USA > Colorado > History of Colorado; Volume II > Part 15
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When the Denver & Rio Grande was completed, and opened for traffic, to Colorado Springs in 1871, Colonel Dodge became its first general freight and ticket agent. This position brought him into close association with General William J. Palmer, then president of the road, and the two men became fast friends-personal, as well as in a business sense, and this mutual attachment became a potent factor in the upbuilding of the west. To this personal partnership, if such it may be termed, General Palmer brought financial sagacity and ability, and Colonel Dodge a practical knowledge of the details of railroad building, and a rare executive capacity. These two men con- structed the Rio Grande system, extended it to Ogden, Utah, and made it an im- portant factor in the development of Colorado and the west, as well as in trans- continental traffic. The Rio Grande Western furnishes another striking example of the constructive genius, and efficient management, of Colonel Dodge, for many years its vice president and general manager. This road was later sold to, and consolidated with, the Denver & Rio Grande, and with one or both of these lines, Colonel Dodge had been continuously connected for thirty years.
In 1885 he went to Mexico to manage the affairs of the Mexican National Rail- way. He became its second vice president in 1887. 'By the completion of long links and much extension the road developed into one of the two main trunk lines between Mexico City and the United States border. With his return to Colorado he entered upon the work of improving and making the Rio Grande & Western a standard gauge road and lived to see the fulfilment of his dreams through the extension of railway lines into all sections of the state. An incident in connection with the retirement of Colonel Dodge
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from his many years of railroad building and management may here be cited as an interesting sidelight showing the character and fairness of the man, and his willing- ness to share the fruits of his success with those who aided in bringing about a realization of his business ideals. When the sale of the Denver & Rio Grande had been consummated, one million dollars of the amount received was, at the wish and suggestion of General Palmer, cheerfully approved of by George Foster Peabody and Colonel Dodge, divided among the former employes of the system, from the humblest to the most exalted, and in amounts proportionate with the years of service and the importance of the service rendered-a just and generous recognition of loyal assistance, a graceful acknowledgment, too often withheld by our successful men.
In 1901, Colonel Dodge concluded to retire from active life and for some time was not identified with any railway enterprises, but indolence and idleness were utterly foreign to his nature and in 1902 he began the erection of the magnificent Shirley Hotel, which is one of the finest hostelries of the west. He was afterward the head of the Shirley Investment Company and devoted much of his time to the hotel business. He also became active in the construction of the plant of the Great Western Sugar Com- pany at Loveland, the plant of the Western Packing Company at Denver and of the Denver Union Water Company. He also owned extensive and valuable realty holdings not only in Denver but throughout Colorado, his possessions including the Shirley stock farm, adjacent to Fort Logan and not far from Denver. This is one of the most valuable and splendidly equipped dairy farms in the state. In 1908 Mr. Dodge became associated with the extension of the Moffat Railroad from Denver to Steam- boat Springs, Colorado, one of the most important engineering feats ever accomplished in the mountain regions of the American continent and one of the most beautiful scenic railroads in the world. He was planning for the reconstruction of the Moffat Road and for tunnel building almost with his last breath. The Denver Times said of him: "An adequate delineation of Colonel Dodge's Colorado career cannot be written in a few lines, nor can his value to Colorado and to Denver be summed up. Interested in everything that stood for the west and its good, he spent his entire life in laying the foundation of the great prosperity now enjoyed hy the Rocky Moun- tain section. His fight for fair rates was only one of the great struggles he began for the benefit of Colorado it will be the only one he did not complete, however. Colonel Dodge's strength of character, his world views on all subjects, his kindness, his intense Americanism made him a power felt and revered throughout the country. Quiet, undemonstrative, shunning the frivolous and bending every effort always toward the common good of his state and his fellow citizens, he had a circle of friends that spread around the globe. Among them he numbered famous generals, pioneers and frontiersmen, bankers and leaders in every walk of life."
