Michael Weidman

• General Notes
  • Emigration of Weidman Family
    sharonsanders39added this on 14 Sep 2009
    
    Michael and Sarah(Lentz) Weidman and family, natives of Alace-Lorraine, emigrated to the United States in 1845.  they took passage from Havre, France on 1 November 1845, landing in New Orlenans about 1 January, 1846, having spent sity days on the ocean.  As St. Louis was thier destination they only remained in the Crescent city a short time and then resumed their journey, arriving in St. Louis country about 1 March 1846.  Thirty days were spent en route from New Orlenas, owing to the ice in  the river impeding transportation.  Mr. Weidman immediately rented some land in Bonhomme township, which he cultivated until he had acuired the means to enable him to buy the eight acres upon which his son Michael Henry now resided.  There the father passed away in February, 1865, at the age of 61 years.
    
    Henry Weidman, who was fifteen years of age when his parents settled in St. Louise country, acquired his eduation in the common schools of his native country.  As the family had but sxity dollars when they arrived here he was compelled to seek employment to assist in defraying the expenses of maintaining the home, and obtained a position as a farm hand at a salary of eight dollars per month.   He follwed various pursuits until he attained his majority, always contribuing his earnings to his parents.
    
    When still in his early youth Henry assisted in building the Manchester road, upon which he lived for many years, by driving on of the ox carts.  Subsequently to his marriage he rented a farm on what is now Weidman road, so called after him, which he operated for four or five years.  Always energetic and thrifty during that period he save sufficient money to make it possibler for him to buy eighty acres in Bonhomme townsip, a mile north of the Manchester road.  He resided upon his homestead until 1895, at which time he retired and has ever since lived with his son George, in Manchester.
    
    In 1863 occurred the marrage of Mr. Weidman and Miss Mary Benyas, a native of St. Louis county, who passed away in February 1875,  Six children were born of this of this uinion, all of whom survived, in order of birth being as follows: George, a carpenter who resides in Manchesteer, Henry, Jr. who is operating the homestead; Fred William, a rancherman in Montana; Mary, the wife of Jacob Schumacher of this township; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Otto L. Poelke, of Chicage, Illinois; and Adelia Dora who is a resident of St. Louis.
    
    Henry Weidman and his family are affliated with the Evangelical church of which the mother was also a member, and toward the maintenance of which he has ever been a liberal contributor, as well as to all charitable work.  Ever since granted the full rights of citizenship he has given his polical support to the candiates of the republician party, and for several years served on the local school board, the cause of education always having found in him a stanch supporter.  Henry is on of the well known early settlers of this section, whose honorabele and upright life fully entitle him to the respect and honor which he is generally shown by all who know him.
    
    From History Of St. Louis Country, Missouri and St. Louis--Hisotry of the Forrth City, Page 129-130