History of Colorado; Volume II, Part 120

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

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HON. JAMES C. SCOTT.

Hon. James C. Scott, of Greeley, Colorado, is not only one of the most prominent attorneys in length of service in his part of the state but has also taken a creditahle part in the public life of his commonwealth, having served for ten years as judge of the county court, discharging his duties in such a manner as to win the highest commendation of the public and the respect of the bar, having hy his judicial decisions established his thorough knowledge of the law and his deep understanding of human nature.

Judge Scott was born in Steubenville, Ohio, June 12, 1834, a son of Dr. Jame's and Nancy (Hammond) Scott, also natives of that state. The father was a physician of prominence in Steubenville, where for many years he enjoyed a large and representa- tive practice, remaining there until 1870, when he decided to seek new fields. In that year he came to Greeley, Weld county, Colorado, and here he was soon established in practice, again winning a large clientage and continuing along medical lines until his death in 1881. His widow survived him for five years passing away in 1886.

James C. Scott received his fundamental education in Steubenville, Ohio, where he attended the common schools, rounding out his primary education by taking a course in Allegheny College of Pennsylvania. He took up the study of law after coming to Colo- rado, having after due deliberation decided upon a legal career as a field best suited to his talents and tastes. He was admitted to the Colorado bar in 1876, and then opened an office in Greeley, where he has since been successful in practice. However, he was not connected with the private side of the law during all of this time, as he served for ten years as judge of the county court, winning high encomiums from the profession and the general public. Mr. Scott is of a judicial temperament and through industrious tralniug and diligent study has hecome one of the lawyers of high reputation of the state. He is thoroughly well grounded in the principles of the law and his deep under-

HON. JAMES C. SCOTT

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standing of the workings of the human mind prompts him to reach conclusions which

. are seldom off the mark, so that he generally reaches decisions which are not far from the truth. In verbal combat before the court he is quick to take advantage of an opportunity yet is ever careful to maintain the highest ethics of the profession. Although he has now reached the age of eighty-four years, he is still connected with the profession, handling cases entrusted to him by old clients, who refuse to be turned away, preferring to leave their business to his care.

On the 8th of June, 1880, Judge Scott was married to Miss Margaret Gilbertson, a daughter of James and Jane (Henderson) Gilbertson, natives of Scotland, who after emigrating to America settled in New York. James Gilbertson was a tailor by trade and successfully followed that pursuit in New York state, where he always resided. He died in 1866. Upon the outbreak of the Civil war he loyally took up the Union cause and served for three years, having joined Company D, One Hundred and Eleventh New York Infantry. He participated in a number of important engagements and had the misfortune of being taken prisoner. For a while he was held in Libby prison and subsequently in Andersonville and the treatment which he received was such that his strength was completely broken down, particularly on account of insufficient nourish- ment, and he died before reaching his home. His widow survived him for many years. hier demise occurring in Colorado in 1901. Mrs. James C. Scott was born August 14, 1849, and by her marriage she has become the mother of four children, namely: Daniel H., a resident of Greeley; Bertha, who married D. L. Alter, their home being in Port- land, Oregon; Chester A., who is also married and resides in Denver; and Norma, who still brightens the home of her parents.

In his political views Judge Scott is a republican and his religious faith is that of the Methodist church. Besides serving on the county bench he has also been for two years justice of the peace. He is connected with the Masonic order and in his life's course has always practiced the principles upon which this organization is built. The family residence is at No. 1019 Ninth street; Greeley, and there generous hospitality is extended to the many friends whom the Judge and his wife have made in the com- munity. As success has come to him Judge Scott has extensively invested in farming interests and in that way has contributed to the agricultural development of his section of the state. In fact, all matters of public concern find in him a warm champion and the progress of Colorado in his part of the state is in good measure to be ascribed to Judge Scott, who has eagerly and helpfully participated in its public life, having ever at heart the advancement of the community and commonwealth along lines of material, mental and moral development.

WILLIAM BURKART.

