Individual Details
Jacob Weber
(28 May 1862 - 24 Oct 1923)
Jacob became a laborer for one of the railroad companies. Minnesota at that time had The Saint Paul and Duluth Railroad, Minneapolis & St. Cloud Railroad Company and The Northern Pacific. He probably met his future bride, Margaret Breuer, in St. Paul, Minnesota, as I have photo's of both of them from that locality.
Jacob left Minnesota for the west along with Margaret Breuer and her sister Rose Breuer with her husband John Milan. Barbara Deuhs', (Margaret's niece) mother said "The four (this was Jacob and Margaret (Breuer) Weber and John and Rose (Breuer) Milan) left in a covered wagon and grandfather (John Breuer) financed the trip. Evidently, they detoured to Missoula, Montana, for the birth of a Weber child. They continued on to San Jose, California" (Girgen). While the four did end up in California, the sequence of events was probably different from this. Jacob Weber and Margaret Breuer married in Missoula, Montana on August 5, 1889 and must have left Minnesota, unmarried, before that date. Did they travel together unmarried from Minnesota to Montana? That seems unlikely for that time period, and since John Milan and Rose Breuer married a year later on June 30, 1890 in Minnesota, they couldn't have left the state together. It's possible Jacob and Margaret traveled by rail, with John and Rose coming later with the covered wagon and belongings.
The decision to leave Minnesota was partly caused by difficulty finding work. Barbara wrote: "There was a railroad strike in Minnesota in 1895 or 1896. Anyone who went out on strike could not get employment with the RR afterwards, and apparently, it was hard to get any employment in St. Paul." As both couples had left Minnesota before this strike, employment might have been poor for some time.
After their marriage, Jacob and Margaret stayed in Missoula, Montana about nine years. Their first three children were born in Missoula; George in July 1890, Irene in 1892, and Francis in 1897. Francis's birth was published in The Missoulian on 9 Mar 1897, "Jacob Weber of North Missoula is rejoicing today over the arrival of a young son at his home and is treating his friends to the best in the land. Mother and son are both well." As the Northern Pacific Railroad ran through Missoula, Jacob probably found employment with them. Maybe he also considered ranching as land records show that Jacob patented 160 acres on 25 Jul 1898 near Missoula. Montana had just become a state when they married there in 1889. During their stay the town of Missoula saw its first horse drawn streetcars go into service, the opening of the Missoula Public Library in 1894 and the opening of the University of Montana in 1895.
Sometime after 1898 Jacob and Margaret decided to leave Montana. In the 1900 census both the Weber family and John and Rose Milan are found residing in Winnamucca, Nevada, another railroad town. Both Jacob Weber and John Milan continued to be employed by the railroad, Jacob as an engine inspector and John as a RR fireman. The company in Winnamucca was the Central Pacific Railroad. The Weber's last son, James, was born in Winnamucca March 1901. Margaret supplemented the family income by sewing. A family story says that while in Winnamucca, Nevada, not all the "ladies" she sewed for were of fine repute.
Shortly after the birth of their last child the Weber's moved one last time. They traveled west to Santa Clara County California where they purchased a ranch in the Purissima District, which lies in the wooded foothills of the Santa Cruz Range a few miles from Palo Alto. The records of Purissima School show Irene Weber enrolled in September of 1902. The Purissima district was at that time an agricultural area of orchards. Jacob and Margaret became fruit farmers, mainly apricots and prunes. The orchards were not enough to support the family though. Their main income came from employment in San Francisco. Granddaughter Marion remembers being told that after the 1906 earthquake, Jacob rode his bicycle all the way to their ranch from San Francisco.
Nearby, Los Altos came into being in 1907 with the building of new foothill rail lines (James 1524-3). The town had direct service to San Francisco, being on the line of the Southern Pacific Railway. Los Altos became known as an ideal residential place and was the nucleus of a large home center for San Francisco business men, many of whom commuted daily (Sawyer 298). The ability to commute was probably a boon to the Webers. Even still, they had a residence in San Francisco; during the 1910 census they were living at 2896 Folsom Street. Jacob's occupation was listed as a railroad coppersmith¹ while Margaret did dressmaker work at home. The oldest, George, was working as a railroad machinist. Margaret had a small grocery store in San Francisco at some point. There are pictures of teenage son Francis in the shop.
By 1920, they began living full time at their ranch on Purissima Road with fruit farming as their main employment. Their children had all left home. They maintained their Purissima ranch until their deaths, Jacob in 1923, Margaret in 1955.
¹ Before diesel-electric locomotives made steam locomotives outdated in the railroad industry, coppersmiths fitted the copper pipes used in steam engines. They twisted copper pipe forming bends, tee-pieces, cross-pieces, or into any conceivable shape required to fit what was needed (Fuller 166).
----------------
The Anaconda (Montana) standard. [volume], August 14, 1896, Page 10
At the Hotels Missoula, Aug. 13. --- Guests at the hotels are:
...
