History of Colorado; Volume III, Part 21

Author: Stone, Wilbur Fiske, 1833-1920, ed
Publication date: 1918-19
Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 844

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Mr. Ramsey is well known in Masonic circles, having taken the degrees of lodge, chapter, commandery, consistory and Mystic Shrine. In politics he is a democrat, and while well versed on the questions and issues of the day, has in later years not been connected with public office, preferring to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his business affairs. He is not a club man, his interest centering in his family, of whom he has just reason to be proud. However. he is appreciative of the social amenities of life and has many friends, his genial qualities and cordial disposition making for popu- larity among all those with whom he is brought in contact.

WILLIAM L. DEGEN.

William L. Degen is the senior member of the firm of Degen Brothers, live stock dealers, and as such is at the head of extensive and important cattle raising and sales interests. He has large ranches covering thousands of acres of Colorado land, and the firm is one of the best known in the state. He was born July 20, 1870, and practically spent the entire period of his youth in Illinois.

William L. Degen completed his education in the schools of his native country before he had reached the age of fifteen. He was sixteen years old when he came to America and located in Ottawa, Illinois, and afterward engaged in the meat and in the live stock business, in which he continued until 1896. He then removed to Red Oak, Iowa, and engaged in the live stock business at the South Omaha market, buying cattle there and shipping to Iowa. There he operated successfully until February, 1898, when he came to Denver and began in his present line of business. He thus continued in the live stock business as an individual until 1902, when he organized the firm of Degen Brothers, becoming associated in this undertaking with his brother Louis. Their interests have developed to large proportions in the intervening period and they are now among the leading firms operating on the Denver live stock market. William L. Degen is also secretary and treasurer of the J. N. Pearce Land & Cattle Company of Moffat county, Colorado, and was formerly a director of the Denver Live Stock Exchange. The firm of Degen Brothers owns one of the finest ranches of the state, located twenty-three miles southeast of Denver. embracing forty-five hundred acres, of which twelve hundred acres is planted to feed for the stock. Here they "finish" about four hundred head of cattle every winter for beef, besides "roughing" about one thousand head of steers and feeding a large number of hogs. Degen Brothers have large ranch interests in El Paso, Routt and Elbert counties and are also ranching in the San Joaquin valley of California. These investments have placed them among the prominent ranchers of Colorado, and the pass- ing years have chronicled their growing success, showing that each feature of the business has advanced them farther toward the goal of prosperity.

In 1899 in Denver, Mr. Degen was united in marriage to Miss Julia K. Honnett of Denver, where she has lived from childhood, and they have become parents of two children: Sophia, who was born in Denver, January 24, 1900; and Anne, who was born in Denver, January 8, 1904, and is a pupil in Miss Wolcott's School.

Mr. Degen maintains an independent course in politics. Fraternally he is a Mason and has taken the degrees of lodge and chapter. He also belongs to the Denver Civic and Commercial Association and cooperates heartily in all of the plans and movements for the benefit and upbuilding of the city which are put forth by that organization. There have been no spectacular phases in his career but his course has been marked by a steady progress that indicates the wise utilization of time, talents and opportunities.

ALEXANDER S. NEAL.

Alexander S. Neal, a well known representative of the Denver bar, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, July 24, 1882. He is therefore but thirty-six years of age but in his profession has won a clientage that many an older man might well envy. His father, Jobn Neal, was a native of Boston and a representative of one of the old families of Massachusetts. He was long an officer of the fire department of his native city, where

ALEXANDER S. NEAL

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he passed away February 20, 1911. His wife bore the maiden name of Annie Mackie Leslie and was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, but in early girlhood came to the new world. She survived her husband for some years, her death occurring in July, 1917. In their family were three children, all of whom are yet living.

