William raised cattle and horses while owning the saloon in Chinook and traveled east to St. Louis to buy cattle and north to Canada to purchase horses. He had many ranching interests and proved up on a homestead claim outside of town in 1916. William had half an interest in the family horse brand, AX, with brother James. William also registered the XO brand on the right rib for cattle in 1903. Both brands were inherited by his son Elmer and eventually went on the livestock at the ranch in the Bears Paw Moun- tains that Elmer purchased in 1925. William, Phoebe and the girls moved to Califor- nia around 1920 where William continued his busi- ness pursuits. William Weaver passed away in 1927 at the age of 57 and is buried in the Inglewood Cem- etery in Los Angeles, CA. Samuel Clark Weaver was eighteen years old when he moved to Montana to ride the range. Af- ter cowboying, Sam became a real estate developer, both in Kendall and Lewistown. He owned sever- al livery stables, a restaurant, two saloons with his brother James, a saloon in Kendall with his brother Edward, a hotel in Harlowton, had mining inter- ests with both brothers, and partnered with other men on the bank in Kendall. Sam was liked and re- spected in the area, and it was often said he was a man of his word. He started the Judith Automobile Company with a garage in Lewistown, the first of its kind. He was a founding member of Elks Lodge #456. Sam was fond of riding horses and shooting, and for three years in a row was the Montana Trap Shooting Champion. Sam married Myrta Duncan in 1896, and their daughter was stillborn the following year. Tragically, Sam was killed in a car accident in 1919 at the age of 45. The community was stunned with headlines reading, “Lewistown Loss of Revered Businessman.” Sam is buried alongside his wife and daughter in the Lewistown City Cemetery. George Henry Weaver finished school and fol- lowed older brother William to Chinook. George was an avid sportsman and spent many hours hunt- ing and fishing throughout Montana. He partnered in mining and ranching businesses with his broth- ers, and had his own gold mining claim in Zortman, MT. George married Jennie Gorman and they had two sons, Myron and Michael. George moved to Spokane where he worked as a diamond driller, a trade he passed on to his son Mike. George died in 1947 and is buried in Miami, AZ. Edward Meric Weaver, the youngest brother, graduated from high school and immediately went to work for his brother Sam in the mining town of Kendall. Ed managed the saloons, especially the
Sam Weaver circa 1915 in Lewistown, MT
gambling wheels and card tables. Ed was proving him- self when he was called up for the Spanish American War. He was assigned to Company I and rode with Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders. In April 1899, Ed was wounded in the Battle of La Loma in Malolos, Philip- pines when he was shot in the forearm. After the war, Ed returned to Kendall. He married Zella Peppard of the neighboring gold mining town of Gilt Edge in 1902. The couple had two children, Dorothy and Edwin. Ed became the owner of the Rock Saloon and Riser Saloon in Kendall in 1905 and later purchased the Graves Hotel in Harlowton when the Kendall mine went bust. Upon his brother Sam’s death, Ed and his family moved to Washington where he continued in the hotel business. Ed died in June of 1941 and is buried in Seattle in a veteran’s cemetery. The Weaver Brothers – James, William, Samuel, George and Edward – saw Montana change from the times of the open range to the establishment of busi- ness and industry through mining, homesteading and development. They were involved in all facets of Mon- tana’s history, often being the first pioneers in many areas and creating a path for many generations to fol- low.
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