Adam Pius Weis
1853 – 1927
Adam Weis 1898
(Chase Studios, Earlville, IL)
Earlville Harness Maker
1881 – 1923
Adam Weis’ Harness Shop, Earlville, IL 1881 - 1923
Adam Pius Weis was born to Thomas and Eva Weis in Retzstadt, Germany on May 6,
1853. He immigrated to the United States at the age of seventeen. He left Bremen, Germany
onboard the SS Union on July 16, 1870 and arrived in New York 14 days later on July 30, 1870.
He arrived in Mendota, IL on August 7, 1870. He was a charter member of the Mendota Fire
Department in 1872. Adam Weis was naturalized an American citizen on March 31, 1876. He
married Maria Barbara Konen of Mendota on November 30, 1876. They lived in Mendota until
1881 at which time they moved to Earlville and he established a Harness making business that
persisted until 1923. He built a victorian style home on East Street (opposite the Lutheran
Church, it is still standing) and lived there until he died in 1927. His first wife, Maria, died on
Adam, Mary, Margaret Weis at home on East Street, Earlville, IL about 1915.
Adam and Margaret Weis’ Home on East Street, Earlville
February 22, 1907 and was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Mendota on February 25, 1907. He
married Margaret Josephine Feltes of LaSalle, IL on March 2, 1908. A daughter, Mary Josephine
Weis, was born on January 29, 1909.
In about 1911, Adam bought the bell of the abandoned Universalist Church in Earlville
and donated it to St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Earlville. He also donated one of the stained
glass windows at St Theresa’s church and was in charge of the choir for several years.
He was elected a Director of the First National Bank of Earlville on July 10, 1912 to fill a
vacancy caused by the removal of Charles Hoss and served until January 14, 1925. He also
served for many years as a city alderman.
After living in, conducting business in and being a leader in Earlville for 45 years, Adam Weis
died on August 4, 1927 and was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery on August 6, 1927. His obituary
in the Earlville Leader described him as a “prominent citizen of Earlville … a staunch Catholic
… highly respected by all who knew him.” “He gave much to charity, was prominent in local
affairs for the upbringing of the city and a keen student of current events. He was a good
neighbor and loyal friend.” “He served several years as alderman of Earlville, during which time
he had a keen grasp on city affairs and worked for the best interests of his constituents.”
Adam’s daughter, Mary Josephine Weis, attended St Francis College in Joliet and
graduated from Columbia College in Chicago. She taught Music in the Earlville School system
for many years, taught private music (piano and voice) lessons and was the organist at St.
Theresa’s church for over 50 years. In 1943, she married Raymond H. Feld of Chicago. They had
two sons William A. (Bill) Feld and Raymond J. (Jim) Feld who currently reside in Dayton, OH
and Hampshire, IL, respectively.