Woman of the Century/Caroline Weaver Leland

LELAND, Mrs. Caroline Weaver, educator and philanthropist, born in Sandusky county, Ohio, CAROLINE WEAVER LELAND. 19th October, 1S40. When she was three years old, her parents, Jacob and Charlotte H. Weaver, who were of German origin, removed to Branch county, Mich. They were interested in all the issues of the day, particularly those of a political character. From them Caroline inherited her love of study, from her earliest years manifesting a desire to learn of the great world lying beyond her little horizon. Her mother, during the father's absence, took an axe, and with her oldest son, a lad of ten or twelve years, marked a path through dense woods by blazing the trees, that her two sons and three daughters might attend the district school, two miles from home. These children hungered and thirsted for knowledge. Caroline was not ashamed to do any honorable thing to realize the dream of her life, a college education. She was unable to accomplish it in her earlier years. She taught several years before she became the wife of Warren Leland, in 1882. He w as of the family known to the traveling public through their palatial hotels. He lost his life in the service of his country in 1865. Mrs. Leland then took a classical course in Hillsdale College, teaching two years in the Latin department while pursuing her studies. After graduation she accepted and filled for eight years the position of preceptress in the city high school, having charge of the department of languages and history. For years she has been an earnest Sunday-school worker, and at the present time is superintendent of the First Presbyterian Sunday-school of Hillsdale. Her strong literary mind leads her to give profound study to any subject which interests her. Her voice and pen are ready in the cause of reform. She is a writer of ability, her efforts usually talcing the form of essays or orations written for some special occasion, and she has, in rare instances, written in verse. She early developed a talent for oratory. She has a dignified presence and a deep, impressive voice. The Grand Army of the Republic require her frequent service in the way of speeches, toasts and addresses, and to their interests she in turn is thoroughly devoted. Mrs. Leland is one of the force of World's Fair workers. Notwithstanding the numerous demands on her time and strength, she does a surprising amount of charitable work. She has built a beautiful home, styled "Green Gables," where she dispenses a charming hospitality.