History of Colorado; Volume II, Part 93

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

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On the 18th of September, 1877, Mr. Cates was married in Minneapolis to Miss Mary Philipps, of St. Paul, Minnesota, a daughter of Peter and Sarah (Palmer) Phil- ipps, representatives of an old family of Sangamon county, Illinois. Mrs. Cates died March 14, 1917, in Denver and was buried in Minneapolis. She bore her husband two. children: Floyd E., who is manager of the American Bridge Company of the United States Steel Corporation; and Edith Edna, the wife of Elton Connaway, a resident of Portland, Oregon, but now in the Signal Corps in France. Mr. Cates resides at No. 618 Fourteenth street. He has gained many friends during his residence in Denver and has won a place among the substantial business men of the city. His career has been marked by steady progress, resulting from earnest effort, close study and thoroughness in all that he undertakes, and as the promoter of the Remue Remedies he is giving to the public something of great worth. His manufacturing is based upon long and scientific study and experience and what he has undertaken and accomplished represents the fit utilization of the innate powers and talents which are his. Mr. Cates is a. prominent Mason, having attained the Knight Templar degree, and in religious faith is a Universalist.

CHARLES A. MACMILLAN.

Charles A. MacMillan needs no introduction to the readers of this volume and especially to the citizens of Denver, where he is widely and prominently known as a lawyer and by reason of his activities along philanthropic lines. Illinois claims him as a native son, for his birth occurred in the city of Peoria on the 15th of October, 1870. He is a son of James Calvin and Katherine (Anderson) MacMillan. In the paternal line he comes of Scotch-Irish ancestry, although the family has been represented in the United States through three generations. In the maternal line he is descended from New England stock. His father was born in Indiana but removed to Illinois, where he engaged in farming and stock raising. When the country became involved in civil war, however, he offered his aid to the Union and went to the front with the Eleventh Illinois. Cavalry, with which he did active service. He was an aide-de-camp on the staff of General Grant and he remained at the front until victory crowned the Union arms. He is now residing upon a farm in Arapahoe county, Colorado, but is not actively engaged in agri- cultural pursuits, having put aside business cares to enjoy a well earned rest. To him and his wife have been born six children, of whom five are living.

Charles A. MacMillan was a public school pupil in Kansas, to which state his parents removed after leaving Illinois. Later he continued his education in the University of Denver as a member of the class of 1894. He then left that institution but studied law in Denver under a private preceptor and thus qualified for admission to the bar. He was. licensed to practice in 1896 and opened an office in the E. and C. building in Denver. After a brief period, however, he removed to Wyoming, settling at Rock Springs, and for two terms he served as prosecuting attorney for the district. He then removed to Spokane, Washington, where he remained for seven years, practicing law there until appointed special United States district attorney under President Taft, in which capacity he served from 1909 until 1911. The following year he returned to Denver, where he has since engaged in the practice of law and in the management of his private interests.

In 1899 Mr. MacMillan was united in marriage to Miss Anna Wight. who was born in Maine, a daughter of Frederick D. Wight, of Denver, who was at one time a very prominent business man of Trinidad, Colorado, and a leading citizen of the state. His later years were passed in Denver, where he died about six years ago, leaving an exten- sive estate. To Mr. and Mrs. MacMillan have been born five children: Dorothy, a stu- dent at the Wolcott School, Denver, and who possesses considerable musical talent ;.

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Charles Wight, born August 1, 1902, in Denver, a high school pupil; Frederick Dearborn, born October 2, 1904, in Rock Springs, Wyoming, attending high school; and Ruth and Marjorie, who are also in school.

Mr. MacMillan turns to motoring, to trout fishing and to golf for recreation. He belongs to Beta Theta Pi, a college fraternity, and he is also connected with the Benevo- lent Protective Order of Elks and with the Masonic fraternity. His membership in the latter is in Oriental Lodge, No. 74, A. F. & A. M., of Spokane; in Colorado Chapter, No. 29, R. A. M .; Denver Commandery, No. 25, K. T .; and in El Jebel Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He belongs to the Lakewood Country Club and to the Denver Athletic Club, and is a member of the Denver Civic and Commercial Association. He is also a member of the First Congregational church and of the Young Men's Christian Associa- tion and in the latter is serving on the boys' committee. He takes a deep interest in philanthropic work, contributing generously to the support of many plans and move- ments toward amelioriating hard conditions of life for the unfortunate and is ever ready to extend a helping hand where aid is needed. Intensely interested in the vital problems of the country at the present time, he does active service in connection with the promo- tion of the Liberty Loan and the Red Cross. His life has indeed been a husy, active and useful one, characterized by high purposes and fraught with great good.

