History of Colorado; Volume II, Part 56

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

USA > Colorado > History of Colorado; Volume II > Part 56

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

WINTON M. AULT.

Winton M. Ault, attorney at law practicing at the Fort Collins bar, was born in Bellaire, Ohio, January 7, 1881, his parents being Alexander and Mary E. (Edson) Ault, natives of Ohio and of New York respectively. The father is a miller by trade and operated a flour mill in Ohio until 1883, when he removed westward with his family to Fort Collins, Colorado, where he again engaged in the manufacture of flour. Later he devoted his attention to the grain trade for many years and he also conducted a hard- ware store at Fort Collins for some time. He was very successful in all that he undertook by reason of his close application and persistent purpose. He purchased grain to a considerable extent in Weld county and particularly in the town of Ault, which was named in his honor. He was regarded for many years as one of the most forceful, resourceful and capable business men of his section of the state. He is now living retired in the enjoyment of well carned rest, making his home at No. 714 West Mountain avenue in Fort Collins, but his wife passed away in 1894.

Winton M. Ault was but two years of age when the family home was established in Colorado, so that he was reared and educated in this state, being graduated from the Fort Collins high school with the class of 1900. He afterward won the Bachelor of Arts degree in the University of Denver as a member of the class of 1904, received the Master of Arts degree in 1905 and completed a law course in that institution as a member of the class of 1906. He subsequently took up land in New Mexico which he still owns. In the fall of 1907 he opened a law office in Fort Collins, where he has since practiced. He is now serving as deputy district attorney, a position which he has filled since February, 1915.

On the 29th of November, 1909, Mr. Ault was married to Miss Nelle Woodard, a daughter of John M. Woodard, a Colorado pioncer now residing in Pueblo. Mr. Woodard served as state fish and game commissioner under Governor Peabody and is well known as a representative man of the west. To Mr. and Mrs. Ault have been born two children: Mary E., born April 22, 1911; and Winton W., October 4, 1916.

The religious faith of the family is that of the Presbyterian church and politicallv Mr. Ault has always been a democrat. He is well known as a valued and representative member of the Masonic fraternity, the Benevoleut Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias, the Woodmen of the World and of Beta Theta Pi, a Greek letter fraternity. He is also a member of the Colorado Bar Association and the Larimer County Bar Association and he enjoys the confidence and trust of colleagues and contemporaries in the profession. In his practice he holds to a high standard of professional ethics and has been an able and conscientious minister in the temple of justice.

BENJAMIN H. MILLER.

Benjamin H. Miller, the cashier of the Farmers National Bank of Ault, Colorado, was born in Plainville, Kansas, November 7, 1888, his parents being Daniel E. and Georgia (Eastwood) Miller, who are natives of Pennsylvania and of England respectively. The father became a merchant of Albia, Iowa, and at an early period in the develop- ment of Kansas removed to Plainville, where he also became identified with commercial interests, conducting a store there for some time. In 1891 he removed to Colorado and

391

HISTORY OF COLORADO

established a grocery business at Eaton, conducting his store for about two years. He then sold out and worked at the lumber business for some time, while subsequently he resided in Denver for two years. He then returned to Eaton, where he still makes his home and his wife is also living.

Benjamin H. Miller was reared and educated in Colorado and after finishing his schooldays he worked in the office of the Great Western Sugar Company at Eaton for two months. He then removed to Ault, where he entered the employ of the Farmers National Bank in the capacity of bookkeeper. Since that time he has worked his way steadily upward until he is cashier of the institution, to which position he was elected on the 19th of August, 1910. He has served for a period of about eight years and has contributed in marked measure to the success and upbuilding of the bank, the policy of which is one that most carefully safeguards the interests of depositors as well as of stockholders. The bank is capitalized for twenty-five thousand dollars and has a surplus of equal amount, with undivided profits of more than five thousand dollars, while its deposits have reached three hundred and fourteen thousand dollars. The officers of the bank are: Jacob Hasbrouck, president; August Molander, vice president; and B. H. Miller, cashier; while on the board of directors, in addition to the three officers, are Henry Mead, D. K. Wyatt, Henry Thompson and Jens Jeremiassen. The bank was organized as a state bank in 1904 and was nationalized in 1906.

