Simon Weil, Rapides Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by: Suzanne Shoemaker

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Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana
The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville,  1890

     SIMON WEIL is a German by birth, having been born in that country, and
like all his countrymen, he is industrious, thrifty and honest.  He is a
son of Bernhard and Babette (Feith) Weil, who were born in that country in
1805 and 1815, respectively.  The father received a good common education
in the country of his birth, and for many years was a trustee in the Hebrew
Society.  He died in Ingenheim, Germany, in 1854 or 1855, his widow passing
from life in Alexandria, La., in 1889, to which place she had moved in
1866.  Like his father, the subject of this sketch was given the advantages
of the common schools, and wishing to secure a competence for his old age
he decided that America would be the best place for the realization of his
hopes, and he accordingly came here in 1859.  After a short time he began
merchandising at Weil Post office, on Bayou Rapides, eight miles west of
Alexandria, and in connection with managing his store also engaged in
farming in 1867, and has followed both callings with success ever since.
He has a fine farm of 500 acres, 250 of which are in a high state of
cultivation, and on this he raises cotton and corn, the yield of the former
being about 100 bales per year.  His mercantile establishment brings him in
some $20,000 each year, in fact, he has proved himself to be a successful
financier.  He is postmaster of the office named in his honor, and is
proving a very competent official.  He was married in 1872 to Miss
Josephine, daughter of Edward and Athalie (Hernandez) Levi, the father
being born in France, and the mother in Louisiana.  Mr. Levi was a member
of the Hebrew Church, but his wife was a Catholic, and both are now dead,
the former passing to his long home in 1882, and the latter in 1865.  To
Mr. and Mrs. Weil seven children have been born -six sons and one daughter.
 Mr. Weil's brothers and sisters, numbering five in all, are residents of
Rapides Parish, La.