USA > Colorado > History of Colorado; Volume III > Part 107
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In his political views Mr. Ireland is a republican where national questions and issues are involved but casts an independent ballot at local elections. He was the first mayor of Hudson, Colorado, occupying that office in 1915. He also served for five years as deputy assessor in Weld county. At the present time he is the republican chairman in his precinct through appointment of the county central committeeman. He takes a most active and helpful interest in promoting republican welfare and is most keenly alive to the civic questions and opportunities of the day. His fraternal relations are with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and his religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church. He is a great lover of horse racing and has been the winner of a silver cup and other trophies of the turf, running relay races, which were held several years ago in Weld county. Mr. Ireland may truly be called a self-made man. He started out in the business world with a cash capital of two hundred dollars when he purchased the little store at Hudson. His wife has always been an active factor in his success, her sound judgment and encouragement being an inspiration to him, and he attributes much of his prosperity to her devotion, help and advice. At Hudson Mrs. Ireland was very prominent in social and welfare work and their aid and influence is always given on the side of uplift for the individual and advancement for the com- munity at large.
RICHARD B. ROLKE.
Richard B. Rolke is the owner of an excellent farm property of six hundred and forty acres near Ramah and in the conduct of his business affairs displays thorough knowledge of the most modern agricultural methods. He was born in Berlin, Germany, December 24, 1875, a son of August and Henrietta Rolke, who in the year 1879 came to the new world, settling in Chicago, where they lived for four years, and then removing to Fort Madison, Iowa. The father was opposed to the military spirit of Germany and this was one of the reasons why he left his native land. The same spirit of opposition to kaiserism is manifest in Richard B. Rolke, who, though born in Germany, is thoroughly American in spirit and interests.
Richard B. Rolke pursued his education in the common schools of Iowa and put aside his textbooks when a youth of fifteen years to begin work as a farm hand. He was employed in that way for a decade and in 1900 he removed to Colorado, where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres. He afterward purchased more land and as his financial resources increased he kept adding to his place from time to time until now within the boundarles of his farm are comprised six hundred and forty acres. He carries on general farming and about one-half of his place is good grazing pasture. He has excellent buildings, has prospered as the years have gone hy and is one of the popu- lar rauchmen of the district. Everything about his place is indicative of a practical
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and progressive spirit. The work is conducted along modern lines and the latest im- proved machinery facilitates the labors of the fields.
Mr. Rolke married Miss Nellie M. Wood, a daughter of John and May (Reisinger ) Wood, of Fort Madison, Iowa, at which place Mr. and Mrs. Rolke were married, the former returning to that state for his bride. To Mr. and Mrs. Rolke have been born five children: Flora, born March 24, 1900; Rolland, born August 20, 1902; Esther, born September 27, 1908; Allen, July 17, 1914; and Richard, March 20, 1916.
Mr. Rolke is a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 178, at Ramah and he is treasurer of school district No. 45. Politically he is a socialist. He is a man of high resolve and firm purpose who stands loyally by the principles in which he believes and who in his business career manifests an undaunted spirit of perseverance and energy that has enabled him to overcome all obstacles and work his way steadily upward to success.
GEORGE FRUTH.
A notable achievement is that of George Fruth, who has risen from a humble position as worker in the coal mines to the presidency of the Aztec and Indian Creek Min- ing Company and also of the Walsenburg Coal Mining Company of Colorado. Not by leaps and bounds has he accomplished this but by a steady progression that in- dicates the faithful performance of each day's duties that gives strength and en- couragement for the labors of the succeeding day.
George Fruth was born in Mason City, West Virginia, April 21. 1867, a son of George and Mary Magdalene (Wolf) Fruth, both of European birth. They came to America in early life and the father enlisted at Philadelphia for service in the Union army and participated in many hard fought battles, thus proving his loyalty to his adopted land. After the cessation of hostilities he returned to Europe but again came to America in 1872 and worked at the blacksmith's trade in Mason City, West Virginia, to the time of his death, from drowning, in July, 1877, while crossing the Ohio river on a ferry boat from Pomeroy, Ohio, to Mason City, West Virginia, when a floating timber struck the side of the boat during a flood stage of water, and precipitated him into the river. His wife survived until 1886 and also passed away in Mason City. They had a family of seven children: Mary, deceased; Frank, who died at Jefferson Center, Pennsylvania, at the age of forty-four years; Henry, who passed away in Mason City at the age of forty-seven; Mrs. Barbara Zeister, of Portsmouth, Ohio; Mrs. Caroline Lehne, residing in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Mrs. Christina Greuser, whose home is in Pomeroy, Ohio; and George, who was the fifth in order of birth.
