History of Colorado; Volume II, Part 28

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

USA > Colorado > History of Colorado; Volume II > Part 28

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

195

HISTORY OF COLORADO

remain there for further orders, but the guards never returned. The only occupant of the boat was a poor old gray haired negro. The men were left there without food and the next morning they flagged an old fisherman in his boat, who came over and took them ashore. They had to avoid the patrol guard and they bummed around the town for two weeks, sleeping and eating with the soldiers and negroes or wherever they could get anyone to take them in. They were often picked up by the patrol guard and taken before the provost marshal, who would tell them to join the quartermaster's department, which they would not do, and consequently were always subject to arrest by the patrol guard. At last they learned that congress had taken up their case and authorized the war department to muster them out of the marine service, as is shown by the congressional record of January, 1863, but because of red tape orders were not promptly executed. Mr. Edbrooke and Mr. Hitchcock learned that the Thirty-ninth Illinois Infantry had arrived in Newbern and started off to their camp three miles away, where they found Chicago friends and were entertained through the night. The next morning after breakfast Mr. Edbrooke went to the captain of Company K to get a pass to go to the city and secure the baggage which they had left on the boat Shrapnel. Their purpose if possible was to get back to Chicago, and meeting two negro wood-choppers who seemed to have on brand new pants, they made them exchange for the army trousers which the soldiers wore and paid them each seventy five cents additional. Then they continued into the city but were arrested by a sergeant and three patrol guards. The officer of the day read their pass and said: "You boys have suffered enough and you may go on." They then proceeded to a Jew clothing store, where they purchased cheap civilian clothes. On reaching the dock they found that the steamship Dudley Buck had just arrived from New York and would leave for that city again the following Saturday. They went to the steward of the boat, telling him they wanted to work their passage back to New York. He replied: "I think you are deserters and I know you are not sailors, but I will see the captain." In a few moments he returned, saying: "If you will work your passage and pay me ten dollars each, we will take you," and with instructions to appear Saturday morning at ten o'clock, the men went away to find a hiding place until that time should arrive. The intervening days were spent in the loft of a small house occupied by a Rebel. They were forced to remain in hiding all day and at night they took turns in going out to get supplies of food. Promptly at ten o'clock on Saturday they reported to the steward and while they were waiting for the boat to sail the provost marshal of Newbern marched onto the boat with thirty patrol guards hunting for deserters, but Messrs. Edbrooke and Hitchcock had been well concealed. Various incidents, some exciting and dangerous, occurred before they eventually reached New York, which they did in a heavy fog. The two "Marines" were anxious to get ashore and finally when an old fisherman and his boy in a small boat came in sight they hailed him and as he pulled up to the Dudley Buck the two swung over into the rowboat by means of a rope. It was after much protest, in which he said that he could not make his way through the fog, that the owner of the rowboat finally took them ashore, landing them at the south end of Jersey City in some coalyards some two or three miles from the ferry, to which they walked, then crossed to New York city and bought second class tickets over the Michi- gan Central Railroad for Chicago. There Mr. Edbrooke reported to Captain James, the provost marshal of Chicago, through his father, who was an old friend of the captain's. The latter sent Mr. Edbrooke word that the Marine Artillery had all been mustered out by order of the war department and that he need fear no further trouble. On the 19th of December, 1863, he again enlisted, this time joining Company E, Twelfth Illinois Cavalry, with which he served in the southwest in Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas and Texas, and he was honorably discharged and mustered out on the 15th of June, 1866. At Springfield, Illinois, General Oaks told Mr. Edbrooke that he was the last Illinois volunteer to be discharged from the service.

