Biography - Cyrus Weakly
CYRUS WEAKLY. A young and progressive man who has already attained a
flattering degree of success and whose friends predict for him a brilliant
future, is he whose name is written at the head of this sketch. He is a
farmer and stock-raiser, operating two hundred and forty acres, located on
section 17, Pickaway Township. At this place he settled in December, 1887.
Not yet having reached his third decade, he has already accumulated a
handsome property that many an older man has striven and labored in vain for
years to acquire. He is one of the most thrifty men of the township where he
has lived since his fourth year, he was born in Ridge Township, this county,
April 19, 1866.
Since his fourth year our subject has lived in Pickaway Township, where he
acquired a good common-school education that fitted him for the practical
business of life, and since becoming of age he has been engaged in farming
on his father-in-law's land. He is the son of Alva P. and Mary A. (Miller)
Weakly, natives of Ohio and Illinois respectively. Our subject's father came
with his parents, Samuel and Maria (Fetters) Weakly, to the State and county
at an early day. They became pioneers in Ridge Township, this county, and
there Samuel Weakly became the owner of a large tract of new land, which he
improved. He lived to own six hundred acres of land, nearly all of which was
well improved, and when he died in 1890, at the age of seventy-five, he was
in more than comfortable financial circumstances. He was twice married. His
first wife died in the prime of life, January 10, 1862. He was an active
member of the United Brethren Church and Mr. Weakly helped to organize the
church in this county and at various times held most of the church offices.
He was School Superintendent for years, a public-spirited man and a liberal
giver. Formerly he was a Republican in his political views, but in his last
years became an adherent of the Greenback party, and finally of the
Prohibitionists. His last wife, whose maiden name was Rachael A. Schafer,
and who had formerly been married to a Mr. Petty, yet survives him. She is
now fifty years of age. She bore Mr. Weakly one child, who is now deceased.
The father of our subject, Alva P. Weakly was the second of four sons and
six daughters. All are now married and have families with the exception of
one.
Alva P. Weakly became of age in Ridge Township, and there married his wife,
whose maiden name was Mary A. Miller, a native of that township and a
daughter of C. P. Miller, an old settler there. For a further history of C.
P. Miller's life refer to sketch of W. C. Miller, found in another part of
this volume. After marriage the young couple began life as farmers in Ridge
Township and there two children were born to them. They then moved into
Pickaway Township and now have a fine and well-improved farm of three
hundred and sixty-five acres, which has been their home since 1870. This
fine place is the tangible result of years of industry, prudence and thrift.
In their church relations they are prominent members of the United Brethren
Church, of which Mr. Weakly is a Trustee. For years he was Superintendent of
the Sunday-school and Class-Leader. Politically he is a Republican and has
held various local offices under his party. He is now Justice of the Peace.
Our subject is the eldest of the family born to his parents, seven children
in all, of whom there are five sons and two daughters. He of whom we write
was married in this township May 1, 1887, to Miss Clara A. Moll. She was
born here on the old Moll homestead, January 8, 1867, and was here reared
and educated at Westfield Seminary. She is the daughter of Daniel Moll, of
whom a sketch may be found in another part of this volume.
Mrs. Weakly is an accomplished and attractive lady. She and her husband are
very popular among the young married people and their home is a delightful
meeting-place for the gaiety and social life of the community. Their
marriage has been blessed by the birth of a daughter, on the 16th of April,
1888. She is a bright girl and is the delight of her parents. The young
husband and wife are members of the Locust Grove United Brethren Church and
there do efficient work. Mr. Weakly is a Republican in his political
preference.
Extracted 09 Apr 2018 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, pages 476-477.
