My Genealogy Hound

WEISNER, J. HARVEY, retired farmer. “Uncle Harvey,” as he is familiarly known, was born in Surry County, North Carolina, near the Yadkin River, Jan. 10, 1803, was the son of John and Margaret Weisner, who were natives of that State; they are of German and Irish descent. During his fourteenth year he moved to Smith Co., Tennessee, during which time he was engaged in agricultural pursuits, in the interest of his father. Feb. 20 1827, he was united in marriage to Martha Evans, by whom he had twelve children, one daughter and eleven sons; six of these entered the U. S. service, but three returning; Elizabeth, his only daughter, married W. Elkinton, and is now a resident of Kansas. In the year 1829 Mr. W. moved to this State, and located in this county, and stopped in the city when there was but one cabin in the town. He now owns 250 acres of land. When he emigrated to this county, he came with his wife and children in an old ox cart, arriving here with 75 cents in money, had to go to Carrollton for his mail, 25 cents being the price paid for the delivery of letters at that time. When he first came here, he worked at anything he could get to do, in order to maintain his family, going many times miles from home to get something to do that would bring him something that would go towards making a living; he would have to return home every night, as the safety of his family depended upon it; after several years of hard labor and rigid economy, he accumulated enough to buy him a barshire plow with wooden mould-board, and with the assistance of the oxen, that had been his companions from Tennessee, he began farming for himself, by renting a small patch of ground, and in this way he managed to save enough after a time, to secure forty acres of land, and he relates that after this purchase, “he felt rich,” as he then had a home and could work for himself. Mr. Weisner’s wife died on April 27, 1877. She died in the triumphs of the faith; she was a very devoted woman to her religion and family. Mr. Weisner was married the second time to Mrs. Martha Holtsclaw, of Mt. Sterling, Brown Co., this State; this marriage occurred in 1877. Mrs. Weisner is an inestimable lady and their relations are of the most amicable and affectionate character, they are perfectly devoted to each other and are truly mated as well as married. Mr. Weisner has been a member of the. M. E. Church for about sixty years and has lived a consistent life; is a zealous member of the Masonic order, attending the meetings regularly; he is a member of Greenfield Lodge No. 77. Mr. Weisner has been long and favorably known in this county, and has been identified with its interests throughout the past, and is now retired from active life and is spending the eve of his days in quiet, and in the enjoyment of a remarkable degree of health for one of his age, and is highly esteemed by all who know him, as a worthy, conscientious man, and upright citizen, and well deserving of the high esteem with which he is viewed in the community where he resides.