My Genealogy Hound

JOSEPH B. WEAVER, farmer; P. O. Downs; one of the early settlers of McLean Co.; born in Lee Co., Va. His grandfather, on both his father and mother’s side, were patriots of the Revolutionary struggle and served under Gen. Greene until the close of the war. His father William Weaver, was born in Virginia Feb. 10, 1783. He was a Baptist preacher, which profession he followed in connection with farming, until his decease, which occurred in Downs Township, Sept. 3, 1838. He was married in Virginia Dec. 12, 1805, to Mary Sims; she was born in Virginia, Nov. 15, 1787, and died Oct. 13, 1854. They were the parents of thirteen children of whom eight are now living. They emigrated from Virginia with their teams, and located in McLean Co., in the fall of 1832, and the following spring located upon Sec. 4, Downs Township where he lived until his decease. He entered and purchased land until he had accumulated 600 acres. A part of the village of Downs now stands upon his old farm. The subject of this sketch was the youngest member of the family, and now lives upon the old farm, where he has lived nearly half a century, and is probably the oldest continuous resident of Downs Township. He now owns 112 acres of the old farm, with good buildings. He continued farming until Aug. 8, 1862, when he enlisted in the 94th Regiment I. V. I. His first active service was in the campaign of Missouri and Arkansas, being engaged in the battle of Prairie Grove, Dec. 7, 1862; on the 3d of June, 1863, he was forwarded down the Mississippi River to Young’s Point, thence across the country to Warrenton, where they crossed the Mississippi River, and, upon the 14th of June, 1863, took their position upon the extreme left of the Union army, where they remained until the surrender of Vicksburg, July 4, 1863. They were then sent up the Yazoo River, capturing Yazoo City, upon July 12, when they were sent to New Orleans, via Port Hudson. On the 26th of August, 1863, Mr. Weaver was sent to the hospital on account of sickness, and did not again join his regiment until Feb. 22, 1864, at Brownsville, Texas, where he remained until July 30, when they were forwarded to Mobile Bay, landing at Mobile Point upon the 9th of August, and upon the 23d instant, Ft. Morgan surrendered. He was then engaged upon the attack upon the Spanish Fort, which surrendered April 8, 1865; Ft. Blakely fell about the same date, among the rebel prisoners was the rebel Gen. Cockerell, now a U. S. Senator from Missouri. Mr. Weaver was then, with the 94th Regiment, sent to Galveston, Texas, where he was mustered out of service, and, in August, 1865, received his discharge at Springfield, Ill., having served in the Union army three years. He then returned to farming, which business he has since followed. Of township and school offices, he has had his full share, having held the office of Supervisor, Township Collector, Justice of the Peace, School Director, and has been a member of the Board of Education for fourteen years. His marriage with Margaret A. Kimler was celebrated Sept. 30, 1855; she was born in McLean Co. Feb. 13, 1839. They were the parents of five children — Theodore F., born Sept. 28, 1856; Mary B., Dec. 6, 1858; Charles W., April 24, 1862; Edward L., Sept. 2, 1866, and Lillie M., Dec. 22, 1875. Mrs. Weaver was a daughter of Bailey Kimler, one of the early pioneers of McLean Co.