In the public schools of Mason City, West Virginia, George Fruth obtained his education, but his opportunities in that direction were somewhat limited owing to the fact that when still quite young he began working in a coal mine in Ohio. He was also employed in a similar way in West Virginia and there continued until September, 1887, when he came to Colorado. He worked at various mining camps until 1895, when he purchased coal property in Boulder county and opened a coal mine of his own that he continued to operate until 1901. He then sold it and took up other coal lands in Huerfano and Moffat counties. He developed the Toltec mine at Walsenburg, in which he retained a third interest, and later developed the Grayland mine in Routt county and the Solar and Niggerhead mines at Walsenburg. He is also the president of the Aztec and Indian Creek Mining Company and the Walsenburg Mining Company. His interests have gradually developed, bringing him prominently to the front in connection with the coal mining interests of the state. He is also a director the Wyoming Second Standard Oil Company and the Capital Petroleum Company. Mr. Fruth is in every sense of the word a self-made man and in addition to his mining and oil interests he is a large ranch owner, owning a one-half interest in a fine ranch of two thousand, five hundred and twenty acres near Walsenburg on which he raises cattle and horses. This is one of the best equipped ranch properties in that section of the state.
Mr. Fruth was married at Louisville, Colo., on the 23d of December, 1896, to Miss Mary Alice Wilson, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Langford R. Wilson, who reside in Louisville and who were pioneer settlers of the state. They came to Colo- rado in 1859 by way of the overland route, crossing the plains from Kansas City, Missouri, to Trinidad, Colorado, Mrs. Wilson walking behind an ox team all the way. He died at Louisville, Colorado, and his widow now resides with Mr. and
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Mrs. Fruth, who have become the parents of a daughter, Josephine Juanita, who was born in Louisville, Colorado, in 1897. She is a graduate of Miss Wolcott's School for Girls, in Denver, and completed a domestic science course in Dana Hall, in Wellesley College.
The religious faith of Mr. and Mrs. Fruth is that of the Episcopal church, and fraternally he is connected with the Masons as a member of the lodge, in which he served as junior warden, and also as a member of the Knight Templar Com- mandery and the Mystic Shrine. In politics he is a republican and while residing at Louisville, Boulder county, he served as a member of the town board. His aid and support can always be counted upon to further any public measure for the gen- eral good and his worth as a citizen as well as a business man is widely acknowl- edged. Starting out in the mines when a young lad, he deserves much credit for what he has accomplished as the years have marked his steady progress, resulting from close application and indefatigable energy.
FRANK EMERSON KISTLER.
Frank Emerson Kistler is the president and general manager of the Producers & Refiners Corporation of Denver and as such occupies a most prominent position among the progressive and representative business men of Colorado. He was born in Greens- boro. North Carolina, March 22, 1881, and is a son of Samuel F. and Emma ( Prather ) Kistler, who were also natives of that state and representatives of old families there, long connected with the history and development of North Carolina. The father was a tobacco planter, devoting his entire life to the management of his property interests, and both he and his wife have now passed away.