Colonel Dodge cared nothing for society in the generally accepted sense of the term. He was a lover of home and his interest centered there. In New York city, in 1859, Colonel Dodge was married to Miss Emily K. Oatman, who passed away in Denver in 1897, and to them were born two children, Mary, deceased, and a son, George B. Dodge, who was born in Iowa and passed away in Denver, leaving three children: Lieutenant D. C. Dodge, who is now with the American army in France; Jolin B. Dodge and Mrs. Carroll T. Brown. In 1899, in Normal, Illinois, Colonel Dodge was again married, his second union being with Miss Nannie O. Smith, who was long a successful teacher in the East Denver high school and who survives him. A highly cultured woman of keen mentality and innate refinement, this union proved a most happy one and Colonel Dodge found in her a willing helpmate in full sympathy with his hopes and aspirations. Her years of labor in educational work had developed in her a broadness of vision and the ability to visualize the details of complex business problems, with the result that during their entire wedded life, he made her his closest confidant. His business plans and undertakings were discussed with her, and it is difficult, if not wholly impossible, to correctly gauge the exact extent to which her sound judg. ment and counsel may have had part in aiding his success, even as it is likewise difficult to measure the extent of her influence in shaping the mind and moulding the character of the students under her guidance during her school work, and who have become the active men and women of today. A further exemplification of perfect confidence in her business judgment and sagacity was given by Colonel Dodge when he named her, in his will, executrix of his estate.
Mrs. Dodge has also taken a quiet, though none the less earnest, interest in literary work and other activities of the day. As a writer, she has contributed articles to the press, on subjects of interest, that have attracted favorable notice. She is the author of a most interesting treatise on the Shakespeare-Bacon controversy-(published
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by The Wahlgreen Press, Denver, 1916)-which for careful analysis and sound reason- ing, coupled with lucid expression, shows a comprehensive grasp of a perplexing cryp- togram.
Colonel Dodge held membership in the Unity church. He was deeply interested in all that concerned the welfare and upbuilding of the west and there are few who have contributed in greater measure to advancement and development in Colorado and that section of the country than he. The importance of his labors cannot be overestimated, for railroad building is the one indispensable feature in opening up vast areas to development and settlement. His work cannot be adequately measured until the pro- jects which he instituted have reached their full fruition in the state's development. Colonel Dodge passed away in Denver after an illness of only four days, on which occasion the Rocky Mountain News of July 20, 1918, wrote: "Amid the hills which kindled the fire of lifelong enthusiasm in the heart of a master builder, whose material accomplishments were the fulfilment of great dreams, spun for the commonwealth he loved as he loved no other, Denver will say farewell today to a devoted friend. For Colonel David Child Dodge, patriarch of big accomplishments, is dead. At the hour of four o'clock the last rites over the earthly body of this man who has spanned the ravines and climbed the steep mountain sides of the Rockies with railroads, and in whose shadow he is to lie, will be held. But the man of life, vigor and friendship will not die. His friends, who through pure affection for his sterling views of life christened him 'Colonel' Dodge, will carry his memory. The miles of railroads that stretch across the state will long remain a monument to a true vision and a sound judgment."
When the history is written, Of the good state Colorado, With the names of Hunt and Palmer, Men who gave the state its greatness, D. C. Dodge's name will ever Stand among them for his wisdom; For his worth so quiet, useful, For his judgment, sane, impartial, For his kindness, strong and manly. And if in the distant future Men should cease his name to mention, Still the work he did so wisely, Will remain to bless the people. Better far than shaft or statue Made of bronze, and raised for glory. For it helps mankind, his brothers, Blesses state and town and city.
DELPH E. CARPENTER.
