History of Colorado; Volume II, Part 31

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

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In 1869, in Paxton, Illinois, Mr. Wilson was united in marriage to Miss Elizabetlı Wood, of that place, who died there in 1877. They were the parents of two children: Mrs. Florence Crane, who was born in Paxton and was graduated from the Denver schools, her home being now in Little Rock, Arkansas; and Mrs. Bertle Anderson, who

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was born in Paxton and resides in Denver. She has two children, Hunter and Junior Anderson. Mrs. Crane has a family of four children. Having lost his first wife, Mr. Wilson was again married in 1884, his second union being with Miss Florence Merrill, of Rossville, Illinois, and to them have been born two children: Mrs. Carrie Fontius and Jean. The latter was born in Denver and is still under the parental roof. The elder daughter was born in Denver, was graduated from the Denver schools and still makes her home in this city. She has two children, Harry and Jean.

In politics Mr. Wilson has ever been an active worker, but votes more for the man than the party. He belongs to the Pioneers Society and is one of the well known and highly esteemed residents of Denver, where his name is synonymous with progressive- ness, enterprise and thorough reliability in business.

POTTER STROBRIDGE HESSLER.

Thirty-eight years have come and gone since Potter Strobridge Hessler arrived in Denver, where he has worked his way steadily upward in business connections until he is now at the head of a profitable enterprise as the president of the P. S. Hessler Mercantile Company. He has made steady advancement, developing his powers through the exercise of effort, and he is now controlling a profitable business concern. He was born in Trumansburg, New York, March 27, 1858. The family was founded in America by Henry Hessler, who was brought to this country during the Revolutionary war for the purpose of being made to do compulsory military service for the Britons. After the close of the war, when these soldiers were being loaded on ships for the return voyage, he made his escape and hid in the house of a friend, taking refuge in a clothes hamper in a closet, over which a number of clothes were hanging. The officer, in making a search for deserters, passed his hand through the clothes and, finding no one, went on. As soon as possible Henry Hessler went to New York, where he married Miss Margaret McConnell, a native of Ireland. He afterward removed to Canajoharie, New York, where he engaged in the tailoring business and there spent his remaining days. His name appears in the first government census of New York, taken in 1800.

The grandfather and the father of Potter S. Hessler were both natives of the Empire state. The latter, Henry A. Hessler, was a highly educated man, being graduated from Hamilton College of New York. He originally studied for the ministry but never took up the active work of the church as a preacher. Instead he turned his attention to merchandising and was thus engaged at various periods in New York, Iowa, Ohio, New Jersey and again at Cazenovia, New York, where he passed away in 1874, at the age of fifty-eight years. For twelve years prior to his death he was an invalid. His wife bore the maiden name of Elizabeth A. Terry and was born in the state of New York. She was a descendant of James Terry, himself a descendant of pioneer settlers on Long Island and the founder of the family in America. He was of English lineage. The death of Mrs. Hessler occurred in Cazenovia, New York, in 1870, when she was forty years of age. She was the mother of three children but two of them were born of a former marriage.

Potter S. Hessler was educated in the public and district schools of Cazenovia and afterward became a student in Cazenovia Seminary. He made his initial step in the business world when a young man of twenty-two years, although he had previously heen employed on the farm of his uncle, Ephraim B. Hessler, in New York. After attaining his majority he determined to try his fortune in the west and in May, 1880, arrived in Denver a comparative stranger. After struggling through a year, during which he held various minor positions, he became an employe in the New England Blue Store, a retail grocery house at Thirty-second and Larimer streets. It was supposed that he was an experienced grocery clerk and he had to make good in the position. He was ever alert and quick to learn. When he entered the store he did not know the difference between rice and tapioca nor how to tie up a good package, but he soon mastered these things, as he did other tasks which fell to his lot, and for a year he continued in that establishment. He was afterward employed by various commission firms and from that time forward each step in his career advanced him steadily and brought him a broader outlook and wider opportunities. In 1885 he entered the commission business on his own account and from the beginning the new enterprise prospered. From time to time he had to seek larger quarters in order to meet the growing demand of his trade and in 1903 he established a wholesale grocery business at Nos. 1529 to 1539 Market street, while in 1915 a building was erected at the corner of Thirteenth and Wazee streets, at which point he has since conducted his

POTTER S. HESSLER

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interests. Gradually his trade has grown until today it is one of the largest in Colorado. He occupies a store having a floor space of one hundred and fifty hy seventy- six feet in the basement and three stories one hundred and fifty by sixty-six feet. The firm employs on an average from thirty-five to forty people, among whom are fifteen traveling salesmen. The business is largely confined to Colorado, for he has all that he can do to meet the demands of his trade in this state.

