Stephen Minot Weld Jr. facts for kids
Stephen Minot Weld Jr. (born January 4, 1842 – died March 16, 1920) was an important person from the famous Weld Family in Boston. He was a skilled gardener, also known as a horticulturalist, and a highly honored officer in the United States Army during the American Civil War.
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Early Life and Education
Stephen Minot Weld Jr. was the son of Sarah (Bartlett) and Stephen Minot Weld. He went to a boarding school in Jamaica Plain, which his father ran.
His older cousin, George Walker Weld, also went to Harvard at the same time. The Weld Boathouse at Harvard is named after George. Stephen and George sometimes got into harmless trouble together.
Joining the Civil War
When the American Civil War began, Stephen Weld was a student at Harvard Law School. He was very eager to join the fighting. At first, it seems Weld saw the war mainly as a way to stop the Southern states from leaving the Union. He didn't focus as much on ending slavery right away.
A Soldier's Journey
Weld joined the 18th Massachusetts Regiment as a 2nd lieutenant on January 27, 1862, when he was 19. He quickly moved up in rank, becoming a 1st lieutenant and then a captain. He left this regiment on December 25, 1863.
His regiment was part of the Army of the Potomac. Weld fought in major battles like the Second Battle of Bull Run, Antietam, and Gettysburg. He was captured twice by Confederate soldiers but was exchanged both times. During the war, a bullet went through his boot, and his horse was shot from under him.
On June 2, 1864, he became a lieutenant colonel in the 56th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. He was promoted to colonel and took command of the regiment on May 31, 1864. He left the Army on July 12, 1865.
In 1866, President Andrew Johnson nominated Weld for an honorary promotion. He became a brevet brigadier general in the U.S. Volunteers. This promotion was for his brave and excellent service. He was only 23 years old at the time. Even today, his family calls him "the General."
After the war, Weld became a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts. He also joined the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States.
Overcoming Challenges
After the Civil War, Weld faced some tough times. In 1867, his father suddenly passed away. To honor his father, Weld's uncle, William Fletcher Weld, built Weld Hall at Harvard.
Soon after, a factory he had invested in failed, and he lost a lot of money. But Weld didn't give up. He borrowed money from friends to buy another factory. However, that factory was destroyed by a flood when a nearby dam broke.
Building a Business Empire
To pay off his debts, Weld started working as a cotton broker. He eventually built a large fortune. Even when a friend stole a lot of money from his business, his company, S.M. Weld & Company, kept growing.
His company opened branches in India and Japan. This made "the General" another very wealthy member of the Weld family.
A Love for Plants
Weld had a strong interest in botany, which is the study of plants. In 1906, he became president of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. He also helped Charles Sprague Sargent collect plants for the Arnold Arboretum.
But his biggest achievement in gardening was his own estate, called Rockweld, in Dedham, Massachusetts.
Rockweld Estate
Weld lived on a 52-acre estate in Dedham called "Rockweld." Most of the estate was surrounded by a tall stone wall. He created one of the best rock gardens in the country and hired eight gardeners to help him.
His estate had a water tower and twelve greenhouses. One greenhouse was used just for growing grapes all year round. He built his large house on a rocky hill with an amazing view of the Charles River valley. The property had rocks, forests, and ponds, which gave Weld many chances to enjoy his passion for plants.
The famous landscape designer Frederick Law Olmsted helped choose the spot for the house and planned the driveway. Weld designed the gardens, paths, and the large rock garden himself. He brought plants from all over the world to make his gardens beautiful. At its best, Rockweld had 500 different kinds of flowering plants.
After Weld died, the estate was sold to H. Wendell Endicott. Endicott kept and improved the gardens. However, he tore down Weld's mansion to build a new house in the French style. This new house, called Endicott House, is now a conference center run by MIT.
Indian Neck Retreat
In his later years, Weld spent a lot of time at his family's property near Cape Cod in Indian Neck. This spot had a beautiful view of Bourne Cove and the Atlantic Ocean. There, he created another amazing garden and built a private 18-hole golf course. He also built several comfortable houses for his family. Besides golf, Weld enjoyed fishing and shooting on the Cape.
Weld also bought hundreds of acres along the shores of Buzzards Bay. He sold parts of this land to his friends at the same price he paid for it. This created a community of old New England families with similar values.
Today, Weld's descendants still own several houses at the family property in Wareham.
Family Life
Weld married Eloise Rodman in 1869. They lived together on the Dedham estate. Stephen and Eloise had six boys and one girl. Eloise passed away in 1898.
Sadly, some of their children died young. Twins Stephen and Alfred died from illnesses when they were 17 and 32. Eight-year-old Lothrop Motley Weld drowned in the channel at Bourne Cove. In 1907, his daughter, Eloise, died in England at age 28.
In 1904, Weld married Susan Edith Waterbury. She was 24 years younger than him and had been a governess for his younger sons. For their honeymoon, they visited the Civil War battlefields where Weld had fought 40 years earlier.
Death
"The General" died in the winter of 1920 in Boca Grande, Florida. To honor him as a Civil War veteran, a single bugler played taps at his funeral.
Interesting Facts
- The actress Tuesday Weld is his great-granddaughter.
- Former Governor of Massachusetts William Weld is his first cousin twice removed.
- His first wife, Eloise, was the niece of the historian John Lothrop Motley. Their son, Lothrop Motley Weld, was named after John Lothrop Motley.
Archives and Records
- Stephen M. Weld and Company records at Baker Library Special Collections, Harvard Business School.
