History of Colorado; Volume II, Part 130

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

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of the most important undertakings of this society is the more daylight scheme. The more daylight plan provides that at a certain time in the spring we turn our watches and clocks forward one hour; and when fall comes turn them back an hour. The advan- tage of turning a clock forward one hour in the springtime would cause the citizens of Denver to get up an hour earlier, thereby using the daylight in the morning, and cease activities an hour earlier in the evening, thus giving another hour of daylight for pleasure, amusement or useful employment, resulting in the consumption of more day- light for work and pleasure, and the use of the hours of darkness for sleep. This plan has been successfully carried out in many large cities throughout the United States and has been adopted in all European countries as an economic measure incident to the war. * * * The example of plowing vacant lots, which was initiated by our organization,

has been in a great measure adopted throughout the city and county of Denver.

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When we contrast what the South Denver Improvement Association has accomplished with the small amount of money that it has expended, with what other societies have done with the large amount of money they have had to do with, it is marvelous. The entire amount of money expended by the South Denver Improvement Association for the entire year does not exceed one hundred dollars. Whereas the civic bodies have col- lected as much as twenty-five dollars per membership, and it seems that the only efforts exerted and results obtained were to eat lunches and do a slight amount of talking through the newspapers about the things they would like to do for the city. And yet I have not seen anything from our civic association other than to help the great utility corporations in their efforts to further exploit the citizens of Denver, and for that reason many good honest men have refused to become members of that association, believing that it was organized simply to further exploit the city rather than to help it.

"Respectfully submitted,

"Charles J. Munz."

In thus setting forth the arduous efforts which Mr. Munz has made in a semi-public position it must not be overlooked, however, that as a lawyer he ranks equally high and that his practice is large and representative. One of the factors among many which have secured to him a large clientele is his knowledge of the German language, which has brought to him many patrons who could only be served in this language and who trust him implicitly, seeking from him intelligent guidance in their business and private affairs. As lawyer, as lecturer and as public-spirited citizen Mr. Munz ranks very high and.may be called one of the foremost citizens of Denver, where he has been instrumental in advancing many plans and projects for the public good. His life work has been far-reaching in effect and always on the side of progress, reform and advancement, and his professional standards coincide with the highest ethics of the law.

CHARLES F. BLUNCK.

Charles F. Blunck, who has lived retired at Fort Collins since 1911, became identified with farming and live stock interests in Larimer county more than three decades ago and is still the owner of four hundred and fifty acres of excellent land which he leases. His birth occurred in Winona, Minnesota, on the 23d of December, 1853, his parents being Henry and Dora (Blunck) Blunck, both of whom were natives of Germany. About the year 1845 they crossed the Atlantic to the United States and made their way to Scott county, Iowa, where the father engaged in general agricultural' pursuits. Subsequently he took up a homestead in Minnesota but was driven out by the Indians and returned to Davenport, Iowa, continuing his farming operations in that vicinity for some time. Later he removed to Johnson county, Iowa, where he carried on the work of the fields for a number of years. In 1861, at Davenport, he enlisted for service in the Union army as a member of the Sixth Jowa Cavalry, remaining with that command for three years and making an excellent record as a brave and loyal soldier. He took up his ahode in Lari- mer county, Colorado, in 1886, but returned to Iowa at the end of about a year and spent the remainder of his life in retirement at Mount Ayr, where he passed away about 1904, while his wife was called to her final rest in February, 1911.

Charles F. Blunck acquired his education largely in Johnson county, Iowa, and spent the period of his minority under the parental roof. When twenty-one years of age he made his way to Ringgold county, Iowa, and was there actively engaged in the oper- ation of a farm until 1886, when he came to Larimer county, Colorado, purchasing land four miles from Fort Collins, in what was called the Harmony district. He improved the place, thus greatly enhancing its value, and he has purchased altogether six farms here, paying cash for each and later selling to advantage. At the present time he owns four hundred and fifty acres of highly improved and valuable land which he leases. In 1911 he removed to Fort Collins, purchasing a magnificent modern residence at No. 318 East Oak street, where he has since lived. Mr. Blunck is regarded as the father of the sheep feeding industry in Larimer county and has fed sheep and cattle continuously since 1891. He is likewise a stockholder in the Poudre Valley National Bank and is widely known as one of the prosperous, respected and representative resi- dents of Fort Collins.

