History of Colorado; Volume II, Part 33

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

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At the outbreak of the Civil war, and in response to President Lincoln's first call for volunteers, James L. Hodges enlisted in his country's service as a member of the Third Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and was commissioned as first lieutenant by Governor Ramsey, Minnesota's "war governor." He was subsequently elected captain of his company and afterwards served on the staff of General Steele, in which con- nection he was placed in charge of the military prison at Little Rock, Arkansas. He also participated in the suppression of the Indian outbreak at Fort Snelling, Minne- sota, and had won renown for military skill. When the war closed Captain Hodges was in Arkansas, and he remained there, making Little Rock his home. He was admitted to the bar and took an active and potential part in the affairs of the state during the period of reconstruction. He also served as a member of the Arkansas constitutional convention in 1868. In 1871, President Grant appointed him postmaster at Little Rock, but he resigned this office the following year. In 1873, he removed with his family to Oak Park, a suburb of Chicago where his wife died, in 1874, at the age of forty-two years. In 1878 he removed to Colorado, locating at Lead- ville, where he at once entered public service as collector of United States revenue. Later, he made Glenwood Springs his place of residence and was twice elected mayor, also served as judge of the county court of Garfield county. In 1884, President Arthur appointed him register of the United States land office, at Glenwood Springs. In September, 1894, he located in Denver and, in 1898, was appointed by President McKinley, assayer in charge of the United States mint, in that city, which office he held for many years. Judge Hodges was always a stalwart republican and served continuously for many years as a member of the republican state central committee, of Colorado. He was twice chosen chairman of this committee, and as such, conducted the Mckinley presidential campaign of 1896. Thus it will be seen that James Luther Hodges had active part in the affairs of Colorado, and left upon the history of two states the imprint of his personality and character. He died in Denver, in December, 1906, in his seventy-third year, rich in the respect and esteem of his fellow men. He was a member of the Loyal Legion and of the Grand Army of the Republic. He was also, a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite mason, having been a master mason for more than fifty years.

George L. Hodges was but an infant when he went with his parents to Minnesota where he was subject to the rigors and the dangers of a frontier community. His educational advantages, though they may have been restricted in a sense, were of a highi character. His home surroundings were most favorable and the training there received, as well as his public school training, was supplemented by a course of study at the Wesleyan Seminary and also the State Normal School, at Brockport, New York. While the family home was established at Oak Park, Illinois, he further advanced him- self by taking a course in the Bryant & Stratton Business College and his first business experience came to him in closing up the receivership in the United States court, in which proceedings the well known soap manufacturer, B. T. Babbitt, was the com- plainant. While attending the Centennial exposition in Philadelphia, in 1876, he was united in marriage with Miss Ella Van Derveer, of Westville, New York. He entered upon the study of law in the spring of 1877 at Cooperstown, New York, in the office and under the tutelage of Hon. Hezekiah Sturges, one of the three judges of the Canal appraisers court, remaining there until July, 1879, when he came to Colorado, locating in Leadville. He was admitted to the bar of Colorado in September, 1879, and con- tinued in active practice until October, 1883, when he returned to New York state and,

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in connection with his father-in-law, he engaged in hop raising, in dairying and in mercantile pursuits, in Chenango county, where he was also called upon for public service, filling the office of county supervisor. At the expiration of his term of office, he was tendered the unanimous renomination by both the democratic and republican parties, but he declined to again become a candidate. With the desire to again become an active practitioner at the bar, he was admitted to the New York bar in January, 1886. In June of the following year however, he returned to Colorado and in October, 1887, entered into partnership with S. H. Ballard of Denver. This association was continued until July, 1889, when Mr. Hodges withdrew and formed a partnership with Thomas W. Lipscomb.

