BIO: Israel WEAVER, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JRB Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/1picts/commbios/comm-bios.htm _____________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898. _____________________________________________________________________ ISRAEL WEAVER, one of the progressive and enterprising agriculturalists of Haines township, is a worth representative of one of the honored 242 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA pioneer families of Centre county, his grandfather, John Weaver, having located in that township at a very early day in its history, and there reared a large family. He was a weaver by trade, and also engaged in farming, owning a valuable and well-improved farm at the time of his death. Frederick Weaver, the father of our subject, was born in Haines township, in 1803, and being the youngest of seven sons, according to the old saying, "should be a doctor." Strange enough, he naturally possessed a talent for the medical profession, and from youth was called "Doctor." Although he never studied medicine, he used to bleed many people when the custom was in vogue, and manufactured and dealt in medicine, selling it throughout the township. He was reared to farm labor, but when quite young learned stocking weaving at New Berlin, Penn., and later engaged in general weaving, manufacturing carpets, bed spreads, cloth, etc. In Haines township Frederick Weaver was married to Catharine Mark, who was born there in 1798, a daughter of Rudolph and Margaret (Walterbarger) Mark, in whose family were eight children - four sons and four daughters. Her father was a farmer by occupation. To Mr. and Mrs. Weaver were born the following children: William, a farmer of Gregg township, Centre county; Mary, who became the wife of Jesse Wert, and died in Aaronsburg, Centre county; Israel, the subject of this sketch; Aaron D., a resident of Aaronsburg; and Frank J. The mother of these children died in 1876, and the father afterward wedded Mrs. Elizabeth Krull (nee Lutenbach), who is still living in Haines township. Frederick Weaver and wife began housekeeping in Haines township, where he had erected a small dwelling upon a couple of acres of land, and there followed his trade of weaving until the spring of 1834, when he removed to a farm he had purchased one mile east of Aaronsburg, comprising sixty acres. This he cultivated in connection with weaving, and added to the original tract until he had 128 acres of excellent land. Although his father's estate was quite large, it had to be divided among so many children that each received only a small amount. According to the provisions of the will, the next to the youngest son received the farm, and was to pay each of the fourteen children $200, at intervals of two years each, beginning with the eldest, so that it was thirty years before Frederick received his $200. He therefore had to start out in life with no capital, and the success which he achieved was due to his own unaided efforts. He died upon his farm near Aaronsburg, in January, 1885, and was laid to rest in the cemetery of that place. His political support was given the Democratic party until the formation of the Republican party, when he joined its ranks. Religiously, both he and the mother of our subject were consistent members of the Lutheran Church, and they were highly respected citizens of the community. Israel Weaver was born in Haines township, March 28, 1831, and in the subscription schools acquired a limited education, his first teacher being James Polly. As soon as old enough to handle a plow he began to assist in the labors of the farm, which he continued until seventeen years of age, when he entered the shop of his cousin, John Weaver, in Haines township, and learned carpet and coverlet weaving. On attaining his majority he formed a partnership with his father in that business, which he continued until his marriage. In August, 1853, Mr. Weaver married Miss Luzetta, daughter of Solomon Confer, a farmer by occupation, and they began their domestic life in an old log house upon his present farm, a tract of sixty-five acres, for which he went in debt. Upon the place stood a sawmill which he has since conducted in connection with the labors of the farm, and has made many valuable and useful improvements upon his land, including the erection of a fine residence, which cost $3,000. Mr. and Mrs. Weaver have no children of their own, but have given homes to several, including Lucetta, now the wife of B. F. Edmunds, who was taken when a child and reared in their home, as was also her mother, Agnes, and made her home with them from three years of age. At the present time they have a boy, Weaver Edmunds, now eleven years of age. They have not only given homes to the children, but treated them as if they were their own, providing them with excellent advantages. Kind hearted and generous almost to a fault, no couple in Haines township are held in higher regard or have more friends. They are earnest, devoted Christians, faithful members of the Lutheran Church, with which he has been officially connected for years. Like his father, Mr. Weaver was originally a Democrat, but now gives his unwavering support to the men and measures of the Republican party.