USA > Colorado > History of Colorado; Volume III > Part 103
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To Mr. and Mrs. Orahood were born seven children. Walter, the eldest, died in infancy. Frank Hall. the second in order of birth, died at the age of eleven years. Gertrude is now the wife of William W. Dale, who for thirty-five years has been an active member of the Denver bar. William Fullerton, who married Ula Millett, is now in the advertising department of the Los Angeles Times. Harper H. wedded Lillian Reser and has one daughter, Georgia Hart. George H. who had been a student at Cornell, was a draughtsman with the Mountain States Telephone Company when he joined the Four Hundred and Fifth Telegraph Battalion and is now in France. Albert Teller married Miss Mary Foote, of Colorado, and has two children: Harper M., three
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years of age; and Gertrude Dale. Albert T. Orahood is an attorney of Denver, who was educated at the Michigan State University and at the Colorado University.
Mr. Orahood left his family in very comfortable financial circumstances and they now own most of the property around Lake Wellington. The record of George H. Orahood is in harmony with that of his ancestors, who ever manifested a military spirit when the country's honor and rights were involved. Many of the ancestors of Harper M. Orahood having been defenders of the country in its wars, while he was officer of the day in Chivington's command during the Sand Creek Indian battle in Colo- rado, in addition to his service upon the frontier during the Civil war. His title of colonel was conferred upon him when he became a member of Governor Meintire's staff.
Fraternally Mr. Orahood was a Mason, belonging to lodge, chapter and commandery, and was grand commander of the Grand Commandery of Colorado in 1879-80. He was also a thirty-third degree Mason, southern jurisdiction. He was a charter member of Denver Lodge, I. O. O. F., and be proudly wore the little bronze button that proclaimed bim a representative of the Grand Army of the Republic. He largely turned to fishing for recreation but made this subservient to his important professional and public duties. When death called him on the 15th of September, 1914, a most useful and honorable career was ended, but his name is indelibly inscribed upon the pages of Colorado's history by reason of his devoted service in her behalf-a service that covered many phases of her activity and growth.
REV. WILLIAM O'RYAN.
Rev. William O'Ryan, rector of St. Leo's Catholic church of Denver, was born in Cashel, Ireland, February 23, 1861, and can trace his ancestry back three bun- dred years through a long line of Irish forbears. He was educated in St. Patrick's College at Thurles and at Maynooth College in Ireland and, having qualified for the priesthood, took holy orders from Cardinal Manning, in London, England, October 4, 1885. Since 1890 he has been pastor of St. Leo's church in Denver. He received the degree of LL. D. from Denver University. His activities along benevolent and charitable lines as well as in behalf of the church have been most extensive, valuable and resultant. He was one of those who aided in forming the Charity Organization Association, also the Hospital Association for the care of sick poor, and the Colorado State Tuberculosis Society. He is likewise a member of the Colorado State Board of Charities and Correction and is continually ex- tending a helping hand where assistance is needed, either through organized char- ity or through independent help.
Father O'Ryan is likewise well known through his editorial writings. From 1889 until 1891 he was editor of the Colorado Catholic and in 1892-3 was editor of the Celtic Cross. He has long been a frequent contributor to English and American magazines. He is, moreover, recognized as an orator and lecturer of wide and well merited reputation and his service in this connection is in great de- mand not only in Colorado but elsewhere. A gentleman of deep convictions and wide knowledge of social conditions, he is continuously striving to uplift the indi- vidual and promote the welfare of the community at large. He is, moreover, an untiring worker in war activities and has done great good for the country along the lines of Liberty Loan aud Red Cross work, seeking ever to advance the inter- ests of the government and promote the cause of world democracy.
CHARLES H. TAYLOR.
Charles H. Taylor, the president of the Taylor Investment Securities Company of Denver, was born in Rochester, Michigan, July 13, 1881. His father, W. Irving Taylor, was a native of Pennsylvania and a representative of one of the old families of that state, of German origin. His grandfather was a cousin of President Zachary Taylor. W. Irving Taylor was a farmer by occupation and became one of the pioneer settlers of Michigan, driving across the country to that state with an ox team. He married Charlotte Ann Richardson, a native of Michigan, whose parents were of English lineage and settled in Michigan at an early period in the development of that state. Mrs. Taylor passed away in 1888 at the comparatively early age of thirty-six years, while
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Mr. Taylor survived until March 26, 1917, and was sixty-four years of age at the time of his demise. They had a family of three sons and a daughter.
