History of Colorado; Volume III, Part 40

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

USA > Colorado > History of Colorado; Volume III > Part 40

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

ULRICH W. SPRAGUE.

Ulrich W. Sprague, engaged in the real estate business in Denver, his native city, was born August 27. 1871, a son of Wellington G. and Myra (Reed) Sprague, the former a native of Ohio, while the latter was born in the state of Maine. They were married in Chicago, where they located in early life. During the Civil war the father enlisted for active service with the First Wisconsin Heavy Artillery and went to the front with the rank of captain, while later he was brevetted lieutenant colonel. He was seriously wounded in the engagement before Petersburg and was confined in a hospital for many months but on his recovery again took his place with his regiment, with which he re- mained until the surrender of General Lee. His own valor and loyalty did much to inspire the courage and fidelity of the troops that served under him. Several years after the close of the war he returned to Chicago, where he continued to reside until April, 1871, when he removed to Denver. He then engaged in the real estate and loan busi- ness from that time until his death. which occurred in 1910. He had for several years survived his wife, who passed away in Denver in 1904. when sixty-three years of age. They were the parents of four children: Mrs. Robert Brown, whose linsband is manager of the American Life Insurance Company of Denver; Walter R., also of Denver: Mary M., deceased; and Ulrich W.

The last named was a pupil in the East Denver high school and afterward attended the University of Denver. He made his initial step in the business world in connec. tion with his father, receiving his training in the real estate and loan business in his father's office. They operated in Victor, Colorado, and in Leadville and in 1892 the business was incorporated with Wellington G. Sprague as president. It has remained a close corporation. Ulrich W. Sprague is well known as a factor in real estate circles in Colorado. He has thoroughly informed himself concerning property and his valua- tion of real estate is most accurate. He has negotiated many important realty trans- fers and his clientage is extensive.

WELLINGTON G. SPRAGUE

282

HISTORY OF COLORADO

Mr. Sprague belongs to the Denver Civic and Commercial Association and is much interested in the plans and measures of that organization for the city's benefit and the advancement of its civic interests. He likewise has membership in the Denver Athletic Club and in Masonic circles he is well known, having attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite. His religious faith is that of the Unitarian church, in which he has served as a trustee for several years. He is well known, is prominent and stands high in public regard, while in Denver, the city of his nativity, his circle of friends is almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintance.

EUGENE HERSHEY SMITH.

Eugene Hershey Smith, of Cripple Creek. is efficiently discharging his duties as super- intendent of the Cripple Creek Water Company, having received the full endorsement of the public, who since he has taken charge of the plant have had little reason for complaint. Mr. Smith is, moreover, an honored veteran of the Civil war his ardent patriotism having prompted him to take up the cause of the Union when but a boy of seventeen years.

Eugene H. Smith was born in Ontario, Canada, in 1846, a son of Henry P. Smith, a native of New York state, who was there married to Christiana Long. The father was born in 1810 and practically throughout all of his active career was a lumberman, although he engaged in farming during the last few years of his life, his death occurring in New York state in 1874. His widow survived him for thirty-six years, passing away in 1910.

Eugene H. Smith was reared under the parental roof and in the acquirement of his education attended the schools of Tonawanda, New York. During this time the Civil war had broken out and the conflict between the north and south was raging. Desirous of aiding the Union cause, he therefore put aside his school books at the age of seventeen and enlisted at Lima, New York, in Company E of the First New York Veteran Vol- unteer Cavalry on March 20, 1864, rendering service to his country until he was mus- tered out at Camp Piatt. West Virginia, July 20, 1865. He participated in the engage- ments at Newmarket, Woodstock, Newtown and Piedmont, and on July 1, 1864, when eighteen years of age. he was promoted to the rank of corporal. He has now been a resi- dent of Cripple Creek for a number of years and as superintendent of the Cripple Creek Water Company renders important service to the public.

On January 6, 1869, at Tonawanda, New York, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. Bellinger and to their union were born nine children, Mary, Henry, Grace, Helen, Herbert, Sarah, Margaret, Louise and Howard. Mrs. Smith passed away May 31, 1889, and in the fall of 1895 Mr. Smith was married in Denver, Colorado, to Miss Etta Hopkins, who has also passed away, her demise occurring in April, 1896.