Frank Emerson Kistler pursued a public and high school education at Greensboro, North Carolina, and after his textbooks were put aside turned his attention to the book and stationery business in Fort Smith, Arkansas, for the opportunities of the west attracted him and he made his way into the vast region beyond the Mississippi, where he has since made his home. During the intervening period he has studied conditions which have led to his substantial progress in business, making him one of the fore- most men of Colorado. He continued at Fort Smith, Arkansas, for five years and then removed to St. Louis, Missouri, where he was connected with the wholesale stationery house of John L. Boland as traveling representative. While traveling over Texas he became interested in the oil business and at Houston, Texas, entered into active con- nection with the Texas Company. Since that time he has figured as a factor in the development of the rich oil fields of the west and in the spring of 1917 he came to Denver, where in May he organized the Producers & Refiners Corporation, of which he became the president. This was incorporated in Wyoming on the 14th of May. 1917. Associated with him in this undertaking are: William L. Kistler, a brother, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, who is vice president and manager of the Oklahoma and Kansas division, while others of the board of directors and officers of the corporation are: Merritt W. Gano, of Denver, Colorado, director of the Denver National Bank, and president of The Gano-Downs Company, Denver, Colorado; E. P. Shove, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, secretary and treasurer, Ray Consolidated Copper Company; William A. Otis, of Colo- rado Springs, Colorado, vice president and treasurer of Otis & Company, members of New York Stock Exchange; Charles A. Otis, of Cleveland, Ohio, of Otis & Company, mem- bers of New York Stock Exchange; L. L. Marcell, of Chanute, Kansas, capitalist and oil operator, with a long and successful experience; Howard Vanderslice, of Kansas City Missouri, president of the City Ice & Storage Company, director of the Southwest National Bank of Commerce; W. A. Moses, of Kansas City and Joplin, Missouri, capi- talist; P. J. Quealy, vice president, of Kemmerer, Wyoming, vice president and manager, Kemmerer Coal Company, Kemmerer, Wyoming, president of First National Bank of Kemmerer, director of Bankers' Trust Company, also National Copper Bank, Salt Lake City, and vice president of First National Bank of Rock Springs, Wyoming; F. J. Lewis, of Chicago, Illinois, president of F. J. Lewis Manufacturing Company, director, Stand- ard Trust & Savings Bank, Chicago; Frank D. McCaulley, of Denver, Colorado, secretary; G. V. Steele, assistant treasurer; F. W. Perry, assistant secretary and super- intendent of the land and lease department of the Rocky Mountain division; C. C. Cal- vert, assistant secretary and sales manager; C. E. Cree, assistant secretary; B. E. Walter, assistant secretary and superintendent of the land, lease and producing department of the Mid-Continent division; H. P. Bowser, field superintendent of the Wyoming division; ('. O. Crisman, chief engineer; and Arthur Ponsford, who is general counsel. The exccu-
FRANK E. KISTLER
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tive committee consists of Frank E. Kistler, William A. Otis, William L. Kistler, Merritt W. Gano and P. J. Quealy. Mr. Kistler has thus surrounded himself with a most able corps of assistants in the executive and operating departments of the business, which is steadily growing in volume and importance. The authorized capital stock is: Pre- ferred, three million dollars; common, ten million dollars; and treasury, seven million dollars. The issued capitalization is: Preferred, two million dollars; and common, eight and one half million dollars. The company is operating over wide territory in Oklahoma, Kansas and Wyoming, a fully equipped refinery, a system of pipe lines and tank cars and is conducting a profitable and rapidly growing business in all branches of the petroleum industry. Mr. Kistler is chairman of the executive committee as well as the president and general manager of the company, and he is also president and manager of the Hudson Oil Company of Wyoming. He has closely studied into questions relative to the oil fields of the country and their development and is well qualified to handle an extensive project of this kind.
In 1903 Mr. Kistler was united in marriage to Miss Florence Hughes, of Mattoon, Illinois, a daughter of Judge James F. Hughes, deceased, who was circuit judge of the central district of Illinois. They have three children: Hughes Ernest, Julia Emily and Florence Elizabeth. The eldest is nine years of age and the second six years of age.
Mr. Kistler has been a lifelong supporter of the democratic party and a stalwart champion of its principles. He is a member of the Denver Club, the Denver Country Club and the Denver Athletic Club. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. These associations indicate the nature of his interests and the rules which govern his conduct. One who knows him well speaks of him as "a young man of strong and lovable personality, very able in business and with great executive ability-one who is destined to go far in business life."
