William W. Weaver, born August 1,
1835, and his wife came from Calhoun County, Alabama to Texas
about 1883. She was Sarah T. Read,
daughter of Rev. Edwin T. Read who was a Baptist minister and also a member of
the Alabama State Legislature during the Civil War. The eight children who came with them are:
1)
Julia R., born December 9, 1864 and died October 19,
1895.
2)
Annie G.
3)
Martha F., born March 18, 1870 and died March 17, 1932.
4)
Clement L., born December 17, 1872 and died July 4,
1900.
5)
Asa Read, born June 28, 1875 and died September 25,
1946.
6)
Ora M.
7)
Margaret R., born April 1, 1878 and died September 17,
1963.
8)
William H.
9)
Ida B., born 1886.
The westward trek was made by wagon
train with several other families seeking homes in Texas.
The Weavers were attracted by the Cross Timber area in Tarrant County. They settled five miles east of Keller, the
village which had been in existence only two years. Here, another child, Ida, was born.
In 1886, Sarah Weaver’s brother,
Dr. Edwin T. Read, followed the trail to Texas
and made his home with the Weaver’s for two years. He began a medical practice which served the
Keller community until his death in 1931.
In 1887, William W. Weaver died and
was buried in Mt.
Gilead Cemetery. The widow was left with the responsibility of
nine children ranging in age from one to nineteen years.
For them, Mt. Gilead
was the church on Sundays and the school house on week days. The school term lasted three months. The remaining nine months could hardly be
thought of as a vacation period.
Agriculture being the major source of income, the children were needed
in the fields from planting time to harvest, which in a cotton crop, often
lasted until November or December.
Sarah T. Read Weaver died in 1910
and was buried in Mt.
Gilead Cemetery.
1)
Julia Read Weaver married Reverend Robert K.
Grimes. Their children are:
a)
John married Alice Keller.
b)
Byron (Barney).
c)
May married Harold Brenholtz.
d)
Grace married Earl Evans.
Julia Weaver
Grimes died August 19, 1895 and was buried at Mt. Gilead.
2)
Annie G. Weaver.
3)
Martha Frances Weaver married Sherman Orr. Their children are:
a)
Sarah Edith (Sabie) married Tine Marcum.
b)
William Robert (Ike) married Mabel Maten.
c)
Edwin Tillman married Minda Blevins.
d)
Lula Elizabeth married Tim Choate.
e)
Sherman Paten married Ida Porter.
Martha Frances
died March 17, 1932 and was buried at Bourland Cemetery.
4)
Clement L. Weaver married T. Andy Hill. Their children are:
a)
Bella married Henry.
b)
Sarah was unmarried.
c)
Jereal
5)
Asa Read Weaver married Maggie Emma Bourland. Their children are:
a)
Virgie married Gene Blevins
b)
Margie married Van Underwood.
c)
Willie married Roeane Harmon.
d)
Fannie married Bill Jeffries.
e)
Sarah married A.S. Tooley.
f)
Vesta Lee was unmarried. She died February 3, 1853 and was buried at Bourland Cemetery.
g)
Cecil married May Jay.
h)
J.E. married Vinita Wilson.
6)
Ora M. married Tommy Neace. Their children are:
a)
Earl.
b)
Homer.
c)
Read married Nancy.
7)
Margaret R. married John Hill. Their children are:
a)
Ed married Sallie Vantrease.
b)
Pelham married Henry Jenkins.
8)
William H. was unmarried. He died 1912 and is buried at Bourland Cemetery.
9)
Ida married Frank West, born 1887 and died 1955.