As the years passed, Mr. Hodges more and more largely specialized in corporation law and soon became known as an able practitioner in that particular field. In 1893, he was appointed general counsel, and made a director and a member of the executive committee of the Mexico, Cuernavaca & Pacific Railroad Company, constructing and operating a line projected from the city of Mexico to the harbor of Acapulco. He won distinction in his preparation and presentation of the answer of a federation of the employes of the Union Pacific Railway system, to the petition of the receivers tor leave to put in operation new rules and regulations governing the basis of pay, and to reduce the scale of wages in Colorado and Wyoming. The hearing was held at Omaha, and resulted in April, 1894, in the vacation of the famous "Dundy" order, and in the maintenance of the rules, regulations and wage scale in force prior to the receiver- ship. He also had charge of litigation protecting the patent of the well known Wilfley Ore Concentrating Table. This litigation extended over a period of more than ten years and was won through the ability of counsel to make plain to the court the basic fact that the invention, though simple, was in reality, an advanced step in ore con- centration.

Socially, and in part as a diversion from the exactions of his chosen profession, Mr. Hodges has been a diligent and discriminating student of the mysteries of Masonic lore and has advanced through the several grades to exalted honor. Holding member- ship in Colorado Consistory, No. 1, he is also past master of Denver Council of Kadosh, No. 1; a member of Denver Lodge, No. 5, A. F. & A. M .; Colorado Chapter, No. 29, R. A. M .; and of El Jebel Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a member, by succession, of the Loyal Legion, and an honorary life member of the Denver Athletic Club.

To George L. and Ella (Van Derveer) Hodges, have been born three children: William V., of whom a personal sketch appears elsewhere in this work; Ella F., now Mrs. Norman Read, of Denver; and Erma C.

M. N. ROBINSON.

M. N. Robinson is actively identified with farming in Weld county, where he rents one hundred and eighty-three acres of good land that he has converted into rich and productive fields. He was born in Macon county, Missouri, on the 14th of November, 1879, a son of J. W. and Sarah (Holmes) Robinson. The father was born in Shelby county, Missouri, while the mother's birth occurred in Davis City, Iowa, and both are still living. J. W. Robinson is a farmer by occupation and followed that pursuit in Macon and Shelby counties of Missouri, while subsequently he removed to Billings, Montana. He afterward became connected with the American Federation of Labor as a walking delegate and served in that capacity for many years but retired a few years ago. He holds membership with the Farmers Union, and he and his family are members of the Baptist church. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party. To him and his wife have been born the following named: M. N., of this review; Maud, the wife of O. P. Floyd, a contractor of Great Falls, Montana, by whom she has three children; Grover E., who has responded to the call to the colors and is at Camp Kearny, California, being one of the non-commissioned officers of Company E of the One Hundred and Fifty-seventh Infantry; and W. C., who is with Company K of the One Hundred and Sixty-fourth Infantry in France, having enlisted with several boys from Montana, and after training arrived in France on Christmas day of 1917.

M. N. Robinson acquired his early education in Clarence, Missouri, and left his native state when twenty-two years of age. For four years he had been employed at farm labor by his father and also engaged in farming to some extent on his own account. Attracted by the opportunity of the growing west, he came to Colorado at the age of twenty-two, arriving in Greeley, and after a few days he made his way to Lucerne,

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where he lived for five years. He worked as a farm hand for three years and then engaged in farming upon rented land for two years. In 1907 he removed to his present place and has since carried on general farming and stock raising. He here cultivates one hundred and eighty-three acres of land situated on section 1, township 6, range 66, and his business affairs are carefully and wisely directed. He has prospered as the years have gone on and in addition to general farming he has the place well stocked with cattle and horses for his own use.

In December, 1904, Mr. Robinson was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Hammons, a daughter of J. C. and Kate (Morgan) Hammons. Her father was a farmer and cattle raiser who lived for many years in Benton county, Missouri, where Mrs. Robinson was born, reared and educated. Her brothers and sisters are Charley, Allie, Sarah, Bullard, Myrtle, John, Haston, Katie and Oscar. The mother passed away May 7, 1907, and was laid to rest in the cemetery at Fairfield, Missouri. The father is still living but has now retired from active business life and his youngest son carries on the home farm.

