Biographical Sketch of

Lewis H. Weldon

Transcribed by Sandra Boudrou for the Marquette Co WI Pages


Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Green Lake, Marquette and Waushara Counties, Wisconsin, 
published 1890 by Acme Publishing Co., Chicago, Pages 808 - 809 


Lewis H. Weldon, a representative farmer and stock-raiser of the town of Plainfield, Waushara County, resides 
on section 11.  He was born in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., May 7, 1841, and his parents were Lewis and Nancy 
(Keith) Weldon, the former a native of Montreal, Canada, the latter of the Empire State.  By trade his father 
was a blacksmith, and followed that occupation in connection with farming.  With his family he settled in 
Walworth County, Wis., in 1846, but after there working at his trade for four years, removed to Lee County, 
Ill., in 1850.  After six years, however, he returned to Walworth County, and purchased a small farm which 
he sold in 1857 on his removal to Waushara County, where he pre-empted land on section 19, in the town of 
Plainfield.  After a short time he went to the village and opened a blacksmith shop, but soon resumed his 
agricultural pursuits.  That life seemed injurious to his health, and in the hope of being restored, he went 
on a visit to his daughter, Mrs. Searls, where he was taken sick and died Feb. 15, 1889.  He was a respected 
Christian gentleman, who for many years was a member of the Baptist Church, to which his wife also belongs.  
Mrs. Weldon is still living, and makes her home with her children.  They were the parents of two sons and 
six daughters, all of whom grew to manhood and womanhood.  Lewis H. is the eldest; Elizabeth is the wife 
of Orlando Rozelle, a resident farmer of the town of Plainfield; Hannah is the wife of James Rozelle, also 
a farmer of that town; Mary wedded Bryon S. Cornwell, a farmer of Sheridan County, Neb.   John L. is engaged 
in the same pursuit in the town of Plainfield; Eliza is the wife of Absalom Hoter, a resident of Idaho; Amanda 
M., became the wife of Sheridan Kennison, of Oasis; Hattie married Edgar Searls, of Plainfield, and completes 
the family.
 
Lewis Weldon, of this sketch, started out in life for himself when sixteen years of age, and has since made his 
own way in the world.  He may therefore be called a self-made man.  He spent the winters in the pineries, while 
during the summer months he was engaged in rafting on the Wisconsin River, until the South took up arms against 
the Government and he went to its defense.  He enlisted in August, 1861, in Company I, 7th Wisconsin Infantry, 
for three years, and from Madison, where he mustered in the regiment was sent to Washington and equipped for 
action.  They went into camp at Capitol Hill.  The command was assigned to the 1st Brigade, 1st Army Corps, 
in McDowell's Division.  They went into winter quarters at Arlington Heights and the following spring 
participated in the battle of Gainesville, where Mr. Weldon while in the act of loading his gun, was struck 
in the right wrist by a ball which passed up the arm coming out just below the elbow.  The suffering which 
he underwent during the next few days was such as few but a soldier has experienced.  He lay on the battle-field 
for three days, having become so weakened from the loss of blood that he could not make his escape.  The 
burning sun beat down upon him, he had no water with which to quench his almost unendurable thirst and 
endured agony untold, but on the morning following his injury he was taken prisoner, and on the fourth 
day his wound was dressed.  After twelve days of imprisonment he was paroled and sent to Grosvenor House 
Hospital at Alexandria, where he was tenderly cared for until he had recovered his health.  His wound was 
of such a serious nature that it necessitated the amputation of his arm, and being thereby unfitted for 
further duty he was discharged Oct. 3, 1862.
 
On his return Mr. Weldon began breaking prairie and also engaged in rafting on the river until 1864, when 
he purchased a team of horses and followed teaming from Berlin to Wausau.  He worked at various other occupations 
until 1869, when he went to Clay County, Iowa, and procured a homestead of 160 acres but the grasshoppers destroyed 
all his crops; and he returned to Wisconsin.  In 1872 he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Ingle, who was born 
in Marathon County, Wis. of which her father was a pioneer.  Her parents spent their last days in the village of 
Plainfield, and are buried in its beautiful cemetery.  Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Weldon--Minnie, 
who died when about two years old; Ward H., born Sept. 11, 1875; Ada May, Aug. 23, 1877; Mary E., July 11, 1879; 
and Horace O., March 28, 1884.
 
After his marriage Mr. Weldon went to Clark County, Wis., where, in 1875, he purchased a farm on which he made his 
home until 1883, when he sold out and bought eighty acres of land on section 11 in the town of Plainfield, where he 
has since made his home.  Although his residence in Waushara County has been of short duration, his fellow citizens 
soon recognized his worth and ability and made him their Town Treasurer for three years.  Socially, he is a member 
of the G. A. R., and a stanch Republican in politics.  He enjoys the high esteem of all in the neighborhood and is 
favorably known throughout the county. 






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