History of Colorado; Volume II, Part 5

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

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Elias M. Ammons was born July 28, 1860, on a farm near Franklin, Macon county, North Carolina, a son of Jehu Richard and Margaret Caroline (Brendle) Ammons. The ancestors of E. M. Ammons on his father's side were among the very first settlers in western North Carolina. The father of Jehu R. Ammons was Joshua Ammons, whose father was a Revolutionary soldier and fought in the struggle for independence. Joshua Ammons was a Baptist minister and his son. Jehu R., was also educated for that pro- fession. The latter was one of fourteen children and at about the age of fourteen suf- fered a severe spell of sickness which resulted in impaired physical strength during his life thereafter. He was married in 1859 in North Carolina to Miss Margaret Caroline Brendle, who came from an old Pennsylvania Dutch family that settled in that section of North Carolina in an early day. Early in the spring of 1871, Jehu R. Ammons and his family removed to Colorado, arriving in Denver on April 1st of that year, after being delayed several days by a snow blockade at Hugo, Colorado, on the old Kansas Pacific Railroad. After coming to Colorado, Jehu R. Ammons was engaged at different times in the mercantile, mining and timber business. His death occurred in Douglas county on April 20. 1899, while his wife died in Denver on December 25, 1893. They had a family of six children. five of whom lived to adult ages, all being high school graduates. The eldest of the children was Elias M. Theodosia Grace, the second of the family, became a successful school teacher and was well known in educational circles, establishing the domestic science department in the Colorado Agricultural College. She never married and is now deceased. Farita H. gave her hand in marriage to Alonzo F. Polhamus and became the mother of eight children, seven of whom survived her. Anna J. Ammons is a well known school teacher of Denver. Gwendolyn wedded James McLaughlin and resides in Trinidad. Colorado.

Elias M. Ammons was a boy of less than eleven years of age when he came to Colo- rado, up to which time he had attended school but very little, probably not more than a few weeks in all. Soon after coming to Denver he went to work in a woolen mill then located on West Larimer street. which employment was quite essential, as the family means were limited. The hoy, being eldest in the family, had from the age of five worked at various tasks such as his age permitted and contributed in no small way toward the family support. Severe losses had reduced the family finances, while the father was not physically robust, a condition dating from boyhood. In latter July, 1871, the family removed to Pleasant Park, where young Ammons worked on a ranch. In those days hay harvest was carried on by the use of scythes and the boy managed to do his share of the work with the others. Later Mr. Ammons' father went to Turkey Creek and the son was employed at various kinds of work, including lumbering. At this he skidded the first five thousand ties that went into the South Park Railroad. He drove oxen, hauling cordwood to the limekilns. His work was carried on entirely out-of- doors and during the severe winters, when the cold was intense, he kept at it just the same, even without gloves or overshoes. In fact he never had a pair of either until he was about grown. In the winter of 1874 the family removed to Denver, where young Ammons, after · considerable difficulty, found employment as a fireman in a laundry. After three weeks' service in that capacity the laundry failed and he lost all his wages. He could not afford to remain idle, so secured work sawing wood in a woodyard, and was thus able to earn some money with which to purchase schoolbooks. He was anxious to secure an education and just as soon as it was possible for him to do so he started to school. It was in February, 1875, when he hecame a pupil at the old Arapahoe school that stood on the present site of the club building on Arapahoe street. Aaron Gove was

HON. ELIAS M. AMMONS

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HISTORY OF COLORADO

the principal and to the encouragement and influence of this gentleman Mr. Ammons attributes no small part of the rapid progress he made in his studies. Here was an instance of a boy not having seen the inside of a schoolroom for over five years who when a little less than fifteen years of age was assigned to the fourth grade. Within two weeks he was promoted to a higher grade and in June, 1876, entered high school. He had few spare moments as a schoolboy. His summer vacation in 1875 was spent on a ranch, while during the school year he lighted the street lamps, as was the custom when gas was being used. To add to what he had to contend with, in the early part of 1876 he suffered a severe attack of measles which weakened his eyes, resulting in a handicap under which he has labored ever since. He graduated from the East Denver high school in 1880, being a member of the fourth class to matriculate in that institu- tion. It would be difficult to find a young man who had mixed in with his school days such a variety of work and it simply goes to show what industry, adaptation and neces- sity will bring out of a boy. For four years he worked in the evenings, lighting the street lamps as previously mentioned, and when not otherwise employed he gathered up discarded tin cans from which the solder was melted and sold, engaging as well in numerous other ways of making money. He hunted game for the market in the days when a deer brought a dollar and a half and an antelope one dollar, while elk and bear brought but little more. While thus engaged on the Gore range, and on the very last day of the hunting season in the fall of 1880, he was accidentally shot, receiving a dan- gerous wound in the head which incapacitated him for weeks. He had been doing some newspaper work, first in connection with the circulation department of the Times. He wrote up the Breckenridge boom for the Denver Tribune in 1880. After recovering from his gunshot wound he was for some time in the employ of the Denver Hotel Re- porter. In the spring of 1881 he was put on the circulation staff of the Times and in connection with this paper he remained for four and a half years, filling various posi- tions with credit to himself and satisfaction to his employers. Mr. Woodbury took him into the business office, and when that gentleman disposed of his interests, the new firm assigned Mr. Ammons to reportorial work. Soon he began to edit the telegraph for the Times, read the proofs and later was made city editor, while at the age of twenty- five he was made associate editor. In the fall of 1885 he was compelled to give up jour- nalistic work on account of his eyes-unfortunately, too, as he had acquired the reputa- tion of being a capable and promising man. His services were sought by other papers but the offers were declined.