To Mr. and Mrs. Robinson have been born four children: Selden, born May 31, 1907; Frances, born in February, 1909; Byron, November 2, 1910; and Harold, November 9, 1912. The parents are prominent members of the Baptist church at Eaton and in its work take a very helpful part. Mr. Robinson is serving on its board of trustees and was superintendent of the Sunday school for two years but resigned a short time ago. Mrs. Robinson is also active in war work. Fraternally he is connected with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the World and politically he is absolutely independent, voting for the men whom he believes will stand by the laboring classes. His has been a useful life and his genuine worth is attested by many with whom he has been brought in contact.

MATTHEW D. McENIRY.

Matthew D. McEniry in April, 1907, was appointed chief of the Denver field division of the United States General Land Office, a position which he has since continuously filled. He was born in Alliance, Ohio, January 15, 1868, and is the eldest of a family of four children born to Thomas and Julia (Quinn) McEniry, both of whom are natives of Ireland.

The parents came to America in the early '50s, settling with their respective families in Oswego county, New York. In 1859 Thomas McEniry removed to Wisconsin, and following the outbreak of the Civil war, responded to the call of his adopted country for military aid, and joined the Seventeenth Regiment of Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry in October, 1861. He was in command of Company K of that regiment practically throughout the war period. He was wounded in action at Vicksburg, and lost part of one of his hands.

After the close of hostilities Thomas McEniry removed to Ohio, where he was married in 1866, and where he remained until 1881. At that time he came to Colorado settling in Custer county, and engaged in mining at Silver Cliff and Rosita for a number of years. Later on he followed this pursuit in various parts of this state, New Mexico and Arizona. In 1905 the elder McEniry went into Mexico, where he continued in mining in the state of Sonora until the Mexican troubles commenced and he was finally driven out of there by Villa's insurgent army in 1914. At the present time, althoughi seventy-nine years of age, he is engaged in mining operations, residing in New York city.

Matthew D. McEniry's mother at the present time is residing in South Pasadena, California, and is seventy-two years old. The subject of this sketch has a brother, Michael S., residing there with her, and also a sister, Margaret. Another sister, Mrs. Mary E. Lockhart, now deceased, was married in Denver twenty-three years ago.

In early life Matthew D. McEniry was a pupil in the public schools of Alliance, Ohio, and when sixteen years old took a position with the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad, as a telegraph operator at Alliance. Subsequently, for some eight or ten years, while with the railroad company, he engaged in newspaper reportorial work, and was a special correspondent for the Cincinnati Enquirer, the Chicago Herald, and a number of New York papers. While engaged in this newspaper work, he assisted Robert P. Skinner, of Massillon, Ohio, who is at present consul general of the United States at London, and who at that time owned the Massillon Independent, in creating the publicity for Coxey's schemes, which eventually led to Coxey's Army. On its march on Washington Mr. McEniry accompanied this army as special correspondent for a number of metropolitan papers, and also as a telegrapher, wherever the army camped.

MATTHEW D. McENIRY

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During these years, in the '90s, Mr. McEniry was actively engaged in politics in eastern Ohio. Upon the election of President Mckinley, he was tendered the appoint- ment of consul general to the Azores islands at St. Michael, which he declined. Subse- quently he was appointed by President Mckinley as a special agent of the General Land Office, and upon his acceptance of this position was stationed at St. Cloud, Miune- sota, and Crookston, Minnesota, where he remained for five years. In the winter of 1904-05 he was appointed chief of field division and assigned to New Orleans, Louisiana, where he remained that winter, then being transferred to a similar post at Fargo, North Dakota, in charge of the work of the General Land Office in North and South Dakota. He remained there until his appointment as chief of the Denver field division. In this latter position he has constantly had from fifteen to forty employes under his personal supervision. The work of his office pertains to the disposal of the public land of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Nevada, and everything that has to do with fraud in the acquisition of these lands comes under his observation and action.

Through his efforts the Colorado National Monument at Grand Junction was created, and he also made the initial report on the proposed Mount Evans National Park to the government at Washington. He is a close student of the involved and complex problems which have to do with the control and use of the public lands of the west, and with getting it into the hands of citizens. His sympathies have always been with the homesteader and the citizen who is trying to get a start by making a homestead entry or desert land entry on the public domain; and an important rule of his office is to look after and assist the financially poor homesteader who is unable to cope with certain unscrupulous citizens familiarly known as "land hogs," who attempt in various ways to beat the poor citizen out of his lawful rights.

