The Marion Weakley Family

Thomas and Mary (Cook) Weakley were natives of Pennsylvania, but were married in Fairfield County, Ohio. He was a farmer and carpenter. They became the parents of five sons and three daughters of which son, Marion Weakley was born August 30, 1842, in Fairfield County.

He grew up there on a farm, had very limited educational advantages, and had made his success in the world through his own efforts.

In 1864 he enlisted in the Company of the Seventeenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He continued service until the close of the War.

Soon after the war, he moved to Henry County, Liberty Center. As a farmer, he converted a large acreage of wilderness into fertile farms. Here in Henry County, he met and later married Miss Amanda Alspaugh, daughter of Michael and Sarah (Lance) Alspaugh, natives of Pennsylvania.

Mr. and Mrs. Weakley became the parents of two children. The son Wilbur, married Cora Graffes, and she and Wilbur became the parents of Vera, Josephine, Kenneth, and Eleanor.

The Weakleys' second child, a daughter, Dora May, married Homer Bowers. They became the parents of six children: Flossie, Ruth, Wayne, and Maude. Two sons died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Weakley raised a foster daughter, Blanche Alspaugh who was born Dec. 29, 1881.

The Weakleys who were engaged in farming decided to move to Liberty Center, so his daughter, Dora and husband, Homer Bowers continued the farming. In Liberty Center Marion Weakley engaged in the grocery business with a Charles Martin; later becoming sole owner of the store. The store was destroyed by fire, and he replaced it with a larger building (which at the present time is McClure's Food Mkt. in Liberty Center) and with his son, Wilbur Weakley as partner, he opened one of the principal stocks of hardware and general merchandise, and was a leading store in Liberty Center. In 1914 he sold the store, and he and his son, Wilbur were forced to go to Florida for Wilbur's health. Wilbur died December 20, 1914.

Marion Weakley, a Republican, served as a township trustee and mayor of the town of Liberty Center for several terms. He was also a member of the Odd Fellow Lodge, and he and Mrs. Weakley were members of the Liberty Center Methodist Church. He built a new home on East Street in Liberty Center, and the home yet today, has never been owned only by his heirs. It was built in the early 1900's, and is now owned by the George Johnsons, Mr. Weakley's great-granddaughter.

The Homer Bowers family - Floss married Leonard Teeters. They had one daughter, Mrs. George (Virginia Marian) Johnson, Liberty Center. They are the parents of three children: Douglas, of Bryan, Ohio; Mrs. Duane (Diane) Whitmire, Bowling Green; and Debra Jean, at home. There are four grandchildren. Floss Teeters was a telephone operator for 33 years in the Liberty Center Farmer's Mutual Telephone Company. Leonard Teeters was a garage mechanic.

Ruth, second daughter of Homer and Dora Bowers married Floyd Warner, and they engaged in farming in Liberty Township. They had four children: a son, Lawrence; daughter, Lois Jean. Two children died in infancy. Lawrence married Virginia (Bureau) and three children were born: Robert, Karol, and Dan. They live at Rt. 1, Liberty Center. Lois Jean married Aubrey Kessler, and they became the parents of four daughters: Mrs. Mary Jo (Doyle) Patrick, Mrs. Linda (Robert) Miller, Judy, and Nancy. They reside at Rt. 1, Napoleon, Ohio.

The third daughter, Maude, married Dr. Wilbur W. Mann, a veterinarian practicing in Liberty Center. A son, Edmund, died in infancy and daughter, Marian married Harold Slee. They are the parents of two sons, Lee W. M. Slee and Kurt Slee. They reside in Liberty Center.

Wayne Bowers, son of Dora and Homer married Ruth Hadley, and they are now living in Grants Pass, Oregon. Wayne engaged in farming before his retirement. They became the parents of five children: Glendale, deceased, Marthanna, Loretta (Mrs. Bart) Eisaman, Milford and Lallora (Mrs. Al) Thompson.

Most of the descendants of Marion Weakley are residents of Henry County or in or near the Village of Liberty Center.

Submitted by Mrs. George (Virginia) Johnson