From the Archives: William Weaver
- Renee Glass
- Aug 23, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 25
William Weaver was one of the first children born to pioneer families in Greene County, Missouri. Over the next nine decades, Weaver lived a storied life. He fought in the Mexican-American War, sought riches in the California Gold Rush, and left his mark on local commerce and state politics.
In the following 1919 article from the Springfield Leader, a staff writer provides a broad overview of the long life of William Weaver.
WILLIAM WEAVER, PIONEER RESIDENT, CALLED BY DEATH
Second White Child Born Here And Last Mexican Veteran.
Major William Marion Weaver, who was Springfield’s oldest native born citizen, the second white child born in Greene County, and the last surviving veteran of the Mexican war in this county, died this morning at 9 o’clock at his home, 803 West Walnut street. He was 89 years old.
Major Weaver was born April 25, 1830, the son of Samuel and Rhoda Fulbright Weaver. He is survived by only one child, Mrs. Harry Bissett, of Springfield.
The funeral will be held Wednesday afternoon at 3 o’clock at the residence, 803 West Walnut street, the services to be conducted by Dr. E. F. Leake, pastor of the South Street Christian church.
Second White Child Born Here.
Major Weaver was the second white child born in this county, the first being his uncle, Col. Daniel N. Fulbright. Both were born in the same house, there being but three months to the day difference in their ages. Being left an orphan when an infant, he was reared in the home of his grandparents, the Fulbrights. When he became of proper age he attended the subscription school in an old fashioned log cabin located on what now is known as College street. School lasted but a few months during the winter, and his early education was meager.
When he was 17, April 25, 1847, he enlisted for service in the Mexican war and on June 14, left for the front. It was about the middle of May of that year when 109 young men left Springfield, he being among them, with instructions to report at Independence, Mo., the nearest mobilization point. They represented some of the best families in Southwest Missouri.
The volunteers composed Company "G," 3rd Mo. Mounted Volunteers. They were under command of Col. John Falls, regimental commander under Gen. Zachary Taylor. In 1848 half of the men in Company "G" returned to Springfield. Lieut. Robert Love died enroute to Santa Fe. The others died on the battlefield. Fourteen went down in one battle with the Mexicans.
One of Last to Return.
He was one of the young men to enlist with the first Missouri troops and he was among the last to be musterd out in Independence after the Stars and Stripes had been planted on the citadel of the Montezumas.
After the war Major Weaver returned to his native county, and on December 24, 1848 was married to [illegible—other records show that Weaver married Esther Clements]. Of that union two children were born, Charles, who was killed in an accident on the Frisco in 1903, and Emma, now Mrs. Harry Bissitt.
Was In Gold Rush.
Major Weaver was entitled to be called a "forty-niner" for he was among the gold hunters who made the trip across the continent to California. He made the trip early in 1850. He engaged in mining for some time on the Pacific coast. He returned to Springfield, wound up his business affairs and returned with his family to California and entered the hotel business. That was in 1852.
He remained there until 1867 when he returned to Missouri, locating in Barry county and engaging in the saw mill business. Later he moved to Lawrence county and was in the mercantile business until 1889 when he again returned to Springfield after an absence of 30 years. He practiced law for 12 years and then retired.
Major Weaver was elected in 1896 to the lower house of the legislature on the Democratic ticket.
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Note
This blog article was originally published August 23, 2024 by Renee Glass. It was republished with minor edits March 24, 2026 by Brandon Broughton.
Resources
"William Weaver, Pioneer Resident, Called By Death." The Springfield Leader, 21 Apr. 1919, p. 2.