Jennie (Janna) TerAchter was born in Gelderland, Holland on October 18, 1851. She was married to John Weaver in the Netherlands and at the age of 20 she came with her husband to Grand Rapids where they lived 14 years.

They then moved to a farm of 80 acres about 2 miles north of Byron Center which they purchased from Steve Parr. The land was covered with timber and it was necessary to clear ground before they could build a house. Many a huge bonfire testified to their industry as they turned wooded acres into fertile fields.

Mr. and Mrs. Weaver had 10 children. One died in infancy. The names of the 9 living children are Minnie, Henry, Jane, Della, Hattie, Gertie, William, John, and Harry. None live so far away that they cannot visit their mother frequently.

While living on the farm, the Weavers were faithful attendants of the Reformed Church in Grandville. Later they began attending church in Byron Center, Mrs. Weaver being a member of the Christian Reformed Church.

She remembers that prices for farm products have changed considerably. Her children and herself would work hard picking up a load of potatoes for the Grand Rapids market. Her husband would leave at midnight with it, driving the horse and wagon, arrive home about noon the next day and get 10 cents per bushel for the load. The price of butter and eggs was very low. Sometimes the latter brought in as much as half a cent apiece.

Mr. Weaver died in 1904. The 3 youngest boys continued to work the farm for 5 years. At the end of that time they went to work in the city, all but Harry who continued to go to school. But he too finally took a position there.

They bought the house and lot just south of the Byron Center School where she has lived for 17 years. Mrs. Weaver makes and tender her own garden, mows her own lawn, and has her house nearly cleaned at the present time. The writer speaking to her of her neat, orderly home asked if it were any different when all the children were there. Mrs. Weaver agreed it was much harder to keep clean then. Whereupon the writer, remembering a visit once made to their frame home nearly 30 years ago while the younger children were still there, doubted if there ever was a time when thing were not spick and span.

It is always a satisfaction to talk with elderly people who have weathered the storms of pioneering and have entered the more peaceful years of later life still rugged and strong. Active and energetic, they prove interesting links between the past and present.

She was 94 when she died. Her husband, John, was 63.

(Taken from a Trailblazer article of 1923)

Transcriber: Evelyn Sawyer
Created: 26 December 2002
URL: http://kent.migenweb.net/townships/byron/pioneers/weaverj.html