In the late 1800's, John Wessels came over from Germany with his mother and two brothers, Garrett and Fritsch.  They settled in the Rutersville area.

John later married Mary Heller from the Halsted community.  Together they built a fine old home and several successful businesses in Halsted.  They owned and operated the general store, saloon, dance hall, gin, and gravel pits.  He also operated a concession stand between the store and dance hall where he sold fresh meat from there, once a week.  They leased approximately 1000 acres of land in the community on which share croppers, living in tenant houses, raised cotton and corn.  J.H. (John) Wessels was a state representative for two terms somewhere around 1920.

John and Mary had seven children.  They raised five, Garland, Irene, Sophie, Leon, and Eddie.  Garland, their eldest son, later became the first and only train master of the Halsted depot.  He operated the depot from the general store and in 1914 the actual depot was built.  It was closed twenty-two years later.  In about 1915 a terrible train wreck occurred in Halsted when two engines collided.  Pictures of this wreck hang in the old depot today.  Garland married Matilda Hanisch and they had two daughters, Eva and Nelda.

In 1969, the home, depot and general store were purchased by Harvey and Judy Smith.  It was a working family farm until 2002.  The Smiths, along with their daughter and son-in-law, Kelly and Randy Stork, decided it was time to share their gorgeous old home with those who can appreciate its beauty and history.  They welcome the opportunity to serve you at Halsted Haus.