In taking up other work, Mr. Ammons turned his attention to the cattle business and in September, 1885, in partnership with Thomas F. Dawson, formed the firm of Dawson & Ammons. They began with eighty acres of land on the western line of Douglas county, about thirty miles from Denver, and with about twenty-five head of cat- tle. This business prospered from the beginning and subsequently became one of the big cattle outfits of that time in the state. Mr. Ammons was always the active manager of the business. A thoroughly practical man, he was familiar with every branch of it and perfectly competent to perform and judge the work of any employe, who was never asked to do more than Mr. Ammons would do himself. The firm of Dawson & Ammons continued until Mr. Ammons disposed of by far the larger portion of his stock and ranch- ing interests about the time he entered on his duties as governor of the state. While actively engaged in the cattle business Mr. Ammons made a close study of methods long prevailing in that industry and endeavored to improve on them. One practice in par- ticular that he sought to improve, and did, was that of finishing beef cattle in Colorado and which has ever since been followed by many growers in the state. His connection with that industry in Colorado included a period of depression and low prices which, contrasted with present-day returns, seem incredible. Steers known as good killers were sold for as low as two dollars and thirty-five cents per hundredweight, while fat cows that would average eleven hundred pounds were sold for as low as ten dollars each. Mr. Ammons took an active part in the organization of the cattle interests for protec- tion against theft and was a prime factor in the organization of the Colorado Cattle and Horse Growers' Association. He accepted the presidency of this organization to start the stock show and called its first meeting, from which has grown the National Western Stock Show, which has probably done more to stimulate the live stock industry in Colo- rado than any other one influence. He has ever since been president of this organiza- tion. He was one of the organizers of the Middle Park Land and Live Stock Associa- tion, its first president and again its president at a later date. He was one of the or- ganizers of the First National Bank of Littleton and for several years served as one of its directors. He was interested in the Stock Yards Bank during the early days of its existence. He is a member of the Grange and Farmers Union as well as various other

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organizations that have drawn their membership largely from the agricultural class. He was for several years president of the Grand County Fair Association as well as a director of the Castle Rock Fair Association. He is now vice president of the State Board of Agriculture, of which board he has been a member since 1909. From boyhood he has been interested in forestry and has made a close study of the results of forest conservation, advocating or opposing practices that his practical experience has taught him to be right or wrong as the case may be.

Mr. Ammons has always taken an active interest in education. He served on the school boards for many years, for a long period being a member of a local board, the president of a county high school board and a member of the Agricultural College board at the same time. He has ever been an advocate of practical and technical training and the making of the state's high schools more of a people's college for those who can- not attend universities rather than conducting them as preparatory schools for classical college courses. He has insisted that high school courses should be as complete as possible in themselves and still prepare pupils for college courses, should they be able to take them. Much work was done toward establishing elementary agricultural work in country high schools. He is now a member of the vocational training board. He was an active supporter of improvement in physical training. He believed that the plans in operation for the most part tended to overtrain those who needed little and to do nothing for those who needed it most. He has insisted that thorough physical training, best suited to the pupil, should be furnished-that stronger, better balanced citizens might be the result. In this connection it may be well to mention that for several years he has favored military training of all boys and young men in high schools and colleges on the principle that if it is advisable to teach our boys to be better govern- ing agents and more productive citizens, it is also necessary to train them in the art of protecting both government and production.

On the 29th of January, 1889, in Denver, Mr. Ammons was married to Miss Elizabeth Fleming, a native of Indiana, Pennsylvania, and a sister of James. A. Fleming. Mrs. Ammons came to Colorado in the early '80s. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ammons, of whom three are now living. Bruce, who married Miss Margaret Gates. is a rancher of Grand county, Colorado. Elizabeth was educated at the Wolcott School and subsequently graduated from the Colorado Women's College, after which she took a special course in journalism at the University of Colorado and has been acting secretary to her father for several years. Miss Ammons is an accomplished equestrienne. Teller is a member of Company I, Three Hundred and Fifty-fourth Infantry, at the front in France, having joined the United States military forces in October, 1917.

