History of Colorado; Volume II, Part 47

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

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ORA L. GAMBREL.

Ora L. Gambrel, superintendent of agents for the American Life Insurance Company at Denver, was born in McLean, Illinois, March 31, 1871. His father, William Gambrel, was also a native of that state and a representative of one of its old pioneer families of French Huguenot lineage. The founder of the American branch of the family came to the new world in 1680 and made settlement in the Carolinas, while later representa- tives of the name became pioneers of Kentucky, of Gibson county, Indiana, and of Illinois, successively. The great-grandfather was William Gambrel, a veteran of the War of 1812, and the grandfather and the father also bore the name of William Gambrel. The last named was horn, reared and educated in central Illinois, where he resided to the time of his death, which occurred in 1904, when he had reached the age of fifty-four years. He was a stanch democrat in politics and for eighteen years was prominent in public office. For sixteen years he filled the position of deputy sheriff in his county. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity and his religious faith was that of the Baptist church. His wife bore the maiden name of Anna E. McCulley and is still living, her home being now in Denver. She is a native of Indiana and a representative of one of the pioneer families of Pennsylvania of Scotch lineage, the American ancestry of the Mc- Culleys being traced back to her great-grandfather, who came to America during the early part of the eighteenth century and aided in winning independence for the colonies, tak- ing active part in the Revolutionary war. To Mr. and Mrs. Gambrel were born three sons: Ora L .; A. D., who is yet a resident of Lincoln, Illinois; and James H., who makes his home in Waynesville, Illinois.

Ora L. Gambrel was educated in the public schools of central Illinois and his early life to the age of eighteen years was spent upon the home farm, after which he took up the profession of teaching, which he followed in his native state for a period of two years. He then went upon the road as a commercial traveler and followed that pursuit for thir- teen years. He next entered the life insurance business in 1900, becoming an employe of the John Hancock Company as an insurance solicitor. He continued with that com- pány for seven years and traveled throughout the west. He was later employed in com- mercial lines until 1913, when he became connected with the American Life Insurance Company and capability in this connection led to his promotion to the position of superintendent of agents in 1915. Since that time he has so served and has made an excellent record by the careful direction of the business under his control. He has thoroughly systematized the work, so that there is a minimum expenditure of time, effort and material for the results achieved-which is the basis of all success in business.

In Mount Pulaski, Illinois, on the 18th of March, 1896, Mr. Gambrel was united in marriage to Miss Flora Rupp, a native of Illinois and a daughter of Christian and Ida (Schweigckhardt) Rupp. Mr. and Mrs. Gambrel have become the parents of three children: Harry M., born in Kentucky; Mildred Harriett, born in Lincoln, Illinois; and Paul Everett, also a native of Lincoln. The family residence is at No. 630 Race street and Mr. Gambrel owns the property which they occupy. The son, Harry M. Gam- brel, took an active part in the reorganization of the National Guard of Colorado and was made a sergeant. Thirty-two days later he was advanced to the position of first lieu- tenant and was then mustered out on account of being yet a minor. On the 7th of August, 1917, however, he reinlisted, attaining his majority December 30, 1917. He passed the examination and was the youngest commissioned officer at that time in the United States army, and is now serving as second lieutenant of Company E in the One Hun- dred and Fifty-seventh Colorado Volunteer Infantry. He was a student in the Denver University at the time of his enlistment. He stands six feet and two inches and weighs one hundred and eighty pounds. He is of very athletic build and is a splendid specimen

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of our stalwart American soldiery-the men who have flocked to the colors to make the world safe for democracy.

Mr. Gambrel is a Mason and has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite and belongs to all other Masonic bodies. He also belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He and his wife hold membership in the Corona Presbyterian church and he is also a member of the Young Men's Christian Association as well as the Denver Civic and Commercial Association.

JAMES A. BROWN.

