USA > Colorado > History of Colorado; Volume III > Part 102
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Mr. Cooper was a man of magnetic personality and made a host of true friends in Denver, where he passed away November 1, 1908. He was a Mason of high rank, having attained the Knight Templar degree in the York Rite and the thirty-second degree in the Scottish Rite. In his life he exemplified the beneficent spirit of the craft and in every way was loyal to its teachings. His was a most generous spirit. He remembered the sick with flowers, the needy with clothes and money. He responded to every call of those who were deserving of assistance and many a boy has been encour- aged and set on the right road through the efforts of Mr. Cooper. His memory is enshrined in the hearts of all and his example remains as a blessed benediction to those who knew him.
MICHAEL D. HEALY, M. D.
Dr. Michael D. Healy, engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in Denver. was born March 7, 1881, at Ballymee House, Doneraile, County Cork, Ireland, a son of the late William Healy, who was also a native of County Cork and a farmer by occupation. The family is a prominent one in that county. Hon. Timothy Healy and Hon. Morris Healy, cousins of Dr. Healy, are members of parliament at the present time. His father was also quite active in local political circles and affiliated with the nationalist party. He was a keen judge of horse flesh and had some record Irish hunters, winning many blue ribbons at the various horse shows throughout
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Ireland. He was a Roman Catholic in religious faith and a devout Christian. He passed away in his native land in 1917, having for two years survived his wife, who died in 1915. She bore the maiden name of Mary O'Brien and was also a native of County Cork. By her marriage she became the mother of twelve children, five sons and seven daughters, of whom Dr. Healy is the youngest of the sons and the only one living. Dr. Healy's brother Richard, who was a barrister at law, was one of the most brilliant students of his time, leading in all his examinations, and was awarded a special gold medal for oratory. Previous to his studying law he edited a paper in the west of Ireland at Castlebar. Of the daughters four are yet living and all are residents of Ireland.
Dr. Healy was educated in Mallow, Ireland, in the Christian Brothers College and from there went to Queens College of Cork, where he took up the study of medi- cine. He was graduated from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Dublin in 1907. L. R. C. P., and passed the fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons by examination in 1908. He was also graduated from the Rotunda Maternity Hospital of Dublin, L. M., in 1908. After passing his third professional examination in Ireland he was recommended to go abroad on account of poor health and accordingly came to the new world, making Colorado his destination. He came at once to Denver and here entered the Gross Medical College, from which he was graduated in 1905 with the M. D. degree. In 1906 he entered St. Anthony's Hospital as an interne and spent one year in that institution, gaining the broad and valuable experience which could never be obtained as quickly in any other way as in hospital practice. He afterwards returned to Ireland in 1907 and completed his studies there, ending his year with honors in the degree examination, receiving in 1908 the fellowship degree. He also promoted his knowledge in the principal hospitals of London and took the degree of L. M. at the Rotunda Lying-in Hospital of Dublin, Ireland. He then returned to Denver and was elected one of the attending surgeons of St. Joseph's Hospital of Denver, in which city he has since followed his profession, specializing in surgery. He has developed marked ability in that field and his practice is of a very extensive and important character. He belongs to the Denver City and County Medical Society, the Colorado State Medical Society and the American Medical Association and he is a member of the staff of St. Joseph's Hospital and a lecturer to the nurses' classes of that hospital. He is the author of a well known article on "Ante-Partum Hemorrhage," and he has frequently addressed medical societies and at other times has written for the medical journals.
In politics Dr. Healy maintains an independent course. He is a brilliant conversa- tionalist and a royal entertainer and is never happier than when giving charming and justly famons entertainments for his friends. He is very fond of reading and is thoroughly versed in literature-a man of the broadest intellect and equally warm- hearted. He devotes much time to charity work in his profession besides giving liberally to benevolent work whenever called upon. He is a member of the Denver Athletic Club and of the Lakewood Country Club and he has membership in the Immac- ulate cathedral. He turns to golf and fishing for diversion and recreation and enjoys all phases of outdoor life. Nothing, however, is allowed to interfere with the faithful performance of his professional duties. He concentrates his efforts and attention upon the delicate and important tasks which come to him as a surgeon and his highly developed powers have enabled him to cope most successfully with the problems of the profession.
