Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Weese, James C 1842 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 5, 2007, 10:21 am Author: Portraits & Bio Sketches, 1890 JAMES C. WEESE. The building interests of Joliet would be but poorly represented in this volume did not its pages contain mention of J. C. Weese, who has been engaged as an architect and builder for many years. In this city he has designed and built many of the best residences, among them being the dwellings of H. B. Scutt, M. Calmer, Dr. Raynor, and others. He has also done much work in Morris, Aurora, Yorkville, and other places. He is a practical carpenter and architect, whose knowledge has not been picked up but was acquired under competent masters and improved by practical labor in both lines. The Weese family is of German extraction, the grandfather of our subject having been born in the Fatherland. His father, John Marcus Weese and Laura Howell were born in Canada, and after their marriage lived for many years. To them were born thirteen children, eleven of whom are now living, the subject of this sketch being the second. The others are: William, a blacksmith and carriage builder in Plattville, Kendall County; Mrs. Catherine Morden and Mrs. Victoria Lazier, twins; Elias N., whose home is at Minooka, Grundy County; Lorain C. and Wellington, deceased; Mrs. Laura Hurd; Walter; Mrs. Chloe Pierce; and Adeline and John, twins, the latter of whom resides in Chicago; Adeline, the first, is deceased. In County Hastings, Province of Ontario, on August 30, 1842, the subject of this sketch was born. His father being a farmer, his early life was spent amid rural surroundings, and until the age of fifteen years he shared, as a boy could, in various agricultural labors in the intervals of his school life. He then served his time as a carpenter's apprentice, working at that trade exclusively for seven years. He next devoted himself to architecture, which he learned in the city of New York, for a period of ten years, and since that time has been designing aud building. In 1871 he came to Joliet, which has been his home during most of the years since that date. He now occupies an attractive residence at No. 105, Second Avenue, whose internal arrangements are a model of housewifely skill. On January 22, 1872, the rites of wedlock were celebrated between our subject and Miss Kittie Farley, a resident of Leland, LaSalle County, Ill. The bride is the daughter of the Rev. A. and Mary (Anderson) Farley, the father having been a minister in the United Brethren Church. During the cholera scourge, which decimated so many neighborhoods, in 1852, Mr. and Mrs. Farley were stricken down with the dread disease, dying within a week of each other. Their daughter was reared by an aunt, and under her loving care grew to womanhood, a noble and refined young lady fitted for any sphere in life. Mr. and Mrs. Weese are childless, but have an adopted daughter. Mrs. Weese is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Weese is a true blue Republican, whose first Presidential ballot was cast for Rutherford B. Hayes, and who has followed that vote with a steady adherence to the party which he then chose. A reliable citizen, an intelligent and upright man, he is regarded with respect by his fellow-citizens, his wife sharing in their esteem. Additional Comments: Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/weese439gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ilfiles/ File size: 4.0 Kb