On February 17, 1896, Mr. McEniry was united in marriage with Miss Eva M. Roach, a daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Jason B. Roach, of Alliance, Ohio. They are the parents of two children, Matthew D., who was born in Alliance in 1900 and is now a senior in East Denver high school, and John J., who was born at Crookston, Minnesota, in 1903, and is also a pupil in East Denver high school.

The religious faith of the family is that of the Roman Catholic church, and Mr. McEniry is a member of the Knights of Columbus.

HON. JOHN A. GORDON.

Hon. John A. Gordon has been for many years connected with the legal profession not only in general practice but also in many important positions of an official character. He is at present serving the federal government as assistant United States district attorney, with headquarters at Denver. He was born in Bedford county, Tennessee, a son of the late Samuel B. Gordon, a native of Tennessee, although a descendant of an old South Carolina family of Scotch extraction. The father was a son of David Gordon, an early settler of Bedford county, Tennessee, where he was successfully engaged as a planter. Samuel B. Gordon also followed that pursuit as a life work and occupied a prominent position in his community. Prior to the war he was a whig. He not only conducted his own interests with gratifying results but also took an active part in polit- ical life and served for several terms as treasurer of Bedford county. He passed away in 1890, when in his seventy-eighth year. He had married Miss Amelia Euliss, also a native of Bedford county and a descendant of a pioneer family of Tennessee of German origin. Her maternal grandfather was Martin Schoffner, who was of German birth and served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Mrs. Gordon died in December, 1898, in her native county having passed her eightieth birthday. She was the mother of twelve children, eight sons and four daughters, of whom John A. Gordon was the ninth in order of birth and the seventh son.

He was educated in private schools of his native county and passed his youth up to his twentieth year upon his father's farm. At that period he entered the East Ten- nessee University, taking a junior course in that institution. He then sought the oppor- tunities of the southwest and moved to Wise county, Texas, where he assumed the position of deputy county surveyor. He continued as such for four years, but desiring to make the law his life work, studied the profession as his spare time permitted. His diligence and close application resulted in his admittance to practice before the Texas courts in 1880 and he immediately entered upon the actual practice of the law, winning a gratifying patronage by his serious efforts and the close attention which he devoted to any case given into his hands. In 1883 recognition of his legal standing came to him through his appointment to the position of assistant to the attorney general of Texas,

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the Hon. John D. Templeton, in whose office he remained for a year. His legal ability was further recognized when he was appointed by Governor John Ireland of Texas as district attorney, with headquarters at Decatur, covering four counties. He served in this important office during 1884 and 1885 and then again entered upon private practice at Decatur, Texas, continuing with increasing success until the latter part of 1887, when he made another removal, locating in Trinidad, Colorado, where he was soon established in private practice, gaining a large clientage. His vast experience and thorough under- standing of the law, his unfailing logic and his unfaltering diligence, combined with a deep consciousness, soon gained for him the confidence of the public, and the high stand- ard of ethics which he maintained won him the esteem of his colleagues in the profes- sion. He continued in Trinidad as general counselor and attorney until 1898, having been nominated in the fall of 1897 by the democratic party to the position of supreme judge. However, Mr. Gordon did not consent to make the race. In 1898 he was appointed reporter to the supreme court and filled this office conscientiously and to the great satisfaction of the officers of the court, being so engaged until 1907, when he again took up private practice, and was so occupied until he received his present appointment as assistant United States district attorney, which office he has filled since the early part of 1915. He is eminently qualified for the work in connection with the office and has represented the interests of the federal government without fear or favor, his actions being dictated entirely by his conscience and based strictly upon the letter of the law.

In 1901 Mr. Gordon was married in Denver to Mrs. Lethe (South) Porter, a daughter of Dr. W. L. and Louise (Brumley) South. The family was an old and prominent one of Trinidad, Colorado, later removing to Denver.

