Freestone County, Texas
Biographies




Biography of James M. Weaver
  ( 21 Apr 1848 to 1936, buried at Wortham Cemetery in Wortham, Texas)
  [His son, Augustus Neal Weaver, was born Jun. 7, 1887 at Wortham according to
   his death certificate.]

Source - Lewis Publishing Company. A Memorial and Biographical History of 
Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon Counties, Texas, 
Book, 1893; pg. 550-551:
  
JAMES M. WEAVER, one of the most influential farmers of Navarro county, was born 
in Georgia, April 21, 1848, a son of Frank D. and Harriett (Rakestraw) Weaver, 
natives also of Georgia. The parents came to Texas in 1850, locating in Rusk 
county, where the father engaged in farming and stock.raising. During the late 
war he was a member of Company D, Colonel Terrell’s brigade, served on the west 
side of the Mississippi river, and participated in the battles of Mansfield, 
Yellow Bayou, and in all the engagements and skirmishes during Banks’ raid in 
Louisiana, and in his retreat out of the State. After the close of hostilities, 
Mr. Weaver found his stock lost and his thirty slaves freed. In 1874 he removed 
to Waco, later to Bremond, next to Ennis, again to Bremond, and then to Walnut 
Springs, where he still resides. He and his wife were the parents of eleven 
children, namely: Isom, deceased; Ann E., deceased, was the wife of Lum Wright; 
Frank B., of Eastland county; Mollie, deceased, was the wife of Reuben Price; 
Texana, deceased; Mattie, widow of Clay Powell; Elizabeth, wife of William 
Clemens; Tina, now Mrs. Luther Price; Augustus, of this county, and Samuel H., 
also of Navarro county. The mother died in 1886, aged sixty-two years, and the 
father afterward married Mrs. Simmons.

James M. Weaver received only a limited education, and at the age of nineteen 
years began life for himself as a stockraiser, receivcng $12.50 per month. He 
worked for wages in the stock business four years, and was then employed by W. 
N. Bradley, of Wortham, as a clerk in a general merchandise store seven years; 
then worked for Bond & Bro. two years; and in 1883 purchased 519 acres of his 
present farm, paying $2,500 for the place. He has since added 315 acres of 
pasture land to his original purchase, and now has 300 acres of his place under 
a fine state of cultivation, with a splendid residence, etc. In addition to his 
farming interests Mr. Weaver is also engaged in breeding Clydesdale horses, 
having fine mares of that breed.

He was married, in 1874, to Miss Mary Epps, a native of this county, and a 
daughter of Henry and Seline (Bennett) Epps.

The father came from Tennessee to Texas when a small boy, settling in the 
southern part of the State, but in early days came to this county and engaged in 
stock-raising. Mr. and Mrs. Epps were the parents of nine children, as follows: 
George, deceased, and his family reside in this county; Thomas, of Navarro 
county; Emily, widow of Oliver Anderson; Mary, wife of our subject; Charles, a 
resident of Hale county; Fannie, deceased; Henry, wife of John Longbotham; Lee, 
deceased; and Bettie, wife of James Polette. The father died in 1880, and his 
wife in 1875. Mr. and Mrs. Weaver have had six children: Mollie, Bessie, Willie, 
George T., Augustus and James C. Mr. Weaver is a member of the K. of H., 
Wortham Lodge, and takes an active interest in the Democratic party, although be 
never seeks political preferment.