Mr. Hessler has been married twice. In Denver, in 1883, he wedded Miss Rhoda Rodolph, a native of Wisconsin and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Rodolph. Her paternal grandfather was a captain in Napoleon's army and the grandmother in the paternal line was a daughter of one who was president of the Swiss republic. Her father was born in Switzerland and belonged to one of the old distinguished families of that country. He lived in Iowa, Wisconsin and in Illinois. Mrs. Hessler died in Denver in 1897 at the age of thirty-eight years, leaving a daughter, Elizabeth, who is now the wife of Lieutenant Howard R. Carroll, a native of Ohio, and by whom she has one son, Potter Hessler Carroll. The Carrolls are a well known family of Denver. In June, 1898, Mr. Hessler was again married, his second union being with Miss Florence A. Twining, a native of Wisconsin and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Twining, descendants of an old English family and early settlers of Pennsylvania and New York. There is one daughter of the second marriage, Helen A., who was married on June 28. 1918, to Henry W. Brautigam, of Denver. The Hessler family home is at No. 674 Downing street.

Mr. Hessler started out in life a poor hoy and had a cash capital of but two hundred dollars when he arrived in Denver. From that point forward he has steadily progressed and is today one of the substantial citizens and business men of his adopted state, his success being the direct result and legitimate outcome of his own labors. In politics he is a republican where national issues are involved but at local elections casts an independent ballot. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, holding membership in Denver Lodge, No. 5, A. F. & A. M .; Colorado Chapter, No. 2, R. A. M .; Denver Council, No. 1, R. & S. M .; Denver Commandery, No. 1, K. T .; and El Jebel Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He is also a member of the Elks lodge of Denver and he helongs to the Denver Civic and Commercial Association. He is an attendant of the Christian Science church and he turns to motoring for recreation. He is widely known in busi- ness and social circles of the city, where for almost four decades he has made his home. He has therefore been a witness of much of its growth and development and as the years have passed on he has gained a most creditable place in commercial circles as well as in the regard of his many friends.

FANCHER SARCHET.

Fancher Sarchet, who since 1906 has been an active and able member of the Fort Collins bar, was born in Linn county, Iowa. November 1, 1879, and comes of French Huguenot ancestry, being a great-grandson of one who hore the same name and who in 1806 became one of the founders of Cambridge, Ohio, while in 1809 he was chosen - the first county treasurer of Guernsey county, Ohio. With the passing years representa- tives of the name removed to the west, the family home being ultimately established in Linn county, Iowa. where Fancher Sarchet of this review was born and spent his early youth. His public school education was supplemented by a course of study in Cornell College, a Methodist institution at Mount Vernon, Iowa, which he entered at the age of seventeen, remaining a student there for three years.

Mr. Sarchet was a young man of twenty when he became a resident of Colorado. settling first in Boulder, and later he took up the study of law in the office and under the direction of E. A. Ballard, an attorney of that city. He next became a student in the Denver Law School and following his admission to the bar located for practice in Fort Collins, where he has continuously remained since 1906. Along with those qualities indispensable to the lawyer-a keen, rapid, logical mind plus the business sense, and a ready capacity for hard work-he brought to the starting point of his legal career certain rare gifts, including eloquence of language and a strong personality. His is an excel- lent presence, an earnest, dignified manner and marked strength of character and these, combined with his thorough grasp of the law and ability to accurately apply its principles. have proven important factors in his effectiveness as an advocate.

