History of Colorado; Volume II, Part 62

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 62

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).

Mr. Clark was a member of Poudre Valley Lodge, No. 12, I. O. O. F., and it was under the auspices of that organization that his funeral services were conducted. He was a man universally liked and esteemed even by those who most strongly opposed him politically. His opponents ever admired and respected him. He was generous to a fault, was ever ready to assist the needy, was always jovial and good-natured, and his musical talent contributed to his popularity, for he was a valued addition to all social occasions and musical events given in Greeley and his selections, like himself, breathed a rollicking good humor that was always contagious and enjoyable. In a word, his personal characteristics were those which won for him friendship and love. He was accidentally killed while boarding a street car in Denver, passing away, September 7, 1898, at the age of forty-seven years, leaving behind him, besides the bereaved family, many warm friends to mourn his demise. His memory is yet enshrined in the hearts of many with whom he came in contact and in his passing Greeley lost one of its most representative citizens. Mrs. Clark still resides in Greeley, where she owns extensive real estate holdings, including many residences that bring to her a very gratifying annual income. She is very popular, having been active in school work and otherwise in Greeley for ahout twenty-six years. She has an extensive acquaintance and, like her husband, has gained the high regard of many friends.

JOSEPH WILLIAM YANCEY.

Joseph William Yancey is the owner of the County Line Farm, a valuable property situated on sections 12 and 13, township 6, range 68, in Larimer county. The farm lies on each side of the boundary line between Weld and Larimer counties and thus obtains its name. In the conduct of his agricultural interests Mr. Yancey has acquired a very substantial and gratifying measure of success. He is a native son of Virginia, his birth having occurred in Rockingham county on the 3d of October, 1865, his parents being Edward S. and Fannie B. (Mauzey) Yancey, who are mentioned at length on another page of this work in connection with the sketch of Charles A. Yancey.

Joseph William Yancey spent his youthful days in Virginia and acquired his educa- tion in its public schools. He remained at home until 1883, when at the age of eighteen years he determined to try his fortune in the west with its limitless opportunities and many advantages. He made his way to Weld county, Colorado, where he was employed as a farm hand for two years, and then rented land aud continued its cultivation for seven years, while later he purchased his present place of three hundred and twenty acres, a part of which is in Weld county. He at once set about improving and developing the farm and has converted it into one of the most attractive farm properties in this section of the state, constituting one of the pleasing features in the landscape. It is improved with good buildings, the fields are highly cultivated and everything about the farm is orderly and systematic. The place is situated three and a half miles northwest

435

HISTORY OF COLORADO

of Windsor and success is attending Mr. Yancey in its further development. He raises high grade and also some pure bred Herefords and makes a specialty of feeding cattle, which constitutes an important branch of his business. His crop production also indi- cates that he recognizes the value of the soil and the most effective ways of enhancing its yield.

In August, 1894, Mr. Yancey was united in marriage to Miss Mattie Hankins, a daugh- ter of David and Rebecca (Pace) Hankins, who were natives of Tennessee, born near Knoxville. Her father was a farmer and at an early day removed to Iowa, where he carried on general agricultural pursuits for several years. He then again turned his face westward and made his way to Colorado, after which he engaged in farming for several years in Larimer county. Subsequently he retired from active business and made his home with Mr. and Mrs. Yancey, there passing away in 1899, while his widow survived until 1901. To Mr. and Mrs. Yancey were born four children: Fannie V .; Zenath B .; Esther, deceased; and Rebecca P. The three living children are all at home. The religious faith of the family is that of the Methodist Episcopal church and their belief guides them in all of their life's relations. Mr. Yancy is identified with the sub- ordinate lodge, the encampment and the Rebekah degree of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His political endorsement is given to the men and measures of the democratic party but he does not seek nor desire office as a reward for party fealty. On the contrary he prefers to concentrate his attention and interest upon his business affairs and the wisdom of his course has been demonstrated in the gratifying success which has come to him.

MARION R. MCCAULEY.