Though too young to vote, Mr. Ammons took an active part in the campaign of 1880. He frequently represented the republican party in conventions but refused to act as a delegate to the national convention at St. Louis in 1896. On a previous occasion, before he was a voter, he had been chosen as a delegate to a state convention but de- clined on account of his age. In 1890 he became clerk of the district court but resigned after three months of service. In the fall of 1890 he was elected to the state legislature after one of the most exciting campaigns in the history of Douglas county. His opponent at that time was William Dillon, a brother of the noted Irish agitator. Mr. Dillon chal- lenged Mr. Ammons to joint debates, which were held in different precincts, and the interest was so intense that large crowds went from one to another to listen to the de- bates. In the legislature Mr. Ammons was one of three grangers who decided the speak- ership in the caucus. He made a strong fight on parliamentary rulings and evinced such familiarity with proper procedure of that character that the impression was created that he was a lawyer. While never having read law a day in his life, he had, however, debated in literary societies, where he acquired a thorough knowledge of parliamentary tactics. He served as a member of the judiciary committee while in the legislature. He was instrumental in the passage of the fee and salary bill, the Australian ballot law. appropriations for state roads in Douglas county, as well as numerous reform measures passed by that general assembly. He was no small factor in the election of Henry M. Teller to the United States senate. Mr. Ammons was a most ardent admirer of that worthy statesman, with whom the warmest friendship existed as long as he lived. Mr. Ammons made for himself a name and an acquaintance during his first term in the legis- lature such as few "first termers" have ever done in the state. He readily became known as a fighter who was both able and had the courage of his convictions. In addition to being credited by other members as being the hardest worker in the house, the predic- tion was made by close observers that he was destined to "go higher," which in the face of subsequent positions that he filled only shows the ample basis for those predictions. At the convention held for nomination in 1892, Mr. Ammons received the vote of every

HISTORY OF COLORADO

delegate but himself, on secret ballot, and was reelected by an increased majority. He had proved so popular and shown such ability during his previous term that it was decided he should make the race for speaker of the house. He was elected to this posi- tion, being the youngest man on whom that honor had ever been conferred up to that time. In his rulings as speaker no appeal was ever sustained and at the extra session of' fifty-two days no appeal from his decision was ever taken, although the session was an exciting one and many matters of importance were brought to him for settlement. He declined to be a candidate for renomination at the conclusion of his second term. In 1896 he refused the chairmanship of the state silver republican committee and later in the same year declined the nomination for representative. When the national repub- lican party became a gold standard party, Mr. Ammons followed Senator Teller out of that party and helped to organize in Colorado the silver republican party. In fact he led the fight in the second congressional district convention in 1896 to instruct a bolt from the national convention under the leadership of Senator Teller in case the expected announcement of the gold standard policy should be made. He served at various times as a member of the state central committee for Douglas county, also as chairman of the county central committee and as chairman of the congressional district committee. On the 16th of September, 1898, in the silver republican senatorial convention of El Paso and Douglas counties, Mr. Ammons, without seeking the position, was nominated for state senator. In the election that followed a vigorous campaign he was chosen by more than five thousand majority, carrying every precinct in his home county of Douglas, as well as receiving an enormous majority in his opponent's home county.

While in the Colorado senate he served during the first term as chairman of the printing committee and conducted its affairs at less expense than ever before had been done. He also was responsible for much important legislation among which he was author of the hill providing that the Columbine be established as the state flower; author of a hill establishing Teller county; author of legislation that took "picture gallery" off the ballot; and this was accomplished only after a bitter fight. In this session of the senate he was a member of the finance, live stock, and rules committees. During the second session of his term he was chairman of the finance committee in the senate and of the joint committee of hoth houses on finance, appropriation and taxation. During his service as such he was instrumental in reducing appropriations over six hundred thousand dollars, bringing them within the state's revenues.

