My Genealogy Hound

Henry Weissinger (deceased), former undertaker and furniture dealer, of Mt. Vernon, Ind., was born in Springfield, Ohio, July 14, 1834, and died in Mt. Vernon, Ind., May 22, 1906. He was a son of Carl and Marie (Klenck) Weissinger, both natives of Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany. They came to Mt. Vernon when their son, Henry, was a boy. Henry was bound out to a cabinet maker of New Albany and remained with him many years. During the Civil war he was in the United States Marine Service on the gunboat “Autocrat,” and as a ship carpenter had the rank of second lieutenant. He came to Mt. Vernon in 1866 and opened an undertaking and furniture establishment. Later he discontinued the furniture business, but continued in the undertaking line until his death. In 1894 his son, Allison V., became his partner and the firm of Weissinger & Son was formed. The business is still conducted under this name, Allison V. now having as his partner his own son, Merle A. Henry Weissinger was married, in New Albany, Ind., in 1857, to Martha Venable, who was born and reared in that town and who now lives in Mt. Vernon at the age of seventy-five years. They became the parents of eight children: Allison Venable, of Mt. Vernon; Harry, of Chicago; John R., of Enid, Okla.; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Henry Walters, of Sapulpa, Okla.; Manor, of Mt. Vernon; Frank, of Enid, Okla.; Mattie, now Mrs. Jesse Sutton, of Danville, Ill., and Jesse, of Enid, Okla. Henry Weissinger was a Democrat, served as councilman of Mt. Vernon and was county coroner four terms. He was a Master Mason and with his wife belonged to the Missionary Baptist church. Allison V. Weissinger was born in New Albany, Ind., March 31, 1859. He was reared in Mt. Vernon to the age of about sixteen, when he returned to his maternal grandparents in New Albany, remaining there for eight years attending school. He then came back to Mt. Vernon to work with his father. From 1888 to 1894 he was with the Adams Express Company and was away in the West a greater part of this time. In 1894 he became his father’s partner and has continued in the business since that time, building his present fine establishment in 1911. He is a licensed embalmer and served as secretary of the State board of embalmers, to which office he was appointed by Governor Durbin, for seven years. Mr. Weissinger is a member of the Elks lodge and of the Knights of Pythias. He is a Democrat in politics and a member of the Presbyterian church. In 1882 he was married, at Mt. Vernon, to Adellah Duckworth, daughter of John K. Duckworth, a liveryman and stage line owner of Mt. Vernon and related to one of the early pioneer families of Posey county. They have but one child, Merle, who is associated with his father in business and has served his third term as county coroner. He married, in 1906, Miss Grace Sullivan, daughter of Richard L. Sullivan, grain dealer of Mt.Vernon. They are the parents of one child — Emily Dee — born April 22, 1908.