History of Colorado; Volume II, Part 92

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 92

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).

648

HISTORY OF COLORADO

being Christiansand. His father, Jakob Aal Bonnevie, was born December 31, 1838, and was graduated in minor studies in 1856 and in Latin school studies in 1862. He completed a course in the University of Norway in 1865, after which he devoted his life to government service, being advanced from one government position to another until in the later years of his life he was secretary in the cabinet of King Oscar of Norway. He passed away in 1906. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Anne Johanne Daae, was a lady of liberal education and high ideals and passed away in Nor- way, December 3, 1876. In the family were nine children.

N. C. Bonnevie, who was the fourth in order of birth, attended the Latin schools of his native land and afterward became a student in the Technical College of Trondhjem, where he was graduated on completing a course in chemistry, metallurgy and mechan- ical engineering. He came to America in 1893 and spent some time in New York city, where he occupied a position in the engineers' department of the Brooklyn Electric Railway Company. Later he went to Wisconsin, where he was connected with the pulp and paper manufacturing business at Appleton. He remained in that business until April, 1897, when he removed westward to Denver to devote his time to metallurgy and mill designing. Since that time he has erected and installed many mills and mineral separation plants throughout the mining sections of the west. He built and installed the Denver Ore Testing & Sampling. Company's mill, and of that company remained president until 1909, when he sold his interest in order to devote more attention to his laboratory work, which now claims his time, attention and energies. His advancing skill and efficiency in this connection have placed him with the eminent metallurgists of the west. He is competent to speak with authority and expert knowledge concerning all metal and mineral bearing rock and strata formation and the best methods of sep- arating the mineral deposits from the waste matter.

On the 4th of September, 1895, Mr. Bonnevie was married to Miss Alice Gram, of Chicago, who died while on a visit in Omaha, Nebraska, in February, 1913, leaving two children: Harold J., who was born in Denver, October 31, 1898, and is now attending high school; and Carl G., who was born in Florence, Colorado, December 27, 1901, and is also a high school pupil. Mr. Bounevie also lost a daughter, Alice R. E., who was - born in Denver, August 5, 1903, and passed away on the 12th of April, 1918. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world, for in its mining fields he has found the opportunities which he sought and in their utilization has advanced to a position of prominence and has attained success.

EMIL OCKEL.

Emil Ockel, engaged in the real estate, insurance and investment business, with offices in the Good block in Denver, was born in Pomerania, Germany, on the 2d of July, 1859, a son of the late Carl Ockel, who was also a native of that province and was a wagon manufacturer by trade. He spent his entire life in Pomerania, where he con- ducted an extensive business and became a wealthy man and prominent citizen. He died in 1915, at the venerable age of eighty-seven years. His wife bore the maiden name of Emily Schmidt and is also a native of Pomerania. She is still living and by her mar- riage she became the mother of six children, five sons and a daughter.

Emil Ockel of this review was the third in order of birth and is the only member of the family who came to America. He crossed the Atlantic in 1882, when a young man of twenty-three years, largely for the purpose of visiting the country; but he was pleased with the new world, its activities, its interests and its institutions, and as a result he has since remained. He first settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and there accepted the position of cashier at the plant of the Allis-Chalmers Company. His resi- dence in Milwaukee covered a period of twelve years and in 1895 he removed with his family to Denver and became general manager for the Schirmer Insurance & Investment Company, now the American Bank & Trust Company. He remained with that house until 1906, when he established his present business on his own account and has since wisely, successfully and carefully conducted his interests. The business was originally started as a corporation known as the Ockel-Moritz Insurance & Investment Company, but since the death of Mr. Moritz, in the year 1915, Mr. Ockel has conducted the busi- ness alone under his own name, handling real estate. insurance and investments. He has a large clientage, building up a business of extensive and gratifying proportions. He also has become actively connected with mining interests and in addition to his mining stock he has considerable property in Denver. In his native land, after completing his education in the gymnasium, he had been active in wholesale wine and delicatessen

EMIL OCKEL

650

HISTORY OF COLORADO

lines. being employed as a bookkeeper. and for two years he traveled in Germany as a representative of a house of that character. Since coming to the new world his activities and interests along business lines have continually broadened and he has never feared to venture where favoring opportunity has pointed out the way, ever making a forward step when the chance offered.

