USA > Colorado > History of Colorado; Volume III > Part 101
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In 1903 Mr. Wood was married in Burlington, Colorado, to Miss Minnie Kernes, a native of Pueblo, who was reared on a farm south of Ramah. They have become par- ents of three children: F. Edward, born March 17, 1905; Leslie A., born October 16, 1907; and Willie R., born March 11. 1909. Mr. Wood is a member of the Woodmen of the World and the Modern Woodmen of America and he gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He is well liked by all who know him and has long been numbered among the prosperous merchants and esteemed citizens of his community.
JOHN V. COCKINS.
John V. Cockins is the vice president of the Central Savings Bank & Trust Company of Denver, his connection with this institution covering a quarter of a century. In the beginning he was a messenger boy and since that time he has steadily worked his way upward, winning his promotions through merit and ability. He was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, July 15, 1875, and is a son of Robert A. and Malinda ( Hen- derson ) Cockins, both of whom were natives of the Buckeye state, where the family have been represented for several generations. The parents were reared, educated and married in Ohio and in later life the father engaged in the mercantile business, continuing active in the commercial circles of his native state until 1893, when he came with the surviving members of his family to Denver. Here he entered financial circles and is now a director of the Central Savings Bank & Trust Company, of which his son John is the vice president. During the early period of the Civil war the father was too young to enlist. but as the sanguinary struggle progressed he arrived at the age of eighteen and then presented himself to Uncle Sam for active service at the front. He was assigned to the Seventy-sixth Ohio Regiment and for two years was connected with the "boys in blue" in active duty on the battlefield. He was once slightly wounded in an engagement and was sent to the rear for medical treatment and was taken to the hospital, but on the following morning he again sought his command and was once more on the firing line. He continued in active and valorous service until the close of hostilities and was advanced from the ranks to the position of corporal. His wife died in Denver in October, 1903, at the age of fifty-nine years. In the family were three children, all of whom are still residents of Denver, living at the family home at No. 760 Gilpin street, with their father, Robert A. Cockins. The daughters are Ada and Margaret Cockins.
MR. AND MRS. HARRY L. WOOD
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The only son of the family is John V. Cockins, whose name introduces this review and who was the second in order of birth. In early life he attended the district schools and at the age of eighteen started for the west. It was in the fall of 1892 that three boys lett Muskingum county, Ohio, to seek their fortunes beyond the Mississippi, thus following the advice of Horace Greeley: "Go west, young man, go west." Out on the plains of Kansas one of these youths separated from the others of the party, who continued on their westward journey, and then one of the two bade adieu to his companion at Denver, while the remaining one journeyed on to North Dakota. The one who stopped at Denver did so with the intention of attending school here and after securing quarters in a private family he further investigated educational facilities and at the same time inquired as to the cost of an extended course of training. After his return to the boarding house, on carefully considering what the expense of his course would be, he reconsidered his previously formed plans and decided instead to go to work. He then made his way to the business district of the city on the morning of November 5, 1892, and entered the Central National Bank. He approached the cashier, Mr. Marshall, asking him for a position. Mr. Marshall inquired of the lad what he was capable of doing and the answer came that he had no knowledge of the banking business whatever, hut he said: "I can do a good job on your windows, which look as if they needed cleaning very badly." Mr. Marshall told the lad to take off his coat and go to work. This constituted his introduction to the banking business. He was at first employed as a messenger and at once he gave indication of his industry, which has always been one of his dominant traits. Moreover, he gave close attention to the details of the work entrusted to him, was quick to observe and eagerly embraced every opportunity to improve. Thus he soon rose to a clerkship and hy constant study after working hours developed his powers until he was advanced from one position to another and eventually became cashier. Later he was chosen vice president and one of the directors of the bank and thus remains in close connection with the management and control of an institution which he entered as a boy and in which he has remained for a quarter of a century. At the outset he determined to stay with the banking busi- ness until he had entirely failed or had proven a success. A youth of resolute purpose, of indefatigable energy and of honesty never fails and such proved to be the case with Mr. Cockins, who is today considered an authority upon the banking business and is regarded as a man of most sound and discriminating judgment. Moreover, he is a man with many close and steadfast friends. In the choice of companionship he has ever felt that the best was none too good. In fact, he has shown wise discrimina- tion in the choice of his companions and thus did not a little to further his prospects and his opportunities. Today he numbers his friends in Denver by the thousand and he is most widely and favorably known throughout the west.
