USA > Colorado > History of Colorado; Volume III > Part 11
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Mr. Lees was a Mason, becoming a member of the lodge at Nevadaville, and in his life he exemplified the beneficent spirit of the craft, recognizing his obligations and his duties to his fellowmen. He met all the hardships and privations of frontier life in Colorado and lived to see remarkable changes as the work of progress and improve- ment was carried forward and the district reclaimed for the purposes of civilization, while its rich natural resources were used for the benefit of its settlers in the upbuild- ing of their individual fortunes and in the promotion of the welfare of the state. He never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world, for here he found the opportunities which he sought, and steadily working his way upward, gained a place among the substantial agriculturists of the district in which he lived.
LEONARD L. AITKEN.
Leonard L. Aitken, who is prominently known as president of the Midwest Oil Com- pany and one of the representative business men of Colorado, was born at Viola, Illinois, September 3, 1871, his parents, Richard and Mary (McKinnie) Aitken, being well known people of that section. His youthful days were devoted to the acquirement of an educa- tion in the graded and high schools of his native town, terminating with his graduation when sixteen years of age. He afterward took up the profession of teaching in the public schools of Illinois and subsequently went to Chicago, where he entered upon the study of law in the Kent College of Law, pursuing a thorough course in that institution. While he has not engaged in practice as a life work, his knowledge of the law has been of great value to him in the conduct of his business affairs.
Mr. Aitken arrived in Colorado in December, 1898, settling at Colorado Springs, where he became associated with his uncle, J. R. McKinnie, a well known and successful mining man of the district, and this connection was continued for a number of years. They developed several of the most important and productive coal properties in that district and also operated the old Moon-Anchor mine, a famous property in the mining annals of the state. In 1912 Mr. Aitken became interested in oil through connection with the Midwest Oil Company, which has developed into one of the most successful and important corporations operated in the oil fields of this section of the country. Upon the organization of the Midwest Refining Company in 1914, he was chosen one of its directors and a member of the executive committee. He resigned those positions in 1915 to accept that of president of the Midwest Oil Company, to which he had been elected.
In 1899, at Cedarville, Ohio, Mr. Aitken was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Pollock, a native of that place, and they have become the parents of a daughter and a son, Regina and Leonard L., Jr. The family home was maintained at Colorado Springs until 1915, when they removed to Denver, where they have since resided. Their religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church and Mr. Aitken is a member of the Denver Country Club and the Denver Athletic Club.
JOHN COMER.
John Comer, superintendent of the beet seed department of the Great Western Sugar Company at Greeley, was born in Utah on the 23d of November, 1869, a son of George and Mary Ann Comer. The father was born in England in 1830. and the mother. a daughter of George and Mary Smith, was born in the year 1833. Mr. Comer crossed the plains to Utah as a miner, arriving on the 15th of September, 1866, and after devoting some time to mining he took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres and turned his attention to farming. In 1882 he went to England on a visit to gather material for a genealogy of the family in company with his brother-in-law, Jesse Smith, and was
LEONARD L. AITKEN
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abroad for two years. Later he went to Tennessee as a missionary of the Church of the Latter-Day Saints and engaged in preaching the gospel for two years. He then returned to Utah and worked upon the home farm, remaining active in the business until he reached the age of seventy years. He died in the year 1887 and both he and his wife were interred in the same vault at Lehi, Utah. Mrs. Comer was a most devoted mother, doing everything in her power to advance the interests and welfare of her family and she, too, was a consistent member of the Church of the Latter-Day Saints. To them were horn the following named: Elizabeth, Mary, Jane, George L., Heber, Polly, Amelia, John, Alice, Jesse and Elmer.
John Comer began his education in the country schools of Utah and when sixteen years of age completed his course by graduation. He then concentrated his efforts and attention upon the farm until 1902, when he became connected with the Arkansas Sugar Beet & Irrigation Company. He taught irrigation for two years and later he entered the employ of the Great Western Sugar Company at Windsor, Colorado, in 1904. In 1915 he was promoted to the position of superintendent of the beet seed department and in 1916 removed to Greeley. On account of conditions brought about by the war the Great Western Sngar Company began growing their own beet seed in 1915, figuring that it might be possible that the imports would fall short, and today Mr. Comer has charge of all the beet seed growing for the corporation. Beet seed is grown in Colorado, Mon- tana. Nebraska and Wyoming and the company is now producing all the seed needed for use in these states. By sheer force of merit and ability Mr. Comer has worked his way upward to his present responsible position and is today one of the valued and trusted representatives of the company.
