| WOODSON COUNTIES, KANSAS. | 233 cont'd |
STEPHEN H. WEITH.
STEPHEN H. WEITH.—Numbered among the most energetic and progressive farmers of Elm township is S. H. Weith, whose farm is supplied with all modern accessories and conveniences while the well-tilled fields give evidence of the careful supervision of their owner. As he is well known his life record can not fail to prove of interest to many of the readers of this volume.
Stephen H. Weith was born in Peoria county, Illinois, January 13, 1850. His father, George Weith, emigrated from Germany at the age of twenty-four years, and took up his residence in Peoria county, Illinois. It was in 1838 that he settled in that western country, then being filled up with some of the best blood of all nations whose posterity have made rich the pages of history in the professions, statesmanship, science and the mechanical arts. Our subject's father was offered a block of land, now almost in the center of the city of Peoria, for two months' work but declined, to give his labors to some enterprise then more promising of immediate reward. He located in Hollis township that county and engaged in farming and teaming.
George Weith married Elizabeth Walters who was born in Switzerland. During her childhood the latter came with her parents to the United States and became settlers of Peoria county, Illinois. The union of this couple was productive of three children, John, Stephen and Rose. John Weith died in Iola, Kansas. He came to Kansas in 1870, was a blacksmith—a fine mechanic—and was one of the worthy men of his adopted city.
George Weith was one of a family of five sons. Two of his brothers survive and are in the Fatherland. George died in 1853 and his widow became the wife of a Mexican soldier, Kobler, residing in Peoria county, Illinois.
Stephen Weith, the subject of this review, was thirteen years of age when his mother died. He was thus thrown upon his own resources at a tender age. All that he has achieved has come as a reward for his individual labors. In January 1877 he visited Allen county, Kansas, and the next month purchased a large tract of land in Elm township and soon thereafter began the work of developing a farm from the treeless waste of prairie. In the little more than a score of years which have elapsed since his advent to the county Mr. Weith has brought into existence fields and
| 234 | HISTORY OF ALLEN AND |
orchards and barns and a commodious residence and his is one of the attractive homesteads of the township.
As a companion Mr. Weith chose Ella Shanklin. The wedding occurred just before their removal to Kansas and their marriage has been blessed with the following surviving children: George, Archibald and Josie.
In politics Mr. Weith is well known as a Populist. He espoused the "cause of the people" in 1890 and has lent his influence in support of the principles enunciated by his party. He is one of the leaders of Elm township in that organization and has filled the office of Township Trustee and director of the school board.
Mr. and Mrs. Weith are members of the Presbyterian church of Iola and all who know them hold them in high regard.
Pages 233-234, transcribed by Carolyn Ward from History of Allen and Woodson Counties, Kansas: embellished with portraits of well known people of these counties, with biographies of our representative citizens, cuts of public buildings and a map of each county / Edited and Compiled by L. Wallace Duncan and Chas. F. Scott. Iola Registers, Printers and Binders, Iola, Kan.: 1901; 894 p., [36] leaves of plates: ill., ports.; includes index.
