Shared Photo: Earl Weaver in 1920

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                        THE EARL WEAVER  FARM

I wanted to share this family photo of Earl Weaver dated 1920.

Earl Weaver Earl Alaman Weaver - Pless was born on July 17, 1897, according to my SS records. He was born in Franklin County, TN, to his father James Nathaniel, 34 and his mother Elizabeth, 29.

Earl Altamon Altaman Alganon Weaver was set to marry Wilma Davilla Snell, a small town girl. On September 26th, 1920, Earl and Wilma were on their way to visit their pastor’s home in Franklin County. While on their way riding in the buggy, they noticed the pastor on horseback riding in the opposite direction. They stopped the pastor on the wayside of the old dirt road, and decided to tie the knot right there.  Earl and Wilma planted their roots firmly in the ground as farmers in Winchester, Tennessee. 

The Weavers had a [[ 200 acre Farm :Weaver Family Farm|small farm in Winchester, Franklin County, Tennessee ]].[[ Weaver-12551]]  [[ Snell-39951]] [[ Weaver-12550]] 

Earl’s mom was Elizabeth Josephine ( Bettie) ( Josie)  Shasteen,

and her father was James Neil Nathaniel ( JN) Weaver. Bettie’s mom was Mary Ann Elizabeth Smith, born in Winchester. Bettie’s father was Rev. William Isam Shasteen ( Blue Bil.) Rev. Shasteen was well known throughout the country for preaching the Gospel. 

He came from a long line of Pastors linked directly back to Dr. Pierre Chastain Sr born in 1659 from France.

Earl Weaver’s father was  - James Neal Nathaniel ( JN) Weaver. He was a farmer by trade, and a very devout Christian man. Though JN himself was a religious man, he was born from parents who both had extramarital affairs : Euphania ( Effy) Ann Ridgway/ Ridgeway/ Taft, and Newton Albert Jacob ( Jeff) PLESS Jr. were JN’s biological parents. JN was raised with the Weaver surname to spare him from being called a bastard child.

To spare his shame, Earl Weaver’s Father- JN Weaver, was raised by his grandparents, and given his Step- grandpa’s Jonnie Weaver surname . JN was raised by his grandma - Mary Ann (Polly) Cole, and Polly’s second husband Jonnie Weaver Jr.. There were no formal adoptions in Tennessee before 1900. JN was born in 1865 in Marble Hill, Winchester, Tennessee. Polly and Jonnie went on to raise JN with all of their other biological Weaver children, as if ( JN) was a Weaver too, but JN was really a PLESS. 

Franklin County Tennessee court Records have proven that the affair happened .  Effy was married during the time of her affair to James Taft. 

James Taft sued Effy on the grounds of adultery. Because of the adultery charges, the courts forced  Effy to give up JN to be raised by her mom Polly Cole.

You will see Polly listed In the 1900 census, living in the same house as JN, and Earl Weaver who at the time, was listed as age 2. Polly Cole/ Ridgway/Weaver was widowed at that time in the 1900’s , and In her late 70’s. JN never grew up knowing  who his  biological parents were, or at least it was never spoken about, according to my mom, Weaver-12554. Mom said the subject of who Earl Weaver’s grandparents were, was off the table, and never discussed. It was through my recent DNA tests of Weaver-12554, that DNA was proven to match the Pless’s.

The Earl Weaver Farm should have been called -The Earl Pless Farm. 

The Weaver house still sits on the right side of the road as you go into the Tim’s Ford State Park area in Winchester, Tenn. The house has dormer windows, and big white columns along the front, with a wrap around porch. The house is currently owned by a Pastor LaMay and was sold shortly after Earl passed away in 1977.

TVA took most of the land away before Earl passed himself. When Earl knew he was going to loose his farm, that in itself, practically killed my grandpa. But what actually killed Earl, was gallstones, caused from drinking the well water all of those years.

Water use to be free, and not sold in bottles like it is today. Water was going to surround all of my grandpa’s property soon.

TVA took the land from my grandparents when the Dam came through, and the  Tim’s Ford Tennessee State Park and Jack Nicholas Golf course was being built in the late 1970’s. My grandpa was given a mere ten cents an acre, for land that he had worked, and farmed for many years. They grew potatoes, corn, and wheat, as well as all kinds of other vegetables. They had horses, pigs, chickens, and cattle.

 My moms main job every morning before school, was to milk the cows for cream. A Mr. Solomon would come by to pick up the cream every week.  

My mom would save her milk money to buy some Luden’s cough drops from Mr. Solomon. He would have candy and cough drops to sell off of his truck for a nickel. Mom said, you could get more for your nickel  by buying Luden’s cough drops, so that’s why she chose them over buying regular candy. 

