History of Colorado; Volume II, Part 127

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

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OSCAR C. WATSON.

Oscar C. Watson, manager at Denver for the Mutual Life Insurance Company and a well known figure in insurance circles in the west. was born at Uvalde, Texas, March 30, 1874, a son of Alfred and Sarah Jane (O'Brien) Watson. the former a native of Arkansas, while the latter was born in Texas, to which state the father removed with his parents when a little lad of hut two years. At the age of sixteen years he ran away from home to enlist in the southern army and was engaged in military duty for two years. After his return he attended the public schools and later in life he engaged in several lines of business. He became meat contractor for the Southern Pacific Rail- way Company when it was building its line and afterward he engaged in farming and stock raising on his own account. In 1887 he left Texas for New Mexico, where he followed farming, and he is now residing at Mesilla Park. in that state. To him and his wife were born twelve children.

Oscar C. Watson, the eldest of the family, was a lad of about thirteen years at the time of the removal to New Mexico and after attending the public schools of Texas and of New Mexico he became a pupil in the Agricultural College at Las Cruces. He next pursued a business course in 1894-5 under Professor Francis E. Lester, who, in response to a letter asking that he recommend one of his pupils for a position, named Mr. Wat- son, who in 1895 went to Albuquerque to become stenographer for S. H. Newman. general agent of the Mutual Life Insurance Company at that place. He was then a young man of twenty-one years. He started at a salary of forty dollars per month, which within six months was increased to fifty dollars. Since that time he has been continuously connected with insurance interests. In 1897 he was transferred to Phoenix, Arizona, to become cashier in the office of the district manager of the company, and the following year he was made superintendent of agents under Manager W. L. Hathaway at Albu- querque, where he remained until 1900, when he removed to Santa Fe and established a general insurance agency, entering into partnership with Paul Wunschmann. He also acted as district manager for the Mutual and continued at Santa Fe from the 1st of January, 1900, until the 1st of July, 1908. In 1905 he purchased his partner's interest in the business and reorganized under the firm style of O. C. Watson & Company, his partner being Carl A. Bishop. In 1907 he was made superintendent of agents for the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York for New Mexico and southern Colorado, and on the 1st of July. 1908. he succeeded to the position of manager at Pueblo and had charge of the agency office for the Mutual Life at that place until January, 1914, with jurisdiction over Colorado and New Mexico. At the date indicated the Pueblo office was closed out and Mr. Watson was appointed to manage the Denver office. During his connection with the Pueblo office the business steadily increased and in fact an amount of business in excess of the assigned quota was reported each year. It was a recognition of this condition that led to Mr. Watson's appointment to the Denver office, which controls the district embracing Colorado and Wyoming. In this connection a local paper has written: "One cannot peruse an account of any man's progress without wanting to know the reason for it. In this case, it would seem to he because Mr. Watson

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is an everyday sort of a man whom any person can approach. Indeed, it is his fairness to all and his kindly judgment of all matters that have given him force and favor in his environment. As a man, he makes his friends and holds them; as a manager he wins men for his agency and develops as well as holds them. This has been demon- strated clearly at Pueblo, if we may quote Mr. Watson's statement that 'the Pueblo agency organization is not excelled by any office of like size in the country.' Mr. Watson is a born entertainer, as many of his friends can attest who have enjoyed his hospitality. It would not be telling all if we omitted to say that the territory from which Mr. Wat- son has risen to prominence has produced ten managers for the Mutual Life, besides several others who occupy important places. The district referred to comprises Colo- rado, New Mexico and Arizona, and at different times has been managed by offices located at El Paso, Albuquerque and Pueblo. The company has made a wise selection and we expect Mr. Watson to achieve even greater success as a manager at Denver." Mr. Watson was secretary and treasurer of the Colorado Life Underwriters' Association and in July, 1918. was elected president.

On the 15th of December. 1897, Mr. Watson was married in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to Miss Lillian Hughes, a daughter of Senator Thomas Hughes, owner and editor of the Albuquerque Daily Citizen, and for twelve years representative of his district in the upper house of the state legislature. To Mr. and Mrs. Watson were born two children. but both have passed away, one dying at birth and the other, a beautiful daughter, Alice Grace, passing away at Pueblo in December. 1911, at the age of twelve years.

