USA > Colorado > History of Colorado; Volume II > Part 105
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solving the complex problems relative to health and eagerly avails himself of any opportunity that will promote bis knowledge and his skill. He is one of the county physicians of Morgan county and be belongs to various medical societies, including the Morgan County, the Colorado State and the American Medical Associations. Dr. Roe is identified with the Masonic fraternity and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He votes with the democratic party and is a stalwart advocate of its principles but has never sought or desired office. as a reward for party fealty. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church and his life measures up to high standards of manhood and citizenship.
HARLEY D. RUSLER.
Harley D. Rusler, a ranchman living at Vineland, in Pueblo county, was born on the St. Charles river, in the county which is still his home, his natal day being August 20, 1891. He is a son of W. D. and May (Cason) Rusler, who came to Colorado with their family about 1884, settling on the St. Charles river, where the father engaged in farming, becoming one of the well known and highly respected residents of his com- munity. His agricultural interests were carefully and wisely conducted and his enter- prise and persistency of purpose won him a fair measure of success. He passed away in 1915.
Harley D. Rusler acquired a country school education and when not occupied with his textbooks assisted his father in the labors of the home farm. When his school days were over he concentrated his entire attention upon farm work and continued with his father until the latter passed away, after which he and his mother conducted the old homestead until 1917, when he began farming on his own account. He located on a thirty-three acre ranch on the Santa Fe trail adjoining the place of his brother, Burdett Rusler, and he is there engaged in raising hogs. He early realized the value of unwearied activity and enterprise in business affairs and these qualities are proving dominant elements in his steady progress.
On the 20th of March, 1917, Mr. Rusler was married to Miss Nell O'Neal, of Vine- land, and they now have a little daughter, Martha Jean, who is the joy of the household. Mr. Rusler has spent his entire life in Pueblo county, identified throughout with farming interests, and the careful direction of his activities is bringing him a substantial measure of success as the years pass by.
CORNELIUS JOSEPH VOLLMER.
Cornelius Joseph Vollmer is a partner in the firm of Vollmer Brothers, agents for the Ford motor cars and Fordson tractor distributors for the southern half of Colorado at Colorado Springs, in which connection they have developed an extensive business. which they established upon their arrival in Colorado in March, 1913. For some years Cornelius J. Vollmer had been identified with business interests in the west and gradu- ally made his way to this state. He was born, however, in Portsmouth, Ohio, in 1884, a son of Joseph Vollmer, who was born in Germany in 1841 and came to America in his boyhood days with his father, Joseph Vollmer, Sr., who settled with his family in Ports- mouth, Ohio, where he engaged in business as a grain merchant to the time of his death. In that place his son and namesake was reared and for a long period was engaged in the stone business in Portsmouth and furnished the stone for many of the important public buildings erected in Ohio. He was there married to Catharine Reitz, who is still living in Portsmouth, but the father passed away in 1903.
Cornelius J. Vollmer was reared in Portsmouth and there attended school. continuing his education to the age of sixteen, when his texthooks were put aside and he made his way to North Platte, Nebraska, in 1901. He had two older brothers who were engaged in the clothing business there and for a year he remained in their store. He then went to Omaha, Nebraska, and with his brothers was interested in a department store for two years. He afterward went upon the road for a furnishing goods house of Rochester, New York, and continued as a traveling salesman with the Rochester establishment for nine years, his long connection indicating clearly his capability and fidelity. He was also for a brief period with a New York firm and in March, 1913, he came to Colorado Springs to accept the Ford agency and was joined by his younger brother, Paul F., under the firm style of Vollmer Brothers. They own the large building which they occupy and
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they have established an extensive business in the sale of Ford cars and tractors. They are actuated in all that they do by the spirit of progressiveness and enterprise that leads to substantial results and they have made for themselves a creditable position among the young business men of the city.
In religious faith Mr. Vollmer is a Catholic and fraternally is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. His political endorsement is given to the repub- lican party, which he has always supported, and his progressiveness in citizenship is a known factor in his career.
FRANCIS LUCIUS ROUSE.