In his political affiliations Mr. Smith is a republican, stanchly supporting the principles and candidates of the party. He is an honored member of the Grand Army of the Republic, belonging to J. W. Anderson Post. No. 96, of Cripple Creek, and is popular among his comrades of the war. Although in his seventy-third year, he is still hala and hearty and vigorously fulfills the duties of his position.

ELMORE FLOYD.

Elmore Floyd, county superintendent of schools in Las Animas county and recognized as one of the ablest educators of southern Colorado, was born about eight miles east of Trinidad on the 30th of April, 1876. his parents being Clay B. and Lue A. (Elmore) Floyd, the former a farmer and stockman who settled in Las Animas county, near Trinidad, in 1868. He came over the trail from Texas and was originally from Ken- tucky. During the period of the Civil war he espoused the cause of the Confederacy and served under General Shelby. It was subsequent to the close of hostilities that he removed to Texas and from that state came to Colorado, after which he concentrated his attention and energies upon farming and stock raising.

Elmore Floyd is the eldest in a family of three sons and two daughters. He pur- sued his education in the country schools of Las Animas county. finishing the preparatory course in the Tillotson Academy. He attended Colorado College of Colorado Springs, where he secured the degree of Bachelor of Arts and devoted some time to the study of law. He was called to office as deputy and later as clerk of the district court, which positions he filled for ten years, and he filled other offices of public honor and trust.

283

HISTORY OF COLORADO

For two years he acted as deputy county assessor and in November, 1914. he was elected county superintendent of schools, in which position he is now serving for the second term. The state board of education granted him a state diploma for eminent service in educational work and high moral character. He has done excellent work in the county, which contains many children speaking foreign languages. He has introduced manual training, domestic science and sewing in the schools with notable success and has systematized the school work, bringing in a uniformity throughout rural schools that is producing splendid results. He is closely studying to improve methods and make the work of the schools as effective as possible, realizing that education should he a prepara- tion for life's practical and responsible duties.

On the 14th. of June, 1911, Mr. Floyd was united in marriage to Miss Mary Lee Hudson and to them has been born a daughter, Harriet Louise. The religious faith of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd is that of the Presbyterian church and in social circles they occupy an enviable position. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, in which he has attained the Knight Templar degree and has also crossed the sands of the desert with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is grand orator of the Royal Arcanum of Colorado, belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and has membership with the Country Club and with the Chamber of Commerce. His political endorsement is given to the repub- lican party and upon its ticket he has been elected to the offices which he has filled. He belongs to the Colorado Educational Council, also to The National Educational Associa- tion and is most intensely interested in everything that has to do with his professional duties, holding to the highest standards and inspiring teachers and pupils under him with much of his own zeal and interest in the work. He is quick to adopt any new idea which he believes will prove of value to the school system of the county and Las Animas is indeed fortunate in having secured him for the position of county superintendent of schools.

ALBERT E. DISBROW, M. D.

Dr. Albert E. Disbrow widely known in professional relations is equally prominent through his connection with the Grand Army of the Republic and the Masonic fra- ternity. He loyally defended his country during the dark days of the Civil war and for a half century he has been connected with the Masonic fraternity as a faithful follower of the craft. At the same time he has remained for many years a successful practitioner of medicine and surgery in Denver and his pronounced ability has gained for him a liberal patronage.

Dr. Disbrow was born March 12, 1846, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a son of D. and Edith (Fraser) Disbrow. The mother was born near Knoxville, Tennessee, while the father was a native of the state of New York. In early life he removed westward to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, being sent to that state by a prominent shipbuilding firm to take charge of their plant. He continued actively in business in Milwaukee to the time of his death, which occurred in 1854. His widow later removed to Danville, Illinois, where she remained until called to the home beyond in 1875. In their family were two children.