In 1908 Mr. Sarchet was appointed to the position of deputy district attorney under George H. Van Horn and the following year was reappointed by George A. Carlson, under whom he served until the latter became governor of Colorado in January. 1915. One

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of the newspapers of the state in this connection said: "Mr. Sarchet's career as a public official was marked by two dominant characteristics-the exercise of kindness and humanity and a fearless, vigorous prosecution of offenders. He is an open, fearless fighter, a careful, resourceful lawyer and a man of deliberate and mature judgment. While deputy district attorney for Larimer county, he had entire charge of the prosecution of bootleggers, and in the hundreds of prosecutions conducted by him, succeeded in con- victing practically every offender. In addition to this part of his public duties he had charge of many important felony cases, which he handled with great success. He also had entire control of all juvenile delinquents and in the discharge of this portion of his duties rendered marked service. His record is one of which Larimer county and the eighth judicial district may well be proud."

It was in the year 1908 that Mr. Sarchet was married to Miss Nellie Herring, a daughter of Rowl Herring, of Laporte, and a niece of Judge H. I. Garbutt of Fort Col- lins. Mr. and Mrs. Sarchet have two children, a son and a daughter, Clark Herring Sarchet and Doris J. Sarchet.

In politics Mr. Sarchet is a stalwart republican and an earnest worker in behalf of the party yet allows nothing to interfere with the faithful performance of his profes- sional duties and his devotion to his clients' interests is one of his marked characteristics.

ALVIN E. LINDROOTH.

Alvin E. Lindrooth is connected with one of the important commercial establishments of Denver, conducting business under the firm name of Lindrooth & Shubart, dealers in machinery, particularly mining machinery, and representing a number of the foremost eastern manufacturers. Their business is probably the largest of its kind in the state and its success must be ascribed in large measure to Mr. Lindrooth, who by his pro- gressive commercial methods has done much toward making this firm what it is today. Their field covers all of the territory up to the Rocky mountains and they continually employ three traveling representatives engaged in the sale of machinery.

Mr. Lindrooth was born July 4, 1871, in Chicago, Illinois, in the year of the historic fire, and is a son of John H. Lindrooth, a native of Sweden, who in 1866 came to America, selecting Chicago as his home. There he became prominent as a landscape architect. having learned his profession in his native country. He was identified with the work of laying out the breakwater and the park system on the north side of the metropolis. His whole life was devoted to his profession and his thoughts and ideas culminated in most pleasing and effective results. The beautiful north side park system of the city of Chicago is a monument to his cooperative labors and in that way he contributed to the comfort and pleasure of present and future generations. He was highly esteemed by all who knew him and in professional circles took high rank, his eminent ability being recognized by all those who had a thorough knowledge of his work. It was not only Mr. Lindrooth's intimacy with the subject which led to his success, but it was his deep-seated love for the outdoors and his natural appreciation and taste for the beautiful that led him to attain the position which he did as a landscape architect. He died in Chicago in 1910 at the age of seventy-two years. His wife, also a native of Sweden, was Miss Anna Erickson before her marriage and with her parents came to America when only six years of age. She was a daughter of Eric Erickson, who with his wife and family became early settlers of Moline, Illinois, and there the father was engaged along manufacturing lines. He was quite successful in his industrial undertakings and occupied an enviable place among his fellow townsmen of Moline. Recognizing the justness of the Union cause, he took up arms when the Civil war broke out, although not native born, and served with distinction in an Illinois company from the beginning of the war until its close. He became prominent in Grand Army circles and passed many a pleasant hour with his comrades of the battlefields of old. Miss Erickson was reared and received her education in Moline and in that city she was joined in wedlock to Mr Lindrooth, six sons being born to this union, of whom our subject is the second in order of birth. The mother passed away in Chicago in 1916, at the age of sixty-eight. as the result of an automobile accident, her sudden demise causing deep sorrow to her many friends and being a great shock to her family.

Alvin E. Lindrooth received a public school education in Chicago and subsequently graduated from the Chicago Manual Training School, later taking an engineering course at Lewis Institute. He first intended to make that profession his life work and at the age of eighteen started out as a draftsman with the Link-Belt Company of Chicago. He soon proved his ability and, continuing with that firm, was advanced through various

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departments until he now holds the office of general representative of the firm, with location in Denver. He also represents other eastern manufacturing interests and, being able to demonstrate to his prospective customers the machinery which he represents on account of his technical knowledge, he is very successful as a manufacturers' agent. Moreover, he has an intuitive knowledge of salesmanship, which, in combination with his professional knowledge, has been the foundation of his success.

