History of Colorado; Volume II, Part 119

Author: Stone, Wilbur Fiske, 1833-1920, ed
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 944

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GEORGE L. NYE.

George L. Nye, who for thirteen years has engaged in the practice of law at the Denver bar, is one of the substantial citizens that Iowa has furnished to Colorado. He was born in Dewitt, Iowa, August 3, 1869, a son of Charles M. and Emma C. (Lowe) Nye. Charles M. Nye was born in Ellisburg, New York, and Emma C. Lowe in Fitch- burg, Massachusetts. With the outbreak of hostilities in 1861 Charles M. Nye responded to the country's call for troops and became captain of Company H of the Twenty-sixtlı Iowa Infantry. He served three years and rose to the rank of major. At the close of the Civil war he commenced the practice of law, at Dewitt. Iowa, but later gave up the profession for a business career in the community in which he resided. He remained in Dewitt, Iowa, until his death in 1904, when he was seventy-six years of age. To him and his wife were born four children: Martha W., who died in Rockford, Illinois, in 1915; George L., of this review; James B., who passed away in Iowa at the age of five years; and Susan K .. now a resident of Denver.

In his early youth George L. Nye attended the public schools of his home town and afterward entered Urbana University of Urbana. Ohio, where he pursued an academic course. He later became a student in the University of Michigan, where he took up the study of law and was there graduated LL. B. with the class of 1891. He began the active practice of his chosen profession in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1892, and through the period of his residence there he enjoyed a practice that was most gratifying. While in Salt Lake City he served as a member of the first state legislature of Utah and was also city attorney of Salt Lake City in 1902 and 1903. With his removal to Denver in 1905 he found a profitable professional field, where his energy, hard work and ability have developed a practice which is now extensive and important. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the Colorado State Bar Association and of the Bar Asso- ciation of the city and county of Denver, of which last named association he was vice president in the year 1917.

On the 26th of October, 1898, Mr. Nye was united in marriage to Miss Ethelyn Webber, of Salt Lake City, a daughter of Thomas G. and Mary E. R. Webber of that place. Mr. and Mrs. Nye have one son, George M., who was born in Salt Lake City, March 1, 1900, and is a graduate of the Hotchkiss School at Lakeville, Connecticut, and now a student in the Artillery School of Yale University.

Mr. Nye is a member of the University Club of Denver, also of the Denver Country Club and the University Club of Salt Lake City. He belongs to the Denver Civic and Commercial Association and to the American Mining Congress. His political endorse- ment is given to the republican party, but while he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, he has never sought or desired office since taking up his abode in this city. His religious faith is that of the Episcopal church and his life is guided by

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its teachings, his course being in harmony with his professions. His genuine personal worth as well as his professional ability have gained for him the warm regard of those with whom business or social relations have brought him in contact.

JOSEPH W. BILLOW.

Business enterprise of a high character finds expression in the life record of Joseph W. Billow, who is the secretary of the Federal Rubber Tire Works Company, doing business at No. 1614 Broadway in Denver. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, October 19. 1879, a son of Joseph Billow, a native of Philadelphia, and a representative of one of the old Pennsylvania families of Scotch descent. The father throughout his entire life has been a military man. He is a veteran of the Civil war and did active duty with Custer in the Indian wars and other service on the frontier. He married Sarah Sims, a native of Pennsylvania, belonging to one of the old families of that state of Dutch lineage. She is still living and makes her home in Los Angeles, California.

Joseph W. Billow is the only survivor in a family of five children. He was edu- cated in the public schools of Denver, to which city he came with his mother in 1882. When a lad of nine years he started out to provide for his own support, securing a position as messenger boy and continuing in the messenger service till he reached the age of eighteen. He then secured a federal position in the United States postoffice as messenger and clerk and remained in the government service for three years. He next obtained employment with E. R. Cumbe, who was then engaged in the bicycle business and later turned his attention to the automobile business. In 1915 Mr. Billow became a stockholder and the secretary of the company, having been associated with Mr. Cumbe for sixteen years. He, too, has an interesting military chapter in his life record, for he served for six years as a member of Troop C of a cavalry regiment of the Colorado National Guard and was promoted in due stages from private to first sergeant.

