Casimiro Barela

Casimiro Barela
Member of the Colorado Senate from the 4th district
In office January 3, 1893 – January 3, 1917
Preceded by	Henry C. Bolsinger
Succeeded by	Samuel W. DeBusk
Member of the Colorado Senate from the 18th district
In office January 3, 1883 – January 3, 1893
Preceded by	Juan A. Baca
Succeeded by	Frank W. Smith
Member of the Colorado Senate from the 17th district
In office November 1, 1876 – January 3, 1883
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	A.J. Rising
Personal details
Born	Casimiro Barela (1847-03-04)March 4, 1847 Embudo, New Mexico
Died	(1920-12-18)December 18, 1920 Barela, Colorado
Political party	Republican (1904–1920)
Other political affiliations	Democratic (until 1904)
Occupation	Colorado legislator and senator, Justice of Peace in Trinidad, Colorado
Known for	Constitution of Colorado

Casimiro Barela (March 4, 1847 – December 18, 1920) was an American politician responsible for authoring the Constitution of Colorado.^[1] He served in both the Colorado Territory legislature and the legislature of the State. He was known as the "Father of the Colorado Senate" and served for 40 years.^[2] According to scholars, Barela's legacy in Colorado would show a willingness to work for the business class but to also guard the Hispanic culture and Spanish language speaking populace from the newer culture being introduced from the east, all while acting as a politician-patron for the people of Trinidad, Colorado.^[3]

Early years

Born on March 4, 1847, in what would become

In 1867, Casimiro Barela moved from New Mexico to about 20 miles outside of Trinidad, Colorado.^[3] In Colorado, Barela slowly gained a great fortune by doing a variety of crafts, including: stock raising sheep and cattle, publishing newspapers,^[1] freighting, and merchandising.^[3] On his twentieth birthday, he married Josefita Ortiz,^[4] a daughter of a well-known family in the Colorado territory.^[5] When he was just twenty-two years old, Casimiro Barela was elected as Justice of the Peace in Trinidad, beginning his political career.^[1]

Politics

After being elected as justice of the peace in Trinidad, Barela was named

• Advocating for bilingual education, as many residents living in Southern Colorado had Mexican origins.[8]
• Supporting the women's suffrage movement in Colorado in 1893, making Colorado one of the first states to allow women to vote prior to the 19th Amendment.^[5]
• Bringing Congress's attention to the Mexicans that became U.S. citizens because of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, that were losing their land claims in the New Mexico territory.^[5]
• Helping push for New Mexico's statehood.^[4]
• Making Columbus Day an official holiday in 1907.^[1]

Casimiro Barela served for almost 40 years in the Senate, from 1876 to 1917. After gaining his seat in the first Colorado State Senate elections in 1876, he was reelected nine times. He lost his seat in the Senate in a surprising defeat by Democrat Samual de Busk in 1916.^[1] In addition, Casimiro started his career as a Democrat but later switched to the Republican party.^[3]

Personal life

Barela married twice in his lifetime.^[5] He had nine children with his first wife, Josefita Ortiz. Only three of the children survived and in 1883, Josefita died.^[1][4] Barela would remarry the following year on February 16 to Señorita Damiana Rivera, who is recorded as having come from "one of the most distinguished families in the Territories of New Mexico".^[5] Together with his second wife, Casimiro adopted three more children.^[1] Barela died on December 18, 1920.^[3]

Recognition

Barela, while alive and posthumously, has received many awards and has been recognized by many as "Father of Colorado State".^[1] Some of his accolades include:

• An installation of stained glass of Casimiro Barela in the dome of the Colorado Capitol in 1900, making him one of sixteen people honored in this way.^[8]
• Earning the "Legacy Award" for the 2016 Colorado Latino Hall of Fame.^[2]

References