USA > Colorado > History of Colorado; Volume III > Part 39
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HERMAN F. WEESE.
As president of the Empire Bottling Company of Denver. Herman F. Weese is at the head of a commercial enterprise which under his able direction has grown to be an important industry of the city. He was born in Germany, July 29, 1864, a son of Herman and Martha ( Wahlers) Weese, who in the fall of 1881 came to America, locating in Douglas county, Kansas, where the father successfully engaged in the cultivation of land, so continuing with good results until his death in 1916. His wife had departed this life eight years before, in 1908. her death also occurring in Douglas county, Kansas. In their family were nine children, of whom two are deceased, while those living are: Mrs. Katharine Rushmeyer, residing in Kansas; Fred Weese, of New York state; Mrs. Minnie Kersting, a resident of Denver; and Henry and August Weese, and Mrs. Lena Sutton, all of whom reside in Topeka, Kansas.
Herman F. Weese, the remaining member of the family, spent his boyhood in Ger- many, where he attended school. At the age of seventeen he came with his parents to this country and when his father settled upon a farm in Kansas he assisted in its operation until his removal to Colorado in 1887, when he was twenty three years of age. He first engaged in railroad work and later was connected with brick manufac- turing, continuing in the latter line until 1896. Having carefully saved his earnings, he was then able to embark in business independently and established a bottling works in Denver. Under his able management the enterprise proved successful and in 1902 he organized it as the Empire Bottling Company. He has since 1916 been the executive head of the business, of which he is still the president, while Henry A. Lucks is vice president and William Laicke, treasurer. Mr. Weese has always followed honorable business prin- ciples and has given his patrons full value and first class service and therefore the business has expanded and grown until it is today one of the foremost enterprises of its kind in the city. He bottles all kinds of soda water and other nonintoxicants and his trade extends over a wide territory.
In 1898 Mr. Weese was united in marriage to Miss Louise Meyer, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Meyer, the ceremony being performed in Denver. Mrs. Weese was born in Pueblo, Colorado, and to this union was born a son, Albert M. Weese, whose birth occurred August 2, 1900, in Denver. He is a graduate of the class of 1918 of the North Denver high school. After fourteen years of happy married life Mrs. Weese passed away in 1912. In October, 1913, our subject married Mrs. Anna Stauch, of Denver, a daughter of Conrad and Anna Funke.
Mr. Weese maintains an independent course in regard to political questions, pre- ferring to follow his own judgment in support of measures and candidates. irrespective of party issues. However, he always stands for progress and improvement and is ever ready to cooperate with others in the promotion of measures undertaken for the benefit of his city. His fraternal relations are with the Woodmen of the World Camp No. 1, and also the Foresters of America, and the principles of brotherhood underlying these
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organizations guide him in life's relations. Having no especial advantages at the outset of his career, Mr. Weese has worked his way upward to a position of commercial impor- tance in his adopted city and there is much credit due him for what he has accomplished, for he has made his way to the top entirely unaided. Although born in Germany, he is thoroughly American in his principles and ideas and in the state of Colorado and the city of Denver has found the opportunities which have enabled him to establish a busi- ness from which he derives a gratifying income. In the best sense of the word he is a self-made man and through his energy, his determination, his frugal habits and his business foresight has made his way to prosperity. Mr. Weese has made many friends in Denver who speak of him in terms of the highest regard, for they esteem him not only as a successful business man but a man who has at heart the public welfare, and a man of character whose qualities have gained for him the respect of his fellow citizens.
HARRY M. JONES.
Harry M. Jones is well known in business circles in Denver as the chief engineer for the Rocky Mountain Fuel Company, with offices in the A. C. Foster building. Penn- sylvania claims him as a native son. He was born in Clarion county, that state, on the 10th of June, 1883, his parents being James W. and Eva (Stratton) Jones, both of whom were natives of Clarion county. where they spent their entire lives. They were reared, educated and married there and after reaching man's estate the father entered upon mercantile pursuits and became one of the successful business men of Clarion county, where he passed away in 1917. His wife, however, survives and is yet a resident of Pennsylvania. By their marriage were born three children.
