LEONARD J. WEAVER, NOBLE TOWNSHIP.
The above named, a fine specimen of the pioneer agricultural class of Cass county and the old-time patriotism of the Civil War period, is a native of Blair county, Pa., born September 17, 1838. His parents, Mathias and Frances (Morris) Weaver, were natives of Baden, Germany, but came to the United States when children. The father passed his mature life as a Pensylvania farmer, and died in the Keystone State about 1870, his wife also spending her last years there. Mr. and Mrs. Mathias Weaver were the parents of ten children, of whom two sons and two daughters are still living, Leonard J. being the only one to reside in this county. The grandfather, Mathias Weaver, also emigrated from the fatherland to Pennsylvania, where he died at the phenomenal age of one hundred and three years. He was an officer and a veteran of the German wars, participated in many hard fought battles in the years of his prime, and he had a worthy descendant in the person of Leonard J. Weaver.
One subject resided in Pennsylvania until the second year of the Civil War, when he moved to Carroll county, Ill. He was then a vigorous young farmer of twenty-four, and, before he could hardly call himself a settler in the new country, enlisted in the Union cause. As a member of Company I, Ninety-second Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, he was merged with the thousands into the gallant army of the Southwest, and was under the good and intrepid General Thomas at Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Peach Tree Creek and Buzzard's Roost. He was with the mounted infantry which performed such admirable service for Sherman all the way to Atlantia, and afterward to the sea. Later he followed the fortunes of his comrades in the fierce engagements with Johnston in North Carolina, and was finally mustered out at Concord, that State, in June, 1865.
After the war Mr. Weaver returned to his home in Carroll county, Ill., and in September, 1870, located on an unimproved tract of land north of Lewis, this county. Two years afterward he occupied the land which he has since transformed into a modern and valuable homestead, embracing the requisite features of productive soil, a comfortable residence and convenient farm buildings. Like so many of the old soldiers, Mr. Weaver has never varied from strict Republicanism since he cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. As trustee and school official, and in various other capacities, he has taken a good citizen's part in the township government, while his society connections are limited to the G. A. R. He is a member of the Church of God, and a straightforward, reliable, able man and citizen.
In 1865, Leonard J. Weaver was married to Eliza Eashelman, who was born in his native county of Blair, Pa. They have had seven children, six of whom are living, as follows: Ulysses S.; Dowd; Cora, now Mrs. Beatty; Etta, wife of L. Frank; Harvey H. and Gertrude, who reside at home.
From "Compendium and History of Cass County, Iowa." Chicago: Henry and Taylor & Co., 1906, pp. 538-539.
