In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1910) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From Young's history of Lafayette County, Missouri (1910), History of Lafayette County, Mo., carefully written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of its townships, cities, towns and villages, together with a (1881)
JUDGE B. D. WEEDIN,
P. O. Lexington, Missouri. The subject of this sketch was born in Glasgow, Kentucky, September 24, 1831. His father, Caleb Weedin", is of English, and his mother, Eliza S. Moore, of Welsh descent. His father was a minister of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, and died near Danville, Kentucky, March 16, 1864. Judge Weedin was raised principally in Logan county, Kentucky, when he removed with his parents to Danville, Kentucky, where he was chiefly educated, graduating at Center College in 1853. Immediately after leaving college, at the early age of twenty-two, he was elected county surveyor, which office he resigned to move to Missouri, which he did in 1855, and settled in this county, where he has lived ever since. He first located in Lexington, and was soon after appointed deputy surveyor. He served as deputy one year, was then appointed surveyor to fill a vacancy, and was then elected to fill unexpired term. The war coming on, his office was vacated by the Gamble government. In 1861 he volunteered in the M. S. G. for three months, and then, joined the confederate army, and was in the artillery service to the end of the war. He was in most of the principal battles; as Lone Jack, Pine Bluff, Jenkins Ferry, Prairie Grove, Little Rock, etc., etc. He was never wounded or captured. At the close of the war he returned to this county, and settled down on a farm, to begin life anew/ In the fall of 1874 he was elected by the Democracy as associate judge of the county court, but resigned, with the whole bench, before his term expired, rather than levy an obnoxious tax upon the people. He continued upon his farm until 1880, when he was again elected county surveyor on the Democratic ticket. ' On the 31st of August, 1865, he was married to Miss Martha A. Lankford, also of this county. This lady died January 19, 1879, having borne seven children, three of whom are now living, two sons and one daughter. Since his wife's death, his sister, Miss Anna E. Weedin, has lived with him, leaving her home in Kentucky for that purpose. He is a member of the C. P. church, and also a member of the Masonic order. His grandfather, Samuel S. Moore, was born at Louisville, Kentucky, when that city was only a frontier fort.
As printed in History of Lafayette County, Mo., carefully written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of its townships, cities, towns and villages, together with a (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
BENJAMIN D. WEEDIN.
One of the most highly honored and best known of the venerable citizens of Lexington township, Lafayette county, is Benjamin D. Weedin, a man who has performed well his every duty as he saw it and has not only been successful in a material way but has at the same time won a reputation that will be enduring among those whom he has met as a result of his honest, upright life and his desire to help others on the onward march of life.
Mr. Weedin was born in Glasgow, Kentucky, September 24, 1831, and is the son of Caleb and Eliza S. (Moore) Weedin, the father a native of South Carolina and the son of Benjamin Weedin, who was born in England, from which country he came to South Carolina before the Revolutionary war, and he took part in that struggle. He was a man of sterling qualities, a hardy pioneer, who loved to brave the wilds, fearing neither red man nor wild best. He went to Kentucky in a very early day, and later came to Missouri and farmer in Boone county, where he died.
Caleb Weedin, father of Benjamin D. of this review, returned to Kentucky, where he was married, and there he spent the rest of his life. He was a minister in the Cumberland Presbyterian church and did a great deal of good, and was well and most favorably known among the people of his day and generation. His family consisted of eleven children, of which number Benjamin D., of this sketch, was the second in order of birth.
Benjamin D. Weedin was educated in the common schools of Kentucky, later graduating from Central College, and subsequently took up civil engineering and, being exceptionally well equipped for his calling, he worked successfully at the same for many years, his services being in great demand. In the early fifties there was a great influx of people from the East to Missouri, and Mr. Weedin followed that tide of civilization in 1855, locating in Lafayette county, where he followed surveying until the breaking out of the
5l8 LAFAYETTE COUNTY MISSOURI.
Civil war, when, sympathizing with the South, he joined, in 1861, Rufner's Battery, Price's army, and served with the Confederate army until the close of the war. By meritorious service he was made lieutenant in 1862. He saw some hard service, but was always very faithful in the discharge of his duty. After the war he returned to Lexington township, where he has since made his home, devoting his attention to agricultural pursuits and surveying, having done more surveying than any other man in the county. He has developed an excellent farm and is one of the substantial men of his community. He has an attractive home and good outbuildings and he always keeps some good stock.
Mr. Weedin was married on August 31, 1865, to Martha Ann Lankford, daughter of Hulda C. Lanford. This union resulted in the birth of seven children, four of whom are deceased; they were named as follows: Samuel died in infancy; Kirby C. is a civil engineer and lives in New York; William B. lives in Colorado where he is engaged in the practice of medicine; the fourth child died in infancy; Katie S. is living at home; Sarah is deceased; the seventh child died in infancy. The mother of these children is also deceased. She was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church and was a devout Christian woman. Mr. Weedin is also a member and a liberal supporter of this church and in politics he votes the Democratic ticket. Fraternally, he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, having passed through the commandery and has long been prominent in local circles of this time-honored order.
Mr. Weedin has served one term as county judge, making a record that reflected much credit upon himself and that was eminently satisfactory to his constituents and all concerned. He looked well to the interests of the county, which he has ever had at heart since casting his lot within her borders, doing what he could at all times to further movements looking to the upbuilding of the same.
As printed in Young's history of Lafayette County, Missouri (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1910. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.