On the 18th of December, 1884, Mr. Blunck was united in marriage to Miss Anna M. Atz, a daughter of John and Anna M. (Meyer) Atz, who were natives of Switzerland. The father, who was a horticulturist, emigrated to the United States in 1866, locating at Burlington, Iowa, where he was variously employed. Subsequently he followed agri-

MR. AND MRS. CHARLES F. BLUNCK

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cultural pursuits in Taylor county, Iowa, for about six years and on the expiration of that period removed to Ringgold county, Iowa, where he purchased land and continued farm- ing to the time of his demise, which occurred in 1892. For a decade he had survived his wife, who passed away in 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Blunck are the parents of four children, namely: Viola G., the wife of Robert L. Wilson, who is engaged in the drug business in Denver; Alva M., the wife of John E. Mathews, who is engaged in the meat business at Fort Collins; Mayme A., who gave her hand in marriage to Andy Burke and resides in Fort Collins; and Ruth D., at home.

Politically Mr. Blunck is a republican, while his religious faith is that of the Epis- copal church. Fraternally he is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Woodmen of the World. His life has been upright and honorable in every relation, so that he well merits the high regard which is uniformly accorded him. The long period of his residence in Larimer county has made him largely familiar with its history and he has ever borne his full share in the work of progress, improve- ment and upbuilding.

JAMES M. McCLAVE.

James M. McClave, metallurgical engineer and expert mineralogist, conducting an extensive laboratory in Denver, was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, July 12, 1867, a son of Stewart and Rose (Young) McClave, both of whom are natives of Ohio, whence in 1908 they removed to Portland, Oregon. The father engaged in farming as a life work and during the period of the Civil war he enlisted in an Ohio regiment for active service at the front. While attempting to lead the raider Morgan into a trap at Monroeville, Ohio, he was captured and taken along, being made to act as Morgan's guide or else suffer the penalty of being shot. During this period, however, he managed to pass the word along to the federal troops, who aided him in escaping. Both he and his wife make their home in Portland. the city of roses.

James M. McClave of this review is the eldest of their family of nine children and in his boyhood days attended school in Jefferson county, Ohio, and also at Ravenna, Ohio, while later he attended the University of Wooster, but left there before graduation. In 1887 he removed westward to Omaha, Nebraska, where he was employed as a travel- ing salesman, remaining upon the road for four years.

In 1891 he came to Denver and was connected with the Diamond Incandescent Lamp Company for four years, which was formerly a branch of the Westinghouse Electric Company. During this period he became interested in the application of electricity in mining, and his expert knowledge of electricity gave him considerable advantage in this direction over old methods.

He became actively engaged in mining in Boulder county, Colorado, and had charge of the first mill that used the Peletan Clereci cyanide process where electricity was used in connection with mercury and cyanide. He also had charge of the experimental plant at Wallstreet, Boulder county, where extensive experiments were conducted with the Siemens & Halske Electric Gold Precipitating process.

Returning to Denver he became identified with the Colorado Zinc Company, where the Wetherill Magnetic Separators were first used in the separation of zinc and iron. The Blake Electro Static process was developed at this plant and Mr. McClave had charge of the operation of this new method of separating minerals. He afterward devoted his time to the commercial developing of this method.

In 1903 he went to London, England, to demonstrate the electrostatic machines, testing ores from all over the world. He afterwards returned to Denver and later pro- ceeded to British Columbia to introduce the electrostatic process in Canada. A year later he returned in order to introduce this method at Butte, Montana. He afterwards constructed a mill at Salt Lake City, Utah, and in the meantime he devoted his time and attention to the development of various methods for treating complex ores.