BENJAMIN F. STAPLETON.
Benjamin F. Stapleton, the first Denver postmaster to occupy as chief the mag- nificent new post office, was born in Paintsville, Kentucky. His parents afterward removed with the family to Howard Lake, Minnesota. He graduated from the Normal University at Lebanon. Ohio, and afterward was principal of the schools at Waverly, Minnesota. Later, deciding to follow the now famous advice of Horace Greeley, he settled in Denver, having in the meantime spent a few years in the study of law at Lebanon, Ohio. He made his way to the west about the time of the outbreak of the Spanish-American war and lost no time in tendering his services to his country. He was with the Colorado boys in all their campaigns in the Philippines. Serving as quartermaster sergeant and first sergeant in Company I of the First Regiment. Colo- rado U. S. Volunteers. He was a charter member of the Association of the Army of the
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Philippines and served for two terms as president of Camp Jolin S. Stewart and is a member of the Society of Veterans of Foreign Wars.
In 1904 Mr. Stapleton became police magistrate of Denver and occupied that posi- tion until appointed postmaster on the 8th of February, 1915. During his term as police magistrate he did much to improve the police court system, filling this office with honor to himself and satisfaction to the citizens of Denver. He is still serving as postmaster and his record is one which has gained for him the thorough respect of the public and the admiration of those who understand the multiplicity of detail in connection with the performance of his duties. In his three years as postmaster he has made many changes, one of the most notable improvements which he has instituted being a complete rearrangement of mail routes in 1916. In September, 1915, he was honored by being chosen to preside over the deliberations of the convention of Colorado postmasters.
Mr. Stapleton has been married twice, his first wife, Miss Lena B. Collins, having died March 1, 1915, just a month after his appointment to office, and her death ended a long illness. On the 27th of June, 1917, he was married to Miss Mabel Freeland, a talented musician of Denver.
During his long career in Denver, Judge Stapleton has been active in all civic movements of moment. He has been a strong advocate of the cadet system in the schools and has done much to extend this part of the educational system of the city and state. He is a thorough and discriminating student of public questions, especially those having to do with municipal affairs and with the interests of the commonwealth. A man of broad vision and keen insight, he takes an advanced stand upon many prob- lems, and in many instances his leadership has been followed to the benefit of the community.
ROBERT A. BROWN
Robert A. Brown, secretary and treasurer of the City Bank and Trust Company of Denver, one of the strong financial concerns of the city, also has many other important business connections and his sound judgment is manifest in his control of the different interests with which he is associated. He has voice in the management of varions financial concerns and his opinions ever carry weight in business councils, for his judg- ment is sound, his discrimination keen and his enterprise unfaltering. Colorado is proud to number him among her native sons. His birth occurred in Durango on the 9th of July, 1882. His father, H. G. Brown, was a native of Canada who devoted his life largely to merchandising. Removing to the west, he became a resident of Durango and there passed away when his son Robert was but three years of age. His wife bore the maiden name of Belle Bivens and is now living at Rico, Colorado.
