Burt Ivan Weld (Slayton, MN)
Burt Ivan Weld (October 20, 1868 – February 21, 1943)
Biography
- Name: Burt Ivan Weld
- Birth: Oct 20, 1868 Elgin, MN
- Death: Feb 21, 1943 Slayton, MN
Burt Ivan weld was born on a farm near Elgin, MN, in 1868, the son of Zebina and Sarah Bray Weld. He was one of seven children, and had five brothers and a sister. The family moved to Madelia, MN, and then to Murray County, MN, where they were living in 1880 in Des Moines River township. By 1895, he was living in Slayton, MN, working in real estate, in which he continued until his death in 1943.
In early 1900 he was the principal organizer of First National Bank of Slayton under national charter #5256. He became its president and chief owner. The bank occupied a new brick building on the main street of town that still stands today, largely unchanged, at 2538 Broadway Avenue (for photos, see the history page for that bank). He participated in the organization of the State Bank of Chandler in 1902, and was a member of its board of directors. He was similarly involved in the State Bank of Lake Wilson, and was its president in May, 1911, when a fire devastated the business district of the town. At his insistence, the bank rebuilt as a large two-story building that still dominates the business district of the small town today.
Around 1909, Weld sold part of his interest in the First National Bank of Slayton to James Frederick Toy, a prominent banker from Sioux City, IA, who briefly became president. Weld did not leave the business entirely, however, but rather continued to serve as the bank’s vice president until it closed in 1927. Perhaps he simply did not want to be a full-time banker. He was a member of the local school board for three years, the Slayton city council for four years, and served one year as mayor. He also served two terms in the Minnesota state legislature (1913-1916), was appointed postmaster for Slayton for several years around 1930, and continued to run his insurance and real estate businesses. He was an officer in his church throughout his life, and a member of several fraternal organizations. In other words, he was a man of many and varied civic interests.
Burt Weld married Maude L. Riesner of St. Paul, MN, in 1896. The couple had four sons and a daughter.
Bank Officer Summary
During his banking career, Burt I. Weld was involved with the following bank(s):
- First National Bank, Slayton, MN (Charter 5256): President 1900-1908; VP 1909...1926
- State Bank of Lake Wilson, Lake Wilson, MN: President
References
- Ancestry.com & Findagrave.com
- Banks & Bankers Historical Database (1782-1935), https://bbdata.banknotehistory.com