Benjamin F. Weathers, of Roanoke, Ala., was born in Fayetteville, Georgia., November 8, 1839. His father, Isham Thomas Weathers born in Rutherford, North Carolina in 1811, came to Wilkes County, Georgia with his father, Isham Weathers in 1825. Isham Weathers was a soldier under Andrew Jackson in the battles of Horseshoe Bend and New Orleans, and his son, Isham T, was a member of Captain Stell’s company in General Winfield Scott’s army in the Seminole Indian war of 1836.
Benjamin Weathers mother was Sarah Ann (Thompson) Weathers and his maternal grandparents were Jeremiah and Elizabeth Thompson.
His ancestors were English and Scotch immigrants who settled in North Carolina. His great-grandfathers, John and William Weathers, brothers, were soldiers in the American Revolution.
Benjamin’s parents raised a family of twelve children, nine sons, and three daughters, and sent his five eldest sons to the Confederate Army in which they served throughout the war without a wound.
In 1842, when Benjamin F. was three years old, his father settled in Randolph County, Alabama, where Judge Weathers was educated in the common schools, and there he engaged in farming until July 1861, when he entered the military service of the State as first lieutenant of the Dowdell Rangers, organized at Roanoke.
Later they were mustered in as Company E, Seventeenth Regiment, Alabama infantry, and Lieutenant Weathers was continued in his rank under a Confederate commission. After the battle of Shiloh, he was promoted to captain of his company, which was his rank when the war closed. In the battle of Resaca and the numerous engagements that followed, including the great battles about Atlanta, July 22 and 23, 1864, he commanded his company with gallantry and distinction.
On Nov. 30, 1864, at the terrible battle of Franklin, Tenn., he was captured on the breastworks about thirty feet from the gin house. He was taken to Nashville, sent to Johnson’s Island, Lake Erie, as a prisoner, and held until June 18, 1865. He reached home on July 4, 1865.
After the war, he taught school and the following year was engaged as a farmer and merchant. In 1873, he turned his attention to farming and milling. He was engaged as cashier of the Bank of Roanoke from the time of its organization, in 1891. He was next to the youngest member of the Constitutional convention of 1875, was probate judge of Randolph County, 1880 to 1886, and declined the nomination for the State Senate in 1887 owing to his business demands.
Although he subscribed to the Christian faith, he belonged to no church and was a Mason.
He was married January 6, 1867, to Lavice Jane Mickle, daughter of William D. and Mary (Smith) Mickle, residents in the vicinity of Roanoke. The Mickles were of Irish descent. Both great-grandfathers of Lavice Jane (Mickle) Weathers were soldiers of the American Revolution.
2. William M. Weathers (b. ca. 1871- Nov. 26, 1911) died of diphtheria
3.Sarah E. Weathers, wife of Wade W. Wood, of Birmingham, Alabama.
Benjamin died Mary 18, 1932 and is buried in Cedarwood Cemetery, Roanoke, Randolph County, Alabama, along with his wife, Lavice, died Jun 6, 1907.
SOURCES
Notable men of Alabama: personal and genealogical, Volume 1 By Joel Campbell DuBose p. 265
Alabama Official and Statistical Register p. 90
Memorial Record of Alabama: Herbert, H. A. Alabama in Federal politics. Cochran, J. The medical profession. Clark, T. H. Judicial history. Screws, W. W. Alabama journalism. Clark, T. H. Religious history
The Roanoke Leader (Randolph County, Alabama), 29 Nov 1911, p.1 – News was received by Roanoke relatives Saturday that Mr. WEATHERS was seriously ill, having contracted diptheria [sic] from his children. His father, Gen. B. F. Weathers was returning from a visit to Montgomery, but was intercepted by the news in Opelika [Lee Co., AL], and proceeded direct to Atlanta, thus reaching the bedside of his only son before the death of the unfortunate young man. The untimely end of “Bill” Weathers was a shock to his many friends and relatives in this county. He was reared in Roanoke and was about forty years of age. He had accumulated a nice little fortune, which he seemed to be using wisely. He was especially considerate of his aged father, upon whom this blow falls heavily.
(published in Atlanta Journal)
Mr. W. M. Weathers a prominent businessman and a well-known citizen died suddenly at his residence, 105 Park street [Atlanta, GA] Sunday morning [26 Nov 1911] at 10:20 o’clock. He was a member of the firm of HARPER & WEATHERS, stock dealers.
Mr. Weathers was an unpretentious, modest man, who never sought office. He was noted for his charity and leaves a large circle of close friends to mourn his loss. He is survived by his wife, two children, William, Jr., and Clarence Calhoun. He also leaves two sisters, Mrs. J. R. Simms, of Roanoke, Ala., and Mrs. Wade Wood, of Birmingham, and his father, Judge B. F. WEATHERS, of Roanoke.
Mr. Weathers was a member of Elks Lodge No. 178; Battle Hill Masonic order, No. 523, and a member of the West End Baptist church. Mr. Weathers had lived in Atlanta 10 years, and came to this city from Roanoke, Ala., where he was a bank cashier. The funeral was conducted with Masonic rites at his residence Monday afternoon at 2 o’clock, Dr. John F. Purser officiating, and the burial was in West View.
