My Genealogy Hound

LOUIS WEIXELBAUM, a prominent member of the editorial profession, is the proprietor and manager of the Springfield Journal, the only German paper published in Clark County, and through its columns his facile pen wields a wide and wholesome influence. A Bavarian by birth, our subject was born in Hessdorf, near Wurzburg, June 23, 1836. His father, Maier Weixelbaum, was a native of the same locality, as was also his father, Moses Weixelbaum. Both were butchers by trade and spent their entire lives where they were born. The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Getta Ehrlich, and she was born in the village of Lohrhaupten Curhessen, located about twenty-five miles from his birthplace. In the latter place she passed her life after marriage, and there died at the venerable age of ninety years. She was the mother of seven children, of whom the following are now living: Moses in Munich, Bavaria; David in his native village; our subject; Clara, who married and lives in Hintersteinau.

The son of whom we write was the only member of the family to come to America. He was reared in the Fatherland, and in its excellent schools gleaned a liberal education. He was at one time a student at a teacher’s seminary, where he pursued a thorough course of study, amply fitting him for that profession, which he adopted when twenty-one years of age, his first experience being at Rulzheim, Bavaria, where he followed his vocation till 1860. In that year, ambitious to see more of the world, he resolved to emigrate to the United States of America, to see what life held for him here in this land of splendid opportunities. He boarded a steamer at Havre in the month of October and landed in New York the same month. Going from there to Baltimore he secured a position as teacher, and was thus employed in that city the ensuing five years. At the expiration of that time he turned his attention to mercantile pursuits, and for a year carried on the fancy goods business. In 1866 he took an important step in life which redounded to his future comfort and happiness, as on the 30th of January, that year, he was united in marriage to Miss Mina Stern. She was born in Heppenheim, Hesse, Germany, and came to the America in September, 1860. Their domestic life has been blessed to them by the birth of six children, namely: Meyer, Moses, Beulah, Clara, Mattie and Alma. After marriage Mr. Weixelbaum came to Ohio, and established himself as a dry-goods merchant in Ironton. Later he engaged in the grocery business, which he managed profitably, and at the same time taught in the public schools and edited a German newspaper, carrying on these varied occupations with characteristic energy, and making each one a success. In 1874 he closed his business, professional and literary labors in that city, and came to Springfield, as here his keen vision saw a fine opening for the publication of a German paper, to cater to the intellectual needs of a large population of his countryman, and with ready enterprise he grasped the opportunity, and soon was issuing the Springfield Journal, one of the ablest and best managed of the Teutonic publications in this part of the West, and he has conducted it successfully ever since, making it a progressive, newsy and entertaining newspaper that meets the demands of a large list of subscribers. Mr. Weixelbaum, starting with the basis of a solid education, has, through his wide experience and keen analytical powers, gained a large fund of information, which his literary ability enables him to put before the public in an attractive style. He does not publish his paper in the interests of any party, but preserves his political integrity by an independent course, reserving to himself the right to support whatever candidate he thinks best fitted for the office. He was appointed a member of the Board of Elections by Gov. Foraker, in 1889. The educational interests of this city have had the benefit of his wisdom and advanced views in regard to education, as he has served on the City School Board seven years. He and his wife are people of earnest religious feelings, which find expression in the Hebrew faith, in which they were reared.