James A. Brown, a well known capitalist of Fort Collins, was born on the 31st of January, 1843, in Prince county, Canada, where he was reared and educated. He learned the carriage maker's trade in early manhood and in 1868 came to Fort Col- lins, Colorado, where he joined his brother, John R., in the wagon making and black- smithing business, in which both were very successful. At the end of two years, how- ever, James A. Brown turned his attention to the cattle business. In 1881 he was chosen general manager of the Powder River Live Stock Company, continuing as such until 1893 when the company sold its herds and retired from the live stock industry. Its investment amounted to seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars and it was one of the most successful live stock concerns operating in Wyoming. In the fall of 1886 the company purchased twenty-five hundred acres of land in the Elkhorn valley of Nebraska, on which it established extensive feeding grounds, annually fattening two thousand head of cattle for the market. Of the latter enterprise Mr. Brown was also the able manager. During the winter of 1886-87 the company lost four hundred thousand dollars' worth of cattle by starvation and because of the bitter cold and heavy snows. It had twenty-four thousand head of cattle on the range in the fall of 1886 and found only eight thousand head in the spring of 1887. After the company closed up its affairs Mr. Brown returned to Fort Collins, where he resided to the time of his demise, which occurred January 3, 1914. His efforts and influence contributed in marked measure to the development and upbuilding of his community. He built more than a dozen houses in Fort Collins, including the first frame structure erected in the town. In 1902 he was a member of the committee which secured the building of the sugar factory and he served as a director of the Fort Collins sugar factory for two years. He was also one of the founders and one of the first directors of the Fort Collins National Bank, of which he was elected president in 1893. For two terms, from 1901 until 1905, he did valuable service as a member of the city council. He was widely recognized as one of the foremost citizens and enjoyed the high regard and esteem of all with whom he was associated. On the 31st of January, 1867, his twenty-fourth birthday, he wedded Miss Adelaide Carnrike, of Belleville, Ontario, Canada, and their three living children are as follows: Adelbert F., of Fort Collins; Frank J., of Denver; and Clyde H., of Fort Collins.

MILTON LOUIS ANFENGER.

Milton Louis Anfenger, an attorney of the Denver bar, was born September 3, 1874, in the city where he yet makes his home, a son of Louis Anfenger, who was a native of Germany and came to the United States when fourteen years of age. He landed at New York and for some time resided in Rochester and in Oswego, New York, where he engaged in business as an expert watchmaker and jeweler. In 1870 he arrived in Denver, Colorado, where he spent his remaining days, devoting his attention to the real estate and insurance business. He became a prominent and influential resident of Colorado and served as a member of the house of representatives in 1895. He was also active in the old Chamber of Commerce of Denver and in various civic and public movements resulting in public benefit. He was a man of fine physique, of dignified presence and of most admirable characteristics, being held in the highest regard both as a man and as a citizen. He passed away in December, 1900, at the age of fifty-eight years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Louise Schlesinger, is yet living in Den ver.

Milton L. Anfenger, who was one of a family of nine children, eight of whom sur- vive, pursued his education in the public schools of Denver, completing the course in the East Denver high school as a member of the class of 1892. He then went to Cali-

JAMES A. BROWN

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fornia, where he entered the Leland Stanford Junior University and was graduated in 1896 with the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Law degrees. In January, 1897, in Denver, he was admitted to practice before the state courts and entered upon the active work of his profession in connection with J. E. Robinson, under the firm style of Robinson & Anfenger. The partnership was maintained for three years, after which Mr. Anfenger was alone until 1906, when he associated in practice with his brother-in- law, Philip Hornbein. While he continues in general practice, he makes a specialty of real estate and probate law and has been accorded a large clientage in that connection. Mr. Anfenger is a member of the Denver Bar Association and he enjoys the high regard of many of the representatives of the profession in his native city.

