USA > Colorado > History of Colorado; Volume II > Part 69
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In politics Mr. Gaines is a stanch democrat, while his religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church. Fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen ot America, the Woodmen of the World and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. A young man of energy, enterprise and ability, he has made steady progress in the business world and has won a place among the representative and successful citizens of his community.
JOHN FISHER.
John Fisher is the owner of the Lake Canal Farm, situated on section 1, township 6, range 68, in Larimer county. He also holds landed interests in Weld county and his home place is situated not far from Windsor. Mr. Fisher is a native of Scioto county, Ohio. He was born on the 5th of February, 1857, of the marriage of John and Margaret (Fisher) Fisher, who were natives of Germany and who came to America in early life, taking up their abode in Scioto county, Ohio, where the father purchased land which he improved and developed as the years went on, giving his attention to the further culti- vation of his farm until he reached an age when it was wise for him to put aside business cares. He then retired and spent his remaining days in the home of his son in Ironton, Ohio, where he passed away in March, 1886. His widow afterward came to the west to make her home with her son John and passed away in Colorado about 1906.
John Fisher was reared and educated in the Buckeye state, remaining with his parents until he attained his majority. He believed that he might have better business opportunities in the west and then made his way to Illinois, where he was employed as a farm hand for eight years. But again the lure of the west was upon him and in 1886 he came to Colorado, settling in Phillips county, in the southeastern part of the state. There he carried on general agricultural pursuits for ten years, after which he drove across the state in a covered wagon to Weld county. He borrowed one hundred dollars in order to meet his expenses and paid three per cent per month for it. For one year he was employed by Governor Eaton, after which he rented land from the governor and carried on farming on his own account for five years. Subsequently he rented another place, which he cultivated for three years and by this time he had saved a sufficient sum of money from his earnings to enable him to purchase property. He bought his present place of two hundred and ninety acres, the buildings being located in Larimer county. The purchase price was eleven thousand dollars, upon which he made a cash payment of eight hundred dollars. He at once began developing, culti- vating and improving the place and now has one of the nicest farms in the state, situated on the county line. He uses the best farm machinery to facilitate the work of the fields and has good buildings which furnish ample shelter for grain and stock. In fact most modern equipment is found upon his place and everything indicates his progressive spirit. He has continuously lived upon the farm since making the pur- chase, save for a period of four years which he spent in Fort Collins, Colorado, in order to give his children the advantage of the schools of that city. He has made a specialty of feeding sheep, hogs and cattle and is one of the leading stock raisers of his section of the state. To his original purchase he has added, becoming the owner of the old Kern place of two hundred and forty acres, eighty acres of which is in Weld county. He thus cultivates the entire farm and is one of the most progressive agriculturists of the community.
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In August, 1878, Mr. Fisher was united in marriage to Miss Ida L. Baumgarner and to them were born four children: Margaret E., who died at the age of seven years; Mildred, who died when but fourteen months old; Mary, who died at the age of six months; and Dorothy, the wife of Arthur Farrar, a resident of Laramie, Wyoming. The wife and mother passed away in 1893 and on the 6th of July, 1894, Mr. Fisher was again married, his second union being with Lena Hemminger. They had a family of three children, William E, Clifford O. and Idell, all at home. Mrs. Lena Fisher passed away in August, 1899, after an illness of three years. Mr. Fisher was married a third time on the 20th of January, 1901, when Miss Ella Smith became his wife. They have two children, John Andrew and Ada Helena, both now in school.
Mr. Fisher is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Woodmen of the World. His political endorsement is given to the republican party and his religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church. He is ever loyal to any cause which he espouses and his devotion to duty is one of his marked characteristics. He is a man of genuine worth and high purpose and enjoys the warm regard of all with whom he has been brought in contact.
BURDETT RUSLER.
Burdett Rusler is one of the prosperous agriculturists of Pueblo county, owning a valuable property of eighty acres near Vineland. He was born near Kansas City, Missouri, October 22, 1881, and is a son of W. D. and May (Cason) Rusler. The family removed to Colorado about 1884, when our subject was only three years of age, locating on the St. Charles river in Pueblo county, where the father engaged in agricultural pur- suits until he passed away in 1915. He is still survived by his widow. In their family were eight children, seven sons and a daughter, of whom our subject is the fourth in order of birth.
