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Also see [ Railway Officials in America 1906
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Isaac Weeks, the father of Samuel Weeks, was born in Westchester Co., N. Y., and for several years was the proprietor
of a store on Pearl Street, in the city of New York. On his mother’s side, Mr Weeks’ genealogy is traced back to
the Carpenter family, his grandfather being Silas Carpenter, of Kings Street, Westchester County. Samuel ‘Weeks
was born in North Castle. in the same county, Oct. 3, 1817, and lived in New York City until he was eight years
old, when his father moved to Cayuga County, where they lived on a farm for some time; but his father, being of
an enterprising nature, pushed farther west into the Genesee country, and settled on a farm in Monroe County. Here
Mr. Samuel Weeks remained until he reached the age of nineteen, when he started West, coming to Battle Creek, Mich.
After a short stay he returned to New York, and in 1839 came to Michigan again, locating in Baltimore township
where he purchased two hundred acres of land from the government, paying for it in United States treasury notes,
they being the first ones received at the land-office in Kalamazoo. His deed is from the government, and bears
date of May 1, 1839. On this farm, in the same year, Mr. Weeks cut the first tree felled in the then forests of
Baltimore. He still owns the same farm, and by good management has added to it until his acres now number over
five hundred.
In speaking to the writer he said in his mirthful way that he had prospered well considering that he had been taken
from the almshouse, but he explains this circumstance in his life by telling how he got lost in the city when quite
young, when being much frightened he was unable to tell his father’s name, and was taken to the alms.. house, where
he was soon found, and taken home to make the sad heart of his mother glad.
Mr. Weeks has been twice married. His first wife was Mary C. Miller, a native of Cayuga Co., N. Y., and the mother
of two children, Isaac, born Jan. 20, 1844, now a farmer in Baltimore township, and Sarah Jane, born April 27,
1851.
His present wife, Abbie C. Terry, a lady of more than ordinary ability, is also a native of the Empire State and
Monroe County, born July 31, 1828; her only child is Mary A., born Dec. 20, 1863. His first and present wife are
descendants of Jonathan Horton, who came from England in the early settlement of Long Island, and settled at Southhold,
where his tombstone is still seen.
In politics Mr. Weeks is a Republican, although not a politician, devoting his time to his farm instead of politics.
He has, however, served as justice of the peace and assessor. In the early days of Michigan he surveyed a great
deal of land, and was in many ways a valuable acquisition in the settlement of the country. He is not a member
of any church, but descends from the Quakers, inheriting many of the sterling qualities of that sect.
FROM:
History of Allegan and Berry Counties, Michigan
With Illistrations and Biographical Sketches
of Their Men and Pioneers.
D. W. Ensign & Co., Philadelphia 1880
Press of J. B. Lippincoff & Co., Philadelphia.
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