History of Colorado; Volume II, Part 121

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

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In 1908 Mr. Cothern was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Arnold. a daughter of John Fletcher and Florence Arnold. Her aunt, Mrs. N. J. Gunn, was the oldest settler of Colorado. She was the first white woman of the state, arriving at a time when the Indians were numerous and when the Union Pacific Railroad was being built. She became cook for the men who helped build that road. She was also the first woman to be elected to an office in the United States, being chosen for the position of county recorder. To Mr. and Mrs. Cothern have been born two children: Elmo Arnold, nine years of age; and Helen Frances, eight years of age.

The religious faith of the family is that of the Presbyterian church and Mr. Cothern belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In the early days he enjoyed hunting

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and fishing but now concentrates almost his entire time and attention upon his business affairs. He is also connected with the Modern Woodmen and he has many friends in the fraternal organizations with which he is identified. As the years have passed and he has won a fair measure of prosperity he has made investments in property and is the owner of a good farm and also two houses and lots in Sterling. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to cast in his lot with the people of the west, for here he has found the opportunities which he sought and in their utilization has made steady progress.

CHARLES HARKINS.

Charles Harkins, deputy warden of the state penitentiary at Canon City, was born in New York city on the 2d of December, 1864, a son of Dennis and Mary (Curley) Harkins. The father removed to Wisconsin in 1867, the mother having died when her sou Charles was but three years of age. In 1872 the family home was established in southern Kansas, where Charles Harkins was largely reared. His father was there engaged in the cattle business and the son became interested with him in the business, which he followed from the time he could ride until about eleven years ago, devoting twenty years to cattle raising in Colorado, to which state he removed in 1888. His education was acquired in the rural schools near his father's home, but his more valuable lessons have been learned in the school of experience, and possessing an ob- serving eye and retentive memory, he has constantly broadened his knowledge and promoted his efficiency. After being connected with the cattle industry for twenty years he was called upon for public service, being appointed deputy warden of the state penitentiary by Warden Tynan.

On the 6th of July, 1916, Mr. Harkins was united in marriage to Mrs. Margaret (Cowan) Wilken. Fraternally he is connected with Elks Lodge, No. 610, at Cañon City. He gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and he stands for all that is progressive in citizenship as relating to community welfare and to national advance- ment and progress. He was one of the lieutenants in the liberty loan campaign and had even the state penitentiary buy bonds, three prisoners also subscribing. He is greatly interested in Colorado and its development and his aid can always be counted upon to further any progressive public measure.

GEORGE R. PARK.

George R. Park is now living retired in Evans. He was born in the town of Hawick in Roxburghshire, Scotland, October 4, 1840, and in the course of his life, which covers more than seventy-eight years, he has had many eventful and ofttimes thrilling experiences. His father came from the highlands of Scotland, having been born in Inverness. George R. Park spent the first fourteen years of his life under the parental roof and then left Liverpool, England, for Australia, attracted by the discovery of gold in that country. It was on the 22d of June, 1854, that he sailed on the sailing ship Marco Polo, which was ninety-three days in making the crossing. There were seven hundred and fifty-five passengers on board and during the voyage there were thirteen deaths and one birth. Mr. Park went to Australia alone, although but a boy in years. Arrived at Ballarat, he worked in the gold fields and in two years' time he had made ten thousand dollars, but owing to his generous nature he parted with the bulk of his fortune. He afterward went to the gold mines on Mount Ararat, there remaining until the great rush to Sydney in New South Wales. He afterward went to New Zealand, where he was very successful and subsequently he proceeded to Hokitika on the west coast, going there at the time of another gold rush. He took up a claim and secured his gold, which he washed in the surf of the ocean. He continued there for fourteen years and ten months, after which he came to the new world. He engaged his passage but missed the first outgoing mail boat, after which his money was refunded. He had to wait one month at Wellington to get another boat but then he sailed and arrived in due course at Panama. He crossed the Isthmus to Aspinwall and thence proceeded to New York. His father's family had left Scotland in 1857 and after arriving in New York, they had settled in Andes, Delaware county. Mr. Park remained for a month at that place and then went to Europe with his mother to spend some of his gold in London. During the voyage to England they had a miraculous escape, for the screw of the ship was