For forty-five years Francis Lucius Rouse has been a resident of Colorado Springs and has been identified with its business development and its social and moral prog- ress. He is familiar with every phase of its upbuilding and has lived to see a strag- gling western frontier village develop into a most beautiful city, the scenic fame of which attracts to it visitors from all parts of the world. Mr. Rouse is a native of Detroit, Michigan. He was born September 5, 1845, a son of Lucius C. and Frances (Stead) Rouse. His father was of New England birth, the place of his nativity being Cornwall, Connecticut, and the year 1796. Removing westward, he was married in Detroit, Michigan, to Frances Stead. He devoted his life to the ministry of the Congre- gational church and passed away in the year 1866, while his wife survived for more than two decades, her death occurring in 1888.
Francis Lucius Rouse acquired his education largely in the schools of Grinnell, Iowa. He was a resident of that state at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war and enlisted at Grinnell for active service at the front in May, 1865, joining Company B of the Forty-sixth Iowa Volunteer Infantry for one hundred days' service. With that command he remained until mustered out at Davenport, Iowa, following the close of the war. Mr. Rouse came to Colorado Springs in 1873 and is now identified with its business interests as an automobile dealer. He still remains an active factor in the world's work, although he has now passed the seventy-third milestone on life's journey.
On the 1st of September, 1868. in Grinnell, Iowa, Mr. Rouse was united in marriage to Miss Harriett Poor Brainerd and to them were born two sons and a daughter: Frances Stead and Lucius Henry, the latter a graduate of the Denver Law School; and T. Brainerd, who died at the age of twenty-five years.
In his political views Mr. Rouse has always been a stalwart republican since attain- ing adult age and has given loyal support to the party because of his firm belief in its principles. He was elected county commissioner of El Paso county and his capable service in that connection led to his reelection for a second term. He also served as a member of the city council for one term, but whether in office or out of it, he has ever stood for progress and improvement in community affairs and has supported every plan and project for the benefit of commonwealth and country. Fraternally he is a Master Mason and is also connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He belongs to the Winter Night Club and he is a charter member of the Congregational church, to the teachings of which he has ever loyally adhered. In matters of citizen- ship he is as true and faithful as when he followed the nation's starry banner upon the battlefields of the south. He has a very wide acquaintance in Colorado Springs, where he has so long made his home, and the highest regard is entertained for him by all with whom he has been associated. He is a close friend of many of Colorado's most prominent citizens and all speak of him in terms of admiration and regard.
CLEMENS F. EAKINS, .M. D.
Dr. Clemens F. Eakins, of Brush, is a physician who meets all the requirements made upon members of the medical profession. If a lawyer is brusque and crabbed, it is supposed to be because his mind is engrossed with complex legal problems. If a minister is preoccupied, it is supposed to be because he is engaged in the contemplation of things beyond the ken of most men. It is demanded, however, that the physician be not only well versed in his profession but he must possess ready sympathy and under- standing and a sunshiny nature which will inspire confidence and hope in others. Meeting all these requirements, Dr. Eakins is successfully practicing at Brush. He was born in Wapello county, Iowa, September 22, 1874, a son of David Edward and Elizabeth
FRANCIS L. ROUSE
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(Baumche) Eakins, who are natives of Ohio. The father was a farmer by occupation and removed to Wapello county, Iowa, in the early '60s, when the work of development and progress seemed scarcely begun there. He purchased land and improved a farm, carefully tilling his fields as the years passed until 1917, when he retired from active business life and removed to Ottumwa, where he and his wife are now residing, enjoying the fruits of former toil.