In nis political views Mr. Watson is a democrat. He belongs to the Civic and Com- mercial Association and stands for all that has to do with benefit, progress and improve- ment in his adopted city. He is also a member of the Denver Motor Club and fra- ternally is a Mason, having attained the Knight Templar degree of the York Rite, while with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine he has crossed the sands of the desert He is always approachable and genial and he has won popularity not only in Masonic circles but in the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, which he has represented in the grand lodge. Those who know him-and he has many friends-esteem him as a man of genuine personal worth as well as of marked business ability.

CHARLES F. WADSWORTH.

Charles F. Wadsworth, manager at Denver for the Western Newspaper Union. was born in Auburn, Illinois, May 28, 1867, a son of Moses Goodwin and Mary Elizabeth (Day) Wadsworth. The father was a native of Hallowell, Maine, and the mother of Petersburg. Illinois, to which state M. G. Wadsworth removed in 1840. He there resided for sixty years, after which he came to Denver in 1900 and spent his remaining days in this city, his death occurring in 1914, when he had reached the age of eighty-nine years. In 1874 he turned his attention to the newspaper business, in which he engaged until 1900, publishing the Auburn Citizen of Auburn, Illinois. With his removal to Colorado he retired from active business life and spent his remaining days in the enjoyment of a well earned rest. His wife passed away in Denver in 1911 at the age of sixty nine years. They had a family of twelve children, of whom Charles F. Wads- worth was the seventh in order of birth.

In his youthful days Charles F. Wadsworth was a pupil in the public schools of Auburn, Illinois, and when a youth of fifteen years he entered his father's newspaper office and there learned the printer's trade. In 1893 he removed to Springfield, Illinois, where he became connected with different papers and eventually was advanced to the position of foreman of the State Register. In 1899 he removed to Denver and became connected with the Western Newspaper Union, with which he has since been identified. For ten years he was a printer, later was made foreman, afterward traveling repre- sentative and editor, and is now manager. His entire life bas been devoted to news- paper interests and his success is due at least in part to the thoroughiness which he has ever displayed and to the fact that he has continued to concentrate his efforts along a single line.

On the 29th of May, 1889, Mr. Wadsworth was united in marriage to Miss Viola Brownell, of Chatham, Illinois, a daughter of George W. and Miranda Brownell. of that place. Two children have been born of this marriage. Harry Leland, who was born in Auburn, Illinois. in 1891, was educated in the public schools of Denver. He married Miss Daisy I. Dowse, of Denver, and they have one child, William Charles, who was born in Denver in 1914. Beulah Marie, who was born in Springfield, Illinois, in 1893. attended the Denver public schools and also Wolfe Hall.

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Mr. Wadsworth maintains an independent course politically and his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Christian church. He is now serving as supreme vice chancellor of the Court of Honor for a second term of four years and he belongs to the Civic and Commercial Association and also to the Ad Club of Denver and was formerly secretary of the South Denver Improvement Association. Along the line of his chosen life work official honors have also come to him and he is now vice president of the Colorado Editorial Association.

FREDERICK W. SHERWOOD.

Frederick W. Sherwood was for many years a well known and highly respected resident of Larimer county, where he passed away in February, 1906. He was born in Oswego county, New York, on the 31st of December, 1831, so that he was in the seventy- fifth year of his age at the time of his demise. He was a son of Jonathan and Hannah (Meggs) Sherwood, who were natives of Connecticut, and of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, respectively. The father was a farmer of New York, following agricultural pursuits throughout his entire life. He died in 1878 and his wife has also passed away.

Frederick W. Sherwood was reared and educated in the Empire state and remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority. He afterward engaged in clerking for a brother for some time and then removed westward to Manitowoc, Wis- consin, to join his brother Jesse. It was not long after this that great excitement was aroused concerning the discovery of gold on Pike's Peak and the two brothers joined the long procession that started across the country for the gold fields. After reaching Colo- rado, however, Frederick W. Sherwood located on a ranch four miles east of Fort Collins and there took up a homestead which he improved and operated until 1892. He lived on the ranch, however, only until 1886, when his health became impaired and he went to California. He returned to Fort Collins in 1889 and throughout the remainder of his life resided in that city with the exception of a period of eight years spent upon his stock ranch on the Laramie river. He continued to make his home in Fort Collins to the time of his demise, which occurred very suddenly in February, 1906.