In 1911 was celebrated the marriage of Milton L. Anfenger and Miss Essie Wolfson, of Fort Worth, Texas. Fraternally he is connected with Denver Lodge, No. 5, A. F. & A. M .; Denver Chapter, No. 2, R. A. M .; and Rocky Mountain Consistory, in which he has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite. He is also a past exalted ruler of Denver Lodge, No. 17, B. P. O. E., and belongs to Union Lodge, No. 1, I. O. O. F. He is connected with the Independent Order of B'nai B'rith, in which he has filled all of the chairs, and he is a past president of the district grand lodge. His political allegiance has always been given to the republican party and he served as a member of the state senate of Colorado in the fifteenth and sixteenth general assem- blies and did active and valuable work on various important committees. He is a member of the national board of trustees of the National Jewish Hospital for Consumptives, of which his father was one of the founders and directors. He also belongs to Temple Emanuel, of which his father was the first president, and this congregation was organ- ized in celebration of the son's birth. Milton L. Anfenger is also president of the Central Jewish Aid Society. In a word he takes a very active and helpful part in pro- moting Jewish charities and benevolent projects and is constantly extending a helping hand where aid is needed. In 1902 he became a member of the National Guard of Colorado and served with the rank of colonel on the staff of Governor Peabody and was sent by him to Cripple Creek at the time of the strike among the coal miners there. He became one of the organizers and charter members of the Sons of Colorado and at all times he has been a most loyal advocate and supporter of interests that promise benefit to the state or the advancement of its welfare. His labors along any line to which he has directed his efforts have been farreaching, resultant and beneficial.

FRED W. STOW.

Fred W. Stow is an attorney at law practicing at Fort Collins as a member of the firm of Stow, Stover & Seaman, with offices in the Poudre Valley National Bank build- ing. He was born in Hamburg, Fremont county, Iowa, on the 20th of November, 1877, and is a son of Washburn A. and Eliza (Tyler) Stow, who were natives of Vermont and of Wisconsin respectively. The father was an attorney by profession and on leaving his native state removed to Hamburg, Iowa, where he located at a very early day, casting in bis lot with its pioneer settlers. At the time of the Civil war he put aside all business and professional interests and responded to the country's call for aid, enlisting in the Eighth Iowa Cavalry at Waverly. He served for three years and made a most creditable military record by his marked devotion to duty and his loyalty to the cause which the starry banner represented. Not long after his return to the north, or in 1866, he was admitted to the bar and located at Hamburg, Iowa, for the practice of his profession, in which he remained active until 1882. He then removed to Omaha, Nebraska, where he continued in law practice with good success to the time of his death. While living in Iowa he became one of the lawmakers of the state, serving for two terms in the Iowa legislature. After his removal to Nebraska he was a member of the senate of that state from Douglas county for one term. Just prior to his death he was a candidate for district judge but died ere the campaign was closed, passing away on the 20th of October, 1887. He had for two years survived his wife, whose death occurred in 1885.

Fred W. Stow spent his youthful days in his native city and pursued its public school course, passing through consecutive grades to his graduation from the high school. He afterward engaged in merchandising in Hamburg until 1899, when he came to Colo- rado and matriculated as a law student in the State University at Boulder. He was there graduated in June, 1902. He then came to Fort Collins and entered upon the practice of his chosen profession in partnership with F. J. Annis, with whom he was connected until May, 1909. In that year the partnership was dissolved and Mr. Stow practiced

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successfully alone until January 1, 1917, when the present firm of Stow, Stover & Sea- man was formed, Mr. Stow becoming the senior partner. This firm enjoys a large prac- tice and theirs is the largest law library in this part of the state. They have been connected with much very important litigation and the eminent ability of Mr. Stow ranks him with the leading members of the Colorado bar.

On the 25th of July, 1906, was celebrated the marriage to Mr. Stow and Miss Fona Woods. They have become parents of two children: Richard W., born August 25, 1910; and Jane, born February 11, 1916.

Mr. Stow served as city attorney for two years and is the present referee in water districts Nos. 5 and 6, He has served for five years by appointment of the district court. He is a member of the commission on uniformity of state laws that met at Cincinnati in the year 1918. His political endorsement is given to the democratic party and he has put forth every possible effort to attain success for the party along legitimate lines. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons, the Knights of Pythias and the Elks and is loyal to the teachings and purposes of these organizations. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church. Fort Collins counts him one of her substantial and valued citizens-a man whose life has no spectacular phases but whose loyalty to high standards has ever been one of his marked characteristics.

FRED D. ZIMMERMAN.

