History of Colorado; Volume II, Part 23

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

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On the 1st of October, 1905, Mr. Hubbell was married to Miss Theodora Cronkhite and they have become the parents of two children: Clara Jean, born December 21, 1906; and Theodora Evelyn, born March 13, 1910.

Mr. and Mrs. Hubbell are faithful members of the Episcopal church, and he votes with the democratic party. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons and the Elks and loyally adheres to the teachings and purposes of those organizations. Aside from his duties as postmaster he has some business interests, handling real estate and loans and acting as notary public. He has been a lifelong resident of Weld county and for forty years has been a witness of its growth and development, watching its transforma- tion from a wild western frontier district into one of the populous and prosperous counties of the state.

FRANK M. BUTCHER.

Prominent and honored among the business men of Denver is Frank M. Butcher. who occupies a leading position in financial circles as president of the Denver Stock Yards Bank. Well defined plans and carefully executed purposes have brought him to his present position through the steps of an orderly progression. Liberal educational opportunities qualified him for life's practical and responsible duties, and obstacles and difficulties in his path have seemed but to serve as an impetus for renewed effort on his part. Mr. Butcher is a native of Iowa, his birth having occurred in Villisca on the 12th of August, 1875. His parents were Preston and Mary (McCollum) Butcher. The father was born in Ohio, as was the paternal grandfather. For many years Preston Butcher devoted his life to general agricultural pursuits but is now living retired. His wife was born in Preston county, West Virginia, and has passed away. In their family were eight children who are yet living.

Frank M. Butcher acquired a public school education, supplemented by a course of study in the Kansas State University at Lawrence, Kansas, the family having removed to that state during his youthful days. For two years he engaged in farming in Kansas and for two years followed general merchandising there. His initial step in connection with the banking business was made at Blackwell, Oklahoma, where he entered a bank, in which he served as cashier for nine years. He then became national bank examiner in May, 1909, and continued to act in that capacity until the 1st of July, 1915, when he resigned to become identified with the Denver Stock Yards Bank as its cashier. He thus served until January, 1917, when he was elected to the presidency, and has since been at the head of the institution, concentrating his attention upon constructive effort. administrative direction and executive control. The bank has shown a steady growth throughout the entire period of his connection therewith. It is capitalized for one hun- dred thousand dollars, has surplus and undivided profits amounting to one hundred and twenty thousand, five hundred and twenty dollars, while its deposits have reached one million, eight hundred and sixty-seven thousand, two hundred and twenty-nine dollars. The other officers of the bank are: Henry Gebhard, vice president; Ira B. Casteel, vice president; W. Dale Clark, cashier, while James Brennan and Charles A. Gebhard. together with the officers, constitute the board of directors.

In June, 1901, Mr. Butcher was united in marriage to Miss Mary Allen, of Lawreuce, Kansas, and they now have a daughter, Mary, six years of age, who is attending school. Mr. Butcher is well known in Masonic circles, having taken the degrees of lodge. chapter and consistory. while with the Nobles of EI Jebel Temple of the Mystic Shrine he has crossed the sands of the desert. He is likewise prominent in the Knights of Pythias lodge, in which he has filled all of the chairs in both the subordinate and grand lodges. He turns to golf for recreation and his interest in community affairs is indicated in his membership in the Civic and Commercial Association. He is in hearty sympathy with its well defined plans and purposes for the upbuilding of Denver, its improvement along

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lines of municipal beauty and adornment, the extension of its trade relations and the upholding of those interests which are ever a matter of civic virtue and of civic pride. As a business man he deserves much credit for what he has accomplished, for he has been dependent upon his own resources from early manhood, and it has been through the utilization of the opportunities that have come to him, resulting in the development of talent and ability, that he has reached his present position as a foremost banker of Colorado's capital.

MELVILLE EMERSON PETERS.