On the 4th of August, 1913, Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Miss Kate Kenehan, a daughter of Daniel and Emma (Bilger) Kenehan. Her father was a pioneer hotel man, conducting hotels at various points throughout the country. At one time he was located at Mason City, Iowa, and at the time of his death he was conducting a ranch at Sterling, Colorado. He was accidentally drowned in the Mississippi river in 1914 and is still survived by his widow.

Mr. Miller has always been deeply interested in community affairs and is now serving as town treasurer of Ault. He is also a stockholder and director of the Smith Lumber Company of Ault. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, with the Masonic lodge at Eaton, with Greeley Chapter, R. A. M., and Greeley Commandery, K. T. His religious faith is that of the Christian church and he has been most loyal to its teachings. His political faith is that of the republican party and he has taken an active interest in advancing the public welfare in every possible way. His fellow townsmen, appreciative of his worth, have called him to the office of mayor of Ault, in which capacity he is now serving.

WILLIAM FULLERTON.

William Fullerton, widely and favorably knowu in Denver, is president of the Fair- mount Cemetery Association, and was formerly a mining operator with important in- terests in this state.

He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, August 22, 1841. His father, James Fuller- ton, and his mother, Jane Paul Fullerton, were of Irish and Scotch descent.

Having lost both parents within a few days when he was but two years of age. he was brought up by an aunt, and attended the public schools. He was living on a farm near Pittsburgh when the Civil war broke out and responded at once to the call of his country, enlisting in a Brownsville company. This became Company D, of the Eighth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, commanded by Captain Connor. With that command he served throughout the war and participated in the seven days' battle of the Wilder- ness. There he was wounded in the second day's fight at Gaines' Mills and was taken to David's island, New York. He was sergeant in his company at this time but the disability caused by this wound precluded his further advancement, and much of his time was spent in hospital service. At the end of the war he was honorably discharged at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and was given a position by the government as inspector of shot and shell in the ordnance department. Having served in this capacity for six months, he accepted a position as special messenger with the Adams Express Company.

In the fall of 1866 he came to Colorado as agent for a New York gold mining com- many and through this position later acquired an interest in the Fisk, Gregory Second, and other mining properties in Gilpin county. In 1867, in partnership with Job V. Kimber, he built his first stamp mill in Blackhawk. Later, other mills were built and the Gunnell Gold Mining Company formed.

Under his management the Gunnell mine became one of the largest producers in the state, the output reaching three million, six hundred thousand dollars. Litigation having caused the mine to close down for some time, Mr. Fullerton sold out his interest

392

HISTORY OF COLORADO

and moved to Denver. He has since turned his other mining interests over to his son, who also succeeded him as director of the First National Bank of Central City.

In Denver, in 1879, Mr. Fullerton was married to Miss Clara L. Oyler, the daughter of Thomas J. Oyler, one of the early settlers and mining men of Blackhawk, Colorado. Mr. and Mrs. Fullerton have five children: Elizabeth, who is living with her parents; Kate, the wife of Fred C. Carstarphen of Trenton, New Jersey; Janet, the wife of Mark J. Bennett, of Denver; and two sons, Wilfred and Paul, who are at present serving in the army. Wilfred is a graduate of the Colorado School of Mines and is' serving with the One Hundred and Fifteenth Engineers. Paul is in the Headquarters Company of the Fifty-eighth Regular Infantry.

In his political views, Mr. Fullerton has always been a stalwart republican. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Albert Pike Lodge, No. 117, A. F. & A. M. He is also a member of Colorado Chapter, No. 29, R. A. M., and Denver Command- ery, No. 25, K. T. He is a past eminent commander and also past deputy grand com- mander of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of this state. The beneficent spirit which underlies the craft has been fully exemplified in the life of Mr. Fullerton.

ARTHUR H. BIGGS.

