John Weaver, Brick Mason and Brick Wall*

John Weaver was my Grandma Evelyn's grandfather. John occupies a very special place in my genealogy charts. Of my 16 great-great-grandparents, John is the only one whose parents I am unable to identify. On some lines, I can go back 15+ generations. But with John, I can't get to the sixth generation. Here's why. John Weaver came from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where the name Weaver is extremely common. He moved to Iowa as a young man, apparently without his parents. I know a lot about his adult life - he was a farmer and a brick mason, and every one of his six sons who lived to adulthood became brick masons. 

John Weaver and five of his sons. My great-grandfather,
James Baird Weaver is standing behind John.

Last year, when I was in Pennsylvania for a conference, I went to Lancaster where I spent some time at the library and at the Mennonite history center trying to find John's family. No luck there but I did follow up on a lead my mom sent me a couple years ago. Two Weaver families in eastern Lancaster Co. caught my attention. Isaac Weaver, head of one of the families was a brick mason, living on Swartzville Road near other tradesmen such as masons and blacksmiths. In 1850, he had a son about the same age as John. The other family, headed by Henry Weaver, lived only a few miles away, but by 1860 had moved to the same area of Iowa that John did. Perhaps Henry was an uncle or cousin of John - I'll do more research to find out. But as I drove down along the Adamstown and Swartzville Roads, where several Weavers were living in 1875, I found this cute little brick house, which reminded me that my Weavers were brick masons. The photo at the bottom shows a house my great-grandfather James Baird Weaver built for his family in Los Angeles.

A house on the Adamstown Road (Lancaster) in 2010

One of the brick homes James Baird Weaver built for
his family in Los Angeles.
They lived here from 1921 to 1924.

Dear Mother

Below are messages Abbie's children sent her via postcards, as well as photos of some of her children and grandchildren. 

Postmarked Eureka Nevada, May 1908

To: Mrs. A. A. Groves, Englewood RFD No 1 Box 116, Denver, Colo.

Dear Mother,

This is the town in which I live. It has been a great old town and it has all the earmarks of being a good camp next summer.

Your T

C. G. (?) Henderson 

[Charles Henderson]

Charles Henderson

Postmarked Los Angeles, Mar 1910

To: Mrs. A.A. Groves, Monte Vista, Colo.

Dear Mother,

We will be in Los Angeles in a few minutes. Things are fine and dandy. Green peaches and cherry trees in bloom, have cut alfalfa once, flowers are blooming.

Yours with love,

Sarah M. Clark

I am feeling fine. I had colic from drinking ice [following text unreadable]. Oranges are plentiful.

Postmarked Venice, Cal, March 14, 1910

To: Mrs. A. A. Groves, Monte Vista, Colo.

Dear Mother and Father,

We are visiting the coast today, wading, eating, and seeing sights. Take train for Madera tonight. We will stop at Lindsay and will probably reach Madera Tuesday.

Sarah M. Clark

Postmarked Crawford, Colo., April 12, 1910

To: Mrs. A. A. Groves, Monte Vista, Colo.

Dear Mother,

I will drop you a card to let you know how we are. I am in bed sick again. John is feeling quite well. Johnie has had the pneumonia but is well now. Love to all. Hope Will is well. 

C. L. H. 

[Claudia Henderson, wife of John Henderson]

Postmarked 1910, Madera, Cal.

To: Mrs. A. A. Groves

Dear [text unreadable],

We are in Madera Calif now where we think we'll settle.

Yours truly,

A.C. 

[Arthur Clark, son of Sarah Clark]

To: Mrs. A. A. Groves, Monte Vista, Colo.

Madera, Cal

5/15/1910

Dear Ma and Pa G.,

Many happy returns. Everything is lovely here but don't come because we like it for it has its drawbacks but one that sets their heads to make it here can surely do it.

Love and best wishes,

C. K. C. 

[Clifford Clark, husband of Sarah Clark]

No postmark, no date

To: Mrs. A. A. Groves, Englewood RFD No 1 Box 116

Colo.

Dear Mother,

We got your letter but Mary is sick so I have not got time to write now but will write later. John is well. Hope you are all well. Goodbye. Write soon.

