History of Colorado; Volume II, Part 20

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

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Jean Garrigues died a few years after his emigration to The Netherlands, being survived by his widow, and to this union three sons were born. François, born in France, was married at The Hague to Marguerite du Quenet (Duguenois), emigrated in 1713 or 1714 with his wife and children to St. Christopher, West Indies, and at a later period to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but this branch (François) became extinct in

HON. JAMES E. GARRIGUES

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Europe and the United States of America in the next generation. Pierre G., the second son, had no descendants, but is supposed to have emigrated' to Philadelphia. Mattheu (Matthew) Garrigues, the third in the family, is the great-great-great-grand- father of our subject.

Matthew Garrigues was born in France and in October, 1701, admitted as a mem- ber of the Reformed Communion at The Hague by testimony of the Church of Langue- doc. On May 28, 1702, he was married at The Hague to Suzanne Rochet (Roche), who was also born in France and in 1713 or 1714 emigrated with their children to St. Christopher, on the Isle of Martinique, West Indies, and at a later period removed from there to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During the first half of the eighteenth century they kept the Prince Eugene Inn at Philadelphia. He died in 1743 and is buried in Christ Church Ground, Tenth and Arch streets, Philadelphia. Matthew Garrigues had the following children: Marguerite Jeanne; François, born in 1704; Pierre; Samuel, born in the United States later than 1714; and Jacob Garrigues, Sr., the great-great-grandfather of James E. Garrigues.

Jacob Garrigues, Sr., who was born in 1716, died May 12, 1798, in Morris county, New Jersey. There is some doubt as to whether he was born in St. Christopher, West Indies, or in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but it is known that he moved to Morris county, New Jersey, from Philadelphia. The ancestral home was near Rockaway, New Jersey. Jacob Garrigues, Sr., who died in Morris county, New Jersey, had the follow- ing children: David, Nancy, Isaac, Rebecca, Hannah, Sarah, Mary, and Jacob Garrigues, Jr., who was the great-grandfather of our subject. David, Isaac, Jacob and John of the above children were in Captain Gaston's Company and also in Captain Joshua Hall's Company in the Revolutionary war.

Jacob Garrigues, Jr., was born in 1753 and died May 1, 1830. He married Mary -, who died March 1, 1824. He had the following children: Daniel, a farmer, who had several sons and daughters and died in New Jersey at the age of eighty years: Elias, who was a blacksmith and whose death occurred in New Jersey; John Purson, also a blacksmith, who moved to Illinois and died about 1854; and James, grandfather of Judge Garrigues.

James Garrigues, a school teacher by profession, was born and reared in New Jersey and died in Indiana at the age of sixty-four years and eight days. He was buried back of the Baptist church at Hogan Hill, on Manchester state road. The church is now removed and the graveyard has been abandoned. He married Elizabeth Godding, who died February 22, 1870, at the age of seventy-nine years and fifteen days. James Garrigues had the following children, all born in New Jersey. Mabel, born July 8. 1812, first married Jackson, by whom she had several childreu, and following his death she wedded Samuel Conger. They had a family of two children, Arthur and May, and resided at Manchester, Dearborn county, Indiana. Jacob Henry was born December 25, 1813, and died April 7, 1838. Amzi G., born June 13, 1819, lived on a plantation in Winston county, Mississippi, having gone south when quite young. Mary, born April 8, 1821, married Austin Whitehead and her death occurred in Ripley county, Indiana. She was the mother of five children, Harriett, Theresa, William, Israel and Theodore, all of whom are deceased. Joseph, born February 29, 1824, followed teach- ing and later was a farmer near Trenton, Illinois, and is now deceased. Israel, born May 8, 1828, was also a farmer residing near Trenton, Illinois, and is deceased. James Miller is the father of our subject. Elmer, born January 21, 1830, married Dorothy Noyce at Manchester, Indiana, and died in Kansas. The family of Elmer, including some daughters and three sons, John, James and Byrd, resided in Kansas City, Missouri. Byrd Garrigues had already attained prominence in railroad circles although he died when quite young. James was Pullman agent at Denver and was killed by a street car. Jolın married Jennie Garrigues, his cousin, a daughter of Israel Garrigues, and they removed from Kansas City to Los Angeles, California.