With liberal educational opportunities to fit him for life's practical and responsible duties, Arthur H. Biggs took up his life work as a lumber dealer and is now manager of the Biggs Lumber Company at Canon City. He was born in Chama, New Mexico, on the 5th of August, 1887, a son of Clinton A. and Frances (Bowlby) Biggs. The father is in partnership with Arthur H. Biggs of this review. The family came from . Kansas by team to Colorado, settling in this state in the '70s, and Mr. Biggs is still ac- tively engaged in the lumber trade with various yards on the western slope. In fact he has developed a business of extensive proportions and is one of the prominent lum- bermen of his section of the state.

Arthur H. Biggs began his education in the public schools, and passing through consecutive grades, was gradutaed from the high school, after which he continued his education by a year's study in the University of Virginia and a year at Colorado College in Colorado Springs. Thus with liberal training to qualify him for life's practical and responsible duties he returned to his home in Canon City and joined his father in busi- ness as an active factor in the control of the lumberyard at Cañon City, which was estab- lished in 1898. He, too, has made a thorough study of the lumber trade, with which he is familiar in all of its branches, and his progressive spirit and enterprise are salient features in the continued growth of the undertakings which he manages.

On the 18th of October, 1910, Mr. Biggs was united in marriage to Miss Ethel McLain and to them have been born two children, Clinton A. and Jean M. Mr. Biggs is a Protestant in his religious belief, a republican in his political views and fraternally is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He enjoys hunting and fishing and is fond of all phases of outdoor life, to which he turns for rest and recreation when leisure permits. In matters of citizen- ship he is public-spirited, being keenly interested in the development of the state and its progress along all lines, and his cooperation can ever be counted upon to further any movement for the good and welfare of Cañion City.

DAVID WAILES.

David Wailes was a representative and highly respected citizen of Weld county and his death was the occasion of deep regret to many friends in his section of the state, as well as his immediate family. He was born in Scotland April 2, 1864, a son of Will and Elizabeth Wailes. Two of his brothers, Thomas and John Wailes, are on the Big Thompson, Colorado, where they are extensively engaged in farming.

David Wailes was reared and educated in Motherwell, Scotland, but completed his studies when a youth of fourteen years, as necessity forced him to start out in the busi- ness world on his own account. He was first employed in a sawmill but after a short time took up railroad work. Later, thinking that he could secure better business opportunities on the other side of the Atlantic, he made his way to the United States and crossed the country to Rock Springs, Wyoming, where he arrived in 1884. He obtained a position on the top of a coal mine and was there employed for a brief

DAVID WAILES

394

HISTORY OF COLORADO

period, after which he left Wyoming for Clifton, Arizona. At the latter place he secured work in a blacksmith shop but afterward returned to railroading and was thus engaged for three years. With his arrival in Colorado he made his way north of Eaton and obtained employment as a farm hand for a year with two of his brothers. He next took up farming on his own account, settling at Severance. He purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land which is the present home farm of his family. He then devoted his attention to the raising of potatoes, hay and grain and he also fed sheep quite extensively in the winter time and handled cows, horses and hogs. His time and energies were devoted to his farm work and stock raising interests and he was quite successful in all that he undertook. He possessed sound judgment in business affairs and his energy and enterprise constituted salient forces in the attain- ment of success. He also extended his efforts into other fields and for a few years was vice president of the Severance Bank, now the Farmers Bank. He was also the president of the Farmers Union at the time of his death.

It was in Clifton, Arizona, on June 16, 1886, that Mr. Wailes was united in marriage to Miss Margaret MacManus, a daughter of John and Sarah MacManus, who were also natives of Scotland and came to this country when Mrs. Wailes was nineteen years of age. She made her way to Arizona, where she remained to the time of her marriage. She has two brothers living, both in Canada. To Mr. and Mrs. Wailes were born the following named. William John, the eldest, was a farmer but is now in the National Army at Camp Kearny, California, as a member of the One Hundred and Sixtieth Ambulance Corps. Robert Edward, married Bernice Nash and follows farm- ing at Severance. Ronald David was for a year a student in the School of Mines at Golden, Colorado, and afterward enlisted in the One Hundred and Fifteenth Engineers, being stationed for training in California. Cora Lynn, became the wife of Charles Tait, and passed away, July 2, 1918. Norman Alexander, Hilda Margaret, Laura Lillian and Gordon Leslie are all at home. The family circle was broken by the hand of death on the 9th of January, 1915, when Mr. Wailes passed away at the age of fifty years, his death resulting from an operation for appendicitis and gall stones. He was a member of the Woodmen of the World and was a man of many splendid traits of character, commanding the confidence and goodwill of all who knew him. He be- lieved in maintaining discipline in his family and in the careful rearing of his children, and their record is one of which the parents had every reason to be proud. Two of the sons are now serving their country and Mrs. Wailes is taking a very active part as one of the leading workers in the local Red Cross activities.