Since coming to this section of the country he has remained one of its most loyal supporters and a champion of its interests in every particular. On one of his recent visits to his old home he had occasion to pay a visit to an aunt in Columbus, Ohio, who attempted to prevail upon him to return and reside with her at her home, but he replied that he would not change from Colorado to Ohio again if the state was given him as a present. He has a love for the old home state, but feels that his best interests may be promoted in Colorado and he does everything in his power to advance the wel- fare and interests of the state. He is a member of the Denver Athletic Club, the Denver Motor Club and the Civic & Commercial Association and cooperates in all the well defined plans and purposes of the last named organization for the benefit of the city. His political allegiance is given to the republican party hut he never allows political activity to interfere with the faithful performance of his duties as a hanker and has made for himself a most creditable place in the financial circles of Denver.
WILLIAM SAYER.
The progress which has been made along electrical lines in the last several years is truly wonderful and in fact it may be said that there would have been no progress in the last twenty-five years along many lines if it had not been for the numerous uses and purposes to which electricity is put. The outgrowth of this condition is the elec- trical supply business and institutions of this kind are therefore very important to the cities in which they are located. William Sayer occupies a prominent position in the business life of Denver as proprietor of the Electrical Supply & Construction Com- pany, being active in construction work along electrical lines and enjoying a vast trade in furnishing electrical supplies. For many years his firm has been one of the leading
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supply houses of its kind in the west, the success of the business being entirely due to the enterprise, foresight and technical knowledge of its proprietor.
William Sayer is a native of Ontario, Canada, where his birth occurred in February, 1856, his parents being James Christopher and Betsey (Cryan) Sayer, the father born in New York state, while the mother was born in the Dominion. Later in life the parents removed to New York, although both passed away in Canada. The father was engaged in farming and took a prominent part in the public life of his community in Canada, serving as mayor of his city. Six children were born to this worthy couple. D. J. Sayer, a prominent educator, was for many years principal of the schools of Lead- ville, Colorado, and later was county superintendent of schools, but is now making his home in Denver, Colorado. John D. Sayer has passed away. Mrs. Katherine Mc- Gillis resides in Canada, as does also Mrs. Mary McGillis. Professor Thomas A. Sayer is a high school principal in Canada.
The other member of the family, William Sayer of this review, the second in order of birth, attended public school in New York state and also in Ontario, Canada. After having completed his education he secured a position as traveling salesman for a firm at Rochester, New York, and continued in this capacity for several years, but in 1879, when only twenty-three years of age, he came to Colorado, locating in Leadville, where he occupied himself with mining for a year and also conducted a machine shop, thus becoming for the first time identified with a line of business closely connected with that of his present firm. He later, however, again took up the work of selling goods on the road and after a certain period once more established himself in business, this time in Aspen, Colorado, where he opened a men's furnishing goods store, in the conduct of which he was very successful and in which he continued until 1889, when he sold out and came to Denver. Here Mr. Sayer, in connection with Mr. Bogue, organized the Bogue-Sayer Lead Company, which is now the Bogue-Wensley Lead Com- pany. In the establishment of this important business Mr. Sayer thus took a prominent part, and it may also be of interest to mention in connection that Mr. Wensley, who is sole proprietor now, began work for the firm at a salary of six dollars per week. Messrs. Sayer and Bogue conducted this business in company very successfully until the panic of 1893, when the former disposed of his interest and went to New Mexico, where he engaged in the timber business, conducting sawmills in that state for four years. Returning to Denver in 1898, he established what has since proven to be one of the most successful firms of this kind in the state, the Electrical Supply & Construction Company, the firm being located at No. 1625 Lawrence street. As the years have passed he has developed his business into one of the leading supply houses of Denver and the state and his success is highly creditable because it is entirely due to his unfalter- ing diligence, his untainted business principles and his steadfastness of purpose. Fidelity and promptness have always heen his watchword and it is therefore but natural that he has attained high rank in the business circles of his city.