Delph E. Carpenter, who is a member of the Greeley bar and has aided in framing the laws of the state as a member of the general assembly, was born on the Carpenter homestead, near Greeley, Colorado, May 13, 1877. He is the second son of Leroy S. and Martha A. (Bennett) Carpenter, who are mentioned elsewhere in this work. He spent his early life upon the farm and in active connection with the live stock business, attend- ing the Greeley public schools and graduated from the Greeley high school with the class of 1896. He then entered the College of Liberal Arts of the University of Denver and in 1899 graduated from the School of Law of that institution with the degree of LL. B. He was admitted to the bar of Colorado immediately thereafter. Prior to his admission he was the trial attorney in justice court work for the office in Denver, in which he was serving his clerkship and upon admission he immediately commenced the practice of his profession in Greeley, where he has since remained. Immediately after his admission he devoted the first year of his professional career to litigation involving the famous Currier estate of Weld county, and thereafter engaged in a general practice but became more and more identified with irrigation litigation and in June, 1911, was engaged as directing counsel in the case of Wyoming vs. Colorado, involving the waters of the Laramie river, and since that time his practice has been devoted almost exclusively to irrigation litigation. He has been the managing and directing counsel on interstate litigation between Nebraska and Colorado appropriators involving the waters of the South Platte river since the commencement of that litigation and is identified as counsel with
DELPH E. CARPENTER
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a large number of irrigation enterprises of the South Platte drainage and somewhat with enterprises on the upper Arkansas river. He was identified with the Wyoming litigation through four political administrations, wrote the major portion of the 1916 brief and Volume One of the 1917 brief presented to the United States supreme court in that case and participated in the oral argument.
Notwithstanding his professional career he has always been identified with the farm- ing and live stock interests of Weld county and is the owner of a considerable tract of agricultural and grazing lands in the Crow Creek valley fifteen miles east of Greeley and was the moving spirit in the construction of The North Side Extension Canal built for the irrigation of that valley. During the past ten years he has built up one of the finest herds of pure Bates or Milking Shorthorn cattle in the west, which are run in connection with his ranch. He has always been identified both in profession and business with the agricultural and irrigation interests of northern Colorado.
On June 5, 1901, Mr. Carpenter was united in marriage with Miss Michaela Hogarty, the youngest daughter of Captain Michael J. Hogarty, U. S. A., and Sarah (Carr) Hogarty, who were natives of Ireland and of New York respectively. The Carpenter and Hogarty families were both identified with the Union colony and came to Colorado with that organization and invested and were largely, financially and otherwise, interested in the development of the Greeley district, contributing in a marked measure to its early progress and improvement. Captain Hogarty served throughout the Civil war, entering the army as a private, and at the close of the war was a lieutenant in the One Hundred and Forty-first New York Volunteer Infantry. He was then transferred into the regular army service with the same rank, serving in New York and Indian Territory until 1870, when he was retired from active service on account of a gun shot wound received in the eye during the Civil war. He joined the Union colony and located in Colorado, where he engaged in farming near Greeley for many years and finally in 1904 moved to National City, California, where he now resides and is actively identified with the affairs of that community. Mrs. Hogarty died at National City, California, January 10, 1918.
To Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter have been born four children: Michaela, Donald, Sarah and Martha.
Mr. Carpenter has always been identified with the republican party. He served as county attorney and as the first counsel of the town of Ault and also the town attorney for Eaton, Evans and other municipalities in Weld county. In 1908 he was elected as senator for the seventh senatorial district and served through the 1909, 1910, and 1911 sessions of the Colorado legislature and was the accredited republican leader of the senate during the 1911 session. During the 1909 session he was placed in charge of the affairs and work of the senate committee on agriculture and irrigation as well as serving as a member on the judiciary and other committees of that body. Before the close of the session he was appointed chairman of a special committee of three senators on irrigation investigation, particularly in relation to interstate streams ad interim and compiled the report written by that committee and included in the senate Journal of the 1911 session. His appoint- ment as chairman of this committee was made by a democratic senate and during a general democratic administration. During the 1911 session he championed the cause of the protection of the great irrigation reservoir interests of the farmers of Colorado in what came to be known as the "Carpenter Reservoir Bill," which caused protracted and bitter debate not only in both houses of the legislature, but later before the people when one of the sentences included in the bill as a compromise amendment was placed upon the ballot under the recently adopted referendum by the Direct Election League of Denver, who particularly desired to try out their reform on some agricultural meas- ure. He was from the close