The strangest coincidence, mom ended up marrying one of Mr. Solomon’s cousins -my wonderful dad, Richard Henry ( Corky ) Solomon. My dad died in 2015 and I was by his side the week before he passed.

Daddy was seeing visions of people who had already passed on and were in Heaven waiting to great him. My grandpa and grandma were some of the first people that I heard my dad speak to as plain as day as if he were already there with them in heaven. Two nights before my daddy died he was laying in the hospital. I was sleeping in a cot beside his bed when I was awakened to hear my dad seeing and vocalizing his dreams out loud while he was still asleep. Daddy plainly loved my grandpa and grandma Weaver, ad he obviously could see hem welcoming him into Heavens gates. Daddy spoke out load and said to them, quote,

“ How in the world are you Mr. Earl and Mrs Wilma? I have missed you all dearly.” When my daddy died my whole world stopped.

When my grandpa Earl died, the whole world stopped. He had over 1600 people That signed his guest registry at Marble Plains Church Cemetery.. He was dearly loved by all. My grandma Wilma moved off the farm into the town of Tullahoma where she found a small home. It wasn’t long after my grandma Wilma moved before she passed away of Lung issues. What Weaver land was left, was split between the three kids of Wilma and Earl’s. JC was the only son and he worked the land the most of the three kids. JC Weaver passed away before the year 2000, leaving his wife Dorothy and two grown daughters. His land and my moms sister land was sold off.

My brother and I, still own a little under 30 acres of the farm land of which was left to my mom, and is prime Weaver property. Unfortunately, because our water front property, is within the surrounding State Park area, we are not allowed access to our own waterfront, by adding our own dock. We are not even allowed to cut down trees on or adjacent to our land, just to allow us to view more of our beautiful waterfront. I don’t understand how a government can take away rights of property owners, of property that has been in the family for over 120 years. We as land owners, deserve better from our government. Any help in this matter is appreciated. My grandpa Earl and grandma Wilma would be so disappointed that all of their hard earned work, and time farming on this land, has gone to waist. 

 My grandparents were pillars of the community. They were farmers, and also Christians of good faith. Earl and Wilma were on the radio most Sunday’s, singing, and spreading the Gospel word. They were inducted in Nashville’s Gospel Music Hall of fame in the late 1970’s. It was an honor to have grown up with such wonderful, role models. 

Earl’s father JN Weaver was also a role model. JN donated part of the land within the area that the Tim’s Ford State park is in, and where the Marble Plains Baptist Church is sitting on today, and still flourishing. The church is over 130 years old. My grandpa Earl was one of the shared music directors at the church, along side with my grandma Wilma singing and playing the piano. Earl’s son JC Weaver was also a shared Music Director there. 

Earl’s daughter was the Church Historian for over 60 years, and she just retired from her position at age 91. Earl’s daughter, and her recently deceased husband Frank Ernst, helped keep the doors open to Marble Plains church by holding fundraisers.

We have celebrated many holidays, Children’s Day, Old Folks Days and such, at this quaint little church beside the lake.

You see, land and farms are so more than just pieces of paper...telling you how much property you own. 

With a farm, comes many cherished memories, shared with family and friends. No one can ever take memories away. Even if, you aren’t allowed to cut down trees, in order to see the breathtaking lake property view you own, you can still see in your mind what the view use to be.

God Bless,

Written by granddaughter [[ Solomon-2474]]

[[ Weaver-12550]] [[ Snell-3959]] 

[[ Weaver-12554]] [[ Weaver-12551]]

 [[ Pless-287]]  

[[ Ridgeway-1132 ]]

[[ Weaver-12559 ]]  [[ Weaver-12555]].

 [[ Cole-6969 ]]

[[ Weaver-661]]  [[ Rogers-31750 ]] 

[[ Pless-286 ]]

[[ Limbaugh-175 ]]  [[ Shasteen-115 ]]

 [[ Weaver-12586 ]]

[[ Weaver-12587]] [[ Shasteen-109 ]]


500px-Weaver-12550-1.jpg
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WikiTree profile: Earl Weaver
in Photos by Terri McGhee G2G6 Mach 1 (12.5k points)
edited by Terri McGhee
What a beautiful story, I am researching the Weaver line in Clarksville Tenn. My husband's family comes from there. His grandmother was Mary Francis Weaver, her father was Benjamin F. Weaver, her mother was Alice Smith. I am stuck there, If you have any connection, please contact me. thanks.

1 Answer

+4 votes
Great history here! The cough drop story is funny. These are the types of stories I'd eventually like to add to my managed profile's biographies.
by Elizabeth Randerson G2G6 Mach 1 (11.4k points)
Thanks Elizabeth. My mom is truly a hoot. I love writing short stories about my family members. I really think it helps keep their memories alive. I hope one day someone will take the time to write about me, but if they do, hopefully,  it will be nice stories. Ha

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