My Genealogy Hound
Below is a family biography included in The History of Benton County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889. These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary. Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more. There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.
* * * *
James Larkin Monroe Weir, farmer of Benton County, Ark., is a son of Lawson Young and Charlotte (Williams) Weir, who were Tennesseeans, born September 16, 1827, and June 7, 1830, respectively. The father is a farmer and stock raiser, and resides in Cedar County, Mo. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. His parents were John and Dicy F. (Grills) Weir. The mother’s parents were Larkin and Catherine (Coonse) Williams. James L. M. Weir immigrated to Illinois in 1863, and at the end of three years located in Fayetteville, Ark. He was a successful farmer and stock raiser, and in 1870 engaged in the manufacture of tobacco in partnership with George B. Hunt. The enterprise was a failure financially, leaving Mr. Weir $500 in debt. By hard work he paid his indebtedness, and in 1873 was married to Miss Mary H. Dickson, a native of Benton County, Ark., born October 26, 1852, and a daughter of Ezekiel J. A. and Sophia J. (Morrison) Dickson. Soon after his marriage Mr. Weir located in Peirce City, Mo., and engaged in farming and stock raising. His labors met with good success, and in April, 1876, he moved to Bentonville, and made his home with his father-in-law, but shortly after the house in which they lived was burned to the ground, and Mr. Weir was again financially embarrassed. His wife had some land near Bloomfield on which they located, but her health began to fail, and he took her to Colorado Springs, and remained there one month, then to the mountains of Colorado, near the head of the Arkansas River, and stayed there one month; then they went to New Mexico and engaged in railroading, clearing $2,100 in eleven months. Mrs. Weir had fully regained her health by this time, and they returned to Bloomfield, where they have since resided. Four of their six children are still living: Charlotte B., Eliza A., Robert L. and Joe D. Mr. and Mrs. Weir are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Mr. Weir is a member of the A. F. & A, M. and I. O. O. F. lodges of Arkansas. He is an enterprising young citizen, and, by industry and perseverance under many difficulties has secured a good share of this world’s goods.
* * * *
This family biography is one of 240 biographies included in The History of Benton County, Arkansas published in 1889. For the complete description, click here: Benton County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps
To view additional Benton County, Arkansas family biographies, click here
Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.