Harry M. Jones, the eldest of the family, attended the schools of Clarion county in Pennsylvania in his youthful days, supplementing his early educational opportunities by study at Allegheny College, Meadville, Pennsylvania. After leaving home he became an engineer for a coal company in Kentucky and continued in professional work there until 1906, when he removed to Denver and accepted a position as assistant engincer with the Northern Coal & Coke Company. The business of that company was later taken over by the Rocky Mountain Fuel Company and with the latter corporation Mr. Jones con- tinued in a similar position until the 1st of January. 1916. when he was promoted to chief engineer and has since acted in that capacity, in which he has made an excellent record. His experience has all been along one line and his activity has brought to him wide knowledge and efficiency, making him a most capable incumbent in the responsible position which he is now filling.
In March, 1912, Mr. Jones was united in marriage to Miss Chrisa Duncan, of Denver, a daughter of Mr and Mrs. Harvey Duncan, who were pioneer people of Colorado. Fraternally Mr. Jones is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. In politics he maintains an independent course and never has he been an aspirant for office. His friends say of him that he is one of the finest young men of Denver and his business advancement indicates the strength of his purpose in that connection. He has worked his way steadily upward, winning promotion through merit and ability, and he now occupies an enviable place in the business circles of the city.
WILLIAM R. KENNEDY.
William R. Kennedy, assistant city attorney of Denver, was born in Leadville, Colo- rado, May 16, 1889. His life record stands in contradistinction to the old adage that a prophet is not without honor save in his own country, for in the state of his nativity Mr. Kennedy has won professional prominence and distinction. He is a son of William R. and Blanche (Crilly) Kennedy, the former a native of Springfield. Pennsylvania, while the latter was born in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania. At an early period Mr. Kennedy re- moved to Colorado and became a well known attorney, being the second member of the profession to locate in Leadville. There he won high honors as an able lawyer and was called upon to represent his district in the constitutional convention of Colorado and left the impress of his individuality upon the organic law of the state. He practiced for a long period in Gilpin county and also served on its probate bench for many years, but his last days were passed in Denver, where his death occurred December 15, 1908, when he had reached the age of sixty-four. His wife died in Denver. March 15, 1918, at the age of sixty-three years. The latter was a daughter of E. F. Crilly, who was very prom-
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inent in Denver in the early days in contract and masonry work. He had the contract work for the foundation of the Windsor Hotel, one of the early brick hotels of Denver. He located and discovered the first rock quarry in this state. near Fort Collins, and em- ployed his men to quarry out the rock for the erection of this famous hotel, which is still a landmark of Denver. William R. and Blanche (Crilly) Kennedy were the parents of three children: William R., of this review; Blanche, who is now attending the Uni- versity of Colorado at Boulder: and Arthur. who died at the age of three years.
In the attainment of his education William R. Kennedy attended the schools of Lead- ville and of Denver and was gradnated from the high school with the class of 1908. He afterward became a law student in the University of Colorado at Boulder and won his LL. B. degree upon graduation with the class of 1911. He then began practice with the firm of Tebbetts & Munroe, with whom he continued for a year and on the expiration of that period was appointed assistant city attorney by William H. Bryant, who was serving as city attorney. This was in 1912 and he continued to act in that capacity during .Mr. Bryant's term. He was then reappointed by I. N. Stevens, who was the next city attorney, and he is now serving as assistant to James A. Marsh, the present city attorney of Denver. That he has made a most capable record in this connection is shown by the fact that he has been continued in the office through three administrations.
On the 15th of March, 1915, Mr. Kennedy was united in marriage to Miss Ethel I. Haines, of Denver, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Marcus Haines, the former a prominent lawyer who has served as assistant district attorney. Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy have one child, William R., who was born in Denver in 1916. Politically Mr. Kennedy is a dem- ocrat and he belongs to the Democratic Club. He also has membership with the Benevo- lent Protective Order of Elks and along strictly professional lines is connected with the Denver City & County Bar Association and the State Bar Association.
JOHN C. SCOTT.