On the 27th of September. 1885, in Milwaukee. Mr. Ockel was united in marriage to Miss Hulda Gutzmer, who was also born in Pomerania, Germany, they having been sweethearts in the old country. Mrs. Ockel came to America to join her parents in Milwaukee in 1881. She was a daughter of John Gutzmer, who was a merchant tailor and conducted business for many years in Milwaukee, where he died in 1916, at the advanced age of eighty three years. Her mother hore the maiden name of Augusta Schmidt and is living in Milwaukee at the age of eighty-six years. To Mr. and Mrs. Ockel have been born two children: Carl P., who was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. December 13, 1891, and who is associated in business with his father; and Elmer W., who was born in Milwaukee, January 31. 1893, and is now at Fort Logan, doing clerical work with the United States army in the paymaster's office, having been among the first Denver boys to enlist. Mr. Ockel is devoted to his family and finds his chief happiness at his own fireside, counting no personal effort or sacrifice on his part too great if it will promote the welfare of his wife and sons. He belongs to the Ad Club of Denver. to the Denver Civic and Commercial Association and to several fraternal organizations. including Schiller Lodge. No. 41, A. F. & A. M., of Denver, Elks Lodge. No. 17, and Occi- dental Camp. No. 3, of the Woodmen of the World. In politics he casts an independent ballot at local elections, but where national issues are involved supports the democratic party. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world. Soon after arriving in Milwaukee he took out his first naturalization papers and allied his interests with those of the United States. Since coming to Denver he has made steady progress in business and now has a large clientage that places him in a prominent position among those who are active in the same field.

FRED C. SPORLEDER.

There has been nothing spectacular in the life record of Fred C. Sporleder, but his course has been that of a substantial citizen and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his ability and worth, have called him to the office of county treasurer of Huerfano county, in which capacity he is now serving. He was born on the 29th of February, 1884, in Walsenburg, where he yet makes his home, a son of Louis B. and Louisa (Unfug) Spor- leder. The family came to this state in 1871. settlement being made at Walsenburg. where the father engaged in commercial pursuits and also in ranching. He was like- wise prominent in political circles in the early '90s and was a candidate for office. He has had not a little to do with shaping public thought and action in the community and is yet a valued resident of this section of the state, as is his wife.

Fred C. Sporleder is the eldest in a family of five children, three sons and two daughters. He acquired a public school education, completed by graduation from the high school with the class of 1900. and later he entered the State University of Colorado at Boulder, in which he studied for a year. He then returned home but after two years went to California, where he resided for a year. He left the coast to become connected with his father in the grain business at Walsenburg and as the years have passed he has figured prominently and actively in connection with business affairs in his native city. He has also been general manager of the Midwest Mercantile Company, a wholesale grocery house, which was organized on the 1st of January, 1915. He likewise organized the Walsenburg Mercantile Company in 1906 but withdrew from active connection there- with in 1912. His business interests are now largely concentrated upon the former organ- ization, but much of his time and attention at the present are given to the discharge of the duties of the office of county treasurer, to which he was elected in 1916 for a two years' term. At the present time. in the summer of 1918. he is a candidate for reelection.

On the 1st of June, 1910. Mr. Sporleder was married to Miss Carolyn Jones. of Pueblo, and they have two children, Lydia A. and Freda C. Mrs. Sporleder is a representative of an early pioneer family of Colorado. Her grandfather, who was a lawyer by profes- sion. settled in this state in the early '60s, living here before the town was started. He is a descendant of Daniel Boone.

Fraternally Mr. Sporleder is connected with the Woodmen of the World. He is fond of fishing and various phases of outdoor life, to which he turns for rest and recrea- tion, but he never allows anything to interfere with the faithful performance of his

651

HISTORY OF COLORADO

duties as a business man and as a public official. In fact, the community recognizes him as one of its most public-spirited and progressive citizens and his labors in behalf of the general welfare have been far-reaching and beneficial.

