Springfield-Greene
County LibraryEarly and Recent History and Genealogical Records
of Many of the Representative Citizens
ANDREW JACKSON EISENMAYER. One of Springfield's representative citizens is Andrew Jackson Eisenmayer, whose life has been spent in activities that seem to exercise to the full his somewhat varied and unusual abilities; a life that carries with it the lesson that one whose capacity, wholly not of the very greatest, may yet do great work by close devotion to the task in hand. He is a busy man, an industrious man. For the past thirty years he has been successfully engaged in building up one of the important industries of Greene county, one of the largest of its kind in southwestern Missouri having been manager during that protracted period of the Eisenmayer Milling Company. He has attained a place in the commercial world of high degree and compelling importance in this locality, in which he is a constant quantity—one of the kind that makes up the front rank, the kind that can be relied on, a good work man in the world's affairs, a splendid specimen of the many that do the real, hard work of the world in places of passing importance, and do it well. His is a kind of life that does not attract attention for its unusual brilliancy or any picturesque or erratic qualities, but the kind out of which the warp and woof of the substance that goes to make up the continuous achievement of humanity is made.
Mr. Eisenmayer, as his name would indicate, is of German blood, but he is an American by birth, having first opened his eyes on the light of day in Mascoutah, Saint Clair county, Illinois, January 27, 1862. He is a son of Andrew and Christian (Sauter) Eisenmayer, both natives of Bavaria, Germany, the father's birth having occurred February 22, 1824, and there they grew to maturity and received their educations. The, paternal grandparents of our subject were Christopher and Margaret (Sies) Eisenmayer, both natives of Bavaria, also, his birth occurring in 1784, and she was born about 1788, and there they grew up and were married in 1807. He became a large land owner, devoting his active life to farming. During the Neapolitan wars he served in the Home Guards. He was a Protestant. His death occurred in 1870, and his wife died in 1872. They were the parents of eight children, six sons and two daughters. Five of the sons and one daughter came to America and established their homes.
Andrew Eisenmayer, father of our subject, was seventeen years old when he immigrated to the United States in 1841. He worked for two years at the carpenter's trade in Saint Clair county, Illinois, and in 1843 started a sawmill and a flouring mill in Mascoutah, Illinois, and operated the latter until 1886, and was known as one of the successful mill men of Saint Clair county. In 1884 he came to Springfield, Missouri, and purchased the present mill of the Eisenmayer Milling Company on West Commercial street, and having accumulated an abundance of this world's goods, he retired from active life in 1886. Upon purchasing the local mill he placed his son, Andrew J., of this review, in charge. Politically, he was first a Whig, later a Republican, and was very active in political affairs, but would never accept public office, although many were proffered. He was a director of the German Methodist College at Warrenton, Missouri, and contributed large sums to its support. He erected a well-equipped gymnasium which bears his name, for that institution. Religiously, he was a Methodist, as was his wife and they were both very active in church work. They grew up in the same locality in the Fatherland, and after he had gotten a start in the New World he returned to his native land for her, and they were married in 1847. She was a daughter of John Sauter, a farmers who was also a member of the Home Guards during the wars with Napoleon. The death of Andrew Eisenmayer occurred in 1900, his widow surviving until 1904. They were a fine old couple, beloved by all who knew them for their true German hospitality and kindness. They were charitably inclined, and helped in all good causes, but never gave for the sake of display. Eight children were born to them, three sons and five daughters, namely: Elizabeth is the wife of Dr. A. E. Wehrman, of Indianapolis, Indiana; Louisa is the wife of William Bromeleich, a banker of Lawrence, Kansas; John C. is engaged in the banking business in Trenton, Illinois; Kate is the wife of Z. T. Remick, an attorney in Trenton, Illinois; Andrew Jackson, of this review; Julius W. is vice-president of the milling firm in which our subject is interested; Anna E. is the wife of Dr. L. C. Toney, of Los Angeles, California; Amelia lives in Los Angeles, also.
Andrew. J. Eisenmayer grew to manhood in Saint Clair county, Illinois, and he received a good education in the common schools of Mascoutah, later studying at the University of Illinois, at Champaign, and was graduated from the mechanical engineering department in 1882. After leaving school he spent a year in his father's mill in Trenton, Illinois, and spent the following year traveling, and as already intimated he came to Springfield, Missouri, in 1884 and took charge of the Eisenmayer Milling Company's plant, and has since been president of the same. Under his able and judicious management, the business increased with advancing years until it assumed extensive proportions, its products being sent to very ready markets all over the country, and it is one of the best known flouring mills in the Southwest, and is one of the largest mills in this section of the state, occupying four hundred and sixty feet on Commercial street and one hundred feet on Broad street, covering forty-six thousand square feet of ground. One elevator of concrete, of six tanks, has a capacity of one hundred and forty thousand bushels of wheat, and another elevator has a capacity of one hundred and eighty thousand bushels. This mammoth plant has a daily capacity of one thousand barrels of flour, the leading brands being the "Spotless" and the "Royalty." The plant is modernly equipped in every respect as to machinery and conveniences, a general milling business is carried on and a large force of skilled assistants are employed, everything is managed under a superb system. Thousands of carloads of flour are sent annually from the railroad spur which has been built alongside the mill.
Mr. Eisenmayer was married October 1, 1890, to Celia A. Heer, a daughter of Charles H. Heer. She is a representative of one of the most prominent Springfield families and is a leader in the best social circles. She was born in Waterloo, Illinois, in December, 1867. She was given excellent educational advantages.
The union of our subject and wife has resulted in the birth of five children, namely: Walter C., born June 3, 1891, is assisting his father in the mill; Christine, born February 5, 1893, is the wife of Victor Simon, who is connected with the Farmers & Merchants Bank of Springfield; Louise, born on March 25, 1897, is attending school; Marie, born February 5, 1900, is also a student in the local schools; and Andrew J., Jr., born July 12, 1911.
Politically, Mr. Eisenmayer is a Republican, and he has always been more or less active in public affairs and has done much for the general welfare of Springfield. He was one of the first councilmen when the city was consolidated, spending four years in the council, and he was a member of the local school board for six years. He received a captain's commission in the military department of the University of Illinois, was president of the junior class, also president of the literary society, and was elected president of college government, and other offices of trust and honor were tendered him, but business affairs prevented him from accepting them. Those he has held, whether at the University or in Springfield, have received his close attention and been well and commendably filled. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masonic order, Gate of Temple Lodge No. 422, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Vincil Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; St. John's Commandery No. 20, Knights Templar; Abou Ben Adhem Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
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