Albert E. Disbrow, who was the elder, attended the public schools of Danville, Illinois. He was a lad of but eight years when his father died and after mastering the branches of learning taught in the common schools he put aside his textbooks in order to provide for his support and entered the employ of T. Fraser, an uncle, who was a mechani- cal engineer, and under his direction he thoroughly acquainted himself with the profession. He later went to Chicago and secured a position in the mechanical department of the Swift Packing Company, where he remained for ten years, but in the meantime he took up the study of medicine and in order to perfect himself along that line he entered the University of Chicago, from which he was graduated with the M. D. degree as a member of the class of 1884. He then entered upon the practice of his profession in Chicago and devoted five years thereto. At the end of that time he removed to the vicinity of Omaha, Nebraska, where he engaged in stock raising and also continued to practice medicine. After six years there passed he came to Denver, where he has since remained, and through the intervening period he has occupied a very prominent and enviable posi- tion as a representative of the medical profession. He was at one time president of the Medical Society of Colorado.

The military experience of Dr. Disbrow constitutes an important chapter in his life record. In 1862 he responded to the country's call for troops, enlisting in the One Hun- dred and Fifty-fourth Infantry under General George G. Meade. He served throughout the entire period of the war from that date and under various commanders. He was with General Meade at the battle of Chickamauga, which bitterly contested engagement lasted

284

HISTORY OF COLORADO

for five days and in which four thousand men were killed. During a heavy charge Dr. Disbrow was severely wounded and was afterward confined to hospital for several months. He later rejoined his regiment which became part of General Sherman's command, accom- panying that intrepid leader on the famous march from Atlanta to the sea. He par- ticipated in the battle of Atlanta and witnessed the surrender of the city. He was also at Savannah and at other notable points during the famous campaign and throughout the entire period of his active service proved a loyal defender of the Union cause. He was honorably discharged November 12, 1865.

On the 7th of July, 1872, Dr. Disbrow was married to Miss Alice E. Slade, of Attica, Indiana. a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Slade, of that place. Her father was a well known woolen manufacturer of Lowell, Massachusetts, in early life but removed from New England to the middle west. To Dr. and Mrs. Disbrow were born three children. Mrs. Edith Booroff, who was born in Chicago in 1879, and is now a resident of that city, has three children, Alice, Helen and Raymond Booroff. Mrs. Olive Clagett, born in Chicago, has two children: Albert Disbrow, who is now with the national army in the Coast Defense Artillery, being stationed at Fort Barry, California; and Ferro, who is attending school in Chicago. Mrs. Beatrice Miner was born in Chicago in 1893, resides in Denver and has two children, Paul and Le Roy, both of whom are with the national army. in the field artillery service, and are now in training at Fort Leavenworth

Dr. Disbrow holds membership in the Grace Methodist Episcopal church and has guided his life according to its teachings. He joined the Masons in Chicago in 1867 and was one of the organizers of Garden City Lodge and was one of the first contributors to the fund which erected the first Masonic Temple in Chicago. This enterprise, however, proved a failure insofar as the investment was concerned. The present magnificent Masonic Temple in Chicago, however, is an outgrowth of the original project. Dr. Disbrow has taken all of the degrees of Masonry, is a member of the Mystic Shrine and has been quite active and prominent in Masonic circles. His entire career has been characterized by usefulness that has reached out along helpful lines for the benefit of humanity and the country at large. He has held to the highest professional standards and anything which tends to bring to man the key to the complex mystery which we call life has been of interest to him. He still practices his profession, although he has now passed the Psalmist's allotted span of three score years and ten. He has always kept in touch with the trend of modern scientific thought and investigation in regard to the medical pro- fession and he has ever enjoyed the goodwill and confidence of colleagues and contempo- raries and the highest respect of the younger members of the medical profession.

CHARLES A. FINCH.

Charles A. Finch is the efficient sheriff of Weld county and in the discharge of his duties displays absolute fearlessness and loyalty. He was born in Fayette county, Iowa, November 17, 1859, and is a son of Amos and Elizabeth (Gardner) Finch, the former a native of the state of New York, while the latter was born in Indiana. After leaving the east Amos Finch removed westward to Iowa when a youth of nineteen years and became the first settler west of McGregor. He walked to that point from Racine, Wisconsin, and on reaching his destination purchased land from the govern- ment at the nominal price of a dollar and a quarter per acre. Not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made upon the place and with characteristic energy he began to clear and develop it and as the years passed brought his fields under a very high state of cultivation. He continued to further improve the property throughout his remaining days and became recognized as one of the foremost farmers of that section of the state. He there passed away in 1875, having for more than a decade survived his wife, who died in 1866.

