Biographies W Surname - Traill County, North Dakota GenWeb


Another NDGenWeb Project

BIOGRAPHIES OF TRAILL COUNTY
- W -

GEORGE E. WESTON

Historical Data Project WPA
Liberty Memorial Building
Bismarck, ND 58501

George E. Weston the first settler of Traill County North Dakota was born in London, England in 1831, the son of well-to-do English parents and was able to get a good education for his time. He came to America as a sailor landing in New Orleans, Louisana but lived in the south only a short time, coming up the Mississippi River by steamboat to Minneapolis. There he engaged in the lumber business. In 1857 at Minneapolis he was married to Miss Hannah E. Hawks. The daughter of English parents pioneers from Massachusetts to Minnesota. Three children were born to them Frederick, Edward, and William.

In 1866 Mr. Weston left Minneapolis for Georgetown. He went by way of St. Cloud and Fort Abercrombie. In1868 he took full charge of the Hudson's Bay Company's business in Georgetown. In the interest of the company Mr. Weston in 1869 took a trip by steamboat from Georgetown, Minnesota to the mouth of the Goose River in Dakota Territory. While at Georgetown Mr. Weston was on the direct route to the Goose River country and probably directed more settlers to this part of the than any other person. In 1870 he took a homestead at Caledonia, Section 14, township 146, range 49. Weston was a member of the General Rosser expedition on the survey of the Northern Pacific railroad in 1872. Later when the county of Traill was organized Weston was the first register of deeds and county clerk.

Mr. Weston bought grain on commission for C. H. Graves of Duluth who had grain warehouses and elevators at the oldest steamboat landing on the Red River. Mr. Weston was agent for both lines of steamers and also carried on considerable business in lumber, lime, and cement.

Mrs. Hannah Weston having died in the fall of 1865, Mr. Weston married Miss Elizabeth McDonald of Iowa in 1881 and had three sons, Walter, Oscar, and Thomas.

George E. Weston died March 17, 1903 Fort Francis, Canada at the age of 72 years.

(1) The material for this sketch was obtained from a questionaire sent to Mrs Geo. Ed. Weston, New Albion, Iowa, and the Atlas of Dakota.

CALEDONIA TOWNSHIP
PIONEER BOOK OF OLD SETTLERS ASSOCIATION.

Mr. George E. Weston was born in London, England on the twentieth day of November, 1832. Mr Weston commenced life for himself when he was ten years old by clerking in a grocery store in London for a number of years. He them immigrated to America, landing in New York, where he hired out to a merchant in Albany and then in Buffalo, New York. After working and traveling in many different states and cities he went to Sioux City, Iowa where he stayed until the winter of 1860. He then went to Devils Lake in charge of wagons of provision and did an extensive amount of trade with the Indians. In March he returned to Ft. Abercrombie, where he built a boat and after stocking it with provisions, sailed down the Red River where he took up a claim at the moth of the Goose River. He was recognized as the first settler in what later became Trail County. His nearest neighbor at this time was 35 miles away. At one time Mr. Weston took charge of the Hudson Bay Store at Georgetown, In 1873 the lust for adventure hit him again and he joined a surveying part going to the Yellowstone Park. This party had an escort of 800 soldiers. They had a number of engagements with Indians in Sitting Bull's Country and at one time he went up the Missouri River and purchased 800 buffalo hides and on his return was attacked by Indians.
Mr. Weston was married twice, first in 1858 to Miss Hanna Hawks. This union was blessed with three children: Frederick, Edward and William. Mrs. Weston died in Sept 1864. On Jan 3, 1883,he was married to Miss Elizabeth McDonald the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Peter McDonald, natives of Scotland. Mr. George Weston died March, 1903, at Mine Center, Ontario, Canada

Contributed by Gerry Mohn.