David H. Weeks Biography


	This biography appears on page 774 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. I (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	DAVID H. WEEKS, who is one of the venerable and highly honored 
citizens of Hand county, where he is the owner of a valuable ranch of 
three hundred and twenty acres, has the distinction of being a pioneer 
of two states, having settled in Illinois in 1859 and having come to 
Hand county, South Dakota, in the days when its settlement had just 
been instituted.  

	Mr. Weeks was born in Herkimer county, New York, on the 29th of 
March, 1821, being a son of Levi and Jane (Hollenbeck) Weeks, of whose 
twelve children the subject is the only representative in South Dakota. 
The subject was reared on the homestead farm, and he early became 
inured to the strenuous toil involved, while his educational advantages 
were such as were afforded in the common schools of the locality and 
period. He continued to attend school at intervals until he had 
attained the age of eighteen years, and thereafter continued to be 
associated with his honored father in the work and management of the 
home farm until he was twenty-nine years of age. He was then, on the 
15th of January, 1851, united in marriage to Miss Eliza Shaul, who 
likewise was born in the old Empire state, being a daughter of John B. 
Shaul, a prominent farmer of Herkimer county. After his marriage Mr. 
Weeks purchased a farm in Herkimer county, New York, and devoted 
himself to its improvement and cultivation for the ensuing six years, 
when he disposed of the property. In the same year, 1859, he removed to 
Illinois and located in Ogle county, where he purchased a farm of one 
hundred and sixty acres, upon which he continued to reside until 1883, 
when he came to what is now the state of South Dakota, having 
previously sold his farm in Illinois. Upon his arrival in Hand county 
he secured homestead and preemption claims, in Pearl township, and the 
same comprise his present finely improved and valuable ranch, while on 
every side are evidences of the energy and good judgment which he has 
brought to bear in connection with his farming industry during the 
score of intervening years which have wrought such magical changes in 
this section of the Union. He is one of the most successful farmers and 
stock raisers of the county and as a man and citizen commands the most 
unqualified esteem in the community. Though he is an octogenarian his 
years rest lightly upon his head and he is a man of great physical and 
mental vigor, though he now relegates the more onerous work of the 
ranch to his sons. Though not a member of any religious body he is a 
firm believer in the Christian faith and gives his support to church 
work, regardless of denominational lines. His political views are in 
harmony with the principles exemplified by the Populist party. Mr. and 
Mrs. Meeks, who have walked side by side on the journey of life for 
more than half a century, are the parents of seven children, namely: 
John, Ida, Alma, Dayton, Albert, Henry and George.