Col. THOMAS R. WEAVER: of the 119th USCT Infantry, HQ, and Civil War Veteran of Monterey County.

Thomas R. Weaver in West Mooreland, Pennsylvania on June 30, 1840. When the Civil War broke out, he enlisted as a Sergeant in the 11th PA Infantry, Company B on June 10, 1861 he quickly rose through the ranks to Lt. Colonel. He mustered out on April 27, 1866. His wife’s name was Lucetta I. McClure. Thomas R. Weaver held the title of Post Commander of the GAR’s (Grand Army of the Republic) Lucius Fairchile GAR Post #179, he represented the post as speaker during the May 8, to the 11, 1901’s 34th Annual Encampment of the Department of California and Nevada of the Grand Army of the Republic, President William McKinley and wife present and prime guests of honor, the encampment took place in Pacific Grove California. Thomas R. Weaver was also a member of the “Loyal Legion”. Thomas R. Weaver died on August 7, 1925 in Pacific Grove, California and is buried in the family Weaver plot in El Carmelo Cemetery in Pacific Grove, California.


The following are transcriptions of obituaries, funeral notice, and other.

WEAVER, THOMAS R. (1840-1925) Pacific Grove El Carmelo Cemetery

Pacific Grove Review April 19, 1920
Col T.R. Weaver Eighty Years Young
Event Royally Celebrated by W.R.C. Last Night

It was Fairchild Woman’s Relief Corps members who thought of it, planned the splendid celebration and executed every detail thereof, so to them and their fine patriotic organization is exclusively due the credit of appropriately celebrating the event in the life of Col. Thomas R. Weaver which had never come to him before in his 80th birthday anniversary.

The celebration included a banquet of that superb excellence known only to the W.R.C. experts of Pacific Grove, and was participated in by upwards of 150 members of the Post and Corps and invited guests.
Mrs. Mary Weaver McCauley, daughter of Colonel Weaver, was in charge of the music, and Comrade George P Clingman most ably upheld the part of Master of Ceremonies.

Promptly at 6:30 o’clock the entire party joined in the grand march to their places at well filled tables, Mrs. McCauley at the piano. Before being seated, Dr. Orville Coats invoked God’s blessing upon the assembly and the bounteously laden board, after which the Doxology was sung.

Menu; Combination Fruit Salad, Rock Cod, Pressed Meats, String Beans, Potatoes, Rolls, Butter, Tea, Coffee, Ice Cream, Cake.

At Colonel Weaver’s place there was a birthday cake of noble proportions and decorated with eighty red, white and blue candles.

At the place occupied by Rev. and Mrs. Eli Fisher a large wedding cake adorned the festive board in honor of their recent marriage.

When all had partaken of the goodies provided, Toastmaster Clingman opened the after dinner program of addresses and music. Colonel Weaver first lighted his eighty candles and deftly extinguished them with one puff that all might observe that, though 80, his “wind” as still good. He was then presented with a beautiful silk tie, a gift from the “kitchen Police”. at this time, too, Mr. Fisher “cut” the wedding cake and passed it to all the guests.

Toastmaster Clingman then acknowledged the hospitality of the Corps, and stated that all hands were present to honor the honored members of the Post. Col. Weaver, who had been a resident of Pacific Grove for the past fifteen years, and identified himself with every public enterprise, and was chiefly responsible for the maintenance of the Post. He was then called on to speak for himself.

The Colonel is an easy speaker, and most entertainingly reviewed his earl life, which if put into print, would make “quite a book” all by itself. Said he was glad he was born eighty years ago, otherwise he might not have taken part in the Civil War and lots of things wouldn’t have been as they are.

He was born June 30, 1840, in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania his father operating a general store, dealing in everything from toothpicks to thrashing machines, everything being on the bartering basis, very little money figuring in the deals.

Later his father went into the canal business, and when “Tom” was about twelve years old he, like Garfield of his own time, worked on the canal in his native state. The Colonel stated however, that Garfield thought more of an education in those days than himself, and became president while he helped boost “Jim” and became a successful dentist and druggist after the war.