In the year 1891, William Burkart arrived in Denver, a young man of twenty-one years, with a cash capital of fourteen dollars. His limited financial resources made it imperative that he secure immediate employment and he applied for a position at the blacksmith's trade, which he secured with the firm of Hall & Morgan, while in April of that year he entered the G. H. Denton Iron Works and thus took an initial step which has brought him to his present creditable and enviable position as the president of the Ajax Iron Works of this city. He comes from the state which was the eastern center of the iron trade, his birth having occurred at Pittston, Pennsylvania, July 10, 1870. His parents were Max and Margaret (Goughlin) Burkart, both of whom were natives of Germany. They came to America in early life and settled in Pennsylvania, where they met and were married. In his youthful days Max Burkart learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed for some years in Pennsylvania, but at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war he put aside all business and personal considerations and proved his loyalty to his adopted land by enlisting for active service in the Union army as a member of the One Hundred and Forty-third Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He served under three different enlistments and rose to the rank of first lieutenant. He participated in many hotly contested engagements and at the close of the war returned to Pennsylvania, where he resumed work at his trade, there residing to the time of his death, which occurred in March, 1914, when he was seventy-eight years of age. His widow is still a resident of the Keystone state and has now reached the age of seventy-two years. In their family were seven children: John G., who has passed away; William, of this review; and George, Henry, Fred, Charles and Maxwell, all still living in Pittston. Pennsylvania.

In early life William Burkart attended the public schools of his native town and

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when still quite young began work in the coal mines, being thus employed until he reached the age of fifteen, when he secured a position in the shops of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, doing blacksmithing there for two and a half years. When between the ages of seventeen and eighteen years he left home and completed his trade at Sayre, Penn- sylvania, as an employe of the Lehigh Valley Railway Company. In 1891, however, he severed the ties that bound him to his native state and made his way westward with Denver as his destination. While he had no capital at that time, he possessed courage and determination, which constituted an excellent foundation upon which to build his future success. After working for a brief period at the blacksmithing trade with the firm of Hall & Morgan, he secured employment at the G. H. Denton Iron Works and there continued until the fall of 1894, when that business was merged into the Vulcan Iron Works and Mr. Burkart was advanced to the position of foreman. He continued to act in that capacity until 1909 and on the 1st of November of that year resigned in order to engage in business on his own account. He had always been ambitious to do this and when his industry and economy had brought him sufficient capital he took the necessary step and incorporated the Ajax Iron Works, Mr. Burkart being president ever since. While he began with a small plant, he has largely increased its proportions until he has today one of the leading iron works of the state and is controlling a vast business which reaches out to many sections of the country and to foreign lands as well. He has closely studied everything that bears upon the iron industry and he has invented several articles which have proven of great value in connection with mining industries. Of these he is the sole owner and manufacturer. While originally he rented the land on which be built his plant, he has become sole owner of the building and property and has today a splendidly equipped factory supplied with modern machinery and appliances for the manufacture of all kinds of heavy iron work. He is also connected with the Guardian Trust Company, the Cement Security Company and the Willner' Stores Company.

In January, 1903, Mr. Burkart was united in marriage to Miss Norma Cover, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Cover, the former a well known attorney of Denver. Mrs. Burkart passed away in March, 1903, and in April, 1909, Mr. Burkart wedded Miss Martha Cover, a sister of his first wife. They have one child, William Burkart, Jr., who was born in Denver, July 10, 1915.

Fraternally Mr. Burkart is an Odd Fellow, and also a Mason of high degree. He holds membership in Inspiration Lodge, No. 143, A. F. & A. M .; Colorado Consistory, No. 1, in which he has attained the thirty-second degree; Denver Chapter, No. 2, R. A. M .; Denver Council, No. 1, R. S. M .; Colorado Commandery, No. 1, Knights Templar; and El Jebel Temple of the Mystic Shrine. In 1887 he joined the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, becoming a charter member at Pittston, Pennsylvania. His reli- gious faith is that of the Lutheran church. In politics he is an independent republican but has always been too busy to become an active factor in public affairs. His life has been indeed a busy and useful one. When but a young lad he started out to provide for his own support and through the intervening years has steadily worked his way upward. Strong and purposeful, he has never faltered in the accomplishment of his plans. He possesses the laudable ambition that has prompted him to take one forward step after another until the course has brought him to a place in the front ranks among the representatives of industrial activity. He has closely studied processes of manufacture and machinery used and in all that he has undertaken has been actuated by a progressive spirit that has made him in time the owner of one of the best business enterprises of this character in eastern Colorado.

