Erastus Weaver 1815-1904

WEAVER, MARSHALL, SELLERS, DARROW, BRIGGS, ALLEN, WEAVER, SALMON, BOWKER, CUDWORTH, ALDRICH

Posted By: Beverly Gerdts (email)
Date: 8/7/2024 at 10:10:37

The Wapello Republic, Columbus Junction, Iowa
Thursday, April 7, 1904
Page 1

The REPUBLIC, COLUMBUS JUNCTION, IOWA is called upon to chronicle the death of another octogenarian in the person of Erastus Weaver, one of Marshall township's oldest citizens; a man with legions of friends and no enemies, a man whose whole life had been filled with good deeds and usefulness to mankind; a man among men and a loyal subject to nation, state and county. He lived to the ripe age of 88 years, 6 months and 2 days. The prominent characteristics of Mr. Weaver were his great kindheartedness and extreme generosity. He was of an even temperament, light hearted and cheerful all the time. He was very patriotic and at the breaking out of the civil war took great interest and encouraged enlistments in every way.

Erastus Weaver was born in Providence, Rhode Island, September 30, 1815. He was a descendant of a family of Weavers who were among the earliest settlers of Rhode Island, settling there in the seventeenth century. At the age of six years, the subject of our sketch went with his parents to Hartland, Vermont. His boyhood days were spent there and in Cheshire county, New Hampshire, until he was twenty one years of age. In 1836 he came west to the territory of Wisconsin, locating near Milwaukee. He engaged in the lumber business on the Fox River for ten years, and in the spring of 1847, with the view of enlisting in the Mexican war, he left Wisconsin and journeyed down the Mississippi river, landing at Burlington in June of that year. He was attracted by the beauty of the country and came to Marshall township and purchased land, where he has resided, except the years spent in the war of the rebellion.

December 29, 1847, he was united in marriage to Mary E. Marshall, daughter of John and Nancy Marshall. To them were born nine children, six of whom are now living and residents of Louisa county. They are: Mrs. Reece Sellers, Mrs. Emily F. Darrow, Mrs. E. S. Briggs, Mrs. C. B. Allen, H. O. Weaver and Mrs. G. A. Salmon. The mother died October 16, 1898. The deceased also leaves two living sisters and a brother- Mrs. Harriett Bowker, of Firchburg, Mass; Mrs. Emeline Cudworth, of Boston, Mass and Chas. Aldrich, of Mt. Vernon, Ill.

On October 26, 1861, Mr. Weaver enlisted in Co. C. 16th Regiment Iowa volunteers and was discharged for disability December 27, 1862. He reenlisted November 28, 1863 in the same regiment and was honorably discharged May 9th, 1865.

Mr. Weaver died Friday, April 1 and the funeral services were held Sunday afternoon from the Cairo Bethel church, of which he was one of the oldest members, conducted by Rev. H. S. Miller, of Mt. Pleasant, assisted by Rev. Wilson, of Columbus City. Interment occurred in the Fulton cemetery.