On the 2d of January, 1905, in Denver, Mr. Billow was married to Miss Edna B. Krouskop, a native of Colorado and of Russian descent. They have become parents of a son, William K., who was born August 21, 1906. Mr. Billow belongs to Denver Lodge, No. 17, B. P. O. E., and his religious belief is that of the Christian Science church. He attributes much of his success in life to the aid and influence of his mother, for whom he has ever maintained the deepest love and admiration. His father being an army man, upon the mother devolved the care and rearing of her children, whom she attempted to shield from life's pitfalls and guide in such a way that a strong character would develop, enabling them to manfully meet life's temptations and fight its battles. Joseph W. Billow found it necessary to early start out and provide for his support, owing to the limited financial circumstances of the family, and step by step he has advanced. He is in point of time the oldest rubber tire man, and the firm is the oldest in the business, in the city. They have an exclusive high class trade and the house is numbered among the representative and reliable establishments of the kind in Denver. Through persistent effort. through mastery of every task assigned him and through indefatigable energy Mr. Billow has worked his way steadily upward and his persistency of purpose and developing powers have gained him a place among the substantial men of the city.

DELBERT A. HESSICK.

Delbert A. Hessick, deputy district attorney at Florence, is a native son of Colorado, in fact his birth occurred in the city in which he still resides, his natal day being November 13, 1891. He is a son of Joseph J. and Jessie A. (Young) Hessick. The father was one of the early settlers of this section of the state. arriving here when a youth of fifteen years. He engaged in the oil business in the period of its pioneer development, being in fact one of the first oil men of the town. Throughout the intervening period he has been identified with the utilization of the state's resources in this connection and has become well known in the oil trade. He was also active in city affairs in the early days and has done not a little to promote public progress and improvement in Florence. His wife is also living and they have reared a family of four sons and two daughters.

Delbert A. Hessick, the eldest of the family, was educated in the public and high schools and following his graduation entered the State University at Boulder, where he completed a course with the class of 1914. He then returned to his home and entered

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into partnership with Joseph D. Blunt for the practice of law and has made steady progress in the intervening period. He is well versed in the principles of jurisprudence and is a close student of his profession. He displays ability in analysis, is logical in his deductions and sound in his reasoning. Moreover, he recognizes that industry is just as essential a factor in law practice as in the trades or in commercial pursuits and he applies himself with great thoroughness and earnestness to his work. He is now filling the office of deputy district attorney through appointment of Lee Witcher and is making a creditable record in that connection.

Mr. Hessick was united in marriage to Miss Fay Cummings, of Florence, a daughter of D. G. Cummings, the wedding being celebrated on the 26th of August, 1914, and they have become the parents of two sons, Delbert A., Jr., and George Jackson, born August 7, 1918.

Mr. Hessick gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and fraternally he is a third degree Mason. He is also identified with the Chamber of Commerce and with the State Bar Association. He enjoys fishing and in fact is fond of all phases of outdoor life but he never allows outside interests to interfere with the faithful perform- ance of his professional duties and his devotion to his clients' interests is fast becoming proverbial. He is well known in Florence, where his entire life has been passed, and that his course has ever been an honorable one is indicated in the fact that many of his stanchest friends are those who have known him from his boyhood to the present time.

RICHARD L. CLOW.

