Biographical Database of NAWSA Suffragists, 1890-1920
Biography of Nancy Kraft Weller, 1878-1935
By Janelle Zetty, Head of Cataloging, Edith Garland Dupré Library, University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Nancy Eugenia Kraft Weller was born on December 1, 1878, in Parkersburg, West Virginia. Her father, William Kraft, was an oil producer from Germany, and her mother, Anna Eliza Moore Kraft, was a homemaker. She had three siblings, Howard, Anne, and Carrie. On July 6, 1898, she married Daniel Roby Weller at Trinity Church, Parkersburg, West Virginia. Daniel Weller's father was also involved in the oil business, serving as a superintendent of an oil refinery. Daniel Weller continued his family's involvement in the oil industry by becoming superintendent of the Security Oil Refinery in Beaumont, Texas. There, Nancy gave birth to their only child, Joseph Warren Weller, on September 14, 1903. Dan succeeded his brother, Fred W. Weller, as president of Louisiana Standard Oil Company, and the family moved to Baton Rouge.
Mrs. Weller was active in the Baton Rouge social scene, attending bridge clubs and cotillions. In 1911, she was named the State T.P.A. (Travelers Protective Organization) entertainment committee chairperson. In 1913, Mrs. Weller demonstrated concern for animal welfare as she testified in court against a mule driver who charged with animal cruelty. In 1918, she attended the inaugural meeting of the Baton Rouge Woman's Suffrage Campaign Club and was named vice-chairman. The same year, the district Community Labor Board director recommended Mrs. Weller for an appointment to assist in solving the problems of woman labor. Finally, Mrs. Weller served as the canteen chairman for the Red Cross during the 1922 flood.
Dan Weller left his position in Louisiana and became the director of the Standard Oil Company in New Jersey. He was in poor health and committed suicide on February 6, 1932, in New Rochelle, New York, while visiting his brother at his home. He was 59 when he died.
Nancy died on September 14, 1935, in Bronxville, New York, following a hernia operation. She was 55. She was interred at Roselawn Memorial Park in Baton Rouge.
SOURCES:
Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
"Auspicious Beginning of Suffrage Club." The Natchitoches Enterprise, July 18, 1918. Chroncilingamerica.loc.gov (website)
"C.K. Clarke President of Standard Oil." The Times (Shreveport), Feb. 16, 1926, p. 1. Newspapers.com (website)
"[Dan R. Weller succeeds brother as president of the Standard Oil Company of Louisiana.]" The Petroleum Journal (Topeka, Kansas), Feb. 5, 1920, p. 3. Newspapers.com (website)
"Former Standard Oil Co. Head in La. Ends His Own Life Today." The Daily Advertiser (Lafayette, Louisiana), Feb. 6, 1932, p. 12. Newspapers.com (website)
"Mrs. Weller Dies in East." The Times (Shreveport), Sep. 15, 1935, p. 7. Newspapers.com (website)
"Mule Driver Fined." The Times-Democrat (New Orleans), Aug. 6, 1913, p 6. Newspapers.com (website)
Nancy Eugenia Kraft Weller (1878-1935) - Find A Grave (n.d.). Retrieved November 11, 2019, from https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/97745733/nancy-eugenia-weller.
"Red Cross Getting Ready to Care for the Flood Sufferers." Woman's Enterprise (Baton Rouge), May 5, 1922. Chroncilingamerica.loc.gov (website)
"Sackers Assailed." Denham-Springs News, Oct. 17, 1918, p. 1. Newspapers.com (website)
"Society." The Shreveport Journal, Oct. 10, 191, p. 3. Newspapers.com (website)
"Society Elsewhere." The Times-Democrat (New Orleans), Jan. 30, 1910, p. 24. Newspapers.com (website)
"Society Elsewhere." The Times-Democrat (New Orleans), Nov. 19, 1911, p. 26. Newspapers.com (website)
"Staff Special to the Times-Democrat." The Times-Democrat (New Orleans), Apr. 18, 1911, p. 6. Newspapers.com (website)
"United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6TZ-JS1 : 15 July 2017), Nannie Kraft in household of William Kraft, Parkersburg, Wood, West Virginia, United States; citing enumeration district ED 161, sheet 262D, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,255,416.
"United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MPTY-H2R: accessed 11 November 2019), Nancy E Weller in household of Daniel R Weller, Baton Rouge Ward 4, East Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 23, sheet 9A, family 2, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 513; FHL microfilm 1,374,526.
"Weller Re-elected Head of Standard Oil of Louisiana." The Town Talk (Alexandria, Louisiana), Jun. 9, 1927, p. 2. Newspapers.com (website)
"West Virginia Births and Christenings, 1853-1928," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X5RZ-Y73 : 10 February 2018), Joseph Warren, 14 Sep 1903; citing, reference 2:JJQ3C7; FHL microfilm 216,722.
"West Virginia Marriages, 1854-1932," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XRH8-K6J : 10 February 2018), Daniel Roby Weller and Nancy Eugenia Kraft, 06 Jul 1898; citing Trinity Church (Pe), Parkersburg, Wood, West Virginia, reference 2:JJR001; FHL microfilm 216,722.