Another notable event of his military experience occurred in May, 1864, after his command had returned to New Orleans following the Red River campaign under General Banks. It was in August when Major Clayborn came into the quarters of the company, which he had previously commanded, and called for a volunteer to carry some important dispatches to General Cameron, in command of troops at Tipadore, thirty-two miles south of Napoleonville, on the bayou. He explained that the railroad connecting Tipadore with New Orleans had been cut off by the Rebels and was out of commission as far as the Union forces were concerned and that the dispatches in question had been sent to him from New Orleans by way of Donaldsonville, to be for- warded to General Cameron at Tipadore at once. He also stated that in his opinion one man could make the trip through the Rebel lines quicker and safer than a squad

196

HISTORY OF COLORADO

of twenty or thirty men and that was the reason why he called for a volunteer to make the hazardous journey. No one offered until finally Mr. Edbrooke raised up from his hunk and told Major Clayborn that he would go. The Major replied: "You are on the sick-list, (which was the truth), but since not another man has volunteered I accept your offer if you think you can stand the trip." Mr. Edbrooke said that he would risk it, whereupon he was handed the package of papers, which he concealed in his jacket pocket, and in fifteen minutes he was in the saddle and off for his destina- tion. The day was extremely hot and sultry and the road, which followed the bayou, was at the base of a levee hordering the water-way on the right and standing eight or nine feet high, with a tow-path on top where horses had traveled, hauling the boats on the bayou. On his way he passed through several towns where he saw tough looking men in front of saloons, who watched him as he went hy at full speed with his Seven Spenser carbine carried at an advance, ready for husiness-and he was a good shot. The men probably thought he had a squad following him as they made no demonstra- tion while he was in sight. He kept his horse to the pace and arrived at General Cameron's headquarters after three hours of hard riding, delivering the papers to him personally. When the General learned that Mr. Edbrooke had no squad with him he said that it was a shame and that he should have had an escort of twenty or thirty men. He then called an orderly, whom he instructed to take Mr. Edbrooke to the soldiers' home for the night, saying: "And tell them there, there is nothing too good for this man and his horse in Tipadore." He then said: "Report at ten tomorrow morning," which Mr. Edbrooke did, receiving another sealed package, with instructions to deliver it to Major Clayhorn on returning to Napoleonville. Refusing the proffered squad escort, Mr. Edbrooke then mounted his horse, saluted and started back alone. After traveling about twenty miles he felt himself getting dizzy and unable to see and the next he knew he was lying on his back in a garden in front of a large plantation house under a cluster of fine magnolia trees, where his horse must have carried him. A beautiful young girl was pouring water over his head from a gourd, with which she had restored him to consciousness. Speaking of this incident, Mr. Edbrooke said: "I had been sun-struck and was, of course, feeling very badly hut managed to sit up and with some surprise beheld the fair vision before me. I asked her where I was, and she replied,-'You are at my home. Your horse came in through the open gate and I found you lying here on the ground with your horse watching over you. * * * But you are a Yankee soldier and I hate you. I will save you if I can. I could hide you but I could not hide your horse. I could put you in the attic.' 'You are very kind,' I said, 'but I must be going.' 'Well, then, wait a moment,' she replied, and running off and leaving me sitting on the grass, went into the house. In five minutes she returned with a plate full of roast pork, vegetables, etc., swimming in gravy- fine stuff for a sick man in my condition. I thanked her kindly hut could not eat. Then she told me that twelve Rebel scouts had just left her home fifteen minutes before she saw me and that they might be back any moment and would surely kill me if they had the chance, since they despised and hated all Yankee soldiers. You had better he going,' she said, with growing nervousness, 'you are not safe here another minute,' and filling my hat with magnolia leaves and water, pulled it down over my head, drenching me. Amused at my evident shock from the cold liquid, she smilingly assured me that it was only water. Then she helped me mount my horse, saying: 'My best wishes go with you. Sometime come hack and see me,'" but he never saw the good little Samaritan again. He was soon on the road, feeling somewhat better but very weak, and after traveling five miles he again felt the dizziness coming on and dis- mounted under a large shade tree by the roadside. As he sat there with his carbine on his knee a red-headed woman came out of a cottage nearby, shook her fist at him and said: "You damn Yankee, I would like to kill you," and kept up her tirade until Mr. Edbrooke ordered her to go and get him some water or he would fire. The woman then obeyed hut after bringing the water she crossed the road and five minutes later returned with four rough looking men, whose attention as they stood on the levee :she directed to Mr. Edbrooke, who felt that under such conditions he must make his escape. Drinking some more water from the gourd and wetting the leaves in his hat again, he passed on by the cottage and rode upon the levee to see what the men were doing, hut discovered no hostile movement among them. It was cooler upon the levee than upon the road, so he concluded to take the chance of riding up there although he knew he would be a good target for some bushwhacker's rifle. The cool air seemed to give him new life and, putting spurs to his horse, he at length reached camp and delivered his dispatches to Major Clayborn, who thanked him most heartily, and the boys all congratulated Mr. Edbrooke on his safe return and agreed that it was a

