USA > Colorado > History of Colorado; Volume III > Part 14
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At Denver, on the 5th of May, 1903, Mr. Nisbet was married to Miss Nellie M. Mc- Donald, a native of New York and a daughter of James McDonald. Mr. and Mrs. Nisbet have one son, Donald H., who was born in Denver, March 4, 1909. Mr. Nisbet maintains an independent course in politics. Fraternally he is identified with the Elks lodge at Trinidad, Colorado, having been initiated into the order there in 1891. His record is that of a self made man who has attained success through individual effort, manifest in un- daunted perseverance, in keen sagacity and unfaltering determination. Not all days in his career have heen equally bright, but although he has seen the storm clouds gather, threatening failure, he has ever managed to turn disaster into victory and the course which he lias followed is one which will bear the closest investigation and scrutiny. He is now active among the successful business men of his adopted city and his career should serve to inspire and encourage others, showing what may be accomplished through perseverance.
ROY DAVID THOMPSON.
Roy David Thompson is not only a prominent representative of the business interests of Cripple Creek but has also taken an active part in the political life of his section and at present is serving as acting postmaster of his city. He was born in Altona, Illinois, in 1875, a son of David and Catherine (Richmond) Thompson. The father was an honored veteran of the Civil war, having served the last three years during that conflict as a member of Company G, Eighty-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. By occupation he was a farmer and success attended his agricultural labors. He passed away in 1895, being survived by his widow, who still makes her home in Altona. John Thompson, grandfather of our subject, was a native of Pennsylvania and in 1839 removed to Illinois, becoming one of the earliest pioneers of that section of the United States. He was of Scotch-Irish descent and by occupation was an agriculturist. His death o occurred in Illinois in 1851.
Roy D. Thompson of this review was reared upon the home farm and in the acquire- ment of an education attended the schools of Altona, Illinois, graduating from the high school there and subsequently he was a student in a business college in Valparaiso. Indiana, from which he was graduated in 1895 at the age of nineteen years. He then attended Knox College at Galesburg, Illinois, for two years. Desirous of engaging in the undertaking business, he entered the School of Embalming and Sanitary Science in Chicago and thus thoroughly learned the profession. Concluding that the west would prove a more profitable field of labor for him. he decided to take advantage of its oppor- tunities and in August, 1902, came to Cripple Creek, where he opened a modern under- taking establishment, of which he is the head. Business is now conducted under the name of the Thompson-Claypool Undertaking Company and he is president of the enterprise. The company maintains a thoroughly modern establishment, well equipped with the latest facilities considered indispensable to the business and they also carry a complete line of supplies and caskets from which to choose. The service rendered by the company is quiet and efficient and relieves the bereaved of all cares and details indispensable to funerals. The success of the business is due in large part to the ability of Mr Thomp- son. who. moreover, is conversant with all the sanitary principles underlying the modern conduct of the business.
On September 22. 1903, at Aledo, Illinois, Mr. Thompson was united in marriage
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to Miss Nannie Vie McHard and to them have been born two children: Harvey David, who was born October 24, 1904; and Mildred Florence, born July 10, 1906. The family attend the Presbyterian church, in the work of which they take a helpful interest.
Mr. Thompson has always taken an active part in measures for the benefit of the public and in that way has contributed toward the growth and betterment of his com- munity. He is a democrat and has been active in politics in Cripple Creek and Teller county. For two years he has been chairman of the Teller county democratic central committee and as such has become known throughout the state. For two terms, from 1906 to 1910, he served as coroner of Teller county and discharged his duties in that connection so efficiently that he received the high encomiums of the public. On June 12, 1918, he was appointed acting postmaster of Cripple Creek and he is now at the head of the local postoffice. Fraternally he is prominent in the Masons and belongs to the following orders: the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Loyal Order of Moose, the Improved Order of Red Men and the Knights and Ladies of Security. In all of these organizations he has many friends who appreciate in him an honorable man of high purpose.
THOMAS T. BARNARD.