In November, 1874, Mr. Sherwood was married to Miss Mary Moulton, a daughter of Richard and Margaret (Kane) Moulton, who were natives of Ireland, as is Mrs. Sherwood. They came to America, settling in Illinois in 1852, and Mr. Moulton also followed the occupation of farming. He bought land in Stephenson county, Illinois, and devoted his remaining days to general agricultural pursuits, his death occurring in 1883. He had for three decades survived his wife, who passed away in 1853.

Mr. Sherwood gave his political allegiance to the democratic party and he served as county commissioner of Larimer county for three different terms, making a most creditable record in office by the prompt and faithful manner in which he discharged his duties. He held membership with the Masons and with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He was a man of many sterling qualities, and though handicapped by ill health, he made steady progress in his business career. All who knew him esteemed him for his genuine worth and at his demise he left behind him many warm friends.

MAJOR HENRY B. CASSELL.

Henry B. Cassell is proprietor of the Cassell Music House at No. 1518 California street in Denver and is numbered among the city's prominent and popular young busi- ness men. He is a grandson of one of the pioneer settlers and builders of Denver- Henry C. Brown, who was the promoter and owner of the Brown Palace Hotel and many other leading structures of the city. He took an active part in the advancement and up- building of Denver in the early '80s and was a representative of one of the wealthy families of the state. Henry B. Cassell was born in Denver, September 7, 1890. and is a son of Robert T. and Carrie Marcie (Brown) Cassell. The father was born at Metamora, Illinois, and became an attorney of more than local distinction. He removed westward to Denver at an early period in the development and upbuilding of the city and practiced law for many years in its courts. He is still residing in Denver but is now living retired. Mrs. Cassell was born in Denver, where she still makes her home, and thus for many years she has been an interested witness of the growth, development and progress of the city. To Mr. and Mrs. Cassell were born five children: Captain Robert T. Cassell, who now resides in Kansas City, Missouri; Henry B., of this review; Captain

FREDERICK W. SHERWOOD

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James Sherman Cassell, who is with the United States army; William, deceased; and Mrs. Lafayette Franklin, of New York city.

In the acquirement of his education Henry B. Cassell attended the Western Military Academy and was graduated in 1907 with the Bachelor of Arts degree. He held a com- mission as captain in the Illinois National Guard at Springfield, Illinois, but in 1908 returned to his home city and gave his attention to the music and piano business in connection with the Columbine Music Company. He afterward bought out the business in connection with his brother, Robert T., at which time they changed the name to the Cassell Brothers Music Company. This was conducted most successfully under that relation until 1915, when Henry B. Cassell acquired sole ownership, buying the interest of his brother, who removed to Kansas City. Since that time the business has been conducted under the name of the Cassell Music House and the location was changed from Sixteenth street to a more modern and attractive building at No. 1518 California street, where Mr. Cassell is now conducting a very extensive and profitable business. He has a splendidly appointed store. He handles the Mason & Hamlin, Bush & Gerts, Cable and other makes of pianos and organs, also phonographs, phonographic records and supplies and sheet music. His high standing in trade circles is indicated in the fact that he has been honored with election to the vice presidency of the National Piano Men's Association.

On the 12th of August, 1912, Mr. Cassell was married to Miss Gladys Morton Batey, of Denver, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence M. Batey, of a prominent and wealthy family of Denver. They have became parents of two children, Gladys Marietta and Carolyn Catherine, both born in Denver.

Major Cassell is a member of the Denver Civic and Commercial Association. He was the founder and the first president of the Denver Optimists Club and he is also vice president of the National Optimists Club. He is serving as president of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Club, which has a community house in Denver, and he is affiliated with the Denver Club, the Denver Athletic Club, the Denver Country Club, the Lakewood Country Club and other social organizations. In military circles he holds the rank of major in the Colorado National Guard but has offered his services for the United States army and expects soon to be in the active service of the country, having recently received appoint- ment with the rank of major. He is a very prominent and popular young man of Denver, highly esteemed in business associations and in social connections, but he regards everything as subservient to his duty to his country.

RICHARD EDWARD WILCOX.

Richard Edward Wilcox, an energetic young business man of Colorado Springs, where he is engaged in dealing in automobile tires, was born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1882, a son of John Wilcox, whose birth occurred in the north of Ireland in 1850. He came, however, to the United States with his parents during his infancy, the family home being established on a Wisconsin farm. Later John Wilcox went to Chicago, where he married Sarah Brannon, a native of Pennsylvania. At the time of the Civil war he responded to the country's call for troops, enlisting in 1863, when he was but twelve years and seven months of age. He served until the close of the war with an Illinois regiment, and after the cessation of hostilities between the north and the south he enlisted in the United States Navy, with which he served for four years. He then began railroading, making trips out of Chicago, where he continued to make his home until 1886, when he was called to his final rest at the comparatively early age of thirty-six years. His widow long survived him and died in Chicago in 1913.

