JOHN B. WEIR. In the galaxy of names of the influential citizens of Washington borough, that of John B. Weir ranks with the first. He is a descendant of Scotch-Irish ancestors, to which two races many of the most intelligent and enterprising citizens are proud to trace their lineage. In the latter part of the eighteenth century three brothers first landed on American soil, whose descendants are numbered among the leading families of the Eastern States: Adam, William and Samuel Weir (with his wife) crossed the ocean together, and soon after their arrival in the United States settled near the head of Chartiers creek. The families of Adam and William in after years pushed farther westward, their descendants being scattered throughout Iowa and the neighboring States. Samuel Weir, the grandfather of John B., made a permanent settlement on a farm in Washington county, Penn., where he followed agricultural pursuits and distilling, the latter industry being then a common occupation; and not many years ago one could count, from a neighboring hill on his pioneer farm, the smoke from fifteen distilleries, all in operation. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Weir were the parents of the following children: Joseph, Adam, Thomas, Polly (married to Thomas Axtell, of this county, and leaving descendants in Solsberry, Ind.), Jane (deceased wife of John Buck, a stage driver on the National road, who settled in Ohio, where her descendants are living), Rachel (deceased), Sarah (widow of Charles Rettig, in Amwell township) and Mrs. Deaver (of Hillsborough, this county). Samuel Weir was a Democrat in politics. He died many years ago, and his widow afterward married George Ringland. She died in the year 1847, at an advanced age. Joseph Weir, a son of Samuel, was born in Franklin township, on the farm now owned by Stephen Post. He was married to Jemima Squires, a native of Morris township. (The Squireses were among the pioneer settlers of Franklin township, now scattered, some of the members having moved to Ohio). The young couple settled on the farm in Franklin township which is still in the possession of their descendants. Their children were as follows: Samuel C. (died at the age of sixty-one years, leaving two sons, who are residents of this county), William L. (died at the age of thirty-three), Elizabeth (Mrs. Post), Jane, George and Joseph (all three died in infancy) and John B. (subject of this sketch). The mother of these children died in 1842, at the age of forty-two years, and in 1844 Mr. Weir married Mrs. Phoebe Hanna, of Carrollton, Ohio, to whom two children were born, namely: Morris (living near Washington) and Margaret (wife of John M. Day, of Franklin township). Mr. Weir was an active member of the Democratic party. He served one term as director of the poor, and filled various township offices. He was school director for many years, also supervisor, and was twice elected justice of the peace. He was familiarly known as "Uncle Joe" among his friends, being a genial and popular man. He followed farming, but devoted his attention to raising sheep, being so fond of these animals that he would neither kill one nor eat its flesh. He shipped the wool one year to Lowell, Mass., and received the highest price paid for fleeces in the entire county. Joseph Weir was a regular attendant and supporter of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He was a man of strong convictions, one who never swerved from any duty which lay before him, and a perfect specimen of physical manhood. Though far advanced in years, his death was an unexpected blow to all. He was salting the sheep one morning, and, failing to return to the house, was found dead in the pasture. The medical authorities gave a verdict of heart failure, but his son John is of the opinion that the old gentleman, being crippled by sciatica, tripped in the deep grass over the salt pail, and could not regain his breath. Joseph Weir died in 1867, at the age of seventy-one years, being followed by his widow in 1881. John B. Weir was born in 1837, in Franklin (then Morris) township, and received his early education in the common schools. He attended Waynesburg College, and finally graduated at Duff's Business College, at Pittsburgh. He afterward taught a term of school, later going to Van Buren, where he sold goods for his uncle (Adam Weir), and in the summer of 1865 began business for himself. In this he continued three years, then finding his health failing, retired to a farm in Morris township, this county, where he remained fifteen years. In 1864 he married Miss Julia Bane, granddaughter of Benjamin Lindley, a pioneer settler of Washington county. To them four children were born: Mary J. (wife of W. E. Baldwin, of Franklin township), Ida M. (studying for a professional nurse, at the Homeopathic Hospital, Pittsburgh, Penn.), Chester and Annie (living with their parents). The mother died in January, 1886, and in 1887 Mr. Weir married Mrs. Mattie Burgan, daughter of Jacob Braden, of Edgar county, Ill., and widow of Langdon Burgan, by whom she had two children: James (a telegraph operator at Terre Haute, Ind.) and Mollie (wife of Rev. W. F. Schrontz, of New York). No children have been born to Mr. Weir's last marriage. Fifteen years after settling on the farm in Morris township, the house of John B. Weir was burned. He then sold the farm, and moved to his present home in Washington borough, where he is living a retired life. His early years were actively employed, as a general farmer, giving attention to the breeding of heavy draft horses, having been the first to introduce the registered heavy draft horse brought into Washington county in the year 1879. In politics he is a Democrat. The position of road commissioner in Morris township was filled by him for nine years, and he served as a constable and assessor several years. His business career has been most successful, and during the period of active life he settled many estates, and collected the county school and road taxes. He has been a member of the Church for twenty-five years, and is now a member of the Second Presbyterian Church of Washington. Mr. Weir is one of the most honored citizens of Washington.

Text taken from page 792 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed May 1997 by Karen Souhrada of Pittsford, NY as part of the Beers Project. Published May 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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