Alexander S. Neal acquired his education in the public schools and the Mechanical Arts high school of Boston, being graduated from the latter with the class of 1901. His training was thorough and comprehensive and constituted an excellent basis upon which to build the superstructure of professional learning. He determined to make the practice of law his life work and with that eud in view matriculated in the Boston University Law School as a member of the class of 1901 and at his graduation won his LL. B. degree. The same year he was admitted to practice at the bar of Massachusetts and entered upon the active work of his profession in Boston, where he remained until 1907, when he removed westward to Denver and was admitted to the Colorado bar, since which time he has engaged in law practice in this city. While in the east he made a specialty of international law but is now giving his attention to general prac- tice. Although he has been a resident of Denver for only a little over a decade he already has gained a very creditable and gratifying clientage and is a popular attorney and one who is most careful to conform his practice to the highest ethics of the profession.

In 1914 Mr. Neal was united in marriage to Miss Forrest E. Place, of Brookline, Massachusetts, and they have an interesting little daughter, Ruth Hester. The parents are members of the Episcopal church and Mr. Neal is a Mason, belonging to Boston Lodge, A. F. & A. M., to South Denver Chapter, R. A. M., and to Ascalon Commandery, K. T. His life conforms to the teachings and principles of the fraternity and his entire career has been actuated by high and honorable purpose that is manifest in his rela- tions of citizenship as well as in his professional work. Deeply interested in war service work he now serves as state investigator for the sedition board organized under the State Council of Defense. He is a man of ability, strong and forceful in law practice and seldom if ever at fault in the application of a legal principle. His knowledge of the law is comprehensive and exact and his retentive memory often excites the admi- ration of his professional colleagues.

ROBERT D. SHARP.

Robert D. Sharp is president of the Robert D. Sharp Music Company of Denver. His is a name well known in musical circles, not only by reason of the fact that he is an extensive and successful dealer in music and musical instruments but also owing to the fact that he is a well known composer, having written many popular selections which have caused his fame to spread from the Atlantic to the Pacific. His establish- ment is generally headquarters for musicians visiting Denver, while in musical trade circles he is widely known, for in his place of business can be found almost every known musical instrument, including pianos, organs, the stringed instruments, Victrolas and a complete set of the latest records. As a business man Robert D. Sharp has shown initiative and enterprise and as the years have passed has worked his way steadily upward to success.

A native of Tuscola, Illinois, he was born on the 28th of July, 1882, a son of Pliny F. and Louise (Foster) Sharp. who were also natives of Illinois, whence they removed to Colorado in 1883, settling in Pueblo, where the father engaged in the shoe business. In 1908 he removed to Denver, where he is still living, but the mother passed away in Pueblo in 1884. They had a family of two children, the daughter being Miss Marie Sharp, also a resident of Denver.

In early life Robert D. Sharp attended the public schools of Pueblo and afterward became a college student in Fort Collins, Colorado, remaining there until 1905. He early displayed marked musical taste and talent and soon began developing the powers with which nature had endowed him. While still pursuing his education he had organized the Fort Collins Band and Orchestra, which has become one of the leading musical organizations of the state and is widely known throughout the country. He was the conductor of this orchestra for four years and while its head he received engagements to play in various large assemblages, gatherings and conventions, taking him to many parts of the country. He won fame as an orchestra leader and he advanced the organ- ization from one of twenty-two pieces to more than twice its original size. It still remains one of Colorado's most famous bands. It was in 1905 that Mr. Sharp established his first music store. which was a very modest affair containing a few musical instru- ments and sheet music mostly of his own composition. From time to time, as the trade

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warranted, he increased his stock and expanded his store and eventually the business was incorporated as a close corporation, of which Mr. Sharp became the president. His interests have since developed to extensive proportions and his place is today considered one of the leading musical supply houses of Colorado. His slogan in advertising is "All Things Musical," which shows something of the extent and scope of his business. In addition to handling pianos, organs and all kinds of brass and string instruments he has an extensive phonograph department, with separate rooms in which records may be heard. He is considered an authority upon music in Denver and his music supply house is one of the finest in the west.

In 1905, in St. Louis, Missouri, Mr. Sharp was married to Miss Grace Alice Gant and they have become parents of two children: Paul, born in Fort Collins in 1906, who is attending school in Denver; and Robert, whose birth occurred in Denver in 1912. Mr. Sharp is a member of the Denver Civic and Commercial Association and is interested in all matters pertaining to the general welfare. He has worked his way upward unaided to his present prominent position in business and musical circles of the state and is highly esteemed wherever known. He is also a musical composer of note who has written many popular and classical compositions which have had a wide sale throughout the country. He studied music under Professor Murray of Pueblo and became widely recognized as a fine violinist and pianist. Nature endowed him with talent and he has used this talent wisely and well and is today accounted one of the leading musicians of the west.