Melville Emerson Peters, for twenty-four years a member of the Denver bar, came to the outset of his professional career in this city well equipped for the onerous duties of the profession by previous experience and with the passing years his powers have broadened and deepened and he is accounted one of the foremost representatives of the legal fraternity in this state. He was born in Hillsdale county, Michigan, on the 7th of March, 1867, and is a son of William J. and Roxey (Troop) Peters, both of whom were natives of the state of New York and have now passed away. They had a family of eight children, four of whom are living. The ancestral line can be traced back to a brother of the Rev. Hugh Peters, who was one of the founders of Harvard University.

The youthful days of Melville Peters were spent in the usual manner of lads of that locality and period. District school training was supplemented by a high school course in Coldwater, Michigan, in 1886 and 1887, after which he entered the University of Michigan for the study of law and was graduated with the class of 1891, at which time the LL. B. degree was conferred upon him. Admitted to the bar, he at once entered upon the practice of his profession in Coldwater, Michigan, where he remained for three years and then sought the broader field offered by a growing western city and became a resident of Denver. Here he has since concentrated his efforts and attention upon his practice. He is devotedly attached to his profession, is systematic and methodical in habits, sober and discreet in judgment, diligent in research and conscientious in the discharge of every duty.

In 1907 Mr. Peters was united in marriage to Miss Lola M. Johnson, of Illinois. He is appreciative of the social amenities of life and has membership in both the University and the Denver Athletic Clubs, while along the strict path of his profession he is con- nected with the Denver County and City Bar Association, the Colorado State Bar Association and the American Bar Association. He is a broadminded man, interested in everything that has to do with welfare and progress in his adopted city and cooperat- ing heartily in well defined plans and measures looking to the general good, while the zeal with which he has devoted his energies to his profession, the careful regard evinced for the interests of his clients and an assiduous and unrelaxing attention to all the details of his cases have brought him a large business and made him very successful in its conduct.

ORVILLE W. HAMPTON.

Orville W. Hampton, widely spoken of as a leading business man of Denver, is the president of the First National Bank of Englewood. He was born in Humphrey, Nebraska, June 8, 1888. His father, William A. Hampton, was a physician and surgeon, devoting his life to that profession until he turned his attention to the banking business. He was a native of Ohio and the son of an Ohio farmer who had formerly lived in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, before removing to the Buckeye state. The same pioneer spirit took William A. Hampton to the west and after living for some time in Nebraska he estab- lished his home in Denver, where he has now retired from active business. He married Emma Grigsby and she, too, survives. They have been residents of Denver since 1906 and are highly esteemed in this city, having an extensive circle of warm friends here.

Orville W. Hampton largely acquired his education in the public schools of Alliance, Nebraska, passing through consecutive grades to his graduation from the high school with the class of 1906, when he was a youth of eighteen years. The family then came to Denver and he became manager with the Denver Transportation Company. He later went to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and divided his time between Lancaster and Phila- delphia, where he was engaged in the jewelry and optical business for about three years. On the expiration of that period he removed to Newnan, Georgia, where he became man-

MELVILLE E. PETERS

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ager of a jewelry store, and later he became a resident of Yuma, Arizona, where he founded the Yuma National Bank, of which he became vice president and manager. He spent two years in that office, after which he became vice president of a live stock com- pany and devoted four years to these undertakings. He then transferred his activities to Los Angeles, California, where he was engaged in the brokerage business, having removed to the Pacific coast for the benefit of his health. He continued there for six months and then went to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and on his way back to the coast stopped at Denver. He established the Hampton Hardware & Furniture Company at Alamosa, Colorado, actively continuing in the business for four years. In October, 1916, he became identified with banking interests, becoming president of the First National Bank of Englewood. He has since figured prominently in financial circles in Denver and he is a member of the American Bankers Association and the Institute of American Bankers. He closely studies every question that has to do with the business and is actuated by a most progressive spirit in the conduct of the institution of which he is the head. He also has stock raising and farming interests, owning an excellent tract of land in the San Luis valley of Colorado. This is well irrigated and drained and upon it he has high grade stock.