Charles H. Taylor, who was the third in order of birth, was educated in the country schools of Avon township, Oakland county, Michigan, and in the Pontiac (Mich.) high school. His youth to the age of sixteen years was spent upon the home farm, after which he started out in the business world independently and worked his way through the high school. Ou the completion of his education he made his way direct to Denver, Colorado, and secured employment with the Colorado Fuel & Iron Company in the engineering department of mines 1, 2 and 3 at Stonewall, there remain- ing for a year. On account of the high altitude, which seemed to disagree with him, he left that place and made his way to Chicago, where he was connected with the Detroit Stove Works for a time and later with the Knickerbocker Ice Company. While with the latter corporation he had charge of their branch in Ravenswood, a suburb of Chicago, and he continued with the company for three years. He then returned to Colorado and was employed by the Colorado Coal and Coke Company as bookkeeper, cashier and credit man, and was also with the Peabody Coal Company, with Armour & Company and with Eaton, Crane & Pike. He afterward engaged in the brokerage business with the firm of Work & Company, remaining in that employ until 1917, when he entered business on his own account, organizing the Taylor Investment Securities Company. Although this has been established for little more than a year it has been a pronounced success, the firm handling only reliable and standard investments. Mr. Taylor is also the treasurer of the Perry Oil Company of Texas and the secretary of the Wycal Oil Company. The steps in his orderly progression are easily discern- ible. Leaving home without capital and having at that time had but limited educational privileges, he wisely realized the value of educational training as a preparation for life's practical and responsible duties and therefore gained his high school course. Moreover, he was learning other lessons, one of which is that industry is the basis of all honorable success, and industry became the beacon light of his life. Observation of men and methods proved to him that indefatigable labor, when intelligently directed, will win prosperity and throughout his entire career Mr. Taylor has worked most diligently and with determination, eventually reaching a place among the represen- tative, prominent and valued business men of his adopted city.
On the 8th of June, 1905, in Chicago, Mr. Taylor was married to Miss Jane Crosby, a native of that city and a daughter of James E. and Sarah A. (Armitage) Crosby. They have become parents of three children, Elizabeth, Jane and Charles.
Mr. Taylor is an enthusiastic motorist and he also enjoys fishing and golf as sources of recreation. In politics he maintains an independent course. Fraternally he is a well known Mason, having attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite. That his life has further been actuated by honorable principles is indicated by his membership in the Park Hill Methodist Episcopal church.
JOHN F. MAURO.
John F. Mauro started out in the business world without a dollar and is now sole proprietor of one of the largest and best equipped laundries in the entire west. His plant includes not only the usual laundry machinery and equipment but also a water plant, electric light and heating plants, all under his private ownership, repre- senting an investment of two hundred thousand dollars. At the start his pay roll amounted to eighty-five dollars weekly and today he pays to between one hundred and fifty and one hundred and sixty employes the sum of sixteen hundred dollars. He utilizes seven motor trucks and eight wagons in delivery and thus his business has become one of the extensive enterprises of the kind in Denver.
John F. Mauro was born in southern Italy, May 24, 1874, a son of Ralph and Frances Mauro, who were also uatives of that sunny land. The father came to America in 1888, bringing with him his son John F. and in 1890 was followed here by the rest of the family. Mr. Mauro made his way to Denver and secured a position with the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, being employed by that corporation for many years. Both he and his wife still reside in this city. Their family numbered four children, Ralph, John F., Louise and Mary, all residents of Denver.