E. R. CUMBE.

Close application and unfaltering industry have been salient features in winning success, as manifest in the life and career of E. R. Cumbe, who is president and man- ager of the Federal Rubber Tire Works Company of Denver. A man of determined purpose and undaunted perseverance, obstacles and difficulties have vanished before him as mists before the morning sun. He was born in Devonport, England, September 21, 1866, and is a son of Robert and Naomi (Husband) Cumbe, who were also natives of England and continued to reside there until called to the home beyond. The father was engaged in the grocery trade during the greater part of his life and died in Devon- port in 1884, surviving his wife for many years, her death occurring in 1868.

E. R. Cumbe, their only child, was a pupil in the public schools of his native city

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until he found it necessary to start out in the business world, at which time he became an apprentice at the machinist's trade. He continued to work along that line, first in England and afterward in America. Thinking that he would find better business opportu- nities on this side of the Atlantic, he bade adieu to friends and native country and sailed for the new world. Taking up his abode iu Chicago, Illinois, he became connected with the Rambler Bicycle Company and was thus engaged until 1897, when he removed westward to Denver and continued to work in the bicycle business, engaging in the trade on his own account. He was thus active until 1903, when he disposed of his bicycle business and established the Rambler Automobile Agency, handling the Rambler motor cars and automobile tires. He carried on that business from 1903 until 1914, when he sold out to devote his time and energies to the sale of tires and accessories. He then organized the Federal Rubber Tire Works Company, of which he has since been the president. As the use of the motor car has steadily increased his business has also grown and he is today one of the representative business men of the city. His commercial methods are thoroughly reliable and his enterprise has secured to him a large and growing trade.

Mr. Cumbe has been married twice. His present wife was Miss Agatha Clark, of Chicago, whom he wedded in February, 1908. Fraternally he is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He has been identified with the Denver Motor Club since its organization and is a member of its board of governors, and he is also con- nected with the Royal Arcanum and with the Woodmen of the World. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to come from England across the Atlantic, for here he found the business opportunities which he sought and in their utilization has worked his way steadily upward. His associates and contemporaries speak of him as a man of undaunted energy, of keen sagacity and of thorough reliability.

ALFRED J. O'BRIEN.

Alfred J. O'Brien, a well known patent attorney of Denver, whose genial manner and sterling worth make for personal popularity, is numbered among the early residents of the city and through many years has been an interested witness of the changes which have occurred and the progress that has been wrought here through the efforts of time and man. He was born in Janesville, Wisconsin, October 9, 1856, and is a son of James and Eliza J. (Hill) O'Brien. The father was born in Ireland, May 22, 1818, and came to America in early life. He was reared and educated in the state of New York and at an early age removed to Racine, Wisconsin, where on Thursday, March 30, 1848, he married. He continued to follow farming near Janesville to the time of his death, which occurred June 20, 1888. His wife was born in Farmington, Connecticut, on the 6th of October, 1829, and in young womanhood removed to the middle west, residing upon the old homestead near Janesville and later at Racine, Wisconsin. In fact she there continued to the date when she was called to the home beyond-the 3d of July, 1912. She reared a family of nine children, six sons and three daughters, namely: W. H., living at Bar Harbor, Michigan; Ora, a resident of Janesville, Wis- consin; Cora M., also in Janesville; Alfred J., of this review; Orion, who makes his home in Janesville, Wisconsin; and four who have passed away.