MASON E. KNAPP.

Mason E. Knapp is most prominently and closely associated with the agricultural interests of Colorado as special writer and agricultural editor of the Greeley Tribune- Republican and as county agricultural agent of Weld county, into both of which connec- tions he entered in 1917. He was born June 27, 1869, on a farm near Wilmington, in Will county, Illinois, his parents being O. S. and Elizabeth C. (Althouse) Knapp, who were representatives of pioneer families of that state.

Mason E. Knapp acquired his high school education at Wilmington, where he con- cluded his studies graduating with the class of 1887. He afterward entered the Illinois State Normal School, from which he was graduated with the class of 1894, and next he became a student in the Colorado Agricultural College, winning his Bachelor of Science degree. After leaving the Illinois State Normal, however, he filled the position of superintendent of schools at Braidwood, Illinois, from 1895 until 1897. He has de- voted much time to teaching natural sciences, horticulture and agriculture, and in the early part of 1917 he was engaged as special writer and agricultural editor of the Greeley Tribune-Republican. In May of the same year he was appointed county agricul- tural agent of Weld county, his territory comprising two million, five hundred thousand acres of farming land, noted for its vast crops of wheat, beans, potatoes, alfalfa and sugar beets. Weld county and its agricultural agent are striving to attain the goal set for it by the illustrious founder of the town of Greeley and the Tribune, Horace Greeley, who wished to make an agricultural empire second to none. The efforts of Mr. Knapp are proving most effective in this connection and he is actuated at all times by a most pro- gressive spirit that keeps him in touch with the latest discoveries concerning scientific agriculture.

In 1895, in Wilmington, Illinois, Mr. Knapp was united in marriage to Miss Florence A. White, a daughter of James White, who was a farmer and a representative of one of

395

HISTORY OF COLORADO

the pioneer families of the state. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Knapp are as follows: James O., who married Frances Cope and is now a member of the Aviation Corps; Frank W., who was a student at the Colorado Agricultural College and is now a member of the Officers' Training Corps; Joseph G., a graduate of the Fort Collins high school; Charles W .; Stanley A .; and Frances Ella.

The religious faith of the family is that of the Presbyterian church. The family has been distinctively American in its lineal and collateral lines through many genera- tions, having been represented in the war for independence, and the mother and sister of Mr. Knapp of this review are members of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Truly American in spirit, Mr. Knapp is putting forth every effort to develop the natural resources of the country and especially at this time to make Weld county measure up to its full possibility for agricultural development and productiveness.

FRANK ANDERSON.

Frank Anderson, cashier of the treasury department of the Colorado & Southern Railway Company with office in Denver, his native city, was born on the 28th of October, 1886, a son of Alexander and Margaret (Duffus) Anderson. The father was born in Forfar, Scotland, and came to the United States, when between thirty-five and forty years of age. He is still living, but his wife, who was also born in Scotland, has passed away. In their family were eight children, five of whom survive.

Frank Anderson acquired his education in the public schools of his native city and in business college, in which he was a student for two years, thus receiving thor- ough training which well qualified him for life's practical and responsible duties after he entered business circles. He first became connected with the Citizens Bank & Trust Company, with which he remained for two years. He then entered the employ of the Colorado & Southern Railway Company as clerk in the treasury department.

In March, 1910, Mr. Anderson was united in marriage to Miss Nellie Mae Curtiss and to them have been born two children: Mildred Marie, seven years of age, now in school; and Budd Frank, a little lad of five years. The parents are members of the Episcopal church. Mr. Anderson is a devotee of golf, greatly enjoying a turn on the links. There have been no spectacular phases in his life. He has perseveringly given his attention to business and his close application and energy have been the salient fac- tors in winning for him his present responsible position.

