My Genealogy Hound

SAMUEL J. WEAVER, M. D., is a practicing physician and surgeon of Bethlehem. He bears a name of wide reputation in professional circles, where he is known as a man of unusual ability and genius. He is a surgeon for the Lehigh Valley Railroad, and is identified with the leading medical societies of the country. In the fraternities and in politics he is also very prominent, and in everything pertaining to the upbuilding of the city he has taken his share.

The family is of German descent, and has long been established in Northampton County. Our subject’s grandfather, Michael Weaver, was an extensive merchant and farmer, and upon his land built a tannery, which he operated. He succeeded in getting a postoffice at Weaversville, which was named in honor of him, and of which he was the first Postmaster, having been appointed about the close of the last century. He was an old-line Whig,a man of considerable prominence, and Captain of a company in the War of 1812. His wife, who was a Miss Dreisbach, died in 1860, at the age of about eighty-eight years. He died of apoplexy in 1834, when in his sixty-fourth year.

Our subject’s father, Samuel Weaver, was born in Weaversville, and with his two brothers, David and Thomas, became a partner in the mercantile establishment founded by his father. They also conducted the farm and tannery, but after a time he bought out the interests of his brothers and became the owner of the homestead of one hundred acres, with the tannery, located on Catasauqua Creek. In 1835 he was appointed Postmaster, and held that position until his death. He was very active in educational work, and did his utmost to increase the educational facilities of the community. He was one of the prime movers in establishing the Weaversville Academy, which was opened in 1856. The ground for the site was donated by him, and he was Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the academy until his death.

In early days, while engaged in the mercantile business, Samuel Weaver bought his goods in Philadelphia and New York, and at first they were hauled by teams the entire distance, later were conveyed by canal, and finally by railroad. His establishment was the largest in the vicinity. For many years he was Treasurer of the Lutheran Churcb at Weaversville, and also served as Sunday-school Superintendent. Politically he was an ardent Republican. The disease which ended his career was angina pectoris, he dying in 1863, at the age of fifty-four years.

The mother of our subject, Sarah, was a daughter of Jacob Boyer, a substantial farmer of Allen Township. She was born in Howertown, and in 1870 located in Bethlehem, where she resided until her death, December 24, 1893, in her seventy-fourth year. She was the mother of twelve children, of whom eleven attained years of maturity. William T. is a traveling salesman, and during the Civil War was Sergeant of the One Hundred and Fifty-third Pennsylvania Infantry; Amelia M. lives in Bethlehem; Jane S. is the wife of Dr. J. F. Raub, and lives in Washington, D. C.; Joseph A. is an influential citizen of Bethlehem; Amanda E. is the wife of Rev. E. Martinis, of Hillsboro, Ill.; Clinton T. is a bookkeeper; Samuel J. is the subject of this sketch; David M. is a clerk in the employ of the Lehigh Valley Coal Company in Bethlehem; C. Annie, the wife of George Green, lives in Brooklyn, N. Y.; and Frances C. is married and lives in Boston, Mass.

Samuel J. Weaver was born September 2, 1850, in Weaversville, Pa., and was reared in his birthplace. He attended the academy there, and completed the course, after which, when seventeen years of age, he began the study of medicine with Dr. Raub. In 1870 he entered Jefferson Medical College, from which he graduated in 1872 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, being the youngest in the class. In order to make progress he took advantage of a special spring and fall course, and thus crowded his studies into less time. Going to his native village after leaving college, he engaged in practice, worked hard and succeeded in building up a good reputation and patronage. In 1883 he came to Bethlehem, where he also very soon made good progress in building up a fine practice, and erected an office at the corner of Main and Union Streets. He is a charter member of the Lehigh Valley Medical Association, and an active member of the State, County and American Medical Associations. He is Medical Examiner for the New York Life, the Masonic Aid, Independent Order of Heptasophs, the Odd Fellows’ Endowment Association and for many others. He is also identified with the Bethlehem Microscopical Society, and at one time was President of the County Medical Association.

In Lower Saucon Dr. Weaver was married, December 5, 1872, to Miss Mary J. Weaver, a native of that place, and they have one child, S. Herbert. They attend Christ’s Reformed Church of this city, in which the Doctor is an Elder. Fraternally Dr. Weaver belongs to Cypress Commandery, K. of H., having been one of the charter members and the first Commander. He was the first Treasurer of the Grand Commandery of the state of Pennsylvania, serving as such for three terms, and for three years was a Trustee of the Supreme Grand Commandery. As an Odd Fellow, the Doctor is also interested in, and a warm supporter of, civic societies. Politically he is a stanch Republican, and has served frequently as a delegate to county and state conventions. In the fall of 1887 he was elected County Coroner on the Republican ticket, and served from January, 1888, until January, 1891, being the only Republican that ever held the office in the history of the county.