur trading warehouse with his partner, Farnsworth. The Cole family moved to Sheboygan Falls in 1838, and purchased 320 acres of land. Their home is now the Sheboygan County Historical Research Center! In 1867, at the age of 60, Cole passed away and is buried here, in the Sheboygan Falls Cemetery.

Charles D. Cole

This average farmer has become famous across the country, and not for his amazing agricultural skills…but for his headstone. This stone is 4.5 feet long and 3 feet wide, and Mr. Kuhn claims that it fell from outer space.John Kuhn thought ahead about how he wanted to be buried. He claimed that this meteorite fell on his farm which was located along Highway 23 between Falls and Plymouth sometime in the late 1870s or early 1880s. Kuhn hauled the stone to the Sheboygan Falls Cemetery with a team of horses and placed it here on the family lot. After Kuhn’s death in 1884, the stone was attached to this pedestal with an inscription on one side that says “In memory of John F. Kuhn, who died in 1884” and “The surmounted specimen was selected by Mr. Kuhn and is placed here in compliance with his request” on the other.It has not been officially proven that it is or is not a meteor from outer space. A distinct characteristic of a meteorite though is its weight. They weigh significantly more than regular stones because of the iron they contain. We don’t have a way to weigh it without disturbing the burial sight – but the fact that it took him a full team of horses to pull this to the cemetery is a good indication that it is heavy!Until 1969, there were only about 2,000 meteorites in the world’s collections. Meteors typically burn up in the earth’s atmosphere and never make it to the ground. If this truly is a real meteorite, it is a rare and unique find! This unique headstone marker is a bluish, dark gray smooth stone with molten rust and black specks, and crystal-like lumps of varying shades of gray throughout it. The fact that it is smooth is surprising since from the look of it, you would expect it to be bumpy. Go ahead, touch it! We know you want to.Since 1884, visitors have come from all over the country to see the meteor. It is also listed as a meteorite sight to visit online for space enthusiasts.John F. Kuhn was born in Germany in 1829. He immigrated to America and arrived in New York in August 1867 at the age of 38. He quickly made his way to Wisconsin and applied for Naturalization in the Oshkosh area on November 5, 1867. He later received his citizenship on September 14, 1882. By the 1870 census he was living in Sheboygan Falls with his wife Lydia A. Kuhn, and they operated a farm. Although, John Kuhn was just an average man, he discovered something extraordinary and will go down in history for having a (so far) undisputed meteorite as his tombstone.Is it weird that we added a stop in a cemetery? Not at all! Although often seen today as dark and something to be avoided, rural cemeteries were once a place to enjoy nature and the company of friends and family. Organized rural cemeteries did not exist in America until Mount Auburn Cemetery was constructed in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1831. This large, park like cemetery concept had never before been seen in the U.S., which as of yet did not have public parks, nature preserves, art museums or botanical gardens. Soon rural cemeteries were developing all over the country, and citizens flocked to these new “parks.” Located on the outskirts of cities and towns, rural cemeteries provided escape from the hustle and bustle of noisy, everyday life.Today, cemeteries can be considered open air museums full of art, history, stories, nature, wildlife, and gardening. Visitors can discover local history in a way that brings it to life. Benjamin Franklin said, “Show me your cemeteries and I will tell you what kind of people you have.” There are approximately 110 church-affiliated and independent cemeteries in Sheboygan County. So grab the picnic basket and make a date to explore the cemeteries!The Town of Rochester’s first cemetery did not emerge until nine years after settlers first arrived. Dorothy Chapin, wife of Deacon William Trowbridge died January 1, 1844 and became the first to be buried in the cemetery that was surrounded by Adams, Hickory, and Jackson Streets. This spot overlooking the Onion River and Sheboygan River continued to be the location for pioneer burials until the newly renamed Town of Sheboygan Falls bought 8.5 acres of land from Silas Stedman (buried in this cemetery) for $400 in 1854. Over the years paved roads, trees and landscaping, and water piped in from the Village of Kohler system have been added and maintained. The Village of Kohler Cemetery is located directly north of this cemetery. The Sheboygan Falls Cemetery is a city run cemetery and attended to by the Sheboygan Falls Public Works Department.

