Otero-Pueblo County CO Archives Biographies.....Weiland, Francis M. 1849 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 December 21, 2008, 3:48 am

Author: Wilbur Fiske Stone (1918)

HON. FRANCIS M. WEILAND.

    Hon. Francis M. Weiland is numbered among the residents of Fowler who are
now retired. For many years he was very active in business circles and
controlled important interests, but in later years has put aside business cares
and is enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves. At
different periods in his career he has been active in public office and at all
times has been most loyal to the interests of the community and commonwealth
which he has represented.

    Mr. Weiland was born in Knightstown, Indiana, on the 29th of September,
1849. his parents being J. H. and Elizabeth (Leonard) Weiland. The father was a
millwright by trade and for many years resided in Indiana but both he and his
wife are now deceased. Their family numbered four sons and one daughter.

    Francis M. Weiland, who was the fourth in order of birth, acquired his
education in the public schools and also had training in a commercial school.
His early experiences were those of the farm-bred boy and he soon became
familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. He
left the farm in 1872, when a young man of twenty-three years, and removed to
Pueblo, Colorado, where he became identified with the mercantile house of
Peabody & Jordan, occupying a position there for three years. On the expiration
of that period he hegan farming on his own account and for a few years
successfully cultivated a tract of land. He then engaged in merchandising on his
own account in Nepesta, where he continued until 1890, when he removed to
Fowler, establishing what is now the Larkin Mercantile Company. He conducted the
business successfully for a time and then sold out, after which he devoted a
number of years to farming. At length, however, he put aside the active work of
the fields and took up his abode in Fowler, while his sons are now cultivating
the place. He has ever manifested a progressive spirit in all that he has
undertaken and his success has come to him as the merited reward of persistent
labor, intelligently directed.

    In 1868 Mr. Weiland was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Carleton, a native
of Iowa, and to them have been born the following named: Adelbert A., C. E.,
Edward F., Jay O. and Pearl, the last named the wife of Stanley Larkin, of
Fowler. There are thirteen grandchildren.

    Mr. Weiland is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has
filled all of the chairs in the local lodge. His political allegiance has ever
been given to the republican party and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his
worth and ability, have called him to a number of public offices. He filled the
position of county commissioner for one term and was school director for
twenty-five years, the cause of education finding in him a stalwart champion,
for he put forth effective and earnest effort to advance the school system of
his district. He also served for two regular terms and one special term in the
state senate and was chairman of the committee on agriculture and irrigation. He
was well qualified for that position because of his practical experience and his
close study of agricultural conditions and his efforts resulted in bringing
about needed and desirable legislation for the benefit of the farmers. Moreover,
he closely studied every question which came up for settlement and gave to every
cause in which he believed his most earnest support and worked just as
effectively against any measure which he believed would prove detrimental to the
interests of the state. In fact, his course was marked by public spirited
devotion to the general good and his labors were far-reaching and effective. He
has proven a man of worth to his community and one who merits and receives the
goodwill, confidence and high regard of all with whom he has been associated.


Additional Comments:

Extracted from:

HISTORY OF COLORADO

ILLUSTRATED

VOLUME III

CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1918


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