Sylvester Werneth came to America from the Fatherland. He was born in Germany, on the 29th of December, 1856, and when eight years of age crossed the Atlantic with his parents, the family locating in Wisconsin, whence they afterward removed to Springfield, Illinois. In the capital city of the Prairie state he acquired his education in the public schools and was there reared to manhood. When about sixteen years of age he entered upon an independent business career, learning the brewer’s trade, at which he worked in St. Louis, Missouri, and in California. In 1886 he came to Weiser, Idaho, and purchased the little brewery in the old town. He has since successfully carried on the brewing business, increasing his facilities to meet the growing demands of his trade, until he now has the best equipped and one of the largest breweries in the state. In 1897 he purchased a large lot in the new section of Weiser, near the depot and in the business center, and erected thereon a large brick building, ninety by seventy feet, and two stories and basement in height. The brewing department is twenty-five by fifty feet, all of brick and substantially built the best brewing plant in the state. He manufactures a fine article of beer and has a large home trade, besides shipping quite extensively to various places in the northwest. He also owns a good residence and grounds in the city.
In 1885 Mr. Werneth married Miss Mary Fisherkiller, a native of Illinois, but of German descent. They have four children, namely: Tresea Ellen, Mary Francis, Ethel Julia and Louis Sylvester. In his political views our subject is a Democrat, but has never sought or desired office, preferring to give his time and attention to his business interests, in which he is meeting with excellent success. His prosperity is the reward of his own unaided and well directed efforts, and today he ranks among the representative residents of his adopted city.