GEORGE R. PARK

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broken and they went adrift. However, they at length reached port in safety and Mr. Park remained for six months in England and Scotland but then returned to New York. He sold the gold which was left and went to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he secured a farm of three hundred and twenty acres, and he also engaged in shipping produce and for a period he owned land in Nebraska. He came to Colorado in 1889 and con- ducted a profitable business as a produce shipper for a number of years but is now living retired.

Mr. Park was united in marriage on February 17, 1875, to Miss Phoebe Martin, who was born in Ohio, November 19, 1845, and is a daughter of Robert L. and Phoebe Martin. She moved with her parents to Vinton, Iowa, when only nine years of age, and they became pioneer residents of that state. To Mr. and Mrs. Park have been born the following named: Dr. R. L. Park, a dentist, who is engaged in practice at Fort Morgan, Colorado; T. B., who actively follows farming; Archie, who devotes his attention to general agricultural pursuits at Hardin, Colorado; George M., who is engaged in dealing in men's furnishings in Hotchkiss, Colorado; Phoebe, the wife of O. L. Zittle, a wholesale hat and glove merchant at Denver, Colorado; and Sophia, the wife of Dr. Thomas J. Bovard, who is engaged in the oil and real estate business at Greeley, Colorado.

Mr. Park's father was a man of considerable literary ability, who had composed a number of beautiful poems, one of which took shape in his mind as he stood near Pike's Peak. When ex-President Roosevelt was on Pike's Peak he asked to have a copy of this poem. George R. Park's life has been active, and well and profitably spent, and his mind is stored with many interesting reminiscences of his experiences in the mines of Australia and other interesting events of his earlier days.

W. C. NEVIN.

Alert and energetic, W. C. Nevin began business in a moderate way but by reason of the salient traits of his character has risen to prominence in manufacturing circles, building up a business second to none of the kind in the state. He turned to candy manufacturing, hoping to find in it a profitable field of labor, and his thoroughness, his business ability and enterprise and his fair dealing in all commercial relations have been the strong factors in the attainment of success. Mr. Nevin is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was born on the 19th of July, 1855, of the marriage of Joseph and Mary (Boyd) Nevin, who were also natives of Pittsburgh. Following his marriage the father engaged in the grocery business, in which he continued to the time of his death in 1864. His widow long survived him, passing away in Pittsburgh in 1916 at the notable old age of ninety years. In their family were six children.

W. C. Nevin of this review was the fourth in order of birth and at the usual age he became a public school pupil in Pittsburgh, mastering the branches of learning taught in the successive grades until eventually he entered a business college and thus further qualified for life's practical and responsible duties. In April. 1879, he came westward to Denver, then a young man of twenty-three years, and for some time was employed in various ways. He carefully saved his earnings until his industry and economy had . brought him sufficient capital to enable him to engage in business on his own account. In 1881 he turned his attention to the fixture business and continued very successfully in that line until 1885, when he sold out and in a moderate way took up candy manufactur- ing. He has conducted a strictly wholesale business and his trade has gradually grown and expanded until he now utilizes a large modern building, while the number of his employes has increased to one hundred and twenty-five, including expert candy makers and office assistants. The business was incorporated in 1904 with Mr. Nevin as the president and L. C. Blunt as vice president. The plant is equipped with the most modern machinery and a complete line of supplies necessary for the conduct of the business is always kept at hand and the trade gradually has increased until the business today is second to none in the state, while the output enjoys a well deserved reputation for superior excellence. Mr. Nevin has thoroughly systematized the business in every particular, so that there is no waste of time, effort nor material and his progressive- ness is manifest in the desirable results that have been achieved.