Richard L. Clow, handling lands, farms and stock ranches, is one of the well known real estate men of Denver, with offices at 1513 Stout street. He was born in Ontario, Canada, June 20, 1858, and is a son of the late David Clow, who was a native of Scotland but who crossed the Atlantic to Canada about 1846. Later he removed to Grove City, Iowa, and in May, 1860, took up his abode in Denver, being among the early prominent mining men of Gilpin county. He discovered the Caledonia lode and was instrumental in putting in one of the first hoisting engines. He was associated with Sam Morgan and Mr. Cushman in his mining pursuits and lived in Gilpin county for four years. He afterward removed to Boulder county, Colorado, where he purchased land and followed farming and stock raising upon the site of the present city of Boulder. He continued a resident of that county for four years and then removed to Denver county, settling at Wheat Ridge, near the city of Denver, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land. He then carried on farming and dairying and from there removed to Hill Top, Douglas county, where through his own labors, business discernment and capable management he accumulated twenty-six hundred head of cattle. There he resided and was active in business until a short time prior to his death, which occurred in Denver, January 1, 1883, when he was forty-seven years of age, his remains being interred in Fairmount cemetery. In his fraternal relations Mr. Clow was a Mason, while his political connection was with the republican party, which found in him a stanch cham- pion. His religious faith was that of the Presbyterian church and he was an earnest and devout Christian man whose religious belief permeated his activities in every line of life. His business affairs were wisely, carefully and successfully conducted and he left to his family a comfortable competence and also the priceless heritage of an untar- nished name. He wedded Mary A. Cascadden, a native of Canada and of English lineage. She is still living, making her home at No. 241 South Lincoln street. In the family were eight children, six sons and two daughters.

Richard L. Clow, the eldest of the family, began his education in the country schools of Boulder county and also studied for a time in the schools of Douglas county, Colorado. His early life was spent upon the home farm amid the conditions and environment of agri- cultural life. He was a youth of fourteen when he took up the task of providing for his own support. He was first employed at rounding up cattle for the late Alfred Butters, a pioneer stockman of Elbert county, Colorado. He then began raising live stock on his own account on his father's ranch and continued in cattle raising until 1883. At the age of seventeen years he had entered the land business at Hill Top and located a number of settlers there. Between the ages of seventeen and thirty-one he operated quite extensively in that section and he was a close observer of conditions, of business opportunities and also a student of public demand. About 1883 he began advertising Elbert and Douglas county lands and entered into the land business on an extensive scale. He also conducted a livery business and two star mail routes. He was other- wise active in community affairs and interests, serving for two terms as county assessor

RICHARD L. CLOW

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of Elbert county. In 1900 he removed to Denver and established his present business and in 1906 he removed his family from Elizabeth to Denver-largely for the purpose of giving his children a high school education. However, he still retains large land holdings in and near Elizabeth. He has extensive land holdings in the rain belt and also other lands elsewhere and he handles stock ranches. In fact there is little concern- ing property interests in the state with which he is not familiar. In 1883 he gave the section in the western part of Elbert county and the eastern part of Douglas county the name of the rain belt, and this section has since proven to be the best rain belt in the state of Colorado and is everywhere thus known. His experiences have indeed been broad and varied: In the early days he was an expert broncho buster and in 1876, at the first state fair, he won a fifty-dollar saddle given by George Hamburger, a pioneer saddlery manufacturer of Denver. The fair was held at Elyria and for years Mr. Clow enjoyed the reputation of being the best rider in Colorado. He has the reputation of never having been thrown from a horse, yet he has ridden hundreds of the wildest horses in the country.

In 1884 Mr. Clow was united in marriage to Miss Ida M. Phillips, a native of Illinois and a daughter of J. T. and Elizabeth Phillips. To them have been born two sons and six daughters. These in order of birth are Blanche E., Anna B., Ethel May, Ida Pearl, Beulah Elizabeth, Thelma B., Richard J. and David D. The elder son is a lieutenant in the army, now stationed at Camp Travis, Texas, and is twenty-four years of age. The younger son is assistant manager of F. W. Woolworth Company's store at Oklahoma City and is twenty years of age.

This in brief is the life record of Richard L. Clow, who for fifty-seven years has been a resident of Colorado. There is no phase of the state's development and progress with which he is not familiar. He can relate many an interesting incident of the early days, some of these having to do with his own experiences. He was a lad of but eight years when bis father said to him one day: "Son, if you go over to our neighbor's ranch and get a certain heifer calf and bring it home all by yourself, I'll pay for it." The price of the calf, which the father had previously ascertained, was ten dollars. The lad covered a distance of three-quarters of a mile and unaided secured his calf and unaided, but with much labor and trouble, brought it home. This constituted the beginning of his live stock business and out of this particular deal he gradually acquired a herd of one hundred and fifty head of cattle, which later proved to him a goodly start in the live stock business. In this and in other ways the father on many occasions had the children do things for which they were generously rewarded-things which were an impetus for effort and the development of ability on their part. The resolute spirit which he dis- played in getting the calf has been characteristic of Mr. Clow throughout his entire life. He has never stopped short of the successful accomplishment of his purpose as the years have gone hy." The chance to do a thing has ever been a spur to his activity and his ambition, and the call of opportunity has never been allowed to pass unheeded by him. In politics he maintains an independent course, while fraternally he is identified with Highland Camp, No. 1. W. O. W., and his religious faith is that of the Christian Science church.