MARCUS J. PATTERSON.

Marcus J. Patterson is a member of the well known structural steel and building company operating under the style of the Patterson-Burghardt Construction Company, with offices at 208 to 209 Tramway building in Denver. They rank with the most prominent in their line in the west, their operations exceeding in volume and impor- tance those of the great majority of firms in the same line in the state. Progressive methods, keen business insight, close application and indefatigable energy on the part of Mr. Patterson have contributed largely to the result achieved and the story of his life record has much of inspirational value to those who have learned to glean from history and biography the lessons of life to be therein learned.

Marcus J. Patterson was born in Chatham, Massachusetts, July 8, 1862, a son of Ephrain: D. and Lavina J. (Jones) Patterson, the former a native of Chatham and the latter of Lancaster, Massachusetts. The father was reared, educated, married, and died in the city where he first saw the light of day and was long prominent in business circles there as a wool broker. His widow came to Denver in 1898 and here resided to the time of her death, which occurred in 1912. They had a family of three children.

Marcus J. Patterson was the second in order of birth and in his youthful days was a student in the Worcester (Mass.) Polytechnic Institute, from which he was graduated with the class of 1885. He later secured a position with the Chicago exten- sion of the Santa Fe Railroad in the bridge building department as an engineer and re- mained with that corporation for a year. He then secured a position with the Edgemoor Bridge Company, a prominent bridge building company near Wilmington, Delaware, and remained with that firm until 1890, when he came to Denver. Upon his arrival here he immediately secured a position with the Lane Bridge Works of Chicago as their Denver representative and was associated with that company until 1895, when he decided to engage in business on his own account. Soon afterward he organized the M. J. Patter- son Contracting Company which later was merged into the Patterson-Burghardt Con- struction Company, of which he has since been president, and the firm has erected many structural steel buildings and has designed and built some of the most noted buildings and bridges in the west and taken contracts also for other kinds of work in their line. Many of their buildings will long stand as monuments to their ability. their progressiveness and their thorough familiarity with every phase of structural steel work. They designed and had the contract for the building of the steel work of the Daniels & Fisher tower, which rises three hundred feet or more above the street level at Sixteenth and Arapahoe streets and which is one of the most imposing struc- tures in the west. They were also the builders of the steel work of the Metropolitan building, which is used exclusively by dentists and medical practitioners. It is a large, twelve-story modern office building at Sixteenth street and Court place and the steel work on this structure was all done by the Patterson-Burghardt Company. They were also the designers of the Broadway bridge of Denver, which was designed by Mr. Pat- terson, who also superintended its construction. Various other steel bridges have been built by the firm in many parts of the west. They have executed the contracts for the erection of buildings for the Colorado Fuel & Iron Company to the value of a million dollars and have about completed a Spiegel plant for the same corporation, which the firm designed and which will be completed at a cost of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The Patterson-Burghardt Company also built the Lacombe plant and building at Denver and did all the steel work on the state capitol and the City Park museum. They made head frames for various mines at Cripple Creek, Colorado, were the builders of the Golden Cycle plant at Cripple Creek and smelters in British Columbia and were awarded the contract for the building of the grand stand at the fair grounds in Cheyenne. They did the steel work of the killing plant of the Colorado Packing Company of Denver, while hundreds of other equally important contracts have been accorded them throughout the west, placing the company in a foremost position in connection with building operations throughout Colorado and other sections of the great western empire.

Mr. Patterson has been married twice. In 1890 he wedded Miss Mary Ellen Traversee. who was born in Milford. Massachusetts, a daughter of Samuel and Maria (Pullen) Traversee, of Milford. She died in 1906, leaving four children. Mark S., born in

652

HISTORY OF COLORADO

Denver in April, 1891, attended the Worcester (Mass.) Polytechnic Institute. Clarence A., born in Denver in 1893, was graduated from the Colorado Agricultural College and is now in the officers' training camp at Camp Hancock, Georgia. Stanley Patterson, born in Denver in 1894, is a graduate of the University of Colorado, is married and resides in Brooklyn, New York, where he is connected with the United States Quarter- master's department in the construction of docks and warehouses. Jane E., born in Denver in 1901, is now a pupil in the Denver high school. Having lost his first wife, Mr. Patterson was again married in 1911, in Denver, his second union being with Miss Agnes M. Laughlin.