Charles A. Finch was reared and educated in Fayette connty, Iowa, and remained upon the home farm until the death of his father, after which the children continued the cultivation of the old homestead property for more than four years. In his youthful days his time was divided between attendance at school and work in the fields and he early became familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for crops. In 1879 he removed to Greeley, Colorado, where he purchased land a mile and a half from the city, and this he greatly improved and cultivated, making his home thereon until 1893. He then sold the property and took up his abode in Greeley, after which he operated a threshing outfit and did house moving until January 9, 1917, when he was elected to the office of sheriff and has since served in that capacity. He is making

C. a. Finch

286

HISTORY OF COLORADO

an excellent officer by the prompt and faithful manner in which he discharges his duties, neither fear nor favor interfering with the faithful performance of the tasks entrusted to him. He also still operates his threshing and house moving outfits and is a well known and representative citizen of the community.

Mr. Finch has been married twice. On the 29th of August, 1887, he wedded Miss Alice Howard and to them were born four children: Myrtle, who is the widow of Lynn Sedgewick and since her husband's death has engaged in teaching at Morgan, Colorado; Lester, who is a manual training teacher at Phoenix, Arizona; Clarence, who is acting as his father's deputy; and Callie, the wife of Charles Polander, who has gone to war, and she is now teaching school in South Dakota. In August, 1917, Mr. Finch was married again, his second union being with Miss Anna Claire.

His political endorsement is always given to the democratic party, of which he is a stanch advocate. Fraternally he is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and his religious faith is that of the Christian church, which has guided him in all of life's relations, making him a man worthy of high respect and the goodwill and confidence which are uniformly accorded him.

FRANK A. PERKINS.

Frank A. Perkins, filling the office of county assessor in El Paso county and num- bered among the substantial residents of Colorado Springs, was born in Burlington, Wis- consin, in December, 1859, a son of Pliny Merrick and Ellen A. (Conkey) Perkins. The father was born in Becket, Massachusetts, in 1811, but was married in the state of New York. He engaged in business as operator of a flour mill, sawmill and woolen mill in Wisconsin, removing to that state in early manhood. He continued a resident of Bur- lington to the time of his death, which occurred in 1881, after which his widow came to Colorado and spent her last days in Colorado Springs, her death occurring in 1898.

Frank A. Perkins spent his time between the ages of six and sixteen years as a student in the public schools of Burlington and when nineteen years of age he arrived in Colorado Springs, where he has since made his home. Until 1881 he was engaged in the real estate business and later returned to Burlington, where he spent the major part of three years in settling up his father's estate. He again came to Colorado Springs, however, in 1884. and opened a crockery store, which he conducted successfully until 1910, when he was elected assessor of El Paso county and disposed of his commercial interests in order to give his undivided attention to the duties of the office.

On the 13th of December, 1883, in Burlington, Wisconsin, Mr. Perkins was married to Miss Ada G. Farmer, and they have become the parents of the following named: Florence Evelyn, the wife of Frank H. Riddle; Allyn Farmer, a graduate of the Uni- versity of Minnesota; Frances Bryant; Alice E., the wife of R. J. Reiss, of the Reiss Steam- ship Company of Sheboygan, Wisconsin; and James Pliny.

In his political views Mr. Perkins has always been an earnest republican since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and while not a politician in the usually accepted sense of office seeking he made so creditable a record during his first term as assessor that after a year out of office he was recalled to the position in 1915 and is now serving for a second term. At the last primary in September, 1918, he was nominated by the republican party for another term and was endorsed by the democratic faction, the resolution to that effect stating that such endorsement was given entirely on patriotic grounds. Fraternally he is a Royal Arch Mason, a Knight of Pythias and an Elk and is the president of the Elks Association of El Paso county. He now is secretary of the El Paso county exemption board, having served since June 22, 1917, in this important capacity. He belongs to the Winter Night Club and to the Chamber of Commerce, heartily cooperating in the purposes of the last named organization for the upbuilding of the city along commercial and civic lines.

