Tombstone Tuesday: John Wigand of Put in Bay

According to the November 23, 1905 issue of the Sandusky Register, John Wigand, of Put in Bay, passed away on November 19, 1905. John Wigand had operated a restaurant near Doller's dock on South Bass Island for over twenty five years. He was survived by his widow Elizabeth, and two daughters, Minnie and Mrs. LaRue. John Wigand was buried at Oakland Cemetery in Sandusky. While a G.A.R. marker is located near Mr. Wigand's tombstone, there is no listing for a John Wigand in the 1890 Veterans Schedules for Ottawa County, Ohio.

A photograph of the interior of Wigand's restaurant appears on the Lake Erie's Yesterdays website. In the description of the photograph, Reverend Henry Cooke stated: "The one great peculiarity of Wigand's is that they insist upon putting the dessert on the table before, long before, you are through with the rest of your dinner and you have to hold on to it with your left hand while you eat with your right, for fear an excusionist [a visitor on a day's outing] empty ... and hungry might get hold of it."

Visit Lake Erie's Yesterdays to view hundreds of photographs of the northwestern Ohio area.