Mr. Patterson has never sought or desired public office, preferring to give his undivided thought and attention to his extensive, rapidly growing and important business affairs. Appreciative of the social amenities of life, however, he holds membership in the Denver Athletic Club, Lakeside Country Club and has been a member of various Duck clubs. He was one of the earliest automobile owners in Denver and has made many tours between Denver and the Atlantic coast. Strong of purpose, prompt in execu- tion, indefatigable in the conduct of his interests, he has advanced step by step in his business career and through his steady progression has reached a place in the front rank of builders in the west.

JUDGE JOSEPH HUNTER PATTERSON.

Judge Joseph Hunter Patterson, occupying the bench of the county court of Huer- fano county and making his home in Walsenburg, was born in Airdrie, Scotland, on the 11th of April, 1853, a son of George and Elizabeth (Miller) Patterson. The father was manager of a coal mine in Scotland and died in his native land, where his wife also spent her remaining days. They reared a family of eleven children, six sons and five daughters, of whom Judge Patterson was the sixth son.

In his youthful days the Judge had few opportunities to acquire an education, as he began work in the mines at the age of eight years. However, he was ambitious to improve and later attended night school, while in the school of experience he also learned many valuable lessons which have proved of great worth to him in later years. He con- tinued to engage in coal mining throughout the period of his residence in Scotland but was a youth of only sixteen years when he determined to try his fortune in the new world and in June, 1869, crossed the Atlantic, taking up his abode in Pennsylvania, where he resided for a decade. In 1879 he arrived in Colcrado and his previous experi- ence as a miner won for him the position of superintendent of mines for the Northern Coal Company. He afterward held a similar position with the United States Coal Com- pany, working for this company until 1890. He then embarked In business on his own account by opening a hotel in Walsenburg which he conducted for two years. He was afterward connected with business interests in Denver for two years and on the expira- tion of that period accepted the position of manager of the Val Blatz Brewing Company in Denver, acting in that capacity for six years. He next made a visit to his native country and upon his return to America took up his abode in Walsenburg. Here he has filled various positions of public honor and trust. For two years he served as police magistrate, for four years was deputy clerk of the district court, and in 1916 was elected to his present position as county judge for a four year term. He has always given his political support to the democratic party since becoming a naturalized American citizen and has taken an active interest in party work, doing everything in his power to further its welfare and promote its success.

On February 10, 1873, Judge Patterson was united in marriage to Marion Burns Sharp, at Sharon, Pennsylvania, and to them were born three sons and two daughters. Mrs. Patterson died at Williamsburg, Fremont county, Colorado, on May 10, 1883. Judge Patterson married a second time, wedding Margaret King, at Williamsburg, Fremont county, Colorado, on the 10th day of August, 1883, and to them were born one son and three daughters.

The judge is well known in fraternal circles. For the past forty-two years he has been a third degree Mason, for forty-four years has been identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has filled all of the chairs of the local lodge, and is also a member of the Knights of The Maccabees. He is widely known in Huerfano county and in Denver and has many friends throughout the state. He certainly deserves much credit for what he has accomplished, for he started out in life for himself at the age of eight years, and denied educational advantages and opportunities which many boys enjoy, nevertheless through the force of his own character, through laudable ambi-

JUDGE JOSEPH H. PATTERSON

654

HISTORY OF COLORADO

tion and determination, worked his way steadily upward and is now occupying a posi- tion of honor and trust in Huerfano county that shows him to be a man of genuine worth and one in whom his fellow townsmen have implicit trust.

DR. RODNEY WREN.

