BIO: James Calvin 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. _____________________________________________________________________ JAMES CALVIN WEAVER, one of Bellefonte's progressive and "up-to-date" business men, is a leading worker in the important field of insurance, wherein his characteristic tact and practical sagacity find ample scope for use. His father, David Weaver, was born January 27, 1811, and lived most of his lifetime on the Weaver Homestead, about three and one-half miles east of Bellefonte, where he followed most successfully his chosen occupation, that of a tiller of the soil, up to the year 1873, when he removed with his family to Bellefonte, where he lived up to his death, which occurred on the 22d of March, 1879. He was always regarded as one of the most influential men of the community in which he lived, and was always ready to take the initiative in every movement that tended to elevate and improve society. He never aspired to public life, but he was almost continually kept at the head of township affairs, either filling the office of school director, or that of road supervisor; and was for many years the active superintendent of the Sunday-school work in the community. His mother, Susannah (Bridge) Weaver, was born July 15, 1823, near Farmers Mills, in Penn's Valley, and survived her husband nearly thirteen years, her death occurring on the 7th of December, 1891. In their immediate family there are five children, the subject of our sketch being the eldest; the second, Henry C., resides in Harrisburg, Penn.; the third, Miss Ida M.; the fourth, Miss Belle E.; and the fifth, Miss Carrie A. - the three latter living in Bellefonte. J. C. Weaver was born July 7, 1851. He remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age, his early educational advantages being those of the district school, but these were supplemented by a course of study in the Bellefonte Academy, and two terms at the County Normal School at Centre Hall. He then engaged in teaching, his work being confined to district schools, and he continued in this work for about seven years, during which time he secured the highest credentials possible in that profession, that of a Permanent Certificate from the State Department at Harrisburg. Early in the fall of 1878 he began the study of law with Stitzer & Magee, but not finding this congenial to his tastes, he laid it aside, and entered the business of Life Insurance, which he followed very successfully up to November, 1887, when he undertook a general-insurance business, in which he has engaged ever since, although having added to it the Real-Estate and Loan Agency business. Mr. Weaver was united in matrimony to Miss Laura G. Barnhart, a daughter of Philip W. COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 169 Barnhart, of Roland, Centre Co., Penn. They have the following children: Elsie, Maude, Harry C., Philip B., Fred D. and Robert. Both Mr. and Mrs. Weaver are actively interested in religious and philanthropical movements, and, inheriting many of the sterling qualities of their honored ancestry, they are held in the highest esteem, this being notably so in the Church to which they belong, which is evidenced by the fact that Mr. Weaver enjoys the honor of being one of the ruling elders of the large and influential Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte, to which office he was elected in the year 1887.