John C. Scott, owner and editor of the Evening Advocate, published at Sterling, was born in the north of Ireland in 1859 but when about nine years of age left home with- out parental consent. boarded a ship as a stowaway and was not found nntil far ont at sea. After being discovered he had to serve as captain's boy on the trip, which covered sixteen weeks. At length he arrived safely in New York and after trying for some time obtained a position in the Simpson Metropolitan Bakery, in which he worked for about a year. He then obtained a position as assistant in railroad hotels, aiding in the pastry work. In 1871 he obtained a position with the Santa Fe Railroad as pastry cook and arrived in Kansas City, working in the old Blossom House and later at other points. In 1874 he became a resident of Denver and for some time thereafter divided his time between Denver and Greeley. He worked at the bakery and pastry business and for a time was in the employ of the Baner Confectionery Company. He afterward leased and conducted the old bakery at the corner of Stout and Fourteenth streets and it was at that time that he came to understand that boys know nothing about politics, for he lost his entire capital on the Blaine election, believing that no one could defeat the Maine statesman, who was then the candidate for the presidency.
In 1882 Mr. Scott went to North Platte, Nebraska, where he worked at the bakery business for a few years and then returned to Denver, whence he removed to Sterling, Colorado. After a short time he left Sterling but returned in 1886. The first thing that he did after becoming a resident of Sterling was to rent a small shack. having at that time a cash capital of abont seventeen dollars. He then borrowed a stove and began baking bread, which he sold to travelers and cowboys. Because of his small expenses he succeeded well and as the years went on prospered in his undertakings. His fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, called him to public office and in 1889 he was elected a member of the town council of Sterling, while in 1891 he was chosen mayor of the city. to which position he was reelected in 1892. He was later elected county assessor in 1893 and again in 1895, and in 1896 he was appointed postmaster of Sterling- just a short time before Major Mckinley took the office of president. His was about the first confirmation made by President Mckinley and he was reappointed to the posi- tion by President Roosevelt. In 1903 he received appointment from President Roose- velt to the position of traveling inspector and he continued to serve in that capacity until 1912, when illness forced his resignation. He afterward traveled for some time and in 1913 he became interested in the Daily and Weekly Advocate, Sterling news- papers, with which he is still connected, and he also has interests in two other papers. He is one of the best known newspaper men of eastern Colorado. He was again called
JOHN C. SCOTT
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to public office, being elected a member of the state legislature for the twentieth and twenty-first general assemblies, and is now the republican candidate for his district for state senator.
Mr. Scott is widely known throughout Colorado and by his many friends is known as "Scotty." He has witnessed the remarkable development of the state and the vicissitudes through which it has passed-from buffalo hunting to the dry seasons in the '90s and to the present days of progress and prosperity. He has always believed in holding to the old and true friend and he is a loyal member of the Masonic fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Improved Order of Red Men.
Early in the '80s Weld county and all eastern Colorado was a dreary place. Hunt- ing was one of the great pleasures and it was no difficult thing to secure a buffalo or an antelope, which were to be had in great numbers. As early as 1886 and until 1893 you could always see a number of the boys in Sterling taking things as they came and winning pleasure through pitching horseshoes or other such sports. Many times bets were made over the simplest matter, even as to who would get the first egg after the chicken ran from her nest in the middle of what is now Main street. Great changes have indeed occurred since that time. Greeley is a beautiful city, Weld county can scarcely be surpassed in its advantages and Logan county is second to none, while Sterling has become one of the progressive cities of the west.
Mr. Scott has made four trips over continental Europe and on several other occa- sions has also visited England, Scotland and Ireland. He has never married but ofttimes has been accompanied on these trips by his nephews and nieces. He greatly enjoys travel and one of his sources of recreation and pleasure, especially in former years, was the hunting of big game.