Your loving daughter,

Mrs. J. G. Henderson 

[Claudia Henderson, wife of John Henderson]

Crawford, Colo.

Henry "Lon" Henderson

Postmarked Colorado
July 30, 1910

To: Mrs. A. A. Groves, 137 W. 25^th Street, Los Angeles, CA

Dear friends,

Your card came all OK. We are well as usual. I found grandma quite poorly. She is failing fast. I think she looks very bad. Mrs. Surkle was over yesterday. Baby not very well. Neither is Mrs. S. Will close. We had a good rain yesterday and last night. Lots of water in the ditch.

Mary E. Anson

Postmarked Monte Vista Aug 9, 1910

To: Mrs. A. A. Groves

Los Angeles

California

137 W. 25^th Street

Madera California

Dear Mother,

I received your letter and am glad to hear that you are feeling better. I am alright. I have been fishing for weeks up to plat and caught a nice lot of fish. It is especially hot here.

Your son

Bill Henderson

William "Bill" Henderson

Postmarked Monte Vista, Sep 28 1910

To: Mrs. A.A. Groves, Madera, Ca

9-24-10

Dear Mother,

Mother I received your letter the other day and was glad to hear from you. So you are undecided whether you will stay there or not. Mother I am alright as far as I know and you don't need to worry about me. I am old enough to take care of myself and I am sure glad to hear that you are feeling better than you were here. So goodbye as ever your son, 

Will Henderson

Postmarked Madera

To: Mrs. A. A. Groves, Monte Vista, Colo.

Dear Mother,

How are you today? We have just come home from prayer meeting where we ask special prayer for you. We hope and pray you are better. With love and many kisses,

Your daughter and family

Postmarked Madera

To: Mrs. A. A. Groves, Monte Vista, Colo.

Dear grandma,

I am in a boys band and the grapes and the watermelon and the figs have grown. And we have 24 little pigs 6 mamma pigs and how are you all and tell me about V.P. good by 

XX from J.C. 

[Jonathan Clark, son of Sarah Clark]

Sarah Mandana Henderson Clark

Postmarked Los Angeles, Jun 22, 1912
To: Mrs. A. A. Groves, Monte Vista, Colo.

June 21, 1912

Dear Mother,

Received your very welcome letter. We'll hope you are resting. We are about to sell out but as yet don't now where we will live. After 2 months in the trade we get 73 acres near Midview. With love to all I will write  [remaining text is unreadable].

[Letter is in the handwriting and purple pencil Sarah Clark always used.]

Postmark Crawford, Colo

To: Mrs. John Groves, Monte Vista, Colo.

Crawford, Colo.

Oct 21, 1912

Dear friend,

Your son John is here in town but they say his wife is going to Denver tomorrow and that he will the next day. They say he has a job over there.

Effie

Postmarked Monte Vista, Aug 28, 1915

To: Mrs. A.A. Groves, Corona, Calif. R.F.D. 181

Dear Folks,

Received your letter and will write in a few days. Everything fine here. Both of us are fine. Bill feels pretty good now, especially since the crop is good.

With love,

Blanche [wife of Bill Henderson]

The depot, Monte Vista, Colorado

Abbie McCloud Henderson Moves On

Boy did Abbie move on! Henry died on December 7, 1897, and Abbie remarried eleven days later on December 18, 1897 in Joplin, Missouri. After many years of caring for a sick husband and large family with very little in the way of resources, I don't blame her. And although a family story says her son Lon left home due to the relationship, Lon and his older brother were still living with Abbie and her new husband, John Fisher, in Monte Vista in 1900. On October 26, 1906, Abbie married again, to John Groves. Over the years, Abbie and John Groves, and her children moved to California. Daughter Sarah Mandana and her husband Clifford Clark were in California by 1910, and Abbie and John by 1916. Eventually Lon, his wife Ruth, and daughter Virginia moved, and finally, Bill moved too.  While the family was apart, Abbie's children sent postcards keeping her apprised of their whereabouts and their well being. Abbie saved the postcards in a simple black album that we still have. Abbie, Sarah, Lon, and their families all ended up living near one other in Pomona. Abbie's granddaughter Virginia, who was born in 1910, spoke of her grandmother with a deep sense of awe and love, and she talked of Grandaddy Groves with great affection. Virginia said that although her grandparents had very little money, she and her parents were welcomed into their home with open arms and abundant generosity. On a lighter note, Virginia also remembered her grandmother teaching her how to heat maple syrup and pour it over snow to make maple candy. In the photo below, which was taken after she married John Groves, Abbie is wearing the GAR star her first husband Henry wore. Did she wear it in memory of Henry? Or as a kind of badge of honor she herself had earned? Either way, I am impressed by her resilience and strength.  