CLAYTON E. REEMSNYDER.

Clayton E. Reemsnyder has long been an active factor in business circles in Denver, where he is now concentrating his efforts and attention upon real estate, loans, insur- ance and investments. He has built up a large clientage in this connection and he has also been active as a factor in many reform movements which have been of the greatest worth to Denver.

He was born in New Berlin, now a suburb of Canton, Stark county, Ohio, December 2, 1866, a son of the late Daniel Reemsnyder, who was likewise a native of Ohio and a representative of one of its old families of Holland Dutch descent. The great-grand- father was Herman Reemsnyder, who became the founder of the American branch of the family, arriving in the new world prior to the time of the Revolutionary war, in which he served with the rank of major. He originally took up his abode at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, but among his descendants were those who removed to Ohio, becoming pioneers of that state. Daniel Reemsnyder, the father of Clayton E. Reemsnyder, spent his early days as a contractor and builder and also devoted a part of his time to the occupation of farming. He likewise became connected with the undertaking business, which he took up as a business and convenience to the community, as in those days all coffins were made by hand and usually of walnut lumber. In this line he succeeded his father. He continued his residence in Ohio throughout his entire life, passing away at New Berlin in 1880, when fifty-nine years of age. In bis business affairs he had won a very substantial measure of success through close application, indefatigable effort and wisely directed energy. Moreover, he had become prominent in the community as a supporter of all those projects which were put forth for public benefit. His religious faith was that of the Reformed church and he was a devout Christian man who guided his life according to the teachings of his faith and who at all times attempted to closely follow the golden rule. He married Barbara Howard, a native of the Buckeye state and a representative of one of its old families of German lineage, the family having been founded in America, however, prior to the Revolutionary war, after which representatives of the name cast in their lot with the early settlers of Ohio and shared in the hard- ships and privations of pioneer life. Mrs. Reemsnyder passed away in 1906 in New Berlin, Ohio, at the notable old age of seventy-nine years. She had reared a family of ten children, seven sons and three daughters.

Clayton E. Reemsnyder of this review was a member of the family and was edu- cated in the public schools of New Berlin, Ohio, pursuing his studies to the age of four- teen, when he started out to provide for his own support. He was first apprenticed to the carpenter's trade, which he followed, however, for but a short time. He then took up contracting and building on his own account, and in 1887 he removed westward to Denver, thinking that he might find better opportunities in this great and growing section of the country. He arrived in the month of May and soon afterward began contracting and building in this city and state. He erected his first building at Monu- ment, a business building, and with that as a start he moved to Denver and continued actively in building operations for two years, on the expiration of which period he entered the real estate and loan business, which he has since followed. As the years have passed

CLAYTON E. REEMSNYDER

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he has won very substantial success by his operations in that connection and he is today one of the oldest and most reliable real estate men of Denver. He has always kept in touch with the property on the market, has been most correct in his valuations, and by his enterprising methods has won a substantial measure of prosperity.

In Denver, on the 11th of August, 1914, Mr. Reemsnyder was united in marriage to Miss Minnie L. Limbach, who was born in Monument, Colorado, a daughter of Henry Limbach. Her father was the founder of the town of Monument and one of the pioneer settlers of Colorado, having removed westward to this state soon after the close of the Civil war, in which he had rendered active service to his country, and passed away at Denver, June 1, 1918.

