For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 138
CHESTER WEED. Among the leaders in the early days in Muscatine was Chester Weed, a man whose name will ever be gratefully remembered as one of Muscatine's most public-spirited and enterprising citizens. He spent more than thirty-three years of his life in this city and bore a most important part in its development. He was born at Canton, Connecticut, March 16, 1819, and was a son of Dr. Benjamin Weed. He received a good education and as his father wished him to follow the profession of medicine, he devoted one year to the study of materia medica, physiology, and anatomy, but his tastes inclined to commercial life, so he gave up medicine. His early capacity for business affairs attracted the attention of Samuel Collins, proprietor of a large cutlery factory at Collinsville, Connecticut, and Mr. Weed was employed by him as bookkeeper, being soon advanced to the position of treasurer, paymaster and general manager. However, he was attracted to the west and came to Muscatine, then Bloomington, in 1841. He was preceded to this city by his father, who came in 1839 in company with a son James, and a daughter Elizabeth A., who later married Joseph Bridgman of this city. Dr. Benjamin Weed practiced medicine here until his death. James Weed engaged in the practice of dentistry until 1842, when he purchased the farm later known as the Dr. James Weed farm on the graded road and engaged in raising nursery stock and fruit trees, calling the place the Iowa Pomological and Horticultural Gardens. He also devoted some attention to dairying and was the inventor of a number of appliances which he patented. He was one of the leading advocates of the Muscatine & Linn County Graded Road Company, organized early in the 50's, and he gave to the city in 1899 a tract of land now known as Weed Park.Chester Weed, coming to Muscatine at twenty-two years of age, brought with him a camera obscura and secured that year probably the first daguerreo-types taken in the west, having learned the art in Boston. He opened a gallery here and in Iowa City, but soon afterward sold his outfit and became clerk in the store of Joseph Bennett. In the fall of 1843 he associated with his brother-in-law, Joseph Bridgman, in the general mercantile business under the title of Bridgman & Weed, so continuing until 1851, when the title was changed to C. Weed, Mr. Bridgman having temporarily gone on the river as clerk of the steamer Golden Era, but he soon rejoined the firm, which was reorganized as C. Weed & Company. In 1859 Charles E. Kent became a member, the style of the firm being Weed, Bridgman & Kent. After Mr. Kent's retirement it was changed to Weed & Bridgman, succeded by Bridgman & Son in 1877.
During the 40's Mr. Weed bought a farm of three hundred and twenty acres, known as the Warfield place and now as the Park place, and raised well bred horses. He also represented the Aetna, Phoenix and other insurance companies and became one of the most active and popular business men of Muscatine, being interested in many enterprises. He was president of the Muscatine branch of the State Bank of Iowa when it was first organized in 1858, continuing in that capacity until 1860. He also acted as cashier of the bank for several months after the retirement of J. W. Dutton and was a director during the bank's existence, furnishing funds for its relief when it was threatened with financial embarrassment. This bank was reorganized December 30, 1864, as the Muscatine National Bank and Mr. Weed was elected vice president. He was president of the Muscatine Gas Light & Coke Company on its organization February 19, 1857, and in 1856 began in the pork-packing business in company with others. He was also at one time owner of the Commercial Hotel and acquired half interest in the Muscatine Mills, formerly Bennett's Mills. He possessed remarkable foresight and judgment in business affairs and became one of the wealthiest business men in the city. In the midst of his usefulness he passed away December 7, 1874, and the universal expression of sorrow throughout the entire city gave evidence of the profound respect in which he was held. Few men have been so largely identified with the progress of Muscatine as Chester Weed. In addition to being an extensive property holder, he was active in many public enterprises and contributed freely of his means and his talents in forwarding the general welfare. He possessed large capacity, rare judgment, and keen perception, and his unquestioned sincerity gave him an influence which is seldom accorded a private citizen.
On the 31st day of July, 1873, Mr. Weed was united in marriage at Muscatine to Miss Cora Chaplin, a daughter of Charles W. and Helen Marr ( Sherman ) Chaplin, the former of whom was born in New York state, July 18, 1815, and the latter, July 21, 1826. Mr. and Mrs. Weed became the parents of one child who died in infancy. Mrs. Weed was born at Quincy, Illinois, July 31, 1844, and about a year later was brought to this city by her parents, having spent the remainder of her life here. She died in August, 1910.
Back to Biographical Index Page