It was in the schools of his native city that Richard Edward Wilcox pursued his education, but when quite young he put aside his textbooks and ohtained a position in the Chicago stock yards. There he remained for six years, during which period he won continual advancement by reason of his faithfulness and capability. He later went upon the road for the Nelson Morris Company. In the spring of 1917, however, he left the road and established his home in Colorado Springs, where he organized the El Paso Rubber Works for the conduct of a business in rubber tires. In this connection he has already built up a good trade and his patronage is steadily increasing, for his well satisfied patrons are constituting an excellent advertisement for him, ever speaking a good word for him and his business methods.

On the 9th of September, 1916, in Littleton. Colorado, Mr. Wilcox was married to Miss Ida A. Hiebler. Their religious faith is that of the Catholic church and Mr. Wilcox is identified with the Knights of Columbus. He gives his political allegiance to the

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democratic party but has never sought or desired office. On the contrary his time and attention are closely concentrated upon his business affairs and it has been by reason of the thoroughness of his work and his unremitting diligence and attention that he has won the substantial success which is now his.

WILLIAM H. DOZIER.

The banking interests of Colorado find a worthy representative in William H. Dozier, now president of the First National Bank of Cañon City. He is a native of Missouri, horn in Atchison county, in 1857, and is a son of John L. and Mary A. Dozier. His father served in the Union army during the Civil war and was one of the leading citizens of Holt county, Missouri, where he served as sheriff for a time. His death occurred in California in 1892, but the mother of our subject passed away in Cañon City, Colorado.

During the boyhood of William H. Dozier he accompanied his parents on their removal to Nebraska, the family locating near Brownville, where he attended the rural schools, and later he continued his education in a night school. It was on the 20th of December, 1877, that he arrived in Denver, Colorado, and he began work in connection with the construction of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad at Leadville in 1878, remain- ing with that company until work was suspended on account of the railroad fight for the right of way. During the following two years he was in the employ of a Mr. Brinker and was next engaged in the grocery business as a member of the firm of Harrison & Dozier. For some time he was on the road as a traveling salesman for a confectionery company and for the long period of twenty-four years he was one of the trusted employes of the C. S. Morey Mercantile Company. At the end of that time A. E. Carleton took over the old Peabody Bank, which he reorganized, and then induced Mr. Dozier to come to Cañon City as its manager. The bank at that time was in a very bad condition but through the untiring efforts of Mr. Carleton and Mr. Dozier it is today one of the solid financial institutions of the community. On resigning his position as president of the bank in 1918 Mr. Carleton was succeeded by our subject, who is now serving in that capacity. Being a man of the strictest integrity, he commands the confidence of all with whom he has had any dealings and it is predicted that the bank will steadily increase its volume of business under his leadership. He has made his home in Cañon City since 1894 and in the meantime has become widely and favorably known.

Mr. Dozier was married December 25, 1889, to Miss May Cummins, by whom he has four children, namely: William H., Jr., now a volunteer in the United States Army; De Vere; Fona; and J. W. C.

Mr. Dozier votes the democratic ticket and takes a commendable interest in public affairs. He has been quite active in war work, especially in the Liberty Loan and Red Cross departments. He is identified with the Chamber of Commerce and is also a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He stands deservedly high in business circles and is a man who commands respect and confidence wherever known.

H. I. SPINNEY.

H. I. Spinney, manager of the Stanley Motor Carriage Company of Denver, pos- sesses marked business enterprise and ability, manifest at once in the establishment in which he is conducting his interests. He accomplishes what he undertakes and his determined purpose and straightforward dealing have placed him in the front rank among Denver's successful business men. A native of the Pine Tree state, he was born in Franklin county, Maine, January 18, 1870, his parents being Andrew Jackson and Mary Bersley (Oliver) Spinney, who were likewise born in Maine, where they spent their entire lives. In early manhood the father turned his attention to the millwright business and mechanical lines and ever concentrated his efforts and attention in those paths of business activity. He is still living at the advanced age of eighty years but now makes his home in Boston, Massachusetts. His wife was reared in Maine and died in September, 1914, at the age of eighty-one years. Their family numbered five children: Mrs. Jennie L. Ford, whose home is in Skowhegan, Maine; H. I .; Mrs. Harriet Keyes, who is located in Franklin county, Maine; William J., a resident of Boston, Massachusetts; and Cora B., who makes her home in Portland, Maine.

