Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

of his fellows, James Albert Weed, of
Stamford, Connecticut, enjoys to the full
the privileges which the country life af-
fords.
(II) Jonas (2) Weed, son of Jonas (i)
Weed (q. v.), was administrator of his
father's estate. While it appears that he
remained in Stamford or thereabouts all
his life, instead of following his father's
example in penetrating new country, he
lived an estimable life, doing his share in
the public service, being townsman for
eleven years. He died November 19, 1704.
He married, November 16, 1670, Bethia
Holly, daughter of John Holly; she died
December 29, 1713.
(III) Jonas (3) Weed, son of Jonas
(2) and Bethia (Holly) Weed, married
January 20, 1703 or 1704, Sarah Waterbury,
daughter of Jonathan Waterbury
she was born August 15, 1677. The
meagre records of the generations which
intervene between the immigrants and the
time when the national prosperity was
assured tell an eloquent tale of the bitter
hardships endured with fortitude, and
deeds of courage which there was no time
or strength left to record.
(IV) David Weed, son of Jonas (3)
and Sarah (Waterbury) Weed, was born
April 20, 1707. He married, November
8, 1733, Mary Weed. They were the par-
ents of David, of whom further.
(V) David (2) Weed, son of David (i)
and Mary (Weed) Weed, was born October
28, 1741, and died in 1781. He mar-
ried Mary Selleck.
(VI) James Weed, son of David (2)
and Mary (Selleck) Weed, was born in
1767. He married, January i, 1787, Lydia
Slason, who was born May 18, 1766,
daughter of Nathaniel and Lydia (Bates)
Slason.
(VII) Hezekiah Weed, son of James
and Lydia (Slason) Weed, was born
March 2, 1797, in Darien, near Stamford,
;
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
454
Connecticut, and died August 6, 1869. He
was possessed of a brilliant mind, and
was considered one of the best mathematicians
in Connecticut. In those days
school text books were not plentiful, and
those available fell far short of what
would be considered even mediocre ex-
cellence at the present time. During the
early part of his career, Mr. Weed taught
school, and being unable to find satisfactory
text books in the higher mathematics
prepared one himself for use in his school
from which he taught trigonometry. The
illustrations of the problems are specimens
of fine draftsmanship, and the text
exhibits fine ability as a penman, to say
nothing of the masterly, and often orig-
inal, exposition. This text book, in ex-
cellent preservation, is now the prized
possession of his grandson, James A.
Weed, of Stamford. Hezekiah Weed was
also an excellent Latin scholar, and was
familiar with one or two other languages
besides his native tongue. He was suc-
cessful as a teacher, and contributed
largely to the development of a high
standard in the schools of the section;
but teaching, then as now, was unremunerative,
and Mr. Weed was at length
obliged to retire from this field of activity
and enter the business world. Being a
practical man, he became interested in
purveying the daily necessities of life, and
opened a market in Stamford, which busi-
ness he conducted for a number of years.
From his wife he inherited property on
Tallmadge Hill, and he made this the
foundation of a prosperous real estate
business. He continued to carry on the
market, and retained an active interest
until within a few years of his death.
Mr. Weed was considered very dog-
matic by many people. Throughout his
life he never entirely lost the manner of
the schoolmaster, and no man of mental
depth and power can help thinking and