The soldiers of the Civil war, who valiantly upheld the cause of the
Union, earned the undying gratitude of all friends of the republic, and are
justly entitled to the credit of fighting for the liberties of man. Many of
the brave men who wore the blue are still living and bear witness to their
personal courage, the scars received in battle being indisputable evidence
of their faithfulness in the hour of danger. Among this number should be
named Engelbert Weis, of Staunton, who lost a leg in defence of the stars
and stripes and has for many years been a respected citizen of Macoupin
county. He is a native of Baden, Germany, born November 5, 1840, a son of
Peter and Mary (Nitz) Weis. The father was a farmer and he and his wife
spent their entire lives in the old country. They had five children, namely:
Engelbert, of this review; Augustina, deceased; Mary and Carl, both of whom
are now living in Germany; and Mrs. Theresa Arndt, of Staunton.
Engelbert Weis possessed advantages of attendance at the public schools of
his native land. He came to America in his boyhood with an uncle, who
entered the mercantile business at St. Louis, Missouri. In his uncle’s store
the growing youth secured his introduction to business methods, and while
thus employed he became acquainted with Captain Ulysses S. Grant, later
General Grant, who lived on a farm near St. Louis for several years in the
’50s and hauled wood to the city. Mr. Weis has a distinct recollection of
the man who was destined to become the most noted general of the Civil war,
but who gave little evidence of his remarkable talents until after he had
been tested in a post of large responsibility. Mr. Weis learned the
upholsterer’s trade, at which he worked until the outbreak of the great
rebellion. On the 22d of April, 1861, he enlisted as a member of Company A,
First Regiment, Missouri Volunteer Infantry, and at the expiration of three
months’ service reenlisted for a period of three years. Soon afterward he
was wounded at the battle of Wilson’s Creek and the loss of a leg
incapacitated him from further military duty. After recuperating for a year
at St. Louis he engaged in farming in Madison county, Illinois. In 1865 he
purchased a general store at Staunton and was actively identified with the
mercantile business in this city until 1899, since which time he has lived
retired. His two sons are now conducting the business under the title of E.
Weis & Sons and are carrying it forward with marked success. Mr. Weis is the
owner of the store building and also of four acres of land in the city and
other valuable interests. He and his family occupy one of the beautiful
residences of Staunton and he is known as one of the substantial men of the
community.
In 1866 Mr. Weis was married to Miss Anna Zimmerman, who
was born in Hanover, Germany, a daughter of William and Dora (Meyers)
Zimmerman. Mr. Zimmerman emigrated to America with his family in i860 and
took up his residence at Mount Olive, Macoupin county, Illinois, and later
purchased a farm in Madison county, near the Macoupin county line. Here he
and his wife spent the remainder of their days. They had four children:
Dietrich and Albert, both of whom are deceased; Anna, now Mrs. Engelbert
Weis; and Gretchen, who is also deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Weis have two sons,
Carl and Engelbert, who are associated in business at Staunton.
In
politics Mr. Weis has been a supporter of the republican party ever since he
cast his first ballot and for twenty years he has served as justice of the
peace at Staunton, discharging the duties of the office in such a way as to
meet the hearty indorsement of the people. He and his wife are members of
the Lutheran church, in the faith of which they were both reared. He
formerly held membership in’ the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the
Grand Army of the Republic, but during recent years has taken no part in
lodge affairs. He is now enjoying in comfort the results of earlier labors
and is fully entitled to the esteem in which he is held by the people of
Staunton and vicinity.
Extracted 18 May 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 127-128.
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