Burdett Rusler was educated in the rural schools near the home farm and subse- quently assisted his father for several years in the work of the fields. After his marriage he bought eighty acres near Vineland and he has since given his attention to bringing this tract of land under a high state of cultivation. He uses modern machinery to till the soil and has put up suitable buildings, improving his property so that it is today one of the valuable farms of the neighborhood. Outside of following general farming he gives considerable attention to the raising of hogs, deriving a gratifying addition to his income from this source.
On May 13, 1903, Mr. Rusler was united in marriage to Miss Stella Burton, a native of Missouri, and to this union have been born two children, Paul and Dorothy. Both he and his wife are popular among the younger folks of the neighborhood and often extend the hospitality of their home to their many friends. In regard to political matters Mr. Rusler is independent, giving his support to candidates whom he considers worthy and capable without taking into consideration their party affiliations. He has been a member of the school board for some time and is greatly interested in the cause of education as well as in other public-spirited movements undertaken for the up- lift of the individual or the general welfare. He was secretary of the board of the Lakeside school and was instrumental in erecting the fine modern brick building of fireproof construction for this school. His family is numbered among the pioneer settlers of his section of the state and the name of Rusler has long been an honored one in the community. By his agricultural labors he has contributed to the development of Vineland and Pueblo county, while individually he now has a competency which places him among the prosperous farmers of the state.
REV. JAMES STANTON.
Rev. James Stanton, who for many years made his home in Platteville, was a man who contributed largely to the material and to the moral progress of Weld county. He was born in Liscard, Cornwall, England, on the 18th of September, 1847, a son of Samuel and Elizabeth Stanton. He acquired his early education in his native country and before leaving England was united in marriage to Miss Jane Wasley. He was about twenty-one years of age when he crossed the Atlantic to the new world, arriving in New Jersey in 1868. After about a year's residence on the eastern coast he made his way to Colorado and became identified with his brother, Ben Stanton, in prospecting
REV. JAMES STANTON
MRS. JAMES STANTON
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at Silver Plume and at Georgetown. In England he had assisted his father on the farm, but for two or three years after reaching Colorado he was engaged in mining. He then removed to Lupton, where he engaged in feeding stock and also conducted a dairy, making butter which he shipped to the Denver market, after which he brought back groceries. He continued to engage in merchandising in this way for some time and he also acted as station agent at Lupton for the Union Pacific and likewise filled the office of postmaster. While thus engaged he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land. He remained in Lupton for two and a half years and then returned to Georgetown, where he continued for a year and a half. Again he became identified with mining interests, with which he was more or less closely associated throughout his life. He was the first man who ever preached at Silver Plume, holding services in a little log cabin as a minister of the Congregational church for a year and a half. Prior to this time, however, he had preached to the miners as occasion permitted. On again leaving Silver Plume he returned to Lupton, where he engaged in the stock business, at which time Lupton was a very small place. But while carrying on his live stock and mercantile interests there his health failed and upon the advice of his friends he sold out there and returned to Silver Plume, where he opened a clothing and shoe store. Nine months later he decided to remove to Platteville, where he opened a general merchandise establishment, and in connection with the conduct of his com- mercial interests he continued to do missionary work for the church. He there resided for eight years and made a success of the business, at the end of which time, however, he sold out in order to accept a call from the Congregational church at Eaton. While continuing his labors there he was instrumental in erecting the house of worship and also the parsonage. He continued at Eaton for seven years and under his guidance the church rapidly developed and became a potent power for good in the community. But while Mr. and Mrs. Stanton were there residing they lost a little daughter and Mrs. Stanton became dissatisfied on account of this. Accordingly Mr. Stanton resigned his position and returned to Platteville, again occupying the home which he had erected in 1887. He had here one hundred and sixty acres of land. At a later period he went to Independence in the Cripple Creek district, where he opened a large general store, handling mining materials. While engaged in temporal affairs he also worked for the spiritual uplift of the community in which he resided and he was instrumental in building the Methodist church there and also assisted largely in the building of the church at Platteville. He gave the use of his horses and wagons and helped in every way possible until the work was completed. His service as postmaster of Platteville covered two terms.
