George G. Weaks, Morehouse, then Caddo Parish, Louisiana Submitted by Mike Miller Date: 1999-2000 ***************************************************** ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** ****** George G. Weaks, president of the Weaks Supply Company at Monroe, is one of the representative business men of his city and vicinity, and is a scion of one of the old and prominent Louisiana families. He was born in Morehouse Parish, not far from the village of Spyker, June 22, 1868, a son of Capt. James C. and Nancy (Hedrick) Weaks, who were natives of Tennessee and Mississippi, respectively. Capt. James C. Weaks had come when but a boy of six years with his parents to Louisiana, and his youthful days were spent in Morehouse Parish. He was educated with the view of a legal career, and was admitted to practice at the Louisiana bar, but he never adopted the practice of law as a profession, believing himself better fitted for a business career. He began his career as a steamboat man on the Ouachita River, and for many years was one of the best known steamboat captains in the period when the river traffic was at its highest and the principal means of transportation. He was also a prominent factor in other ways in the affairs and the development of Louisiana. He became an influential figure in politics, in both local and state affairs, and served as United States marshal for the western district of Louisiana during the administration of President Garfield. During his term of service as marshal he resided, with his family, in Shreveport, returning again to Monroe at the expiration of his term. The high degree of efficiency and fearlessness with which the exacting duties of his office were performed, under the most trying conditions, are a matter of public record and stand as a tribute to his character. He also served as postmaster at Monroe, under appointment from President Taft. These two federal appointments indicate his political allegiance, for, despite the fact that he was born and reared a true Southerner, he was firm in his adherence to the principles of the republican party, and with the courage of his honest convictions, fearlessly followed the path of duty as he saw it. George G. Weaks grew to manhood amidst such surroundings and with those advantages common to the youth of his locality, supplemented by the cultural and social advantages of a cultured home, his earlier education being further aided by a three years' course as a student in Capt. George E. Thatcher's Institute at Shreveport. He developed an early aptitude for business, eventually establishing the supply company of which he continues president. The Weaks Supply Company j~ one of the leading wholesale establishments of Monroe, doing a widely extended business in mill, gin, carbon plant, drilling and railway supplies, and is an important factor in the city's commercial activities. Mr. Weaks has also taken an active part in other lines of business and commercial development. In 1916 he was one of a small group of pioneers who conducted the initial drilling operations that brought in the Monroe gas field, which has since been developed into the largest natural gas field in the world. He is also president of the Monroe Gas Company, which supplies the city with natural gas, and he is also president of the Louisiana Gas Products Corporation, manufacturers of carbon black and gasoline. In social circles be is a member of the Riverside Country Club, the Lotus Club and the Sons of the American Revolution. Mr. Weaks married Miss Mona Millsaps, a native of Trenton, Louisiana. and a daughter of Uriah and Mary (Lockett) Millsaps. They have one son, George G. Weaks, Jr. NOTE: The referenced source contains a black and white photograph of the subject with his/her autograph. A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), p. 18, by Henry E. Chambers. Published by The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925.