Fred D. Zimmerman, advertising manager for the Continental Oil Company of Den- ver, displays in this connection a spirit of marked initiative that leads him to take ad- vanced steps in untried fields, but the wisdom of bis judgment in this regard is mani- fested by the results achieved. Mr. Zimmerman is a native of Pennsylvania. He was born in Greenville. February 1, 1872, a son of the late Mathias Zimmerman, also a native of the Keystone state and a member of one of its old families of German lineage. The progenitor of the American branch of the family was Jacob Zimmerman, who served as an officer under General Washington in the Continental army. Colonel William H. Zim- merman, an uncle of Fred D. Zimmerman, commanded a regiment in the Civil war, being colonel of the Twenty-third Ohio Infantry and the superior officer of Major Wil- liam Mckinley. Three other uncles of Mr. Zimmerman of this review were also veterans of the Civil war and the youngest of the brothers, Joseph Zimmerman, was killed before Richmond.

Mathias Zimmerman was for many years engaged in the harness and saddlery business in Greenville, Pennsylvania, and in 1876 removed to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he continued business along the same line to the time of his death, which oc- curred in 1902, when he had reached the age of sixty-three years. He was very successful in the conduct of his commercial interests and his intelligent direction of his efforts gave him a very creditable standing in business circles. He possessed a studious nature, read broadly and thought deeply. His religious faith was indicated in his membership in the Methodist church, to which he was most devoted. He married Lauretta MeDowell, who was born in Greenville, Pennsylvania. Her mother belonged to the prominent Leach family of that state. Her father was Mathias McDowell, a leading railroad con- tractor, who also owned and operated woollen mills and was identified with other very important industries of the state. He became very wealthy and his business activities constituted a most valuable contributing factor to the upbuilding of that section of the country. He was one of the first settlers of Mercer county and brought over the moun- tains the first sewing machine ever used in that section of the state. His daughter, Mrs. Zimmerman, died in 1898 at the age of forty-three years. By her marriage she had become the mother of two children, Fred D. and Maude, but the latter is now deceased.

Fred D. Zimmerman partially acquired his education in the public schools of Indianapolis and partly under the direction of his father, who took a most active interest in the early training and intellectual development of his children. When a youth of sixteen years Fred D. Zimmerman started out in the business world, his first position being that of clerk in a grocery store in Indianapolis. He afterward became active in connection with the printing and engraving business and for five years was with the firm of R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company of Chicago in an executive position. He left that city because of the ill health of his daughter and removed to Denver, where lie arrived on the 17th of March, 1905. He immediately became associated with the Wil- liamson-Haffner Company as assistant general manager and was connected with that business until September, 1917, when he assumed his present position with the Conti-

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nental Oil Company, being made general advertising manager of this business, which is a twelve million dollar corporation. Mr. Zimmerman is a high class advertising man, regarded as one of the best in the country. He has bad a large and diversified experience in advertising matters and is a charter member of the old Ad Club of Indianapolis. He was also in the general advertising business on his own account in that city for eighteen months a number of years ago. He stands in an advanced position in the general field of advertising and he has ever been in the front rank of those men who are devoting their activities to this field. In fact, he has led the way, educating many to the needs of advertising, and the Continental Oil Company is fortunate in commanding his services.

On the 9th of September, 1894, in Indianapolis, Mr. Zimmerman was united in marriage to Miss Christie Inglis, a native of that city and a daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth (Wands) Inglis. The Wands were among the first settlers of Indianapolis, arriving there when the town contained only a few log cabins. To Mr. and Mrs. Zim- merman has been born a daughter, Alice May.

In his political views Mr. Zimmerman has always been a stalwart republican where national questions and issues are involved but casts an independent local ballot. While a resident of Indiana he took a very active part in politics but has never sought or desired office as a reward for party fealty. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias, has membership with the Ad Men's Club, the Optimists Club, the Denver Civic and Commercial Association and other organizations. He is the secretary and treasurer of the Optimists Club and is a director of that club and also of the Ad Club. For recreation and diversion he turns to fishing and outdoor life, but above all other interests, club life, outdoor life or business life, he prefers bis home, bis interest there centering, and he counts no personal effort on bis part too great if it will promote the happiness or advance the welfare of his wife and daughter. A spirit of progress has actuated bim at all points in his career and his advancement has been steady as the result of the wise utilization of his time and his opportunities.

