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J. S. Weeks

J. S. Weeks, who is engaged in farming on section 23, Oran Township, is a representative of one of the pioneer families of the county where he has resided since his seventh year. The days of his boyhood and youth were here passed and Fayette County has witnessed his manhood's struggles.

 He was born in Gilmanton, N. H., in 1851, and is a son of D. W. and B. W. (Fifield) Weeks. The Weeks family is of English origin while the Fifield family is of Scotch-Irish descent. Stephen Weeks the grandfather of our subject, served in the Revolutionary War. His father, D. W., was born in New Hampshire, February 22, 1809, and in that state married Miss Fifield who was born in 1817. In the spring of 1857 they emigrated to Fayette County, Iowa, locating in Oran Township where he made his home until his death, which occurred in 1886. He was a prominent and influential citizen. During the early history of the county for a number of years he served as Postmaster of Oran, and in politics was a stalwart Republican. His wife, a most estimable lady, died in 1888. Four children survive them: Mrs. Mary Sanborn, of Buchanan County; Mrs. Fannie Codling, of Oran Township; J. S. of this sketch, and Ella M. who resides with her brother; Lyman, the third child, enlisted in Fayette County, Iowa, in the Forty-seventh Infantry for one hundred days' service, was taken sick with the measles, after which he took the chronic diarrhea which disease terminated his life.

Entering the district schools of the community J. S. Weeks acquired a fair knowledge of the English branches and then gave his attention to farming, which he has made his life work. In Buchanan County in 1889 he was united in marriage with Miss Nellie Bowdish, a native of Kane County, Ill., and a daughter of John and Miranda (Houghton) Bowdish, who were natives of the Empire State, the father born January 1, 1820, and the mother in 1816. They were married in New York and in 1854 emigrated to Kane County, Ill., where Mr. Bowdish followed farming until May, 1871, when he came with his family to Fayette County and settled in Oran Township. Afterward he removed to Buchanan County. His death occurred January 2,1884, and his wife is still living in Buchanan County.

Mr. Weeks is now the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of arable land on sections 23 and 24, Oran Township, constituting one of the best farms in the community. The sister, Ella N. <sic>, owns one hundred and twenty acres which our subject has charge of. He is an enterprising and progressive young man who has won the confidence and respect of neighbors and friends by an upright life. He supports the Republican party and is a warm friend to education, willingly doing what he can for the cause. He takes a commendable interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the county and is a worthy representative of its pioneer settlers. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Church, holding membership with the organization that meets at Wilson School. Mr. and Mrs. Weeks have no children of their own; they have recently adopted a child, Carl Weeks, which death claimed January 25, 1891. Mr. Weeks has a power windmill which he uses for grinding feed and sawing wood.