In early life John F. Mauro attended the public schools of Italy and afterward continued his education in Denver, while subsequently he worked with his father on the railroad, thus continuing for a short period, or until his seventeenth year. He then secured a position in a soda factory, where he remained for two years, and
JOHN F. MAURO
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during that period he rose from a minor position to that of foreman. He resigned to take a position as laundry driver with the White Swan Laundry, with which he con- tinued for eight years. In 1904 he had saved from his earnings a sufficient sum to enable him to start in business on his own account in a modest way. He started with two delivery wagons and twelve employes and occupied a small rented building, and then started out to seek customers, He won a growing patronage by reason of the excellence of the work, notwithstanding that he met strong competition during the early years. His business nevertheless prospered and through the able assistance of his wife, who has indeed been a helpmate to him, he has won a very substantial measure of success. He purchased five lots on the present site of his laundry at the corner of Twentieth avenue and Washington street and erected a substantial fire- proof building with plenty of light and ventilation. He had an artesian well bored and has since owned the water system which supplies the laundry. He installed an electric generating and lighting plant and from time to time he has added more and better equipment until there is no improved and up-to-date laundry machinery on the market that is not found in his establishment. In fact he has the most modern laundry in the west. secured through an investment of two hundred thousand dollars on which there is no indebtedness. The property is owned solely by Mr. and Mrs. Mauro and they deserve the greatest credit for what has been accomplished.
On the 12th of February, 1898, Mr. Mauro was married to Miss Mary Didon, a native of Sweden, who came with her parents to America when she was but nine years old. They have no children of their own but a niece of Mrs. Mauro, known as Frances Elizabeth Mauro, is living with them as one of the family. Mr. Mauro is a Mason of high rank. He has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite and is also a member of El Jebel Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He does not ally himself with any political party but maintains an independent attitude in that connection. His thought and energy are concentrated upon his husiness, which has been developed along most progressive lines. Mr. Mauro certainly deserves great credit for what he has achieved and the record of his career of prosperity should serve to encourage and inspire others.
ARTHUR L. ROBISON.
Arthur L. Robison, manager at Pueblo for the Colorado Live Stock & Loan Com- pany, in which connection he is controlling important business interests, is a native of Crawford county, Kansas. He was born in the year 1880, a son of Frank Charles and Clara (Potter) Robison. The family arrived in Colorado in 1890, settlement being made in Colorado Springs, but the father is now deceased.
Arthur L. Robison was educated in the public schools and in the high school of Colorado Springs, Colorado, after which he attended business college at Colorado Springs and thus further qualified for life's practical and responsible duties. In his youthful days he became identified with the cattle industry, first as a cowboy, in the employ of the Alfalfa Land & Cattle Company, and the Riley Lennord Cattle Company and John H. Riley. He began work at a wage of but twenty dollars per month, but his capability and trustworthiness led to frequent promotions until he was receiving one hundred and fifty dollars per month. For a time he was with the George Cheesman Company and afterward with Haley. Harris & Company, but was ambitious to engage in business on his own account and saved his earnings until this course was pos- sible. He had a one-third interest in the business with Haley, Harrris & Company in New Mexico and he has had cattle experience in many of the western and southwestern states. He has occupied his present position as manager with the Colorado Live Stock & Loan Company in the Pueblo office since October, 1917. This company is extensively engaged in buying and selling cattle and loaning money on cattle and Mr. Robison's marked ability in this direction led to his selection for the present important posi- tion which he now fills. There is nothing connected with the cattle interests of the west with which he is not familiar, having gained comprehensive knowledge from the time when he went upon the range as a cowboy. His company operates quite exten- sively in New Mexico and Arizona, necessitating Mr. Robison making frequent trips to that section of the country.
In 1915 Mr. Robison was united in marriage to Miss Tressa Sullivan, of Fountain, and they now have one daughter, Helen. In politics Mr. Robison maintains an inde. pendent course, voting for man, above party. On many questions of citizenship he takes an advanced stand, supporting measures and movements which be believes will
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be of the greatest possible public benefit. He belongs to the Old Timers' Cowboys' Asso- ciation and is interested in all those things which have to do with the olden days but has ever maintained a spirit of the utmost progressiveness in relation to affairs of the present.
JAMES RUMNEY KILLIAN.
James Rumney Killian, lawyer, was born May 28, 1867, at Jasper, Georgia. His father, James Andrew Killian, whose business was that of a general merchant, was born and educated in the historic town of Dahlonega, Georgia, the principal business center of the great gold producing region of that era. His mother, Mary Frances Killian, was the daughter of the Reverend George Rumney Edwards of Georgia.