HARRIS AKIN.

Harris Akin, one of the county commissioners of Larimer county and the owner of a valuable farm property not far from Fort Collins, was born in Lockport, Illinois, July 7, 1859, a son of Henry and Eunice (Harris) Akin, who were natives of the Empire state. The father followed farming in Illinois, to which state he removed in 1841, driving across the country from Syracuse, New York. He bought canal script and located near Lockport, Illinois, where he improved a farm which he continued to further develop and cultivate until April, 1879, when he came to Colorado, making his way to Larimer county, where he took up a homestead southwest of Fort Collins. Not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made upon the place but with characteristic energy he began to break the sod and till the fields and in course of time was gathering good harvests. He continued to engage in general agricultural pursuits thereon throughout his remaining days, his death occurring in March, 1907. For a decade he had survived his wife, who died in February, 1897. There were ten children in the family, and because he was so greatly needed for their support Mr. Aikin was exempt from active service during the Civil war but bought horses for the government.

Harris Akin was reared at Lockport, Illinois, where he pursued his education, mastering the work of the grades and of the high school. He pursued his high school course at Hoopeston, Illinois, where he was graduated in 1879. After the removal of the family to Colorado he attended the State University at Boulder in 1880 and 1881 and then began farming on the old homestead in partnership with his father and brothers. They also had a stock ranch in the mountains for two years. Later Mr. Akin of this review took the stock ranch, which he carried on for two years and on the expiration of that period he turned his attention to the real

396

HISTORY OF COLORADO

estate and insurance business in Fort Collins, in which he was engaged for five years. He next purchased a farm six and a half miles northeast of the city, com- prising four hundred acres, which he has brought into fine shape. He has made many excellent improvements upon it, rendering it one of the attractive properties of Larimer county, and it has claimed his time and attention throughout the intervening period. He makes a specialty of feeding sheep and he is practical and progressive in all that he undertakes in connection with the development of the fields or the care of his flocks.

On the 7th of January, 1885, Mr. Akin married Miss Laura E. Stickle, who was born in Golden, Colorado, May 23, 1862, and is now one of the oldest native daughters of the state. Her parents were James and Matilda (Davis) Stickle, natives of Illinois, who came to Colorado in 1860 and took up land. Mr. Stickle engaged in farming for five years but his crops were destroyed by grasshoppers for three consecutive seasons. He later bought land at Arvada, which he owned until his death. In 1878 he entered the employ of the Colorado & Southern Railroad as an engineer and remained with that company for twenty years. He died in August, 1914, while his wife passed away in 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Akin became parents of three children; Victor H., born February 21, 1886, and now farming near his father's place; Helen B., who was born May 18, 1888, and died June 6, 1900; and Howard S., who was born June 24, 1891, and is farming on the old homestead.

Mr. Akin was elected county commissioner on the 7th of November, 1914, and has since occupied that position. He was first elected to fill a vacancy and was reelected in 1916. He has always given his political allegiance to the republican party and his religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church. High and honorable principles have guided him in all of the relations of life and he enjoys the respect and confidence of his fellowmen in an unusual degree. He has made an excellent record in business by the prompt, careful and systematic manner in which he has conducted his affairs and he has brought the same splendid qualities to bear in the discharge of his official duties.

CHARLES F. TEW.

After the first mining excitement died out it was found that the prosperity of Colo- rado was dne as much to the development of its unwatered lands as to its mineral resources. Irrigation, it was discovered, was the wand which would fertilize the rare soils of the state. To this task of projecting great irrigation systems many men have devoted their lives. To no one is greater credit due than to Charles F. Tew, now classed among the leading irrigation authorities of the country. Holding to high ideals, he has utilized most practical methods which have been of the greatest benefit in enhancing Colorado's fertility and making it a great agricultural state, the productivity of which places it on a par with the leading agricultural states of the Union.

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

History of Colorado; Volume II, Part 56

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