Alfred J. O'Brien attended the public schools of Janesville in early life and afterward became a student in Lawrence University at Appleton, Wisconsin, thus acquiring a good literary education to serve as the basis of professional learning. Determining upon the practice of law as a life work, he entered the office of the firm of Winans & McElroy, with whom he read for a time and during the same period was engaged in other duties in order to provide for his own support. At a later period he became a law student in the office of Cassiday & Carpenter, well known and prominent attorneys, the senior partner afterward becoming chief justice of the supreme court of Wisconsin. Under their direction Mr. O'Brien continued to read law until 1882, when he was admitted to the bar. Thinking that the west would offer better oppor- tunities for a young lawyer, he decided to leave Wisconsin and made his way to Denver, where he arrived in the early part of 1882. Here he successfully passed the required bar examination and about 1884 he entered upon the practice of his pro- fession on his own account. While he continued for some time in the general practice of law, he often had occasion to take up patent law cases and thus came to realize the necessity of special counsel for such litigation. He gradually studied more and more largely into the subject of patent law and step by step progressed in that branch

A. J. O'BRIEN

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of the profession until he has become an undoubted authority on patent law and is now consulted by clients from far and near. Through the intervening years he has specialized in patent law and soliciting, and his pronounced ability is recognized by contemporaries and colleagues in the profession wherever he is known.

On the 16th of November, 1886, Mr. O'Brien was united in marriage to Miss Ida J. Ebert, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick J. Ebert, well known and socially prominent people of Denver. Mr. and Mrs. O'Brien have become parents of three children. Alfred Ebert, born August 14, 1887, in Denver, attended the Denver high school, the Finishing School at Laurel, New Jersey, and Yale University and was subsequently graduated from the law department of the University of Colorado. Until a recent date he was in practice with his father but is now a first lieutenant in the national army, having received his commission at Fort Sheridan training camp in November, 1918, and he has since been stationed at Camp Pike, Arkansas, and Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Leonore Ida, born in Denver, attended the high school there and later the Wolcott School of Denver, and Miss Bennett's School of New York. She is the wife of C. G. Campbell of the Knight-Campbell Music Company. Hazel May, born in Denver attended high school and later the Wolcott School for Girls in Denver. She is now the wife of W. O. Chanute, of the firm of Bosworth, Chanute & Company, bond dealers of Denver.

Mr. O'Brien gives his political allegiance to the democratic party but has never been an aspirant for office. He has always preferred to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his professional interests and he is a member of the Denver Bar Asso- ciation and the American Patent Law Association. Marked ability, strong purpose and laudable ambition have brought him prominently to the front in his chosen pro- fession.

LAWRENCE LEWIS.

Lawrence Lewis, attorney at law, was born in St. Louis, Missouri, June 22, 1879, a son of Thomas Addison and Melissa Ann (Lewis) Lewis. The father was born June 19, 1840, near Maysville, Kentucky, and passed away at Hollywood, near Los Angeles, California, February 9, 1916. The mother was born in Logansport, Indiana, April 19, 1842.

Lawrence Lewis entered public school at Evanston, Illinois, and later attended a private school in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In May, 1890, he came with his parents to Pueblo, Colorado, where he attended the public high school. In September, 1897, he matriculated in the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he remained a student until May, 1899. In the following September he became a student in Harvard College, Cambridge, Massachusetts, and was graduated in June, 1901, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Immediately after his graduation from Harvard College in June, 1901, he re- turned to his home in Pueblo, Colorado, and engaged in daily newspaper work as local correspondent for the Rocky Mountain News of Denver in association with his brother, Hume Lewis. Beginning on November 1, 1901, he was employed by The Colorado Fuel & Iron Company to establish, edit and manage an illustrated weekly magazine, called "Camp and Plant," for the fifteen thousand employes and for others interested in the operations of what was then the largest industrial corporation west of St. Louis. In June, 1904, he left the employ of The Colorado Fuel & Iron Company in order to look after personal business, which occupied his time until October, 1906. During that period he assisted his brother, Hume Lewis, for a time in editing the Pueblo Star-Journal, an evening daily, and also wrote for various eastern newspapers and magazines. In October, 1906, he entered the Harvard Law School at Cambridge, Massachusetts, from which he was graduated in June, 1909, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. While in the law school he wrote a number of special articles for the Boston Transcript and for various magazines and also wrote a small book. He was assistant instructor in English in Harvard College from October, 1906, to February, 1907, and from September, 1907, until June, 1909. Besides the small book which he wrote, called "The Advertisements of the Spectator," published by Houghton, Mifflin & Company of Boston and by Constable & Company of London in 1909, and besides various "special stories," nearly all on political and industrial conditions in Colorado, which appeared in the Boston Transcript and other eastern newspapers, Mr. Lewis wrote, prior to bis admission to the bar of Colorado in August, 1909, from one to eight articles for each of the following periodicals: The Outlook, Harper's Weekly, The World's Work, The Travel Magazine, Country Life in