CHARLES H. PIERCE.

In the Central Savings Bank building in Denver are found the offices of Charles H. Pierce, an able lawyer whose ability is attested by the extent and importance of his professional activities and interests. He was born in Allegan, Michigan, November 2, 1865, and is a son of the late Henry H. Pierce, who was a native of New York, while his father came from England, arriving about the year 1834. He settled at Palmyra, Wayne county, New York, and Henry H. Pierce remained a resident of the Empire state until he removed to Michigan with his parents at an early age, the family being among the pioneer settlers of Allegan county, where the grandfather of Mr. Pierce of this review devoted his life to the occupation of farming. He there resided until called to his final rest at Monterey. His son. Henry H. Pierce, became a successful contractor and builder and in 1879 left the middle west for Colorado. He went to Boulder, where he resided until 1887 and then removed to Denver, where he spent the residue of his days, passing away in 1901, when he had reached the age of sixty-eight years. During the entire period of his residence in Colorado he was engaged in contracting and building and won a substantial measure of success. There are still many structures which stand as monuments to his skill and ability in his chosen vocation. He married Esther Morse, a native of Barry county, Michigan, and a daughter of Benjamin Morse, who was

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one of the pioneer settlers of that county and who was born in Brattleboro, Vermont. He came of English ancestry and was connected with one of the old Puritan families of Massachusetts. The first of the name came to the new world during the early epoch in the colonization of America and later representatives of the family participated in the Revolutionary war. The line of descent comes on down to Esther ( Morse) Pierce. the mother of Charles H. Pierce. She died in Denver in 1908, at the age of seventy-two years, leaving two sons, the younger being Henry L. Pierce, also a resident of Denver.

Charles H. Pierce pursued a course in the high school at Boulder, Colorado, thus supplementing his earlier training received in the public schools of Allegan, Michigan. His college days were passed as a student in the University of Colorado, from which he was graduated with the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1887. He then returned to his native state to pursue a course in law in the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and during his first vacation he was employed as a newspaper reporter on the Rocky Mountain News under John Arkins, while John C. Martin was city editor. Mr. Pierce continued to follow newspaper work for two years and on completing his studies at Aun Arbor returned to Denver to begin the practice of law. He entered the office of the Hon. Charles S. Thomas, now United States senator, and was admitted to practice in 1891 after passing the required examination. He continued in the employ of Mr. Thomas until 1892 and with the development of the boom at Creede he went to that place, where he engaged in law practice in 1892, 1893 and 1894. When the bottom dropped out of the boom in 1893, Mr. Pierce with others left the city and returned to Denver. Here he opened a law office, which he has since maintained, and through the intervening period he has enjoyed a large clientele. While he has continued in the general practice of law. he has largely specialized in irrigation, mining and corporation law and few men are better informed concerning those branches of jurisprudence than he. His study ilas been comprehensive, his practice extensive and his developing powers have placed him among the foremost representatives of these branches of practice in Denver.