On the 5th of February, 1894, Mr. Comer was married at American Fork, Utah, to Miss Mary Lee, a daughter of Henry and Margaret Ann Lee. Her father was born in Banbury, Oxfordshire, England, in 1841, and her mother was born in 1846. Mr. Lee was a farmer and also engaged in the livery business. They crossed the plains and became residents of Utah. The mother died in September, 1885, while the father passed away April 8, 1902, the remains of both being interred at American Fork. Their children were: Henry, who was born in 1866 and died in April, 1915, at Windsor, Colorado, when about fifty years of age, his remains being taken back to American Fork, Utah, for interment; Robert E., who was born in 1868; Margaret, born in 1871; Benjamin, who was born in 1881 and died when but a few months old; Mary A., born in 1874; Oscar, born in 1883; and Sarah E., in 1885. All of the sons have devoted their attention to farming at some time or another. Oscar is now in the employ of the Great Western Sugar Company as sugar boiler and has occupied that position for twelve years.
To Mr. and Mrs. Comer have been born five children. Leon John, now twenty-two years of age, is in the machine shop of the ship yards at Mare Island. Wayne Lee, twenty-one years of age, is acting as manager of his father's farm. Mizzie died at the age of six months. Mary Ann is now fourteen years of age. John Lee completes the family. The eldest son married Helen Smith, of Longmont, Colorado. The religious faith of the family is that of the Church of the Latter-Day Saints. Mr. Comer is a member of the Greeley Club and he gives his political allegiance to the republican party. All of the family have given time and money to Red Cross work and are deeply interested in the vital questions and issues of the day.
WILLIAM M. BOND, JR.
William M. Bond, Jr., is conducting a general insurance business under the name of the Bond Agency Company, of which he is president, handling all lines of insurance save that of life insurance. He has his offices in the Gas & Electric building in Denver and with the passing years has developed a large clientele. He was born Jannary 6, 1879, in Wichita, Kansas, his parents being William M. and Annie (Evans) Bond. The father is a native of Baltimore, Maryland, and comes of Scotch ancestry, the family hav- ing been founded in West Virginia at an early day. He was reared and educated in Baltimore and, removing to the west, became one of the pioneer residents of Kansas. He settled at Wichita, where he engaged in the real estate business until 1893 and then removed to Colorado, becoming a resident of Denver, where he again operated in the real estate field most successfully for a number of years but is now living retired, enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves. He married Annie Evans, a native of Baltimore, and she, too, is descended from one of the old families of West Virginia of English origin. They became the parents of four children, three sons and a daughter.
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William M. Bond, Jr., acquired his education in the public schools of Denver. pursuing his studies through consecutive grades until he reached the age of fifteen years, when he felt the call of the business world and started out to provide for his own support. He was first employed by the firm of C. Smith & Sons, stationers of Denver, and there continned as a general utility boy for a year. His initial step in connection with the insurance business was made as an employe of John L. Boyd. who was con- ducting a general insurance office. William M. Bond remained in the office for two years and afterward became connected with the Hartford Loan & Trust Company, with which he was associated for five years. He later secured a position with the real estate firm of Bollinger & Robinson, with whom he was associated for seven years, and on the expiration of that period he continued in real estate lines with the firm of Ferris & Conway. That he was capable, efficient and loyal is indicated in the fact that he con- tinned with that firm for nine years and was advanced to the position of manager of the rental department. In January, 1913, he purchased the local insurance business of Ferris & Conway and conducted it at the old location at No. 1746 California street until February, 1915, when he enlarged his business and removed to his present quarters in the Gas & Electric building. He is today at the head of one of the representative companies in general insurance in Denver, covering all branches save life insurance, and his long experience and careful study enables him to speak comprehensively and with authority concerning various phases of the insurance business.