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America, The Scientific American, The Engineering and Mining Journal and the Atlantic Monthly. Upon his admission to the bar of Colorado, August 9, 1909, he removed to Denver and began the practice of his profession in association with Hon. Edward C. Stimson and on March 15, 1913, opened an office independently in the Equitable building in Denver, where he has since been located and is now engaged in general law practice.

Mr. Lewis was made a member of the civil service commission of Colorado, Feb- ruary 3. 1917. He is an associate member of the legal advisory board, Local Board No. 2, of Denver, under the selective service law, and is also a member of the legal advisory board for the district exemption and appeal board for District No. 2, of Colorado. He is a member of the speakers' bureau of the state council of defense and since January, 1918, has been acting as legal adviser in the judge advocate's department of the Colorado National Guard. Politically he is a democrat and he was one of the first in Denver to advocate the nomination of Woodrow Wilson for president and has always been one of his loyal supporters. In 1912 he was one of the incorporators of the Rocky Mountain Wilson Club. He has always been interested in politics but has never been a candidate for office before the people. Fraternally he is connected with South Pueblo Lodge. No. 31, A. F. & A. M., and he also belongs to the Colorado Chi chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon at the University of Colorado at Boulder. He is a member of the University Club of Denver and was formerly secretary-treasurer for two terms of the Rocky Moun- tain Harvard Club and was president of that club for two terms, beginning in 1916. He is also a member of the American Bar Association, the Colorado Bar Association and the Denver Bar Association. His religious faith is that of the Protestant Episcopal church. In August, 1918, he was accepted for admission to the Field Artillery Central Officers' Training School, Camp Zachary Taylor, Kentucky, and enlisted for the period of the war.

GEORGE F. COTHERN.

George F. Cothern, assistant manager of the Farmers Cooperative Elevator & Supply Company of Sterling, was born in Macoupin county, Illinois, on the 30th of August, 1872, a son of James Fountain and Olithia Ann (Craig) Cothern. The father was a farmer and stockman who very successfully conducted his business interests. To him and his wife were born six children, of whom George F. was the fourth in order of birth. The father died in the year 1898 and the mother in 1910. Only one sister of George F. Cothern is now living, the others and the parents having all been laid to rest in Illinois.

George F. Cothern acquired his early education in a small country school near Bunker Hill, Illinois, and about thirty-two miles east of St. Louis, Missouri. His youthful days were spent upon his father's farm and he early became familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops and stock. When nineteen years of age, however, he became imbued with a desire to travel and went through all the western states for the benefit of the experience that he might thus secure. When twenty-six years of age he decided to engage in the lumber business and entered the employ of a firm in Oklahoma. He was afterward employed in the same way in Colo- rado, and became manager for the company which he represented. This company after- ward decided to establish business at Sterling, Colorado, to which place a removal was made about the year 1908. After Mr. Cothern had spent a short time in Sterling he secured a very lucrative position with the Great Western Sugar Company but was dis- satisfied with the work and homesteaded fourteen miles northwest of Sterling. He then gave his attention to general farming until he proved up on his property. Later he worked at the Sterling elevator and in 1915 was offered the position of assistant man- ager of the Farmers Cooperative Elevator & Supply Company. This he accepted aud has since occupied that responsible position, the duties of which he discharges with marked capability and fidelity.

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History of Colorado; Volume II, Part 120

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