ERMIN DONALD MARR.

Ermin Donald Marr is identified with many important corporate interests of Colorado. He makes his home at Colorado Springs and his official title is that of assistant sec- retary-treasurer of the Curtis & Hine Companies, the holding company of the Guanajuato Power and Electric Company. the Central Mexico Light and Power Company and

287

HISTORY OF COLORADO

the Michoagan Power Company. His constantly developing resources, activities and powers have brought him thus into very prominent business relations.

Mr. Marr was born in Henry county, Missouri, December 4. 1873, a son of Nicholas and Idora (Avery) Marr, the former a native of Tennessee, while the latter was born in Missouri, being a daughter of Judge Avery, who served on the bench in Henry county. that state. In the year 1892 Nicholas Marr came to Colorado Springs but returned to Mis- souri after living for one year in this state.

Ermin D. Marr completed his education by a high school course in Eldorado Springs, Missouri, and when his parents returned to that state after a year's residence in Col- orado he remained and became identified with the Elkton Mining Company. At the same time he was connected with the El Paso Mines as secretary-treasurer for three years and he occupied the position of assistant secretary and treasurer of the Elkton Company. He was likewise connected with the Street Railway of Colorado Springs for a year and be was the secretary and treasurer of the Drainage Tunnel for the first two years of its existence. In 1909 he joined the Curtis & Hine Companies as assistant secretary- treasurer of all their companies. The firm has holdings of upwards of six million dollars in old Mexico and they are conducting an extensive business as electrical engineers and in the ownership and operation of power and light plants, carrying on their interests under the name of the Guanajuato Power and Electric Company, the Central Mexico Light and Power Company and the Michoagan Power Company Before entering upon his present relations, however, Mr. Marr was broker of the Colorado Springs Mining Stock Association from 1896 until 1899. As assistant secretary-treasurer of the Curtis & Hine interests his duties are of a most important and extensive character, indicative of his executive ability and of his highly developed powers along the line of electrical engi- neering.

On the 12th of June, 1899, Mr. Marr was married to Miss Mame Shafer, a daughter of L. H. and Laura (Woodress) Shafer. She was born in Trenton, Missouri, where she was educated, and afterward came with her parents to Colorado Springs, where she was married. Mr. and Mrs. Marr have a daughter. Virginia, born May 29, 1903.

Mr. Marr belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, to the Chamber of Commerce, to the El Paso Club and the Golf Club-associations which indicate much of the nature of his interests and activities outside of business. He is widely and favorably known in Colorado Springs as a most alert and progressive business man, his life typify- ing the spirit of western enterprise, which has been the dominant factor in the upbuilding of this section of the country.

DR. SAMUEL H. KESTENBAUM.

Dr. Samuel H. Kestenbaum, a well known physician of Denver, was born in Galicia, Austria, September 16, 1886. In 1889 his parents, Samuel Abraham and Clara Krim Kestenbaum decided to throw off the yoke of Austrian oppression and emigrated to the land of justice and liberty-America. Settling first in Brooklyn, New York, they removed a year later to Colorado in connection with a colonization project at Atwood, near Sterling. The plan of colonization, however, proved to be a failure and after a few months residence in that locality, the family came to Denver where the father engaged in the retail grocery business. He still makes his home in Denver and Arvada but the Doctor's mother, one of the most heloved and philanthropic women of West Denver, passed away on the 28th of February, 1912.

Samuel H. Kestenbaum, their only child, attended the public schools of Denver and after completing his high school course, became a student in the Denver and Gross College of Medicine from which institution he graduated in 1910 with the degree of M. D. Dr. Kestenbaum served an interneship of over a year at Mercy Hospital and then entered upon the private practice of medicine. He soon made an excellent record for efficiency and thoroughness and for correctness in the diagnosis of cases.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Colorado; Volume III, Part 40

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