The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-04-10
rRoek Island Union-J

ley OF the Rhine located not FAR from
the city of Mainz, Nov 81. 1884 His
father. John weyerhaeuser. was one OF
| the substantial men Of the village own.
ing farm OF fifteen acres, three
acres OF which was a vineyard Mr.
/ Weyerhaeuser was one OF family OF
eleven children, five of whom, himself
and four sisters, reached maturity His
!! fathers death occurred in 1876 when
Mr. Weyerhaeuser had reached the
age of twelve years. He had attended
| school UP TO that time and was well
along in the rudiments OF an educa-
ton. The death of his father, however,
compelled him to devote his energies
as boy to the cultivation OF the
farm. At the age of II he was con-
irmed in the German Reformed
church.
Came to America.
In 1919 an older sister and an aunt
came to America locating in the west
ern part of Pennsylvania. Their let
tiers home telling of the opportunities
in this country, inspired the remand
er of the family to remove to America
and in July 1852, they landed in New
York and proceeded to Northeast,
small place about 15 miles from Erie.
Pa, where they located. At the time
OF his coming he was eighteen years
of age. He was trained to labor and
did not hesitate at any task that pre-
scented itself. His first work was in a
brewery owned by a relative. Here
during the first year, he earned 81 a
month and the second year 50. But
he did not like the business. He then
accepted position on farm at S13
month and held this position for year.
At about this time the holdings Of
the family in Germany were sold and
with his share OF the proceeds Mr..
arriving there in March 1856. He,
was not long in finding employment
and went to work on the Rock Island
& Peoria road which was being built
at that time from this city to Coal Val
ley, where coal mines had been open
ed. Soon after, however, he accepted
a position as fireman on the night
shift at the Mead, Smith and Marsh
sawmill in the lower part of the city.
Two days after he accepted this posi-
ton the night force was laid off. but
during the short time he had been
able to demonstrate his willingness
and capacity for work and he was made
tallyman, his duty being 10 keep an ac-
count OF the output Of the saws. These
consisted of one rotary and one mulay.
AS the work did not require his entire
time he assisted in loading the lumber
upon trucks to be wheeled into the
yards. His willingness to do whatever
work came to his hands soon earned
the good will OF his employers. When,
one day at the noon hour, the sales !
men and office force being at dinner. !
lie sold bill of lumber to a farmer
who was in hurry and collected $50
In gold for it, he demonstrated to .Mr. |
Marsh that he had good judgment as |
well as a capacity for work, and he was |
soon placed in charge of the yard and /
the local sales.
Starts in Coal Valley. /
In December of the year 1851 Mead. |
Smith and Marsh opened a lumber I
yard at Coal Valley and placed Mr.. /
Weyernaeuser in charge of it. Shortly /.
after this the firm, owing to the f1nan-
,ial unrest which prevailed through !
,ut the country, became embarrassed, |
and Mr.. Welerhaesuer acquired. as he !
could pay for it, the ownership of the I
Coal Valley business Then failure ,
came to the firm.
The mill was not being operated
ind Mr.. Weyerhaeuser conceived the
lumber as he could dispose OF, anc
eased the old mill in which he had
worked. He found that he could lay
me lumber down at his Coal Valley
vard for IS thousand feet. This left |
| substantial margin of profit and at
he end Of the first nine months he
'ound that he had cleared, with his
,ther operations ia buying grain, 33,-
100. This was in the latter part of
he year 1859. In 1850 ne cleared So
100
When the affairs of Mead, Smith
md Marsh were finally wound up the
mill was placed on the market at a
modest figure, and forming partner
,h1p with F.. G. A. Denkmann, the mill
vas purchased by making small cash
payment. This was the beginning of
he partnership which developed into
me of the greatest and most widely
Known lumber manufacturing con-
,erns II the country. Within two
Jears the mill had cleared itself Of all
ana the output of the
mill had been increased from 3,000,-
100 feet annually to 100000 feet.
Still Lived at Coal Valley.
Upon acquiring the mill Mr.. Weyer-
did not devote his entire time
o manufacturing lumber, but continu-
I'd in charge of the Coal Valley bust