University of Virginia Library

JAMES ROBERT WEAVER

James Robert Weaver was born in Rockingham
County, Virginia, being a son of James Madison and
Mildred (Carpenter) Weaver, and was reared on a farm.
When a boy he attended
the common schools at
Three Springs and later
Oak Hill Academy at
McGaheysville. In a
competitive examination
with fifty-three young
men he was awarded the
Peabody Scholarship by
the State of Virginia for
the Peabody Normal
College at Nashville,
Tennessee, and graduated
from that institution
and from the University
of Nashville in
1891. After graduating
he went to St. George's,
South Carolina, where
he was Principal of a
graded school for one term. He served as Principal of
the Staunton (Virginia) High School for seven years,
and it was under his administration that manual training
was first introduced in the schools of Virginia. The
Staunton High School took an advanced position on
educational work, the art of cooking and sewing, and
handicraft in wood-work, being taught. Mr. Weaver
has always manifested a deep interest in educational
matters and regards his career as a teacher as one of the
most important epochs in his life work.

Leaving Staunton, he located in Roanoke where he
purchased the grocery business, known as the firm of
Hunter & Company, from J. M. Spotts. For a period
of six years, his time and attention were devoted to
mercantile pursuits, when on account of impaired health
he sold out to Leap & Patterson.

He then became identified with the real estate interests
of the city, and has made some splendid investments
in business property. He is Secretary and
Treasurer of the Jefferson Street Company, holders of
fine business property on South Jefferson Street, including
the Jefferson Theater building. Mr. Weaver
is identified with a number of enterprises and organizations
which have for their object the promotion of the
advancement and general welfare of the city. He was
one of the original directors in the People's National
Bank at its organization, and when it was absorbed by
the National Exchange Bank, he became, and is still a
director in that well-known financial institution.
While in the mercantile business, he was President of
the Retail Merchants' Association for one term and also
of the State Association, one year, and is an active
member of the Roanoke Chamber of Commerce, having
been a director of the organization. Elected to the
Board of Aldermen from Highland Ward in 1904, he
served with distinction for a period of four years, representing
all the interests of the city with fidelity and
good judgment, being Chairman of the Finance Committee
during his term of office. He took an active
part in securing the late bond issues for the purchase
of the Terry property for park purposes and for a new
public building.

Religiously Mr. Weaver is a member of the First
Presbyterian Church of Roanoke.

Socially he is a Mason and a member of Murray
Chapter R. A. M. Eight years an Elk, he has passed
through all the chairs and is a Past Exalted Ruler of
the Order; was Representative to the Grand Lodge one
year, and is now District Deputy Grand Exalted Ruler
for the Western half of Virginia. He was one of the
prime movers in the fight against the proposed removal
of the Elks' National Home from Bedford City, Virginia,
which had its culmination at the meeting of the
Grand Lodge at Atlantic City last year and resulted in
its retention in its present location against strong opposition.