Biography of John WEEDMAN, Jr., DeWitt County, Illinois Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives Copyright 1999 Earliene Kaelin Source: The People in History 1882 History JOHN WEEDMAM Jr. Among the influential and leading business men, as well as old settlers of DeWitt county, is the subject of the following sketch. Although not a resident of the county, yet he has been for many years identified with its history and progress, and has contributed much to its material prosperity. He was born in Perry county, Ohio, February 3, 1828, and is the son of John and Rachel Weedman, whose histories are to be found on another page of this work. He was, in his infancy, when his parents removed from Ohio to Illinois and settled in Randolph's Grove. His education in his youth was of a limited character, and was confined to the log school-house of nearly a half century ago, wherein he learned to read, write and cipher, which embraced the entire educational course. But Mr. Weedman did not rely so much upon the schools as he did upon self- culture. As a man and boy he contracted habits of close observation and cultivated a taste for reading, which improved the mind, and, in time, rendered him well-informed upon the current literature and topics of the day. He was raised to habits of industry upon his father's farm, and remained at home until 1850, when he and other members of the family were seized with the gold fever, which was produced by the discovery of gold in California. In company with four of his brothers, he started for California by the overland route, and landed in Sacramento July 24, 1850. They engaged in mining and hauling provisions. John remained in California for eighteen months, by which time he was convinced that by the exercise of the same industry at home as there he would succeed equally well. In the fall of 1851 he returned home by way of New York. Here he engaged in farming and stock-raising, in which he has been more or less engaged ever since. In 1871 he, in connection with Thomas Brothers, established the first bank in Farmer City. The partnership continued until 1876, when Mr. Weedman purchased the Thomas Brothers interest, and from that time to the present has carried on the business of banking in his own name. From the first opening of the bank to the present, it has borne the reputation of being solid, and of conducting its business upon sound business principles. As a banker, Mr. Weedman is well known throughout central Illinois, and his reputation and that of his bank has an enviable and honorable standing among business men. On the 31st of March, 1853, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. McDonald, a native of Madison county, Ohio. She is the daughter of Thomas and Rebecca McDonald. By that union there are four children living. Their names, in the order of their births, are: Harriet Josephine, who is the wife of C. R. Brodix, a resident and publisher of Philadelphia; Cassius M., clerk in his father's bank; Rachel Rosella, and John Sherman Weedman. Both Mr. and Mrs. Weedman are active members of the M. E. Church. He is a respected member of the Ancient and Honorable Order of A. F. and A. M. Politically, Mr. W. is a sound and thorough Republican, and has always voted that ticket since casting his first vote. He has been elected to several offices of local trust, and has represented his township in the Board of Supervisors for several terms. He was a member of the board when the present magnificent courthouse which adorns the public square in Bloomington was built. By a series of circumstances he held the casting vote in that public enterprise. In every office he has held he has earned the reputation of a faithful, capable, and honest servant of the people. Mr. Weedman in personal appearance is an erect, well-formed man. His fifty and odd years hang lightly upon him, and he would readily pass for one who had not reached more than the meridian of life. His hardy constitution and temperate habits have done much to preserve and keep about him the evidences and appearances of youth, which seem loth to leave and in their stead place the stamp of declining years. In his manners he is a social and pleasant gentleman, of frank and unassuming manners, whose acquaintance and friendship it is a pleasure to make, and, when once made, rarely forgotten. This is the opinion and evidence of the writer of this sketch, who has known Mr. Weedman for many years. ------------------------------------------------------------------ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organiza- tions or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contri- butor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ----------------------------------------------------------------- File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Earliene Kaelin