197

HISTORY OF COLORADO

chance in fifty that he made the trip and came through alive. For five days afterward he was in the hospital because of the sunstroke but soon after that event he and his command left Napoleonville for Baton Rouge. As stated, he served until the end of the war, being the last Illinoisian to be mustered out.

After the war Mr. Edbrooke continued his work as an architect and builder and entered the employ of T. B. Borst, a prominent contractor, for whom he was to build hotels and stations along the line of the Union Pacific. After completing that work he returned to Chicago and later was detailed to go back to Denver in the year 1879 to erect the Tabor block, which was completed in 1882, in time for the opening of the famous Tabor Opera House, on which occasion Miss Emma Abbott, tlie noted soprano, gave a concert. Since coming to Denver, Mr. Edbrooke has erected in this city buildings, the total valuation of which is over twenty-five million dollars, and include such famous structures as the Brown Palace Hotel, the Denver Store, the Masonic Temple, the Presbyterian, the First Baptist and Universalist churches, the Ernest & Cranmer building, the Cooper building, the First National Bank building, the Gas & Electric building, the State Museum and many other public buildings as well as those owned by private individuals. He was awarded the second prize in competition for the best plan for the state capitol and was later given charge of the finishing of the building, of which he was advisory architect. He was for twenty years advisory archi- tect to the state board of capitol managers. In 1892 Governor Routt appointed him a member of the board of public works of Denver, as it was in the hands of the governor to do at that time. He is a director of the Denver Morris Plan Company and a director of the Seventeenth Street Building Company. He still maintains an office in the Tabor block, which was the first building that he erected in Denver, but he does not actively follow his profession at the present time having retired. He is now enjoying a well earned rest, spending much of his time in traveling in company with his wife.

Mr. Edbrooke was married on Christmas Day of 1871, in Chicago, Illinois, to Miss Camilla S. Gilman, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. B. Gilman, of Hallowell, Maine. They have no children of their own but have reared and educated two nephews, Frank S. and Roy W. Cross. The former is now sergeant-major in the United States Army, stationed at Fort Douglas, and the latter is a prominent architect of Chicago, who was graduated from the Pennsylvania School of Architecture. He has been serving as a member of the government commission engaged in railroad valuation, located at Chicago. He is also in the government service with the Interstate Commerce Com- mission as United States lighthouse inspector.

While Mr. and Mrs. Edbrooke spend much time in travel, when they are in Denver they occupy their magnificent residence on Seventeenth avenue, which Mr. Edbrooke built twenty-seven years ago and which has always been the abode of warm-hearted hospitality. He is a man of philanthropic spirit, giving generously to public movements and charitable enterprises, and he is one of Colorado's most eminent and distinguished citizens. His life record is indeed an interesting one and there have been in it various thrilling chapters, especially those which cover his Civil war service. He attained the highest professional rank and his labors were ever of a character which con- tributed to the upbuilding and progress of the city with which he has been so long identified. Mr. Edbrooke has also attained high rank in Masonry, having reached the thirty-second degree.

HOWARD L. HONAN.

Although Howard L. Honan has been a representative of the Denver bar only since 1913, he has won a place of prominence in the ranks of the legal profession by reason of his marked ability and his resourcefulness in the presentation of his cases before the court. He was born upon a farm near Elmo, in Nodaway county, Missouri, November 10, 1880. His father, Robert Honan, a native of Ireland, has devoted his life to agricul- tural pursuits and still makes his home in Nodaway county, where he has long been numbered among the successful farmers. He has been active and prominent in com- munity affairs, serving as school director there and having considerable influence in other directions. He married Hannah Hutchison, also a native of Ireland, who died in the year 1893. In their family were five children, of whom three are living.

