Henry Y. Weissinger This article from Birmingham News Dec 1, 1936 (HYW died 11-30-1936)
(from-Horace Wilkinson Weissinger, around 1997-98
HENRY Y. WEISSINGER
H. Y.WEISSINGER FINISHED IN
SCHOOL'S SECOND CLASS

BACK IN 1862

Henry Yarbrough Weissinger, 94, died last night at the home of his daughter, Mrs W. E. Smith, on South Twenty-Eighth Street.

The oldest alumnus of Howard College, Prof Weissinger was a member of the second graduating class in 1862. His own birthplace, Marion, AL and birth date, Feb 9, 1842 were the same as those of his alma mater, a fact of which he was proud, and for which he was honored on each Founders Day by the Howard alumni.

Although he had reached an advanced age, Henry Weissinger's mind was exceptionally keen, especially concerning events of his boyhood and the years he served as a Confederate soldier.

Joining the Confederate Army in June 1862, he was a member of the Twenty-Eighth Alabama Regiment and on the retreat from Corinth, Miss was transferred to the Twenty-Fifth Alabama. He saw active service in many battles.

In 1864 he was assigned to duty on the staff of his half-brother, Gen George Doherty Johnston, great grandfather of Henry P. Johnston of Birmingham.

CAREER AS TEACHER
In 1865 he began his career as teacher, being a member of the first faculty of "Stonewall Institute" in eastern Perry County, about 13 miles from Selma. There he taught the sons of several of Alabama's great men, including two sons of Gen John T. Morgan and a nephew of Gen (the late senator) Pettus.

Prof Weissinger lived to see many of his former pupils become national figures and always felt a keen interest in them. Only last week he received a letter from a pupil he taught 60 years ago.

After resigning from Stonewall Institute, Prof Weissinger taught for one year in a small school in Marion going in 1868 with his parents to Maury County, Tennessee where he married Miss Emma Ridley Miller of Mount Pleasant. They had eight children, five boys and three qirls, all born in Tennessee.

Returning to Alabama in 1888, Prof Weissinger was elected principal of Marion Academy, in which post he served for five years, coming to Birmingham to accept the post of president of East Lake Atheneum where he remained for two years, resigning to become principal of Presbyterian School, Buckesville, Ky. Prof Weissinger taught school about 50 years and was an able Latin and Greek student.

Retired at 75
At the age of 75 he retired from active educational work, and devoted many years to travel and research. He visited old libraries and dug into the archives of history of Virginia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee and Alabama and armed with facts and dates, he compiled a "Genealogy of the Masons, Wilsons, Ridleys and Weissingers". Henry Weissinger said he had a great deal of difficulty in getting the younger members of his family to read this history of which he believed, in the years to come, they will be increasingly proud.

Prof Weissinger was a member of the South Highlands Presbyterian Church.

He is survived by two daughters and four sons: Mrs Walter E. Smith, Birmingham; Mrs Millard H. Palmer, Cheyenne, Wyo; Charles M. Weissinger, Opelika; Leonard A. Weissinger, Selma; Henry Y Weissinger,Jr., Cleveland; Burke B. Weissinger, Jefferson, City, MO; 18 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. Prof Weissinger was a great uncle of Henry P. Johnston, Vice-president, The Birmingham New-Age Herald.

Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery, following services at 11:00 A.M. Wednesday at Johns Service Chapel.
Pallbearers are Horace C. Wilkinson, Henry Johnston, Carnot Janney John A Norris, Jr., Manning Eagles and Neal Smith.

This page scanned from copy of H.W. Weissinger, Jan 99 - fpm