Weisbogel was born in 1844 in New Orleans, Louisiana. He joined the Navy from Louisiana and by January 11, 1874, was serving on the . On that day, one of his shipmates, a U.S. Marine named Wolf, jumped overboard in a "fit of insanity" in an attempt to commit suicide by drowning. Weisbogel jumped in after and saved him. For this action, he was awarded a Medal of Honor two years later, on March 23, 1876. By that time, he was serving as Captain of the Mizzen Top on the . Weisbogel also at one point served on the and performed a similar feat on that ship.