The Colonel’s war reminiscences were intensely interesting, and he has promised the Review a story about them in an early issue. It would take the editor all day to write out the things he told about last night, and time will not permit a further word picture of his remarks.

the musical program which followed included several popular and patriotic songs in which all joined, and a bass solo, “Out of the Deep” (lake) by Ray Faulkner; soprano solo “Kiss Me Again” (Herbert) by Mrs. Tom McCauley; tenor solo “Your Eyes Have Told Me So“ (Blaufuss) by Harry Stratton; bass solo and chorus, “Tenting Tonight,” by George Turner, Mrs. Turner at piano. Other songs were Columbia, the Gem of the ocean, “Old Folks at Home,” Star Spangled Banner.

Pacific Grove Review 1925/08/08?
Death Takes Leader of Local G.A.R.
Col. Thomas R. Weaver, Well known Grove Resident Dies in St. Helena
Peninsula Resident For Twenty Years

Leader of Grand Army of Republic Her Several Years; Funeral Next Week

Colonel Thomas R. Weaver, for many years a resident of Pacific Grove, and well known here, passed away today in a hospital at St. Helena, following a paralytic stroke. Weaver had been in the hospital about four months. He was more than 80 years of age.

Col Weaver was resident of Pacific Grove for about 20 years, during which time he became very prominent in community affairs, especially those of a patriotic nature. He was the speaker at many public patriotic celebrations and was one of the leaders of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic, being post commander for several terms.

The deceased was connected with the Harper and Leak real estate firm for a few years. He was well known to nearly all residents of the Peninsula.

He resided on the corner of Walnut and Laurel avenues, Pacific Grove until a few months ago when he went to the hospital at St. Helena.

Survived By Daughter
The wife of the deceased passed away in Pacific Grove about a year ago. He is survived by his daughter, Mrs. Mary Weaver McCauley, who is in charge of the music department in a San Francisco school, having formerly occupied that position in the Pacific Grove schools. There is one grandson, Thomas McCauley.
The deceased had a brilliant record of service in the Union army during the Civil War holding the rank of Colonel.

Funeral services will be held with the local post of the G.A.R. in charge sometime Tuesday, from the Paul funeral parlors. Final arrangements are being deferred pending the arrival of Mrs. McCauley, who is expected today.

Monterey Peninsula Herald August 12, 1925
Colonel Weaver Funeral Today

To the roll of muffled drums and note of Impressive death march of a military band the last earthly remains of Col. Thomas R. Weaver were taken to their final resting place in Carmelo cemetery, Pacific Grove, this afternoon.

Several hundred people assembled at the Methodist church in Pacific Grove to pay respects to the memory of the beloved man who had lived long and well in pacific Grove, an who during that time, had made for himself hundred of friends.

The Grand Army of the Republic of which Col. Weaver was commander up to the time of his death Saturday at a St. Helena hospital, was in charge of the funeral ceremonies The services held at the church were conducted by Rev. C. Grannis of Turlock, State commander of the G.A.R.

After the church services the casket was borne out between long lines of mourning friends by members of the Peninsula G.A.R. Post men who had been the closes friends of the deceased. Those who served as pallbearers were W.F. Askwith, Samuel Woolf, D.T. Welch, D.D. Davis and Geo. E. Clingman, adjutant of the local post.

Outside of the church was assembled the headquarters band of the Eleventh Cavalry, Presidio of Monterey, and a firing squad of the cavalry. The band played a slow march and formed a part of the cortege that escorted the casket to the cemetery.

The procession was composed of members of the G.A.R. post, its women’s Auxiliary, Daughters of the American Revolution, soldiers of the Presidio and friends of the deceased.

A quartette sang two numbers in the church before the procession started for the place of burial. the singers were Estelle Koch, Mrs. G.L. Lobdell, Paul Tuttle and L. Fischer.

Compiled and Submitted: by Tim P. Reese, PCC  
Camp Abe Lincoln #10 based out of Santa Cruz, Ca  
Dept. of Calif. and Pacific  
Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War  
Sep 2009

(click on photos for larger view)