August F. Weinel

August F. Weinel, who is engaged in the lumber and livery business in Columbia, claims Germany as the land of his birth, which occurred in Prussia on the 5th of August 1837. His father, B. P. Weinel, was a miller of that country. I his parents' home our subject was reared, and the public schools afforded him his educational privileges. At the age of nineteen he bade adieu to friends and family and sailed for the new World, for he believed that America furnished better opportunities for ambitious young men than the older countries of Europe.

In 1856 Mr. Weinel took up his residence in Columbia, where he engaged in clerking for two years. He then bought and interest in a store, which was conducted under the firm name of J Weinel & Co., the partners being J. Weinel, J. S. Morgan and A. Weinel. On the expiration of five years the last named member sold out to his brother. In 1865 he was elected County Surveyor, which office he filled for a term of two years.

In the meantime Mr. Weinel was married, in 1866 to Miss Bertha, daughter of Ernest Grosse, a lumber dealer of Columbia. He was a native of Hesse-Cassel, Germany, and came to America in 1837. He served as a soldier all through the Mexican War. He was then given a land warrant, and afterward was granted a pension. Mrs. Weinel was born in St. Louis and was about two years old when the family came to Columbia. To our subject and his wife were born ten children, the eldest of whom, Catherine, is deceased. The others Bertha, Ernst A., Amelia, Louisa, Adelia, Fred W., Edwin, Philip and Elsie.

After serving his term as Surveyor, Mr. Weinel embarked in the hotel and livery business, which he carried on for about eight years. He then established a lumber yard, and has conducted the same connection with his livery business continuously since. He has prospered in his business dealings, and now owns five hundred acres of good farming lands in Monroe County, besides considerable town property. His farm is well improved and under a good state of cultivation, being devoted to the raising of grain. His residence is a fine one and is most pleasantly situated. In his political views, Mr. Weinel is a Democrat. He has been a member of the School Board for tow years, and served as its President for one year. For many years he has been Chairman of the Democratic County Central Committee, and has taken an active part in political work. He is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity and is Treasurer of the local lodge. He is also a Director of and is interested in the building of the Masonic Hall, and is one of the Directors of the electric light company. The various business interests with which he is connected have not only proved of benefit to himself, but have also aided in the material advancement of the city. He and his wife are members of the German Protestant Church, and are prominent and highly respected people, who well deserve representation in this volume.