Being so widely and favorably known in the part of the state in which he has so long resided and having to his credit a previous honorable career in public offices, in which he accomplished much good on behalf of the public as well as the government which he so ably represented as postmaster in Sterling, and also as traveling inspector. Mr. Scott now stands up as the republican candidate for state senator of his district, which comprises Logan, Phillips, Sedgwick. Washington and Yuma counties, in all of which he has a wide acquaintance. He is known as "the man who does things" and his word is his honor in politics as well as other business. He can proudly challenge any question in regard to his suitability, his high character and his faithfulness by referring to any old resident of his district, most of whom have known him and esteemed him for over thirty years, as he now has made his home in Sterling for a third of a century. For these reasons-his experience and his steadfastness-Mr. Scott will make an excellent representative in the upper chamber of the Colorado legislature as his constituents may rest assured that he will forcefully and vigorously take care of their interests, which they may safely leave in his hands. If elected his district may congratulate itself on a choice which must be considered deliberately wise.
ARTHUR C. JOHNSON.
Arthur C. Johnson. assistant secretary of the Denver Civic and Commercial Associa- tion, editor of its official weekly organ, The Commercial, and thus taking an active part in directing the beneficial projects promoted by that organization, was born in July, 1874, in the city which is still his home, his parents being Mahlon V. and Katherine (Patterson) Johnson. The mother is a native of Ireland and came to America with her parents, who settled in the state of New York but afterward removed to Indiana. The father was born in Indiana and their marriage was celebrated in that state. In 1873 they removed westward to Denver, where the father took up the business of railroad contract- ing, and he is still a valued and well known resident of this city. To him and his wife were born six children.
Arthur C. Johnson, who was the fifth in order of birth in the family, acquired his early education in the public schools of Denver and afterward became a student in the University of Colorado at Boulder but ere he reached graduation left college in order to enter upon newspaper work. He became connected with the staff of the Rocky Mountain News, with which he continued until he enlisted in the First Colorado Infantry in 1898 for active service during the Spanish-American war. He went with his regiment to Manila and was with that command throughout the entire campaign. Subsequently he became correspondent for a number of papers and periodicals, among which were the
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New York Sun, Collier's Weekly and the Rocky Mountain News of Denver, also several Chicago papers and eastern publications, having gone to China, at the time of the Boxer outbreak after being stationed at Manila to act as war correspondent in that country for above mentioned publications. At the close of the Boxer troubles he returned to the Philippines and from there went to India, the return trip to this country being made by way of Italy, France and England, stopping at various points of interest in these countries.
In 1901 Mr. Johnson came to Denver but immediately afterward went to Wash- ington, D. C., with his uncle, Senator Patterson, for whom he acted as secretary. and also was correspondent at the capital for the Rocky Mountain News. He there remained for six years and on the expiration of that period entered the employ of the Associated Press as a member of its senate force. He was called from there to serve as assistant correspondent for the Chicago Tribune. Later he was with the Washington Post and continued in that service until 1911, when he was appointed assistant enrolling clerk of the house of representatives, in which important capacity he served for four years. In the meantime he entered George Washington University as a law student and was grad- uated with the LL. B. degree in 1914. He was then admitted to the bar of the District of Columbia and returned to Denver in 1915. In that year he was admitted to practice in Colorado but has never actually entered upon the work of the profession, although his knowledge of law has been of immense value to him in other ways. Instead he became connected with the publication issued by the Denver Chamber of Commerce-later the Denver Civic and Commercial Association-as its editor. This paper, The Commercial, has had a wide circulation. Mr. Johnson at the present time continues as its editor and also serves as associate secretary of the Denver Civic and Commercial Association. These positions he fills to the entire satisfaction of the business men of Denver who constitute the membership of the Civic association. Mr. Johnson is now serving with the food administration of Colorado as editor of the United States Food Administration Official Bulletin for Colorado, which is published monthly with a circulation of a hundred and twenty-five thousand. He was drafted for this service by Hon. Thomas D. Stearns and Mr. Johnson organized the office force for this work and is at present at the head of this department.
- In June, 1912, in Washington, D. C., Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Maude Taylor McIntosh, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. M. McIntosh. They have three children, namely: Rebecca Day, who was born in Washington, D. C., in 1913; Ann Wood- ruff, whose birth occurred in Denver in 1916; and Harriet Louise, born in Denver, October 26, 1918.