Mr. Nevin has been married twice. On the 21st of December, 1880, he wedded Miss Alice Gardner, who passed away on the 15th of April, 1900. She was a daughter of J. and Mary Gardner and by her marriage became the mother of one child, Edna L. who was born in Denver in 1891 and is a graduate of the city schools. On the 19th of July, 1905, Mr. Nevin was again married, his second union being with Miss Jessie

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McIntosh, of Canada, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Cecil McIntosh. There has been one son born of this marriage, W. C. Nevin, Jr., whose birth occurred May 15, 1906, and who is now a pupil in the Denver schools.

In politics Mr. Nevin has always maintained an independent course, voting for men and measures rather than party. He belongs to the Lakewood Country Club and to the Civic and Commercial Association and is also identified with other prominent organ. izations of the city. He stands for progress and improvement in all things which relate to the general welfare and cooperates heartily in many interests which are a matter of civic virtue and civic pride. Coming to the west empty-handed, he has without assist- ance from others gradually worked his way upward. He has not reached his present position by leaps and bounds or won success through speculation, but by that steady progression which takes cognizance of every opportunity and following legitimate meth- ods reaches ultimately the goal of prosperity. The most envious cannot grudge him his success, so honorably has it been won and so worthily used, and he is justly classed among the representative business men of Denver.

FRED EDWIN HAMMOND.

Fred Edwin Hammond, devoting his time and attention to the real estate and in- vestment business in Denver, was born October 12, 1872, in Stockton, Illinois, a son of the late Merwin Kingsbury Hammond, who was a native of Ohio, where the family has been represented from pioneer times. He was a banker and farmer and became identi- fied with agricultural interests in Illinois, taking up his abode at Stockton, where he also figured in financial circles. At the time of the rush to the California gold fields he was among those who ventured over the trackless plains of the west and continued their travels to the Pacific coast. There he engaged in mining pursuits for two years, after which he returned home by way of Cape Horn. His farming and banking inter- ests were wisely, carefully and successfully conducted and in public affairs he exerted considerable influence as a stalwart champion of the republican party. He stood for all that he believed to be for the benefit of the community and cooperated in many well defined plans and measures for the general good. His death occurred in Stockton, Illinois, when he had reached the age of seventy-eight years. In early manhood he had wedded Miss. Samantha Ada Fowler, a native of Illinois and a representative of one of its pioneer families. Her death occurred in Stockton in 1903, when she had reached the age of sixty-eight years. In their family were eight children, four sons and four daughters, of whom Fred E. Hammond of this review was the seventh in order of birth.

Spending his youthful days under the parental roof in his native town, Fred Edwin Hammond acquired there a public school education and remained at home until he reached the age of twenty, dividing his time between the work of the school- room, the pleasures of the playground and the cultivation of the fields upon the home farm. He afterward entered the Bank of Stockton, of which his father was president and owner, and there acquainted himself with the banking business, to which he continued to devote his time and attention until 1904. He still retains his financial interest in the bank, however, and the official title of president. On the 12th of August, 1904, he arrived in Denver an entire stranger and immediately entered upon the real estate and investment business, specializing in farm lands, in which he has since conducted a profitable and steadily increasing business. He has been a factor in the development of the agricultural interests of Colorado and his labors have been farreaching and effective. He thoroughly understands the worth of Colorado farm lands and has done much to induce settlers to take up land and improve it. He belongs to the Denver Real Estate Exchange.

Mr. Hammond was married in Shullsburg, Wisconsin, to Miss Almeda Townsend, a native of that state and a daughter of Louis M. and Octavia (Winskell) Townsend, the Winskells being of English descent. To Mr. and Mrs. Hammond has been born a daughter, Miriam Clare, who was born in Stockton, May 24, 1903.

Mr. Hammond votes with the republican party but has never been an aspirant for office. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias of Denver but was initiated into the order at Stockton, Illinois. His chief diversions are fishing and mo- toring and he is a lover of outdoor life. His wife is quite active in Red Cross work and in church movements of Denver. Mr. and Mrs. Hammond reside at No. 2095 Bel- laire street, enjoying the friendship and warm regard of all with whom they have been brought in contact. Mr. Hammond has never cared to figure prominently in any public

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connection outside of business but has devoted his time and attention to the interests of his family. His has been a life of intelligently directed industry, crowned with success, and he has won that good name which is to be chosen in preference to great riches.

