Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County,
Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of
prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with
portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States,
and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890;
page 266-267; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Henry I. Weaver is numbered among the enterprising stock farmers
of Deerfield Township. He sells but a portion of grain but
devotes the entire produce of his farm to the stock which he raises and
buys. His home is on the old homestead, which consists of eight
acres on section 3, all under good cultivation, well improved and
abundantly supplied with whatever is needful in order to successfully
prosecute the owner’s occupation. Mr. Weaver is a representative
of a family long known and highly honored in this county, where
settlement was made by his grandparents in the spring of 1835.
During the period of more than half a century that has elapsed since
then, the record of the family and those who have married into it has
been one of exceptional morality. Not only have they been free
from habitual profanity, drunkenness and other vices, but they have
also escaped arrest for any cause however slight, and have lived in
peace and harmony with those about them.
William Weaver, grandfather of our subject, was born in
Lancaster County, Pa., in 1791. His wife, Mary Cornwell, was born
in Washington County, May 14, 1797, and their marriage rites were
celebrated at Cannonsbury. In April, 1835, the couple located on
section 2, Deerfield Township, this county, where the wife died April
19, 1855, and the husband April 11, 1879. In the family of this
good couple was a son Joshua, whose birth took place in Green County,
Pa., December 30, 1820. After reaching years of maturity he won
for his wife Eliza A. Martin, who was born in Muhlenburg County, Ky.,
May 19, 1826, but at the time of her marriage was living in this
county. The wedding took place in Deerfield Township October 21,
1851, and the union has resulted in the birth of three sons and one
daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Weaver are now living in Ellisville.
The gentleman whose name introduces this sketch is the third son
born to the couple just mentioned, and opened his eyes to the light of
day March 6, 1859. He has spent his entire life in the township
among whose citizens he has high rank, and to her public schools owes
his educational training. He remained an inmate of his parents’
home until his marriage, when he established himself on the homestead,
buying the land from his father. The lady whom he won for his
helpmate and companion and with whom he was united in marriage December
20, 1882, bore the maiden name of Marmry E. Mitchell. She is a
daughter of Mathew H. and Calphurnia (Wheeler) Mitchell, and like her
husband, was born in Deerfield Township, her natal day having been May
24, 1863. Her father was born in Montgomery County, this State,
and her mother in New York.
Mr. and Mrs. Weaver of this sketch are the parents of three
bright boys - Harry Dale, born August 12, 1883; Joshua Clare, born
April 13, 1885; Ross, born September 26, 1889. Mr. Weaver is a
Republican and takes sufficient interest in politics to be at the polls
every election day and cast a straight ballot. He has served in
the capacity of Township Supervisor and School Director. He and
his wife belong to Ellisville Lodge, No. 401, I.O.G.T., and are members
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Weaver is Recording
Secretary of the congregation of the Sharon Church and Superintendent
of the Sunday-school, and take a deep interest in church work. He
and his wife are highly regarded by the member of the community,
perpetuating as they are the excellent record of the Weaver family.