Mr. Hampton is well known as a valued member of the Denver Athletic Club and also of the Lakewood Country Club. He is a Mason, having membership in Alamosa Lodge, A. F. & A. M., also in the chapter and commandery, and is a member of El Jebel Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He turns to golf for exercise, greatly enjoying a game on the links when his business interests permit. His has been an active and useful life, his efforts being resultant, and his success illustrates the possibilities for accomplishment through individual activity.

ALFRED C. CROFT.

Among the respected and valued citizens of Weld county is Alfred C. Croft, who has now attained the age of eighty years. He is an honored veteran of the Civil war, has been identified with the banking business at various points and has been actively engaged in farming in Weld county for a long period. He was born in Greenwich, Massachusetts, March 8, 1838, and is a son of Nathan and Adeline (Grant) Croft. Throughout his entire life the father followed farming, being at different times identified with agri- cultural pursuits in Massachusetts, Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin, and in connection with the tilling of the soil he engaged in raising live stock. His wife was an interested and active member of the Methodist church.

Alfred C. Croft, whose name introduces this review, pursued his education in the public and high schools of Greenwich, Massachusetts, and was graduated in December, 1854. The father removed with the family to Wisconsin and Alfred C. Croft took up business there as a farmer, continuing in the active work of the fields until July, 1861, when in response to the country's call for troops to preserve the Union he enlisted at Stoughton, Wisconsin, as a member of the Seventh Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He joined the army as a private but was made a non-commissioned officer, being appointed sergeant of his company, and finally he rose to the rank of captain. In the battle of South Mountain in Maryland he was wounded, losing the lower part of his left leg. He was carried to a hospital and there remained from the 16th of September. 1862, until the 21st of December, when by reason of his injuries he was honorably discharged. He had participated in a number of hotly contested engagements, including the battle of Gainesville and the second battle of Bull Run, where his command lost in that engage- ment forty-five men in killed and wounded. After being incapacitated for duty Mr. Croft was honorably discharged and returned to his Wisconsin home, where he remained until March, 1863, when he entered a commercial college in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in order to qualify for the business world. He was graduated from that institution in November, 1863, after which he entered a large mercantile house in the capacity of bookkeeper and office manager, there remaining for a year and a half or until July, 1865, when he entered upon railroad work at North McGregor, Iowa. After four months, on account of the illness of his wife, he was forced to resign his position there in October, 1865, and for several months was out of business. In 1866 he received the appointment of post- master at Stoughton, Wisconsin, and acceptably served in that position for eight years, after which he resigned and removed to southwest Minnesota, where he engaged in newspaper work as owner, editor and publisher of the Rock County Herald. This under- taking proved a success and he continued to publish the paper for six years, at the end of which time he sold out in 1881 to A. L. Stoughton, who had formerly been foreman in

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the office. Mr. Croft was then out of business for a year and on the expiration of that period entered the service of the Rock County Bank at Luverne, Minnesota. He first held the position of head bookkeeper but was advanced to that of assistant cashier and remained with the bank for two years, at the end of which time his health gave way and he was not active in business through the succeeding five years. He again entered the bank as assistant cashier and there continued until 1901. During this time he left the bank, however, for one year and organized the First National Bank at Hills, Minne- sota, of which he became the president and so continued until 1903, placing the business of the bank upon a substantial basis. He then determined to follow Horace Greeley's advice and go west. In September, 1902, therefore, he arrived in Greeley, Colorado, where he has since remained. He has a ranch of one hundred and sixty acres ten miles from Greeley and east of Gilcrest. On this he maintains a small herd of high grade Jersey cows. His agricultural and stock raising interests are wisely, successfully and carefully conducted and show him to be a man of marked business enterprise.