James Miller Garrigues, father of our subject, was born November 25, 1815, in Morris county, New Jersey. About 1836, when a young man, he settled on a farm at Manchester, in Dearborn county, Indiana. In his early youth he served an apprentice- ship to the harness trade in Newark, New Jersey, and later was a farmer and also a school teacher, being secretary of the board of education of his community. He made his home at Manchester, Dearborn county, Indiana, until his death. His wife was Harriet Tuthill and they had the following children: Henry G., who was killed during the Civil war while. serving as a member of the Seventh Indiana Cavalry: Amzi, an Indiana farmer; Dr. Israel Dayton, a practicing physician of Brookville, Indiana: Fannie, the widow of Charley Carpenter; Harriet, a school teacher, who is the widow of Frank Redmond and resides at Beaumont, California, with her two children, Frank and Katharine; and James Edward.

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James E. Garrigues was born October 6, 1852, at Manchester, Dearborn county, Indiana. He received his early education in the country schools, which he attended three months out of each year until he was eighteen years of age, working upon the farm during the other nine months. As farm work did not seem to hold for him sufficient interest to make it his life work, he then entered a Methodist college at Moores Hill, Indiana, pursuing his studies so ardently that he was able to complete three years' work in two. He then left college and began to teach school at Delaware, Ripley county, Indiana, where he remained for one year. From there he went to Trenton, Illinois, to the home of his uncle, Joseph Garrigues, and for six years he taught country schools in Illinois. During his vacations he read law in the office of G. Vanhoorebeeke at Car- lisle, Clinton county, Illinois, who afterward located at Grand Junction, Colorado. In 1876 he removed to Malvern, Mills county, lowa, where he was principal of the public schools. Another removal brought him to Glenwood, in the same state, where he con- tinued his law reading in the office of D. H. Solomon, and in 1877 he was admitted to the bar. He then went to St. Louis, Missouri, where he held a position in the general offices of the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railroad, continuing there until 1880, when he was appointed local counsel for the Wabash Road for southwest Iowa, his head- quarters being at Malvern, that state. In this connection he gained wide and valuable experience in corporation law-experience which stood him in good stead later on. He remained in Malvern until February 22, 1883, when he removed to Greeley, Colorado, on account of his wife's health, and there he successfully continued in practice, readily demonstrating his ability and continually improving his opportunities. He became thoroughly experienced and as his knowledge grew his clientage increased and luis standing among the men of his profession was more and more established. This may be readily recognized from the fact that he was elected district attorney for the eighth judicial district, continuing in that office until 1894 by reelection, serving two terms. He then again took up the private practice of law, forming a partnership with Elbert C. Smith, but on March 26, 1903, during the administration of Governor Peabody, he was appointed judge of the district court for the eighth district and served until the next general election, when he was chosen by popular suffrage to fill out an unexpired term. At the expiration of this term, in 1906, he was again nominated and elected for the full term. In 1910 Judge Garrigues was elected one of the judges of the supreme court of Colorado for a term of ten years and is therefore still serving in the position. His eminent fitness for the office, his judicial, well trained mind and his general qualifi- cations give weight to his opinions, rendered in the highest tribunal of the state. Step by step he has gained one of the highest legal positions in the state and his success is entirely attributable to his unswerving allegiance to the righteousness of the law." Many of the most important decisions of the supreme court have been rendered by Judge Garrigues in conjunction with his fellow judges and his impress upon the legal history of the state is indelihly written.

Judge Garrigues was married May 3, 1880, to Clara L. Boehner at Malvern, Iowa. She died March 25, 1896, and six children were born of this union. Helen Jeannette, the eldest, became the wife of L. W. McGrew, of Tabernash, Colorado, and has two sons, James and Mac McGrew. Georgia, the next of the family, is deceased. Dwight Stanley makes his home at Zamboanga, in the Philippine islands. Edith hecame the wife of David Painter, now residing at Telluride, Colorado, aud they have two chil- dren, David Sievert and Dwight Painter. Grace married Ross Phillippi, resides at Portland, Oregon, and has a son, Ross Phillippi, Jr. Edna became the wife of Kenneth Luman, of Salt Lake City, Utah, and their home is now in Big Piney, Wyoming, where he is engaged in the cattle business. They have one daughter, Phylis J. On January 19, 1911, Judge Garrigues married Alice Roberts, of Greeley, Colorado. Botlı take a most prominent part in the social life of Denver and their home is renowned for hospitality and good cheer. They take a deep interest in the moral, mental and material progress of the city and are connected with a number of movements which have to do with general uplift and the general welfare.