HARRY ZIMMERHACKEL.

Harry Zimmerhackel, attorney at law practicing at the Denver bar since 1909 and now serving as a member of the city council, which indicates his deep interest in the welfare of Denver, was born May 2, 1884, in the city which is still his home, being the only child of George and Jane (McSweeney) Zimmerhackel, the former a native of the state of New York, while the latter was born in Pennsylvania. They left the east in the early '80s, re- moving from Dunkirk, New York, to Colorado, where the father conducted farming in- terests in the vicinity of Denver. Later he established a box and picture frame -factory which is still in operation and which he successfully conducted until 1913, covering a period of thirty-one years. He is now engaged in the raising of citrus fruit near Miami, Florida, where he makes his home at the age of sixty-seven years. His wife also survives and is now fifty seven years of age.

Harry Zimmerhackel was a little lad of six years when he entered the public schools of Denver, in which be passed through consecutive grades to his graduation from the high school. He afterward entered the University of Colorato at Boulder and gained his Bachelor of Arts degree upon graduation with the class of 1907. After reviewing the broad field of business in order to make choice of a vocation which he wished to make his life work, he decided upon law practice and devoted two years to preparatory study, being ad- mitted to the bar in 1909, after having completed a law course in the University of Colo- rado with the LL. B. degree. He at once opened an office in Denver, where he has since remained, and in the intervening period he has gained a liberal clientage that has con- nected him with much important litigation. He is now attorney for the Denver Manu- facturers Association and represents in a legal way many of the large corporations of Denver and of the state. He has specialized to a great extent in corporation law and there are few men more thoroughly informed concerning this branch of the profession. He is a member of the Denver Bar Association and also of the Colorado State Bar Asso- ciation and the legal fraternity, Phi Delta Phi, and is favorably known among his brethren of the law.

On the 9th of June, 1910, Mr. Zimmerhackel was united in marriage to Miss Rosina Vaughan, of Denver, whose parents were pioneer people of Colorado, her father acting as secretary to Governor Adams during his administration as chief executive of the state. To Mr. and Mrs. Zimmerhackel have been born two children: Jane, whose birth occurred in Denver, December 26, 1912; and Sarah, who was born December 28, 1917.

HARRY ZIMMERHACKEL

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Mr. Zimmerhackel is a Master Mason, holding membership in Oriental Lodge, No. 87, A. F. & A. M .; Rocky Mountain Consistory, Scottish Rite; and El Jebel Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and and he also is a member of the Optimists Club of Denver. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he is serving on the city council of Denver, in which he has been made a member of the committees on public utilities, ju- diciary and claims. He is interested in the close study of all questions which come before the municipal legislative body and lends the weight of his aid and influence upon the side of progress and improvement. As a public official, as a lawyer, as a citizen and a man he stands high in the regard of the community in which his entire life has been passed.

WILLIAM DREXLER, M. D.

Dr. William Drexler, engaged in the general practice of medicine and also serving as a member of the staff of Mercy Hospital and of the County Hospital, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, November 1, 1876. His father, Sigmund Drechsler (the original form of spelling the name), was a rabbi who was born in Hungary and who passed away ten years ago. He married Julia Gries, who survives and is living in Cleveland.

Dr. Drexler was reared in Cleveland, pursuing his early education in the public schools and completing his high school course with the class of 1896. He afterward spent one year as a student in the Western Reserve College and two years in the Western Reserve Medical College. In 1898 he arrived in Denver, where he entered the Denver Medical College, formerly the Gross Medical College, and won his M. D. degree as a member of the class of 1900. After serving as resident physician and superintendent of the National Jewish Hospital for Consumptives, for a period of one year, ending December 31, 1900, he engaged in active and general practice, in which he has since continued and is most faithful and conscientious in the performance of all of his professional duties. He holds to high standards, and wide reading and experience are constantly promoting his knowledge and efficiency. He belongs to the American Medical Association, the Colorado State Medical Society and the Denver County and City Medical Society.

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History of Colorado; Volume II, Part 47

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