of the 1911 session of the legislature until the 1912 general election, almost weekly engaged, upon invitation, in addressing various farmers' gather- ings, business meetings and bar associations upon the question of the protection of the appropriations of water made by means of irrigation reservoirs as involved in the meas- ure under consideration and concluded his efforts in behalf of the interests of the irriga- tion farmers by preparing and presenting an elaborate brief upon the subject before the Colorado supreme court in a case then pending, where counsel for both sides conceded the correctness of the doctrine urged by Mr. Carpenter. The result of the referendum was the elimination of the compromise amendment to the original "Carpenter Reservoir Bill," thereby leaving the act as the law of the state without the encumbrance of the amendment. By the close of the campaign in favor of the general doctrine of protection of reservoir appropriations the public sentiment had become moulded in their favor and the law has since remained upon the statute books. Since the 1912 session, Mr. Car- penter has been called each session as an impartial adviser by the senate committee on agriculture and irrigation and has thereby exerted a continuing influence in behalf of
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legislation of benefit to the state and against revolutionary measures by means of which the agricultural and irrigation interests would have been injured or thrown into confu- sion. He has also during the past years acted as the confidential adviser from time to time of all the departments of state and irrespective of the political conditions obtaining and has held the confidence of state officials of all parties.
Mr. Carpenter was the first native born citizen of Colorado to be elected to the senate of the state. At thirty-six years of age he was made directing counsel on interstate litigation and recently at the age of forty-one has been unanimously endorsed, without his solicitation, by the republican assembly of his county as their choice for a candidate for the United States senate.
He is a member of the Local and State Bar Associations, is admitted to practice before all the courts of the United States as well as the courts of his own and adjoining states and the various departments of the national government. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Royal Arcanum, of which organization he was grand regent for a number of years. Although a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, he is a supporter of religious institutions in general. He is the secretary of The Union colony of Colorado and is identified with several live stock and agricultural organizations of the state.
JAMES N. WRIGHT.
James N. Wright is president of the firm of James N. Wright & Company, investment bankers of Denver, with offices in the First National Bank building. He has been at the head of this business since 1909 and through the intervening period the reliability of his business methods, his marked enterprise and sound judgment in investments have brought to him a very gratifying clientage. He is numbered among the native sons of Chicago; Illinois, born August 13, 1878. His father, Abner Miles Wright, was a native of Vermont and belonged to one of the old families of that state of English lineage. He became a successful grain dealer of Chicago and a member of the Chicago Board of Trade, with which he was thus identified in 1859. He continued active in the grain business in that city for many years and following his death his sons continued the business until 1903. He was very prominent in republican politics and was a candidate for mayor of the city, running against Carter H. Harrison, Sr .; at his second election as the candidate on a fusion ticket. He was a member of the "old guard" which stood stanchly for the nomination of U. S. Grant for the presidency on fifty-six ballots in 1868, being a national committeeman and was prominent in national politics as well as in municipal affairs in Chicago. It was Mr. Wright who instituted the fight on bucket shops in that city which later led to their abolition, and he stood at all times for high standards in business affairs and public life. He passed away in Chicago in 1890, at the age of fifty-nine years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Helen Sophia Hickox, was a native of Ohio, where her ancestors settled at an early day. The family is of English lineage, the ancestry being traced also back to Lord Pemberton, of the famous Pemberton family of Ireland, who was lord chief justice of the king's bench in Ireland and presided at the trial of the famous Rye House plot, which is one of the historic treason plots of England. Mrs. Wright passed away in Florida, November 30, 1916, at the age of seventy- four years. In the family were three children, of whom Charles H. Wright is now a resident of Evanston, Illinois. while Halle is the wife of Judge T. P. Warlow, of Orlando, Florida.
James N. Wright, the youngest of the family, pursued his education in the public schools of Chicago and in the John B. Stetson University at De Land, Florida. When his textbooks were put aside he entered the grain business in connection with his brother. under the firm style of A. M. Wright & Company, and was thus engaged until 1904, when he turned his attention to the bond business in Chicago, there remaining an active factor in financial circles until 1908, when attracted by the opportunities of the west, he came to Denver. The following year he established his present business, which was incorporated in 1913 under the name of James N. Wright & Company, invest- ment bankers. He has been the head of the company since its establishment, directing its policy and shaping its interests. He has had long and valuable experience in this field and is a man of notably sound judgment and keen sagacity.