To Mr. and Mrs. Stanton were born eight children, six daughters and two sons. The eldest, Mrs. T. F. Kerin, of Livingston, Montana, and John Stanton, now of Platte- ville, were both born in England. Lilly and Minnie have passed away, their remains being interred at Lupton. The others of the family are: James H .; Mrs. Lulu Cox; Mildred, who died in Eaton; and Mrs. Hazel Pease. The death of Mr. Stanton resulted from miners' consumption, which he contracted in the early days of his residence in Colorado, and he passed away on the 31st of October, 1906. Thus was brought to a close the life record of one who had indeed contributed much to the world's work in his efforts to advance moral progress. He was a kind and affectionate husband and father, a faithful friend, a sincere Christian, and ministers of various denominations officiated at his funeral, all speaking of him in terms of the highest regard and praise. He made friends wherever he went. He was an exemplary representative of the Masonic fra- ternity and also of the Woodmen of the World and the latter organization had charge of his funeral when death called him to the home beyond. His memory will be cherished . for years to come by all who knew him because of the beauty and simplicity of his daily life and because of his valuable contribution to the moral development of the com- munities in which he lived and labored.
HIRAM F. HURLBUT.
Hiram F. Hurlbut is the president of the Greeley Laundry Company, conducting a profitable business at Greeley, Colorado. A native of Michigan, he was born in Sanilac county on the 1st of March, 1863, and is a son of Stephen O. and Mary (Knapp) Hurlbut, who were natives of Canada. The father was a lumber merchant and in early life went to Ohio, where he engaged in the lumber business and in milling. He also handled hardwood timber land and was thus actively engaged in business for many
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years. He died near Toledo, Ohio, in 1882, having for a decade survived his wife, who passed away in 1872.
Hiram F. Hurlbut, their son, was reared and educated near Toledo, Ohio, and in his youthful days took up mill work in connection with his father and was engaged along that line of activity until he came to the west in 1884. In that year he made his way to Tacoma, Washington, and in 1885 began work in a steam laundry and thoroughly learned the business in principle and detail. He remained in one laundry in Tacoma for three years, after which he removed to Walla Walla, Washington, where he engaged in business on his own account. He conducted a laundry there for two years, then sold the property and removed to Seattle, where he continued in business until 1894. He next went to Butte, Montana, where he remained in the laundry business for about three years and on the expiration of that period removed to Salt Lake City, where he resided for two years. In 1900 he arrived in Greeley, Weld county, Colorado, and purchased the steam laundry which he is now operating under the name of the Greeley Laundry Company. He carried on the business ten years, at the end of which time he incorporated his interests and admitted W. S. Hayden to a partnership and the latter is now treasurer. J. B. Phillips also acquired some stock in the business and is the vice president of the company. In addition to regular laundry work the company does French dry cleaning, pressing, dyeing and steam carpet-cleaning and their business has reached extensive and gratifying proportions.
In April, 1890, Mr. Hurlbut was united in marriage to Miss Emma L. Kent'and to them have been born two children: Jesse F., who was born February 9, 1892, and is a pharmacist, acting as assistant district manager of the Owl Drug Company at San Francisco, California; and Evelyn R., who was born in November, 1902, and is attending high school.
In addition to his other business interests Mr. Hurlbut is a stockholder in the Greeley Realty Company and also in the American Life Insurance Company, which was incorporated in Denver and which was formerly the German American Company. He likewise deals in real estate to some extent and his business interests are of a character which make him a valued factor in the activity and upbuilding of the community in which he makes his home. Fraternally he is a Mason, having attained the degree of Knight Templar and being a Shriner. He is also connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Woodmen of the World. His political endorsement is given to the republican party. He and his wife are members of the Congregational church and they reside at No. 1011 Eleventh avenue, where they have an attractive home. During the period of their residence in Greeley they have won many friends and enjoy the hospitality of many of the best homes of the city.
