IowaJones/Biographies/l. Weatherson

Luke Weatherson
Born January 1827

LUKE WEATHERSON, farmer, Sec. 32; P.O. Fairview; he was born in Berwickshire, Scotland, in January, 1827; he came to New York City June 7, 1850; in the fall, he came to Wisconsin; in 1852, came to Jackson Co., Iowa; in 1866, he removed to his present farm; he now owns 636 acres of land. He enlisted in 1862 in Co. K, 36th I.V.I.; served to the end of the war. In 1851, he went to California; returned in 1856. He married Miss Nancy D. Highley in 1861; she was born in New York; she came with her parents to Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, when a child; they have six children—Isaac F., George A., James H., Andrew J., Fred E. and Nallie J. Republican; Baptist

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 583.

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F. D. Webb
Born 1843

F. D. WEBB, farmer, Hale Twp., Sec. 19; P.O. Olin; born in Ohio in 1843; came to Iowa January 1, 1879; bought and owns eighty acres. Enlisted in the 23d N.Y.V.I. in 1861; mustered out in 1863; re-enlisted in the 50th N.Y. Engineer Corps in 1863 and served till the close of the war. In politics, Republican; in religion, liberal. He has raised 200 wagon-loads of watermelons and has saved for the trade forty pounds of seed this year. His wife, Mary A. Colby, was born in Canada in 1852; married in 1866 and have five children—Angenoria, Mary Ann, Bertha, Elzina and Gertrude.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 642.

Gilbert Weeks
Born 1812

GILBERT WEEKS, farmer, Oxford Twp., Sec. 30; P.O. Oxford Junction; born in New York in 1812, and went to Ohio in 1831 and settled in Delaware Co.; remained about twenty years, then, in 1865, came to Iowa and settled in Jones Co; now owns 105 acres, and has made the improvements. His wife, Eunice Grist, was born in Ohio in 1817; married in Ohio in 1832, and they have had eleven children, nine living—John, Mirah, Mary, Clark, Malona, Sarah, Annie, Jane, Howard, George and Hiller. Has been School Director, Road Supervisor and Trustee of the Dimond Church.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 597.

Wilford S. Weeks
Born December 14, 1849

Wilford S. Weeks, one of the older generations of farmers of Rome township, was born in Cedar county, Iowa, December 14, 1849. His parents, Orris and Margaret (Archer) Weeks were both of Ohio nativity, but came to Iowa in the early days. The father came here first in the spring of 1840, and after spending a summer with a cousin in Cedar county, walked to his old home in Delaware county, Ohio. For about five months he sojourned in that state, and then came back to Iowa, entering government land in Cedar county. There he lived for about forty-nine years, then removed to Montrose, South Dakota, leaving there after nine years to live in Colorado, where his death occurred. His wife had preceded him to the grave by many years, her death having taken place in Cedar county, in 1858, not so very many years after she had moved to the state. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Weeks; Leonora, deceased; Wilford, of this review; Francisca, the wife of C. P. McKay, of Lamar, Missouri; and Margaret, who has passed away.

Wilford S. Weeks was reared at home and after completing the course of study taught in the common schools, prepared for college, and having finished his education in the higher institution of learning returned to the home farm to assist his father in its management. At the age of twenty-one he began farming on his own account, renting land in Cedar county for three years. He then came to Jones county, where for three years he tilled rented fields and afterward bought one hundred and forty acres on sections 27 and 34, Rome township. For ten years this farm remained the scene of his agricultural endeavors. Twelve years ago he sold that land and bought a tract of one hundred and twenty acres in the same township, where he has since lived, following general agricultural pursuits which have brought him generous returns for the labor he has put upon his fields.

On the 18th of January 1880, Mr. Weeks was united in marriage to Miss Elva C. Saum, who was born in Jones county and is one of the four children of D. and Anna Saum. The parents were natives of Ohio but came to Jones county in the early '30s. Here the mother died some years ago, but the father is still living at the age of seventy-four, his home being now in Denver, Colorado. Mr. and Mrs. Weeks have become the parents of four children: Caddie, the eldest, was born in 1882, and is the wife of L. F. Pieper, of Rome township; Nora D. married John Schnepp and lives in Olin; Florence C. and Harry S., the two youngest, are still at home. Mr. and Mrs. Weeks attend the Methodist Episcopal church and are affiliated with all its interests, while politically Mr. Weeks finds himself in accord with the platform enunciated by the republican party. He is not very active in public matters and yet has not shunned such offices, as the people would bestow upon him. For a period of four years he discharged the duties of township assessor and is at present one of the trustees. A man of good education and wide outlook he has not only been successful in the work to which he chose to devote himself but has won the approval of the men who have come into close contact with him.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 621.