Judge Garrigues is very prominent fraternally, having membership with the Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Elks. He was made a Mason in Trenton Lodge, No. 109, A. F. & A. M., of Trenton, Illinois, in 1873, and after re- moving to Greeley joined Occidental Lodge, No. 20, in which he passed through all the chairs and served for two years as worshipful master. After removing to Denver to take his place on the supreme bench he took all the Scottishi Rite degrees, thus be- coming a thirty-second degree Consistory Mason. He is likewise a member of El Jehel Temple of the Mystic Shrine and he was elected the first exalted ruler of Greeley Lodge, No. 809, B. P. O. E., serving in the office for two terms. His military record

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covers three years as a member of the First Regiment of the Colorado National Guard. He enlisted on the 27th of July, 1885, and was honorably discharged on the expiration of his three years' term. There is much credit due him for what he has achieved, for he has attained the high position which he occupies entirely through his own efforts. Coming of an ancient and distinguished family, he has again raised its escutcheon to a place of distinction and is an honor to a name which has been prominently connected with American and European history.

PETER SEERIE.

Peter Seerie, member of the firm of Seerie & Varnum, contractors of Denver, was born in Dundee, Scotland, February 27, 1880, a son of Edward R. and Margaret (Duff) Seerie, who came to America in that year. They made their way to Denver and the father is now living retired in this city, but the mother passed away in Denver, May 11, 1917. The family numbered eleven children, three of whom have departed this life. Those who survive are: Mrs. Elizabeth Findlay, Mrs. James Knox, Mrs. Charles Hall and Mrs. W. E. Russell, all of Denver; Mrs. Isabella Miller, of Dundee, Scotland; Edward, a Denver contractor, and Captain John D. Seerie of the United States Army. One son, David D. Seerie, who died December 23, 1917, was a prominent contractor. An extended sketch of him appears elsewhere in this work. William Smith Seerie died in Denver in 1907.

Peter Seerie of this review was next to the youngest child in order of birth. In early life he attended the public schools of Denver, after which he entered the old Central Business College. Two years later he entered business with his brother as a contractor, becoming superintendent of work, and later he formed a partnership with Mr. Varnum, organizing the firm of Seerie & Varnum. During the existence of this firm they have erected many prominent buildings, including the county court house at Greeley, Colorado, and a number of sugar factories throughout the state. They were also the builders of the North Denver high school, of the First National Bank building at Lewiston, Mon- tana; the building of the Prewitt Reservoir Company at Merino, Colorado, and others of equal prominence. The firm is now engaged on a big government contract -- the build- ing of the base hospital at Aurora, one of the suburbs of Denver. They also laid the foundation for the Colfax-Larimer viaduct in Denver.

On the 7th of June, 1909, Mr. Seerie was married to Miss Elsa Himmilheber, of Denver, whose parents were pioneer people of the city, where her father was engaged in the contracting business. Mr. and Mrs. Seerie have two children: Margaret Frieda, born in Denver in 1911, and David Duff, born in Denver in 1916.

In politics Mr. Seerie maintains an independent course, voting for men and measures rather than party. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons, having membership with both the York and Scottish rites. A self-made man, his advancement in business has been the direct outcome of his individual capability, earnestness and thoroughness. He has mastered every detail of the builder's art, and the importance of the contracts accorded him indicates to what success and prominence he has attained since taking up contracting work on his own account.

ALONZO B. ULLERY.

Alonzo B. Ullery, attorney at law of Denver, was born in Montgomery county, New York, near Fort Plain, December 17, 1854, a son of Henry B. and Elizabeth (Schramm) Ullery, both of whom were natives of the Empire state, where they spent their entire lives. In early manhood the father took up the occupation of farming and thus pro- vided for the support of the members of his household. He died in the year 1883, hav- ing for five years survived his wife, who passed away in 1878. In their family were four children: Alonzo B .; Mrs. Nancy K. Pollard, living in Asotin, Washington; Mrs. Mary E. Failing, a resident of Ottawa, Illinois; and Jacob G., whose home is in Brattle- boro, Vermont.

After mastering the branches of learning taught in the public schools of his native town Alonzo B. Ullery attended the Fort Plain Seminary, pursuing a teacher's course. He decided, however, not to give his attention to the profession of teaching and became connected with the Fort Plain Spring & Axle Works. While thus employed he studied

PETER SEERIE

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law in the evenings, while later he attended the Albany Law School, from which he was graduated on the 25th of May, 1880. On the 1st of October of that year he arrived in Denver, where he entered upon the practice of his profession, and through the inter- vening years he has made for himself a position in the front ranks of the leading attor- neys of this city. He has been connected with much important litigation and he dis- plays marked ability in handling the cases entrusted to his care, while his devotion to his clients' interests has become proverbial.

