James William Weaver- it sounds like a strong name to me

This is the story I have been chasing...

On  December 26, 1891 17 year old James joined his friends at the rail yard downtown.  The plan was to hitch a ride on the box cars.  Harmless fun for boys of this age.  The frost lay lightly on the rails that morning in Layton.  In fact, the frost was so light, it made James’ adventure seem harmless.  But just as James reached to grab hold of the passing car, his foot slipped on the ice.  The huge iron wheel crushed James’ leg.  In a panic, his buddies ran for help.  However, there was little that could be done.  The doctor hoped that removing his leg might give young James a chance of survival, but James wouldn’t hear of it.  He wanted to die with his leg on.

Source- Family History of Christopher and Ellen (Jackson) Weaver by Shelley Dawson Davies (page 20) (family search) (thanks to my cousin Taressa Weaver Earl for finding this story and uploading it to family search!

epilogue

I came home from my Wednesday morning Bliss (aka CC temple time) with a desire to help my dad get his family history in order.  Let’s just say he is addicted to “finding” names.  In fact, he is so good at it, he completely has both his and my hands full!

I began by sorting through his cards with work that had been done and came across the name of James William Weaver (in November of 2016, we completed his temple work for him by having him sealed to his parents)the son of Christopher and Ellen (Jackson) Weaver.  Why did his name catch my attention? Hadn’t Christopher and Ellen been married in the Salt Lake Temple- they were the first of this line to enter valley?

Here is the kicker- James’ parents, Christopher and Ellen were not sealed  in the Endowment House in 1883.  James was 9 years old at the time. Their four children Emily Rose, James William, Sarah Ann and George Richard (lived only one year) were not sealed to them at this time.  My Great Grandfather David Christopher was the first child of the eight to be born in the covenant.  Hence, the first four were sealed by proxy. ( I wish I knew the reasoning for this- maybe sealing living children to their parents was not a practice at the Endowment house?). 

It took 123 years for James to be sealed to his parents.  Welcome to the family James- so glad you filled your chair!