HON. GRANBY HILLYER.
A representative of the legal profession in Prowers county is Granby Hillyer, of Lamar, who not only enjoys a large private practice but is also deputy district attorney. He was born in Cartersville, Georgia, July 7, 1874, and is a son of Shaler G. and Lelia (Holloway) Hillyer. The father taught school for a number of years but later had a position with the government until he came to Colorado in July, 1900. He has since passed away. He was a member of the Confederate army during the conflict between the north and the south. To him and his wife were born six children, of whom Granby Hillyer was the third in order of birth.
Granby Hillyer was educated in the public schools of Washington, D. C., and subse- quently attended high school. After putting aside his textbooks he entered the govern- ment service and at the same time studied law in George Washington University, from which he was graduated in 1906 with the degree of Bachelor of Laws, taking a post- graduate course in 1907. In that year he came to Colorado and established an office in Lamar, where he has since practiced to good purpose. He has been connected with a number of important cases in which he has demonstrated his ability as a lawyer. He is well versed in the profession and, being of a studious disposition, has continued to improve his knowledge as the years have passed and has gained wide experience, so that he now occupies an enviable position in the law fraternity of his section of the state. In his arguments he is concise and convincing and is able to set forth his causes clearly and logically. He has always maintained the highest standards of the law and enjoys the full confidence and trust of the general public.
On the 20th of June, 1901, Mr. Hillyer was united in marriage to Miss Annie Creaghe,
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of Arizona, the ceremony being performed at Lamar. To this union have been born three children: St. George C., Granby Francis Ridgeway and Helen Edna Dolorine.
Mr. Hillyer is a republican and has always taken a deep and helpful interest in the affairs of his party, bis word being of great weight in its local councils. For a number of years he served as county attorney and has also been city attorney of Lamar, while in 1903 he was elected to the state legislature, being a member of the fourteenth general assembly and ably representing his constituency in the state balls of legislation. He also served as judge of his district under appointment of Governor Carlson and at present ably discharges his duties as deputy district attorney. He is a member of the State Bar Association and also the Prowers County Bar Association, actively participat- ing in its proceedings and keeping in contact with his colleagues. In fraternal relations he is a Mason, having attained the chapter degree, and he is also an Elk and belongs to the Woodmen of the World. To the development of his section of the state he bas contributed by his means and deeds. During the Red Cross drive he was officially con- nected with the committee having charge and he is now serving as legal adviser of the local draft board and is helpfully engaged in other important war work, being thoroughly convinced of the just cause the government espouses in making the world safe for democracy.
GUY KEARNEY HARRISON.
Guy Kearney Harrison is a young man of notable determination and enterprise who has been largely instrumental in the formation and development of the Western Exploration Company, a two million dollar corporation, which is operating extensively in oil producing fields. Ever watchful of opportunities pointing to success, he has never feared to venture where favoring opportunity has pointed the way and his keen sagacity and even-paced energy have carried him into most important relations. Mr. Harrison comes from a state where oil development has constituted an important source of revenue to the commonwealth. He was born in San Antonio, Texas, July 7, 1885, a son of Thomas Harrison, of San Antonio, who was a successful Texas attorney, and in 1892 removed to Denver, where he became engaged in mining and real estate operations. He is still an active business man, successfully conducting his interests and contributing to the development of the district in which he operates. He married Fannie Johnson, a native of Louisiana. Russell Harrison, a brother of Guy K. Har- rison, twenty-nine years of age, is connected with the Aviation Corps of the United States Army.