In Armenia, Juneau county, Wisconsin, on the 14th of September, 1864, Mr. Croft was united in marriage to Miss Anna Hofstater, a daughter of James and Susan E. Hofstater. The father was a farmer and died during the period of the Civil war in June, 1863. To Mr. and Mrs. Croft have been born three children. Edward O. died in St. Paul in 1913 of cancer of the stomach. He was born in July, 1865, and passed away February 7, 1913, his remains being interred at Luverne, Minnesota. He had married Miss Ida M. Strever, a daughter of Hiram Strever, St. Paul, Minnesota, and a Civil war veteran. Edward was a painter and decorator and had two children, of whom Luverne died at the age of four years, while Geraldine, eighteen years of age, is a high school pupil and is fitting herself for teaching languages. Harry N., born in 1878, is on the ranch at Gilcrest. Alfred C., born in 1884, is an artillery officer now in France. He was an instructor of field artillery and greatly interested in military service. He was anxious to go to West Point but owing to unforeseen circumstances could not carry out this plan. In private life he is an expert accountant and civil engineer and he has sacrificed most willingly a business career to go to foreign lands to serve his country in her hour of need.

In his political views Mr. Croft has long been a stalwart advocate of democratic principles. His wife is a member of the Baptist church. They are highly esteemed in Weld county, having made many warm friends during the period of their residence in Colorado. The career of Mr. Croft has been one of usefulness and honor and in various localities he has contributed to the world's work along the line of progress and improve- ment in business affairs as well as in progressive citizenship. He has ever been as true and loyal to his country and her needs as he was in her hour of peril when he followed the nation's starry banner on the battlefields of the south.

P. H. CHAMBERS, D. D. S.

Dentistry stands unique among the professions in that its successful representatives must be possessed of qualifications of a threefold character They must not only have intimate knowledge of the scientific principles of dentistry, but they must also possess marked mechanical skill and ingenuity, and added to this, must have that business dis- cernment which enables them to successfully control the financial end of the business. Dr. Chambers is well qualified in all of these respects and has made for himself a most creditable place as a representative of the dental fraternity of Denver. He was born in Lexington, Missouri, March 8, 1857, and is a son of Dr. P. H. and Mary (Wallace) Chambers, both of whom were natives of Lexington, Kentucky, whence they removed to Missouri in early life. There the father became a well known physician and surgeon, residing for many years at Lexington, where his marked professional skill won for him a large practice. He continued to devote his attention thereto until his death, which occurred in 1903. He had long survived his wife, who passed away in Lexington in 1860.

Dr. Chambers of this review was the second in order of birth in a family of four children. In his youthful days he was a pupil in the public schools and mastered the branches of learning taught in successive grades until he became a high school pupil. After leaving the high school he entered the St. Louis Dental College at St. Louis, Missouri, and was graduated therefrom with the class of 1875. He then removed to southeastern Missouri and took up his professional work, in which he continued success- fully for three years, after which he removed to Fairfield, Illinois. There he remained for eight years and was successfully engaged in a lucrative practice at that point, but contemplating a change, he decided upon Denver and soon afterward came to this city. He has since ranked with the leading dental surgeons of his adopted city and is one of the

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four oldest members of the profession in the state in years of continuous connection with active practice. He has always been accorded a liberal practice and throughout the intervening years he has kept in touch with the latest researches and scientific discov- eries which have had to do with professional skill and efficiency. He belongs to the Denver Dental Society, of which he has been the president, and he also has membership in the Colorado State Dental Society. In addition to his profession he is president of the Minerals Recovery Company.

On March 8, 1887, in Fairfield, Illinois, Dr. Chambers was united in marriage to Miss Anna Bennett and to them were born four children: Mrs. Sally Bryan, who pur- sued her education in the schools of Fairfield, Illinois; Mrs. Hattie Hudson, who was born in Fairfield in 1891 and later attended the Denver high school; and Lilburn, who was born in Fairfield, Illinois, in 1892, and is now in the aviation service of the United States Army with the rank of major.