Robert A. Brown, their only son, pursued his education in the public schools of Rico and Durango, supplemented hy a course of study in the State Agricultural College at Fort Collins, from which he was graduated with the Bachelor of Science degree as a member of the class of 1901. Throughout his entire business career he has been identified with banking. When his textbooks were put aside he entered the Denver Savings Bank, in which he was employed for three years, and thus received his preliminary training in that field. He was afterward connected with the First National Bank of Denver and later was made cashier of the Columbia Savings & Loan Association, with which he remained until the organization of the City Bank and Trust Company in 1909. He acted as assistant secretary for a number of years and in 1913 was called to his present posi- tion as secretary and treasurer. The other officers are: W. J. Galligan, president; George McLean, vice president; and C. W. Tunnell, assistant secretary. The bank is capitalized for one hundred thousand dollars and occupies a splendid building situated at the corner of Seventeenth and Arapahoe streets. It has a surplus and undivided profits amounting to more than fifteen thousand dollars and its deposits reach eight hundred and eleven thou- sand dollars. The business of the bank has been conducted along safe and secure lines. The officers have ever recognized the fact that the bank is most worthy of patronage that most carefully safeguards the interests of its depositors, and its business methods at all times have been such as would bear the closest investigation and scrutiny. From the outset of his career Mr. Brown has been a close student of banking and is now thoroughly familiar with the principles that underlie the control of moneyed interests. He is a member of the Colorado Bankers Association and also of the American Institute of Bankers. However, he has not confined his efforts and attention to the City Bank and Trust Company alone, but he has become officially and financially interested in various
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ROBERT A. BROWN
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other business concerns. He is now a director of the El Dorado Springs Company, is a director of the Western National Life Insurance Company, a director of the Crawford Finance Company and also of the National Alfalfa Products Company.
In 1903 Mr. Brown was united in marriage to Miss Mabel Woods, of Fort Collins, a daughter of C. T. Woods, a prominent cattleman at that place. They have become the parents of two children: Robert Douglas, thirteen years of age, now in school; and Reba Belle, a little maiden of six summers.
The parents are members of the Christian Science church and Mr. Brown turns for recreation to football and baseball, greatly enjoying both games. He never allows out- side interests to interfere with the faithful performance of his duties and the methods which he has employed in the attainment of his success awaken approval and admira- tion, for the world pays its tribute to him who through enterprise, unrelaxing effort and clear-sighted judgment makes advancement in the business world without infringing on the rights of others.
SPENCER H. SWAN.
Spencer H. Swan is a progressive and enterprising business man of Weld county, living on section 34, township 6, range 66 west. He was born in Perry county, Illinois, June 10, 1877, and is a son of Isaac B. and Caroline (Oglesby ) Swan, the latter a rela- tive of Governor Oglesby of Illinois and of Scotch and Holland Dutch descent. The Swan family comes of English ancestry and was established in America about 1638. Early representatives of the name removed from Boston to Connecticut, while later genera- tions became residents of Albany county, New York. From that locality a removal was made to Perry county, Illinois, and thence the family came to Colorado. Isaac B. Swan, the father of Spencer H. Swan, was born in Albany county, New York. He removed westward to Illinois in 1860 and carried on business as a merchant and commission man in Perry county, that state. There he resided until 1888, when he came to Colorado for the benefit of his health, but died three months later of consumption and was laid to rest in the cemetery at Greeley. Mrs. Swan still makes her home in Weld county and is the owner of an excellent farm of forty-five acres. Aside from the agricultural interests of the family they are connected with land and mining interests in Texas and have copper, zinc, lead and silver properties in Arizona.
The eldest daughter. Rose E. Swan, was born in Perry county, Illinois, in 1869, and in 1888 accompanied her parents to Colorado. She is a graduate of the State Teachers' College and is now successfully teaching in Denver. She, too, has interests in Texas and Arizona, where she holds mining properties. Walter R. Swan, born in Perry county, in 1870, resided in Greeley from 1888 until 1897 and during that time was engaged in farming but is now a telegraph operator in Texas and, like the others of the family, is interested in Texas lands and mining property in Arizona. Anna S., born in 1873, became the wife of F. Cunningham, a farmer of Colorado, and they, too, have land in Texas and copper, zinc and silver properties in Arizona. D. Shelton Swan, born in Perry county, Illinois, in 1882, is at present a resident of Los Angeles, California, where he is an instructor in the high school. He belongs to Sigma Alpha Epsilon, a Greek letter fraternity. Pluma A. Swan, born in Perry county, Illinois, in 1886, was educated in the public schools and lives at home with the family. All have mining interests in Arizona and all of the family have devoted their attention to teaching or to farming.