On the 5th of June, 1892, Mr. Ullery was united in marriage to Mrs. Emma Conrad, of Denver, the widow of John W. Conrad. They have had no children of their own, but reared a niece and a nephew of Mrs. Ullery whose mother died during their infancy and to whom Mr. and Mrs Ullery have been as own parents, giving them every advantage which they would have extended to their own children. They are as follows: Hector F. Johnson, who was born and educated in Denver, was a gun pointer on the United States Ship California of the United States Navy and put in four years in that service. He is now a resident of Denver. He has three sons, William, Charles and Hector, Jr. The adopted daughter is Mrs. Darline E. Koskoff, who was educated in Denver and is a musician of superior ability. By her marriage she has become the mother of a son, Grant Lynn Koskoff.

Mr. and Mrs. Ullery attend the Baptist church, of which the latter is a member, and fraternally the former has for a quarter of a century been connected with the Knights of Pythias. He has concentrated his efforts and attention chiefly upon his law practice, and in a profession where advancement depends entirely upon individual merit he has made steady progress.

WILLIAM O. DARNELL.

William O. Darnell is proprietor of a meat market in Windsor, Weld county, in which connection he has built up a substantial business. He was born near Des Moines, Iowa, April 6, 1866, and is a son of Thomas Darnell, who was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1829. The father was a farmer by occupation. On coming to Colorado in 1882 he settled at Fort Collins and in 1901 removed to Windsor. The latter's grandfather was a native of France, from which country he was driven at the time of stress and persecution during the last half of the eighteenth century. He crossed the Atlantic, becoming a resident of South Carolina about 1800, and later went to Indianapolis and was instrumental in freeing a number of slaves whom he had brought from the south. The great-grandmother of William O. Darnell on the maternal side was born in Germany and came to the United States in early life, settling in Ohio, near Columbus. Later representatives of the family removed to Illinois and subsequently to lowa. The family was represented in the Black Hawk war. In the year 1861 Thomas Darnell and his family removed to Iowa, establishing their home near Des Moines, and it was in that locality that William O. Darnell was born five years later. He acquired his early educa- tion in the public schools of Des Moines and was graduated therefrom at the age of nineteen years. After leaving school he carried on farming for a few years on his father's land and then purchased a farm, of which he became owner about 1891. This comprised one hundred and sixty acres of land in Larimer county, Colorado, upon which he engaged in feeding stock. He afterward sold that property to the Fossil Creek Res- ervoir Company in 1901 and it was made the site of a large reservoir. Later he removed to Windsor, purchasing a tract of land a half mile west of the town. This he occupied until 1907, when he sold the property and purchased his present meat market, since which time he has conducted a successful and growing business.

In Iowa, in 1887, William O. Darnell was united in marriage to Miss Ella E. Williams, a daughter of John and Kathryn Williams, the former a farmer who died many years ago. Mrs. Williams is still living in Fort Collins and is now eighty-four years of age. To Mr. and Mrs. Darnell have been born two sons. Otis L., born in 1888, became a mechanical engineer and was employed by the Great Western Sugar Company at Windsor. where he met with an accident in 1915, losing his right arm. He is now associated with his father in business. He was married in March. 1917, to Evangeline Roberts. Law- rence Charles Darnell, the second son, was born in 1907 and is attending the public schools.

In politics Mr. Darnell is a stalwart republican but not an office seeker. He belongs to the Methodist church and. also has membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. He is a conservative and dependable business man, pleasant in manner. kindly in

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disposition and thoroughly reliable in all of his transactions. He has never sought to figure prominently in any public connection, preferring to devote his leisure hours to the enjoyment of the society of his family at his own fireside.

MRS. NANNIE S. REYNOLDS.

Colorado has occupied a position of leadership on many important public questions. She was among the first states to give the right of public franchise to women and call them to her public offices, where they have in many instances most acceptably and capably served. The interests of Larimer county have been most efficiently promoted through the efforts of Miss Nannie S. Murchison in her position as county clerk and recorder, to which she was called by appointment in October, 1910, and since the expira- tion of her first term election has kept her in the position.