It was in Denver, on the 27th of August, 1891, that Mr. Pierce was united in marriage to Miss Cora E. Clark, a native of Michigan and a daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Gordon) Clark. The mother is still living and is a representative of one of the old pioneer families of Michigan. The father was a Civil war veteran and served with the Army of the Potomac. He enlisted in the regular army and was mustered out at the close of hostilities. In the meantime he had participated in a number of hotly contested engagements and had proved his loyalty on many a southern battlefield. Mr. and Mrs. Pierce make their home at No. 1261 Pennsylvania street and its hospitality is enjoyed by their many friends. Mr. Pierce belongs to the Denver Bar Association and enjoys the high regard and respect of professional colleagues and contemporaries. In politics he has always been a democrat and he was the first county attorney of Mineral and Adams counties, occupying that position in the latter county for seven years. He was one of the organizers of Mineral county and took a very active and helpful part in promoting its interests along many lines. Fraternally he is a Mason, belonging to Denver Lodge, No. 5, A. F. & A. M., and he also has membership in the Denver Athletic Club, the "Denver Motor Club and in the Denver Civic and Commercial Association-connections that indicate much of the nature of his interests and the rules which govern his conduct. He is a self-made man who has worked his way upward entirely through his individual efforts, for he has been dependent upon his own resources from the age of fourteen years His life indicates what may be accomplished when there is a will to dare and to do and the record should serve to inspire and encourage others, pointing out the way for suc cessful and honorable endeavor.

WILLIAM WALTER FLORA, D. D. S.

Dentistry is unique among the professions in that it demands ability of a threefold nature. The successful dentist must not only have broad scientific knowledge con- cerning his profession but he must possess also marked mechanical skill and ingenuity, together with the ability to wisely direct the financial side of the business. Well qualified in all of these particulars, Dr. William Walter Flora is now successfully prac- ticing in Colorado Springs, where he has a splendidly equipped office. He was born upon a farm in Montgomery county, Kansas, in 1871. His father, John A. Flora, was a native of Indiana, and entered the service of the Union army as an Ohio volunteer soldier in 1862, when a lad of but sixteen years. He was sent to Kansas and after the war he became a resident of that state, where he has since made his home. He was married to Miss Mary Shults, a native of New York, who passed away in 1873.

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In 1878 the family removed to Oswego, Kansas, and Dr. Flora, then a lad of but seven years, hecame a pupil in the public schools of that city and also did special work in the Presbyterian College. He afterward decided to make the practice of dentistry his life work and was graduated from the Western Dental College at Kansas City, Missouri, in . 1896. He afterwards was for eleven years a professor at this renowned school, proving himself one of the most able members of the faculty. In 1904 he took up post-graduate work in the Philadelphia College of Dentistry, thus coming into close connection with the most advanced and progressive methods of the profession. In the meantime he had practiced dentistry at Carthage, Missouri, from 1896 until 1904. In the latter year he removed to Colorado Springs, where he opened an office, and has since followed his profession. He is most careful and painstaking in all of his dental work and what he has accomplished represents the wise direction of his time and his lahors. His pro- fessional activity has been of a nature that is highly satisfactory to his patrons and thus his business has steadily grown. Moreover, he was for a number of years a teacher in Bethel Hospital. Outside of professional interests he is a director of the Colorado Springs National Bank.

In 1892, in Carthage, Missouri, Dr. Flora was united in marriage to Miss Maude Groff Wallick, a daughter of William Wallick, of Peru, Indiana, who was a soldier of the Civil war, enlisting from that state. To Dr. and Mrs. Flora have been born two children, Harriette Pearl and Frances Elizabeth.

In his political views Dr. Flora is a republican, having supported the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. For six years he efficiently served on the Colorado state board of dental examiners and at this writing is connected with the Colorado Council of Defense in furthering war work to the best of his ability, giving his unstinted efforts in order to bring about the highest degree of efficiency. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity and he is also a member of the Colorado Springs Golf Club and a member of "Delta Sig" fraternity,-associations which indicate something of the nature of his recreation. He belongs to the First Methodist Episcopal church, is serving on its official board, and is a very earnest and active worker in the church and in the Young Men's Christian Association. While actuated in his professional career hy a laudable ambition, he has never allowed his practice to so dominate his time and interests that he has had no opportunity to aid in movements that work for individual uplift and the betterment of the community. On the contrary, he has given much thought and attention to those lines which lead to moral progress and the worth of his work is widely acknowledged hy all who know aught of his career.

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History of Colorado; Volume II, Part 119

Author: Stone, Wilbur Fiske, 1833-1920, ed Publication date: 1918 Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Number of Pages: 944

Author: Stone, Wilbur Fiske, 1833-1920, ed
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 944