Written and contributed by: Charles Weidinger, grandson of Howard Weidinger

Howard WEIDINGER was born on his father's leased farm, one mile south of Darbyville, Muhlenberg Township, Pickaway County, Ohio, on 16 Dec 1882. He was the first child of John and Martha Ione Albright WEIDINGER. Howard grew up on this farm, owned by Edward Wood Scott, which still stands high atop a hill on the west side of Pickaway County on Route 3. His boyhood was likely spent in schooling in Darbyville and Williamsport, as well as helping with his father's chores.

On 1 Aug 1906, he was married to Kitturiah HILL, daughter of Charles Fremont HILL and Zetta Stinson HILL of Williamsport, Ohio. Having no information to the contrary, I believe Howard and Kitturiah spent the first three years of their marriage living with Howard's parents on the farm. On 12 Dec 1907, their first child, John Franklin WEIDINGER, was born. In 1908, Howard was diagnosed with possible tuberculosis, and advised to seek a more friendly climate. Early in 1909, Howard, Kitturiah, and little John Franklin traveled west to Albuquerque, New Mexico.

In that city, two brothers of Howard's mother, John George and George Frederick Albright were building careers in the newspaper and photography business. These men paved the way for Howard WEIDINGER and his family, securing employment and housing for the family. Howard was employed as Manager of the City Scavenger Company, and the family resided at 1001 Mountain Road, in Albuquerque. While the climate and surroundings agreed with Howard at first, the dangers involved in (as my father called it) "the honey dipping business" likely did more harm than good to his overall condition.

In 1911, John and Martha WEIDINGER paid their son Howard and his family a brief visit, and did not like what they saw. On their return to Muhlenberg Township, they held an estate auction, and sold nearly all their family possessions for a grand sum (in those days) of $5,000. Shortly thereafter, John, Martha, and four of Howard's younger brothers traveled to New Mexico to do whatever they could to help Howard in his plight. From 1911 until nearly 1930, the Scott farm was occupied and operated by Howard WEIDINGER's uncle, Charles F. WEIDINGER, a son of Johann Tobias WEIDINGER, late of Yellow Bud in Union township, Ross County.

Despite all efforts, Howard WEIDINGER died, not of tuberculosis, but of acute nephritis (kidney failure) on 23 Oct 1912. His remains were transported to Williamsport, Ohio, and buried in a new family plot at Springlawn Cemetery, assisted by Howard's father-in-law, Charles Fremont HILL. Prior to Howard's death, a distraught Kitturiah Hill WEIDINGER returned to Ohio to await the birth of their second child, my father, Charles Hill WEIDINGER, who is the subject of a separate biography.

This family move westward resulted in the WEIDINGER clan creating descendants which in the modern era cover the United States from southern Ohio through Arizona, New Mexico, and California.