J. SHERMAN BROWN.
J. Sherman Brown, clerk of the district court of Denver, is numbered among Colo- rado's native sons and one whose connection with the state dates back to the era of its pioneer development, for his birth occurred in Arapahoe county on the 28th of March, 1865. His parents were Joseph M. and Anna ( Percell) Brown, the former a native of Baltimore, Maryland, while the latter was born in Pittsfield, Pike County, Illinois. The father came to Colorado on the 23d of June, 1859, and in July, 1860, Mrs. Brown arrived in Arapahoe county. Devoting his life to the occupation of farming and stock raising, Joseph M. Brown became widely and prominently known in that section of the state and during the long period of his residence there he converted his land into a rich and productive farm, from which he annually derived a very substantial income. He died upon the old homestead in 1912, at the age of seventy-eight years, having for some time survived his wife, who passed away in May, 1907, at the age of seventy years. In their family were four children: J. Sherman; Robert S., who died in January, 1916: S. Ella, who passed away in August, 1913; and George William,
In his boyhood days J. Sherman Brown was a pupil in the public schools of Peters- burg, Arapahoe County, and later he entered a business college, becoming thus well qualified for life's practical and responsible duties. After his textbooks were put aside he engaged in ranching and cattle raising, working for a time on the plains as a cowboy. He continued in the cattle business until 1889 and then removed to Denver, where in the month of October he secured a position in the office of the district clerk. He remained in that office and was advanced from one position to another, interruption to his continued service extending only from April until November, 1898, when he was with a volunteer cavalry regiment known as Torrey's Rough Riders that had enlisted for service in the Spanish-American war. The troops were stationed at Jacksonville, Florida, and when the war was brought to a termination he was honorably discharged. He had two brothers who were also in the same troop. On returning to Denver, Mr. Brown again took up his duties in the office of the district clerk and in January, 1913, was appointed to the position of clerk of the district court and has since continuously served in that capacity, covering a period of five years. His long connection with the office has made him thoroughly familiar with every phase of the work thereof and he is most loyal and painstaking in the discharge of the tasks that devolve upon him. He is also a director of several irrigation companies of Colorado and in that way has done much to further the development of the state through well defined and well developed irrigation plans.
J. SHERMAN BROWN
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On the 25th of December, 1909, Mr. Brown was united in marriage to Miss Josepha Lilley, of Denver, a daughter of John G. and Mary Lilley, who were pioneer settlers of Arapahoe County, Colorado, taking up their abode near Littleton. They came to Colorado in 1860 and the father passed away in 1910. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown have been born two children: J. Sherman, born in Denver in 1911; and Robert W., born in 1912.
Mr. Brown is a well known representative of Masonic interests, belonging to the Knights Templar commandery, while in the consistory he has attained the thirty second degree of the Scottish Rite. He has also crossed the sands of the desert with the Nobles of the Mystic Shirine and he belongs to the Automobile Club of Denver. His capability and loyalty in office are best indicated in the fact of liis many years' connection with the position of clerk of the district court. All who know him-and he has a very wide acquaintance-speak of him in terms of high regard.
CHARLES FERDINAND MILLER.
For a quarter of a century Charles Ferdinand Miller has been engaged in law prac- tice at the Denver har, making a specialty of realty and corporation law. He was born in Minneiska, Minnesota, on the 4th of February, 1864. His father, Charles F. Miller, was born in Berlin, Germany and came to the United States in 1855 to escape enforced military duty. He devoted his life to the occupation of farming and thus provided for his family. In early manhood he wedded Rose Alpha Williams, who was born in New Hampshire and was a descendant of General Warren of Revolutionary war fame, her father, Warren Williams, having been a nephew of Joseph Warren, who commanded the American troops at the battle of Bunker Hill. The name has figured prominently on the pages of New England's history from early colonial times down to the present. It was in the year 1874 that Charles F. Miller, Sr., removed with his family from Minnesota to Colorado, after which he devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits in this state until his demise.
At the time of the removal Charles Ferdinand Miller of this review was a youth of ten years. The family home was established in Boulder, Colorado, and he continued his education in the public schools until qualified for entrance to the University of Colo- rado, iu which he spent six and a half years as a student. He also attended the Denver Law School and was graduated in 1893 with the LL. B. degree. He was admitted to the Denver bar in 1893 and at once entered upon the practice of his profession, to which he has since devoted his energies, giving his attention largely to realty and corporation law. In each of these branches he is particularly well qualified, for he has read broadly and studied deeply in that branch of the profession. Important interests have been entrusted to his care and his devotion to his clients is proverbial.
