William J. Weir 1856-1924

WEIR, SCHADD, SHADD, LUIKART, DODD, DODDS

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 1/6/2011 at 23:26:42

Wm. J. Weir Dead
Pioneer Resident of Emmet County and of Estherville Passed Away Here
William J. Weir, another pioneer of this county, passed away at his home in this city on Monday last. [March 24, 1924] Mr. Weir has been in this city for many years and has a very wide acquaintance and many close friends who have known him in a business and social way here and in the country. Mr. Weir was born in Ayr, Ontario, Canada, on April the sixth, 1856. He came to Armstrong with his parents when he was twelve years of age. He came to Estherville from there and has resided here since. He was united in marriage to Eliza Schadd in 1879 and to this union there were born two children, Byron W. Weir, of Estherville, and Mrs. Geo. Luikart, of Hinkley, Minn. Some years after the death of his first wife he was united in marriage to Ora A. Dodd of Louisville, Ky., and to this union were born four children, Anna, Eleanor, John and David. Mr. Weir was the eldest of nine children and he is survived by five brothers.

The funeral services were held on Wednesday, the Rev. Voorhies, of the Presbyterian church, officiating. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, March 26, 1924)

W. J. Weir
Estherville suffered the loss of one of its most highly respected pioneer citizens when William J. Weir passed to the Great Beyond early Monday morning. Mr. Weir came to this county in 1868 and has made his home in this city and community continuously during the fifty-six years since that time.

Although he had not been robust for several years, yet his rapid decline in health did not begin until six months ago when the doctors’ diagnosis showed that he was suffering from cancer of the stomach.

Mr. Weir was a kind and considerate husband and father and during his last illness he was carefully cared for by his wife and children and everything was done to relieve his suffering.

At the time of his death Mr. Weir was nearly sixty-eight years of age having been born in Ayr, Ontario, Canada, on April 6, 1856, and came to Armstrong with his parents when twelve years of age. In October 1878 he came to Estherville. He was married in 1879 to Eliza Shaad to which union were born two children, Byron W. Weir of Estherville and Mrs. George Luikhart of Hinkley, Minn.

On June 11, 1890, he was married to Ora A. Dodds at Louisville, Ky. Four children were born to them, Annie, Eleanor, John and David. All of the children and his loving wife survive him.

Mr. Weir was the oldest of nine children of David and Christina Weir. Five of these children are still living, a sister and two brothers having passed away some years ago. The brothers are Matthew, of Alberta, Canada; James D., of Estherville; George, of Dunnell, Minn.; Henry H. of Windom, Minn.; and Rev. Valentine A. of Estacade, Oregon, and by many other relatives in the vicinity of Estherville and Armstrong.

Funeral services are being held this Wednesday afternoon at two thirty from the Presbyterian church.

The hardships encountered by the early pioneers of the county of which sturdy band William J. Weir was a member can never be realized by those who have not endured a similar experience. The debt which we who have followed and now enjoy the comparative comforts which such as they have provided for us owe them a debt that can only be repaid by a reverent esteem for the memory of their lives and deeds. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, March 26, 1924)