Kentuckiana Genealogy: Obituaries: Elijah Weathers (1805-1839)

By Thomas C. Weathers (Tomcweathers) (152.163.253.7) on Sunday, September 07, 2003 - 11:43 pm:

Per Sampson L. Weathers (1915)
Elijah lived and probably died in or near Huntingburg, Indiana.

Data taken from Lonnie Fink (1998)
This obituary is of John M. HART , son of Uriah HART and Mary GOODMAN and Step son to Elijah WEATHERS..

Obituary - Published by request and taken from the Grayson, (KY) Eagle

Died, at his residence, three miles east of Big Clifty KY Jan 25,1899 John M. HART at the age of 78 yr,7 mo and 11 days. He was born in Crawford Co IN June 14,1820. He came to Grayson Co, KY in the year 1837 and was married to Mary WOOLDRIDGE, May 10,1839. As a result of this union eight children were bore to them, seven daughters and one son; all of whom are living. Grandpa was a Christian, and died in the triumph of a living faith in Jesus the Christ. He said to his children, "I am only waiting, I am ready to go, my work is done" He and his wife united with the Christian church, under the preaching of old Uncle Jimmie DAUGHERTY. in the year 1847. He contended earnestly for the old Jerusalem Gospel, as preached by the Inspired Apostles of Jesus Christ. His remains were repaired to the Antioch cemetery. Grandpa was a kind and sympathetic man to the poor. He raised and helped raise thirteen orphan children, eight of these and his own eight, and thirty two of the fifty grandchildren are now members of the Christian Church. Grandpa was left a fatherless at the age of eighteen months. His mother afterwards married Elijah WEATHERS, of whom he has often said, he was one among the best men living. His parent's family have all departed this life with the exception of Uncle Wm Weathers of Marengo, IN., who visited him during his last illness. Grandpa leaves a dear companion, a host of relatives and a multitude of friends to mourn
his departure.
Written by his granddaughter Miss Maggie HATFIELD!


In looking through an old bible which belong to Elder John Hedricks of Marengo, Mrs. Zona Hedricks ,Henning, III recently came across a letter said to have been written to the editor of the Marengo Observer by John Miles HART of Big Clifty, KY and published in July 1893. The letter deals chiefly with the life of Elijah WEATHERS who still has many relatives in Crawford county, but also tells something about the beginning of the Christian Church, the members of which were called Campbellites after the founder of the church, Alexander Campbell, as well as life in Crawford County in late pioneer days.

The letter is part is as follows;
When I was about 18 months old my father died, and in a few years my mother married Elijah Weathers, the oldest son of old Dicky WEATHERS, and it is of him I wish mostly to write, as the second and third generations of Weathers know but little about him; thinking it might be of some interest to them.

Elijah Weathers was a man of better educational qualifications than most men in his days. He was a man of strong mind and never took a position unless he had studied it well. In politics he was what was called in those days the old line Whig. In statue he was the size of his eldest son, Chester, who died recently. " He joined the church soon after his marriage being baptized by old Uncle Davy Stewart, but soon after he became an advocate of the ???? reformation called the Camp-??? which doctrine was strong- ???????????? But ???????? studying the bible ???? able to contend ???? opponent on the ???????? the scriptures.

He lived at Whiskey Run until I was about 12 years old when we moved to Dubois County, near Huntingburg. My eldest brother Biram and myself had now grown large enough for work, and opened up a considerable farm. We gathered up plenty of stock and everything seemed to be prosperous, around us; but about that time my mother took sick and died leaving six children of the last set and brother Biram and Myself of the first set. Uncle Bird GOODMAN heard of it and came down from Whiskey Run, and after consulting together it was thought best for brother Biram and I to do for ourselves. This was a scene that I shall never forget, Elijah said, boys if you want to stay home, I will do the best I can for you; but as I have six little children to take care of I cannot do as I would wish, and as you are going away, I feel it my duty to give you some advice. He said; " Be honest and keep good company and there is no fear but what you will do well" And what ever has been my course in life those words had a great influence in shaping it. So I will say to every young man that starts out in life to pursue that course, and there will be no danger.

Elijah Weathers was a man of benevolent and kind heart; well liked by his neighbors; and always ready and willing to do his part of anything that came up in his neighborhood. I can say of him more than most children can say of a stepfather He ne'er made any difference between his own and his stepchildren. My stepfather died some two years after I left home and if he had lived he would have filled some important office in the county, as he was very popular all over his county. He was always chosen to settle ?????? that came up in the community.
By John Miles Hart July 16,1893
Big Clifty, KY


History of the Christian Church of Huntingburg
Written 1914
Rev. Christopher W. Parks

The Weathers Church. the early "forties" when the land was little more than a wilderness a little log house of worship was erected a short distance south east of what is now the town of Bretzville. This house was built on the farm of a man named Elijah Weathers, and it was known as the Weathers Christian Church. At this time, there is no living person, in the knowledge of the writer, who worshipped in this house. The membership consisted of only a few families, and this little church was the only place of worship in a vast wilderness. The members suffered much from the privations of pioneer life; the harvests were meager, the wild beasts of the wilderness were dangerous, and the compensation for their toil was small, but they were men and women of unbounded faith. Theirs were simple lives. Virtually all their needs were supplied by their own hands. They sowed the flax and wove their linen cloth. They sheared the sheep and wove it into the "home-spun" of that early day. It is said that this church house, then called "meeting house" had no floor but the earth. Brother Jacob Shively preached for this little flock of disciples, and in all probability a young man named Benjamin Talbert Goodman, later known as "Bird" Goodman, preached his first sermon in this church. These men together with the Weathers family and Mrs. Eliza Bretz were a few of the membership.