Mr. Bond was married in 1903, in Denver, Colorado, to Miss Irene Wheeler, a native of this state and a danghter of Dr. B. A. Wheeler, the oldest homeopathic physician of Colorado. Mr. and Mrs. Bond now have a family of three children: Marjorie, Jeanette and Robert M., all born in Denver. The family residence is at No. 2622 Gilpin street. Mr. Bond is a Mason and has attained the Thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite. He is also connected with the Knights of Pythias. In politics he maintains an inde- pendent conrse, voting for men and measures rather than for party. Dependent upon his own resources from the age of fifteen years, he has made steady progress in the business world, for he early came to a realization of the fact that industry wins and industry became the beacon light of his life. Ages ago an old Greek philosopher uttered the admonition: "Earn thy reward: the gods give nought to sloth." The spirit of this admonition has been a motive force in the business life of Mr. Bond and has advanced him step by step to the creditable place to which he has now attained.
GUILFORD S. WOOD.
Colorado has been particularly fortunate in having at the head of its great mining properties a group of its most noted and far-seeing citizens. To the layman, mining is simply a matter of digging for ore: to the expert, mining is a science that calls for the most accurate geological knowledge and the skill and foresight necessary to so develop a property that its resources are most carefully conserved.
Guilford S. Wood, now president of one of the greatest mining companies in the world, the Vindicator Consolidated Gold Mining Company, came to Colorado in the '70s from the east. He was born in Conneaut, Ohio, in 1851 and comes of ancestry of the Revolutionary war period. He arrived in Colorado with his brother forty years ago. They were both employed by the J. S. Brown & Brother Mercantile Company of Denver, the heads of which were second cousins who had also come from this Ohio town of Conneaut. Both the Brown brothers were interested in the building of the South Park Railroad and later in its extension to the new camp at Leadville. Guilford S. Wood and his brother at that time established themselves at the terminus of the South Park Railroad under the title of Wood Brothers, for the conduct of mercantile interests and a contracting business. Later this firm was dissolved and Guilford S. Wood asso- ciated himself with Frank J. Campbell in the contracting business. Success attended the partnership in its new venture. Shortly after the discoveries in the Cripple Creek district Mr. Wood and Mr. Campbell hecame interested in general properties in the Bull Hill section of Cripple Creek. They in turn came to Denver and interested Messrs. Sigel and Zang in their mining ventures, which are now known in all parts of the world as the famous Vindicator Consolidated Gold Mining Company. When the Cripple Creek discoveries were made Mr. Wood, who had by that time amassed a considerable fortune, was ready to invest heavily in what he felt would be good properties on Bull Hill.
The present Vindicator Consolidated Gold Mining Company was organized in 1896, not many years after the discovery of the great camp. This was a consolidation of
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conflicting interests in a group of claims on Bull Hill, in the eastern part of the Cripple Creek district. Its original officers were: Fred L. Sigel, president; Guilford S. Wood. vice president; Adolph J. Zang, treasurer; and F. J. Campbell, secretary and general manager. Upon the death of Mr. Sigel Adolph J. Zang became president, and his death in September, 1916, was followed by the election of Guilford S. Wood to the presidency. The Vindicator company began paying dividends in 1898, two years after its incorpora- tion, and up to July 25, 1918, its dividends amounted to three million, seven hundred and fifty-seven thousand, five hundred dollars. Its present officers are: Guilford S. Wood, president; Adolph F. Zang, vice president; and Philip A. Zang, treasurer, with George A. Stahl as secretary and general manager.
The Vindicator is today classed in Colorado as one of the best managed mines in the west. It is to the credit of its president and the other officials to state that during its entire history it has been handled solely as a mining property, never as a specula- tion. Its policy has never been to make money out of the buying and selling of its stock.
Mr. Wood has even larger interests in the far west, where he is vice president of the celebrated Southern Sierros Power Company, one of the most advanced and best paying enterprises in that section.
In the early '80s Mr. Wood married Elizabeth Dearing, of Jackson, Michigan. Until her death in July, 1915, at Pasadena, California, Mrs. Wood was among the most noted philanthropic and social-economic workers of the country. She was vice president of the National Playgrounds Association and much of the advanced work along those lines in Colorado was due to her active interest. She was the first vice regent of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Colorado. The Children's Hospital and the Social Center Day Nursery were among the institutions which had her help in initiation and her constant care in their growth and development.
