Biography of Frank M. Toland

Frank M. Toland, of Garfield county, living on a fine ranch of four hundred and forty acres in the vicinity of Raven, whose record in this state and elsewhere illustrate with force and impressiveness the necessity for push and energy, and persistent and well applied effort, even amid the boundless possibilities for success in the early days of Colorado’s history, is a native of Muskingum county, Ohio, born on June 17, 1852. His parents, Clark and Siddie (Crane) Toland, were also natives of Ohio, and moved to Johnson county, Missouri, when it was on the frontier, and there devoted their energies to farming and raising stock. The father was a man of local prominence in his section and took an active part in political affairs on the Democratic side. They had a family of seven children, four of whom survive the father, who has been deceased for a number of years. The mother is still living in Johnson county, Missouri; Frank M. of this sketch; Eva, wife of Frank Dodson, and Charles, the last two living in Pratt county, Kansas. Frank remained at home until he was twenty-one and was educated at the public schools. After attaining his legal majority he began farming for himself in Johnson county, Missouri, remaining until 1881, when he moved to Kansas. The change was disastrous, fate seeming to be against him in his new home where the drought and the grasshoppers combined to destroy all the fruits of his labor. He then came to Colorado and located at Twin Lakes. Here he engaged in freighting from Leadville and Granite to Independence, in this state, and found the business very profitable. He continued it until 1884, then disposed of his outfit and interests at a good profit. He next located at Aspen and during the following four years worked in the mines for wages. In 1888 he located a pre-emption claim of one hundred and sixty acres, which is a part of his present ranch. He has since purchased two hundred and eighty acres additional, and the whole tract of four hundred and forty acres can be easily tilled, an unusual condition for ranches in this part of the state. He raises fine crops of hay, grain and vegetables and excellent fruit. Cattle and horses are also extensively produced for market. The water supply to the ranch is abundant, and as he cultivates his land with industry and skill, the good results he achieves follow as a matter of course. The ranch is fifteen miles southeast of Rifle, so that good markets for its products are easily available. In political faith Mr. Roland is an unwavering Democrat. He was married on October 5, 1876, to Miss Nancy Hayhurst, a native of Ohio and daughter of James and Jane (Rineyear) Hayhurst, also native in that state, where they are prosperous farmers. Four of their eight children are living as follows: Mary J., living at Sandcoulee, Montana, wife of William Smith; Ann, wife of John Davis, of Garfield county, Colorado; Mrs. Toland, and Charles, of Johnson county, Missouri. The mother is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Toland have four children, James F., Ernest, Stella (Mrs. Johnson), and George, all of whom live in Garfield county, this state.


Source: Bowen, A. W. Progressive Men of Western Colorado. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., Publishers. 1905.


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