Among the highly respected and successful automobile dealers conducting a business on what is now known as Automobile Row in Denver, is Thomas T. Barnard, the vice president of the S. B. I. Motor Sales Company. The story of his life is the story of honest endeavor crowned with substantial prosperity. He was born in Scranton, Penn- sylvania, March 16, 1873, and is a son of Thomas and Sarah (Harris) Barnard. The father was born in Newcastle, England, and in early life emigrated to America, settling in Pennsylvania. His wife was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was there reared and educated and in the Keystone state became the wife of Thomas Barnard. After remaining there for several years subsequent to their marriage they removed to Colorado in 1877, settling at Idaho Springs, where Mr. Barnard became the manager of the Banner Gold Mining Company, owning a group of mines. He very successfully conducted the affairs of this company and continued in its service as manager for thirty-seven years, after which he resigned his position to spend his remaining days in quiet comfort and retire- ment. He spends part of his time in the home of his son, Thomas T., and also resides with his other children at different periods. He was born February 5, 1843, so that he has now passed the seventy-fifth milestone on life's journey. His wife died in Idaho Springs in 1894 at the age of forty years. Their family numbered four children, of whom Thomas T. is the eldest, the others being: Gabriel G., a successful cattle man living in Fort Laramie, Wyoming; Mrs. George W. Morgan, a resident of Greeley, Colo- rado; and one deceased. .
Thomas T. Barnard attended the schools of Idaho Springs, Colorado, after which he engaged in silver mining in Clear Creek county, Colorado. In this undertaking he was associated with his father and he was made foreman of the General Thomas mine. Later he was advanced to the position of superintendent under his father and continued his mining operations from 1889 until 1898. In the latter year he removed to Teller county to follow the mining business and since then his legal residence has been made there. He was prevailed upon to accept the nomination for clerk and recorder of Teller county and at the succeeding election was chosen for the office by a large majority. He filled that position so efficiently that he was twice reelected, serving for three full terms and one unexpired term, and would still have been retained in the office had he not declined to again become a candidate. He was elected one of the regents of the State University of Colorado in 1916 and is now occupying that position. He has not heen an office seeker. however, and it has only been by the recognition of his ability on the part of his fellowmen that he has served in positions of public trust. He has always pre- ferred to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his private business affairs. On the 5th of February, 1917, he aided in the formation and incorporation of a business under the style of the S. B. I. Motor Sales Company, the concern taking its name from the initials of the three interested partners, Messrs. Simonton, Barnard and Irving. This company is engaged in business as distributors of the Hupmobile motor cars and trucks. The officers are: F. E. Simonton, president; Thomas T. Barnard, vice president; and J. B. Irving, secretary and treasurer. The business has grown to large proportions under the able direction of its corps of officers and its sales place is one of the well known features of automobile row in Denver. Mr. Barnard is also president and was one of VOL III-7
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the organizers of the Cripple Creek & Victor Abstract Company of Cripple Creek, Colorado, where he is likewise engaged in gold mining, leasing the property of the Portland Gold Mining Company and also the Golden Cycle Mine.
On the 22d of August, 1894, Mr. Barnard was married to Miss Lydia Chamberlin, of Bowdle, South Dakota, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lafayette Chamberlin and a repre- sentative of one of the well known families of South Dakota. Mr. Barnard belongs to the Masonic fraternity, in which he has taken the degrees of the York Rite. He also has membership with the Elks lodge at Victor, Colorado, with the Loyal Order of Moose and with the Cripple Creek Motor Club, of which he is the vice president. His interests are broad and varied and from 1907 until 1909 he figured quite prominently in mining circles as the superintendent and general manager of the Pacific American Gold Mining Company of Gold Hill, Oregon, a valuable property owned by capitalists of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is determined in everything that he undertakes and never stops short of the successful accomplishment of his purpose in business affairs, for he knows that when one avenue of opportunity seems closed he can carve out other paths whereby he can reach the desired goal. His course has at all times been such as would bear close investigation and scrutiny and his advancement has been actuated by a laudable am- bition.
GULIELMUS LAW. M. D.