Spencer H. Swan whose name introduces this review was a lad of ten years when he accompanied his parents to Colorado, where he has since made his home. Here lie was reared to the occupation of farming and he soon became very active in the work of the fields following his father's death. He is now the owner of an excellent farm of one hundred and twenty-five acres, situated on section 34, township 6, range 66 west, in Weld county, and has most carefully and systematically developed his land, enhancing its productiveness, so that he annually gathers large crops. He is likewise interested in land properties in Texas and, like the others of the family, holds stock in various mines in Arizona. In his work he has ever employed the most progressive methods. His land is well irrigated and his farm is equipped with all the latest and most modern improve- ments. Irrigation work was begun in this district at a very early day, the Greeley No. 3 ditch, extending through the city east and west, being built in 1870, while the first ditch was constructed by the Union Colony, which founded Greeley. Two miles west of Mr. Swan's farm is the diversion dam and head gate of No. 3 ditch, which is about six miles west of Greeley.
The religious faith of the Swan family is that of the Methodist church. In politics
MRS. ISAAC B. SWAN AND FAMILY
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Mr. Swan maintains an independent course, voting according to the dictates of his judgment without regard to party ties. He always considers the capability of the can- didate and his willingness to support measures for the public good and this it is which decides Mr. Swan's vote. For thirty years he has been a resident of Weld county and has therefore witnessed much of its growth and development, while along agricultural lines he has taken an active and helpful part in advancing public progress. He is a young man of pleasing personal appearance, well educated, alert and energetic, and he carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes.
JOHN TOBIAS.
A native of Pennsylvania, John Tobias is numbered among the pioneers of Colorado, for he came to this state in 1871 and for many years followed agricultural pursuits. specializing for some time in horticulture, but has now retired from the more arduous duties of life, giving his attention to the cultivation of two and a half acres, having sold the rest of his property. He was born in Berks county, in the Keystone state. September 11, 1847, and is a son of Henry W. and Hannah (Meyers) Tobias, the latter a sister of William Meyers, one of the early pioneers of Colorado, who makes his home near Henderson.
John Tobias was educated in the public schools of Reading, Pennsylvania, con- tinuing his lessons to the age of thirteen, after which he began to assist in the work of the home farm. The family home was located in Lock Haven. Only a year later his father enlisted for service in the Civil war and much of the work of the farm fell upon the shoulders of John Tobias, who was then but fourteen years of age. After the war was ended he removed with his parents to Livingston county, Missouri, where the father resumed the occupation of farming. There John Tobias remained until 1871, when he decided to take advantage of the opportunities offered in the new west and removed to Denver, where for two years he was engaged in carpentering. This was followed by gardening, to which occupation he devoted several years, but in 1879 he purchased twenty acres of land near Wheat Ridge, Colorado, to the cultivation of which he gave his attention for many years. He brought his place under a high state of cultivation, introduced modern and progressive methods and erected suitable build- ings, so that in time his property became one of the most valuable of the neighbor- hood. Gradually, however, he sold tracts of his land until he now has two and a half acres, which he still continues to operate.
On October 16, 1884. Mr. Tobias was united in marriage to Miss Anna E. Brothers, a niece of David Brothers, who is mentioned more extensively elsewhere in this work. To this union were born two children: Ruth, the wife of H. P. Bunger; and Esther E. Mrs. Tobias died in January, 1915.
In his political affiliations Mr. Tobias is a republican and has ever upheld the standards of that party, while fraternally he belongs to the Grange at Wheat Ridge. He is a member of the Methodist church and his interest in its affairs is evident from the fact that he has served as trustee and has been superintendent of the Sunday school. Horticulture has always been his life work and hobby and he has served as secretary of the State Board of Horticulture for two years. Mr. Tobias has many friends in the neighborhood in which he resides and all speak of him in terms of the highest appreciation. By his labors he has contributed toward the development of his section of the state and is numbered among the valued citizens of the commonwealth.
HARPER M. ORAHOOD.
