WILLIE ROSS WEAVER

The following bio was taken from page 437 of the book entitled "Rusk County History" compiled and edited and used with permission of the Rusk County Historical Commission.

Transcribed by Claudia Schuster

Submitted by Gloria Briley Mayfield, Rusk County TX Coordinator

Andrew Jackson Weaver left Georgia around 1869. It is the Weaver family’s belief that he and Thomas H. Weaver, his uncle, came to Texas, being the first of our Weavers to arrive in Rusk County. Andrew Jackson was born July 19, 1854 in Haralson County, Georgia. When he left Georgia he was only fifteen years old. These were the years just after the Civil War and the State of Georgia was left almost in ruins. No one had any money, and few were able to hold on to their land because of the taxes placed on all property. These conditions likely led Thomas H. Weaver to leave Georgia trying to find a better life. This may also have convinced Rufus to allow Andrew Jackson to leave with Thomas H.

Upon arriving in Rusk County in 1869, these two men settled in the New Prospect area about ten miles east of Henderson. Rusk County records show that in 1872, Andrew Jackson, only eighteen years old, now obtained a marriage license and married Nancy C. Wright. For some reason this license was never certified in the court records. Andrew Jackson obtained a second license in 1875 and married Martha Walling, the daughter of James Walling and Altamira Pennington Walling.

James Walling was born near Doyle, Tennessee in White County around 1820. He was the son of Jessie and Nancy Walling, who were first cousins. Jessie was born February 21, 1801 and died in October 1841. Nancy was born July 22, 1804 and died December 16, 1849. Both are buried in a family cemetery near Doyle, Tennessee. Jessie’s father was Thomas Walling, who died in White County. Nancy’s father was James Walling.

After the death of Nancy Walling in 1849, our James had a first cousin also named Jessie, who made arrangements to be appointed guardian over the minor brothers of our James Walling. These were: Creed A., Crockett, Stockley, and Smith J. died not long after arriving in Texas. Other brothers of James that were grown at the time of Nancy’s death were: Thomas, Daniel, and Elijah.

After James and Altamira Pennington married, they moved to Houston County, Texas along with Elizah and Altamira’s parents, Richard and Polly Pennington. James moved to Rusk County in 1852 and bought a homestead in Millville. James and Altamira had three children: Osborn, Martha B., and Mary. James died in 1870 and Altamira in 1872. After the death of Altamira, her children moved to Brenham, Texas to live with James’ brother, Creed A. Walling. It is said that in 1877 Andrew Jackson rode horseback to Brenham and got Martha B. Walling to return to Rusk County and be his wife. They were married March 31, 1877.

Andrew Jackson Weaver was born July 19, 1854 in Haralson County, Georgia. He died January 4, 1924 in Rusk County. Martha was born March 19, 1856 and died May 30, 1900. Both are buried in the New Prospect Cemetery. Their children were: Birdie, Kizzie, Cora, Jessie Emmett, Martha, James Welborn, Minnie and Willie Ross.

Willie Ross Weaver was born July 12, 1890 and died November 27, 1968. He married Lola Pool, daughter of Felix Welbon and Nancy Pool. Lola was born January 5, 1898 and died February 6, 1959. Willie Ross and Lola are both buried in the New Prospect Cemetery. Children of Willie Ross and Lola are: Roy Lee, James Thomas, and Willie Clinton. Roy Lee married Anice Evelyn Coker on December 28, 1935, daughter of Erskin and Jessie Coker. Their children are: Johnny, Jerry, and Donna. James Thomas married Barbara Stroud, daughter of Charles and Lottie Stroud, and their children are James Thomas, Jr., and Bobbie. Willie Clinton married Imogene McNeil and their children are Dan and Dale.

Dale and Susan Weaver live in the New Prospect Community. They have three children: Mike, Chris, and Susan Michelle. Dale is a horseshoer (farrier) and Susan is an artist and a supervisor of the Depot Museum.

Submitted by Susan Weaver