At the usual age H. I. Spinney hecame a pupil in the public schools of his native

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county and when his textbooks were put aside he entered upon an apprenticeship to the machinist's trade in connection with a Mr. Greenwood, with whom he continued until 1889, during which period he gained a comprehensive and accurate knowledge of the business in principle and detail. He established business on his own account in Franklin county in 1892 and there remained until 1910, when he came to Denver to represent the Stanley Motor Carriage Company as distributing manager. While he began business here in a small way, the patronage of the house has steadily grown until he now occupies a large model three-story building, which the company erected for the purpose. It contains commodious sales rooms and garage and the business has been built up to extensive and gratifying proportions. Mr. Spinney has become thor- oughly familiar with every phase of the business, not only in relation to the sales, but also as to the construction and power of the car.

On the 4th of February, 1895, Mr. Spinney was united in marriage to Miss Issie Dora Williamson, of Farmington, Maine. They have become parents of three children: Marion Frances, who was born in Farmington in 1896 and is now attending the Uni- versity of Denver, having graduated from the East Denver high school; Ruth Evelyn, who was born in Farmington in 1900 and is attending the East Denver high school; and Edward Carleton, who was born in Farmington in 1909 and is a student in the Aaron Gove school.

Mr. Spinney does not adhere to any particular political party but votes according to the dictates of his judgment. He is a member of Franklin Lodge, No. 58, I. O. O. F., and he belongs to the Denver Motor Club and the Denver Trap Club. He has gained a wide acquaintance during the period of his residence in Denver and has won many warm friends, who esteem him highly by reason of his genuine worth, his ability in business, his fidelity in citizenship and his loyalty in friendship.

DAVID BIRKLE.

The life record of David Birkle is the story of honest endeavor, intelligently directed, and as one of the pioneers of Colorado there is no feature of its early development with which he is not thoroughly familiar. He was born in Germany in December, 1838, a son of Christopher and Phillipine (Fisher) Birkle, who were natives of Germany. The father followed farming in that country and there passed away in 1875, having long survived his wife, whose death occurred in 1854.

David Birkle was reared and educated in Germany, where he attended school to the age of twelve years, and then started out to provide for his own support, working as a farm hand to the age of fourteen. In 1852 he came to America and settled in St. Joseph, Missouri, where he learned blacksmithing, working at his trade at that place until 1860, when he came to Colorado, settling in Weld county about a mile from Platte- ville, although the town had not been founded at the time. He secured a homestead claim, which he cleared and developed, continuing the work of improvement there until 1864, when high water caused the ruin of everything upon his place. It all grew up to willows and cottonwood trees and it was eight or ten years before he could do any- thing with it. He finally got it in shape again and continued its further development and cultivation until 1896, when he rented the place to his son and removed to Platte- ville, where he purchased a nice home which he has since occupied. He later sold his farm to his son and is now living retired, enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly merits. For several years he served as president of the Meadow Island and Beaman Ditch Companies and he was a stockholder in the Platteville National Bank and a stockholder in the Farmers Mill at Longmont, Colorado. While upon the farm he made a specialty of raising shorthorn cattle and also of feeding cattle. When he first came to Colorado his cattle strayed off and he never found them, so he borrowed a yoke of cattle to get his hay out and hauled one load of hay to town, where he sold it, the price being sufficient to enable him to buy a yoke of cattle of his own. He hauled hay up in the mountains in the winter, a distance of fifty-two miles, having to sleep out along the roadside at night, and many mornings he awoke covered with snow. He kept up hauling hay for four years and got his start in that way. He then began farming and from that time on things went pretty well. In fact he has made a success of life, his industry and carefully directed business affairs winning him a substantial measure of prosperity. He is familiar with every phase and experience of pioneer life and all its hardships and privations, and in the early days he had to leave his ranch on account of Indians and he and some of his neighbors went to Fort Lupton for protection. He made the journey to Colorado with ox teams and he is today

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History of Colorado; Volume II, Part 127

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