California Biographies, San Joaquin Valley

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


 WOOLSEY WEYANT. During Mr. Levant's residence in Fresno county, from 1894 until his death, 
October 10, 1902, was demonstrated his character and ability. He was born October 25, 1837, near Ft. 
Montgomery, N. Y., and was reared and educated on Iona Island, in the Hudson. He learned the 
vineyard business there, and for twelve years was engaged in propagating and growing vines for a Dr. 
Grant. In 1869 he removed to Nebraska and settled fourteen miles west of Lincoln, where he 
homesteaded and improved a farm, eventually adding three hundred and twenty acres adjoining, 
upon which he raised grain and stock. He then removed to Lincoln and embarked in the grocery 
business for a few years, then began buying and improving business and residence property and 
selling at advanced figures. 

In 1894 Mr. Weyant sold out his holdings and came to California and at once settled in the Eggers 
Colony, where he purchased forty acres, which he set to vines and built and improved a comfortable 
home place. He added forty acres which he also improved, and continued actively interested as a 
vineyardist until his death. The lady who became the wife of Mr. Weyant was formerly Saloma Louisa 
Rhodes, a native of Rockland comity, N. Y., and a daughter of William and Permelia (June) Rhodes, the 
former a native of England, and an only son of William Rhodes, and a native of Staffordshire. Mr. 
Rhodes settled in New York and found employment in a wholesale establishment, but subsequently 
he removed to Haverstraw and engaged in manufacturing silk covered wire, later embarking in a 
farming enterprise, and then his death occurred. His wife was a native of Rockland county, N. Y., a 
daughter of Ethiel and granddaughter of Ethiel June, who was a Revolutionary soldier. She died in 1884 
in New York state, on the farm where she was born. Mrs. Weyant was reared and educated in her 
native state and near Ft. Montgomery met and, February 24, 1855, was united in marriage with 
Woolsey Weyant. They became the parents of ten children, nine of whom reached maturity: Woolsey, 
engaged in the oil business in Texas ; Oscar, in the employ of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company in 
San Francisco ; Luther, a vineyardist in the Eggers Colony ; Charles, likewise engaged in the Jefferson 
Colony ; Sidney, employed by the Southern Pacific Railroad at Beaumont, Cal. ; Eva, wife of Frank 
Naden, of Fresno county ; Ella, who married T. J. Alexander and resides in Temperance Colony ; John, a 
vineyardist in Eggers Colony, and Aretes, in the same place. Mr. and Mrs. Weyant gave their children 
such school advantages as the times afforded. They were members of the Methodist Church and in 
politics always stanch Republicans. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Weyant has continued to 
reside on the home place and carry on the vineyard. She has purchased four lots, and erected a 
cottage in Fresno on Clark street. Mr. Weyant had purchased one hundred acres of land in Texas at 
what is known as Pierce Junction, six miles from Houston, and since his death oil has been discovered 
on this property, making it very valuable. Though a resident of Fresno county but a few years, Mr. 
Weyant became identified with the business interests of the county, and by his straightforward 
manners, strict integrity and public spirit soon made a host of friends. Mrs. Weyant has ever extended 
a helping hand to those less fortunate than herself and now in the afternoon of a well-spent life can 
enjoy the comforts that the passing years have brought to her.