Mr. Reemsnyder is an admirer of President Wilson and has always given his political allegiance to the democratic party where national issues are involved, but is in principle a socialist and in past years has done much active work in support of the principles in which he so firmly believes. He has been a member of the Direct Legislation League of Colorado for years, and has been instrumental in bringing about much direct legisla- tion, such as the initiative and referendum and recall of all elective officials. and other laws of that character. In fact, he has always stood for reform and improvement. Fra- ternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias, was one of the organizers of Enter- prise Lodge, No. 85, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Denver, and was also one of the organizers of Arapahoe Lodge, No. 45, K. P., which has since consolidated with Colorado Lodge, No. 1, K. P., which lodge he has served as its treasurer and in almost all other offices up to and including that of past chancellor. He is a Christian Scientist by faith and his wife is a Christian Science practitioner.

Mr. Reemsnyder has the distinction of being the only Reemsnyder in the city directory during all the years he has lived in Denver. When he came to Denver gambling dens and saloons were running wide open day and night, Sunday being the busiest day in the week. As a boy or young man, inexperienced in the ways of this wicked world. and away from home, without a relative or even a friend to give a word of advice, the temptations to go wrong were many, but having a determined will of his own and realiz- ing that the path of opportunity and success is open to all, he has not hesitated to push forward whenever and wherever favorable opportunity has pointed out the way. His career has at all times measured up to commendable standards of manhood and citizen- ship, and throughout his entire connection with the growth of Denver he has commanded the warm regard and kindly feeling of all with whom business, social or public relations have brought him in contact. He is a deep thinker. very liberal and broad-minded in his views and ideas and has the moral courage to back up his convictions.

JOHN L. EAST.

John L. East, who has been actively and successfully engaged in the practice of law at Walsenburg for the past eight years, has spent practically his entire life in Colo- rado, having been but three years of age when brought to this state by his parents. His birth occurred in Lawrence county, Ohio, on the 6th of November, 1885, his parents being Milton and Malissa (Morris) East, who in the year 1888 made their way westward to Trinidad, Colorado. The father devoted his time and energies to general agricul- tural pursuits throughout his active business career but is now living retired in the enjoyment of well earned rest. He has witnessed and aided the growth and development of his district for a period covering three decades and is widely recognized as one of the esteemed and representative citizens of his community. His wife was called to the home beyond in 1911.

John L. East, the youngest 'in a family of seven children, completed a course of study in the graded and high schools of Trinidad, Colorado, by graduation in 1904. Having determined upon a professional career, he then entered the law department of the University of Colorado, from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1908. He first located for practice in Trinidad, where he was associated with John J. Hendricks for a year, but in 1910 removed to Walsenburg, in which town he has re- mained continuously to the present time, having built up an extensive and gratifying clientage. He is a strong advocate with the jury and concise in his appeals before the court. Much of the success which has attended him in his professional career is un- doubtedly due to the fact that in no instance will he permit himself to go into court with a case unless he has absolute confidence in the justice of his client's cause.

On the 30th of June, 1911, in Trinidad, Mr. East was united in marriage to Miss Flora D. Squiers, by whom he has two children, Pauline and John L., Jr. He is an active

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worker in the local ranks of the democratic party, serving as chairman of the demo- cratic central committee. In January, 1917, he was appointed county attorney and in this connection is also making a most excellent record. At this writing he is a candidate for state senator from the fourteenth senatorial district, comprising Huer- fano, Costilla and Custer counties, and his personal qualities as well as his professional achievements well recommend him to the careful consideration of the public. Fra- ternally be is identified with the Masons, belonging to the lodge, chapter and com- mandery, and he is also connected with the Eastern Star, the Woodmen of the World and the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. A resident of the state since early child- hood, he has always been deeply interested in its progress and development and in the community where he resides enjoys an enviable reputation as a public-spirited, re- spected and patriotic young American.

JAMES E. McMAHON.

James E. McMahon, who is superintendent of the Colorado division of the Santa Fe Railroad Company, with offices in Pueblo, was born in Manitowoc, Wis- consin, on the 15th of April, 1866, and is a son of Patrick and Margaret (Toohey) McMahon. The father was a farmer by occupation and also conducted a hotel. In 1879 he removed to Kansas, where he resided for about five years and in 1884 came to Colorado. He brought his family to this state in 1900, settling at Trinidad.