CLYDE E. HAIGHT.

Clyde E. Haight, one of Denver's rising and energetic young business men, now manager of the Western Rubber Supply Company, was born in Leavenworth, Kansas, June 27, 1882, a son of William Wentworth and Leonora C. (Mast) Haight. The father was born in Chicago, Illinois, and the mother's birth occurred in Leavenworth, Kansas. William W. Haight removed to Kansas in early life and there engaged in the manufac- ture of sewer pipe for some time but eventually abandoned that business and became identified with the express business as agent for the Adams Express Company. In 1887 he returned to Chicago and passed away the same year. Mrs. Haight survives and is now a resident of Santa Monica, California. In the family were two children, one of whom died in infancy.

The surviving member of the household, aside from the mother, is Clyde E. Haight of this review, who in early life came with his mother to Denver, after which he attended the public schools. He was still quite young, however, when he made his first step in the business world as a delivery boy in connection with a grocery store. Through close application to business he soon rose to a clerical position, resigning after thirteen years of faithful service in order to engage in business on his own account. He located in a fashionable district, catering to the better class of trade, and he had among his cus- tomers many of Denver's best families. He remained in the business on his own account for some time but eventually recognized a splendid opportunity for advancement along another line. He then decided to sell out and invest his earnings in a manufacturing enterprise. Accordingly he disposed of his store in 1917 and became interested in the Western Rubber Supply Company. an organization of high standing in Colorado. The company has its headquarters and business plant in Denver. Attention is largely given to automobile tire reconstruction and from a modest beginning the business has grown to extensive proportions. The company has a large manufacturing plant at Nos. 729 to 733 West Thirteenth avenue, where they employ a large force of expert workmen in the manufacture of rubber tires. The demand has grown to such proportions that the firm is far behind with its orders, for competent help is scarce and there should be an average of forty workmen. The plant is well equipped with the latest and most modern machinery used in connection with automobile tire manufacture and reconstruction. Mr. Haight is now general manager in charge of the large force of workmen employed. The salesroom and offices of the Western Rubber Supply Company are located at No. 1620 Broadway and the company is largely engaged in the rebuilding of old tires. The trade is brought to them from all parts of the west and their business is the most extensive of the kind in this section of the country. It was incorporated in March, 1917, with R. A. Leigh as president, E. A. Austin as vice president and L. M. Richardson as secre- tary and treasurer. The second named is a well known banker of Boulder, Colorado.

Mr. Haight was married April 14, 1914, in Golden, Colorado, to Miss Mary E.

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Popham. One child was born to them who died in infancy. Mr. Haight belongs to the Woodmen of the World and in politics maintains an independent course. He prefers to concentrate his time and energies upon business affairs and is widely recognized as a rising young business man of Colorado, developing interests which have become broad in scope and of importance to the community.

ROBERT S. ELLISON.

Robert S. Ellison, attorney for the Midwest Refining Company and a prominent figure in connection with banking and financial interests of Colorado Springs, was born in Rush county, Indiana, November 6, 1875, a son of Franklin and Mary A. (Krammes) Ellison, the latter a native of Schuylkill county. Pennsylvania, while the former was born in Rush county, Indiana. During the greater part of his life the father engaged in farming and in 1908 removed to Colorado Springs, where he lived retired until his demise, which occurred April 20, 1918, when he was seventy-seven years of age. During the Civil war he volunteered, becoming a private of the First Indiana Heavy Artillery as a member of Company M. He served throughout the entire duration of the war with honor and bravery and was made a corporal. His widow survives and still makes her home at Colorado Springs.