The Kennedy -- J. Bradley, Wallace; Hugh A. Clark, Jacob Weber, Missoula
_______________
San Jose Mercury-news, Volume XCV, Number 79, 17 September 1918
Real Estate Transactions.
Jacob Weber to Margaret Weber -- Lot 58 of subd of lot 2. Taaffe partition, part Rch La Purissima Concepcion; also lot 40 of sub of lot 2 and part lot 1, Taaffe partition, $10.
Events
Families
Spouse | Margaretha Ann "Maggie" Breuer (1862 - 1955) |
Child | George Joseph Weber (1890 - 1941) |
Child | Irene Sybil Weber (1892 - 1946) |
Child | Francis Breuer "Frank" Weber (1897 - 1965) |
Child | James Walter "Jim" Weber (1932 - 1983) |
Father | Josephus Weber (1822 - 1888) |
Mother | Anna Weiler (1827 - 1915) |
Sibling | Anton Weber (1857 - 1912) |
Sibling | Anna Marie "Mary" Weber (1865 - 1914) |
Sibling | Peter Weber (1868 - ) |
Notes
Birth
Koblenz (also Coblenz in pre-1926 German spellings), is a city situated on both banks of the Rhine at its confluence with the MoselleCountry Germany
State Rhineland-Palatinate
Immigration
The 1900 census lists 1869 as his immigration date, being in the US 31 years.The 1920 census lists 1873 as his immigration date, with a Naturalization date of 1883.
Census
Joseph Webber Self M 59 Germany 3x, FarmerAnna Webber Wife F 52 Germany 3x, Keeping house
Anton Webber Son M 23 Germany 3x, married Farmer
Margaret Webber Daughter-in-law F 20 Wisconsin, United States, Germany Germany
Anna Webber Granddaughter F 0 Iowa, United States
Anna Mary Webber Daughter F 14 Germany
Peter Webber Son M 12 Germany
Jacob Webber Son M 18 Germany 3x
Marriage
Marriage LicenseFiled for record the 5th day of August A.D. 1889, at 3.30 o'clock PM,
Jacob Weber
to
Miss Maggie Brewer
Territory of Montana, County of Missoula
These Presents are to authorize any Judge of a Court of Record, any Justice of the Peace within the said County, elected or appointed by the Governor of Montana therefore; any regularly ordained Minister, who is in good standing in the religious denomination to which he belongs,or any Religious Society, according to the usages of said Society, to solemnize, within said County, the marriage of Jacob Weber a White man, aged 28 years, born at Germany in the _ of _ of _ and now residing at Missoula in the county of Missoula territory of Montana and son of Joseph Weber and Anna Wiler with Miss Maggie Brewer a white woman, aged 27 years born at St. Paul in the County of _ State of Minnesota and now residing at Missoula in the County of Missoula and Territory of Montana, and daughter of John Brewer and Savilla Langer.
Neither of said persons have been before married
Said parties being of sufficient age to be capable of contracting marriage, and there being no legal impediment thereto.
In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said County, this 3rd day of August A.D. 1889.
McLandis, Probate Judge
Territory of Montana, County of Missoula - Certificate
I Hereby Certify, That I believe that the facts stated in the foregoing Licence are true, and that, upon due inquiry, there appears to be no legal impediment to the marriage of said Jacob Weber and Maggie Brewer that said parties were joined in marriage by me on the 5th day of August A. D. 1889, at Missoula in the said County and Territory; that Valentine Blindauer a resident of Missoula of the County of Missoula and Territory of Montana and Kate Blindauer resident of Missoula of the County of Missoula and _ of _ were present as witnesses of said marriage ceremony' that sidad Jacob Weber and Maggie Brewer solemnly declared, in my presence, and the presence of said named witnesses, that there took each other as husband and wife.
In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this fifth day of August A. D. 1889
Oil Devinellie
Parish Priest
in the presence of
Valentin Blindauer
Kate Blindauer
Witnesses
Volume/Page/Certificate Number: p 195
Film Number: 1888747
Digital Folder Number: 4156725
Image Number: 232
The Saint Paul Globe (Saint Paul, Minnesota) Wednesday, August 07, 1889. Page 8
MARRIED.
WEBER-BREUER-Miss Margaret Breuer, of Vermillion, to Jacob Weber, formerly of St. Paul, in the Catholic church at Missoula, Montana, Aug. 5, 1889, which they will made their future home. We wish them much success.
