Grant Weidman (Lebanon, PA)

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Major Grant Weidman, 173rd Pennsylvania Volunteers
Major Grant Weidman, 173rd Pennsylvania Volunteers

Grant Weidman (Sep. 8, 1839 – Nov. 11, 1895)

Biography

  • Name: Grant Weidman
  • Birth: September 8, 1839 Trenton, NJ
  • Death: November 11, 1895 Lebanon, PA

Early life and family

Grant Weidman was born in Trenton, New Jersey, September 8, 1839, and was graduated from Princeton College. On November 18, 1862 he was elected major of the 173rd Pennsylvania Regiment and served until August 17, 1863 when the regiment was mustered out of service. He married M. Elizabeth Henry in 1863.

His father, John Weidman, was an attorney and was elected Brigadier General of the 2d Brigade, 5th Division Pennsylvania Volunteers. Before the expiration of Mr. Henry's term as District Attorney, the rebellion broke out, when, almost alone and unassisted, he raised a Company of Cavalry for three years' service, which was accepted by the Government, and assigned to the Army of the Potomac. After a service of more than a year as captain, he contracted the disease which obliged him to resign his commission, and of which he died in 1863. It was not however, until his oldest son (a younger being already distinguished in the Navy) had entered the service as Major in the Army, that he could be persuaded to lay aside his sword.

Mrs. Elizabeth Weidman was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Christian Henry and was about a year younger than Major Grant Weidman. She lived in Lebanon all her life and enjoyed the friendship and esteem of a large circle of persons from the city and other places. Her father, Mr. Henry, was engaged in the mercantile business with the firm of Henry & Reinoehl, known throughout the country. He was a prominent member of the Lebanon National Bank, elected a director in 1868 and, in September 1878, after Mr. Jacob Roedel retired, he was elected the fifth president.

Major Grant Weidman was admitted to the Lebanon County bar in 1865.

Banking career

Connected with the Lebanon Bank continuously for 31 years as solicitor, vice president and president, Major Weidman was but 25 years of age when elected solicitor. He was responsible for drawing up the legal documents to transfer the bank from the State system to that of a national bank. He was elected a director in January 1876, vice president in September 1876, and president in June 1894, succeeding his father-in-law, Christian Henry, as the sixth president of the Lebanon National Bank. His knowledge of the pecuniary status of the patrons of the bank was extensive, rendering his service invaluable. His private nature was generous and liberal winning him many friends while his conservative prudence officially made his recommendations safe to set upon.

Other career highlights

Major Weidman was treasurer of the Order of Cincinnati, a member of the Pennsylvania Commandery of the Military Order of Loyal Legion; Hermit Commandery, No. 24, Knights Templar; Lebanon Lodge, No. 226, F&AM; Weidle Chapter, No. 197, and Lebanon Council, No. 27, all of the city of Lebanon. He was a past grand commander of the Knights Templar of Pennsylvania and a past commander of Sedgwick Post, No. 42, Grand Army of the Republic (GAR).

He held the office of solicitor of the Lebanon National Bank for many years and was its president. He was one of the solicitors for the Berks and Dauphin Turnpike Company, attorney for the Cornwall and Lebanon Railroad, a director and solicitor of the Lebanon Manufacturing Company, director and attorney for the Lebanon Gas Company, director of the Enterprise Shoe Manufacturing Company and a manager of the Mount Lebanon Cemetery. In 1893 when Lebanon county became a separate judicial district, Governor Pattison offered Major Weidman the President Judgeship which he declined.

He was a member of the University Club of Philadelphia which is composed solely of college graduates; the Philadelphia club, the most aristocratic and exclusive club in that city; the Saginaw club, of which the late General Dechert was president at the time of his death; the United Service Club, to which only army officers were admitted; treasurer of the Society of Cincinnati; member of the Loyal Legion, which entitled him to an honorary membership in the Union League; the Lawyer's Club of Philadelphia; the Pottsville Fishing Club; the State Bar Association, the Pennsylvania German Society; the United States Supreme Court; the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and the several courts of Lebanon, Dauphin, Lancaster, Berks, Schuylkill, Perry, York, and Cumberland Counties.

Later life and death

Sketch of Major Grant Weidman
Sketch of Major Grant Weidman

On November 11, 1895, Major Grant Weidman, while reading the election returns in the early morning, died at his residence of paralysis. He left a wife, three daughters, Mrs. Thomas Lineaweaver of McDowell, West Virginia; Misses Ethel and Elizabeth Weidman, of Lebanon, and one son, Grant Weidman, Jr., a young attorney of Lebanon. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church.

The body would lie in repose in the parlors of his home on North Ninth Street. A guard of honor consisting of comrades A.J. Meredith, J.H. Cilley, D.W. Miller, Charles Urban, John Reinoehl, S.H. Bentz and W.H. Miller were detailed by Post 42, GAR. At 2 o'clock the funeral cortege proceeded to Zion Lutheran church for the services. Thousands were turned away at the church door.

The Perseverance Band played a funeral dirge on the way to the Mount Lebanon Cemetery. The order of the procession was: Clergy; Drum Corps, Sons of Veterans; Sedgwick Camp, No. 42, Sons of Veterans; Sedgwick Post, No. 42, GAR; visiting members of GAR and Loyal Legion; Perseverance Band; Hermit Commandery, No. 24, Masonic Knights Templar of Pa.; Visiting Sir Knights; hearse; relatives and friends in carriages.

The deceased was buried with full military honors, Captain M.J. Fitzgerald, USA, in charge. Taps were given by C.D. Weirich, esq., bugler of the Lebanon Rifles and a squad from the Sons of Veterans fired a salute at the grave.

Mrs. Elizabeth Wiedman had been in feeble health especially after the terrible shock to her upon the death of Mr. Weidman. She suffered an attack of typhoid pneumonia and despite the efforts of Dr. H.H. Roedel, the attending physician, and Dr. William Pepper of Philadelphia, her condition was found hopeless. She passed away at 1:30 Tuesday morning, January 21, 1896, with her children and Dr. Roedel at her bedside. She was a devout member of Zion Lutheran church and delighted in doing good to others in a quiet, unobtrusive manner.

Bank Officer Summary

During his banking career, Grant Weidman was involved with the following bank:

Image needed. No notes are currently known with Major Grant Weidman's signature.
No notes are currently known with Major Grant Weidman's signature.


Sources

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