BIO: Orlando WESTON, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JO Copyright 2009. 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. _____________________________________________________________________ ORLANDO WESTON, an active and energetic farmer residing at Mt. Pleasant, Taylor township, Centre county, is a native of Pennsylvania, born July 20, 1854, in Huntingdon county, at what is known as the Cross Roads, and is a son of Elijah and Ellen (Gill) Weston, natives of Huntingdon and Centre counties, respectively. They were married in the former county, where they remained until 1858, when COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 407 they removed to Sandy Ridge, Centre county, but in 1862 returned to Huntingdon county, where the mother died two years later, at the age of forty-six. In early life the father followed the tanner's trade, operating a tannery at Osceola, Penn., until the panic of 1875, since which time he has engaged in carpentering at that place. He has been a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since 1866, and class leader for many years. Our subject is the eldest in the family of five children, his sisters being as follows: Anna, wife of Samuel Winters, a farmer of Michigan; Emma, wife of Charles Baker, a farmer and lumberman of Clearfield county, Penn.; Mary, deceased wife of James Edward, a carpenter of Osceola; and Elizabeth, who died at the age of twenty-two years. After the death of his first wife, Elijah Weston married Miss Nancy Merryman, and to them were born the following children: Clara, wife of Levi Richie, a farmer of Bedford county, Penn.; William and Elijah, deceased; Fannie, at home; and Naomah, wife of William Crane, who is assisting her father in the butchering business at Osceola. The paternal grandparents of our subject, Elijah and Polly (Merryman) Weston, were natives of Huntingdon and Centre counties respectively. The former was of English extraction, and was a well-read and intelligent farmer. The maternal grandfather, William Gill, was of Scotch descent, and died at Bellefonte, Penn., at the advanced age of nearly one hundred years. At the age of twenty-two years, Orlando Weston started out in life for himself, but he had previously worked with his father both at farming and tanning, assisting in the operation of the tannery at Osceola. Later he was employed by others in that business, being connected with steam tanneries at Osceola, Philipsburg, Clearfield and Curwensville until 1883, when he embarked in farming upon his present place, which he now has under a high state of cultivation and well improved. In the fall of 1880 he married Miss Maggie Nearhoof, who died the following year at the age of twenty-two, leaving one daughter, Maggie, now residing with her grandmother in Tyrone, Penn. Mr. Weston was again married May 3, 1885, this time to Miss Maggie Merryman, and to them have been born three children: Anna M., Sherman B. and Verna E. Mrs. Weston was born in Taylor township, Centre county, February 27, 1863, and is a daughter of Thomas and Anna (Miller) Merryman, who spent their entire lives upon a farm in the same county, where the former died in 1889 at the age of sixty-six, and the latter in 1891 at the same age. They held membership in the United Brethren Church, and in politics the father was a Republican. He was honored by his fellow citizens with several local offices. His family consisted of six children: Nancy, wife of Henry Melcher, a farmer and lumberman of Centre county; Mollie, who lives with her sisters; Emma, wife of W. S. Weston, a farmer of Taylor township; Laura, wife of Pius Richards, also a farmer of Taylor township; William, a railroad fireman residing at Tyrone, Penn.; and Maggie, wife of our subject. Mr. Weston is a firm supporter of the Republican party, and his worth and ability have received due acknowledgment from the hands of his fellow citizens, who have called upon him at different times to serve the people in several township offices, the duties of which he has promptly and faithfully discharged. He has been an active member of the United Brethren Church since locating in Taylor township, and is one of the highly respected citizens of the community.