Dr. Eakins was educated in the public schools and in the Southern Iowa Normal School at Bloomfield, that state. He also attended the State Normal School at Cedar Falls, Iowa, and afterward became a student in Drake University of Des Moines. Hc determined upon the practice of medicine as a life work and to some extent prepared for his profession in the east but afterward entered the University of Colorado at Boulder as a medical student and was there graduated with the class of 1913. Prior to that time, however, he took up the profession of teaching in his native state and acted as superintendent of schools at several places. He proved a most able educator, impart- ing readily and clearly to others the knowledge that he had acquired, and at his last position in Rockwell City, Iowa, he devoted six years to school work, receiving a large salary. He regarded this, however, merely as an initial step to other professional labor and abandoned teaching in order to qualify for the practice of medicine. After his graduation he practiced for a time at a mining camp in southern Colorado and also was at Fort Collins for a time. He practiced for a brief period in Iowa and later pursued a post-graduate course in Chicago in 1914. The following year he removed to Brush, Morgan county, where he has since practiced, having his office in the Farmers State Bank building. He enjoys a large patronage and is well qualified by thorough pro- fessional training and broad experience to care for the many onerous duties that devolve upon him in this connection. He has no other outside interests save that he is connected to some extent with mining in this state.
On the 23d of December, 1903, Dr. Eakins was married to Miss Ethel A. Ridle, of Perry, Iowa, and to them has been born a son, Roger Franklin, whose birth occurred June 4, 1918. Dr. and Mrs. Eakins hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and he is also a member of the Masonic fraternity, exemplifying in his life the beneficent spirit of the craft. His political belief is that of the republican party and he is now serving as a member of the city council of Brush and also as a member of the school board. Moreover, Dr. Eakins takes a very active and helpful part in war service work, having undertaken to fill the important position of instructor in the American National Red Cross. He keeps abreast with the trend of modern professional thought and investigation through his membership in the Morgan County Medical Society, of which he is now the president, the Colorado State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. Whatever he does is for the benefit of his fellowmen and the honor of his profession and at all times he holds to the highest ethical standards.
WILLARD REID.
On the roster of county officials in Morgan county appears the name of William Reid, who is filling the office of county treasurer. He was born in Washington county, New York, December 4, 1881, a son of Donald and Harriet (Reid) Reid, who were also natives of the Empire state, where the father followed the occupation of farming until 1904, save for the period of the Civil war, when his patriotic spirit prompted him to put aside all business and other considerations and respond to the country's call for troops. It was in 1862 that he enlisted as a member of Company F, One Hundred and Twenty-third New York Infantry, of which he became a lieutenant and with that rank he served until the close of the war. When the country no longer needed his aid he returned home and resumed the occupation of farming in Washington county, New York, where he remained until 1904, when he sold his property there and came to Colorado, settling at Fort Morgan, where his remaining days were passed, his death occurring in September, 1915. His widow survives and is yet a resident of Fort Morgan.
Willard Reid was reared and educated in his native county, pursuing his high school course at Saranac Lake, New York, while later he entered the Westminster College at New Wilmington, Pennsylvania, where he was graduated with the class of 1904. He afterward took up the profession of teaching in the public schools of Saranac Lake, where he remained until the fall of 1904, when he came to Fort Morgan, Colorado, on account of the death of his brother. He resigned his teaching position in New York in order to come to this state and never returned to the east. He resumed teaching in Colorado and was thus engaged for two years, after which he devoted his time to team-
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ing and later worked in a lumberyard for a while. He afterward became bookkeeper and then auditor with the Warren Lumber Company, which operates six yards. In 1916, however, he was called to public office by heing elected county treasurer of Morgan county, in which capacity he is now efficiently and acceptably serving. He resides upon and cultivates a forty acre farm, a mile and a half north of Fort Morgan and he is regarded as one of the representative citizens of the community.
On the 9th of October, 1909, Mr. Reid was married to Miss Caroline E. Riggs, a daughter of Alexander and Caroline (Chambers) Riggs, who were pioneer residents of Colorado and came across the plains in a prairie schooner in 1882, at which time they took up their abode at Colorado Springs. Subsequently they resided at Gunnison, at Pueblo and at Denver. The father was a farmer before his removal to the west but on coming to this state turned his attention to prospecting and thereafter followed mining until he passed away in Denver in 1892. His widow survived him until 1909. Their daughter. Mrs. Reid, was a successful teacher and introduced manual training into the schools of Fort Morgan, being the first teacher of that line of work. She was graduated from the State Teachers College as a member of the class of 1905 and successfully taught for four years prior to her marriage. To Mr. and Mrs. Reid have been born two chil- dren: Willard Malcolm, whose birth occurred October 9, 1910; and Eva Harriet, born January 6, 1913.