On March 29, 1899, in Chicago, Mr. Lindrooth was united in marriage to Miss Selma J. Marelius, a native of that city and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Marelius, both of whom make their home there. Mr. and Mrs. Lindrooth have become the parents of three sons, Charles N., Harold A, and John E., all natives of Denver.

Politically Mr. Lindrooth is a republican as far as national politics are concerned but in local issues he maintains an independent course, giving his support to measures and candidates according to their merits. His is a nature which naturally would not be guided by partisanship, preferring to select for himself the men whom he chooses to support, judging them entirely by their qualifications. Mr. Lindrooth is interested in athletics and since 1900 has been a well liked member of the Denver Athletic Club. He was reared in the Lutheran faith but is now connected with the Church of The New Jerusålem, of which institution he serves as treasurer, the church being of the Sweden- borgian denomination. Mr. Lindrooth came to Colorado on the 29th of April, 1898, an absolute stranger and therefore great credit must be conceded him for what he has achieved. He began his life work practically unaided and his success is due entirely to his own efforts. Mr. Shubart, his partner in the agency, arrived in Denver four years later and the business was thereupon established on January 1, 1904, and has since had a continuous and prosperous existence.

HARRY W. J. EDBROOKE.

Harry W. J. Edbrooke, a prominent architect and well known club man of Denver, was born in Chicago, Illinois, July 14, 1873, a son of Willoughby J. and Nellie (O'Brien) Edbrooke. The father was also born in Chicago, while the mother was a native of Maine, and their marriage was celebrated in the western metropolis, where Mr. Edbrooke attained considerable distinction as an architect. He was appointed by President Ben- jamin Harrison as supervising architect of the treasury department, with headquarters at Washington, D. C., prior to which time he made the plans and supervised the erection of many prominent structures in various parts of the country, some of which are par- ticularly famous, including the Tahor Opera House on Sixteenth and Curtis streets in Denver, which at the time of its completion was considered the finest and most expensive building for theater purposes in the entire country and still remains a most beautiful structure. He also planned and built the state capitol of Georgia, located at Atlanta, and many other of the leading public buildings of the country. He died in Chicago in 1895 at the age of fifty-two years, having for twenty years survived his wife, who passed away in Chicago in 1875 at the comparatively early age of thirty-one. They were the parents of two children: Alice Edbrooke, who died in Chicago in infancy; and Harry W. J. Edbrooke, of this review, who is the elder.

In his early boyhood days Harry W. J. Edbrooke was a pupil in the Oakland school of Chicago and after passing through preliminary grades became a student in the Hyde Park high school, while subsequently he entered the University of Illinois, in which he remained for two years. He next became a student in the Armour Institute of Technology and was graduated on the completion of an architectural course in 1898. He then entered upon his professional career in Chicago and was connected with various prominent architects and firms until 1904, when he began business independently. He continued to practice his profession in Chicago for four years and was then invited by his uncle, Frank E. Edbrooke, a prominent architect of Denver, to join him in that city and become his associate in business. He continued with his uncle until 1913, when the partner- ship was dissolved, and Harry W. J. Edbrooke has since practiced his profession alone. He has erected many of the finest business blocks and public buildings in Denver and in other sections of the country, including the W. H. Kistler building, the new building occupied by the A. D. Lewis Dry Goods Company, the Ogden and Thompson theater build- ings and various private residences. He was the architect of the country home for John C. Shaffer, also the apartment building of Dr. J. H. Tilden and others of equal note. For one year he was advisory architect for the state of Colorado but the office has now been abolished.

Mr. Edbrooke is a member of the Colorado Chapter of the Institute of Architects.

Her Edbrooke

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He belongs to the Civic and Commercial Association of Denver, also to the Denver Ath- letic Club, the Lakewood Country Club and the Denver Motor Club. He is likewise a member of Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity. Like his father, he has attained eminence in his profession, actuated ever by a laudable ambition that has prompted close study and has led to most desirable results. His personal popularity is widely recognized in club circles and warm regard is entertained for him by all who know him.

JOHN W. HENDERSON.

