Biographical Sketch of Albert WEEKS, M. D. (1893); Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by John Morris . *********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: Printing this file within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of contents. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** Source: "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsyl- vania, comprising a historical sketch of the county," by Samuel T. Wiley and edited by Winfield Scott Garner, Gresham Publishing Company, Phila- delphia, PA, 1893, pp. 253-4. "ALBERT WEEKS, M. D., a graduate of the Jefferson Medical college at Phil- adelphia, who has been in successful general practice at Phoenixville for more than ten years, is a son of Job and Hannah (Adams) Weeks, and was born in Burlington county, New Jersey, June 15, 1858. The paternal great- grandfather of the subject of this sketch was a native of England, but came to the United States one hundred and twenty years ago and settled in New Jersey, where he died at an advanced age. His son, Job Weeks (grand- father), was born in Burlington county, that State, and was a farmer all his life. He died on his farm there about 1862, in the sixtieth year of his age. In politics he was a whig and republican, and an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church for many years. He married and reared a large family, among them being Job Weeks (father), who is also a native of Burlington county, New Jersey, where he still resides. He owns a large farm, and was for many years an extensive contractor and builder, but is now practically retired from active business, being in his seventy-second year. Politically he is an ardent republican, and has held nearly all the offices of his township. In religion he is a strict adherent of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, and has served as superintendent of the Sunday school for a number of years. In 1842 he married Hannah Adams, a native of Burlington county, New Jersey, by whom he had a family of eleven chil- dren. She is still living, being now in the seventy-second year of her age. She is a member of the same church as her husband, and greatly es- teemed for her kindliness and splendid Christian character. "Dr. Albert Weeks was reared in Burlington county, New Jersey, and received a good English education in the excellent public schools of that State. After leaving school he entered a drug store in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he remained for two years as clerk and salesman. At the end of that time he began reading medicine with the eminent Dr. D. D. Richardson, then of Philadelphia, but now superintendent of the State asylum for the insane at Wilmington, Delaware. Later he matriculated at Jefferson Medical college, Philadelphia, from which well known institution he was graduated in the spring of 1880, with the degree of M. D. After graduation he became first assistant physician in the insane department of the Philadelphia hospital, and occupied that position two years. April 1, 1882, he removed to Phoenixville, this county, where he immediately opened an office, and has been continuously engaged in the practice of his pro- fession ever since. His thorough knowledge of medicine and acquired skill in its administration have given him great success as a physician, and he has consequently built up a practice which is now quite large and corre- spondingly lucrative. "On August 2, 1882, Dr. Weeks was united in marriage with Mary Umstead, a daughter of Joseph and Sarah Umstead, of the city of Philadelphia. To the Dr. and Mrs. Weeks have been born two children, both daughters: Sarah Ione and Vivian. "In his political affiliations Dr. Weeks is republican, though taking no very active part in politics; and he is a strict member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Phoenixville, and also a member of Castle, No. 67, Knights of the Golden Eagle. Dr. Weeks' ability and standing in his pro- fession is acknowledged wherever he is known, and he is a prominent member of the Chester County Medical society, and of the Inter-County Medical society. In addition to giving strict attention to the arduous duties connected with his large private practice, he is also serving as official examiner for several leading fire insurance companies doing business in Phoenixville."