Howard L. Honan, spending his youthful days under the parental roof, began his education in the district school near his father's home and when not occupied with his textbooks assisted in the development of the home farm and after leaving school con- centrated his entire attention upon the work of the fields until he reached the age of

198

HISTORY OF COLORADO

twenty-two years. He then resumed his studies, becoming a student in Cornell College at Mount Vernon, Iowa, in which he completed an academic course. In 1907 he removed to Colorado, where he remained for a year and afterward entered the Missouri State University, in which he spent two years as a student in the School of Law. He was ad- mitted to the bar in 1912 and located for practice in Boulder, Colorado, where he remained until 1913, when he came to Denver. Here he entered into partnership with Thomas Ward, an association that was maintained until 1917, since which time Mr. Honan has practiced alone. He is accorded a large clientage of a distinctly representative char- acter. He has proven most resourceful in handling his cases, is strong in argument, clear and logical in his deductions and forceful in driving home his point.

On the 25th of November, 1917, Mr. Honan was united in marriage to Miss Augusta Forres, a daughter of Henry Forres, of San Antonio, Texas. Mr. Honan greatly enjoys a game of baseball or a boxing contest, appreciating the skill and science of both. He is identified with various fraternal and social organizations, holding membership in Columbia Lodge, No. 14, A. F. & A. M., of Boulder; South Side Lodge, No. 127, K. P., of Denver; the Phi Alpha Delta, a law fraternity; and also the Civic and Commercial As- sociation, being in hearty sympathy with its well defined plans and purposes for the uphuilding of the city. He is an active democrat, much interested in the success of the party because of a belief in its principles but never an aspirant for office. He prefers to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his profession and he is one of the respected and valued members of the Denver Bar Association. His influence and aid are ever given on the side of moral progress and improvement and he is a loyal member of the Methodist Episcopal church. The career of Mr. Honan illustrates what may be accomplished through individual effort, perseverance and ambition. He had no financial assistance at the out- set of his career but was actuated hy a laudable desire to make for himself a creditable name and place in professional circles. He utilized every honorable means to this end. He put himself through college and through the law school by working on newspapers, being at different times employed on the Columhia Statesman of Boone county, Missouri, and on the Missouri Farmer & Breeder. He carefully saved his earnings until his industry and economy had brought him sufficient capital to enable him to pursue the academic course which served as a broad foundation upon which to rear the super- structure of his professional knowledge. He then became a student in the Lincoln- Jefferson University and since winning his LL. B. degree he has concentrated his efforts upon his professional interests and activities, his devotion to his clients' interests be- coming proverhial.

HON. HARRY CARSON RIDDLE.

Much has been said and written concerning heredity and to what extent it influences and shapes the life of the individual. There is no one, however, who is not proud of an honored and distinguished ancestry or of an untarnished family name, and the record of the Riddle family is one of which Harry Carson Riddle has reason to he justly proud. He is descended from Scotch and Scotch-Irish ancestry. The founder of the family in the new world was John Riddle, who crossed the Atlantic at an early period in the colonization of the new world and who was a representative of one of the old families of the Highlands of Scotland. The great-grandfather, James M. Riddle, was admitted to the bar of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, on the 19th of November, 1814, and his son, George R. Riddle, also prepared for the har and both became leading and prominent attorneys of Allegheny county. The latter wedded Mary Ann Williams and they were the parents of James H. Riddle, who was also born in Pennsylvania. Earlier representatives of the family served as soldiers of the Revolutionary war and in the maternal line Harry Carson Riddle is also descended from those who fought for Amer- ican independence. James H. Riddle did not follow the profession to which his father and grandfather had devoted their energies but became an expert accountant. He con- tinued to make his home in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, until 1881, when with his family he removed to the west, becoming a resident of Denver, where he still resides. He is now living retired, enjoying the fruits of a well spent life, and has reached the age of seventy-nine years, his birth having occurred February 24, 1839. At the time of the Civil war he responded to the country's call for troops, serving at the front with a Pennsyl- vania regiment, and his entire life has been characterized by equal devotion to the best interests of the country, for he is as true and loyal in days of peace as in days of war. He married Rosanna Elizabeth Carson, a daughter of David and Mary (Patterson) Carson, who were also natives of Pennsylvania and represented old families of that

HON. HARRY C. RIDDLE

200

HISTORY OF COLORADO

state of Scotch-Irish ancestry. Mrs. Riddle is a direct descendant of Archibald Burns, the grandfather of Robert Burns, the sweet singer of Scotland, and other distinguished names appear on the family record, including the names of some who fought for Amer- ican independence. To Mr. and Mrs. James H. Riddle have been born five children, three sons and two daughters.

