The mining interests of Macoupin county are ably represented by F. E.
Weissenborn, of Staunton, superintendent of the Consolidated Coal
Company’s Mines. For many years he has been prominently connected with
the development of the industry in this region and ranks today as one of
the best informed men in the county concerning its mineral resources. He
was born at Belleville, August 29, 1860, a son of Emanuel and Louisa
(Kleine) Weissenborn. The father was a native of Prussia, Germany, and
came to America in 1832, when he was ten years of age. He crossed the
ocean in a slow-going sailing vessel and landed at New Orleans, where he
remained five years, at the end of which time he took up his residence
at Belleville, Illinois. He was a shoemaker by trade and engaged in that
business at Belleville until his death, which occurred when he was
sixty-eight years of age. He was prominent in the Masonic order and was
one of the highly respected men of the community. The mother of our
subject was born in Westphalia, Germany, and came to the United States
with her parents when she was eight years old. She was married to Mr.
Weissenborn at Belleville and died in that place in 1889, after arriving
at the age of sixty-two years. There were two children in the family of
Mr. and Mrs. Weissenborn: Martin, who died in 1901; and F. E., the
subject of this review.
After receiving the rudiments of a
common-school education F. E. Weissenborn entered the coal mines and has
ever since been actively connected with mining interests. He received
his introduction to this industry when he was only ten years old and
after seven years, feeling the need of more education, he went to St.
Louis and pursued advanced studies in the night schools, maintaining
himself by working at wages in the daytime. A young man of this caliber
is not likely to remain long in a subordinate position and, having
qualified himself for responsibility, he was advanced through various
offices in connection with mining until in 1892 he was made
superintendent of the Consolidated Coal Company s mines a position which
he has ever since filled to the general satisfaction of the stockholders
and officers of the company. He lived for three years at Gillespie but
in 1895 removed to Staunton, where he has since made his home. The
company is among the most important of the kind in this part of the
state, being one of the large and steady producers of coal. The output
of No. 7 shaft is now one thousand tons per day and the mine gives
employment to about two hundred and ten men. No. 14 shaft, which was
sunk in 1903, produces three thousand tons per day and this mine employs
five hundred men. Mr. Weissenborn is an excellent executive officer and
possesses in an unusual degree the respect and confidence of the
employes under his charge.
In 1882 he was married to Miss Tillie
Erndorfer, a native of St. Louis, and they have two children, Pearl and
Nannie, both of whom are at home. He is prominently connected with the
Masonic order and is a member of the blue lodge and chapter at Staunton,
the commandery at Litchfield and the consistory at Chicago. He and his
wife are members of the Order of the Eastern Star and he is also
identified with the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America
and the Modern American, all of which are at Staunton. He can claim many
friends in the various orders with which he is connected and also
throughout this part of the state, where he has been favorably known
during his entire active life. Eminently just and fair as an employer,
he has contributed very materially toward the mineral resources of the
state of Illinois and is, therefore, entitled to a place among the real
benefactors of the country.
Extracted 18 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 680-681.
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