The surname "Weyand" is prominent in the history of Beaver because of the brothers, Michael and Jacob Weyand. While we are today viewing the latter's grave site, we will discuss both.
Michael was born in Somerset, Pa., in 1825, moving as a child with his family to a farm near Mount Jackson, now in Lawrence County but then part of Beaver County. He started his career at the age of twelve with a New Castle newspaper, The Intelligencer, serving as a "printer's devil." In 1838, he came to Beaver and after an apprenticeship of 4-1/2 years at the Western Argus, worked for the newspaper as a journeyman. In 1851, he purchased Col. Henry's half-interest in the Argus and the firm became M. Weyand and A. G. Henry. A. G. was a brother of Col. William Henry. In 1854, Jacob Weyand bought out A. G. Henry's interest in the paper, which the year before had been renamed the Beaver County Argus. Jacob sold his half-interest to his brother in 1857 and moved to Ohio ... which we will discuss in more detail in a few minutes.
In 1859, Michael sold the Beaver County Argus to Samuel Davenport, after having been editor of it and its predecessor, the Western Argus, for eight years. He was out of the newspaper business until 1874, when he founded the Beaver Times, serving as both proprietor and editor. He sold that paper in February, 1898, to G. A. Hays of Sewickley, who sold out later the same year to the Beaver Publishing Company, whose President was Henry Hice. Michael Weyand was retained as editor until January 1, 1900, when he was appointed Postmaster of Beaver. He is generally believed to have had the longest tenure in newspaper work of anyone in Western Pennsylvania.
In addition to his fame as a newspaper owner and editor, Michael was also very active in Republican politics, holding the office of Prothonotary for six and a half years and serving as Presidential Elector in 1884. Michael Weyand died in 1910. See cemetery sketch for location of his grave site.