The Stevens Point Journal, Stevens Point, WI, September 5, 1891

Double Wedding.

At the house of Mr. C. H. Dwinell on Brown Street there was a very happy gathering on the evening of September 1st. The occasion was that concentrated essence of happiness, a double wedding. Miss Mary E. Dwinell became the bride of our enterprising young townsman, Fred C. Shidel, and at the same time Mr. Bertrand E. Dwinell was joined in marriage to Miss Kitty S. Evans of Amherst Junction. The ceremony took place at 5:30 P. M., Rev. E. P. Rankin officiating. The immediate relatives of the parties interested were present with their congratulations, and after the ceremony all sat down to a generous repast furnished by the hostess, Mrs. Dwinell. Many valuable presents were the substantial tokens of good will to the newly married couples from their friends.

The Stevens Point Journal, Stevens Point, WI, Monday, August 24, 1925

Shidel Funeral Thursday

The funeral for Mrs. Fred C. Shidel, held from her home in Amherst village last Thursday afternoon, was very largely attended.

Stevens Point (Wisconsin) Daily Journal, Stevens Point, WI, Thursday, July 28, 1938

Neighborhood Social Items

Mr. Shidel Honored

F. C. Shidel was pleasantly surprised Sunday, July 24, when a number of relatives and friends gathered at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Earl Lea of Amherst, in honor of his 76th birthday. A picnic dinner and supper were served. Mr. Shidel was presented a purse of silver from the guests, who, besides the Lea family, included: Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Shidel of Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. John Becker and children, Clifford and Marian, and Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Becker of Wisconsin Rapids; Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Shidel, Jr., Mrs. C. H. Shorey and sons, Fred, Raymond, Robert and Carl, and Miss Ruth Weisman of Rothschild; Mr.. and Mrs. Wallace Shidel and family, Lawrence, Joseph, Earl, Bobby, Dorothy, Hazel, Ruth, Florence and Barbara, Mrs. A. M. Paulsen and children, Mark, Eunice and Janet, and Mr. and Mrs. George Shidel of Schofield; Mr. and Mrs. Richard Shidel and son, Frederick, and Miss Gladys Williams of Milladore; Mrs. Katherine Rebarge, Miss Leona Mathias, Miss Beatrice Wilke, Russell Lyons and Raymond Gage of Wausau.

Obituary--Chester H. Dwinell

Ex-Soldier and Pioneer Resident of County Dies at Home in Amherst

C. H. Dwinell died at his home in Amherst Thursday afternoon. Although he had been in declining health for several months and confined to his bed with heart trouble and complications for six weeks, during that time Mr. Dwinell was able to partake of food and enjoyed the association, and took part in conversation with the members of his family up to the last, and the end came very suddenly and unexpectedly.
Chester H. Dwinell was born at Mill Creek, Pennsylvania, Jan. 11, 1837. He had therefore nearly attained the age of 79 years. His father's family settled in the town of Stockton in 1853, and he had been a resident of this county ever since. In August, 1864, he enlisted in Co. F, 5th Wisconsin infantry, which was then serving with the Army of the Potomac, and from that time until the Surrender at Appomattox took part in all the campaigns and battles in which the regiment was engaged. He participated in the Grand Review, the fiftieth anniversary of which was celebrated at Washington this past summer, and on June 8, 1865, was mustered out with the rank of corporal.

For several years after the close of the Civil war he carried on the farm in the town of Stockton that was purchased by his father from the government, later moving to this city. Here he was employed as potato buyer by E. M. Copps. About eight years ago he retired from business and moved to Amherst.

The deceased was one of Portage county's pioneers and one of Amherst's most honorable citizens. A man of strict integrity and sterling worth, upright, and concientious, he was a good neighbor and a true friend. He was an honored member of Capt. Eckles Post No. 16, G. A. R. and faithfully attended their meetings as long as his health would permit, and during the last sad rites, the flag that he fought for and dearly loved, was placed at his side by his comrades.

In his death the family has lost one of its most cherished members--a kind husband and father. He is survived by his wife and three sons and three daughters. The sons are Charles M., Bertram E. and Ashael E., all of Amherst. The daughters, Mrs. F. C. Shidel of Amherst, Mrs. E. A. Jensen of St. Paul, and Miss Adelia, at home.

