Minerd.com Biography of Curtis Freemont and Joanna (Harbaugh) Weyant of Somerset County, PA

Joanna 'Anna'
(Harbaugh) Weyant
(1863-1917)

Joanna Laura "Anna" (Harbaugh) Weyant was born on March 12, 1863 on a farm at what is now Clairton Lake near Scullton, Somerset County, PA, the daughter of David and Mary Magdalene (Whipkey) Harbaugh.

On March 4, 1888, at the age of 25, Anna was united in holy matrimony 23-year-old Curtis Freemont Weyant (1865-1915), son of Simon and Sarah (Yates) Weyand. Sometimes Curtis' middle name also has been listed as "Freeman."

Their marriage is recorded in fancy but fading handwritten script in the old Harbaugh family Bible.

The Weyants went on to produce two children together -- Lucy Etta Riley and James Edgar Weyant.

In the image seen at right are, seated left to right: Curtis and Joanna with an unknown child; Joanna's aunt Rebecca (Whipkey) Miller, and Joanna's mother Mary Harbaugh. Standing, left to right: daughter Lucy, son James, uncle Isaiah Miller and father David Harbaugh.

Shortly after marriage, Anna wrote a short poem in the autograph book of her sister Letitia Stoner. The handwritten page is seen at the end of this biography.

Seated, L-R: Curtis, Joanna and child; Joanna's aunt Rebecca (Whipkey) Miller, and Joanna's mother Mary Harbaugh. Standing, L-R: daughter Lucy, son James, uncle Isaiah Miller and father David Harbaugh. Courtesy Sylvester Everhart

Circa 1900, the Weyants lived in Upper Turkeyfoot Township, Somerset County, where they were farmers.

Later, they made their home at Humbert, Somerset County, a town that was built to house employees of lumbering and coal operations. For all intents, the town no longer exists, and its foundations are covered by grassy fields.

By 1910, the family had relocated to a home in Somerfield near Addison, Somerset County, in the vicinity of the National Road (today's Route 40). That year, according to the federal census, Curtis had no employment. When daughter Lucy was married in 1914, she stated Curtis' occupation as "stationery engineer."

Curtis was afflicted with a form of arthritis that deformed his bone structure, and he also suffered with spinal problems. As a result, he was forced to walk with canes. When he was feted with a birthday party involving 92 guests on March 18, 1911, the Meyersdale Republican reported that "Mr. Weyant has been an invalid for years and has had a number of parties during that time in which many would come to spend a few hours with their disabled friend and kinsman, and bring such things as they believe would add to his comfort in his deplorable condition. The night was one of enjoyment for all present. Mr. Weyant, highly appreciating the visit of such a host, was made to feel that many are in sympathy with him in his critical condition, and that all wish him well and only the best of this world's things."

Curtis Weyant and niece Iva (Conn) Henry feed his livestock. Davis Studio

In the photo on this page, he walks holding a cane in each hand, standing beside his wife's niece Iva (Conn) Henry. In the card, Iva wrote to a cousin: "Here is me and Uncle Curt feeding the turkeys and pigs."

There were times in which Curtis' health allowed him to work. A November 1913 Republican article reported that he was "rapidly improving and able to work at shoe repairing. He butchered a spring hog that dressed 238 pounds."

Among friends with whom they visited were Mrs. Bell Woodmancy and daughter Mrs. Rush Ross of Humbert, as reported in the local newspaper's gossip columns.

His body wracked by his arthritis and spinal problems, he passed away at the age of 50 on Oct. 5, 1915. He was laid to rest in the Scullton Cemetery. Calvin Weyant is known to have traveled from Manor, PA to attend the funeral, as reported by the Meyersdale Repuoblican.

Joanna outlived her husband by two short years. At age 54, she died on Oct. 28, 1917. The cause and place of her death have not yet been determined.

A search of the local newspaper, the Republican, and of the neighboring Connellsville Daily Courier, failed to find obituaries for either Curtis or Joanna.

Joanna's 1888 inscription in the autograph album of her sister Letitia Stoner

Daughter Lucy Etta Weyant (1888- ? ) was born in 1888 in Kingwood, Somerset County, PA.

On Aug. 20, 1914, she was united in the bonds of matrimony with 26-year-old farmer Edward M. Riley (1888- ? ), a native of Maryland and the son of George D. and Mary R. (Friend) Riley. The ceremony was performed in the parsonage of the Somerset Christian Church by Rev. S.G. Buckner and was announced on the pages of the Meyersdale Republican.

Lucy and Edward together produced a family of two known daughters -- Ruth L. Riley and Geneva A. Riley.

They resided on the Riley home farm at Accident, Garrett County, MD in 1920, when the federal census was taken. That year, Edward's widowed father lived under their roof.

In 1930, they remained in the dwelling on their farm in Accident, with Edward's widowed father living under their roof.

Lucy is known to have attended her grandmother Harbaugh's 94th birthday party in August 1926. The gathering was so well attended that it became the first Harbaugh Reunion, an event which continued until the early 2000s. In 1936, Lucy is known to have attended the Harbaugh Reunion at the Kingwood Picnic Grove in Somerset County, and is pictured in a large group photograph taken that day.

When the federal census enumeration again was made ni 1940, the Weyants were on a farm in Garrett County, and Edward's father continued to resided in their household.

Daughter Ruth L. Riley (1922- ? ) was born in 1922 in Garrett County, MD. At the age of 18, in 1940, she lived with her parents in Garrett County and earned a living performing housework in a private residence.

Son James Edgar Weyant (1891- ? ) was born on May 28, 1891 in Kingwood or Markleton, Somerset County, PA.

At the age of 21, James married 22-year-old Mary Effie Ringer (1889-1981), the daughter of Urias and Sarah Catherine (Diehl) Ringer of Listonburg, Somerset County. The wedding was held on Aug. 18, 1912, by the hand of Rev. I. Hess Wagner, at the parsonage of the Lutheran church in Somerset.

They had at least three children, Frank E. Weyant, Lena E. Weyant and Clara Weyant.

Their home in 1915 was in Scullton. By 1920, the Weyants had relocated in North Versailles, Allegheny County, PA, on Oakdale Road. That year, the federal census shows that James' employment was as a motorman on a street railway (streetcar).

Circa 1930, they resided on Punta Gorda Street in East McKeesport, Allegheny County, PA, an industrial suburb of Pittsburgh, where he continued to be a streetcar motorman.

As the Great Depression loosened its grip on the nation, the Weyants moved to Warren, Trumbull County, OH in about 1942, during World War II. There, James obtained work at the Ravenna Arsenal of the Lordstown Ordnance Depot. They lived at 1512 Mitchell Drive and remained there for years.

Sadly, James passed away in Warren on Nov. 13, 1949, at the age of 58. The cause of death, according to his official Ohio death certificate, was "coronary sclerosis" with "diabetes millitus" as a contributing factor. A brief obituary was published in the Connellsville (PA) Daily Courier on Nov. 16, 1949. His remains were returned to Somerset County for burial in the Addison Cemetery.

Mary outlived her husband by more than three decades. She remained in Warren, where she spent the rest of her life. She died on March 16, 1981, at the age of 92, and her remains were returned to Addison for burial beside her husband.

Son Frank E. Weyant ( ? - ? ) served in the U.S. Army during World War II, training at Camp Shelby, MS and Camp Sutton, NC. He wedded Dorothy Rice ( ? - ? ), a North Carolina native. Circa 1968, he resided in Warren, OH