No history of Greeley and this section of the state would he complete without extended reference to Dr. Gulielmus Law, an honored pioneer physician, whose work was of the greatest worth to his community and who passed away November 18, 1916. He arrived in Greeley when it contained but nine inhabitants and thus was one of the original colonists of the town. From that day until his death he took active part in shap- ing its history by reason of the great influence which he exerted over its people and its material, social, political and moral upbuilding.
He was born at Bone Creek, West Virginia, April 6, 1838. After attending the public schools he took up the profession of teaching and he was ever of a studious nature and between the ages of eighteen and twenty years he was employed, his purpose being to earn the money with which to pay for a course in a medical school. His parents were farming people and in his youthful days he assisted in the work of the farm, but he became imbued with the ambition to enter upon a professional career and after making this course possible he became a student in a medical school at Cleveland, Ohio. He then entered upon the practice of his profession, to which he gave active attention until after the outbreak of the Civil war in 1861. Just prior to that time on learning that the Virginia legislature had assembled and was planning to submit an order for secession, to be voted upon in May, 1861, he took the stump and gave his time and efforts to arous- ing sentiment in support of the Union. When war was inevitable he enlisted with the Federal army in 1861, becoming a member of Company K of the Third West Virginia Mounted Infantry, with which he served until 1865, when he was honorably discharged and mustered out, returning to his home with a most creditable military record. Soon after his enlistment he was made a surgeon and at the end of two years he assumed the captaincy of his old company, which he had aided in organizing. He participated in twenty hard fought battles but was never wounded. In the battle of Springville, how- ever, he was taken prisoner and sent to the prison at Lynchburg. He escaped and then followed fourteen days of hardships and thrilling experiences in his efforts to reach the Union line, but he was recaptured as he neared the northern troops. This time he was sent to Georgia, where he was held as a prisoner of war for many months. On account of his being a Mason, however, he received fairly good treatment. He partici- pated in many hotly contested engagements, including the battle of Rocky Gap and Droop Mountain, also the attack on Lee, following the battle of Gettysburg.
After being mustered out Captain Law deposited twelve hundred dollars in the Baltimore Bank for the men who had loaned him money in prison, enabling him thus to buy supplies and make his prison life a little more endurable. It was owing to his impetuous valor that he was captured. He was leading a charge and had advanced so far ahead of his command that he was surrounded before his comrades could come to his aid.
Broken in health after his prison experience and finding conditions in Virginia very chaotic at the time, he took his young wife to Blissfield, Michigan, where he practiced medicine until his interest in the Union Colony of Colorado was aroused and
DR. GULIELMUS LAW
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he came to this state in May, 1870, at which time there were but nine people in Greeley. He therefore became one of its original colonists. Greeley at the time was nothing but sand and cactus. On the day of his arrival he selected the present location of the home which he afterward built at Tenth street and Tenth avenue. He scraped away the cactus and put up a tent, which the family occupied until he could build a large adobe house. This in turn was replaced in 1875 by the substantial brick structure which still stands. The first office of this pioneer physician was a little building west of the Fezer drug store. During the winter of 1873 Dr. Law was associated with Mr. Fezer in purchasing a stock of drugs, which they placed on sale in the frame building where the Union Bank now stands. Dr. Law continued successfully in the practice of medicine and had his office in the drug store in the early days. He practiced over a territory to which sixty physicians now administer. His longest trip was made on horseback a distance of one hundred and fifteen miles to the ranch of Mr. Sterling to set a broken leg for a man who had been the victim of an accident. Dr. Law was also the attending physician at the birth of the first child born in Greeley, to whom was given the name of Horace Greeley Dickson. Throughout the years of his practice Dr. Law kept in touch with the most advanced thought and methods of the profession and quickly utilized any truth that science brought to light and which he believed would be of aid in his pro- fessional work. Great as was his achievement in that direction, he became equally well known as a geologist and enjoyed an intimate acquaintance with Lyall and Dana. He invented an apparatus for measuring water and he discovered a new process for the reduction of tellurium ore. His life record was characterized by many sterling qualities, resulting from his intellectual and moral strength. He was ever the soul of honor and was most kind and gentle in his ministrations to the sick. He gave his best service and skill to the poor just as freely as he did when he knew that he would receive a sub- stantial pecuniary reward. In fact, he was continually lending a helping hand to the poor and needy and he was of that type of physician which Ian Maclaren so splendidly portrays in the country doctor of his Scotch tales.