Dr. Chambers is identified with the Knights of Pythias and with the Fraternal Union. In politics he maintains an independent course, voting according to the dictates of his judgment without regard to party ties. His religious faith is indicated by his member- ship in the Methodist Episcopal church. Dr. Chambers and his family are widely and favorably known in Denver, where he has so long resided, and his personal worth as well as his professional ability have gained for him the high regard in which he is uniformly held.

HON. JAMES W. MCCREERY.

At the bar of Greeley have been found many able men, capable of crossing swords In forensic combat with leading lawyers of any section of the state. Active in the trial of cases for many years, Hon. James W. McCreery has made for himself a creditable position among the strong members of the Greeley bar, carefully conducting the interests entrusted to his care and at all times proving most loyal to his clients.

James W. McCreery was born in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, July 13, 1849, a son of William G. and Mary H. McCreery. He was graduated from the State Normal School of Indiana, Pennsylvania, and then took up the study of law in the office and under the direction of the late Silas M. Clark, of Indiana, Pennsylvania, who at the time of his death in 1893 was state supreme judge. Justice Clark directed his reading until Mr. McCreery was admitted to the bar of his native state in the year 1880. Feeling that he would have better opportunities for professional advancement in the west, he came to Colorado in 1881, making his way to Greeley, Weld county, where he was admitted to practice. He has since remained an active member of the bar of this district and is numbered among the able lawyers who hold to high professional standards and ethics. He occupies offices in the First National Bank building, utilizing the same suite of rooms for thirty-two years. He has long made a specialty of irrigation and corporation law and few members of the bar are more thoroughly informed concerning this branch of jurisprudence than Mr. McCreery.

In August, 1883, was celebrated the marriage of Miss Mary M. Arbuckle and James W. McCreery and to them were born four children.

In public affairs Mr. McCreery has figured prominently and his aid and influence have been potent forces for progress and for good. He served as state senator from 1888 until 1892 and gave most thoughtful and earnest consideration to all the vital questions which came up for settlement. That his record was a commendable one is indicated in the fact that he was recalled to that position in 1896 and continued a member of the upper house of the Colorado legislature until 1900. His interest in the cause of education has always been deep and lasting and he was the author of the bill, and was instrumental in carrying it through the state legislature, establishing the State Teachers' College. This was in 1889 and the institution at that time was known as the State Normal School. He gave evidence of his continued interest by becoming a member of the board of trustees and for many succeeding years he was president of the board. Mr. McCreery is prominent and well known in Masonic circles, having attained the thirty-second degree In the Scottish Rite. At the present he is especially active in war work, having taken up with great vigor the causes of the Young Men's Christian Association and the Red Cross Society. In fact, during the past year he has devoted most of his time to these causes and has made numerous effective addresses in order to secure the largest possible public cooperation with these societies who do such untold good for our soldiers. His service as president of the board of the State Teachers' College, however, did not exhaust

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Mr. McCreery's activities along this line, for he has also been a member of the board of education of Greeley, serving from 1910 until 1915 and doing much to further local educational standards. He is a lecturer on irrigation law in the University of Colorado and has the distinction of having written the article on irrigation and water rights in the "Modern American Law," and is a worthy and valued member of the Weld County Bar Association, the Colorado State Bar Association and the American Bar Association. He has been honored with the presidency of the state organization, which office he filled in 1907 and 1908.

Mr. McCreery enjoys a large and lucrative practice and has one of the most extensive and complete law libraries in the state. His son, Donald C., is associated with him in practice and the firm has a most extensive clientele that has connected it with leading interests heard in the courts. For the past thirty-three years Mr. McCreery has also been extensively engaged in farming, being the owner of six hundred and forty acres of highly cultivated and productive land in Morgan county, Colorado. Along political lines he has always been a republican and throughout his entire life has been a stalwart champion of interests and measures which work for public improvement.

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History of Colorado; Volume II, Part 23

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