As you walk through the Sheboygan Falls cemetery, you will come across an unusual grave marker. This large stone marks the grave of John F. Kuhn, who claimed that the stone was a meteorite from space. Although that claim has not been officially confirmed, it is quite possibly true. Even if it isn't, the stone makes an impressive memorial and contributes to the landscape of this beautiful cemetery.

John F. Kuhn's Meteorite

John Weldon "Wyckie" Wyckoff was born sometime in 1893. We believe his birthday was December 25th, but records differ. However, according to his daughter, Maryann Debbink, the family always celebrated his birthday on Christmas. What we do know is that Wyckoff's parents were Roland Nelson Wyckoff and Laura Beck, and he was born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. As a young adult, Wyckoff attended the nearby Bucknell University, and became a star pitcher on their baseball team. 1912, before graduation, Wyckoff signed a contract to play in the Tri-State Minor League. Within a year, he was picked up by the Philadelphia Athletics--one of the best teams in Major League Baseball at the time.Wyckoff's best season was in 1914, when he led the Athletics in the fewest hits per innings. He was considered one of the top 10 pitchers in the majors! However, he soon became known as a wild pitcher, walking more batters than any other pitcher in the league. He would often go back and forth between redeeming himself before being taken out of the next game for being unreliable. However, even with his unpredictable pitching style, the team did well and made it to the pennant. Unfortunately, Wyckoff's wildness persisted and in 1916 he was traded to the Red Sox. With Babe Ruth and other star pitchers already on the team, Wyckoff had difficulty making it into regular rotation. In 1917, Wyckoff's season was suddenly cut off when a piece of glass cut through his shoe and nearly severed his toe. He was sent back down to the minors and, after recovering, pitched a half-season with the Buffalo Bisons.After recovering, Wyckoff returned to the Red Sox, and once again seemed like a promising pitcher. Unfortunately, he was released to a minor league in Minneapolis on May 23, 1918. He refused this demotion, and was ultimately black-balled from the Major League. Over the next four years he would continuously appeal for reinstatement into the league, and in 1922 he was temporarily reinstated to "clear his good name."After leaving the Red Sox, Wyckoff continued to play for minor league teams before semi-retiring from baseball to run his father's taxi business in Williamsport. At this time, Wyckoff was married to a woman named Lena, and the two had two children, John William and Charles. However, Wyckoff and Lena's marriage ended in divorce, and he remarried to Marie Therese Toomey on May 12, 1924. The family then moved to Battle Creek, Michigan when Wyckoff received a job working in the warehouse and office of the Post and Kellogg cereal companies. There he played for their company baseball teams and rediscovered his love for baseball. In 1929, the family moved to Sheboygan Falls so he could join the Wisconsin State Baseball League. Once in Wisconsin, Wyckoff played for the Sheboygan Chairmakers and helped them win the league championship. His contribution to the team during that season earned him an induction into the Sheboygan County Baseball Hall of Fame! After this, Wyckoff worked as a machinist at the Kohler-Joa Company (today known as Curt G. Joa, Inc.), and as a bartender at the Franklin Hotel in Sheboygan Falls, as well as at Gartzke's and Horn's taverns.Sadly, on May 8, 1961, Wyckoff died suddenly of a heart attack while working in his yard. He was only 69 years old. He is now buried here, in the Sheboygan Falls Cemetery.

John Weldon "Wyckie" Wyckoff was a major league baseball pitcher from 1914-1918. John, who also went by just Weldon Wyckoff, was born in 1893. He made a name for himself as a pitcher on the Bucknell University baseball team. He was picked up by the Philadelphia Athletics, before being traded to the Red Sox in 1916. With Babe Ruth and other star pitchers already on the team, Wyckoff had trouble finding his way into regular rotation. In 1918 he was released to the minor leagues, and semi-retired from baseball. Wyckoff moved to Sheboygan falls in 1929 so that he could play for the Wisconsin State Baseball League. Sadly, Wyckoff died suddenly in 1961, at the age of 69. He is buried here in the Sheboygan Falls Cemetery.

Sheboygan Falls Cemetery Tour

John E. Thomas

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources