‘Dad’ Wever Taken By Death During Sleep

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Masons To Hold Rites Tomorrow Afternoon In Masonic Hall

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Robert Langford Wever, 86, whose life began on one of America’s early frontiers, ended on its last frontier when the venerable Alaskan passed away quietly as he slept early this morning.

His widow, Mrs. Mary Wever, and his physician, were at his side when the end came. A slight cold preceded his death but other than that his health had been good.

Two funeral services were announced for tomorrow afternoon by the Masonic Lodge, of which he was a member. The ritualistic services for members of the lodge will take place at 1:30 p.m., followed by a public service at 2 o’clock in Masonic hall. Burial will be in the Masonic plot.

Moved Westward

The pioneering days of Kansas where Mr. Wever spent his early youth were often vividly recalled to his friends here. Although born in Cuyoga [?], N.Y., his physician father moved soon afterward to Leavenworth and Robert Wever attended elementary school and high school there. He was sent to Rochester University to study medicine.

It was his father’s desire to have

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his son follow in his footsteps and those of his grandfather and great-grandfather before him, but young Robert liked law better and eventually graduated from the Union College of Law in Chicago.

As America’s western boundary moved farther toward the Pacific, the young attorney moved with it and he was practicing law in Seattle when he met and married Mrs. Wever, whom he had known in California.

Came To Alaska

An attack of scarlet fever destroyed his hearing and Mr. Wever was forced to quit the active practice of law.

Interest in mining drew Mr. Wever’s attention northward and 191[?] found the two in Seward. Later he was attached to the Alaska Engineering Commission there and was later transferred to Anchorage.

Here Mr. Wever continued his law profession, and although he could not take an active part in the courtroom because of his hearing affliction, he was known as a careful and well-versed counsellor. He initiated an abstracting service here and did considerable research into Anchorage real estate titles.

Recalled Civil War

Affectionately known as “Dad,” Mr. Wever had a host of friends who included young people as well as old. His father was in charge of the base hospital at Nashville, Tenn., for the Northern forces during the Civil War, and as a boy of nine he remembered vividly some of the experiences his father related. “Dad” Wever’s home was on many evenings a gathering place for Anchorage’s youngsters who listened to first hand accounts of the Civil War.

Death occurred at his home on Third Avenue at 1:45 a.m. Today.

Funeral arrangements were made by the Carlquist [?] and Company funeral parlors.

Aside from his widow, only a single brother, Dr. John Wever, of Kansas City survives.

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Anchorage Daily Times, 2 March 1940, page 1, column 1, and page 5, column 5.

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This post is part of an ongoing series of obituaries of persons who lived in the Pacific Northwest States of Oregon and Washington, and the Alaska Territory in early 1940.

© 2012 N. P. Maling

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