On the 12th of April. 1897, in Denver, Colorado, Mr. Sayer was united in marriage to Miss Nellie Chevnin, the ceremony being performed at the old cathedral by the bishop. Mrs. Sayer is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Chevnin, the name represent- ing an old and respected pioneer family of Denver.
Mr. Sayer is a Roman Catholic and deeply interested in the work of his church, as is indicated in the fact that he has been a member of the Cathedral choir for the past twenty years. He is prominent in the Knights of Columbus, belonging to all the four branches of the order. Political office has never had attraction for him, although he has ever given of his time and means to promote public progress and is deeply concerned in the moral, intellectual and material upbuilding of his community, where he enjoys not only the reputation of being a successful business man but also a patriotic and highly valued citizen.
EBER C. NEWMAN.
Eber C. Newman, of Julesburg, is numbered among the successful agriculturists of Sedgwick county, where he owns five hundred and fifty acres of the southwestern part of section 28, township 11, range 43. Following the most progressive methods, he has attained extraordinary success although he is yet a comparatively young man. He was born in Ohio, October 22, 1885, the second in order of birth in a family of nine children, his parents being Charles and Armanda (Shock) Newman. The father was also an agriculturist, his farm being located in York county, Nebraska, his parents having removed there when he was five years of age.
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In York county Mr. Newman received his education and at the age of sixteen began to assist his father with the farm work. At the age of twenty-one he rented a farm in York county which he cultivated for one year and then rented another place in the same neighborhood, upon which he remained for three years. Following the most approved methods of farming, success attended his labors but later he came to Sedgwick county, Colorado, where he acquired his present place, located in the southwestern part of section 28, town 11, range 43, and comprising five hundred and fifty acres. He has made numerous improvements and now has one of the finest farms in the neighborhood. He has been connected with farm work ever since he left school and more than ordinary success has attended his efforts in this line, to which he gives his undivided attention. His present place stands as the visible evidence of his untir- ing labors and he now derives a gratifying income from his farming interests.
In January, 1914, Mr. Newman was united in marriage to Miss Ethel Burgess, a native of York county, Nebraska, and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clayton Burgess, the latter of whom died when Mrs. Newman was fourteen years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Newman have two children, Kenneth and Lowell.
Mr. Newman is a Methodist in his religious faith and his political allegiance is given to the republican party. While developing an extensive farm property in Sedg- wick county he has not only gained prosperity for himself but has contributed toward the development of his section. He is a man of modern and progressive ideas, ever ready to give his support to worthy movements of a public nature. Since coming here he has made many friends and all who have the honor of his closer acquaintance speak highly of him.
FRANK GROVE McKLVEEN. M. D.
Denver hau no more beloved physician than Dr. Frank Grove McKlveen, whose personal qualities, combined with his professional skill, endeared him to all with whom he came in contact as physician, as surgeon or as friend. His demise was therefore the occasion of deep and widespread regret, the news of his passing carrying with it a sense of personal bereavement to all the homes where he was known.
Dr. McKlveen was born at Stahlstown, Pennsylvania, September 5, 1868. He was therefore only in his fiftieth year when he passed away in Denver on the 22d of April. 1918. He was a son of John and Esther McKlveen, of Trafford, Pennsylvania. The mother has passed away but the father still makes his home in that state. He is an honored veteran of the Civil war and prominent in Grand Army circles, of which organization he is a member. Dr. Meklveen of this review had a brother, Thomas, who is an active factor in the business life of Trafford, Pennsylvania, where he is engaged as a clothing merchant, and a sister, Nannie, who married George L. Phillippi and resides in Los Angeles, California. In early manhood Dr. MeKlveen determined to make the practice of medicine his life work and with that end in view entered the West Penn Medical College at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated in the class of 1892. He then located for practice in his old home town at Ligonier, Pennsylvania, where he followed his profession successfully for six years, when failing health caused him to seek a change of climate and he removed to Denver, establishing his home in this city in 1897. Ligonier deeply regretted the necessity that forced him to leave the town, for he was most highly esteemed by all its people, who were genuinely glad to call him friend.