Mr. Gordon is a stanch democrat and in his earlier days was very active in national, state and local politics. He is a member of the Denver and Colorado State Bar Associa- tions. He was reared in the Lutheran faith and fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. Much credit is due Mr. Gordon for what he has achieved, as he has made his own way since he was twenty years of age and has succeeded in a profession in which success means tireless effort, and it must be ascribed to his perseverance that he has reached the goal. Mr. Gordon also has a military chapter in his life history, for he was a ranking officer of his class when in college and had he completed his studies he would have received the rank of captain. At that time, however, his means did not permit him to continue and he had to gain his admission to the bar by unremitting labor performed in those hours which others devote to leisure and recuperation. Mr. Gordon is popular in social circles of Denver and has made many friends among his fellow townsmen. His professional actions have ever been unimpeachable and the high rank which he has reached in the profession is not only to be ascribed to his ability but also to the high qualities of character which guide him in all the relations of life.

CHRISTOPHER FIELD CLAY.

Attacking everything that he does with a contagious enthusiasm, Christopher Field Clay has won for himself favorable criticism as one of the most prominent representa- tives of mining corporation law in Denver and the state of Colorado. He turns to recrea- tion with equal zest if leisure permits and it is his concentration of purpose and indefatigable energy that has placed him in the enviable position which he today occupies. A native of Richmond, Kentucky, he was born on the 19th of December, 1874, and was one of a family of children, of whom five are living, whose parents were Brutus Junius and Pattie A. (Field) Clay, the latter a daughter of Christopher I. Field. The father was educated in the State University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he completed a course in civil enginering. He is now living retired in Richmond, Kentucky. His wife, however, has passed away.

Christopher Field Clay supplemented his early educational opportunities by study in the Dummer Academy of South Byfield, Massachusetts, and afterward attended Wil- liams College. During his college days he became a member of Delta Upsilon. His law course was pursued in the University of Colorado, in which he won his LL. B. degree as a member of the class of 1898. The same year he was admitted to the bar and for two years thereafter was associated with the law firm of Thomas, Bryant & Lee. He then began practice independently and has concentrated his efforts and attention upon mining corporation law and today has few equals in that field of jurisprudence. He has also been admitted to practice in the state of Nevada.

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Mr. Clay was united in marriage to Miss Elinor Wise, of Colorado, a daughter of D. L. Wise, a merchant of Boulder, and they have one child, Katherine Belle, sixteen years of age, who is a student in the Wolcott School of Denver.

Mr. Clay is a Mason, belonging to Oriental Lodge, No. 87, A. F. & A. M., also to the chapter and commandery of Denver and to El Jebel Temple of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. In the lodge he is a senior deacon. He also has membership with the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. Mr. Clay belongs to the Lakewood Country Club, the Denver Country Club, the Denver Athletic Club and the Denver Motor Club. He is also identified with the Sons of the Revolution, being entitled to connection with that organization through both his maternal and paternal ancestry. He is likewise connected with the Denver Civic and Commercial Association and is in hearty sympathy with its well devised plans and projects for the upbuilding of the city and the advancement of municipal affairs and interests. His religious faith is that of the Episcopal church and his political belief that of the republican party. He enjoys golf, fishing and hunting and is the owner of some fine dogs. He has made many trips for big game and enjoys considerable reputation for that which he has brought down. All these things, however, are made subservient to his law practice, which is of a most important character and has reached very extensive proportions.

JOSEPH A. OSNER.

Joseph A. Osner, engaged in railroad contracting and irrigation work at Denver, was born October 3, 1857, in Clyde, Ohio, a son of the late Joseph A. Osner, who was a native of Alsace-Lorraine and came to America at the age of twenty, settling in Ohio, where he resided for fifty-four years. He was engaged in the lumber business but during the period of the Civil war put aside all business and personal considerations and served for two years as a private in defense of the Union cause. His political allegiance was given to the democratic party and his religious faith was that of the Roman Catholic church. He died at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Christina Barnett, was a native of Switzerland and came to the United States with a sister, settling in Ohio, her marriage being celebrated in Oberlin, that state. She died in 1902, at the age of sixty-eight years. The family numbered eleven children, three sons and eight daughters.

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History of Colorado; Volume II, Part 33

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