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Wilford S. Weeks
Born December 14, 1849 |
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| Wilford S. Weeks, one of the older generations of farmers of Rome township, was born in Cedar county, Iowa, December 14, 1849. His parents, Orris and Margaret (Archer) Weeks were both of Ohio nativity, but came to Iowa in the early days. The father came here first in the spring of 1840, and after spending a summer with a cousin in Cedar county, walked to his old home in Delaware county, Ohio. For about five months he sojourned in that state, and then came back to Iowa, entering government land in Cedar county. There he lived for about forty-nine years, then removed to Montrose, South Dakota, leaving there after nine years to live in Colorado, where his death occurred. His wife had preceded him to the grave by many years, her death having taken place in Cedar county, in 1858, not so very many years after she had moved to the state. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Weeks; Leonora, deceased; Wilford, of this review; Francisca, the wife of C. P. McKay, of Lamar, Missouri; and Margaret, who has passed away.
Wilford S. Weeks was reared at home and after completing the course of study taught in the common schools, prepared for college, and having finished his education in the higher institution of learning returned to the home farm to assist his father in its management. At the age of twenty-one he began farming on his own account, renting land in Cedar county for three years. He then came to Jones county, where for three years he tilled rented fields and afterward bought one hundred and forty acres on sections 27 and 34, Rome township. For ten years this farm remained the scene of his agricultural endeavors. Twelve years ago he sold that land and bought a tract of one hundred and twenty acres in the same township, where he has since lived, following general agricultural pursuits which have brought him generous returns for the labor he has put upon his fields.
On the 18th of January 1880, Mr. Weeks was united in marriage to Miss Elva C. Saum, who was born in Jones county and is one of the four children of D. and Anna Saum. The parents were natives of Ohio but came to Jones county in the early '30s. Here the mother died some years ago, but the father is still living at the age of seventy-four, his home being now in Denver, Colorado. Mr. and Mrs. Weeks have become the parents of four children: Caddie, the eldest, was born in 1882, and is the wife of L. F. Pieper, of Rome township; Nora D. married John Schnepp and lives in Olin; Florence C. and Harry S., the two youngest, are still at home. Mr. and Mrs. Weeks attend the Methodist Episcopal church and are affiliated with all its interests, while politically Mr. Weeks finds himself in accord with the platform enunciated by the republican party. He is not very active in public matters and yet has not shunned such offices, as the people would bestow upon him. For a period of four years he discharged the duties of township assessor and is at present one of the trustees. A man of good education and wide outlook he has not only been successful in the work to which he chose to devote himself but has won the approval of the men who have come into close contact with him.
Source: History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 621. |
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