ROBERT L. RAPALJE.

Among the energetic and capable business men of Pueblo is Robert L. Rapalje, a dealer in brick, stone and concrete. He was born in Hickman, Kentucky, on the 3d of February, 1866, and is a son of Daniel S. and Nannie K. (Edmonston) Rapalje. The father died in Tennessee in 1879, while the mother survived for more than a decade and passed away in Pueblo in 1890.

Robert L. Rapalje was a pupil in the public schools while spending his boyhood days under the parental roof. His father died, however, when the son was but thirteen years of age and he was thus early thrown upon his own resources. He started out to provide for his own support and through the intervening period has been dependent entirely upon his own labors and energy. On the 1st of May, 1884, when a youth of eighteen years, he arrived in Colorado and began learning the bricklayer's trade, with which he has since been connected. Gradually working his way upward along that line, he has been identified with important building projects in the state. He did the mason work on the Pueblo County courthouse and also the brick work on the city hall. He likewise huilt the Centennial high school, the annex to the Central high school, the Young Men's Christian Association building, the Amherst and Pope blocks, the Vail Hotel and some of the finest residences of the city. He does some contracting on large and important buildings in brick and stone and has been accorded some big jobs. In fact, he has been closely and prominently identified with building operations in Pueblo and occupies a prominent position as a brick, stone and cement contractor and dealer.

On the 11th of February, 1894, Mr. Rapalje was united in marriage to Miss Cora B. Neargardner and to them have been born two children: Marie, the wife of William N. Thomas; and Robert R. In religious faith Mr. and Mrs. Rapalje are connected with the Christian church and fraternally he is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Woodmen of the World, the Improved Order of Red Men and the Master Builders' Association, of which he is the treasurer. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party but he has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking, preferring to concentrate his time and energies upon his business affairs, which have been wisely directed and are bringing to him a very substantial measure of success. Nevertheless he is a public-spirited citizen and one who gives active aid to plans and measures for the general good. His has been a useful life and one which has contributed to the improvement of the city in which he makes his home. He is now doing work on the State Asylum and his fidelity to the terms of a contract con- stitutes one of the features of his growing patronage.

REUBEN J. MORSE.

Reuben J. Morse, whose even-paced energy has brought him far on the high road to success, is secretary and general manager of the Colorado Portland Cement Company and by virtue of the latter office has entire charge of the management of a vast business. He is also identified with a number of other important corporate interests, all of which contribute to the material development and upbuilding of the city of Denver. Colorado is proud to number him among her native sons. He was born in Central City, January 31, 1876, a son of Edwin H. and Sadie M. (Steffa) Morse, the former a native of Norwich, Connecticut, while the latter was born in Maryland. In 1859 Edwin H. Morse removed to the west and in 1870 Sadie M. Steffa became a resident of Colorado. On his arrival in this state the father took up mining in Central City and was the discoverer and owner of various famous gold producing properties during the many years that he devoted to mining in this section of the state. He died December 10, 1890, at the age of fifty-three years. He had been married in Central City and his widow there remained for some time after his death, but was a resident of Denver at the time of her demise, which occurred December 16, 1915, when she was seventy-two years

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of age. They were parents of but two children, the daughter being Carrie H. Morse, now a resident of Denver.

The elder, Reuben J. Morse, attended the public and high schools of Central City, Colorado, and was graduated with the class of 1893. After his textbooks were put aside he turned his attention to newspaper work. He continued in that field of labor for two years and through the succeeding two years devoted his energies to the study of law under the direction of an attorney of Central City. He gave that up to accept a position in the First National Bank at Florence, Colorado, and he continued in various capacities with that institution for five and a half years. At length he resigned his position to become identified with the Colorado Portland Cement Company in the office of secretary, while later, in 1912, he also became general manager. Since that time he has had entire charge of the vast business of this company, controlling interests of immense magnitude. He has acquainted himself with every phase of the business and every branch of the trade and as one of the officers is bending his attention to con- structive effort, administrative direction and executive control. He is also connected with various other prominent lines of business, being an officer of the Cement Securi- ties Company, also secretary and general manager of the Three Forks Portland Cement Company of Montana, the Nebraska Cement Company and the Oklahoma Portland Cement Company. Thus in connection with the cement business his activities cover a very extensive field and the importance of his interests classes him as one of the most prominent business men of the west.