He completed his high school work prior to the removal of the family from Georgia to the state of Texas, in 1884. He graduated from Coronal Institute, San Marcos, Texas, in 1888; attended the State University of Texas at Austin, graduating from the law department of that institution with the degree of LL. B. in 1893. While a student at the university he became a member of the Kappa Sigma Greek letter fraternity.
For health considerations, during the month of October, 1893, he came to Colo- rado and located at Walsenburg, where his father's cousin, Hon. Robert A. Quillian, who had lived and practiced law for many years, died the year previous, and where he, too, engaged in the practice of the law.
Ou November 3, 1897, he was married to Miss Ada Werner, of Paola, Kansas. In 1901 they removed from Walsenburg, to the city of Denver, where they have since resided and where he has continued with success in his professional engagements, having devoted special attention to the practice of irrigation law. Since 1901 he has held membership in the Denver Bar Association, the Colorado Bar Association and the American Bar Association.
Mr. Killian has devoted much time to various Masonic activities. He was grand patron of the Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, 1901-2; grand master of Colorado, 1903-4; grand high priest of the grand chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Colorado, 1916-17; crowned thirty-third honorary inspector general for Colorado, 1911; holds life membership in El Jebel Temple, Order of the Mystic Shrine; is an honorary member of Union Lodge, No. 7, A. F. & A. M., Denver, and is commander of Coronal Commandery, No. 36, Knights Templar, Denver, 1917-18.
His activities have taken a range of breadth and usefulness in various fields of endeavor to such an extent that his name was presented by the leading citizens of his state and seriously considered by the national administration for ambassador to the Republic of Mexico in 1916. His thorough knowledge of international law, and his acquaintanceship with the Mexican people, their manners and customs, combined with his scholarly attainments, broad culture and affability, made him peculiarly well fitted for that service and had he received the appointment he would have been not only a credit to the administration, but of great advantage to the moral and commer- cial welfare of the country.
In the public and political life of the state Mr. Killian, who is a democrat, has been honored and has received recognition in numerous instances. Since making Colo- rado his home it has been his constant effort to heighten the effectiveness of the educational institutions of the state, and likewise to improve its social and civic life. As a public spirited citizen of his home city he has been diligent in the discharge of his duties in the various relations of life. For many years he was actively identified with the work of the former Chamber of Commerce, rendering service on its com- mittees, especially the legal committee, and as a member of its directorate. Since the formation of the Denver Civic and Commercial Association he has been identified also with its activities.
As a churchman, while characterized by toleration, he has remained loyal to the denomination with which his parents and grandparents worshiped. He is a member of Saint Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and has enjoyed the honor of par- ticipating as a layman in the general conference of that denomination which was held in Baltimore, Maryland, May, 1898, and also that held in Atlanta, Georgia, May, 1918. As chairman and treasurer of the building committee, he supervised the construction and successfully financed the erection of the beautiful church edifice of Saint Paul's, located at the intersection of Sixteenth avenue and Ogden street, Denver. Its substantial form and classic lines at once command the attention and challenge the admiration of all who approach it.
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Mr. Killian stands for all those forces and measures which work most effectively for the uplift of the individual and for the advancement of community interests. His has been, at all times, an honorable and useful career, in which his aid and influence have contributed not only substantially to the material upbuilding, but also manifestly to the social, intellectual and moral progress of the people of his adopted state.
AL TOWNSEND.
Al Townsend, one of the venerable and highly esteemed citizens of Golden, where he has resided continuously for more than a half century, is still actively engaged in the abstract business and also has profitable mining interests. His birth occurred in Erie county, New York, on the 18th of July, 1839, his parents being Jeremiah and Cordelia (Reckhow) Townsend. He acquired his education in the public schools of the Empire state and there spent the first eighteen years of his life. In 1857 he made his way westward to Iowa and conducted a flour mill and sawmill for a number of years at Clarksville, Butler county. The year 1867 witnessed his arrival in Golden, Colorado. and there he has made his home throughout the intervening period of fifty-one years. In this state he turned his attention to the stock business, in which field of activity his efforts were rewarded with substantial success. He also became identified with the abstract business and is still active in that connection in association with his son, George Townsend, conducting important interests of that character. He has likewise been identified with mining activities and in all of his business affairs has displayed keen discrimination and sound judgment that have brought him gratify- ing and well merited prosperity.