Guy K. Harrison pursued his early education in the schools of San Antonio, Texas, and afterward continued his studies in Denver, becoming a resident of this city in 1896. Later he had the benefit of instruction in the University of Colorado, where he completed a course with the class of 1907. He previously took up newspaper work, first in a reportorial capacity, while later he became sporting editor of the San Antonio Daily Light, published at San Antonio, Texas. He thus served in 1905 and 1906, after which he returned to Denver and became identified with the brick business as sales- man for manufacturers. Eventually he turned his attention to the real estate field, becoming a salesman in that connection, and afterward he was identified with the real estate business in Seattle, Washington. Again, however, he came to Denver and entered the employ of the Continental Trust Company. In 1911 and 1912 he made a trip around the world. Eventually he reentered financial circles in Denver as man- ager for the real estate department of the German-American Trust Company, which position be filled until 1914, when he resigned to engage in business on his own account. He remained active in the real estate field until December, 1916, after which he organ- ized the Western Exploration Syndicate, which took over twenty-six large and well organized business enterprises connected with the sale and development of oil. This constitutes the nucleus of what is now the Western Exploration Company, a two mil- lion dollar corporation, which is operating extensively in oil fields and handles many large and valuable producing properties. Mr. Harrison is the secretary-treasurer of this company and in his official position is turning his attention to constructive effort, to administrative direction and executive control. His previous training in the business world well qualified him for the duties which he took up in this connection and his activities and interests are constantly broadening.
In May, 1914, occurred the marriage of Mr. Harrison and Miss Bessie Gibson, of Washington, D. C., and they have become the parents of a son, Guy Kearney Harrison, Jr., now sixteen months old. Mr. Harrison is a member of Beta Theta Pi of the
GUY K. HARRISON
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University of Colorado. He also has membership with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, with the Denver Athletic Club, the Denver Civic Association and with the Episcopal church-associations which indicate much of the nature of his interests and activities. In politics he is a democrat. He has found his recreation largely in travel. Opportunity has ever been to Mr. Harrison a call to action. He is a man of marked energy and foresight and whatever he has undertaken he has carried forward to successful completion. The steps in his orderly progression are easily discernible. He has steadily advanced, each forward step bringing him a broader outlook and wider opportunities, and he has never stopped short of the successful accomplishment of his purpose.
JOHN D. CRISP, M. D.
Dr. John D. Crisp is known to the general public of Denver and of Colorado as a most able physician and surgeon, but added to his professional skill is marked literary ability. Literature is to him a means of rest and recreation from arduous professional duties and in both lines of his activities he has shown decided talent.
Dr. Crisp is a native of Illinois. He was born at Apple Pie ridge, in Scott county, and he is descended from English ancestry, the family many generations ago being . represented in Northumberlandshire. The progenitor of the American branch of the family was Benjamin Crisp, who came to America in 1689 and settled in North Carolina. The grandfather of Dr. Crisp was Charles Crisp, who participated in the battle of New Orleans in the War of 1812. His son, John A. Crisp, was born in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1817 and became a planter. He was but ten years of age when his parents removed to Jacksonville, Illinois, and such was the unsettled condition of the Mississippi valley at that time that between Nashville, Tennessee, and Jacksonville, Illinois, there was to be found but one bridge and that was over the Okaw river in Illinois. The family trav- eled overland in a two-wheeled ox cart which conveyed their entire worldly possessions. There were eight children and the parents. On reaching the Ohio river they crossed the stream on a ferry. This trip was made in the winter and spring of 1828 and was attended with many hardships and privations. In the previous fall Charles Crisp had made the trip on horseback from Nashville to Illinois and had purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land, trading in his horse and saddle and bridle as a part of the purchase price. He then returned on foot to Tennessee, reaching his old home, after a nine days' journey, footsore and weary. He was at that time in his late '40s. He died in the year 1865 at the very advanced age of eighty-four years. John A. Crisp, the father of Dr. Crisp, was reared and educated in Illinois and there engaged principally in the purchase and sale of farm lands and also cultivated his fields to some extent. In 1896 he removed to Denver and for a number of years lived retired, passing away in 1900 at the age of eighty-two. In early manhood he had wedded Mary Ellen Comstock, a native of Brown county, Illinois, born in 1838 and a representative of one of the old pioneer families of that state who had removed to the middle west from New York. She was a representative of a family of English lineage. Her great-grandfather was Samuel Comstock, who came from England. Mrs. Crisp is still living in Denver and her son, Dr. Crisp, is her only surviving child, her two daughters having passed away.
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