Joseph A. Weiss
Born 1846

JOSEPH A. WEISS, farmer, Wayne Twp., Sec. 34; P.O. Amber; owns forty acres, all under cultivation; value $1,400. Born in Northampton Co., Penn., in 1846; came to Jones Co. August 8, 1865; has since resided here, but not all the time in Wayne Township; lived in Jackson six years. Was in the war of the rebellion, a member of the 54th Penn. V.I.; enlisted first the 11th of December, 1861; was in Co. K, a drummer; was discharged February 22, 1864; re-enlisted as a veteran in same regiment, Co. B, February 23, 1864, as a drummer again, and was such until discharged, which was July 15, 1865, at the close of the war; was in Gen. Phil Sheridan's command; also under Gen. Franz Siege1 and Gen. Hunter; in the last year of his service, was in the command of Gen. Ord; was in the battle of Cedar Creek, Va., where Sheridan made his famous charge after riding from "twenty miles away;" Mr. Weiss' command joined the Army of the Potomac, and was near Richmond when it fell; his regiment, commanded by Gen. T. B. Reade, was captured by Lee's army. Wife's maiden name was Amanda Albright, a native of Pennsylvania; born November 3, 1854; they were married in Olin, Iowa, July 8, 1871.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 636.

Salem Westcott

SALEM WESTCOTT, farmer, Wayne Twp., Sec. 2; P.O. Monticello; owns house and three and one-half lots in Sand Springs, Delaware Co., Iowa; at present is overseeing the farm of Mr. George W. Lovel, of Monticello; born in Oneida Co., N.Y.; came to Jones Co. in 1879; has lived near the county line though for ten years. Wife's maiden name was Shoemaker, a native of Herkimer Co., N.Y.; they were married in 1863; have had two children, one is living—Clinton. He and Mrs. Westcott are members of the M.E. Church; he is a Republican. Mr. W. superintends a farm of 1,000 acres.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 636.

Charles Westphal

Charles Westphal, whose large farm in Wyoming township, represents the results of his own labors, was born in Germany and is a son of Adolph and Christina Westphal. They were born and reared in that land, which they could never be induced to leave although three of their four sons came to America and found homes is this county. They were Charles, the subject of this sketch: Louis, who lives in Jones county; and Henry, a resident of Wyoming township. Frederick, the third son has remained in Germany, living with his parents until their death.

It was in 1872 that Charles Westphal started upon his journey to the United States. He had received his education in the land of his birth, so that the years he has spent here have been devoted entirely to making a place for himself among his fellow citizens. On landing on our shores he went first to Chicago, where he remained six months and then went to Clinton county, Iowa, where he stayed a year, working as a farm hand. Having acquired some familiarity with the language and customs of the country, he came in 1899, to Wyoming township, Jones county, where he purchased the farm on which he is living today. It consists of two hundred and ninety-six acres, lying on section 20, is well improved as the result of his efforts, and is cultivated with a skill that makes it productive of large harvests. In addition to his purely agricultural interests, he has given a great deal of attention to the raising and feeding of stock so that each year sees from seventy-five to eighty of his animals shipped to the large markets. By unremitting industry he has won a substantial position among the farmers of his township, and besides having more than a competence for his own needs' he has been able to establish two of his sons in life.

While living in Chicago, Mr. Westphal wedded Miss Sophia Rice, who was born in Germany and came to this country at the same time, as did her husband. Their union has been blessed with six children: Henry, Fred and Louis, all farmers in this county; and John, Charles and Matilda, at home.

Mr. and Mrs. Westphal are members of the German Lutheran church and take an active interest in its work. Politically he affiliates with the republicans, that being the party to which he looked for guidance when first he was admitted to citizenship in this republic. He has aspired to no office, however, but he has served-as school director, with an efficiency that was born of a desire to see the local institutions of instruction brought to the highest standard possible. By his life he has proved to his countrymen that America is the land of opportunity, for everything he possesses today is the result of his own exertions, and he maintains his right to be called one of the self-made men of this nation.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 636.