When I returned to Oswald’s Pharmacy in 2016, one of the first things I did was sit down with my grandparents, Bob and Jean Anderson—the fourth-generation owners of the business. They’ve lived in the same Naperville home that my great-great-great-grandfather, William Wallace Wickel, built back in 1892. It’s a house filled with stories… even if some are a little fuzzy.
What We Know About Grandpa Wickel
Our conversations often turned to the early years of the family business. Unfortunately, my grandparents never met Grandpa Wickel. He passed away in 1927—before either of them was born. Most of the stories they had came from his daughter, Susanna Wickel, who married Louis Oswald in 1907. That marriage marked the start of the Oswald name in our pharmacy’s legacy.
Childhood Memories from the Heart of Naperville
I grew up just across the alley from my grandparents in Naperville’s Historic District. The original pharmacy location—now Ramsay’s Kitchen on Jefferson—was only a few blocks away. As a kid, I’d walk down Van Buren, cut through Central Park, and cross Washington Street to visit.
My grandma used to tell stories about how Grandpa Wickel always carried candy in his pockets to hand out to children in the park. Even without ever meeting him, I felt like I knew him just a little through those sweet stories.
A New Story from the Euclid Lodge Archives
Not long ago, I came across W.W. Wickel’s obituary from Euclid Lodge No. 65—located right above Naperville Running Company, just across from the original pharmacy site. That’s where I learned that Grandpa Wickel had one very specific community job: setting off the fireworks for Naperville’s annual Fourth of July celebration! Even my grandparents had never heard that one.
Honoring a Legacy That Still Shapes Us Today
Even though I never knew W.W. Wickel, I feel his presence in our family’s story every day. I’m lucky to know as much as I do about the five generations that came before me. Each one played a part in building what Oswald’s has become today.
Over the next few Ozzie Gram issues, I’ll be sharing stories from each generation as we celebrate our 150th anniversary. From Wickel’s bold decision to buy a small-town pharmacy, to earning his pharmacy degree in 1886, and passing the store to his son-in-law in 1915—that foundation has carried us through six generations of family ownership.
Want to Learn More?
If you’re curious, click here to go to FindaGrave.com to read his full obituary from the Euclid Lodge.
We’ve got some exciting things planned this year to celebrate Oswald’s Pharmacy History and our 150th anniversary. Follow the Ozzie Gram, check us out on social media, or sign up for our newsletter at the bottom of this page to stay in the loop. Don’t forget to pre-order your commemorative 150th Oswald’s Puzzle too!
Here’s to a spring full of stories and celebration!
–Alex