In 1901 Mr. Ammons was appointed president of the Live Stock Inspection Board and served for two terms. He was a candidate for lieutenant governor of Colorado in 1904 and again in 1906, and while defeated hoth times, he just as often ran ahead of the ticket. In 1912 he was elected governor by more than fifty thousand plurality, receiv- ing a tremendously heavy vote from the country districts, as his labors and influence had largely been utilized in hehalf of measures and movements affecting those localities. Governor Ammons served one term in accordance with the platform on which he was elected, which contained a one-term plank. Governor Ammons' administration was marked by the strictest economy as well as much constructive legislation, probably more than had characterized that of any of his predecessors. He was active in the establish- ment of schools of agriculture at Fort Collins and Fort Lewis and in pushing elementary agriculture in the schools of the state; also in securing appropriations for extension and institute work, in which he actively engaged in assisting college men. Civil service was put into force more effectively during his administration than during any time in the history of the state. During his administration a most effective public utilities law, including the aholition of railroad passes, was passed for the first time. A thorough taxation system, insuring more equitable distribution of taxes and furnishing the ma- chinery for a complete system, was also established. A highway system under which tremendous progress has been made in road construction, was put into effect and is heing copied by many of the states of the Union. Agitation over both the banking laws and the insurance laws was ended by legislation covering these subjects very fully and which seems to have heen perfectly satisfactory since that time. A law pronounced hy both operators and employes as being the hest in the country, was passed, controlling the business of coal mining. Legislation was enacted to assist agriculture, providing for the gathering of statistics; to further the cause of good seed; for the general promotion of agriculture and live stock growing. A law was passed to establish a county agri- culturist, with the idea of teaching those who come here from other countries, the best methods of growing crops and live stock under our climatic and other conditions. The employers' liability act was also liberalized. Better protection was provided for women and children and a commission appointed to investigate a report on a minimum wage for women. A bill was passed to regulate commission men, especially in relation to

HISTORY OF COLORADO

fruits and vegetables, but was referred and later defeated at the polls. A number of the boards were consolidated. In doing this, the dairy commission was put under the board of agriculture and the head of the live stock department made the commissioner. It was this legislature which passed the act for the election of United States senators by the people. Game and fish laws were made more efficient and the game and fish department provided with means for better support. The law for an eight-hour day was made effective. The initiative and referendum was perfected by legislation,. pre- venting fraudulent petitions and preventing state employes from circulating petitions. Appropriations were made and most effective work was done to protect the state's water from litigation from other states. Laws regulating "loan sharks" were passed. Automo- biles were licensed to provide a road fund. Official action was taken to provide for mountain parks and a system of parks throughout the state was advocated. The state was reapportioned for congressional and other purposes. An amendment to the con- stitution was proposed and adopted at the succeeding election, requiring equalization of values for taxation and limiting levy for state and county purposes, to prevent undue increase in taxation. Minimum teachers' salaries were established. A strong memorial to congress was adopted seeking to establish a national policy, advocating the control of the public domain, in. favor of the settlement of public lands in the state and the development of its natural resources. The headless ballot which Mr. Ammons tried to secure at the time of the passage of the Australian ballot bill first in 1891 and which he tried to bring about by amendment while in the senate in 1899, was adopted and went into force with this administration. The mothers' compensation act was passed. An attempt was made to put all royalties on coal and other minerals on school and other state lands into the permanent fund. It developed that new legislation was necessary and this, through his influence, was secured at the session of 1917.

A conference of governors was held at Colorado Springs in August of 1913 and proved to be one of the best attended meetings of these officials ever held. Mr. Ammons was a member of the executive committee for both 1913 and 1914. The second year conference was taken up largely by subjects relating to western development. In 1914, the governor called a conference of educational institutions, pioneer societies, historical societies, and others interested, to meet with representatives of the government to organ- ize, to secure cooperation with the federal government, with the purpose of eliminating duplication and meaningless names of mountains and streams and perpetuating in their places Indian and Spanish and pioneer names of historic value. The state being the great scenic section of the country it was deemed advisable from that standpoint, that the names of all points of interest should carry with them designations not only of historic value but of story value. The gathering, which met at the senate chamber in the state house of Denver, was the most notable of the kind ever called in the history of the state; it entered upon the work with interest and enthusiasm and though it did not later secure official recognition, as it deserved, it has already accomplished much good and will, doubtless, do more and more as time goes by. The governor was sec- retary of the Western Governors' Conference and active in securing an organized effort on the part of the western states for a better development of resources in, and settle- ment of, the public lands. On request of the executive committee he prepared a paper for the governors' council, which met at Boston in August, 1915.

During his administration there occurred the worst industrial disturbance in the history of the state. There had been in existence for some time a strike in the northern coal fields and six weeks before he went into office, he was notified that a general strike of coal miners would be called. Every effort was made to prevent this but without avail. The contest was for recognition of the Union in District No. 15, comprising Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. To avoid interstate complications the strike was to be in one state at a time. Colorado was chosen as the first battle ground. The conduct of the strike was controlled from outside of the state, entirely on the side of the United Mine Workers and largely on the part of the operators. While the officers of the United Mine Workers sought conferences with the operators the latter insisted that this was only asked for in order to secure that much recognition of the Union and they refused to meet the strikers' officials. A great deal of violence ensued, resulting in the necessity for military control of the districts involved. The latter part of 1914 the strike was called off and the difficulties attending it so adjusted that the entire matter was taken care of before the close of that administration. It was said that the governor only had one peaceful day during his administration and that was the last day he was in office. This disturbance occupied most of the time and energies of the executive and interfered with many of the plans laid out for the development of the state.

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History of Colorado; Volume II, Part 5

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