John Parrish Weeks and John Irving Weeks Biographies
- John Parrish Weeks Biography
- John Irving Weeks Biography
- Maps of Grattan Township showing the Weeks land
History of Kent County, Michigan; together with sketches of
its cities,
villages and townships...
Leeson, M. A.
Chicago: C. C. Chapman & Co., 1881.
John P. Weeks, son of Refine and Margaret (Tobias) Weeks, was born in Dutchess Co., N.Y., in 1807. His parents were of Quaker origin and about the year 1812 they went to Vermont where his father engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods, and where Mr. Weeks, of this sketch, acquired his education and prepared for the pursuits of life. He started for Michigan in 1832, and had General Scott for a fellow passenger from Buffalo to Detroit. He went to Washtenaw County, and after some time spent prospecting, purchased a farm near Chelsea, in Sylvan Township. He sold it in 1844, and purchased 240 acres in Grattan at 60 cents per acre. In 1835 he was married in Sullivan Co., N. Y., to Phebe Y., daughter of Mahlon and Abigail (Young) Beakes, natives of New York, who settled at an early day in Scio Township, Washtenaw Co. Of 10 children born to them, Cecilia and Adelaide (Mrs. E. H. Edwards) are deceased. Margaret (Mrs. H. Lester), Mary (Mrs. John Byrne), Henrietta (Mrs. P. McCauley), Ambrose, Alphonse, John I., Celesta (Mrs. H. Jacques) and Grace, are living.
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1855 Grattan Tp. - John P. Weeks 1863 Grattan Tp. - John P. Weeks
1876 Grattan Tp. - Phebe Weeks 1894 Grattan Tp. - Phebe Weeks
1921 Grattan Tp. - John I. Weeks and Mrs. E. Weekes
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The City of Grand Rapids and Kent County, Mich.: up to
date, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens.
A.W. Bowen & Co.
[Logansport, Ind.]: A. W. Bowen, 1900.
In giving a history of the leading citizens of Kent county, the biographical department of this work would be incomplete without mentioning the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, and the admirably kept farm of which he is the owner. His earnest and sincere efforts to make life a success are well worthy the imitation of all, and the interest he takes in all matters touching on the occupation of husbandry are to be thoroughly commended.
Mr. Weeks in a native of Grattan township, Kent county, and was born January 8, 1855, a son of John P. and Phebe (Beakes) Weeks. He has passed the major part of his life as a lumberman and contractor in Ionia, Montcalm, and Kent counties. His education was limited. He remained under the parental roof until he reached his majority. At this stage in life he was united in marriage to Miss Jessie F. Russell on February 8, 1874. To Mr. and Mrs. Weeks were born ten children, eight of whom are living, viz: John P., an electrician of Stanton, Mich., and the inventor of a highly improved system of electric lighting for residences, halls, etc., Rosamond I., a graduate of the Grattan schools with the class of 1895 and gifted with considerable musical talent; Myrtle L., a teacher in Kent county; Winnie, Nina A., Grant, and Eva L. all of who are attendants of school; and Mahlon, the youngest, in the home.
Mrs. Weeks was born March 1, 1857, in Otisco, Ionia county, and is a daughter of Otis H. and Julia A. (Ackley) Russell. The family consists of three sons and one daughter, all of who are living. The eldest, Norma A., is an architect of Chattanooga, Tenn. The remaining three are residents of Michigan—Francis M., William H. and Mrs. John I. Weeks.
Otis H. Russell was a native of New York, born March 9, 1817, died in the United States service during the Civil War, and was buried in the National cemetery at Chattanooga. He traced his ancestry back to that of Lord John Russell, the English premier, and was one of the pioneers of the state of Michigan. He served in the Civil war with Company D, First Michigan engineers and mechanics, having been a mechanic by trade. The mother, who was a teacher part of her life, was born in New York in 1826, and died at her daughter’s home, July 12, 1891.
Mr. and Mrs. Weeks began married life with very small capital. They remained for six years on the Week’s homestead and then in 1880 purchased the Russell homestead, consisting of sixty acres in Grattan.
In politics Mr. Weeks is a strong republican and a staunch supporter of the McKinley policy. He held office of the justice of the peace for eight years, being appointed in 1890, and is now a member of the school board. Socially he is a member of the following fraternities: Grattan lodge, No. 196, F. & A. M., of which he is the worshipful master; Greenville chapter, No. 79, royal arch Masons, and Mulberry camp, No. 87, of the M. W. of A., at Belding; Court Grattan, No. 986, I. O. F., and the Grattan grange. Mrs. Weeks is also a member of the last named fraternity and both are identified with Venus chapter, No. 107, as are Rosamond and Myrtle.
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