In his political views Mr. Reid is and has always been a democrat, giving stalwart support to the party and its principles. His religious faith is that of the United Presby- terian church, in the work of which he takes a very active and helpful part. He is now serving as one of the elders of the church and for the past seven years has been superin- tendent of its Sunday school. His is an honorable and upright life and his career has been one of usefulness, contributing to the welfare and progress of the community in which he makes his home.
REV. JAMES MADSEN.
The Eben-Ezer Mercy Institute of Brush, Colorado, enjoys not only a state-wide but a national reputation. It operates a sanatorium of forty beds, an old people's home and a general hospital. Rev. James Madsen is superintendent and rector and its won- derful success must be largely ascribed to his efficient management. A native of Den- mark, Rev. Madsen has found on this side of the Atlantic the opportunity to use his remarkable talent in developing an institution which is of great benefit to humanity. He was born May 26, 1869, a son of Christen and Anna C. (Hansen) Madsen, natives of Denmark, where they spent their entire lives.
James Madsen received his education in the efficient common schools and a high school of his native country. After completing his school work he was for several years engaged as a florist in England but returned to Denmark in order to complete his education. In 1893 he came to America and located in Chicago, Illinois, where for one summer he worked as a florist. In Chicago he also attended school at the same time and upon his removal to Blair, Nebraska, continued his education there, remaining in that city until 1897. In the metropolis of the middle west he entered a theological seminary but he had to give up his studies on account of his health. He decided to again remove westward and interrupted his course at Blair, where during one winter he again had studied, and in the following spring came to Colorado, remaining at this time two years in the state. He then decided upon a trip to Europe and for one year remained in Germany, while six months were spent in his native country. After this period he returned to America and completed his theological course at Blalr, Nebraska, being there ordained. For one and one-half years he held a pastorate at Potter, Ne- braska, at which time the Lutherans acquired title to land at Brush, Colorado, and established the Eben-Ezer Mercy Institute, Mr. Madsen being called upon to head the institution. He has since given his entire time and energies to the development of this remarkable organization and under his able guidance it has grown rapidly. Not only does he give the minutest care to the material welfare of his patients but he is also a friend in whom they have confidence and acts as adviser in all matters. His spiritual influence is indeed extraordinary but not to be wondered at, as his personality is such as to invite confidence and engender trust, yet Rev. Madsen is a practical man and the worldly affairs of the sanatorium rest with him in safe hands. He is largely responsible for the success of the institute, which includes a sanatorium comprising forty beds, which was opened in 1904, an old people's home with thirty beds, which was opened in 1906, and a general hospital, fitted up with sixteen beds, which was
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opened in 1915. The institute is termed a motherhouse for Christian workers. Their patients come from all over the country, as the reputation of the Eben-Ezer Sanatorium is nationally known and many cures have been effected here. At present a handsome church is being completed and the grounds surrounding the institute are beautiful and well kept, Rev. Madsen being particularly well fitted to supervise the work as he is a trained florist. Wonderful groves of trees surround the institute, interspersed with beautiful flower beds-in fact, the buildings may be said to be surrounded by an ocean of flowers. The grounds owned by the institution cover thirty-five acres, affording a wonderful recreation ground for the patients. Sure cures fer tuberculosis have not been discovered and while tuberculin, vaccine and pneumothorax are used it is well recognized that the first principle is to restore to the body lost vitality and strength in order to check and throw off the germs. The following agencies are resorted to: fresh, pure air; an abundance of sunshine; nourishing, yet regulated diet; and the watchful care of a conscientious physician. The mountain climate of Colorado is also of the greatest importance, as it is well known that the high elevation naturally tends to a fuller expansion of the lungs. All these conditions are admirably met in the Eben-Ezer Sanatorium, which furnishes a comfortable Christian home to its patients. The sanatorium at Brush, located in the beautiful valley of the South Platte river, is only eighty-eight miles east of Denver on the Transcontinental highway between Fort Morgan and Brush, just outside the limits of the latter town.