John W. Henderson. though one of the younger representatives of the Colorado bar, has already won a creditable measure of success during the comparatively brief period of his practice in Greeley, where he maintains offices in the First National Bank building. He is numbered among the worthy native sons of Greeley, where his birth occurred on the 5th of July, 1892, his mother being Mrs. Grace N. Allen.

Jolın W. Henderson pursued his early education in the public schools of his native city and subsequently prepared for the practice of his chosen profession as a student in the University of Colorado, which institution conferred upon him the degree of LL. B. in 1916. He at once entered upon the practice of law in Greeley and has already won an enviable reputation in this connection. The zeal with which he has devoted his energies to bis profession, the careful regard evinced for the interests of his clients and an assiduous and unrelaxing attention to all the details of his cases, are bringing to him an ever increasing business. His high standing in professional circles is indicated in the fact that he has been chosen secretary and treasurer of the Weld County Bar Association.

In politics Mr. Henderson is a republican, while his religious faith is that of the Congregational church. He is also identified with the Knights of Pythias and belongs to several legal and college fraternities, including Phi Delta Theta and Phi Delta Phi. He is now serving as treasurer for the Weld County Chapter of the American Red Cross and is chairman of the Home Service of that organization, and as a patriotic and loyal citizen devotes considerable attention to his duties in that connection. Mr. Henderson resides with his mother at No. 1508 Ninth avenue and is one of the most popular and . esteemed young citizens of Greeley.

HAL D. VAN GILDER.

Hal D. Van Gilder, founder of the Van Gilder Agency, conducting a very extensive and successful insurance business in Denver, comes to this state from Iowa, his birth having occurred in Melrose on the 13th of August, 1875. His father, John W. Van Gilder, was a railway man and is now living retired in Los Angeles, California. The mother, who bore the maiden name of Dora Stuart, was born at Melrose, Iowa, and also survives. In the family were two sons, the brother of Hal D. Van Gilder being Dr. D. W. Van Gilder, who is located in Denver.

Spending his youthful days in his native state, Hal D. Van Gilder attended the public schools of Albia, Iowa, passing through consecutive grades to his graduation from the high school with the class of 1893. He then went to the Chicago University, in which he spent two years as a student, and later he pursued a business course in the Bryant & Stratton Business College of Chicago. Subsequently he was with the Chicago Tribune and afterward with the Chicago Record for five years, acting as secretary to the man- agers of these papers and having in charge the educational department. In the year 1900 Mr. Van Gilder arrived in Denver and was made deputy clerk of the district court, a position which he occupied for seven years. He afterwards turned his attention to the insurance business as a broker and later engaged in the insurance business on his own account, organizing the Sanger-Van Gilder Agency, which was established in 1911, and business was carried on in that connection for three years. In May, 1914, Mr. Van Gilder organized his present business under the name of the Van Gilder Agency, conducting an extensive insurance business, representing the American Surety Company, the Standard Accident Insurance Company, the St. Paul Fire & Marine Company, the Maryland Casualty Company, the Home Fire Insurance Company of Utah and the South Surety Company of St. Louis. His clientage is now extensive and each year marks an increase in his busi- ness, denoting close application, indefatigable energy and wise direction of his interests.

In 1902 Mr. Van Gilder was united in marriage to Miss Mildred Slack. of Denver, a daughter of Willard L. Slack, and their children are: Del George, born on February

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20, 1905, now in school; and Beatrice, born September 5, 1909. Mr. Van Gilder is a Mason, belonging to Oriental Lodge, No. 87, A. F. & A. M., and has also taken the degrees of the chapter, the commandery and the consistory, thus becoming a factor in the various branches of the York and Scottish rites. He is likewise connected with El Jebel Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He enjoys golf and when opportunity permits takes a fishing trip. In politics he is a democrat and his religious faith is that of the Unity church, which is of the Unitarian denomination. He belongs to the Lakewood Country Club and to the Denver Civic and Commercial Association, thus cooperating in all well defined plans and measures for the upbuilding of Denver's best interests. Liberal educational opportunities well qualified him for life's practical and responsible duties and as the years have passed on he has made steady progress along lines that have led to substantial successes in his business career.

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History of Colorado; Volume II, Part 31

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