In 1879, in Jones county, Iowa, Mr. Townsend was united in marriage to Miss Caroline Graham, by whom he has a son and a daughter, namely: George; and Eliza- beth, who is now the wife of Max E. Vincent, of Denver. Fraternally Mr. Townsend is identified with the Knights of Pythias, while his political allegiance is given to the democratic party. In 1873 he was elected to the office of county clerk and the capability of his service is indicated in the fact that he was retained in that position for twenty years. He has witnessed and aided the work of development and progress in Jefferson county for the past half century and has long been numbered among its leading and most highly respected citizens.
HARRY T. CARROLL.
Harry T. Carroll, an automobile dealer handling the Ford car at Brush, was born in Bloomfield, Illinois, February 9, 1880, a son of Thomas and Margaret (Tully) Carroll, who are natives of Ireland and of Illinois respectively. The father is a rancher. He came to America with his parents about the year 1848, the family home being established at Bloomfield, Illinois, where Thomas Carroll afterward took up the occupation of farming. He purchased land which he brought under a high state of cultivation, continuing its further development and improvement until 1883, when he left the Prairie state and removed to Missouri. There he again purchased and improved land, which he has since cultivated, he and his wife still making their home in that state.
Harry T. Carroll was but three years of age when the family went to Missouri, so that he was reared and educated in that state. His youthful experiences were those of the farm-bred boy who divides his time between attendance at the district schools and the work of the fields. He continued to assist his father upon the home farm until he attained his majority and then went upon the road, spending two years in that connection. He afterward came to Fort Morgan, Colorado, and accepted a position in the department store of Crouch Brothers, with whom he remained as a most trusted, capable and faithful employe for fifteen years. On the 1st of August, 1917, he took up his abode at Brush, Morgan county, where he embarked in the automobile busi- ness, handling the Ford car exclusively and also tractors and trucks. He occupies a garage seventy by one hundred feet. It is two stories in height and basement. He handles all kinds of automobile accessories and his business has reached extensive and gratifying proportions. His sales are now large and he does an extensive repair business.
Politically Mr. Carroll is a democrat, while his religious faith is that of the Catholic church and fraternally he is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order
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of Elks, having membership in the lodge at Fort Morgan. He has become well known in this part of the state and, actuated by a spirit of progress and advancement, is meeting with good success in the conduct of his business affairs.
WILLIAM HANFORD CLARK.
There are few whose record parallels that of William Hanford Clark in con- nection with the pioneer development of Colorado, for he is still living upon land which he entered in 1858, at a dollar and a quarter per acre. His home is now within the corporate limits of Denver, at No. 5041 Pearl street. Through all the intervening years he has been a witness of the growth and progress of this section of the state and has contributed in marked measure to agricultural development. He was born in Portage county, Ohio, thirty-five miles southeast of Cleveland, on the 19th of July, 1835, a son of Isaac M. and Sarah (Frary) Clark, the former a farmer by occupation.
The rural schools afforded William H. Clark his educational opportunities and the period of his boyhood and youth was passed in his native state, where he remained until he reached the age of nineteen years. In 1854 he made his way to Council Bluffs, which was his initial movement toward the west. He worked in the Cam Reeve quarry for about a year and then went north of Omaha to Fort Cal- houn, where he squatted on land, gaining a preemption to about fifteen hundred acres at Florence, but the lure of Colorado drew him on, it being "Pike's Peak or bust." So selling his land for fifteen hundred dollars he, on the 28th of October, 1858, arrived in Denver, having driven four yoke of oxen across the plains. There are few residents of the state at the present time who can claim connection with Colorado from 1858. He made the trip westward when there was nothing to be seen but Indians and buffaloes. Great herds of the latter were upon the plains, while the red men, resent- ing the intrusion of their white-faced brothers, occasioned considerable trouble to tbe travelers. Every night the cattle were chained together and one of the party would stand guard. On reaching Denver, Mr. Clark found a few cabins and squaw- men. He soon began farming and also prospected to a limited extent in the Gun- nison country. However, he has made agricultural pursuits his life work and as the years passed on converted wild and undeveloped land into rich and productive fields.
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