Representative Omar Pacha Wyland View All Years

HON. OMAR P. WYLAND

MR. SPEAKER: Your committee appointed to prepare a resolution and a befitting memorial on the life, character and public service of the Honorable Omar P. Wyland, a member of the Thirtieth and Thirty-first General Assemblies, beg leave to report as follows:

Omar P. Wyland was born in Elkhart County, Indiana, on August 20, 1855. He was the son of Isaac P. and Julia Wyland. When but an infant, less than one year old, he moved to Shelby county with his parents and grew up with the country, so that to relate his life story would be to tell the story of western Iowa.

He was a progressive, God fearing, law abiding citizen, who took an active part in the upbuilding of the community in which he lived and loved so dearly. He received as good a common school education as the community afforded at that time, and later in 1873 to 1875, attended college in Des Moines, Iowa, and taught school for some time thereafter.

He then took charge of the abstract office of C. J. and D. M. Wyland, who were then engaged in the banking business in Harlan, Iowa, and a few years later he purchased the business, which he continued to own and operate until his death.

In 1875 he was married to Rachael J. Wallace, a native of Adams County, Illinois, who survives him.

Omar, as he was familiarly known, held many offices of public trust of his county, being a member of the town council, school treasurer, clerk of courts, and member of the state legislature, and was a good accountant, and in all of his private and public life there was a genial fellowship that radiated to all who were fortunate enough to have dealings with him.

His was a busy, active and useful life, but not too busy to give heed to the voice of the needy, no matter where it came from, nor yet too busy to give attention to little folks who were always his friends. Because of his courage, his vision and his high ideals, he fashioned for himself a place of influence and respect, and this House is proud to acknowledge the high character of his service and the influence of his life.

Therefore, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Forty-first General Assembly, that in the death of Honorable Omar P. Wyland this state has lost a loyal citizen, a man of fine ideals and public spirit, and this House by this resolution, tenders its sympathy to the family that survives; and

Be It Further Resolved, That these resolutions be spread upon the Journal and an engrossed copy sent to the surviving members of the family.

GEO. E. MILLER,

H. B. OWENS,

E. P. HARRISON,

Committee.

Unanimously adopted March 30, 1925.