Joseph Steele Wier ^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8}

  General Notes:

An interesting story arose about how I found the grave of Joseph Weir: In 2001, I was in Eau Claire, Wisconsin looking for the grave locations of William Lightfoot and Loretta Linn, the parents of Leanna Lightfoot who was the wife of Joseph Steele Wier. After determining the approximate location of the graves for the parents in the large Forest Hill Cemetery in Eau Claire, I parked my vehicle at the side of the narrow roadway in the cemetery. As I got out of the vehicle and went to the passenger side to retrieve my camera, I almost tripped over a grave marker that was right near the very edge or side of the road. I glanced down and noticed it said "Joseph S. Weir 1875-1928". I instantly knew that I had unwittingly found his grave and I wasn't even looking for it at the time. The grave turns about to be about only 50 feet from those of William and Loretta Lightfoot.
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  Noted events in his life were:

• He has alternate birth date of 12 January 1876 and a birth location of Muscatine, IA.

Lightfoot family records indicate a birth year of 1876 instead of 1875 even though most documents support a birth year of 1875. This birth year was also referenced by his age of 4 on the 1880 US Census.

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• He appeared on the 1880 US Census in Muscatine, IA on 3 June 1880. ⁵

1880 US Census
Page 168D, District 247, Dwelling 58, Family 74, Roll 358, Ward 2
Muscatine, Muscatine County, Iowa
Second Street;
Joseph Wier..Son..4..IA

(Living with parents.)

NOTE - If his birth date was 12 Jan 1875, then his age should have been 5 instead of 4.
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• He appeared on the 1900 US Census in Muscatine, IA on 11 June 1900. ⁶

1900 US Census
Sheet 32A, District 105, Dwelling 668, Family 777, Roll 450, Ward 2
Muscatine, Muscatine County, Iowa
407 East Front Street; home owned, no mortgage
Joseph Weir..Son..Jan 1875..25..IA..Saloon Keeper

(Living with widowed father.)
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• His occupation in 1904 was a Saloon Business in Muscatine, IA. ¹¹

As noted on his marriage license application.

• He appeared on the 1905 Iowa State Census in , Muscatine County, IA on 1905. ⁷

1905 Iowa State Census
, Muscatine County, Iowa
Joseph Weir..30..IA..Card A958

(Living with wife.)

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• He appeared on the 1910 US Census in Muscatine, IA on 26 April 1910. ³

1910 US Census
Sheet 19A, District 112, Dwelling 355, Family 443
Muscatine, Muscatine County, Iowa
517 East Eighth Street; home owned with mortgage
Married 5 years
Joseph S. Wier..Head..35..IA..Own Income

(Living with wife, 2 children, and mother-in-law.)

NOTE - Joseph listed his occupation as "own income" but according to the 1904 Muscatine City Directory, he was the owner of a saloon in town.
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• His occupation in September 1918 was a Tire Maker for Gillette Rubber Company in Eau Claire, WI. ⁸

• He resided at 721 Fleming Avenue in September 1918 in Eau Claire, WI.
⁸

• On 12 September 1918, he registered for the World War I Draft at Eau Claire, WI.

Name: Joseph Wier
Birth Date: 12 Jan 1875
. ⁸

• He appeared on the 1920 US Census in Sigel Township, Chippewa County, WI on 31 January 1920. ⁴

1920 US Census
Sheet 6B, District 79, Family 120, Roll 1978
Sigel Township, Chippewa County, Wisconsin
Farm owned, with mortgage
Joseph Wier..Self..44..IA..Farmer, General farm

(Living with wife and 3 children.)
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• He was buried after 8 September 1928 in the Forest Hill Cemetery in Eau Claire, WI.

Find A Grave Memorial #76924358
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Joseph married Leanna Mary Lightfoot, daughter of William Lightfoot and Loretta A. Linn, on 26 February 1904 in Muscatine, IA.^{1 2 3 4} (Leanna Mary Lightfoot was born on 12 February 1879 in Tipton, IA,^{3 4 10 13 14 15 16 17 18} died on 1 November 1957 in Seattle, WA ¹⁸ and was buried on 5 November 1957 in Evergreen Washelli Memorial Park, Seattle, King, WA ¹⁸.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• Marriage Image: 26 February 1904, in Muscatine, IA. ¹

• They appeared on the 1905 Iowa State Census in , Muscatine County, IA on 1905. ⁷

1905 Iowa State Census
, Muscatine County, Iowa
Joseph Weir..30..IA..Card A958
Leanna Wier..26..IA..Card A959
.

• They appeared on the 1910 US Census in Muscatine, IA on 26 April 1910. ³

1910 US Census
Sheet 19A, District 112, Dwelling 355, Family 443
Muscatine, Muscatine County, Iowa
517 East Eighth Street; home owned with mortgage
Married 5 years
Joseph S. Wier..Head..35..IA..Own Income
Leanna Wier..Wife..31..IA..2/2
Merrill Wier..Son..5..IA
Avis Wier..Son..2..IA
Loretta Lightfoot..Mother-in-Law..55..OH
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• They appeared on the 1920 US Census in Sigel Township, Chippewa County, WI on 31 January 1920. ⁴

1920 US Census
Sheet 6B, District 79, Family 120, Roll 1978
Sigel Township, Chippewa County, Wisconsin
Farm owned, with mortgage
Joseph Wier..Self..44..IA..Farmer, General farm
Lenor Wier..Wife..40..IA
Merriell Wier..Son..13..IA
Avis Wier..Daughter..12..IA
Kenneth Wier..Son..5..MT
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  Marriage Notes:

Name: Joseph Wier
Birthplace: Muscatine, IA.
Spouse's Name: Leanna Lightfoot
Spouse's Birth Date: 1878
Spouse's Birthplace: Muscatine, IA.
Spouse's Age: 26
Event Date: 26 Feb 1904
Event Place: Muscatine, IA.
Father's Name: James Wier
Mother's Name: Anna Pigott
Spouse's Father's Name: Wm. Lightfoot
Spouse's Mother's Name: Loretta Linn
Race: White
Marital Status: Single
Spouse's Race: White
Spouse's Marital Status: Single

Citing this Record
"Iowa Marriages, 1809-1992," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XJT1-ZG5 : 10 February 2018), Anna Pigott in entry for Joseph Wier and Leanna Lightfoot, 26 Feb 1904; citing Muscatine, IA., reference 2:3KPL49G; FHL microfilm 1,003,492.
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Marriage license was filed in Muscatine County on Feb 26, 1904, Book 2, page 234. According to the county records, the marriage was performed in Muscatine by F. F. Beckerman and witnessed by Loretta Lightfoot, the mother of the bride. The groom, Joseph, listed his "age next birthday" as 30 but it is believed that he was born in 1876 which would make his age at the next birthday only 29. On the marriage record, Joseph listed his occupation as "Saloon Business".
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Joseph died in 1928 and was buried in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Apparently, Leanna then lived her final years in Seattle, Washington near her married daughter, Avis. When Leanna died in 1957, she was buried in Seattle.
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