Mr. Miller is a stanch republican in his political views but not an office seeker. He is a life member of Temple Lodge, No. 84, A. F. & A. M .; belongs also to Colorado Chapter. No. 29, R. A. M .; Colorado Commandery, No. 1, K. T. and is a life member of El Jebel Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He has membership with Farragut Camp, No. 1, of the Sons of Veterans, of which he is a past commander, for his father was a soldier of the Civil war and thus through many generations his ancestors have been connected with the military service of the country. He has every reason to be proud of the fact that he can claim direct descent from General Joseph Warren, the hero of Bunker Hill.
CHARLES LINCOLN WELLINGTON.
Charles Lincoln Wellington was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, February 4, 1851. His parents were Joseph D. and Juliet ( Lothrop) Wellington. He . lost his mother in his early youth. His father was a native of New York hut passed the most of his life in civil office in West Newton, Massachusetts, where he was widely known and highly respected. He died in West Newton in 1912.
Charles L. Wellington came west as far as Michigan in 1871, on a visit to an uncle living near Detroit. He enjoyed the change from bleak New England, and prolonged his visit till the spirit of the west claimed him completely, and his active mind demanding employment, he undertook a position as clerk in the office of the assistant general freight agent of the Michigan Central Railway at Detroit, in Feb- ruary, 1873. His thoroughness in doing all the work entrusted to him, commended him to the heads of the office and he received numerous advancements, and in
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February, 1877, he went to Chicago as chief clerk to the general agent of the Chicago & Grand Trunk Railway. In September, 1880, he was called to the posi- tion of chief clerk in the general freight office of the Wabash Railway in Toledo. There he established himself so firmly in the good opinion of his superior officers. that when changes were made, taking several of the officers to St. Louis on the consolidation of the Wabash with another road, Mr. Wellington went with them with the title of assistant general freight agent of the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railway. In 1882 the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific Railway decided to open a branch of the general freight office in Chicago and gave Mr. Wellington entire charge of all Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific affairs in Chicago. Here he began to make him- self known and felt among the railroad men of Chicago, and received many calls to other roads, all of which he declined till he was elected commissioner of the Inter- state Traffic Association, with headquarters in Kansas City, in December, 1886. His stay in Kansas City was short, as a very urgent and flattering call came to him to take the position of general freight agent of the Milwaukee Lake Shore & Western Railroad with headquarters in Milwaukee. All Mr. Wellington's close friends in railway circles were in Chicago-or connected with roads centering there -his home and family, were there, aud Chicago drew him back to her active life and vigorous achievements, with resistless force.
Milwaukee is only eighty-five miles distant and the cities are practically one from many points of view (though totally unlike in every way); so between Mil- waukee and Chicago he spent the next nine years, establishing his reputation as one of the foremost railroad men among the many who filled important places on the various roads centering in Chicago. He was general freight agent of the Mil- waukee, Lake Shore and Western Railroad from 1886 to 1893 when he became traffic manager of the Wisconsin Central Railway. In 1896 five representative railroad officials were selected to form the board of administration of the Western Freight Association, to handle the traffic affairs of the various roads in an equitable manner. The members of the board comprised I. W. Midgley, C. A. Parker, H. H. Courtright, C. L. Wellington and H. H. Shute. This commission was elected for four years, and at the expiration of that time Mr. Wellington came to Denver. In August, 1899, he took charge of the Colorado Railway Associations, consisting of a number of organizations under various names, regulating railway traffic between the several roads. On the resignation of B. L. Winchell from the Colorado & Southern Railroad, October 15, 1900, Mr. Wellington was called to succeed him as traffic manager. He held this position at the time of his death on July 8, 1910.
The secret of Mr. Wellington's success in business life lay in that genius which some one has defined as "the capacity for taking infinite pains," and which influ- enced him in all his undertakings. No detail was too small to be considered and whatever his hand found to do, he did with his might. With his first initiation into office work in his early youth he began to make himself familiar with every detail of the matter in hand. His pockets were supplied with little books in which he jotted down notes that his observations taught him might prove useful. In this way he acquired a complete mastery of the subjects he was dealing with, and was prepared with figures to prove the soundness of his opinions.
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