Harper M. Orahood, who was a distinguished member of the Denver bar, devoted to his profession and holding to its highest ethical standards, was born in Columbus, Ohio, on the 3d of June, 1841, and came of Scotch ancestry, the family having been founded in America by Thomas Orahood, a native of Glasgow, Scotland, who on cross- Ing the Atlantic became a pioneer resident of Virginia. He was the father of Amos Orahood, who on leaving the Old Dominion removed to Union county, Ohio, where he followed the occupation of farming. He, in turn, was the father of William Jackson Orahood, who was born in Virginia and who. becoming a resident of Ohio, afterward worked near Columbus, that state, and at Mount Vernon. Subsequently he removed to La Salle county, Illinois, and ultimately became a resident of Utah, while his last
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days were spent in Los Angeles, California, where he died in 1894 at the age of seventy- eight years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Ann Messenger, was born in Wilmington, Delaware, and by her marriage became the mother of three daughters and a son, the last named being Harper M. Orahood of this review.
In the public schools of Mount Vernon, Ohio, Harper M. Orahood began his edu- cation, which was continued in the public schools of Earlville, Illinois. He started out in the business world as clerk in a drug store at Rock Island, Illinois, where he remained for two years, but in 1860 the lure of the west was upon him and he joined an immigrant train bound for Colorado, making his way to Blackhawk, Gilpin county. In 1861 he became connected with the Colorado National Guard and in connection with Frank Hall raised the first company of militia that was mustered into the federal service in Denver, becoming Company A and known as the Elbert Guard. Mr. Orahood was commissioned second lieutenant and in 1864 became first lieutenant and regimental commissary of subsistence of the Third Colorado Cavalry. He was afterward made captain of Company B of the same regiment, which was used in guarding mails, stages and wagon trains, and with his command he participated in the Indian warfare. The regiment was mustered out at Camp Weld, Denver.
For ten years after his arrival in Colorado, Mr. Orahood was engaged in mer- chandising at Blackhawk and at Central City and during these years was constantly broadening his knowledge and interests through association with men of learning and experience and through individual study. He became imbned with the desire to enter the legal profession and in 1870 completed arrangements whereby he took up the study of law in the office and under the direction of Alvin Marsh. A year later he went with the firm of Henry M. & Willard Teller and after thorough preliminary read- ing was admitted to the Colorado bar in 1873. For several years he practiced in partner- ship with Senator Teller and his brother and was afterward connected with the brother in the firm of Teller, Orahood & Morgan. In the meantime, or in 1877, he was ap- pointed by Senator Edward O. Wolcott, who was then district attorney, to the office of deputy and in 1878 he became District Attorney Wolcott's successor. He continued to serve in the position for three years, when he resigned in order to remove to Denver, and it was then that he entered into partnership with Willard Teller.
Mı. Orahood had also filled other official positions in Gilpin county, serving as county clerk and recorder, as city attorney, as postmaster of Blackhawk and as city attorney of Central City. In 1901 he was elected city attorney of Denver and acted in that capacity until the city and county were consolidated through enactment of the twentieth amendment to the state constitution. He was ever a devoted follower of his profession, yet he also recognized his duties and obligations to the public and frequently acceded to public demands for his service in some official capacity. For seven years he was an active and valned member of the school board of Denver and during a part of that time was its president. He was for many years a member of the board of capitol managers, sharing with others the unique distinction of con- structing and managing the one capitol in the country in which no taint of graft or jobbery ever entered. He took active part in the building of the Colorado Central Railroad from Blackhawk to Central City and later became attorney for that road, which is now a part of the Union Pacific system. Associated with Willard and Henry M. Teller, he was one of the attorneys for the Union Pacific and in his practice he made a specialty of corporation and mining law. His knowledge of the principles of jurisprudence was comprehensive and exact and his marked ability placed him in the front rank of the profession.
It was at Blackhawk, on the Ist of October, 1873, that Mr. Orahood was united in marriage to Miss Mary Esther Hurlbut, a daughter of Hiram E. and Teresa (Booker) Hurlbut, who removed from Linn county, Missouri, to Colorado in the year 1860. Her father brought the first mill overland to this state and throughout his life was engaged in mining and in the milling business. The Booker family came from Virginia. Hiram E. Hurlbut lived to the notahle old age of ninety-one years and reared a family of eight children.
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