On the 4th of October. 1906, in Chicago, Illinois, Mr. Wright was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Smith Rollo, a native of Chicago and a daughter of William F. and Mary Rollo. Her father is one of the oldest insurance men in Chicago, where the family
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has long resided. To Mr. and Mrs. Wright have been born four children: Mary Rollo, who was born in Chicago in 1907; James N., born in Chicago, January 13, 1909; Pem- berton, born in Denver, November 20, 1912; and Helen Sophia, born in Denver in 1916.
Mr. Wright is still a member of the Union League Club of Chicago, while in Denver he has membership with the Denver Club, the Denver Country Club, the Mile High Club and the Cactus Club. He is also a member of the Chamber of Commerce and of the Denver Bond Dealers Association. He stands very high in business circles, enjoying the respect and confidence of colleagues and contemporaries, and his opinions in large measure carry weight. In politics he maintains an independent course, voting according to the dictates of his judgment with little regard for party ties. Fraternally he is a Mason, holding membership in lodge, chapter and commandery. He was president of the Denver Country Club in 1917, has been president of the Mile High Club since the 1st of January, 1918, and is a member of the board of governors of the Investment Bankers Association of America.
WILLIAM V. HODGES.
For almost twenty years William V. Hodges has been engaged in the practice of law in Denver, entering upon his professional career here following his graduation from Columbia University Law School. He came to the city well equipped by pro- fessional training for his chosen life work, and thoroughness and earnestness have marked him in the later years of his practice. He has ever prepared his cases with great thoroughness and care, and the tenacity with which he defends the right as he sees it and his ability to accurately apply legal principles to the points at issue have been among the salient features in his growing success. Mr. Hodges is a native of New York. He was born at Westville, Otsego county, on the 6th of July, 1877, and is a son of George L. Hodges, who was also born in the Empire state and is descended from an old Massachusetts family of English origin that was founded in America by William Hodges, who came from England in 1643 and settled at Taunton, Massachusetts. William V. Hodges of this review is a descendant in the eighth generation of William Hodges, the progenitor of the family in the new world. His ancestors throughout colonial days as well as later periods were characterized by a spirit of marked patriotism and loyalty and several served in official capacities during the period of colonial and Revolutionary wars with distinction and honor. His grandfather, James L. Hodges, became a leading and distinguished citizen of Colorado, where he exercised considerable influence as a representative of the republican party. The life record of George L. Hodges, the father, is treated in more detail on other pages of this work.
William V. Hodges was a lad of about eleven years when the family removed to Denver, so that his education, begun in the schools of Westville, New York, was con- tinued in this city. He passed through consecutive grades to the high school and was graduated from the East Denver high school with the class of 1895. Having determined to make the practice of law his life work, he then entered the Columbia University Law School and won his LL. B. degree upon graduation with the class of 1899. Whether inherited tendency, natural predilection or environment had most to do with his choice of a profession, it is perhaps impossible to determine, but it is a recognized fact that the choice was wisely made, for since starting upon his professional career he has made steady progress. He entered upon practice in association with his father, George L. Hodges, and D. Edgar Wilson, under the firm style of Hodges, Wilson & Hodges, an association that was maintained until 1904. In that year the junior partner withdrew and became associated with Clayton C. Dorsey in forming the firm of Dorsey & Hodges. This partnership existed until 1911, since which time Mr. Hodges has practiced alone. He has not specialized along a single branch of the profession, but has continued in general practice and has been accorded a large and distinctively representative clientage that has brought him into close connection with much important litigation tried in the courts of the district. He holds membership in the Denver City and County Bar As- sociation, the Colorado State Bar Association and the American Bar Association. He is continually studying along the line of his profession and his knowledge is compre- hensive and exact.
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