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William E. Weaver, A.B. (Sic means the same as B. A.) For almost a quarter of a century, the city of Morrison has had at its command in the office of superintendent of schools, the scholarly services and marked executive ability, of William E. Weaver, A. B. Professor Weaver has nobly performed his task in this city and the high stamdard here maintained through so long a period, has been of great educational value all over Whiteside County.
William E. Weaver belongs in this county by birth and rearing, social and material interests. He was born on his father’s farm in Union Grove Township, January 5, 1866, a son of Henry C. And Jane (Nightser) Weaver, of English ancestry on the paternal and of Holland-Dutch on the maternal side. Few better than he can lay claim to be of real old American stock, for he is in the sixth generation, tracing back through Henry C., Henry, Jacob, and Henry Weaver to the Henry Weaver of English birth and Quaker religious belief, the emigrant, who crossed the Atlantic ocean in 1682 and established the family with William Penn, in Pennsylvania. Henry C. Weaver was nineteen years of age when he adventured as far west as Whiteside County, Illinois, acquired rich farming land in Union Grove Township, prospered and spent the rest of his life here. He was married in this county to Jane Nightser, who like her husband was born in Pennsylvania. The first American progenitor of her family, Jeptha Nightser, was born in Holland and settled in New Jersey, his descendants subsequently becoming established also in Pennsylvania and still later came as pioneers to Whiteside County, Illinois. The mother of Professor Weaver died here in 1910, at the age of seventy-five years, but his father survived until 1922, having passed his eighty-sixth birthday. They were people of sterling character, widely known and universally esteemed, and for many years had been attendants of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They had three sons: William E., John C. And Clarence E.
William E. Weaver spent his early life on the home farm, attended first the country schools and later the high school at Morrison, from which he was graduated in 1883, when but seventeen years old. Too young to secure a teacher’s license, he assisted his father on the farm through the next year, but through the following year he taught school, making a very successful beginning in a field of effort to which he has most faithfully devoted many years of his life. After one year of teaching, he entered Knox College at Galesburg, where he spent two years in the academic department, afterward completing a full four-year literary course and graduating in 189` with his A. B. Degree. In 1892, well prepared for the career he had chosen as his life work, Mr. Weaver accepted the principalship of a school at Columbus, Nebraska, later becoming assistant principal and subsequently principal of the Columbus High School, where he continued until 1902, nine years, when, entirely unsolicited, he was recalled to Whiteside county, to take charge as superintendent of the city schools of Morrison.
In 1903, at Columbus, Nebraska, William E. Weaver was married to Miss Minnie F. Becker a native of that city, daughter of John Peter and Philipina (Schram) Becker, old settlers there of German extraction. They have one daughter and two sons: Jane Philipina, John Peter and William Henry, the sons being twins. All are graduates of the Morrison High School, and the daughter is a graduate also of the Francis Shimer Seminary, which is affiliated with the University of Chicago. Professor Weaver and his family are members of the Presbyterian Church. He is identified with many educational bodies and is a valued member of such representative organizations as the Whiteside County, the State District and the Illinois State Teachers associations. A stanch republican, as was his father, he takes an earnest, broad-minded interest in public affairs but has never consented to accept any political office. He is a member of the Rotary Club at Morrison.
From - HISTORY OF ILLINOIS AND HER PEOPLE
by Professor George W. Smith, M. A.
William Elsworth Weaver, professor of sciences, at the township high school in Morrison, his native city, was born on the 5th of January, 1866. His father, Henry Weaver, was a native of Pennsylvania, and is now living in Morrison at the age of seventy-three years. He comes of English ancestry, the first representatives of the name in America arriving here with the colony of William Penn. The grandfather Jacob Weaver, a farmer by occupation, and the great-grandfather was Henry Weaver, who served as a soldier in the Continental army of the Revolutionary War. Daniel Flenner, the father of Mrs. Jacob Weaver, was also a Revolutionary soldier and had his great toe shot off in battle.
Henry Weaver, father of our subject, also followed agricultural pursuits, and in 1855 came to Illinois, settling on a farm west of Morrison in Union Grove township. There he spent his active life, carrying on general agricultural pursuits until his retirement in 1896, when he removed to Morrison, where he has since made his home. In his farming operations he prospered and now derives a good income from two hundred acres of improved farm land in Union Grove township. While upon the farm he engaged quite extensively in raising hogs for the market, and found this a profitable source of income. His political allegiance is given to the republican party. In early manhood Henry Weaver was married to Mary J. Nightser, a native of Pennsylvania and of German lineage now living at the age of seventy-three years. Her parents were Jeptha and Rebecca Nightser, who removed from Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1836, and there remained until 1855, when they came to Illinois, settlling in Union Grove township, Whiteside county, where they spent their remaining days. The marriage of Mr. And Mrs. Henry Weaver was celebrated in 1864, and unto them were born three sons: William Elsworth; John C., who was born Jan 29, 1868, and is now living on a farm in Union Grove township; and Clarence E., who was born May 1, 1870, and resides upon the old homestead.
At the usual age William E. Weaver began his education by attending the district schools, and later he became a student in the high school of Morrison, from which he was graduated with the class of 1883. He afterward gave his assistance to his father in the further development of the home farm for a year, when he entered the field of educational activity, and for one year taught school in Ustick township. Not content with the educational advantages he had himself received, in 1887 he entered Knox College at Galesburg, and was graduated in 1891 on the completion of the classical course with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. A year later he became a teacher in the Como school, and afterward went to Columbus, Nebraska, as principal of the Third ward school, continuing there for six years. He next became teacher of science in the high school there, and so continued for three years, also acting as high school principal during the last year. In 1902 he returned to Morrison and accepted the superintendency of schools in his native city, filling the position until 1906, when the township high school was organized and he became professor of sciences in which capacity he has since served. He is an able educator, recognized as one of the leading members of the profession in this part of the state, and his work has been eminently satisfactory. He is constantly studying out new methods to increase the effciency of his department, and has the ability to inspire his pupils with much of his own zeal and interest in the work.
On the 8th of July, 1903, Mr. Weaver was married to Miss Minnie Fredericka Becker, who was born in Columbus, Nebraska, October 7, 1877, a daughter of John Peter and Philipina Becker. The father was born in Warsaw, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, May 29, 1833, and died January 14, 1892. The mother was born in Massillon, Ohio, March 12, 1851, and is now living in Columbus. Mr. Becker was a contractor, grain buyer and banker, and was quite successful in his business operations. In the family of Mr. And Mrs. Weaver are three children: Jane P., who was born in Columbus, Nebraska, July 15, 1904; John Peter and William Henry, born October 13, 1906. Mrs. Weaver is a member of the Presbyterian church. They have a beautiful home in Morrison and its hospitality is greatly enjoyed by their many friends. It constitutes the center of a cultured society circle. In his political view Mr. Weaver is a republican, but has never been active in the party ranks. He is well known in Morrison, his native city, and his fellow townsmen feel a pride in what he has accomplished, having gained a position of more than local distinction as an educator.
From - HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY, Illinois; from its earliest settlement to 1908.
Chicago Pioneer Pub. 1908-Page 1022-1024
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