Robert S. Ellison was the third in a family of four children and in early life was a pupil in the public schools of Greenfield. Indiana, passing through consecutive grades to the high school. Later he attended Indiana University and upon the completion of the classical course was awarded the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1900. For a year and a half thereafter he attended the University Law School but came to Colorado Springs, before completing the course. He then entered the office of Judge Gunnell, of Colorado Springs, and in 1903 was admitted to the bar. He at once began practice in Denver, where he continued successfully in professional work until 1906. At that date he returned to Colorado Springs as attorney for the Cripple Creek Railroad and remained a resident of the city until May 1, 1916. when he was appointed to the position of attorney for the Midwest Refining Company of Denver. becoming an associate and first assistant of Con- sulting Counsel Karl C. Schuyler, mentioned elsewhere in this work. He still has im- portant interests at Colorado Springs, figuring prominently in connection with its finan- cial and banking circles. He was until August, 1918, a director and vice president of the State Savings Bank of Colorado Springs, is president of the Manitou Cliff Dwellings Company of Manitou, Colorado, and a director of the Merritt Oil Corporation.

Mr. Ellison was married at Colorado Springs, August 29, 1907, to Vida F. Gregory, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James R. Gregory of that place. In his fraternal relations he is a Mason and has attained the Knight Templar and thirty-second degrees, being also a member of the Mystic Shrine. He has been identified with Masonry since 1915, and is also a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and in 1910 and 1911 he represented El Paso county in the eighteenth general assembly. He has ever been a close student of the public questions and issues of the day and his aid and influence have always been given on the side of those interests which tend to advance the general welfare and prosperity of his state. Along profes- sional lines he is identified with the El Paso County Bar Association and the Colorado State Bar Association. That he is thoroughly versed in the law is indicated in the fact that he has been called to the position of attorney for the Midwest Refining Company, while his business and executive ability in other connections is demonstrated in his suc- cessful management of banking and financial interests at Colorado Springs.

BARTHEL KERN.

Barthel Kern has spent much of his life in Weld county and is numbered among its prosperons farmers. He was born in Germany in June, 1855, a son of John and Selly (Kern) Kern, who were also natives of that country. The father was a farmer by occu- pation and came to America in 1868, settling in Douglas county, Colorado, where he took up a homestead claim. He at once began the development and improvement of that tract and continued its cultivation throughout his remaining days but was not long permitted to enjoy his new home, for he was killed by lightning in 1870. His widow afterward removed to Weld county and passed away in 1872.

Barthel Kern was a pupil in the schools of his native country until he reached the

MR. AND MRS. BARTHEL KERN

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age of thirteen years, when he accompanied his parents to the new world and continued his education in Weld county, following the removal of the mother to that county after the death of the father. When his texthooks were put aside Barthel Kern hegan providing for his own support by work as a farm hand and was thus engaged until he reached the age of twenty-two years. He then rented land in Douglas county, where he lived for several years, after which he removed to Arkansas and bought railroad land which was covered with timber. He remained in that state for three months, after which he returned to Colorado and once more took up his ahode in Weld county in 1882. He there cultivated rented land for eighteen years and on the expiration of that period purchased one hundred and sixty acres four miles north of Platteville, for which he paid eight dollars per acre, the tract being today worth about twenty thousand dollars. He has made splendid improvements upon the place and he continued its cultivation until March 4, 1918, when he retired and removed to Platteville, where he erected a fine modern residence. When the family home was first established in Colorado they had some exciting experiences with the Indians and Mr. Kern of this review, then but a lad, had to act as sentinel while the men worked in the fields in order to give the alarm in case of the approach of Indians. He can relate many inter- esting incidents concerning the early days and he has borne his full share in the material development and progress of the community.

In June, 1877, Mr. Kern was united in marriage to Miss Rosie Cimmer and to them have been horn thirteen children, as follows: Emery, who passed away in 1894; Annie, whose demise occurred in 1908; Mary, Rosie, Frank, Elizabeth, Barthel, Emma, George and Peter; Joseph, who passed away in 1907; Gertrude; and William.

Mr. Kern is identified with the Woodmen of the World and his religious faith is that of the Catholic church. In politics he maintains an independent course. He has never sought office but has always concentrated his efforts and attention upon his business affairs and his unfaltering energy has brought to him the success which is now his.