Miss Nannie S. Murchison was born in Kewanee, Illinois, and is a daughter of Dun- can L. and Maria (North) Murchison, the former a native of Scotland, while the latter was born in Illinois and was of English lineage. Duncan L. Murchison came to America when a little lad of but six years in company with his parents, his father being one of the first settlers of Henry county, Illinois. He invested there in land and at one time owned about half of the county and extensively engaged in farming in that section of the state throughout his remaining days. His son, Duncan L., also became an agricul- turist. He was reared and educated in Henry county and when old enough to assume the responsibility began farming on his own account. He purchased land, which he developed and improved, and as the years passed he won a very substantial measure of success through his intelligently directed agricultural interests. He finally retired from active business, rented his farm and in 1904 removed to Greeley, Colorado, with the intention of locating permanently there, but after a very short illness passed away in March, 1905, when fifty-nine years of age. He had for a considerable period survived his wife, whose death occurred in November, 1889.

Their daughter, Nannie S. Murchison, was reared and educated in Henry county, Illinois, and for three years in early womanhood taught music in Des Moines and in Adel, Iowa. She then went to Chicago for the further study of piano music, to which she gave her attention for some time, but was called to Colorado on account of the death of her father in 1905 and has always remained in this state. In that year she took up her abode in Fort Collins, where she entered the employ of the Fort Collins Abstract Company, with which she continued until October, 1910, save that during that period she was absent for a year in Europe, where she was studying music in 1906-7. In connection with her duties as an employe of the Abstract Company she also taught piano, being recognized as one of the leading music instructors of the county. In October, 1910, she was appointed deputy county clerk and recorder of Larimer county and after occupying the position for four years was elected to the office and has since served, most efficiently discharging the duties of the position.

On the 22d of August, 1917, Miss Nannie S. Murchison became the bride of Howard S. Reynolds, a well known violinist and teacher in the Conservatory of Music, a depart- ment of the Colorado Agricultural College. Mr. Reynolds is a native son of Colorado, his parents being William and Hattie (Nash) Reynolds, who were pioneer settlers of this state and now reside at Boulder. Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds are very prominent in the social and musical circles of Fort Collins. Her political allegiance is given to the democratic party. She is the only representative of the party who has held the office of county clerk and recorder in Larimer county in thirty years and her efficiency is indi- cated by her reelection to the position which she is now filling.

CHESTER C. BENNETT.

Chester C. Bennett, president of the Western Securities Investment Company, of Den- ver, was born May 25, 1865. in Lima, Rock county, Wisconsin. His father, George Bennett, was a native of New York, where the family settled at an early day hut prior to that settlement was made by his ancestors in Vermont. George Bennett was a successful agriculturist and stock raiser of Rock county, Wisconsin, for many years, having cast in his lot with its pioneer residents in the year 1850. There he remained a respected and valued citizen of the community for his remaining years. passing away in

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1913 at the age of eighty-five. In early manhood he wedded Susan F. Osmond, also a native of the state of New York and of English parentage. She passed away at the old homestead in Rock county, which she occupied for more than fifty-five years, her death occurring in 1915, when she had passed the eighty-fourth milestone on life's journey.

The family numbered five sons, of whom Chester C. Bennett was the fourth in order of birth. He mastered the elementary branches of learning in the district schools near his father's home and afterward attended Milton College in Rock county, Wisconsin. His early life to the age of eighteen years was spent upon the home farm and through the periods of vacation he assisted in the work of the fields, early becom- ing familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. His first vocation after leaving home was that of teaching, which profession he followed in Rock county for about eighteen months. He next entered the mercantile business on his own account at Janesville, Wisconsin, in 1888 and there he continued until 1892, when he turned his attention to the real estate and farm loan business, con- tinuing successful operations in that field for some time. He not only engaged in buying and selling property on his own account but also handled real estate for others and likewise engaged in business as a merchandise broker, buying and selling established mercantile enterprises until January 13, 1902. The opportunities of the west attracted him and at the date mentioned he arrived in Denver. He has since figured prominently in financial circles of this city. He was one of the directors in full charge of the investments for the Colorado National Life Insurance Com- pany and continued in that company until the business was sold in 1912. Soon there- after he established and incorporated the Western Securities Investment Company, of which he became the president, and has so served to the present time. The com- pany today controls one of the largest businesses of the kind in the west and has many clients not only in Colorado but throughout neighboring states. Mr. Bennett and his associate officers are thoroughly informed concerning property values and securities of all kinds and are thus able to assist their clients in making judicious and profitable investments, bringing ready returns for their money. Mr. Bennett is also treasurer and a director of the Eastern Colorado Farm Loan Company and president of the Bennett-Bradford Ranch Company. He has displayed notable enter- prise and keen discernment in the conduct of his affairs and is a close student of everything in any way related to the business. He is constantly watching the trend of the times along business lines and his intelligently directed effort has placed him in a conspicuous, successful and enviable position in financial circles.

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History of Colorado; Volume II, Part 20

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