Before leaving the east Dr. McKlveen was married in 1895 to Miss Mary Annetta Caven, of Ligonier, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Eli K. and Clara (Campbell) Caven. To the Doctor and his wife was born a daughter. Marguerite, who with her mother survives the husband and father. With his removal to Denver, Dr. McKlveen entered upon the active practice of medicine in this city and as the years passed made for himself a most creditable place, name and position in professional circles in Colorado. He proved his capability to handle involved and intricate professional problems and was most conscientious in the discharge of his duties. Anything that tended to bring to him the key to the complex mystery which we call life awakened his keen interest. In addition to a large private practice he did important hospital work and was for fourteen years a member of the staff of St. Anthony's Hospital, while for three years prior to his death he was honored with the presidency of its staff. Dr. MeKlveen was not a Catholic in his religious faith but shared the love and respect of his many Catholic patients. He was the physician of the late Rt. Rev. Nicholas C. Matz, Catholic bishop of Denver. The Sisters at the hospital held him in exceedingly high esteem.
DR. FRANK G. McKLVEEN
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His last days were spent in that hospital and when death called him his body lay in state in a room in the hospital known as Bishop Matz' room, something unheard of before. Complying with the wishes of her husband, Mrs. McKlveen has endowed in liis name a room in St. Anthony's Hospital.
Dr. McKlveen was a devoted member of the First Avenue Presbyterian church and did everything in his power to advance its interests and upbuilding. He was a prominent Mason, being a member of the White Shrine of Jerusalem, a Knight Templar and also a member of the Eastern Star, while in the Scottish Rite he had attained the thirty-second degree; he also belonged to the Mystic Shrine. Other fraternal associa- tions of his were with the Woodmen of the World, the Royal Arcanum and the Fraternal Brotherhood, while along professional lines he held membership in the Denver City and County Medical Society and the American Medical Association. As behooved a loyal native Pennsylvanian, he was a member of the Pennsylvania Club of Colorado, in which organization he was very popular and with the members of which he renewed and kept green his memories, reaching back to the familiar scenes of his boyhood and young manhood in the Keystone state.
In speaking of him at the funeral services his former pastor, Rev. Dr. J. F. Elder, said: "In searching for the leading characteristics which show his true worth to his fellowmen, we find first, that he was a man of conviction-clear in opinion and firm in attitude. Second, his fidelity to duty. He was no rover or shifter. He was always at his post. Third, his sincerity. He had the tenderness of strength and the strength of tenderness. Fourth, his spirit of self-sacrifice. He simply poured out his life for his patients. Fifth, ready sympathy. Many, many times day and night, thoughtless of his own health, no matter how poor the family might be, he would answer the call. Sixth, his cheerfulness, seen in his countenance and heard in his voice. Every class of people in Denver has been stricken by Dr. McKlveen's sudden departure from life. 'The finest fruit earth holds up to its Maker is a finished man.'"
He was always spoken of as a noble and exemplary citizen, a faithful friend and respected physician as well as a most devoted husband and father. Dr. McKlveen was a member of the Twentieth Century Medical Club and served for a term as its president. He held to high professional standards and in the course of his practice was con- tinually extending a helping hand to those in need of assistance. He did not hesitate to respond to the call of the poor as well as of those in affluent circumstances and he gave his services generously on many occasions when he knew that no pecuniary remuneration could be expected. He was constantly reaching out a hand in helpful- ness and kindliness and his good deeds shine as a light in a dark world, serving as an inspiration to others and at all times indicating the true worth of honorable helpful manhood.
WILLIAM ALBANUS LOGAN COOPER.
William Albanus Logan Cooper, who through an active life ranked with the most successful business men of Denver and the most popular, displayed in his commercial career much of that initiative which makes for leadership. He was never content with what he had accomplished but, prompted by a laudable ambitlon, was continually broadening the scope of his labors and advancing step by step toward higher things. This was not only true of his business career but was manifest in the development of his character as well. He was recognized as a man of most notable generosity and was continually extending a helping hand where aid was needed.