Marion R. McCauley is a popular official of La Junta, of which city he is postmaster. His position naturally brings him into contact with practically all of the people of his community and there is none who does not speak of him in the highest terms of praise, commending the prompt and faithful discharge of his duties. He was born in Corning, Iowa, February 24, 1866, and is a son of James S. and Emma (Reid) McCauley. The family removed to this state in 1887, locating in Greeley, and the father died at Platte- ville in 1890. His widow, surviving him for a quarter of a century, passed away in La Junta on the 2d of June, 1915. James S. McCauley was a highly educated man, being a graduate of Oberlin College. The reason of his removal to Colorado was the bad con- dition of his health. To him and his wife were born four sons and one daughter, of whom our subject is the second in order of birth.

Marion R. McCauley received his education in the public and high schools of Corn- ing, Iowa, and following his graduation, entered the employ of the Atlantic Messenger, in which connection he learned the printer's trade. After coming to Colorado he was with W. H. Kistler of Denver for a short time, whence he removed to Las Animas, where he bought the Bent County Democrat, which he successfully conducted and edited for six and one-half years. He always followed a vigorous policy, standing for progress and improvement, and under his direction the circulation of his paper steadily increased, receiving the full support of the public. On the 15th of September, 1896, he sold out this newspaper and acquired the Otero County Democrat. On the 1st of February, 1897, he established the La Junta Daily Democrat and he has made this paper one of the valuable mediums of his section. From a typographical point of view it is thoroughly up-to-date and in its editorials it has always stood for the rights of the common people. Mr. Mc- Cauley, although now holding the official position of postmaster, is still interested in the paper, which is now run by the La Junta Democrat Publishing Company, a corporation. On the 1st of March, 1914, he was appointed postmaster of his city and has ever since ably discharged the duties of that office.

On the 25th of September, 1890, Mr. McCauley married Miss Nelle M. Needles and to them have been born three children: Estella, who is now Mrs. Carl Haye; Paul R., who is rendering service to his country as a member of the army; and Ruth.

In his political affiliations Mr. McCauley has always been a stanch democrat, ever supporting the policies of his party. He is public-spirited, having at heart the welfare of his city, to which he has largely contributed not only by his newspaper work but also by ably discharging the important duties which fall to him in his official capacity. All who know him, and he has many friends in his community, respect and esteem him. He was present during the democratic national convention in Baltimore and from the beginning ably supported the candidacy of Woodrow Wilson. His religious faith is that of the Methodist church and fraternally he is identified with the Masons, having

436

HISTORY OF COLORADO

served as master of the local blue lodge from 1906 until 1908 and also belonging to the chapter and commandery. Moreover, he is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He is a public-spirited American, upholding American ideals and faithfully supporting the policy of democracy.

JOSEPH N. BAXTER.

For almost forty years Joseph N. Baxter has engaged in law practice In Colorado and stands today as one of the leading representatives of the profession in Denver. His knowledge of law is comprehensive and exact and his devotion to his clients' interests has long since become proverbial. Mr. Baxter was born on the 10th of April, 1855, at sea, while his parents were on a trip from Japan and China to Boston on the bark Z. D. His father, Captain John Baxter, was a Cape Cod sea captain, who engaged in trade with Japan and who passed away in the year 1866. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Eleanor Sanford Nickerson, was a native of Massachusetts and a representative of one of its oldest and most honored colonial families. She, too, has passed away. The ancestry in the paternal line is traced back to Thomas Baxter, who in 1679 married Temperance Gorham, a daughter of Captain John and Desire (Howland) Gorham, the latter a daughter of John Howland, of Plymouth, who was one of the passengers on the Mayflower. John Howland married Old Tilly's daughter. The phrase, "slow as Old Tilly," was originated because of him. Sarah Tilly was his wife and their daugh- ter became the wife of John Howland. Thus it is that Joseph N. Baxter of this review can trace his ancestry back to four Mayflower passengers. One of his ancestors, Captain Thomas Baxter, fought in Captain John Gorham's Company in the battle of Narra- gansett and in the big Swamp Fort fight and in recognition of their services they were awarded that part of Maine called Gorham, so named in honor of the Captain. Joseph Sanford, a great-great-grandfather of Joseph N. Baxter, was at the battle of Abraham's Heights and helped to carry Wolfe off the field and heard him say: "I die content." He was also a soldier in the Revolutionary war.

