William H. Weeks

DAVIS, PINCKNEY, POWERS, TILTON, WEEKS

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson
Date: 10/10/2005 at 20:41:44

William H. Weeks, who died on the 24th of March, 1915, owned and operated a farm in Monroe township. He was born in Coles county, Illinois, on the 25th of March, 1837, a son of George W. and Lovina Weeks, natives of Kentucky and early settlers of Illinois. The father, who farmed during his active life, resided with our subject for a number of years previous to his demise, which occurred in this county.

William H. Weeks grew to manhood in the Prairie state but following his marriage came to Madison county, Iowa, arriving here in 1862. He purchased eighty acres of unimproved land, to the development of which he gave his entire time and attention. As his resources increased he bought other land until he owned two hundred and forty acres, all under cultivation, from which he derived a good income. His wife still lives upon the farm where they located more than fifty years ago and during that time they witnessed a great transformation in the county. Mr. Weeks was one of the factors in the agricultural development of his township and the competence which he gained was fully deserved.

Mr. Weeks was married in Missouri to Miss Mary Davis, who was born in that state in 1842 and is a niece of Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederate States of America. To this union ten children were born. Alva B., a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work; Mary E., who died when a young woman; William E., Edgar, Henry and C. C., all residents of Colorado; May, the wife of L. A. Pinckney, of Grand River township; Blanch, the wife of Hilton Powers, who is operating the Weeks farm; Alta, the wife of E. J. Tilton, of Monroe township ; and one who died in infancy.

Mr. Weeks was a republican but never aspired to political preferment. He was a consistent member of the Methodist church, to which his widow also belongs, and they sincerely endeavored to guide their lives by the teachings of Christianity. He held in full measure the respect and goodwill of all those who came in contact with him and his personal worth was universally acknowledged.

Taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915,” by Herman Mueller.