Macoupin County
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Biography - F. E. WEISSENBORN

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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