Mr. Cooper was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, June 20, 1849, a son of Washington and Carrie Cooper. He came of Quaker ancestry, being one of the descendants of the dis- tinguished Doctor Rush. He acquired his primary education in the schools of his native city and then entered upon a period of travel which was to culminate in his arrival in Colorado in 1870. During the intervenng period he visited Mississippi, Cali- fornia, Nevada and other states but did not find a place which he desired to make his permanent home until he reached Colorado. With his arrival in Denver he accepted the position of bookkeeper with James Tynon, one of the pioneers of the state, and remained in his employ until the Leadville boom was started. He then went to the Leadville district, where he remained until 1883, giving his attention to the furniture trade as a member of the firm of Pryor, Hagus & Cooper. He afterward returned to Denver and also spent one year in Pueblo. Mr. Cooper's identification with the furni- ture trade of Denver began in 1885, when he established the Cooper-Hagus Furniture Store and for a period of ten years enjoyed a business of great extent. Denver at
WILLIAM A. L. COOPER
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that time was experiencing a boom and homes were being built everywhere, a condition which contributed to his very substantial success. In 1895 a change in partnership led to the adoption of the firm name of Cooper & Powell. Mr. Cooper continued in the business until his death and was known as an expert authority on furniture, being an expert judge of wood. He had, too, that ready appreciation of line and color that enabled him to quickly realize the attractiveness of a piece of furniture and he brought to his establishment all that the best manufacturing houses of the country produced. Mr. Cooper was twice married. He first wedded Ida Perrin, by whom he had two children: Marshall L., who married Margaret Scott, of Denver, and is now manager of the Cambridge Apartment Hotel in Chicago; and Helen, the wife of S. Z. Silver- sparre, of Chicago, by whom she has two children, Robert and Eloise. On the 27th of June. 1890, Mr. Cooper was married to Mrs. Eloise Ingalls Fisk, a native of the state of New York and a daughter of the Rev. Alfred Ingalls, a well beloved minister of the Congregational faith in the Empire state. Mrs. Cooper is a graduate of St. Law- rence University of Canton, New York. At sixteen years of age she began teaching, receiving a salary of a dollar and seventy-five cents per week and boarding 'round among her pupils as was the custom in that early day. The next year she received two dollars and a quarter per week as teacher in the same school and the curriculum ranged from the A, B, C's to hotany and algebra. In New York she was married to Arthur William Fisk, a lawyer who belonged to the well known Fisk family of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Fisk were among the early settlers of Greeley, Colorado, where they remained two years amid the primitive conditions of frontier life and then removed to Nevada, where they resided for seven years. Mr. Fisk there passed away, after which Mrs. Fisk returned to Greeley, Colorado, and became a teacher in the schools of that city. with which she was thus connected for seven years. In 1890, in San Francisco, at the home of her cousin, the mayor, E. P. Pond, she became the wife of W. A. L. Cooper. By her first marriage Mrs. Cooper became the mother of three children, two daughters who passed away in early childhood and a son, Arthur W., who is a musician of San Fran- cisco. Mrs. Cooper had no children by her second marriage but proved a devoted mother to Mr. Cooper's children, especially close being the affection between her and the daughter, Helen. Mrs. Cooper has ever been greatly interested in literature and in religion, her faith being that of the Christian Science church, of which Mr. Cooper was also a devout follower. For eighteen years Mrs. Cooper has been an adherent of that church and for eight years taught in the Sunday school and throughout almost the entire period of her connection with the church has been a practitioner. She was was also the founder of the Denver Woman's Club and for a long time maintained the organization. Mr. and Mrs. Cooper were most closely united in their social activities and by tacit understanding she took the lead in their travels and pleasures, an arrange- ment which was highly satisfactory to her husband, this leaving him more leisure for his business affairs and other interests. They were coworkers and Christian Science readers at the county jail for eighteen months and their influence for good will long bear fruit, their work being directly beneficial in saving many.
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