S. K. CLARK.
S. K. Clark, who is living on section 20, township 6, range 65, in Weld county, not far from Lucerne, was born in Iowa, September 3, 1865, his parents being Orlando and Eliza P. ( Broadbent) Clark. The father was born in Saratoga county, New York, on the 27th of March, 1829, being the third son of Samuel K. and Charlotte (Whitney) Clark. His grandmother on the paternal side was a sister of the noted Nathanael Greene of Revolutionary fame. When about sixteen years of age Orlando Clark accompanied his parents on their removal to Wisconsin and ten years later made his way to Iowa, settling upon a farm to which he brought his bride in 1858. Seven children were born to them, hut only two of the number are now living. After twenty years of married life Mrs. Eliza P. Clark was called to the home beyond. Orlando Clark continued on his Iowa farm, which he operated nearly forty years or until his children had grown to manhood and womanhood. In 1891 he came to Colorado, where his four remaining children had preceded him and where the two youngest, Robert and Nellie, have since died. In 1895 he wedded Mrs. Bessie Marion Gilman, a friend of his early years. At the time of his death, which occurred at the family home in Greeley, on the 6th of January, 1910, when he had attained the age of eighty years, nine months and nine days, one of the local papers said of Mr. Clark: "He was a devoted and faithful husband, an indulgent father and a kind, genial neighhor, one who ever held the respect of old and young; of a quiet, conservative disposition, his home was his little world where his rule was love and confidence. He was active in every temperance movement and ever generous and kindly toward those less fortunate than himself, and his unfailing patience during great suffering in the last of his life was touching to all who were about him, and he strove to arrange his affairs in such a manner that the beloved and devoted wife might be surrounded with care and comfort during the remainder of her life."
S. K. Clark spent his youthful days in Iowa and was educated in the country schools of that state, completing his studies when sixteen years of age. He came to Colorado in 1886, settling near Greeley. After reaching this state Mr. Clark worked on a farm for a time and eventually rented land in Weld county, remaining on the Wheeler and Watson ranch for twenty years. He there had two hundred and eighty acres of land and annually planted eighty acres thereof to wheat, oats and potatoes, very successfully carrying on the business. Afterward he purchased his present place of eighty acres and later he made further investment in land hy the purchase of another eighty-acre tract in the same section. His home at the present time is on section 20, township 6, range 65,
S. K. CLARK AND FAMILY
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and he is actively engaged in the production of grain, potatoes and beets. He also has a few cows upon his place but he concentrates his efforts mainly upon the development of his land. He has lived to witness many changes in Greeley and in Weld county during the years of his residence in Colorado. At the time of his arrival a tract of land of eighty acres could be purchased for twenty-five hundred dollars, and something of the growth and settlement of the district is indicated in the fact that the same tract would today cost between twenty and thirty thousand dollars.
On the 25th of April, 1897, Mr. Clark was united in marriage to Miss Mary Johnson, a daughter of Voltaire W. and Ella F. (Crowell) Johnson. Her father was born in Freedom, Maine, September 12, 1843, while her mother's birth occurred at West Yar- mouth, Massachusetts, October 31, 1848. They were farming people, and after devoting his attention to agricultural pursuits for a number of years Mr. Johnson turned his attention to the milling business. He was a soldier of the Civil war enlisting for active duty in the Eighth Wisconsin Infantry, known as the Eagle Regiment. He took part in twenty-three different engagements and was in the service altogether for four years. He was wounded while taking a rest. Some of the regiment were lying face down upon the ground when a piece of shell struck Mr. Johnson in the back. He recovered from his injuries, however, and returned home and for many years he was a valued mem- ber of the Grand Army of the Republic. In his later years he received a pension in recog. nition of the aid which he had rendered the country during the dark days of the Civil war. He served as supervisor in Fayette county, Iowa, and was active in all plans and movements for the general good of the community in which he lived. During the last ten years of his life he was retired from active business, enjoying a rest which he had truly earned and richly deserved. His religious faith was that of the Methodist church and fraternally he was connected with the Masons. His political support was given to the republican party. His wife died in 1885. Mrs. Clark has a brother, J. S. Johnson, and a sister, Mrs. Abbie (Johnson) Putnam, living. The father long survived his wife and passed away in the fall of 1916, the remains of both being interred in the Bethel cemetery in Fayette county, lowa. C. N. Johnson, another brother of Mrs. Clark, passed away on March 12, 1887, and is buried in Bethel cemetery, beside his father and mother.