Eben-Ezer is a true Christian home, a Lutheran deaconess house, and the nursing there is done by deaconesses, who receive no salary. Therefore a very low charge can be made to the patients without in the least curtailing the comforts such as are offered by other institutions charging much higher rates for the same class of care and accom- modations. At the sanatorium there is always a physician in charge who makes regular visits every other day. These visits are free to all patients. All buildings, tents and grounds are electric-lighted, the buildings are steam-heated and all rooms have indi- vidual sleeping porches. Of the thirty-five acres of grounds the park occupies ten to twelve acres and there are not only spacious lawns, shady nooks and numerous lovely walks and drives, but croquet grounds and summer houses are at the disposal of the patients. On Sundays regular services are conducted and occasionally neighboring pastors hold services in the chapel. The old people's home is at the disposal of members of the denomination of the institute and the general hospital is thoroughly modern in its equipment. All this work has been accomplished to a large extent through the able management of the directing head of the institution, Rev. James Madsen.
In September, 1903, Rev. Madsen was united in marriage to Miss Marie Nielsen, who ahly assists him in his arduous work. Politically Mr. Madsen is a republican and naturally he is of the faith represented by the institution-that of the Lutheran church. He is interested in matters of public import and gives his aid and influence to general movements outside of the closer sphere of his activities, if proven of worth. The com- , munity of Brush has profited by his labors, as its reputation as a health-giving resort has heen greatly enhanced through the location of the Eben-Ezer Mercy Institute close at its doors.
ANDREAS ANDERSON, M. D.
There is perhaps no record in this volume which indicates more clearly the possi- bilities open to young men in the new world than the life record of Dr. Andreas Ander- son, a most capable and successful physician. He was horn in Storring, Denmark, February 23, 1865, a son of Anders and Mette (Peterson) Anderson. The father was a farmer of Denmark and resided in that country until 1891, when he and his wife came to the new world and were thereafter residents of Colorado. His death occurred in Ault in 1903, while Mrs. Anderson survived until 1906. They were consistent members of the Lutheran church and were people of genuine worth. Their family included Antone; Albert, who is a farmer; Mrs. Annie Jeremiassen; Peter, who follows agricul- tural pursuits at Springfield, Nebraska; Chris Anderson, who is agent for several build- ings in Denver, Colorado; and Andreas.
Dr. Anderson spent the period of his minority in his native land, remaining in Denmark until the 16th of April, 1886, when he sailed for the new world. In his boy- hood he was very ambitious to secure a good education. His father promised him after he left the country schools that he would allow him to have the advantages of further study but time went on and there seemed to he no opportunity for this, his father still keeping him upon the farm to assist in its further development and improvement.
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Eventually he persuaded his father to let him come to the United States, thinking that here he might secure the opportunities which he could not seem to gain in his native country. The father had no objection to the son taking the trip and indeed he was contemplating in his own mind a similar journey. Thus, having no parental authority to oppose him, Dr. Anderson sailed for the new world and turned his attention to farming and mining in Colorado until he could obtain money enough to pay for educational training. He worked for four years for the Union Pacific Railroad and afterward spent two years as a student in the University of Denver in preparatory work, mastering the branches of learning which most constitute the foundation on which to build profes- sional knowledge. Later he spent two years in the Gross Medical College of Denver and was graduated with the class of 1900. He then opened an office in Denver at No. 1605 Laramie street and for two years gave much of his attention to further study in the hospitals and clinics of the city, feeling that this was valuable training in addition to the work that he had already accomplished. In 1902 he arrived in Ault, the town being at that time but recently established. Through the intervening years he has here followed his profession and is today one of the able and successful physicians of Weld county. He has pursued post graduate work in Chicago and has constantly kept in touch with the trend of modern scientific thought, research and investigation. He is recog- nized as a skilled physician and surgeon and his practice has steadily increased as the years have gone by. He was also the organizer of the Ault Bank, of which he became the president.
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