The funeral took place from the residence at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon. Rev. J. J. Geggling of the M. E. Church officiating. Hymns were sung by a trio composed of Mrs. A. P. Een, Miss Virginia Mason and M. A. Fleming. The pallbearers were his three sons, C. M., B. E., and A. E. Dwinell, his grandson, Tom Dwinell, and sons-in-law, F. C. Shidel and E. A. Jensen. Relatives present from a distance were a nephew, George Dwinell, from Waukesha, four brothers-in-law, Geo. and Wm. Nelson from Antigo, Andrew Nelson from Sheridan, and Gardner Nelson from Plover, a sister-in-law, Mrs. A. J. Empey of Stevens Point, and two nephews, Merritt and Homer Worden from Buena Vista. The funeral was largely attended, many friends coming from a distance. The floral offerings were many and beautiful, among them a bouquet of roses from Mr. and Mrs. Em. M. Copps, chrysanthemums from Mr. and Mrs. John Roy, all of Stevens Point, carnations and roses from nieces, Mrs. Putney and Mrs. Hagen and Mrs. Miller of Milwaukee, carnations from relatives, Mrs. Chester Rhoades and A. B. Dwinell, Madison, and a most beautiful anchor and bar from the Amherst K. O. T. M and L. O. T. M. Interment took place in the family lot in Greenwood cemetery. The services at the grave were conducted by the local G. A. R. The children were all present, and during their father's illness they were each and all devoted in their constant and tenderest care.

(Stevens Point Gazette, 24 November 1915, p. 10)

BERT E. DWINELL DIES AT HOME IN LOWER AMHERST TUESDAY MORNING

Bert E. Dwinell, practically a life-long resident of this section of Portage County, and one of the most prominent men of this community, died suddenly at his home at Lower Amherst, Tuesday morning, January 9th, at 4:00 o'clock, from a heart attack. He was apparently in usual health Monday and his death came as a great shock to his family and friends. On the day before his death he was up town and also drove to Stevens Point in his car. He visited among his friends in his customary genial manner and seemed in every way to be in normal health.
Bertram Ellsworth Dwinell was a member of a pioneer Portage county family. He was born in the town of Stockton on May 30th, 1869, a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Dwinell and spent his boyhood on the home farm and in early life learned the trade of miller. He worked for Jerome Nelson at Nelsonville and with Nelson and Lampson at Ashland.
In 1900 he purchased the flour and feed mill at Lower Amherst and also the residence which has been the family home ever since. For several years he conducted the milling business and later established the Amherst Electric Company, building the first lines in the village and furnishing this section with the first electric lights and power. The Lower Amherst water power was used in generating electric energy for this new business and Mr. Dwinell built up a very prosperous and thriving business out of his new venture. He wired most of the Amherst buildings for lights and was always keenly interested in his electric project. About twenty years ago he sold the business to parties from Mosinee, Wisconsin, retaining his home farm property at Lower Amherst. He remained in the employ of the new owners for some time, running the power plant, and later retired from the electric business and devoted his time to his farm and to other interests.
During his business career Mr. Dwinell was one of Amherst's first automobile salesmen and was also one of the first car owners in this section. He was always busy at some project or other and was highly successful in his ventures. He was interested in local affairs and served in various town offices as well as officer in his school district. Bert, as he was called by his many friends, was a genial soul, with a kind word for everybody and he was well known throughout this section of the state. He was an active member of the Portage County Old Settlers Association and served as an officer to that organization. He was devoted to his family and friends and he will be sadly missed.
He was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Sophia Evans, in Stevens Point on September 1, 1891, and to them were born five children, as follows: Lois (Mrs. Edward Hebblewhite of Lanark); Bessie, (Mrs. Clyde Rudiger, Lanark), Bernice, (Mrs. Arthur Thompson, Iola), Sarah (Mrs. Seymour Strong, Amherst); Esther, (Mrs. Howard Aldrich, Amherst), all of whom survive him. He is also survived by thirteen grandchildren, one brother, Charles M. Dwinell of Amherst and a sister, Mrs. E. A. Jensen of Seattle, Washington.
Funeral services will be held on Friday afternoon at one o'clock at the family home at Lower Amherst, and burial will be made in Greenwood cemetery. Rev. Arthur Willett will officiate.

LETTER

Ed. Note: Bertram E. Dwinell wrote the following letter to his aunt, Clara (Dwinell) Perkins. It is in the possession of Leona Wagner, Enterprise, Oregon.

B. E. DWINELL
HYDRAULIC AND ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
AMHERST, WISCONSIN

Sunday eve Mar. 10-1929

My Dear Aunt Clara:
I have before me your letter of Jan 14-1929 to Dear Sister Mary Shidel whom you know has passed on. I was surprised when my brother-in-law said he got the letter from you, addressed to Mary. You may be sure we were all much pleased to read it, I think we have read it nearly a dozen times. I wish we could a