Naturalization
California, San Francisco...County Records, 1824-1997Naturalization and Citizenship
Naturalization Supplement Index, K-Z, 1873-1926
Weber, Jacob -- 2820 16th St....................Germany -- Feb. 3, 1893, Missoula, Montana
Property
NamesPatentee: JACOB WEBER
Survey
State: MONTANA
Acres: 160
Metes/Bounds: No
Title Transfer
Issue Date: 7/25/1898
Land Office: Assigned For Automation
Cancelled: No
U.S. Reservations: Yes
Mineral Reservations: No
Authority: May 20, 1862: Homestead EntryOriginal (12 Stat. 392)
Document Numbers
Document Nr.: 688
Accession/Serial Nr.: MTMTAA 061351
BLM Serial Nr.: MTMTAA 061351
Legal Land Description
E½E½ 10/ 13-N 20-W No Montana PM MT Missoula
Census (family)
Town of Winnemucca, Fourth St.Weber, Jacob, Head, W,M, May 1862, 38, M, 10, Germany, Germany, Germany, 1869, 31, NA ,
Engine inspector, 0 months unemployed, Rent, House
Margret, Wife, W,F, Mar 1862, 38, M, 10, 3,3 Minnesota, Germany, Germany,
George, Son,W, M Jul 1890, 9, S Montana, Germany, Minnesota
Irene Daughter, W, F Mar 1892, 8, S Montana, Germany, Minnesota
Francis, Son, W, M Mar 1897, 3 S Montana, Germany, Minnesota
all but the baby, Francis, could read, write, speak English, and George and Irene were at school.
Property
San Jose Mercury-news, Volume LXVIII, Number 86, 11 April 1905REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS.
O. E. Bigelow et al to Jacob Weber --- Lot 58 of subdivision lot 2. Taaffe partition, Puissima ranch, for $10
Census (family)
SD 4, ED 44, sheet 9BFolsom Street #2896
Weber, Jacob, Head, 48, M 20 yrs. Germany, Germany, Germany, Coppersmith Railroad
Margaret, Wife, 48, M 20 yrs. 4 children born and living, Minnesota, Germany, Germany
Dressmaker at own home.
George J. Son, 19, Montana, Machinist Railroad
Irene S. Daughter, 18, Montana, None
Frances B. Son, 13, Montana, None
Walter J. Son, 9, Nevada
Property
San Jose Mercury-news, Volume XCV, Number 79, 17 September 1918Real Estate Transactions
Jacob Weber to Margaret Weber. --
Lot 58 of subd of lot 2. Taaffe partition, part Rch La Purissima Concepcion, also lot 40 of sub of lot 2 and part lot 1, Taaffe partition. $10.
Census (family)
Mayfield Township, Vol 120, SD 7, ED 125, Sheet 1, Line 9Santa Clara Co., Purissima Precinct, Purissima Road
3,3, Weber, Jacob 57 Germany 1873 Na 1883 parents both Germany
Own home, free of mortgage. Fruit Farmer.
Weber, Margaret wife 57 Minnesota, Father: Belgium spoke French, Mother: Alsace Lorraine spoke German.
Burial
Lot 117 Sub.Section B
Tombstone reads (see photo) -
WEBER
Jacob | Margaretha
1862 - 1923 | 1862 - 1955
Endnotes
1. Heiken (Duval), Marion., Family oral history; Duval, Weber, Breuer, Guizlo. (Santa Rosa, CA, 2000-2008.).
2. U.S. Federal Census - Nevada, Humboldt Co., - 1900 Winnemucca precinct E.D. 17, sheet 3 Winnemucca town (taken 2 & 3 June 1900 by Mary G O'Donnell read from microfilm, 18 Oct. 2000, Nancy Prouty).
3. US Federal Population Census, 1920 California Census (read July 18, 2001 Nancy Prouty Sonoma Co. Library Annex, Santa Rosa).
4. U.S. Federal Census - Nevada, Humboldt Co., - 1900 Winnemucca precinct E.D. 17, sheet 3 Winnemucca town (taken 2 & 3 June 1900 by Mary G O'Donnell read from microfilm, 18 Oct. 2000, Nancy Prouty).
5. U.S. Census images. Heritage Quest Online. Subscription database through the Sonoma County Public Library. (ProQuest LLC, 2009.), 1920 > CALIFORNIA > SANTA CLARA > PURISIMA; MAYFIELD TWP Series: T625 Roll: 146 Page: 58.
6. Bureau of Land Management - General Land Office Records, online [http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/], accessed 2007.
7. U.S. Federal Census - Nevada, Humboldt Co., - 1900 Winnemucca precinct E.D. 17, sheet 3 Winnemucca town (taken 2 & 3 June 1900 by Mary G O'Donnell read from microfilm, 18 Oct. 2000, Nancy Prouty).
8. U.S. Census images. Heritage Quest Online. Subscription database through the Sonoma County Public Library. (ProQuest LLC, 2009.), Read May 24, 2003 N. Prouty.
9. US Federal Population Census, 1920 California Census (read July 18, 2001 Nancy Prouty Sonoma Co. Library Annex, Santa Rosa).
10. Soundex - California 1920. (read July 14, 2001, Nancy Prouty Sonoma Co. Library Annex, Santa Rosa), W 160.
11. U.S. Census images. Heritage Quest Online. Subscription database through the Sonoma County Public Library. (ProQuest LLC, 2009.), 1920 > CALIFORNIA > SANTA CLARA > PURISIMA; MAYFIELD TWP Series: T625 Roll: 146 Page: 58.
12. Alta Mesa Memorial Park Cemetery Visit, Aug. 19, 2000 by Al & Marion Heiken, Nancy Prouty, 695 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto, Calif. 94306-3840. (650) 493-1041..