While demonstrating the electrostatic process in London he met Stanley Elmore, the inventor of the vacuum flotation process, and after returning to this country arranged with the Lanyon Zinc Company of Iola, Kansas, to introduce this new method of ore dressing in the United States. A commercial Elmore flotation machine was imported from London and set up in the mill at Salt Lake City, where he gave it a thorough test on complex ores from the western states. The method was new and very little was known about oils at that time, and the method did not prove successful, but Mr. McClave has the credit of installing and operating the first commercial flotation machine in the United States. Work, however, was continued along this line and five years later

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the flotation process had been developed and became generally known and introduced throughout the entire mining world.

Mr. McClave's present practice is confined to the treatment of complex ores and research problems in metallurgy. His laboratory is equipped with the most improved testing machines and apparatus, and he has collected a large stock of oils and reagents that are used in flotation practice.

He is a director of the Montezuma Mines & Mills Company and the Scepter M. & M. Company, and during the past fifteen years has acted in the capacity of consulting engineer for the following companies: The Mines Clearing House Company; the Mckesson Separating Company; Sutton, Steele & Steele; Grasselli Chemical Company; Lanyon Zinc Company; Little Giant Gold Mining Company; Afterthought Copper Com- pany; and the American Shale Oil Company.

Mr. McClave is a member of the Denver Civic and Commercial Association, the Colorado Scientific Society, The Tecknic Club, American Institute of Mining Engineers, American Mining Congress and The American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Mr. McClave was married in July, 1896, to Miss Zella Arms Cornell, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Cornell of Princeton, Illinois. They are members of the First Church of Christ Scientist, Denver, Colorado.

Mr. McClave has taken many forward steps in the line of his chosen life work and in the development of the mineral resources of the western states; his scientific research and investigation have contributed much to general progress.

WILLIAM L. BEATTIE.

William L. Beattie is an experienced hotel man, now proprietor of the Auditorium Hotel in Denver. The city can boast of having in the Auditorium not only one of the best conducted hostelries of the west but one which will rank favorably with any in the country-a fact attested by experienced travelers, who bear testimony to the excel- lence of the service and accommodations there received. For many years Mr. Beattie has closely studied the wants of the traveling public and has endeavored in every pos- sible way to furnish comforts and conveniences combined with courteous treatment and attention. The Auditorium is a modern hotel, containing two hundred rooms, either single or en suite, with hot and cold water and telephone service in all, and most of these have bath accommodations. There is a commodious lobby with reading and writ- ing rooms, ladies' parlor and music room and a large hall for convention purposes or public meetings. This is one of Denver's newest hotel buildings and it is equipped with everything that adds to the comfort of modern hotel life.

The record of Mr. Beattie is the story of successful achievement. He was born in Perry county, Illinois, January 20, 1867, and is a son of Robert and Jane Elizabeth (Richmond) Beattie. His father was born in Europe and was brought to America by his parents when only four years of age, the family home being established in Illinois. He afterward took up farming in Illinois but at the time of the Civil war be responded to the country's call for troops to preserve the Union and served for three years as a soldier with the Eighty-first Illinois Volunteer Infantry, participating in many engage- ments which led up to the final victory that crowned the Union arms. His last days were spent in Boulder, Colorado, at the home of his son, where he passed away April 2. 1915. His widow is still living and makes her home in Perry county, Illinois.

William L. Beattie was the third in order of birth in their family of five children and in his early youth was a pupil in the public schools of Washington county, Illinois, after which he attended the Coulterville (III.) Academy, from which institution he was graduated. He then took up the profession of teaching, which he followed for a year, but on the expiration of that period removed to St. Louis, Missouri. There he began his career in hotel work by accepting a position as clerk in the Beers Hotel, where he remained one year. He then took a position as room clerk in the Moser Hotel and after continuing with this hostelry for four years, he became mail clerk at the Planters, one of the finest hotels not only of St. Louis, but of the entire Mississippi valley. In the spring of 1898, he went to Des Moines, Iowa, and accepted a position as clerk in the well known Savery Hotel, then under the management of W. L. Brown. Here he remained during the next seven years and upon the opening of the New Chamberlain, by Mr. Brown, he went with him as assistant manager and continued in that capacity for three years. He then engaged in the hotel business for himself by associating himself in part- nership with George M. Christian and Howard L. Hedrick, and they conducted a chain