Dr. Rodney Wren, an osteopath practicing in Trinidad, was born in Pueblo, Colo- rado, on the 17th of February, 1880, a son of W. I. and Isabel J. (Davis) Wren. The father was for many years an invalid and came to Colorado for the benefit of his health. During his active business life he followed contracting. It was in 1877 that his family arrived in Colorado and their home was established in Pueblo, where the father passed away on the 10th of September, 1897. To him and his wife were born five children, three sons and two daughters, of whom only Dr. Wren and a sister are living.

The former was the third in order of birth. He began his education in the public schools, passing through consecutive grades to the high school, and evenutally he took up railroad work, in which he engaged for a year and a half. He did this in order to earn money wherewith to pay his tuition in the Osteopathic College at Kirksville, Mis- souri, which he entered in 1902 and from which he was graduated with the class of 1905. He first practiced his profession in Salida, Colorado, where he remained for five years, after which he went to Los Angeles, California, for post graduate work. Upon his return he opened an office in Trinidad in 1910 and through the intervening period has enjoyed a large and constantly growing practice. He has been appointed a member of the state board of examiners for doctors of osteopathy. He is thoroughly conversant with anatomy and the component parts of the human body, recognizes the onslaughts made upon it by disease, and by reason of his scientific knowledge and skill has effected many cures among his patients, the number of whom is constantly growing.

In his political views Dr. Wren is a stalwart republican and has been a delegate to various conventions. He has also served in public office and is now treasurer of the city of Trinidad. Fraternally he is a third degree Mason and is also connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks at Trinidad. He is much interested in the state and its development and his cooperation can at all times be counted upon to further any progressive public movement. He enjoys outdoor life, to which he turns for rest and recreation, but his chief interest is his profession and he is putting forth every effort to advance his efficiency therein and render his work of the greatest value to mankind.

GEORGE W. CATES.

George W. Cates, president of the Remue Remedies Company of Denver, in which connection he is building up an extensive and profitable business, was born in Oldtown, Maine, December 26, 1854, a son of Arnold and Sarah A. (Small) Cates. The father was a native of Maine, born at Cutler Harbor, Washington county, and was descended from one of the old families of that state of English origin, founded in America by Nathaniel Cates, who came to the new world in 1781 and was one of the original settlers in Bangor, Maine. He had forty-eight direct relatives in the War of the Rebellion and George W. Cates of this review had two brothers who served in Company D, of the Sixth Minnesota Infantry, during the Civil war. The father was a successful lumberman and in 1857 removed with his family to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he resided throughout the greater part of his life, passing away there in July, 1890, at the age of seventy-four years. He was a stanch republican and very active in politics in support of the principles of the party but he never sought or desired office. His wife was born in Cherryfield, Washington county, Maine, and she, too, belonged to one of the old families of English descent, tracing her ancestry back to Willett J. Small, who in 1802 came to the new world and settled in Washington county, Maine. Mrs. Cates died in Minneapolis, Min- nesota, in 1886, at the age of sixty-seven years, her birth having occurred in 1819. In the family were nine children, six sons and three daughters, all of whom are living with the exception of two of the sons, who were killed in the battle of Vicksburg, these being Mariner W. and Charles Augustus, both of whom laid down their lives on the altar of their country.

George W. Cates was educated in the public schools of Minneapolis and in the University of Minnesota, where he took up the study of medicine. After completing his.

655

HISTORY OF COLORADO

course he went upon the road as a traveling salesman for the McCormick Harvester Machine Company of Chicago in 1874 and represented the business until 1880, when he took up medical research work in the line of dermatology and became the discoverer of Remue. In 1912 he removed to Denver and established his present business, that of manufacturing Remue, which he has since successfully marketed. The Remue Remedies Company has been incorporated under the laws of the state of Colorado. It is capitalized for six hundred thousand dollars and the business is being thoroughly systematized and organized. The company has already formed the nucleus of a strong sales organization. Public and professional men have endorsed the remedy, which is a specific for skin imperfections of all kinds. Many testimonials have come to the company, indicating the value of the remedy in skin diseases, and the business is steadily growing, as the product of the manufactory can be found in all of the leading drug stores of the country.

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 92

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