Mr. Johnson is a member of the University Club of Deuver, the Denver Press Club and the National Press Club of Washington. D. C. He has membership in Phi Delta Phi and Delta Tau Delta, also a number of other fraternal and social organizations. He is widely known, is very popular among his acquaintances and stands high in public regard both as a business man and as a citizen.
THOMAS JEFFERSON SANDFORD.
Thomas Jefferson Sandford, postmaster of Manitou, was born in Arcadia, Missouri, on the 8th of May, 1861, a son of Thomas Benton and Elizabeth (Gregory) Sandford and a grandson of Joseph P. Sanford, who was born in New York city and there spent his entire life. For fifty years he was with the Methodist Book Concern on Mulberry street, in the eastern metropolis. His son, Thomas Benton Sandford, was born in New York city in 1839 and removing westward, was married in Ironton, Missouri. He afterward enlisted for service with the Confederate army in the Civil war, becoming a major, and was killed at the battle of Helena, Arkansas, on the 4th of July, 1863. While in New York he had studied law with Judge Henry Hilton, of the eastern metropolis, but the laws of the state required an attorney to be twenty one years of age before he could practice. Accordingly he went to St. Louis when nineteen years of age, there passed the required examination and began to practice law at Ironton, Missouri, where he met and married Miss Gregory and made his home to the time of his enlistment for service in the Civil war. His wife died in Ironton, Missouri, January 29, 1875.
Thomas Jefferson Sandford was therefore but thirteen years of age when left an orphan. He remained in Ironton, Missouri, to that time and then, following his mother's death, went to the home of his grandfather, Joseph P. Sandford, in Brooklyn, New York, where he arrived on the 14th of April, 1875. He there remained until 1887, completing his education in the schools of Brooklyn, and when a youth he entered the employ of the
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Philadelphia & Reading Coal Company in that city, with which he remained for six months. Later he became connected with the flour and grain house of Samnel Freeman & Company, continuing with that firm until he reached the age of twenty-two years. In September, 1883, he was made New York manager for Norton, Chapman & Company of Portland, Maine, Boston and New York, and was a member of the New York Produce Exchange and also the Chicago Board of Trade from 1887 to 1889. He was then taken into the firm as an active partner and continued in that connection until 1887. when his health compelled him to seek a change of climate and in November of that year he arrived in Manitou. For some months thereafter he traveled over the state making loans for the Globe Investment Company of Boston, Massachusetts, and in December, 1888. he took np his abode in Trinidad, Colorado, where he acted as special agent for the same company of Boston, remaining in that city for a decade. In October, 1894, he was appointed postmaster of Trinidad and so served until March, 1899, when he removed to Colorado Springs and became one of the organizers of the firm of Frost & Sandford, dealers in investments and mining stock, being a member of the Colorado Springs Mining Exchange. The association was maintained until 1902, in which year the partnership was dissolved and Mr. Sandford removed to Manitou, where he turned his attention to the real estate and investment business, platting several additions. On the 4th of March, 1914, he was appointed postmaster, and was reappointed September 5, 1918, for four more years, now filling the position. He has taken an active and helpful interest in public affairs in Maniton, being a lientenant in all the Liberty Loan drives and standing at all times as a stanch champion of progress and improvement. He was chairman of the Manitou municipal finance committee when the seventy-five thousand dollar waterworks reservoir was built in 1913, the government giving the town possession of six thousand acres of water shed and was also granted the franchise for lighting the town of Maniton. He has always voted with the democratic party and has heen a stalwart advocate of its principles.
At Topeka, Kansas, on the 20th of November. 1901, Mr. Sandford was united in mar- riage to Miss Alice Mand Evans and their children are: Thomas Herbert, who was born December 16, 1902; Susie Elizabeth; and John Carr. The religious faith of the family is that of the Episcopal church and Mr. Sandford is a vestryman of St. Andrew's church in Manitou. Imbned with the spirit of western enterprise and progress, he is interested in all that pertains to the welfare and upbuilding of the city in which he makes his home and he puts forth every possible effort to promote public progress.
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