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of hotels in Iowa. They purchased the Lacey, at Oskaloosa, Iowa, where Mr. Beattie assumed active management. Three years later they purchased the Savery, at Des Moines, Mr. Beattie conducting the hotel during the ensuing three years as manager.

He then disposed of all of his hotel interests in Iowa and in January, 1912, he came to Colorado and purchased the Boulderado Hotel at Boulder. After five years of suc- cessful operation here, he disposed of his interests in the Boulderado and purchased the Auditorium Hotel, of Denver, of which he is now the owner and manager.

He has displayed much of the spirit of the pioneer in his hotel management, or in other words, has instituted many new ideas. and progressive movements which have been of great value in making his hotel popular with the traveling public.

In May, 1891, Mr. Beattie was united in marriage at Centerville, Illinois, to Miss Martha Elizabeth Sorrells, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Sorrells, and they have one child, Irwin S., who was born in Des Moines in 1902 and is now attending high school in Denver. The family hold membership in the Central Presbyterian church and Mr. Beattie is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and with the Civic and Commercial Association of Denver. He is also interested in other organizations which have for their object the promotion of public welfare and at all times he is actuated by a marked spirit of devotion to the general good. His business activities have brought him in close contact with the public and its demands, not only in relation to hotel man- agement but also in relation to matters of general concern, and his aid and influence are always on the side of progress and improvement.

CHARLES R. SLUSSER.

A well known representative of mining interests in Denver is Charles R. Slusser, secretary and treasurer of The Gold Bond Consolidated Mines Company. Closely studying every question that bears upon the mining industry, he is well qualified to successfully conduct the interests under his direction. He was born at Roanoke, Indiana, September 23, 1867, a son of James B. and Mary M. (Shepler) Slusser, who were natives of Stark county, Ohio, and in 1865 removed to Indiana, establishing their home at Roanoke, where the father engaged in mercantile pursuits for a number of years. In 1887 he arrived in Colorado and retired from active business life, spending his remaining days in the enjoyment of well earned rest in his Denver home, where he passed away in 1900. There were many chapters in his life record worthy of all praise, not the least of which was that which concerned his military activity. For four years and ten months he was connected with the Union army, covering the period of the Civil war, in which he enlisted for service in the Third Illinois Cavalry, and for ten months he was held a prisoner at Andersonville, meeting all the horrors of such an experience. He ever remained a most loyal citizen of his native land, manifesting in days of peace the same fidelity to his country that he displayed when he followed the nation's starry banner on the battlefields of the south. His widow still survives and is yet living in Denver. In their family were five children, of whom C. R. Slusser is the eldest.

In early life C. R. Slusser became a pupil in the public schools of Roanoke, Indiana, and after mastering the branches of learning therein taught continued his education in the Methodist Episcopal College of Fort Wayne, from which he was graduated with the class of 1887. Attracted by the opportunities of the west, he came to Denver and was for seventeen years in the postoffice department as inspector, making a most excellent record by his unfaltering allegiance to duty. In 1905 he became actively connected with mining interests and also with the building of electric power plants in various sections of the state. Since 1908 he has concentrated his energies and efforts upon mining, being identified with properties under development, and in 1913 he became secretary and treasurer of The Gold Bond Consolidated Mines Company.

In October, 1898, Mr. Slusser was united in marriage to Miss Harriet E. Turner, of Spring Hill, Kansas, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kimpton Turner, of Spring Hill. They have become parents of two children: Hypatia Slusser, who was born in Denver in 1908 and is now attending school; and Carl, born in 1910 and also in school.

