Explore the rich history of Schleisingerville, its citizens and local businesses through this digital collection consisting of two significant histories published by the Slinger Advancement Association and over 300 photographs providing accessibility to historians, genealogist and citizens.

About Brauch Schleisinger Weil

Brauch Schleisinger Weil was born in Strasbourg, France on June 29, 1802, and settled in Washington County on November 1, 1845. He owned property and erected what was at the time considered an elegant residence on Section 31 south of Cedar Lake about 1847, and he lived there at the time. On the best portion, in the northwest quarter of the Town of Polk on Sec. 18 he platted the Village of Schleisingerville. He built a large store and dwelling on the corner of Main and Franklin streets and started a thriving center of trade. (1854-56) Through the energy of Mr. Weil, the village soon became the center of trade for a number of adjoining towns. Weil himself kept a full assortment of goods adapted to the wants of the country trade, and he established a good local hide business. Other branches of trade and manufacturing were started. There were shoemakers, blacksmiths, a wagon-maker, a hotel and tannery. The tannery was built by George Ippel and Thomas Jenner who did a fair business and established a good local hide business.

Later Weil built a distillery which was run by him and his associates until he left in 1869. Through the exertions and influence of Mr. Weil, the route of the old LaCrosse Railroad (later the Milwaukee & St. Paul Road) was located so as to pass through the village, and the occasion of its completion to Slinger was celebrated with great rejoicing on August 23, 1855. A large party of excursionists came out from Milwaukee, including the president of the railway and other prominent citizens. Salvos of artillery saluted the approach of the train, and the party was royally entertained during the day by Mr. Weil who fed and feasted the entire group in the upper rooms of his hotel Mr. Weil remained in the village he had built until 1859-60, at which he moved to Cedar Lake and then to West Bend. Mr. Weil was the largest purchaser of government land in the county. In December 1845 he purchased in the name of Jules Schleisinger, his son, and Eliza Adelaide, his wife, the following land: Sec. 5 - 477 acres; Sec. 6 - 408 acres; Sec. 7 - 378 acres; Sec. 8 - 160 acres, and Section 18 - 587 acres. Soon after the completion of the railroad to Schleisingerville, another man of rare business tact and energy came to the village and commenced merchandising. In 1856, Lehman Rosenheimer opened a store and in connection with it carried on a large trade in cattle, grain, and other farm products. The trade of nearly all the adjoining towns centered at his store. Five of his six sons became merchants. John, Max and Joseph remained in Schleisingerville. Moritz and Adolph became merchants in Kewaskum and Norway, Michigan. Rosenheimer built a larger store to accommodate his constantly increasing business. It was two stories in height and 38 x 50 feet in size. It doubled in size in 1867. Following his death in 1878, the sons added a grain elevator and large warehouse.

Schleisingerville to Slinger

Whereas at the annual election held on the first Tuesday of April, towit, the fifth day of April, A.D., 1921 at the Village of Schleisingerville, County of Washington, there was submitted to the electors of said village the question whether the name of said village should be changed and at which election said electros were directed, if in favor of said, change, to suggest the name be adopted for the said village:

And whereas, at said election, there 210 votes cast upon said question, of which number 25 ballots were blanks, and of the remainder 169 were for said change and 16 against, and of which number 145 votes were cast in favor of changing the name of said village to Slinger, 5 for the name Schleisinger, 4 for Hilton, 1 for Tyrone, 1 for Cream City, 1 for Vim city, 1 for Towerville, 2 for Cedar Dell, 1 for Waneeta, 3 for Hill Side, and 1 Lawndale, and 4 "Yes" without suggesting a name:

Therefore, be it and it is herby resolved by the Village Board of the Village of Schleisingerville, that the County Board of Supervisors of the County of Washington be and they hereby are requested to change the name of said village from Schleisingerville to the name of Slinger, and that County Board adopt an ordinance to said effect in accordance with Section 59.08, subdivision(3) of the Wisconsin Statutes.

Date, May 3, A.D. 1921
August Stork
Village President
William G. Kratz
Village Clerk