My Genealogy Hound

CHARLES H. WEIDE. One of the wealthiest residents of North township and the largest dealer in sheep and cattle is Charles H. Weide. The native born American citizen who wins success in life unaided is certainly deserving of commendation, but the man of foreign birth accomplishes a still greater work as he has to overcome greater disadvantages, being handicapped by a lack of knowledge concerning the language and the customs of the people among whom he casts his lot. Mr. Weide, as his name indicates is of German birth, but in America he has found the opportunities which he sought for a successful business career. He was born in the fatherland August 4, 1847, his parents being Godfrey and Lottie (Mockerott) Weide, who were natives of Germany and were there reared and married. In 1854 they crossed the Atlantic to the new world and located in Cook County, Illinois, where the father engaged in farming, but not being satisfied with that portion of the country and wishing to make his home in a locality where he could secure more land and a larger range for stock, he came to Kansas in 1858. After a year spent in Coffey County he came to Woodson County in 1859, settling on Turkey Creek, twelve miles northwest of Yates Center, where he engaged in raising both sheep and cattle. He was also the owner of a very large tract of land at the time of his death, which occurred in 1899, when he had attained the age of seventy-nine years and six months. His wife had passed away about 1875. They were the parents of four children: Charles H.; Minnie, Fritz and William.

Charles H. Weide, the eldest, was a lad of seven summers when the parents came to the new world, and when a youth of twelve he became as resident of Kansas. He has resided in Woodson County for more than forty-two years and has always been connected with its farming and stock raising interests. He remained with his father until his marriage, when he began dealing in stock, and since that time he has devoted much of his time to the raising of cattle and sheep until his efforts in this line have become more extensive than those of any other one man in the township. He thoroughly understands the business, having received practical training under the direction of his father in his youth. He has always made a close study of the needs of farm animals, and his opinions on this subject are accepted as authority in the community. As his financial resources have increased he has made judicious investments of his capital in real estate, and he now owns twelve hundred acres of land. He keeps on hand an average of one hundred and fifty head of cattle and about five hundred sheep. These he shelters in a large barn built for the purpose, with room for feed above and for the sheep below. He also has water troughs through the barn and the yard, and he has the barn so arranged that he can separate from the rest of the flock any sheep which need special attention. In both branches of his stock raising business he has met with a high degree of success. In January, 1901, his cattle sales amounted to eighteen hundred dollars, his sheep brought him nine hundred dollars, and his hogs five hundred dollars. He sells to some extent in almost every month in the year when the prices suit him. His farm is one of the best located in Woodson County. In addition to the large barns and cattle sheds, which are surrounded with a fine grove of timber on Turkey creek he has a commodious residence, comfortably and tastefully furnished and all the modern conveniences and accessories are there found.

In 1873 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Weide and Miss Minnie Upperman, a native of Germany, who came to Kansas in 1873 and was soon afterward married. Their union has been blessed with eleven children, namely: Eddie, Charles, Albert, Martha, Hattie, Emil, Emma, Lillie, Edie, Alice and Leonard. Through his long residence in Woodson County, Mr. Weide has become well known to a large majority of its citizens and his extensive operations in land and stock have caused his reputation as a successful and reliable business man to extend beyond the borders of the county. His life certainly illustrates the possibilities that Kansas offers to her citizens who are energetic and are not afraid of labor, for these elements in his character have brought to him prosperity.