Routt County CO Archives Biographies.....Weston, John N. March 17, 1844 - ?
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Judy Crook jlcrook@rof.net March 25, 2006, 6:09 pm

Author: Progressive Men of Western Colorado

     A native of Prussia, born on March 17, 1844, John N. Weston, of near

Steamboat Springs, Routt county, is passing the evening of his life far from the

scenes and associations of his childhood, but has found in his new home

opportunity for advancement beyond what was offered in his native land and

plenty of room for the application of his native industry, thrift and

progressive spirit.  He is the son of Edward and Mary E. (Schwingel) Weston,

also Prussians by nativity, who emigrated to this country in 1850, and after

residing a year at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, moved farther up the Allegheny,

locating in Armstrong county, where they remained until death ended their

labors.  The father was a blacksmith in his native land and followed farming in

the United States.  In politics he supported the Democratic party and in church

affiliation both he and his wife were Lutherans.  Their offspring numbered

fifteen, of whom but three are living, Mrs. John Moore, Philip and John N.  The

parents died many years ago.  John N., the youngest of their living children,

assumed the duties of manhood and began to make his own living at the age of

fifteen years.  He received but slender schooling except from the exacting and

thorough taskmaster experience, but felt the force and appreciated that

teacher’s lessons early in his youth.  He learned the trade of an upholsterer,

but did not confine his attention to it for any long continued portion of time.

 Soon after leaving home he moved to Ohio, and remained in that state, located

at Steubenville and Carlton until 1879.  In that year he came to Colorado and

took up his residence at Breckenridge, where he remained nine years, working in

the mines for wages and on his own claims.  He was among the first settlers at

that once busy camp and his success in his mining operations was very good.  In

1888 he moved to Routt county and located a ranch, which after improving it he

sold in 1903, then took up his present ranch of one hundred and sixty acres on

Elk river through desert claims.  This he has also improved and reduced to

active productiveness.  Being among the first settlers on the Elk, he had choice

of land and location, and was able to make his real estate ventures profitable

through his foresight and business capacity backed up with ample energy and

close attention to his business.  He is prominent in his community and is looked

upon as one of the most progressive men there.  But his life has not been wholly

passed in the pursuits of peaceful industry and business.  When the impending

cloud of a civil war burst upon our unhappy land he promptly volunteered in the

defense of the Union as a member of the Seventy-fourth Pennsylvania Infantry,

Company F, and in the momentous contest served until 1864, being mustered out of

the service at Fort Ethan Allen.  During his term of enlistment he was much in

the field and faced death in many forms, suffering also the hardships and

privations of military life in camp, on the march and where Red Battle stamped

his imperious foot.  On April 24, 1865, he was married to Miss Mary Patrick, a

native of Pennsylvania.  She died on January 26, 1884, leaving one daughter,

Minnie, now the wife of George Carey.  On July 20, 1885, Mr. Weston contracted a

second marriage, being united with Miss Almaretta Hill, a native of Monroe

county, Ohio, the daughter of William and Jane (Milligan) Hill, who were born in

Pennsylvania and died in Ohio, whither they moved soon after their marriage. 

The father was a prosperous and skillful shoemaker, and both parents were devout

Methodists.  They had five children, of whom two are living, Mrs. Weston and

Mrs. Nelson Benson.  The mother died on June 26, 1848, and the father on March

27, 1887.  Mr. Weston did not find, even in Colorado and in times of peace, all

the conditions of life agreeable or even affording the common comforts.  For

months after settling on his present home he lived in a little log shack hastily

erected without a floor except the earth, the mother from which we spring and

the last resting place to which we are consigned.   

Additional Comments:
From Progressive Men of Western Colorado.  Chicago:  A.W. Bowen & Co., 1905

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/routt/bios/weston432gbs.txt

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