WEATHERS, Josiah Clinton - Putnam

Josiah Clinton WEATHERS was born in Putnam County, Indiana oct 14, 1856 and came to Barton County in 1884 and located six miles South and four miles west of Great Bend in a section where a plow had never been used. The few few years that Mr. Weathers spent in this county were hard ones, but he is made of the kind of stuff that makes pioneers and with an unflinching faith in the future he set about to make a home for himself and family. He erected a building 14 by 16 which was used as a residence for three years. Additions were added to the hous as they were required and in 1900 Mr. Weathers built a fine modern, 8-room house which is now one of the most neatly furnished homes in that section of the county. In the early days Mr. Weathers bought corn for 15 cents per bushel and the wages at that time were 75 cents per day with a team. Mr. Weathers was married in Nov 1881 to Miss Marguerite F. Reigel in Indiana. They are the parents of 11 children: Dennis, 29; Allva 27; Leroy 25; Ora 23; Paul 21; Pearl 19; Jessie 17; Blanche 14; Chester 12; Roscoe 10; Herman, 4. The first named 4 are married and living in the county and the remainder are living at home and received educations. Besides 3/4 sections of land which Mr. Weathers sold to his sons he still owns 3/4 in addition to the home place. Mr. Weathers' farm is known as "Cedar Grove," the home being surrounded by well kept cedar trees which add in no small way to the beauty of the landscape. Mr. Weathers has been township treasurer for 18 years and has also served as a member of the school board. On Mrs. Weathers' place is what is supposed to be the oldest windmill tower in the county. It was erected by EL Chapman in the early days and has received a number of coats of paint and is now in fair condition. Mr. Weathers is an enterprising and progressive citizen and one of the best known of the old timers of the county which he has seen grow from a barren waste to its present high state of cultivation.