Abbie McCloud Henderson Fisher Groves

John Groves, the beloved "grandaddy"

The Winter Looks Dark and Gloomy

In 1894, when he was about 50, my great-great-grandfather, Henry Henderson was committed to an asylum in Colorado. According to friends and neighbors, who provided affidavits in his pension file, Henry's physical and mental health had been deteriorating for many years, to the point where he required the "constant watchful care of his family." His wife Abbie was made his conservator, and Henry remained in the asylum until his death in 1897. Abbie wrote the following letter to the pension review board a few months before Henry was committed.

Monte Vista

Colo.

Sep 11, 1893

Mr. W. G. Coffin

Dear Sir,

I received these papers but as my husband has lost his mind and is in sein it is impossable to get any further evidents. The Dr. that Doctored in the hospital is dead but his evidence is there. Henry got it when or reit before he drew the pension he is entitled to, and that being the small sum of $4.00 per month. He is as help less as an inphint has to have tow attendents. My health is all broke down and have a fimly of 7 the oldest 15 years of age. We are what you call poverty strickened want and must have aid for I am not able to take care of so larger faimly and him an involid. The board of 3 dr. examined him in April their testimonies is also in Washington.

We can get the neighbors evidence for 18 years if that will be of any good, can get plenty of them. Please attend to this matter promply for the winter loocks dark and gloomy.

And obliged

Yours truly

Mrs. Henry G. Henderson

Ironically, after Henry was committed, and after more exchanges back and forth between Abbie and the review board, a pension of $12 a month was granted. 

The children of Henry and Abbie Henderson, Monte Vista, Colorado, about 1891

Back row: Sarah Mandana, John Grove

Front row, L to R: Charles W., William Chester, Henry Alonzo

The Hendersons in Colorado

Censuses are invaluable sources of the basic facts about a family. The 1880 U.S. census shows Henry Henderson and wife Abbie living in Rio Grande County, Colorado with Myrtle, age 12, Mandana, 5, John G., 4 and Charles, 1. Like most American men of the time, Henry's occupation was "farmer," however, he also worked as a cattleman and a builder. Henry's father John, who was a carpenter, had come to Colorado, too, leaving his wife Nancy in Minnesota. Life in Colorado was not easy for the Henderson family and in 1880, Henry applied for an invalid pension. Henry had been discharged from the army in 1863 due to "opacity of both corneas producing almost total loss of sight," but the review committee asked for proof to back Henry's claim and the process took years. Henry's father and acquaintances provided affidavits stating Henry was healthy upon enlistment, increasingly unable to obtain subsistence by manual labor, and going blind. It appears that in 1885, Henry was granted a $4 monthly pension. In 1886, Henry applied for an increase, stating he had kidney and liver troubles. Meanwhile, the family had grown. Henry Alonzo "Lon" (my great-grandfather) was born at the end of 1880, and George was born in 1882. The children attended school, where Sarah Mandana, John, and Charles are listed on an 1884 attendance roster. In 1887, Abbie had another son, George, but sadly, he died after a few months of illness.

The photo below, taken in Del Norte, Colorado shows Henry wearing a Grand Army of the Republic star, with Abbie, and one child, who I believe is Myrtle. Perhaps this photo signified a significant occasion in Myrtle's life.

Henry G. Henderson, Abbie McCloud Henderson, and possible Myrtle Henderson

Henry Henderson's Grand Army of the Republic Star.
The GAR was a fraternal organization of
Union Army veterans.

The Grand Army of the Republic