In the acquirements of his education Joseph N. Baxter attended the Boston Latin School until 1871 and in the fall of that year entered Harvard College, where he pur- sued a four years' course, being graduated with the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1875. Having determined to make the practice of law his life work, he then entered the law school of Boston University and won his LL. B. degree in 1876. By the supreme court at Boston in June of that year he was admitted to practice and remained an active member of the profession there for three years. In 1879 he removed westward to Denver and was admitted by the supreme court to practice in the courts of Colorado. For a time he followed his profession as a member of the firm of Bullock, Baxter & Dickson, which was succeeded by the firm of Baxter & Wrigley and later by the firm of Baxter & Fillius. At the present time, however, he practices independently and he has been con- nected with some of the most important mining cases tried in the state.

A notable case with which he was identified is reported in 83 Federal Reports, page 790, and 28 United States Circuit Court of Appeals Reports, page 85. It was the case of Joseph N. Baxter vs. Margaret Billings. The latter made a contract with Mr. Baxter and T. D. W. Youley for services on a contingent fec of one-half of a recovery on a claim against the owners of the Emma mine at Aspen, Colorado. Mr. Youley died in January, 1887, and Mrs. Billings went on with Mr. Baxter as attorney for ten years. He recovered for her over five hundred thousand dollars, of which, according to the terms of the original contract, he should have received one-half. Mr. Baxter, however, could not recover that amount owing to a decision that the death of Mr. Youley ended the written contract, which was for the professional services of both and the death of one ended the contract, although the defendant, Mrs. Billings, went on with Mr. Baxter for attorney. She recovered as much as both attorneys might have recovered had Mr. Youley lived, but the decision was rendered against Mr. Baxter. It has been a matter of comment by the legal profession from Maine to Oregon, many opposing the decision that was rendered. While Mr. Baxter has argued many cases, he has lost but few. No one better knows the necessity for thorough preparation and no one more industriously prepares his cases than does he. His course in the courtroom is charac- terized by a calmness and dignity that indicates reserve strength. He is always courte- ous and deferential toward the court, and the officers and lawyers connected with the pro- ceedings. He examines a witness carefully and thoroughly but treats him with a respect which makes the witness grateful for his kindness and forbearance. His handling of a

JOSEPH N. BAXTER

438

HISTORY OF COLORADO

case is always full, comprehensive and accurate. His analysis of the facts is clear and exhaustive; he sees without effort the relation and dependence of the facts and so groups them as to enable him to throw their combined force upon the point they tend to prove.

In Salem, Massachusetts, on the 13th of June, 1878, Mr. Baxter was united in mar- riage to Miss Edith M. Shedd, a daughter of Henry P. Shedd, of Boston, Massachusetts. She is a descendant of Peregrine White, the first white child born after the landing of the Pilgrims from the Mayflower. It was at the house of her great-grandfather, Daniel Shedd, on the site of the postoffice on Milk street in Boston that the Mohawks dressed for the Boston Tea Party. To Mr. and Mrs. Baxter have been born six children: Beatrice, the wife of Louis H. Ruyl, of New York and Hingham, Massachusetts; Harold, who married Helen Alexander, a daughter of Captain J. L. B. Alexander, of Phoenix, Arizona, and who is now a sergeant in the Twenty-third United States Volun- teer Regiment of Engineers, engaged in active duty in France; Edith, the wife of J. Jefferson Tyndall, of Birmingham, Alabama; Shirley, who is a registered nurse of the Naval Corps of the United States Navy at Mare Island, California; Alice M., an artist in New York city; and Josephine, a graduate of the Girls' Latin School of Boston and Sargent's School of Cambridge and now engaged in research work in Denver, Colorado.