JAMES H. MORRIS.

James H. Morris, secretary of the Solitaire Oil and Gas Company, with headquarters at Denver, was born in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, January 25, 1846, and is a son of Robert and Emeline (Mills) Morris. The mother, who was a native of Pennsylvania, died in July, 1846. when her son was only a few months old. The father spent his early life in Pennsylvania and West Virginia and became a well known contractor. In the family were three children, but all are now deceased with the exception of our subject. When he was thirteen years of age he accompanied his grandfather on his removal to Illinois, in which state he made his home for sixteen years, completing his education in the public schools of Livingston and La Salle counties.

In 1874 Mr. Morris of this review removed to Ashland, Nebraska, where he was engaged in the furniture and undertaking business for five years and also devoted some attention to the insurance business, being special agent for thirteen years of the Home Insurance Company of New York. He remained a resident of Ashland until 1894, when he moved to Omaha and in 1905 came to Denver, which city has since heen his home. Here he has engaged in the real estate and insurance business. In 1896 Mr. Morris entered the service of Charles E. Walters & Company of New York, Chicago and Omaha, and remained in their service for almost eleven years as special solicitor in law and mercantile collections and traveled throughout fourteen states for said firm, resigning on account of poor health. In 1917 he assisted in organizing the Solitaire Oil and Gas Company, which is now operating two wells four miles east of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and is now working on a third. The business was incorporated December 13, 1917, with Mr. Morris as secretary, the other officers being: Dr. H. F. Thulin, president; W. B. Wyman, vice president; S. H. Hammond, treasurer; Lynn D. Fowler, director, and W. H. Twyman, field manager at Bartlesville, Oklahoma. On the 23d of March, 1918. the com- pany put in operation their first well, which has a steady production of twenty barrels, and on the 29th of May, 1918, a second well of the same capacity was started. Their prospects are good for more wells in the same vicinity and the company is doing an excellent business.

In March, 1869, at Lostant, Illinois, Mr. Morris married Miss Mary Davis Reynolds, whose mother died when she was only six months old, and she was then adopted by Ephraim and Phylene Reynolds, who removed from Boston to Illinois in 1844, becoming pioneers of that state. To Mr. and Mrs. Morris were born two children, but both died in

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infancy. Mrs. Morris passed away at St. Joseph's Hospital in Denver, Colorado, on August 1, 1918. Her life was full of good works in the Master's service. She was beloved by all who knew of her deeds of charity and mercy.

In politics Mr. Morris is independent, supporting the men whom he believes best qualified to fill the offices. At one time he was the candidate on the prohibition ticket for the office of county clerk in Nebraska and lacked only one vote of being elected, running twenty-one hundred ahead of his ticket. For eleven years he was a traveling salesman in mercantile and insurance business. He is a member of the blue lodge of the Masonic order, and served as first deputy in the sovereign jurisdiction in the Wood- men of the World, which has presented him with a medal of honor. In religious faith Mr. Morris is a Baptist and for thirty-one years has filled the office of deacon in various churches to which he has belonged. He is an earnest Christian gentleman who never withholds his support from any enterprise which he believes will promote the moral or material welfare of his community.

EDWARD M. TIPPIN.

Edward M. Tippin is proprietor of one of the most modern garages and auto repair shops of Denver. Its equipment is thoroughly up-to-date and its proprietor is one of Colorado's self made men, having risen to his present position of success entirely through his own efforts, He was born in Jones county, Iowa, October 16, 1871, a son of L. D. and Sarah (Wilkins) Tippin, the former a native of Ohio, while the latter was born in Illinois. They became pioneer residents of Iowa and the father removed to Cloud county, Kansas, in 1879. There he engaged in farming. remaining a resident of the Sunflower state to the present time, his home being now in Topeka. His wife, how- ever, passed away in Iowa in 1873.

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History of Colorado; Volume III, Part 21

Author: Stone, Wilbur Fiske, 1833-1920, ed Publication date: 1918-19 Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Number of Pages: 844

Author: Stone, Wilbur Fiske, 1833-1920, ed
Publication date: 1918-19
Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 844