Untitled
From the Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette, Wisconsin, publ. 1901- page 711-712
CHARLES WEITTENHILLER. For a third of a century this gentleman has been prominently identified with the industrial and business interests of Platteville, Grant county, and is today one of the leading merchants of that place. His early home was on the other side of the Atlantic, as he was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1844. His father, Sebastian WEITTENHILLER, was a native of the same province, born in Eichstadt, Bavaria, April 27, 1824, and there married Annie SHIELL, whose birth occurred in that village in 1822. In 1849 he crossed the ocean to America, and after spending eighteen months in New York, came West to Galena, Ill., and in May, 1853, took up his residence in Platteville, Wis., where he was joined by his wife and children in the Fatherland until that time. In Rochester, N.Y., he learned the cooper's trade, which he followed in Platteville for eleven years, and then, in 1864, purchased a farm of 164 acres and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. He died in Platteville in 1898, but his wife is still living, and continues to reside at that place. Of their children Charles is the eldest; Conrad, the second son, is a farmer of Platteville township; Mrs. Emma CALLAWAY is the next of the family; Philip is a farmer of Laurens, Iowa; Mrs. Lena SECORD resides in Washington, as does also Jennie; Mary makes her home in Platteville, and Mrs. Etta MAY is a resident of Washington. In religious belief the family are Presbyterians.
Since the age of nine years Charles WEITTENHILLER has made his home in Platteville, and in early life he learned the cooper's trade with his father. He began business for himself in 1867 as a manufacturer of cooperage, and continued to carry on operations along that line until 1890, when he embarked in merchandising. He carries a large and well selected stock, and by fair and honorable dealing has built up an excellent trade.
During the war for the Union, Mr. WEITTENHILLER enlisted at Platteville, Jan. 24, 1864, in Company E, 25th Wis. V.I., under Capt. J. M. Scott, for three years or during the war. His command was assigned to the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 16th, and later the 17th, Corps, Army of the Tennessee, and participated in the engagements at Snake Creek Gap, Ga., Resaca, Dallas, Big Shanty, Kenesaw Mountain, Nickajack and Atlanta. With four comrades Mr. WEITTENHILLER was captured at Decatur, July 22, 1864, and sent to Andersonville Prison, where he was incarcerated two months, being exchanged Sept. 23, 1864. After rejoining his regiment at East Point, Ga., he was sent to the convalescent camp, and after four weeks spent at Marietta, Ga., again joined his regiment in time to take part in the March to the Sea. He was all through Georgia, and the Carolina campaign, in the battle of Salkahatchie River in January, 1865, and later took part in the engagements at River Bridge, South Edisto, Bentonville and Goldsboro. He was transferred to Company K, 12th Wis. V.I. and with that command was honorably discharged at Louisville, Ky., July 16, 1865.
In 1867, at Platteville, Mr. WEITTENHILLER married Miss Jennie MARSHALL, a daughter of E. H. MARSHALL and his wife, Johanna. Her father, who was a native of New Hampshire and a farmer by occupation, came to Grant county, Wis., as early as 1836, but spent his last days in Iowa, where his death occurred in 1898. Mr. and Mrs. WEITTENHILLER have a family of five children, namely: Cora, Addie, Marenus, Charles and Jennie. Mr. WEITTENHILLER uses his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party, and has taken quite an active interest in local politics, being elected a member of the city council and justice of the peace, both of which offices he most capably and satisfactorily filled. Fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America; Melody Lodge, No. 2, F. & A.M.; and one of the most prominent and influential business men of his adopted city.
This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck