Buena Vista County, IA
USGenWeb Project

Paul Weston is one of the prominent business men of Buena Vista county, coming here when this section of the state was largely unsettled.  Only here and there had a claim been made and the work of development had scarcely begun.  As the years have passed Mr. Weston has borne his full share in the labors that have transformed this section of the state into one of the leading counties of this great commonwealth.  For twenty-seven years he has been an active business man of Alta and dates his residence here from 1878.

He was born in Dane county, Wisconsin, November 4, 1848, a son of William Weston, who was a native of England, in which country he was reared to manhood and married Elizabeth Clark.  About 1840 he emigrated to the new world with his family, settling in Wisconsin, where he followed farming for a short time.  He then removed to Stevens Point, where he spent his active life and reared his family.  Unto him and his wife were born five sons:  W. R., who is now living in Salt Lake City, Utah; Nathanial, a resident of Yakima, Washington; Paul, of this review; Charles and George, who are living in California.

Paul Weston was a young lad when his parents left the farm in Dane county, where he was born and removed to Stevens Point, Wisconsin, where he was reared and educated.  He there worked in a sawmill and afterward learned the machinist's trade, completing his apprenticeship at Stevens Point.  He was employed as engineer until coming to Alta and also took lumber rafts down the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers, making sales as far south as Keokuk.  He later went to the Black Hills, where he spent three years in engineering, after which he returned to Iowa and settled in Buena Vista county.  Here for two or three years he was connected with carpentering, being well known as a contractor and builder, but, thinking to find commercial pursuits more congenial and profitable, he purchased a half interest in a furniture business and later bought out his partner, continuing the business alone.  He also learned undertaking and embalming, and in addition to his stock of furniture carries a nice line of undertaking goods.  He is a licensed embalmer and has built up a good business in this line, as well as a dealer in furniture.  He erected a business house in Alta and is one of the progressive merchants of the town, his labors constituting an element in the business development here.  In addition to his commercial interests he owns a farm of one hundred and sixty acres which he rents.

Mr. Weston was married in Washington county, Iowa, September 8, 1881, to Miss Hattie Diller, a native of Indiana, who was reared, however, in this state.  There was one child by a former marriage, Norman L. Weston.

Politically Mr. Weston is a stalwart republican.  He has served as marshal for two or three years and has also been a member of the city council.  In the discharge of his official duties he has always been prompt, capable and reliable, and his record is one which receives commendation of the general public.  He belongs to Alta Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and was the second one raised in that lodge.  He also belongs to Cherokee Chapter, R. A. M., to the commandery and the Mystic Shrine of Sioux City.  He has filled various offices in the lodge and is now a past master.  Those who know him find him a genial, courteous gentleman, and his circle of friends is almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintances.