BIOGRAPHY - BALTZ WEBER
Baltz Weber carries on general farming on section 14, Brenton township, whereon he has lived for sixteen years. The place is neat and well improved, indicating in its attractive appearance the careful supervision of the practical and progressive owner. Mr. Weber is a native of Germany, his birth having occurred in Bavaria on the 19th of July, 1854. He spent the first nineteen years of his life in the fatherland and acquired a public-school education while spending his boyhood days in the home of his parents, Lucas and Ursula Weber, who remained residents of the old world, spending their entire lives in that country. They were the parents of five children, of whom Louis Weber is now living in Iowa, while Barnard resides in Ford county. One sister and a brother remain in the fatherland.
In taking up the personal history of Baltz Weber we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favorably known in this part of the state. The favorable reports which he heard concerning America and its opportunities attracted him and led him to seek a home in the United States. Crossing the Atlantic, he made his way to Albany, New York, and spent four years there working by the month as a farm hand. In September, 1877, he arrived at Piper City, Illinois, and rented a farm until his labors brought him capital sufficient to purchase property. He bought his present place sixteen years ago, becoming owner of eighty acres on section 14, Brenton township. To this he afterward added a tract of one hundred and sixty acres on section 13 and he also rents and cultivates a half of section 11. His farming interests are thus extensive and important and he is meeting with gratifying success in his undertaking. He has a well improved place on which all of the buildings have been erected by him save one. He carries on the work of tilling the soil and also feeds stock and his business interests are so carefully managed that annually his sales of grain and stock return to him a good financial reward for his labor.
In 1882 Mr. Weber was married to Miss Ellen Galvin, who was born in La Salle county, Illinois, February 11, 1858, and has spent her entire life in this state. Her parents were Patrick and Mary (Bresnehan) Galvin, natives of Ireland, in which country they were married. After coming to Illinois they settled at Ottawa, in June, 1850, and spent their remaining days upon a farm in La Salle county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Weber have been born four children: Mary Eunice, now the wife of Thomas Doran, of Brenton township; Joseph, George and Agnes, all at home.
In his political views Mr. Weber is independent but never fails to give hearty endorsement and aid to those interests which are instituted for the benefit and upbuilding of the county. He has served as drain commissioner since 1901 and has rebuilt the draining ditch for twelve miles, deepening and widening it, thus adding to its value as a factor in the improvement of the county. He was also road commissioner for one term. His religious faith is that of Catholicism and he is identified with the church at Piper City. He came alone to America when a young man of nineteen years, nor has he ever had occasion to regret his determination to seek a home in the new world, for the opportunities which he sought he found and improved and as a result is now one of the men of affluence in Brenton township.
Extracted 17 Oct 2016 by Norma Hass from History of Ford County, Illinois, From Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, author E. A. Gardner, Volume 2, pages 762-766.