Mr. Slusser belongs to the Rotary Club, to the Denver Motor Club, to the Denver Civic and Commercial Association and to the Manufacturers' Association, connections that indicate much of the nature of his interests. He is appreciative of the social amenities of life and therefore greatly enjoys the club gatherings but is equally keenly interested in affairs relating to the material development and advancement of Denver's interests and thus as a member of the Civic and Commercial Association and of the

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Manufacturers' Association is doing everything in his power to promote the trade relations of the city and extend its business connections. He is actuated by a spirit of enterprise in all that he undertakes and his persistency of purpose never stops short of the successful accomplishment of his objects.

CHARLES GRIMM.

Charles Grimm, a retired mining man residing in Denver, was born in Prussia on the 23d of March, 1851, and is a son of John F. and Anna Maria (Stahlschmidt) Grimm. He was only a year old when his parents left their native country and sailed for the United States, taking up their abode in Galena, Illinois, where he was reared and educated. In his youthful days he worked at carriage making in Illinois and Iowa and was thus employed until 1879, when, at the age of twenty-seven years, he left the middle west and came to Colorado, making Denver his destination. Not long afterward he went into the mining fields and operated among the mines for twenty-four years, going first to Leadville in 1879. He soon left that place, only to return there the following year. He was engaged in prospecting for several years, or until 1885, when he became foreman of the Antioch mine, one of the prominent mining properties of the Leadville district. He next became superintendent of the Mahala mine, also at Leadville, and afterward was superintendent of the Buell mine at Central City. He afterward accepted the superintendency of the Silver Lake mine, in the San Juan district, and next went to the Perigo mine, of which he was superintendent for three years. Again he returned to Leadville, where he had charge of both the Fortune and the Diamond mines, and thus his mining experiences covered twenty-four years. During this time he gave his attention in marked measure to the mineral development of Colorado. In 1902 he began to feel the effects of the high altitude on his general health and so gave up his mining operations, removing to Denver, where he has since made his home, and for the past eleven years he has resided on Humboldt street. His operations in the mining field have proven profitable and he acquired a handsome fortune, much of which he has invested in Denver real estate, from which he now derives a most substantial income.

Mr. Grimm was married in Galena, Illinois, on the 22d of June, 1887, to Miss Mary J. Pilling, a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of James and Mary (Lambert) Pilling. They have one son, Earl C., who is now a salesman with the Lindquist Cracker Company. Mr. Grimm is a man of domestic tastes, devoted to his family and finding his greatest happiness in the companionship of his wife and son. He is a member of Highlands Lodge, No. 86, A. F. & A. M., and his life is the expression of the beneficent spirit of the craft. What he has accomplished represents the fit utilization of his innate powers and talents and of the opportunities which have come his way. He has displayed sound judgment in placing his investments and his enterprise has proven one of the crowning points in the attainment of his well deserved success.

SAMUEL B. NORTON, M. D.

Although over ten years have passed since the death of Dr. Samuel B. Norton, his memory is still cherished by the older generation of the city as one of its pioneer physicians who came here in 1870 and for many years gave his life's labors toward mediating human ailments. He was born in Farmington, Maine, January 22, 1822, and in his native state received his primary education. Having come to the middle west, he made Chicago his home, where he trained as an eclectic physician, and then, being licensed to practice, opened his first office in Watseka, Illinois. He continued there for a while, but being impressed with the opportunities offered in the middle west on account of the scarcity of physicians, he came to Denver, Colorado, in 1870, and remained active in practice until ten years before his death, when he retired. His ability soon became recognized and patients came to him from all over the city. Not only was he successful as a doctor, however, for his kindly qualities of heart and his sympathetic nature engendered friendships and to many of his patients he became confidential adviser outside the strict path of his profession. He was careful in diagnosis and seldom if ever made errors in defining the character of a disease. In the application of remedies he chose the best obtainable according to the knowledge of his time and as he succeeded in effecting numerous cures his reputation spread

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History of Colorado; Volume II, Part 130

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