I don’t “chase rabbits” very often, but this one was so fascinating that I set aside the research I’d planned for today, and instead read about the life and times of George Phillip A. Weisenborn. No, he didn’t live in Caddo. Didn’t have any relatives here. Probably didn’t even know anyone in the county before showing up to speak to a group of Caddo’s finest citizens.
Before I continue, I have to tell you that when I do genealogy research at the library I usually finish up by copying two or three random pages of the newspaper that I know I haven’t previously used for my blog. (Yes, even after twenty years, that’s still possible.) I take them home and read them, type interesting items, and then decide where to file them. Some will be used for my blog, some added to biographies or stories I’m writing. So…the item you’ll soon read at the end of Mr. Weisenborn’s story is one of those. Since I didn’t read it until I came home, I don’t know “the rest of the story”. I have my suspicions, and you’ll probably have yours by the time you finish reading this. However, I promise you that when I return to the library next week I will read the next three or four issues that follow and see if there is any report of what happened to our group of enterprising ancestors.
One more thing…I’m obviously not an expert on Mr. Weisenborn’s life. Never heard of him until this morning. However, since he had such an unusual name AND a rather unique occupation AND a predictable business pattern I feel that what I have quickly researched today pertains to the same person. And believe me…this is the very TIP of the iceberg. If you have trouble keeping track of his travels don’t feel bad. I found at least a dozen addresses for the man.
George Phillip A. Weisenborn was born in Illinois in 1859. In 1883 he married Francis Boling in Shelby County, Missouri. I located the announcement of one son in 1893.
Indianapolis Journal
December 30, 1900
The Globe Pattern Works of Indianapolis; capital stock, $25,000. Directors, G. S. Black, W. T. Weisenborn, and G. P. A. Weisenborn.
Dallas Morning News
January 21, 1905
The following out-of-town visitors registered at the news office yesterday: …George P. A. Weisenborn, Lansing, Mich.
Dallas Morning News
January 22, 1905
Wanted- A good man to handle the best and only practical windmill power developer: grinds your corn while you sleep; runs washing, churns butter. Address for further information, Geo. Weisenborn, city.
Brownsville Herald
January 9, 1907
Geo. P. A. Weisenborn, a prominent capitalist and manufacturer of Omaha, Nebraska, has been visiting Brownsville this past two days. Mr. Weisenborn is largely interested in the manufacture of certain stock remedies at Omaha and also of that in a patent wire fencing of which he is the inventor, this plant being located at Lansing, Michigan. He informs The Herald that his firm will establish a branch factory at San Antonio, for both of the above products. He is also in the market for a considerable tract of land with a view of establishing a large hog ranch which will serve as a kind of demonstration farm to show the efficacy of his stock remedies. (He advertised that he wanted 1,000-8,000 acres. That’s a pretty grand demonstration!)
Manufacturer’s Record, Vol. 52
1907
Houston, Texas- National Wire & Iron Co., reported incorporated in June with $40,000 capital stock, will soon begin operation of plant for manufacturing iron and wire fencing and wired products. G. P. A. Weisenborn, general manager, has patented a new machine which produces long lengths of smooth wire into ornamental fencing and intends to manufacture the machines in Houston. Plant is located at 807 Travis Street.
G.P. A. Weisenborn was listed as a member of the Texas Inventors Association in 1907. They met in October of that year to discuss changes needed in the patent regulations. Mr. Weisenborn held at least eight patents that I was able to verify. I suspect there were many more. And yes, he had a patent on a cotton chopping machine, but so did at least five other men. John Richards, from Crescent, Oklahoma held the patent in 1912 on a “new” machine that chopped fifteen acres in “less than two days”.
Industrial Development and Manufacturers’ Record, Vol. 53
1908
Houston, Texas- Signal Devices- Weisenborn Signal Co. incorporated with $10,000 capital stock to manufacture signal devices by John M. Spellman, J. W. Ragsdale, and G. P. A. Weisenborn.
Dallas Morning News
May 26, 1909
Agent Wanted- We manufacture the only double crank and successful cotton chopper and hoe. Agents make big money. Sells itself. G. P. A. Weisenborn, Oklahoma City.
(He placed similar ads for a variety of products in numerous newspapers for many years. I read several from 1905-1914. In one he specifically asked for agents from Texas, Indian Territory, and New Mexico. He also placed ads soliciting investors from as far away as Canada.)
Chicago Association of Commerce and Industry
December 20, 1912, Vo. 8, page 47
Industrial Openings
The Civic Industries committee advises that G. P. A. Weisenborn, Post Office Box 1585, Dallas, Texas, desires to have manufactured farm machinery specialties. He especially desires to have manufactured a cotton chopping machine and a beet locking machine. Those interested can write directly to the above.
Biennial Report of the Secretary of State, Texas
July 2, 1912
Charters Forfeited for Non-Payment of Franchise Tax (pages and pages of various companies)
Weisenborn Manufacturing, Houston, $37.50
The Caddo Herald
July 12, 1912
Cotton Chopper Company
There has been organized in Caddo a $10,000.00 corporation for the exploitation and manufacture of a patented cotton chopper. This chopper has been on exhibition in Caddo for the past few weeks and does the work claimed for it, chopping about ten acres of cotton per day. Our farmers and citizens were so well pleased with the instrument, which is the invention of G. P. A. Weisenborn of Denver, Colo. that with him they have formed the company and secured the charter. All the stock is subscribed and paid up, and the company has no more to sell. They will manufacture the instrument and have it on the market by the next cotton chopping time.
The company is composed of the following citizens: J. W. Crutchfield, Ira L. Smith, E. P. Semple, J. O. Hartzog, G. P. A. Weisenborn, J. L. Boland, J. M. Goddard, E. L. Pitchlynn, H. F. Bass, C. H. Colbert, and W. H. Phelps.
Caddo will be the distributing point for the machine over the whole south, an item that adds much to our industrial importance.
In 1919 the Lubbock, Texas newspaper mentioned Mr. Weisenborn in the personals. In January he was on his farm in Shallowater. In March he had moved into town. In April he and his wife had moved to Sterling, Kansas.
The 1930 Federal Census lists a George P. Weisenborn, inventor, age 70, as a resident of Oakland, California.
George P. A. Weisenborn died in Missouri in 1935 and is buried in Union Grove Cemetery, Shelby County, Missouri.
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