Harry Carson Riddle, the eldest of the family, was born in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, on the 4th of February, 1869. He had the advantage of instruction in the schools of Allegheny, Pennsylvania, and completed his studies in the schools of Denver. He was a youth of seventeen years when he started out to earn his own living and his first employment was that of a range rider or cowboy. He devoted five years to stock raising interests and during that time his thoughts turned to the profession in which his grandfather and great-grandfather had won a creditable name and place. While still riding the range he secured law books, which he began reading, and later he more earnestly took up the study of law in the office and under the direction of Charles H. Brierley, with whom he remained for three years. He was admitted to practice in January, 1896, and at once entered upon the active work of the profession. He soon gave demonstration of the fact that he possessed the same qualities which had made his sires famous at the bar of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. His mind is naturally analytical, logical and inductive, his reasoning is clear, his deductions sound and his arguments strong and logical. It was not long before he had demonstrated his ability to successfully handle intricate and involved legal problems and he has always been accorded a large and distinctively representative clientage. He is a valued member of the Denver Bar Association and for two terms was one of its trustees and also chair- man of the grievance committee for one term. He likewise belongs to the Colorado State Bar Association and the American Bar Association.

Aside from his professional activity Mr. Riddle has been quite prominent as a leader in political and civic affairs in Denver and is a stanch and stalwart advocate of the republican party. He has labored earnestly for many years to promote its interests, believing that the adoption of its principles will prove an important factor in good government. He served on the first election commission of Denver under the new charter, which was adopted March 29, 1904, occupying that position for two years. In 1906 he was elected judge of the district court and served upon the bench from the 8th of January, 1907, until the 14th of January, 1913, or for a six years' term. His course as a judge was in harmony with his record as a man and lawyer, being characterized by marked devotion to duty and by a masterful grasp of every problem presented for solution. At the present writing, in 1918, he is a member of the state board of par- dons, having served since March, 1916, when he was appointed by Governor George A. Carlson, while the present governor, Hon. J. C. Gunter, reappointed him to the position. His activity in behalf of public interests has been of a still broader character, for he is now a member of the board of trustees and the vice president of the Westmin- ster University, a position which he has occupied for several years. He is an active member of the Central Presbyterian church, in which he has served as elder for a number of years, occupying that position at the present time. He has also been vice moderator for two years and he is interested in all that tends to advance the moral progress of the community.

On the 27th of May, 1905. Mr. Riddle was married at the residence of Professor J. E. Ayers of Denver to Miss Elsie Carlton Ayers, a native of this city and a daughter of Professor J. E. and Anna (Rea) Ayers, members of an old and prominent family of Denver, connected with the city from the early '70s. To Mr. and Mrs. Riddle have been born a son and two daughters: Carson, who was born in Denver, March 23, 1906: Lucy Ayers, born August 7, 1907; and Elizabeth Rea, born April 4, 1911. Mrs. Riddle is a lady of broad and liberal culture. She was graduated from the academic depart- ment of Colorado College and afterward went to Chicago, where she pursued a special course in kindergarten work and was graduated. At the time of her marriage she was supervisor of kindergarten work at Fort Collins and had figured prominently in educational circles for several years. Like her husband, she is very active in religious and charitable work of the city and is continually extending a helping hand to those in need of assistance. She formerly served as president of the Ladies' Missionary Society of her church and is now president of the Parent Teachers Association in the Boulevard school district of Denver. She is thus studying deeply many questions relative to the training of the young and to the attitude and relation of the parent to the school and has done much for the social uplift of the community. Mr. Riddle belongs to the Interlachen Golf Club and also to the Lakewood Country Club-asso- ciations which indicate something of the nature of the interests to which he turns

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Colorado; Volume II, Part 28

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