In early manhood Dr. Law was united in marriage to Miss Clare E. Barnum, a daughter of John Barnum, who was a pioneer of Ohio, to which state he removed from Connecticut, making the trip westward by way of the lakes. Mrs. Law was very deeply interested in war work and went south with her husband and waited for his return, spending all of the time working for the soldiers. After the Civil war they visited West Virginia, traveling to a considerable extent around the state. Their children were: Theo- dora, born November 3, 1864: George Newcomb, born in 1866; and Clara Inez, born Au- gust 4, 1873. All were pupils in the public and high schools of Greeley. Theodora took up teaching in the Greeley schools and in Denver and on the 27th of December, 1892, in Greeley, she became the wife of Jerome Franklin Cooke, a son of Jerome B. Cooke, who was a well known manufacturer of Philadelphia and a direct descendant of Richard Cooke, who came to the new world in the Mayflower. Jerome Franklin Cooke had five sisters and two brothers. He was born Angust 10, 1861, was graduated from the public schools of Conshohocken, a suburb of Philadelphia. He afterward took up the study of law, which he completed in the University of Michigan, but at a later date turned his attention to farming and stock raising and became the owner of several valuable farm properties. He is still interested in stock feeding and breeding and has been very suc- cessful in the conduct of his business affairs. The first wife of Dr. Law died in 1874 and was laid to rest in the Linn Grove cemetery, while subsequently Dr. Law wedded Mary Lapham, who passed away in November, 1917, at her home in Denver, after having been ill for several years.
Dr. Law was for an extended period a prominent member of the Loyal Legion and a most devoted member of the Masonic fraternity. His life expressed the sterling prin- ciples upon which the craft is based and his entire career exemplified the fact that Abraham Lincoln expressed in the words: "There is something better than making a living-making a life." His name is honored by all who knew him and his, memory remains as a blessed benediction.
GEORGE B. ALLEN.
With the pioneer history of Colorado George B. Allen was closely associated. He crossed the plains in 1858 and later he took the first sawmill to Leadville. This was about the year 1860. Settling on Arapahoe bar, between Golden and Denver, he took up a homestead and became an important factor in the agricultural development of that
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region, continuing to engage in farming until his demise. He endured many hardships and privations but met these with resolute spirit and as the years passed lived to enjoy the fruits of his toil, winning prosperity as time passed on.
George B. Allen was born in New York state on the 17th of May, 1825, and pursued his education in its public schools and in the schools of Ohio, for he spent a portion of his boyhood and his young manhood in the latter state. After his textbooks were put aside he worked in a dry goods store, thus receiving his initial training along com- mercial lines. He afterward owned and conducted a hardware store in Sharon, Ohio, but was lured by the opportunities of the west and in 1858 made his way across the plains to Colorado, settling on Arapahoe bar, between Denver and Golden, where he took up a homestead claim of one hundred and sixty acres, and with characteristic energy began to break the sod and cultivate the land, transforming it into rich and productive fields, from which he annually gathered good harvests until he retired from active busi- ness about 1895. He had always recognized the possibilities for the development and upbuilding of the state and contributed in marked measure to the work of general progress. When Leadville was in the making he took the first sawmill to that city, which was then known as California Gulch. This was about 1860, and in order to secure the equipment he made the journey back and forth across the plains, carrying with him the machinery and other things necessary for the building of the mill. During the last ten years of his life he enjoyed a well earned rest.
Mr. Allen was united in marriage to Miss Abbie Eldridge, of Kansas, and to them were born two daughters: Nellie A., the wife of A. E. Brown; and Eugenia, who became the wife of Douglas Lees and after his death married J. L. Martin, and had four chil- dren: George, who married Lillie Munson; Anabel, Abbie and Eugene.
