Bucknell University - L Agenda Yearbook (Lewisburg, PA)

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Joseph K. ' ea er

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Joseph K. Weaver JOSEPH K. Weaver was born in Westmoreland County six miles from Greens- burg, at a point known as Weaver ' s Old Stand, where his father was engag- ed as a store keeper and farmer. When he was five years of age, his father moved to Saltsburg, Indiana County, where he attended the public schools and the academy. His further preliminary training was received at the Boys ' School in Turtle Creek, Allegheny County, after which he entered the Sophomore Class in the University at Lewisburg, being graduated a Bachelor of Arts in i86i. During his last college year, military spirit ran high, a company was organized, with wooden guns, in which he was a corporal; drills were frequent, and encampments illustrating all the routine of camp-life were held. He is a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity and has always maintained an active interest in its welfare as well as joining heartily in its social gatherings. Returning home he took charge of the public schools in Saltsburg; but soon a call for troops was made, and the young schoolmaster organized a squad of young men of the town and marched with them to Harrisburg. Uniting with other squads, they became Company D, i3Sth P. V., of which he was made First Lieutenant. They did guard and provost duty in Washington, D. C, for si. months, during which time Lieutenant Weaver acted as one of the Officers of the Guard at the Old Capitol Prison where he had charge of many distinguished citizens of Virginia who were held as civilian prisoners. The monotony of guard duty was freq uently re- lieved when the Confederate soldiers, also confined in the prison, were taken under guard down the Potomac to Fortress Monroe and through the blockade at the mouth of the James River up to City Point. Subsequently the regiment was ordered to Virginia, under General Reynolds, and after participating in the Chancellorsville Campaign, was honorably mustered out of service at the close of their term of en- listment in June. Lieutenant Weaver immediately began the study of medicine, but upon the invasion of Pennsylvania by the Confederates in 1863, he commanded a company that was ordered to Ohio and engaged in the campaign against General John Morgan and his raiders. When Morgan was captured. Captain Weaver ' s company was detailed as a guard to the prisoners, many of whom had fallen into their hands at Salineville, Ohio. When his term of service expired, he resumed the study of medicine at home; but when another call for volunteers was made, Captain Weaver recruited a company for a short term of service and upon the expiration of its term he took charge of a company of mounted infantry made up of re-enlisted men at Harris- burg. This company was uniformed and equipped in all respects as cavalrymen, did special guard and patrol duty under General Couch on the borders of Penn- sylvania, Maryland and Virginia, served until the close of the war, and had the honor of being the escort at the laying of the corner stone of the Soldiers ' Monument at Gettysburg in 1865. ♦ •♦■! • ■••■•♦ ' ■♦■♦ •• •♦■•♦♦■♦ - ' '

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• •♦•♦-♦•♦ ' •• ' ■•♦■■ ♦ Captain Weaver again resumed his study of medicine, and was graduated from the Jefferson Medical Colle ge in 1867. After serving for fourteen months as Resi- dent Physician at the Charity Hospital in Philadelphia, Dr. Weaver settled in Nor- ristown, where he has been for many years a leading physician. He has done his part in the broader work of a physician as a Member of the Montgomery County Medical Society, the State Medical Society, the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Medicine, the Association of Military Surgeons, and is now on the StafT of Surgeons to the Charity Hospital in Norristown, besides being one of the Board of Directors. Dr. Weaver has been a medical officer of the National Guard since its reorgan- ization, holding the position of Surgeon of the Sixth Regiment for several years, that of Brigade Surgeon of the First Brigade for some time, and he is now Surgeon- in-Chief of the Division with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. At the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, at the request of the Surgeon-General of the Army, Colonel Weaver became Brigade-Surgeon of Volunteers, was in charge of the Second Division Hospital and served for some time on the statT of General Davis as Surgeon- in-Chief of the Division. When the war ended he was earnestly solicited to remain in the service but preferred to resume the practice of his profession in civil life. Dr. Weaver has long been a very active member of the First Baptist Church of Norristown in which he has served as Deacon and Superintendent of the Sunday School. To the interests of his Alma Mater he has been no less devoted. Years ago he received from her the degree of Master of Arts, and since the year 1891, he has faithfully and efficiently served on the Board of Trustees, being a member of the Committee on Finance. Frequent in attendance at Board meetings and Commencements, liberal in contribution, wise in counsel, kind in disposition, Dr. Weaver is among the best- beloved of the sons of Bucknell Unix ' ersitv.