My Genealogy Hound

Hon. W. H. Weir has been connected with the farming and stock-raising interests of Clark County, Ark., from his youth up, and being a native-born resident of the county he has always had her every interest at heart. He was born in 1840, to Rev. Abraham L. and Amanda (Crow) Weir, the former born in what is now Union County, Ky., February 8, 1816, and the latter near St. Louis, Mo., January 14, 1817. Abraham L. Weir's father passed from life in the ''Blue Grass State'' about 1830, after which his wife moved with her family to Southeastern Arkansas, and from there to Clark County a few years later. Here Abraham L. was married on August 22, 1837, and here spent the rest of his life with the exception of from 1842 to 1845, when he was in Dallas County. From 1850 until his death, which occurred in 1879, he was a worthy minister of the Gospel, having been a member of the church from the time he was twenty-one years of age, and in connection with this calling followed the occupation of farming. He was an acknowledged leader in whatever he undertook to do, and being an active politician, he was chosen a member of the State Legislature from Clark County, serving in 1856-57. He served for some years as private in the Confederate army during the Civil War, and was a member of Capt. Reed's company of State troops and fought at Mark's Mill, Poison Springs, and Jenkins' Ferry. He was a member of many years standing of the A. F. & A. M., having attained the Royal Arch degree, and on account of his many worthy characteristics he had many warm personal friends. His father, Turner Weir, was of Irish descent, was born in Virginia, but spent the most of his life in Kentucky, where he also died. The maternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, Walter Crow, was born, reared and married in East Tennessee, and upon deciding to remove to Missouri he floated down the Tennessee River on a flat boat. In 1819 he came to Clark County, being one of its first settlers, and took up his abode a few miles west of Arkadelphia, where he followed the occupation of cabinet-making and farming. He moved from there to near Okolona, where his death occurred in 1863, his wife having died several years earlier. W. H. Weir is the second of ten children, seven now living, and although his youth was spent principally on a farm he acquired a good education, his knowledge of books being obtained in the Okolona Academy. In 1861 he joined Roberts' Battery, which operated throughout the majority of the Southern States, and he was a participant in the battles of Shiloh, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, the Atlanta campaign, and surrendered at Madison, Ga., at which place he had been one of Jeff Davis' bodyguard. He was captured at Murfreesboro, Tenn., but soon after succeeded in effecting his escape at Cairo, Ill., while en route to a Northern prison, and made the best of his way home on foot. A few weeks later he rejoined his command near where he was captured, and served until the final surrender, when he returned home and again became a follower of the plow. Ophelia, the daughter of Martin S. and Catherine Carpenter, became his wife in 1876, her birth having occurred in Georgia. In addition to farming he has followed merchandising in Okolona for seven years, at two different times, but now gives his sole attention to farming and stock raising, his farm comprising about 262 acres, of which 100 are under cultivation. He is a stanch Democrat in his views, and during 1874-75 and 1878-79, he was a member of the General Assembly of Arkansas from Clark County, and discharged his duties very satisfactorily, being a member of several important committees. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Rob Morris Lodge No. 106, of Okolona, and be is also a member of the K. of H., and he and wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Weir's father and mother were born, reared and married in Georgia, and in 1853 came to Clark County, Mrs. Carpenter dying the same year of their arrival here. Mr. Carpenter was captain of a steamboat on the Ouachita, Arkansas and Mississippi Rivers until the opening of the war, when he entered the Confederate Army salt works in Arkansas. After the war he worked at his trade of machinist for some years, then returned to steam-boating until failing health compelled him to give up this calling, He went to Denver, Colo., to recuperate his failing energies, but nature had been too long overtaxed, and there he died in 1874, mourned by many besides his immediate and sorrowing household.