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Village of Slinger

300 Slinger Road
262-644-5265

Village of Slinger History

Baruch 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.

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.

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 manufacture 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.