Fredrick Weiler was adopted from an orphans home at Leavenworth, Kansas when he was 4 years old on 2/1/1890. His new parents Albert and Lena Elder gave him the name Frederick Kenneth Elder. His new dad worked for the Santa Fe railroad and was killed one night when he was called out in a heavy rain to help protect a railroad bridge over a flooding river. Fred's mother moved the family to Rosebud, New Mexico where he filed a claim on some land. He began is new career working for the railroad in Trinidad Colorado. From there he moved on to Dodge City, Kansas where he met a lovely school teacher, Zona Velma Shepard. They married in 1918 and a short time later moved to Pratt, Kansas. He continued his work for the railroad until 1921 when there was a strike. In 1922, the Elders opened the Gem Cafe in Pratt. In 1925, they sold the cafe and started a new business - Fred K. Elders Valley View Dairy. When Fred's mother-in-law needed help with her farm, Fred took his herd of cattle to Wright, Kansas to join Martha Shepard's herd and run the farm for Martha. He died November 27, 1955.
Adopted by:
Albert Elder (1861-1905) FAG#92963307
Lena Moore Elder (1868-1926) FAG#63400537
Siblings:
Mabel Grace Elder 8/18/1887
Ralph Elder FAG#34707158
Adopted by:
Albert Elder (1861-1905) FAG#92963307
Lena Moore Elder (1868-1926) FAG#63400537
Siblings:
Mabel Grace Elder 8/18/1887
Ralph Elder FAG#34707158
Fredrick Weiler was adopted from an orphans home at Leavenworth, Kansas when he was 4 years old on 2/1/1890. His new parents Albert and Lena Elder gave him the name Frederick Kenneth Elder. His new dad worked for the Santa Fe railroad and was killed one night when he was called out in a heavy rain to help protect a railroad bridge over a flooding river. Fred's mother moved the family to Rosebud, New Mexico where he filed a claim on some land. He began is new career working for the railroad in Trinidad Colorado. From there he moved on to Dodge City, Kansas where he met a lovely school teacher, Zona Velma Shepard. They married in 1918 and a short time later moved to Pratt, Kansas. He continued his work for the railroad until 1921 when there was a strike. In 1922, the Elders opened the Gem Cafe in Pratt. In 1925, they sold the cafe and started a new business - Fred K. Elders Valley View Dairy. When Fred's mother-in-law needed help with her farm, Fred took his herd of cattle to Wright, Kansas to join Martha Shepard's herd and run the farm for Martha. He died November 27, 1955.
Adopted by:
Albert Elder (1861-1905) FAG#92963307
Lena Moore Elder (1868-1926) FAG#63400537
Siblings:
Mabel Grace Elder 8/18/1887
Ralph Elder FAG#34707158
Adopted by:
Albert Elder (1861-1905) FAG#92963307
Lena Moore Elder (1868-1926) FAG#63400537
Siblings:
Mabel Grace Elder 8/18/1887
Ralph Elder FAG#34707158
Gravesite Details
Double headstone shows Fred's wife Z Velma is buried here but she is actually buried in Maple Oak Cemetery, Dodge City, KS, See link.
