William Wellenbrink, deceased, who for many years was
a prominent business man of Mount Olive, Macoupin County, and the third
member of the large mercantile firm of Keiser, Niemeyer & Company, was born
in Germany, October 30, 1832.
Mr. Wellenbrink was educated in his
native land and came to the United States in 1864 with capital, which he
invested in a grocery business at St. Louis, Missouri. He prospered there
and remained until 1877, when he removed to Mount Olive, to become a member
of the firm of Keiser, Niemeyer & Company, with which he continued until his
death, November 12, 1900. He was a man of fine business ability and became
one of the very substantial as well as highly respected citizens of the
city. His death was a loss to the city, removing as it did one whose
influence had always been directed toward matters of general welfare.
Mr. Wellenbrink was married in December, 1869, to Mrs. N. (Niederluecke)
Buschmann, widow of the late Casper H. Buschmann. Mrs. Wellenbrink had two
sons by her marriage with Mr. Buschmann — Henry A. and Wilham F. — who have
adopted the name of their late step-father, Mr. Wellenbrink. Henry A., who
manages his mother's affairs and is a very capable business man, was born
January 12, 1868; William F. was born November 15, 1869. On January 2, 1896,
Henry A. Wellenbrink married Louisa Knollmann, a daughter of John F.
Knollmann, formerly a merchant of St. Louis, Missouri, who died November 19,
1893.
In politics the late Mr. Wellenbrink affiliated with the
Republican party. Fraternally he was identified with the Odd Fellows. The
family is one of wealth and prominence in Mount Olive.
Extracted 2018 May 08 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 363-364.
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