WEAVER, Col. James Riley - CW - Putnam

Col. James Riley Weaver, age 80, professor emeritus of political science at DePauw University since 1893 and professor at the institution since 1885, died at his home on South College Avenue at 9 o’clock Wednesday night of acute heart failure.  The funeral will be held at MeHarry hall, from 1-3 o’clock Friday afternoon.. The body will lay in state in MeHarry Hall from 1 to 3 o’clock Friday afternoon. Interment will be at Sandusky, Ohio. Mrs. George R. Graff of Hollywood, Cal., a daughter, and the widow survive.

Colonel Weaver had been in ill health for some time having had to give up his active duties at DePauw more than two years ago because of his health.  On Wednesday, however, he was feeling better than usual and Mrs. Weaver went out for the afternoon.  Colonel Weaver had retired to his morris chair for his afternoon rest. On her return Mrs. Weaver found the Colonel in an unconscious condition in his chair.  The family physician was called but the Colonel did not regain consciousness.  His death followed at 9 o’clock last night.  

Colonel was married twice married, his first wife died in 1895.  There were two children born to this union, Mrs. George F. Graff, of Hollywood, Cal and Mrs. John Sheridan, who died a few years ago.  Colonel Weaver married Miss Emma Matern of Sandusky, Ohio in 1897.  

Perhaps no living veteran of the Civil War could give a record of such extensive service to his country both at home and abroad and to the educating of humanity as Colonel James Riley Weaver, professor emeritus of political science at DePauw University.  On Oct 21, 1919, Colonel Weaver passed his 80th birthday at his home in Greencastle.

For sixteen years Colonel Weaver served the United States abroad as counsul and charge d’affiare. Six years of this time were spent at  Vienna, Austria, where he was consuI and, for a time, charge d’affaiare. He was also consul at Antwerp,  Belgium, for nine years and at Brindisi, Italy for one year.

Colonel Weaver spent two years and a half in the Northern Army during the Civil War. For seventeen months he was a Confederate prisoner. Nine months of his confinement were spent in Libby prison, a confine for officers located at Charleston, South Carolina.

The Colonel was a native of Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania and was born in 1839.  His early life was passed working upon the farm during the summer months and attending the district school in the winter.  At the age of 17 he left home to begin teaching in the district schools of his native county.  He used the funds gained by teaching to attend the academy and college.  To graduate was his highest ambition and that independent of any paternal aid.  Although his father a diligent farmer and had an abundance for the support of a large family of ten children, he did not have much to devote to the education of his boys.

Young Weaver was quite successful in his ecorts (?). Frequently he taught as tutor in the various academies, and at the same time kept up in all his studies. He was very severe, unremitting, and assiduous in his studying.  He used the same diligence in study until and after he had entered the Alleghany College in Meadville, Penn.  

Mr. Weaver had reached his senior year. It was during the trying times of war, in the year 1862, when McClellan had fallen back from the peninsula, and Lee had crossed the Potomac. One college company had | been organized before. Now, officered by three recent graduates, another company of cavalry was enlisted, and with them, Mr. Weaver went to the front.. But he was not to be denied in his design to graduate. Accordingly he petitioned the college to graduate him, if he would study the few remaining branches, and pass, an examination before the officers of his company. This was granted. He passed the examination, and the next spring was graduated.

On entering the service, Mr. Weaver’s company was attached to the 18th PA Cavalry.  He was immediately made sergeant-major.  

In the spring of 1863, Sgt. Major Weaver was made a commissioned officer. At the same time the regiment was  attached to General Kilpatrick’s division. They took a prominent part in the battle of Gettysburg, and the following pursuit of, Lee across the Potomac, Rappahannock and Rapidan rivers. In October, 1863, Captain Weaver, with thirty men was taken prisoner on the old fighting ground at Brandy Station, after making a successful charge which was carried too far. He was taken to Libby prison where he remained about nine months. He was then sent to Macon, Ga.; then to Charleston, to be put under fire, and then to Columbia, South Carolina, where he spent the winter of 1864-65. In the spring of 1865, after a confinement of about seventeen months, he was released with other prisoners and turned over to the Federal troops then holding Wilmington.

Resumed Studies.

After the close of the war he continued his studies. He took a course in the General Biblical Institute at Concord, NH which was finished at the Garrett Biblical Institute at Evanston, Ill.  After teaching one year as principal at Dixon, Ill Seminary he was elected Professor of Mathematics and Military Tactics of West Virginia University located at Morgantown.  He had received several brevets for meritorious service during the war. So that with the rank of Brevet Colonel of Volunteers, he entered upon the duties of organizing the military department of the university which was then just starting under the control of the state.  In mathematics, the professors under whom he had passed his studies testified that, during an experience of eighteen years, they had found none superior.

Consul at Brendsi.

In the spring of 1869, Colonel Weaver resigned the professorship, accepted the consulate then offered him. After fitting himself for a foreign residence, and having, on the eve of departure, married a daughter of Bishop Simpson, of Philadelphia, he left for Europe on what proved to be a long wedding tour. His first appointment was at Brendisi. It was a place of no importance, situated on the Adriatic, southeast shore of Italy.  In the following spring a transfer was secured to the more favorable and important consulate at Antwerp, Belgium

Antwerp at that time was one of the most important commercial ports on the continent.  It claimed a goodly portion of American trade and consequently the duties of the consulate were confined chiefly to the interests of our own merchant marine.

One of the disagreeable and painful elements in the duties of consul at seaport towns at that time as now, was to dispose of the poor and destitute of all nations. They strive through the consuls to obtain aid to seek in American an asy…? from every misfortune.

It is said of Colonel Weaver that in addition to his official duties, he seconded his good lady in making their house a bright spot for all Americans and others who visited Antwerp and enjoyed their hospitality.”

In 1879, after 9 years of service at Antwerp, Colonel Weaver was appointed consul general at Vienna, Austria.  It was the custom among the consuls for the latest comer to call and pay his respect to the officials of his rank of other nations represented. So, on arriving at Vienna, Colonel Weaver called on the German consul general to pay his respects. The Colonel asserts that he did not stay long because he could nott speak German very fluently at that time.  About 5 minutes after the Colonel had arrived at his official residence from making the call, the German consul general appeared at the door to return it. This, however, was a good omen.  For if a call of this kind is returned immediately it indicates that the relations between the two countries represented are very friendly.  “I remember this incident very well,” the Colonel recently said in the interview, “for I had to go through my German lesson again and besides the counsul gave me something to do.”  For a time Colonel was both consul general and charge d’acaire at Vienna.  On acquiring the latter office he was introduced at a court hall to Franz Joseph, emperor of Austria who died during the recent World War.  

In 1885 Col. Weaver returned to his home in Philadelphia.  He had not been home long however when he received a letter from his old professor of Greek, Professor Alexander Martin to come to DePauw University as head of the department of modern languages and literature.  Professor Martin was at this time president of DePauw (1875-1889).  Colonel Weaver answered the call and was head of that department at DePauw until 1886.  1886-1890 he was professor of political philosophy and modern languages at that institution; and from 1890-1893 he was professor of history and political science. In 1893 Colonel Weaver was made professor emeritus of political science at DePauw which position he still holds.  Col. Weaver retired from 1917 active teaching.