To Mr. and Mrs. Clark have been born three children: Ella, born June 4, 1898; Russell, born March 13, 1900; and Marion, born December 22, 1909. The religious faith of the parents is that of the Congregational church. In politics Mr. Clark maintains an independent attitude, voting for men and measures rather than party. He has always desired that his children should have good educational opportunities. The daughter Ella is a graduate of the high school and afterward attended the University of Colorado at Boulder, while now she is a student in the Teachers' College at Greeley. Russell is a high school pupil, pursuing a commercial and agricultural course. All of the family are active in Red Cross work. Mrs. Clark was born in Wisconsin, but her life to the time of her removal to Colorado was largely passed in Iowa, and she became a dress- maker after putting aside her school books. Mr. and Mrs. Clark became acquainted in Iowa in their school days. They are highly esteemed residents of the community in which they live and have an extensive circle of warm friends in Weld county. Both are mem- bers of the war board and very active in its work.
HERBERT M. SOMMERS.
One of the leading business houses of Colorado Springs is that of Herbert M. Som- mers, whose market is thoroughly attractive by reason of the large line of goods carried, the. careful arrangement aud neat appearance of the place and the reliability of the business methods there employed. Mr. Sommers is a native son of the city in which he makes his bome. He was born April 8, 1892, his parents being Edward D. and Theresa M. (Crum) Sommers, the former a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, while the latter was born in Virginia, Illinois. It was in the year 1872 that Edward D. Sommers made his way westward to Denver and after spending a year there removed to Golden, Colorado, and later to Central City, while in 1874 he became a resident of San Juan county. New Mexico, where he engaged in the cattle business for several years. He went all through the experiences of the Lincoln county cattle war. Later in Dolores county, Colorado, he devoted ten years to cattle raising and ranching and in 1885 came to Colorado Springs, where he opened a retail market in partnership with a Mr. Hopkins, with whom he was thus associated for four years and during this same period he engaged heavily in buying
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and shipping cattle to eastern markets. At length he purchased the interest of his part- ner and carried on business under the name of the Sommers Market until he sold out to his son. Herbert M., in May, 1916.
The son was reared to the business, being as it were "to the manner born." During all his spare time throughout the period of his school days he was in the market as active assistant to his father and after he had completed his high school course he took charge of the market and has since been engaged in that line of business. In 1913 he purchased the market of F. C. Hayman, an old established business, located where he is now conducting business at No. 14 South Tejon street. After purchasing his father's market he consolidated the two interests, which he is now conducting under the name of The Sommers Market Company. His is one of the large establishments of the city. In January, 1918, he bought two markets, a slaughter honse and packing plant in Colorado City, closed out one place of business and is operating the other. He now has in his em- ploy twenty-four men and he carries an extensive line of meats of all kinds, staple and fancy groceries, bakery products, canned goods, etc., his sales amounting to upward of two hundred thousand dollars per year selling only to the retail trade and his establish- ment is one of the largest and finest in Colorado.
On the 28th of Jnne, 1916, Mr. Sommers was married to Miss Edna McReynolds, of Rutledge, Missouri, who is a graduate of Colorado College at Colorado Springs, and they are prominently known socially in the city. Mr. Sommers is a Mason of high rank, being a member of Tejon Lodge, while with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine he has crossed the sands of the desert, his membership being in El Jebel Temple of Denver. He is likewise connected with Colorado Consistory, No. 1, of Denver, and he belongs to Elks Lodge, No. 309, of Colorado Springs, to the Woodmen of the World, Camp No. 485. of Colorado City, and to the local organization of the United Commercial Travelers. He is likewise a member of the Colorado Springs Rotary Club and the Winter Night Club, which indicates something of the nature of his recreation, and he has membership con- nection with the Chamber of Commerce. He is a very wide-awake, alert and energetic young business man who is prospering in his undertakings as the result of close appli- cation, keen insight and unfaltering purpose. He has never dissipated his energies over a broad field but has concentrated his attention upon the line to which he was trained in his boyhood and with which he is thoroughly familiar. He has in marked measure that quality which for want of a better term has been called commercial sense and his judgment is seldom, if ever, at fault in business matters.
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