Mr. Allen was identified with the Masonic fraternity as a member of the blue lodge. having joined before coming west, and his political support was given to the republican party, to which he adhered from the time of its organization until his demise. He also was an honored member of the Pioneers' Society. He stood always for those things which are progressive factors in community life and he cooperated with many well defined plans and measures for the general good. and Colorado has reason to remember him as one of her worthy and honored pioneer settlers.
CHARLES A. CLARK.
Charles A. Clark, president of the Cocks-Clark Engraving Company, maintaining the highest standards of work in illustrating, designing and 'engraving, has his establish- ment in the Barclay block in Denver. He is a native of Chicago, Illinois, born November 27, 1873. His father, Robert Clark, was a native of England and in boyhood crossed the Atlantic to the new world, becoming a resident of Illinois, where he first followed the occupation of farming but afterward took up merchandising in Chicago. He married Sarah Bartee, also a native of England, and she is yet a resident of Chicago, but Mr. Clark has departed this life.
Their son, Charles A. Clark, at the usual age became a pupil in the public schools of Chicago, passing through consecutive grades to his graduation from the high school with the class of 1890. He became connected with engraving work as a representative of the Chicago Daily News, with which he was associated until his removal to Denver. He became a resident of this city in 1898 and obtained employment in the line of his chosen profession here. He afterward went to Pueblo, where he engaged in engraving until 1909, and then returned to Denver, where he established business under the present firm style of the Cocks-Clark Engraving Company, doing illustrating, engraving and designing, together with photo engraving. Their work is the latest word in art of this character and they employ only those who are most skilled, the excellence of their product winning them continued increase in their business.
In 1901 Charles A. Clark was united in marriage to Miss Ethel Mayginnes, of Missouri, and to them have been born two children: Truman E., who is fourteen years of age: and C. Allison, who is a lad of twelve years. Both are now in school.
Mr. Clark belongs to the Masonic fraternity, having membership in Denver Lodge, No. 5, A. F. & A. M., which is the oldest lodge in Colorado. He is also identified with Colorado Chapter, No. 29, R. A. M., and Colorado Commandery, No. 1, K. T. He has crossed the sands of the desert with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine in El Jebel Temple and he is identified with the Knights of Pythias and with the Woodmen of the World. He belongs to the Ad Club, also to the Civic and Commercial Association and to the Lions Club and his religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church. He finds
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his chief recreation in reading and is a thoroughly informed man, broadminded and in touch with all vital questions and issues that affect the welfare of community, common- wealth or country.
EDWARD ELLETT TALIAFERRO.
Edward Ellett Taliaferro, vice president of the Hamilton Jewelry Company and thus actively connected with the leading jewelry establishment of Colorado Springs, was born in Trenton. Tennessee, in 1875, a son of Lewis W. and Sallie (James) Taliaferro, who were married in Kentucky. The father was born in Virginia and represented one of the old and distinguished families of that state. Lewis W. Taliaferro was a Con federate captain of the Civil war, enlisting for service with the troops from Tennessee. Throughout the period of hostilities he was at the front under General N. B. Forrest. He passed away at Trenton, Tennessee, in 1881, while his wife survives and is now a resident of Colorado Springs.
Edward E. Taliaferro is indebted to the public school system of his native city for the early educational advantages which he enjoyed. He attended school there until he reached the age of thirteen years and then went to Jackson, Tennessee, where he secured employment in a jewelry store. After remaining in that city for a decade he removed to New York, where he resided for a year and a half, and in 1903 he arrived in Colorado Springs. Through the intervening period he has been identified with the jewelry trade of this city and is now vice president of the Hamilton Jewelry Company of Colorado Springs, owning the leading store in this line in the city. He carries a very extensive stock of jewelry of domestic and foreign manufacture and his store, neat, tasteful and attractive in arrangement, has brought to him a large patronage which he is able to hold by reason of his progressive and straightforward methods, the policy of the house being such as will always bear the closest investigation and scrutiny.
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