Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-04-04

Rock Island =. Il Peoria railway, now
part OF the Rock Island system. In 4
short time. however. lie saw what he
thought was a better opportunity firing
the boilers at night for the sawmill of
Mead, Smith & Marsh in Rock Island.
At last he had started on the career
which was to bring him fame and
what is reputed to be one OF the larg-
est fortunes ever amassed by man
Two days after he began work the
night shift was laid on, but he had so
impressed his employers that they re-
tanned him. giving him work as tally
man. One day while the salesman was
away some farmers came 10 buy 4 bill
of lumber. Young WeyerEaeuser left
his lunch and with the readiness for
any undertaking which characterized
his later undertakings, he sold the
lumber and collected $50 in gold for IT,.
turning the money over to the sales
man on the latter's return. This stroke
OF enterprise was not lost upon his
employers. who soon advanced him
till he had charge OF the yards and
local sales.
Is Married Here.
II was while he was working for
Mead. Smith & Marsh that Mr.. Weyer-
haeuser was married TO Miss Sarah
Elizabeth Bloedel She was from his
native village. but was living in Erie,
Pa He met her when she came TO
visit her sister. Mrs. F. c. \. Denk-
mann. After a courtship OF six
months they were married. the cere-
mony taking place oct. II. 1851.
In December of the same year the
firm opened a lumber yard in Coal Val
Low then a growing mining town, and
Mr. Weverhaeuser was given charge
He made an immediate success and
when his employers shortly afterward
got into financial difficulties ne was
able TO purchase their assets and TO
finally set up in business for hihlseIi-
Al first he had great difficulty in keep
ing his financial craft ahoat III the
panicky times of those days AFTER Sc
curing the Coal Valley yard ne declueu
to operate the unused mili OF MS ioi
mer employers. He bought a rait ana
cut II I'D. stocking his yard Win the
finished product. About this time ne
added building contracting ana gram
buyine TO his other activities ana III
the last nine months OF 1893 he clsareu
81 600 and I'm the following year So'oOo'
When the old mill of Mead, smith q
Marsh was finally put upon the mar
ket he formed a partnership WIN ms
brother-in-law. the late r {. A DehA-
mann who was then conducting gro
cory store I'm Rock Island, ana To-
o,etbar they purchased the mill and be-
gan operations. In two years all en-
cumbrances had been paid OFF and
later the mill was improved and eX-
nanded till its annual output was TO-
OOO. 900 feet
To Rock Island in 1871.
nuripg this time he continued to
~. IN coal Valley and to be Interest
cd in a number Of enterprises aside
,ror, the lumber business. lie owned
-, interest in a Touring mill AT Coal
T-.tIev and he and his partner were in
,oresfed in a wooden mill. In 1871 the
coal valley lumber yard was placed
On charge OF an employe ana MI
yI-.,,arbaeuser removed 10 Rock Is
land to live A.
Retween the years 1888 and 1871 the
,,.,ndations OF the great business OF
numbering afterward carried on Dy the
firm were laid. The personal chai
ac,eristics of the firm members lhaus
their association mutually benehcial'
Mr. Denkmann. who was an expert me
chanic. took charge Of the mills anu
surmounted the difficulties OF mahuiac-
ture. Mr. WeyerhaeuseTs natnr''i
,biIt,ies and training made him great
salesman. Ills genius in providinf
satisfactory log supply for the mus
was early apparent. lie was moi con