On the 27th of May, 1903, in Pueblo, Colorado, Mr. Morse was united in marriage to Miss Lillian Higgins, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. T. Higgins, of Cañon City, Colo- rado, and they have become the parents of three children: Madeline, who was born in Florence in 1904 and is now attending the public schools of Denver; Donald A., who was born in Florence in 1905; and Whitney G., born in Pasadena, California, in 1915.

Mr. Morse is identified with the Denver Athletic Club and also with the Denver Civic and Commercial Association, being deeply interested in all of its plans and pur- poses for the upbuilding of the city, the extension of its business connections and the advancement of its civic standards. He is a Mason of high rank, belonging to chapter, commandery and Mystic, Shrine, and in politics he is a stalwart republican, but while he votes with the party he does not seek office as a reward for party fealty. His time and energies have ever been concentrated upon business affairs and he is recognized as a man of marked executive force and of notably keen discrimination. He has the sound judgment which prevents unwarranted risks, often resulting in failure. There have been no esoteric phases in his life work. He is a man who possesses char- acter and ability and the simple weight of his character and ability have carried him into most important commercial relations.

LOUIS F. EPPICH.

The character and ability of its citizenship determines the status of every com- munity or city. That Denver's residents are those of whom she has every reason to be proud is indicated in the rapid growth and substantial upbuilding of Colorado's capital. It seems hardly possible that within the memory of living man this beautiful city was a rough mining camp, with here and there a shanty or tent to indicate that the white race had penetrated into the region. Today there are stately homes, mag- nificent business houses and broad thoroughfares and every advantage of the older east can here be found. Actively connected with the transferal of property through the avenue of real estate dealing, Louis F. Eppich has made for himself a creditable posi- tion in business circles, and not only does he handle real estate but also has a rental and insurance department. He was born March 3, 1868, in Chicago, Illinois, removing to Denver in 1879, and was educated in the public schools of Denver. When seventeen years of age he started out to earn his own livelihood, being first employed in the office of the county clerk in Denver under W. C. Lothrop. He did clerical work in that connection and in fact devoted the succeeding sixteen years of his life to clerical duties. For a time he was chief storekeeper for the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, occupying that position from 1893 until 1895. He next entered the real estate, rental and insur- ance field in a small way and from a humble beginning has developed a business of extensive proportions, now conducting one of the leading offices in this line in Denver. His high standing in business circles is indicated by the fact that in 1913 he was elected to the presidency of The Denver Real Estate Exchange and by reelection to the governing board has served a period covering six years as a director.

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Mr. Eppich married Miss Fannie Brown in 1891. Two daughters were born to them, Louise, a teacher in the West Denver high school, and Elizabeth, the wife of Herbert F. Jones. In 1904, Mr. Eppich's first wife passed away, and in 1910 he married Mrs. Jean- nette Becker, and they reside at 1416 Madison street.

Mr. Eppich gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is a stanch advocate of its principles but has never been an aspirant for public office. Fraternally he is a Mason and holds membership in Albert Pike Lodge, No. 117, A. F. & A. M. He has also taken the degrees of the Scottish Rite and is a Shriner. He belongs to the Denver Civic and Commercial Association. His chief diversion comes through music, for he is a great lover of the art and was assistant organist in St. John's and organist in other churches of the city in early manhood. He also greatly enjoys motoring. His life has ever been actuated by high and honorable principles and measures up to ad- vanced standards of manhood and citizenship.

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History of Colorado; Volume II, Part 121

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