James E. McMahon was educated in the public schools of Wisconsin and Kan- sas and when a youth of but fourteen years put aside his textbooks in order to enter the employ of the Union Pacific Railroad Company. For twenty-seven years he has worked for different roads as train dispatcher. After leaving the service of the Union Pacific he became connected with the Colorado & Southern Railroad and in 1895 he entered into business connections with the Santa Fe system as train dispatcher. He continued to fill that position for five years and was then promoted to the position of chief of the division, in which capacity he served for two years. In 1910 he was made superintendent, his headquarters being at Clovis, New Mexico. The year 1914 won him still further advancement, for at that time he was made superintendent of the Colorado division, in which capacity he has since continued.

On the 19th of February, 1889, Mr. McMahon was united in marriage to Miss Susie Weber and their children are Anna, Mary and Mildred. Fraternally he is connected with the Woodmen of the World and is a third degree member of the Knights of Columbus. He also belongs to the Commerce Club and is interested in every project and movement of that organization for the upbuilding and benefit of his city and state. Much of his life has been devoted to railroad work in Colo- rado and he is looked upon as an authority upon questions relating thereto. He has many admirable qualities which make him popular with his men, who are thoroughly loyal to him, and that he enjoys the full confidence of the corporation which he represents is indicated in his long service and continued promotion therewith. .

EDWARD BROADBENT MORGAN.

While a native son of New England, Edward Broadbent Morgan has spent prac- tically his entire life in Colorado and since his admission to the bar in 1888 has en- gaged in practice in Denver, his time being now divided between his professional ac- tivities and his interests as vice president of the Morgan Real Estate & Investment Company, and as a member of the Colorado Tax Commission. He was born at Wethers- field, Connecticut, on the 18th of December, 1862, and is a son of Samuel Broadbent and Ellen Theresa (Blinn) Morgan, mentioned elsewhere in this work.

When Edward B. Morgan was less than two years old his mother brought him to Colorado, crossing the plains in a stage coach in 1864 to join his father, then superin- tendent of mining properties at Blackhawk, Colorado. In 1873 the family removed to Denver, where Mr. Morgan attended the public schools of the city and graduated from the Denver high school in the class of 1881. He entered Yale the following year and graduated from that institution with the class of 1886. He later entered the Harvard Law School, where he studied for two years, and in 1888 began practice in Denver in

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connection with the firm of Teller & Orahood. In 1890 he was admitted te a partner- ship by the firm under the style of Teller, Orahood & Morgan and that association was maintained until 1908, since which time he has practiced alone, dividing his attention between professional interests and duties, the management of the Morgan Real Estate & Investment Company, controlling the estate left by his father, and as a member ef the Colorado Tax Commission, to which he was appointed in 1914. During his college days his summer vacations were largely spent in European travel and he is a man of the most liberal culture to whom study has ever been a matter ef recreation. He is a man of marked literary tastes and of the keenest discrimination as to literature. He has the largest collection of books and pamphlets relating to Colorado that has ever been assembled and for many years was president of the Colorado Historical and Natural History Society. The works of Colorado journalists and writers form a conspicuous part of this collection, which comprises not less than six hundred bound volumes of historical and descriptive work and several thousand pamphlets, papers and other publi- cations relating to the history and bibliography of Colorado. Comparatively few of these books and papers could be duplicated, for many are rare and therefore of great value. This collection is consigned by Mr. Morgan to the care and keeping of the Colorado Historical and Natural History Society in its rooms in the State Museum. On the 12th of April, 1909, Mr. Morgan was united in marriage to Mrs. Grace Firth Welles, of Denver. He is known in club circles as a member of the University and Yale Clubs, of New York; the University Club of Denver, the Denver Athletic Club and the Denver Country Club. He was at one time vice president of the Colorado Ferestry Association and the president of the Colorado Yale Association. He has mem- bership in the Society ef Sons of Colorado, in Psi Upsilon and in the Wolf's Head of Yale. His political allegiance has always been given to the republican party. He has a very ex- tensive acquaintance among business, public and professional men throughout the entire country and his opinions, because of his wide reading and study and his analytical mind, are always listened to with attention and interest. His is an evenly balanced mind and a well rounded character.

HON. SAMUEL W. DE BUSK.

