In this gentleman Woodbine Township finds one of her most intelligent and skillful farmers and stock-raisers, and one of her leading citizens, who has borne an honorable part in the management of her public affairs. Fie is a Pennsy Iranian by birth, having been born in Mercer County, that State, Jan. 19, 1836. His father, the late James Weir, a native of Westmoreland County, Pa., was well known as an active pioneer of Jo Daviess County, although he was not among its earliest settlers. He came here with his family in 1850, and located first on section 35, this township, and subsequently removed to his present place.

James Weir's death occurred here July 12,1886, when he rounded out a long life of eighty-seven years - years fraught with usefulness and good works, wherein he gained and retained the regard of his neighbors by the integrity of his character and his upright dealings. His widow, who is equally well esteemed, survives him at the venerable age of eighty-eight years, and makes her home with her son, our subject, who surrounds her by every comfort, and makes her declining years pleasant and free from every care. Her maiden name was Elizabeth Hill, and she was born in Mercer County, Pa. She is the mother of six children, as follows: Julia A., now Mrs. Reed; Sarah, now Mrs. Dean; Esther, now Mrs. McGrath; Amos H.; Nancy J., and Pameline Rankins, of this township.

The subject of this brief biographical notice passed the first fourteen years of his life in his native State, and was the recipient of a very good education. The remainder of his life has been spent in this State. He grew to a stalwart, independent manhood, and early selecting the calling of a farmer, has since successfully pursued it, and now owns one of the best appointed and best managed farms in this vicinity. It comprises 181 acres of unsurpassed fertility, which are under careful cultivation, and yields abundant returns in reward for the labor expended on them. The farm is supplied with suitable buildings, and is in all respects admirably adapted to raising stock, to which branch of agriculture our subject pays much attention, having fine herds of well-graded stock.

Mr. Weir has an attractive, cosy home, presided over by one of the best of wives, who looks well after the comfort of her household. Mrs. Weir's maiden name was Nancy Wilkinson, and she was born in this county in 1846, being a daughter of the late William and Jane (Guthrey) Wilkinson, natives of Ohio and Kentucky, respectively, and pioneers of this county. Her marriage with our subject was solemnized Nov. 18, 1863, and their pleasant home circle is completed by the two daughters born to them - Lottie M. and Bertha—two intelligent, well-bred young ladies, whom their father takes great pride in giving the best educational advantages in his power.

Having lived here since boyhood Mr. Weir is well-known throughout this and adjoining town­ships, and none know him but to respect him, as he has ever shown himself to be guided by the highest principles of honor and integrity. His intelligent, well-informed mind, tact, and capacity for business have made him, in the eyes of his fellow-citizens, a desirable public official, and he has taken an active part in the administration of local affairs, having been Assessor of the Township four years, and Highway Commissioner eight years. He is identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church as one of its most consistent members. made their way directly to Wisconsin, where Mr. Wallace engaged in mining until 1850. He then, with others, set out across the plains to California, and spent four years on the Pacific Slope with fair success. He returned in the spring of 1854, via the Isthmus and the water route, but in the fall of the same year returned to California. and four years later, in January, 1858, was accidentally killed, at Moore's Flat, by the premature discharge of a blast. His remains were laid to rest not far from the scenes of his labors, when he was only thirty-six years of age. He was a hard-working, honest man, and always ambitious to make a home for his family. The mother is still living, and makes her home in Mineral Point. After the death of her first husband she was married to a Mr. Webb. She is now seventy-two years of age, and a member in good standing of the Methodist Church.

Transcribed by Christine Walters - Portrait and Biographical Album of Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties, Illinois (1889)