Mr. Baxter's military training covers service as a member of the Governor's Guard of Colorado in 1880 and he was one of the organizers of the Denver City Troop of the National Guard of Colorado in 1897, becoming second lieutenant and acting captain of Troop B. In politics he has always been a stalwart republican and was lieutenant colonel of the Boys in Blue Campaign in 1880 in support of U. S. Grant. It was in the same year that he was elected the first city attorney of Gunnison, Colorado. He was for years secretary of St. Luke's Hospital and was a member of the board of managers for about thirteen years. He drew the will that made this hospital possible. Fraternally he is well known in connection with the Odd Fellows. He has held all the chairs in Washington Lodge, No. 72, I. O. O. F., which was afterward consolidated with Denver Union Lodge, No. 1. He was also captain of Canton Rogers, No. 13, of the Patriarchs Militant, and he has been venerable consul in the Modern Woodmen camp and holds membership with the Sons of the American Revolution. He is well known in club circles, belonging to the Rocky Mountain Harvard Club, of which he was the organizer, the old Cactus Club, the Denver Athletic Club, and the Denver Whist Club. He is also identified with the Society of Colonial Wars as well as with the Sons of the Revolution. His religious faith is that of the Episcopal church and he has been vestryman and clerk of the vestry of St. John's Church in the Wilderness. He gives his support and coopera- tion to all plans and measures that tend to promote the welfare and upbuilding of his community, his commonwealth or his country. He is forceful and resourceful in every work which he undertakes and his efforts have ever been far-reaching and resultant. In the practice of law he has made for himself a prominent position and while he con- tinues in general practice he has always specialized in mining cases and there are few, if any, more thoroughly informed concerning the principles of jurisprudence that bear upon mining interests. He has conducted many important cases and won many ver- dicts favorable to his clients. The success which he has won indicates the measure of his professional attainment.

GEORGE W. ROE.

George W. Roe, a Pueblo architect, standing high in his profession, was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, October 24, 1850, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Gosnell) Roe. The father died while serving as a soldier in the Uniou army, and the mother passed away in March, 1918. George W. Roe was but a young lad when his father died, giving his life as a sacrifice to his country during the Civil war. The boy attended the public schools and afterward had the benefit of instruction in Hopedale College at Hopedale, Ohio. He later took up the study of architecture in the office of W. A. Burkett in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and located first for the practice of his profession in that city for six years, removing to Cañion City, Colo- rado, in 1881. Arriving in Denver he expected to follow his profession there but found twenty-seven architects already established which fact decided him to turn his attention to the lure of the mines and he became identified with mining and prospecting, but after having some experience along that line he concentrated his efforts and attention upon his profession in Cañon City, where he remained for

439

HISTORY OF COLORADO

eight years. In 1889 he came to Pueblo and through the intervening period, cover- ing almost three decades, he has designed some of the state's finest huildings, including the library building of the University of Colorado at Boulder, also the chapel and the dining room and some of the cottages for the State Industrial School for Boys at Golden. He likewise made the plans for three buildings for the Colorado State Hospital at Pueblo and while in Canon City he was superintendent of con- struction of the state penitentiary. He likewise planned the county building at Canon City and was associated with Albert R. Ross in the building of the Pueblo county courthouse. He has planned sixty different public school buildings in the state, among them being the Centennial high school of Pueblo, the Riverside school, the Carlisle and the Hinsdale, all of Pueblo, together with eleven others in this city. He was the architect of the Carnegie Library at Lamar and has made the plans for between five and six hundred other buildings at various points in the state. In fact there are few architects in Colorado who have equalled him in the number and in the importance of the buildings which have been erected after designs which he has made.

Mr. Roe was united in marriage to Miss Clara Schaefer and to them have been born two children: George H., a draftsman with the United States Naval Construc- tion Company at Long Beach, California, who married Ethel Rigdon, a member of a very prominent Pueblo family; and Anna, who married Alfred R. Johnson, also a member of a prominent Pueblo family, who is now serving in the Aviation Corps of the United States army and is stationed at Riverside, California.

Mr. Roe gives his political allegiance to the democratic party. He is very prominent in the Masonic order, in which he has attained the honorary thirty-third degree. He is a past grand master of the Grand Lodge of Colorado, is a past grand high priest and past grand commander. Moreover, he is a member of Colorado Consistory, No. 1, A. A. S. R .; Canon City Council, No. 5,.R. & S. M .; and is an active life member M. V. A., Pacific Coast, and inspector general honorary of the Supreme Council, thirty-third degree, S. J. U. S. A. He has figured quite actively in public life, serving as town trustee also as county commissioner and in other positions of public trust. He is guided by a progressive spirit in everything that he undertakes, whether for the benefit of the community at large or in connection with his profession, and advancing step by step, he now occupies a prominent place among the leading residents of southeastern Colorado.

