Funeral services for the late D. M. Wetsel, who died suddenly Monday night from a heart attack, will be held today (Wednesday) at 2 p. m. from the Harrisonburg Church of The Brethren. Interment will be the Mill Creek Cemetery.

The services will be conducted by the Rev. C. E. Long, assisted by the Rev. D. H. Miller and Elder N. D. Cool. Friends will meet at the home on Collicello Avenue at 1:30 and leave for the church.

The active pallbearers will be M. H. Adams. Rufus Heatwole. F. M. Brown, J. D. Wampler, I. M. Fry, Wilbert Thompson, C. E. Wine and H. L. Layman. The honorary pallbearers will be Dr. J. E. Schwanenfeld, Dr. C. P. Harshbarger, Isaac Ney, Henry Ney, Dr. V. L. Biedler, W. R. Hite, Rev. M. L. Minnick, John R. Crown, S. M. Cox and Alfred Ney.

Mr. Wetsel, born in Pennsylvania Jan. 23. 1861, came to Virginia and located in the Port Republic neighborhood when 21 years old. At this time he owned 200 acres of land there. This was rich loamy soil along the Shenandoah river, the kind of soil be loved to work so well. It included the island near Port Republic which he later named Green Island Seed Farm. It was there that Mr. Wetsel first entered the seed business and where he developed and named the Gord seed Corn, which is still grown by many Valley farmers. Mr. Wetsel was a keen agriculturist. He was pioneer in planting sweet clover a rebuilder of soil. At that time few farmers did this, and now the extension services recommend it.

Mr. Wetsel moved to Harrisonburg in 1911, and with his two oldest sons: A. W. arid E. H. Wetsel he started the D. M. Wetsel Seed Co., which became the Wesel Seed Co., Inc., in 1915. This business became one of the most widely known in the Valley and is still flourishing. Mr. Wetsel later retired from the store and devoted his time to raising plants.

In the spring of 1929, Mr. Wetsel introduced the French-American tomato of which he –was proud. He sold seed and plants for this tomato in nearly every state in the union, particularly in the East and South. This tomato is famed for its size and few seeds and is almost free of acid. Persons who could not eat tomatoes on account of acid enjoy this variety. He also produced another tomato known as the Yellow Trophy. Mr. Wetsel had an uncanny knowledge in developing plants.

Mr. Wetsel is survived by his wife, who was Miss Lydia Virginia Wampler, before marriage; and the following children: A. W. Wetsel, of New. York; Mrs. J. M. Miller, of Jonestown. Pa.; Mrs. M. L. Linewearer, Fredericksburg; Mrs. Clarke Fulk, Genoa; Mrs. E. J. Lokey, Harrisonburg; E H. Wetsel, Harrisonburg; D. M. Wetsel Jr., Harrisonburg; Miss Ruth Wetsel, Miss Luella Wetsel, Miss Alma Wetsel, and Biedler Wetsel, at home. Fifteen grandchildren also survive. Two sisters and two brothers also survive; Mrs. Clyde Sprinkle. Emmetsburg, Md., Miss Rose Wetsel, of Harrisonburg; David R. Wetsel, of Rockbridge, Md., and J. R. Wetsel, of Chicago.

The twelve children will attend the funeral. His brother. J. R. Wetsel, of Chicago, also will arrive for the obsequies. His other brother is kept at home by illness.

Harrisonburg Daily News Record
Wednesday Mar 1, 1933