ALVIN L. WEAK, a substantial farmer of James Township, Pottawattamie County, is descended from an old American family of Dutch descent. George Weak, grandfather of Alvin L., was of English descent, and moved from Pennsylvania to Ross County, Ohio, at a very early day. His son Benjamin Miller Weak, the father of our subject, was born on a farm in Ross County, Ohio, and was married to Julia A. Staggs, and they were the parents of thirteen children, viz.: Melissa A. and Mellitia, twins; Alvin L., our subject; Theresa, James A., Emma, Maria H. and Sarah E. (twins); Francis and Georgie (twins); Lewis, and two twins who died in infancy. Six of the children grew to maturity, the remainder dying in infancy. James A. was in an Iowa regiment in the late war, and died at Little Rock, Arkansas. The father lived in Ross County, Ohio, for many years and then removed to Fulton County, Illinois. In 1854 he came to Clinton County, Iowa, where he was among the early settlers. He is still living in Mills County, Iowa, at the age of seventy years. He has served as Justice of the Peace, and has the respect and confidence of the people. The mother of these children died in 1860, in Clarke County, Iowa.

Alvin L. Weak, our subject, was born on a farm in Ross County, July 13, 1844, and was but three years of age when his parents moved to Illinois, and but ten years old when they came to Iowa. He came to Pottawattamie County in 1866, and in 1871 he bought his present farm of 102 acres. It was then wild prairie land, but he has since converted it into a fine farm. Socially he is a Mason, being a member of the lodge at Oakland. He was married in Missouri in 1879 to Maria A. Dawson, who was born at Oskaloosa, Iowa, the daughter of John N. and Mary A. (Moat) Dawson.

John N. Dawson was born in Ohio May 16, 1823, and August 3, 1845, he married Miss Mary A. Moat, who also was born in Ohio, February 23, 1831. Their children were: Hiram C., born September 23, 1846; Phylinda E., September 25, 1849; Anna E., October 9, 1851; Julius C., December 18, 1853; Maria A., August 23, 1856; Mary A., February 4, 1859; Irena C., June 21, 1861; Lienary B., February 27, 1866; and John A., June 24, 1871. Hiram served a time in the civil war in Sherman's regiment. Mr. Dawson moved with his family to Barton County, Missouri and died fro the effect of being thrown against a sugarcane grinding machine by a span of horses running away in Ozark Township, that county, on Monday, September 16, 1878, one of the oldest and most respected citizens of that county. He was a member of the United Baptist Church, a good neighbor and a kind husband and father. By his death he left a widow and eight children to mourn his loss. His widow is still living in Liberal Township, that county.

Mr. and Mrs. Weak had six children, namely, Julius A., born Wednesday, March 17, 1880; Lewis L., Tuesday, May 9, 1882; Leroy Monroe, Friday, January 18, 1884; James A. Saturday, August 22, 1885; George Rosco, Monday, October 10, 1887; and Flora A., Monday, February 10, 1890. Monroe, Rosco and Flora are still living; the others died in infancy.