For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 652
ARTHUR J. WEAVER, M. D....No record of Muscatine county would be complete without adequate mention of the services of Dr. Arthur J. Weaver, for fourteen years past in active practice in Muscatine. Adapted by natural ability and professional training for the vocation to which he is devoting the best years of his life, he has attained deserved success. He was born in Muscatine county July 27, 1865, and is a son of John and Joanna ( Cole ) Weaver, the former a native of Northampton county, Pennsylvania, and the latter of the state of New jersey. The father, who learned the miller's trade, came to Iowa in 1854 and for several years operated a mill for Henry Funck. Having acquired the necesary capital, he purchased a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Cedar township, which he cultivated with an energy and ability that produced very satisfactory results. He was a defender of the Union at the time of the Civil war and served for three years in Company F, Thirty-fifth Iowa Infantry. He is still living at the age of eighty-three years, and his beloved wife has reached the age of seventy-nine years. Both have long been members in the United Brethren in Christ church. Frederick Weaver, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was also a native of Pennsylvania. He removed to Michigan and there lived until he was called away when he was upwards of eighty years of age. There were eleven children in his family : Enos, Harrison, Sylvanus, Michael, Theodore, John, Peter, Caroline, Irene, Katie and Susan. The maternal grandfather was Robert Cole, of New Jersey. Three children constituted his family : Matthew, Sarah and Joanna. Unto John and Joanna Weaver the following children were born : Sarah, who became the wife of Joseph F. Parsons and is now deceased ; Susan, deceased ; Sylvanus F., deceased ; Martha E., the wife of George F. Stretch, of Newburg, Oregon ; Fannie L., now Mrs. Charles Messick, of Monument, Kansas ; Arthur J., our subject ; Minnie E. and Ervin, twins, the former now the wife of H. W. Vincent, of Letts, Iowa, and the latter who died at the age of three years ; and Isia C., the eife of J. M. Sipe, of Chicago.Arthur J. Weaver was reared on his father's farm and attended the district schools of the neighborhood, later becoming a student at Western College, Toledo, Iowa. After leaving college he taught school for some years, becoming principal of the high school of Conesville, Iowa. After leaving school he studied pharmacy and in 1886, embarked in the drug business at Letts, Iowa, also serving as deputy postmaster for three years under President Cleveland and as postmaster under President Harrison, serving altogether over seven years. In 1892 he sold his drug business and commenced the study of medicine. In 1895 he was graduated with the degree of M. D. from the Bennett Medical College of Chicago, receiving, upon competitive examination, an appointment as intern in Cook County Hospital, graduating from that celebrated institution in 1897. In the course of his preparation for the practice of medicine he came into contact with many of the greatest teachers and practitioners of the country and at the hospital he possessed advantages of practical application in medicine and surgery which prepared him very thoroughly for his life work. Since July, 1897, he has engaged in active practice at Muscatine and has been eminently successful. He is a member of the American Medical Association, the Iowa State Medical Society and the Muscatine County Medical Society. He is also a member of the Surgeons Club of Rochester, Minnesota. In connection with Dr. J. L. Klein he was instrumental in the establishment of the Bellvue Hospital at Muscatine, of which he and his associate are owners. In June, 1910, a class of five nurses was graduated from its training school. Dr. Weaver was also one of the organizers of the Hershey Memorial Hospital, which was the first one founded in the city.
On the 24th of October, 1888, Dr. Weaver was united in marriage to Miss Gertrude L. Small, who was born in Letts, Iowa, a daughter of Horatio L. and Louisa ( Williams ) Small. The father was a native of Maine and the mother of New York state. They were early settlers of Letts and are still living. Six children comprised their family : Martha, who became the wife of George W. Wagner, both of whom are now deceased ; Hattie F., now Mrs. F. W. McDaniel, of Oskaloosa, Iowa ; Gertrude L., now Mrs. Weaver ; James G., of Letts ; Mamie E., the wife of A. W. Morgan, of Muscatine ; and one who died in infancy. Dr. and Mrs. Weaver are the parents of one daughter, Ida Mae.
Dr. Weaver ia a member of Iowa Lodge, No. 2, A. F. &. A. M.; Washington Chapter No. 4, R. A. M.; Webb Council No. 18 ; Zarephath Consistory, No. 4 ; and De Molay Commandery, No, 1, Knights Templar. Politically he is identified with the republican party and, being a public spirited citizen, is recognized as one of the potent factors in the upbuilding of Muscatine. No practitioner in eastern Iowa stands higher among his brethren of the profession than Dr. Weaver and he has in Muscatine a host of friends who esteem him for his many noble qualities.
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