Hon. Samuel W. De Busk has not only attained individual success as a merchant and farmer in Trinidad, Las Animas county, but through his efforts he has greatly contributed toward the development and upbullding of this section of the state. A native of Virginia, he was born in Washington county, June 16, 1848, and is a son of William and Ann J. (Snodgrass) De Busk. The family is of French descent, early ancestors of eur subject being expelled from France during the persecution of the Huguenots. Other ancestors participated in the war of the Revolution, and Mr. De Busk therefore may lay claim to distinguished and honorable descent. His father followed agricultural pursuits and was also the owner of a mill, and in his community was prominent and respected. He par- ticipated in public movements of any kind which he considered worthy of suppert, and all who knew him spoke of him in the highest terms of commendation. Both he and his wife are now deceased. They had four children, three sons and a daughter, of whom Samuel W. was the oldest.

Samuel W. De Busk was educated privately for four years, and also attended high school. He then continued his studies in the Emory and Henry College, of Emory, Vir- ginia, which institution he attended for four years and which conferred upon him the degree of Bachelor of Arts and also that of Master of Arts. Being well prepared for the professien of teaching, he then had charge of an academy at Johnson City, Tennessee, for two years, at the end of which time he came to Colorado, locating in Trinidad in 1872, so that he has now been a resident of that city for over forty-five years. He taught in the schools of Las Animas county for about twelve years and also gave considerable time to stock raising, but since abandoning educational work has devoted himself prin- cipally to farming, which has claimed his attention in greater or less degree for a half century. Upon his property he placed modern facilities and improvements, put up suitable buildings, and generally increased the value of his farm to such an extent that when he disposed of the same recently it was considered one of the best in his section. Mr. De Busk was also connected with newspaper work for five years, and for one year had a position on the Advertiser under Dr. Beshoar. Later he inaugurated the Trinidad Daily Gazette and conducted this paper successfully for four years, his editorlals always standing for progress and the paper enjoyIng a large circulation. After it was sold the new proprietors changed the name to the Chronicle, the successor of this being the

HON. SAMUEL W. DE BUSK

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Chronicle News. Mr. De Busk has the honor of being numbered among the pioneers of Las Animas county and in various ways he has led measures of advancement to successful completion, having been particularly helpful in introducing modern methods in regard to agricultural work. He is an expert on soils, having experimented much along that line and having tested them in regard to suitability for various crops. His conclusions have not only been of value to himself hut to the agricultural fraternity in general, which has profited by his experiments.

On the 29th of December, 1870, in Washington county. Virginia, Mr. De Busk was united in marriage to Miss Margaret L. Smith, and to them have been born four children. of whom William S., who was manager of a large mercantile business, lost his life at the age of thirty-three in a tragic accident, being drowned. The others are: Margaret, who makes her home with her parents; Morrison, who resides on the Pacific coast, and Honora, an alumna of Colorado College, and now Mrs. Val Smith, of Los Angeles, Cali- fornia. There are also two grandchildren.

In his political affiliations Mr. De Busk is a democrat and has always taken a deep and helpful interest in the progress and spread of the principles of his party. He is public-spirited in the hest sense of the word, ever ready to give his support to measures which he considers of value, and especially as an agriculturist has contributed much toward development in Las Animas county. In 1880 he was a census enumerator, covering on horsehack a district of ranch country some two thousand square miles in area, and then populated hy only a few hundred people. Today as many thousands occupy the same territory. In the late '70s he was justice of the peace, a water commissioner and a country postmaster. In the noted Star Route trial he was a witness for the government, made three trips to Washington, and for four months listened to congressional proceedings and notable trials in the courts. In 1894 was elected county commissioner on a fusion ticket. In 1896 Mr. De Busk was a candidate for state senator, hut was defeated, and twenty years later. in 1916, was again a candidate for the same office, running against the same opponent, and this time he was elected. He and his opponent have been neighbors for forty years, and all that time the best of friends. In the twenty-first general assembly he was chairman of the committee on county affairs, also the committee on state affairs and public lands, and served on six other committees, namely: agriculture and irrigation, horticulture, judiciary, labor, reapportionment, and industrial relations.

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History of Colorado; Volume II, Part 93

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