HENRY KOHLER.

The business enterprise, keen discernment and unfaltering industry of Henry Kohler find visible expression in the immense business built up by the Kohler-McLister Paint Company, of which he is the president. This company is engaged in the manufac- ture and in the wholesale and retail sale of paint and wall paper, at No. 1621 Arapahoe street in Denver. Mr. Kohler was born in Toledo, Ohio, October 6, 1854, and is a son of Julius Kohler, a native of Germany, who came to America in 1848 and settled in Toledo, where he was engaged in the profession of civil engineering. He was a graduate of the Stuttgart Polytechnic University and in 1857 he returned to Germany, where he lived for a year. He then again came to the new world but later sold his interests in this country and once more went to Germany, where he spent his remaining days, his death occurring in 1900, when he had reached the age of sixty-eight years. He was very successful in the conduct of his business affairs. He retained his citizenship as an American until 1873, when, through the laws of Germany and on account of his husiness interests, he had to again become a German citizen or leave that country. He always had a love for America and her institutions, however, and was ever most interested in her progress and upbuilding. He married Julia Georgi, a native of South Germany, and they hecame the parents of four children, two sons and two daughters.

Mr. Kohler of this review is the only one now in America. He was educated in the schools of Germany and in Tübingen University in Wurtemberg. While pursuing his university course he studied chemistry and in 1873 he returned to America, settling at Toledo, Ohio, where he entered the drug husiness in the employ of others. He fol- lowed the drug trade until 1883 but in September, 1881, he took the first bunch of cattle on the Ute reservation in Delta county, there to become engaged in the live stock and ranching business. He continued successfully in that field until 1903, when he removed to Denver to enter upon the manufacture of paint, a field which at that time had been pretty well covered. Notwithstanding much opposition and competition the

440

HISTORY OF COLORADO

firm, starting its business on a small scale, soon built up and developed its interests and today has one of the largest paint manufacturing establishments in the west, with an extensive wholesale and retail trade. The company also conducts a large wall paper business, selling mostly to the wholesale trade, and something of the volume of their patronage is indicated in the fact that they employ thirty-five people. Their business covers New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming, also parts of Montana, Utah and Texas. The house is represented on the road by a score or more of traveling salesmen and the trade interests of the house are continually being extended. Mr. Kohler has now been a resident of Colorado for forty-two years. He arrived in this state on the 27th of January, 1876, and first settled at Lake City. There he engaged in the drug business in connection with S. T. Kostitch under the firm style of Kostitch & Kohler, at which time their stock of goods had to be freighted across the plains by their own outfit from Denver. They built up a successful trade in that locality and thus as the years have passed Mr. Kohler has advanced step by step in his business career until his interests are now large and important and he is a prominent figure in the commercial and manu- facturing circles of Denver.

On the 8th of March, 1881, Mr. Kohler was married in southern Germany to Miss Sophie Nachtigall, a daughter of the late Fred and Sophie (Kess) Nachtigall.

Mr. Kohler maintains an independent course in politics and has never sought or filled office. He belongs to Oriental Lodge, No. 85, A. F. & A. M., having been made a Mason in Denver in 1911. He is also a member of the Royal Arch Chapter, the Knight Templar Commandery and the Mystic Shrine at Denver and he has membership in the Lakewood Country Club, the Manufacturers' Association and the Denver Civic and Commercial Association- connections which indicate much of the breadth of his interests and the line of his activities. His success is due to his own efforts. He was accorded liberal educational privileges but it has been the strength of his character and his unfaltering enterprise that have brought him prominently to the front in the business life of Denver. While a resident of Delta county he was very active in civic and other public matters and the forest reserve there was created through his instru- mentality, as well as several others which were established during the administration of President Cleveland. This constituted a most beneficial act of the national govern- ment for the stock raisers, for the law defines the boundary lines where sheep and cattle can graze on the open lands. Mr. Kohler's efforts in that connection were far- reaching and beneficial and he has done other service equally valuable to the general public.

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 62

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