USA > Colorado > History of Colorado; Volume III > Part 44
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On the 26th of November. 1902, in Clifton Springs, New York, Mr. Wells was married to Miss Mary I. Birckett, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Birckett, now of Albion, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Wells have become parents of two children, Frederick W., born in Denver in 1905: and Howard, born in 1907. both attending the Clayton school.
Fraternally Mr. Wells is connected with the Masons as a member of lodge and chapter. In politics he maintains an independent course, considering the capability of the candidate rather than his party ties. He has never sought or desired office, always preferring to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his business affairs, which have gradually grown in volume and in iraportance as he has acquainted himself with every phase of the trade and wrought out successful plans for the extension of patronage.
LOUIS ANDERSON.
Progressive and aggressive in his business methods but adhering strictly to the highest ethics of the commercial world, Louis Anderson is successfully managing the affairs of the American Fixture Company of Denver, of which he is also secretary. This is a well known manufacturing institution whose trade relations extend over a wide territory and its success and high standing must be largely ascribed to Mr. Anderson's activities and business acumen. The product turned out by the firm is of the very highest grade and many favorable comments have been received upon this subject by them. As Mr. Anderson is entrusted with the sole supervision of manufacture, it is evident that his is a most important part in the upbuilding of the business of which he is one of the directors and which he helped to organize. He was born in Sweden, December 23, 1863, a son of Anderson and Anna Anderson, both lifelong residents of that country and both now deceased. The father followed farming in his native land, thus providing for his family, which numbered two children.
In his boyhood Louis Anderson attended the public schools of Sweden and after laying aside his textbooks began to learn the cabinetmaker's trade, along which line he con-
LOUIS ANDERSON
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tinued to work for ten years, at the end of which period he decided to seek new fields to conquer and came to America, arriving in Denver in 1888. In this country he continued to follow the profitable vocation in which he had become an expert in his native land, and for twenty years continued as a cabinetmaker but then, having acquired sufficient capital, decided to engage in business independently and with others organized the American Fixture Company, which was begun in a small way in 1908 and has since grown to be one of Denver's leading manufacturing industries. Efficiency has been the watch- word of the concern. Efficiency prevails among the workmen-efficiency in saving time and material by the use of the most modern machinery. and efficient methods are em- ployed in extending the scope of the activities of the firm and in constantly widening the territories in which their products are sold. The workmen are the best experts to be obtained and new processes and discoveries are immediately given a try-out and if found of value are adopted by the firm. This progressive policy is largely advocated and carried through by Mr. Anderson, the active head of the enterprise. Frank Kirshoff, a pioneer lumberman of Denver, is president of the company, while Carl Stoll holds the office of vice president, our subject acting as secretary and manager. The American Fixture Company is engaged in the manufacture of high grade store and office fixtures. showcases, etc., and the work which the concern turns out is of the very highest grade. Mr. Ander- son personally supervises the manufacturing processes and also the installation of fixtures. Among other work. they installed the window cases for the Gano-Downs Clothing Company on Sixteenth street. These window cases are among the most expensive and unique of any ever manufactured in the United States and excite the wonder and admiration of thousands of strangers who annually come to Denver. The window work at the new Lewis & Sons store, which was recently installed, has also received a great amount of favorable comment and all the fixtures on the third floor were manufactured by the American Fixture Company for the Lewis & Sons store. These are but two examples of the fine work done by the American Fixture Company but they have filled innumerable other orders not only for Denver but for many other of the larger western cities.
In 1892, in Denver, occurred the marriage of Mr. Anderson and Miss Regina Swanson and to this union two children have been born: Mrs. Alma Buehler, who was born in Denver and now resides in Hot Sulphur Springs, Colorado; and Arthur Anderson, also a native of Denver. He is a graduate of the East Denver high school and is now ranching in Colorado.
In politics Mr. Andersou follows an independent course, supporting the candidates whom he deems best fitted for the offices to which they aspire regardless of party affilia- tion. Fraternally he is a member of the Woodmen of the World. Although he has never aspired to public office, he is interested in all movements undertaken in behalf of the public welfare and readily gives his aid and cooperation to measures which he con- siders of value in promoting the growth and development of his adopted city. Although born on the other side, he has become a thoroughly patriotic American who is proud of American institutions, a stanch adherent of those principles of government which have for their foundation a democracy of the people and for the people. He is a valuable citizen and has made many friends since coming to Denver. Having had the courage to cross the Atlantic in order to find a home in a new country, his spirit of enterprise has carried him into important relations in regard to the business world of Denver and Colo- rado.
MAXWELL M. LEVY.
"A man well worth knowing" is the tribute which his close friends pay to Maxwell M. Levy, who is the western representative of the Great Western Smelting & Refining Com- pany. It is not as a business man, however, that he is best known, although he occupies an enviable position in business circles of Denver. The sterling traits of his character are the qualities which have endeared him to those with whom he has been associated. He is a man of studious disposition, a lover of music and of literature and a lover of mankind, as manifest in his quiet and unostentatious but generous aid to those in need of assistance.
Mr. Levy was born in Chicago, Illinois. December 29, 1879, a son of the late Wolf Levy, a native of Saxony, Germany, who came to America with relatives when a little lad of six years, arriving in 1840. These relatives settled in Chicago and there Wolf Levy was reared and educated. Upon attaining his majority he entered the retail furniture business, being among the first to establish a business of this kind in Chicago, where he continued in the same line of commercial activity until 1896. He then retired from
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active business life, spending his remaining days in the enjoyment of a well earned rest and the fruits of his former toil. He was born in 1835 and passed away in 1906. He had been very successful in the course of his active life, accumulating a substantial competence. He was much interested in civic affairs and political matters and when his country needed aid to suppress rebellion in the south he joined the army and during the period of the Civil war, while he was at the front, his family resided in St. Louis, Missouri. He enlisted in an Illinois regiment and proved a valorous defender of the Union cause. Fraternally he was well known as a prominent Mason and as a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Pythias. His wife, who in her maidenhood was Rena Cohn, was also a native of Germany. She was born in Posen and came to America about the same time as her future husband. Her people also settled in Chicago, casting in their lot with the pioneer residents of that city. Mr. and Mrs. Levy, however, were married in New York city. They became the parents of nine children, seven sons and two daughters.
Maxwell M. Levy, the youngest member of the family, was educated in the Chicago public schools until he had completed the high school course, while later he became a student in the Chicago University, where he remained until 1899. After completing his studies he hecame a representative of the William Islen Company of New York city, dealers in woolens. He remained with that firm until 1911, when he resigned his position and became western representative for the Great Western Smelting & Refining Company, which position he has since most acceptably filled. He is a man of keen intellect and of tireless activity. Formerly a salesman, his present business position demands sales- manship and ability to buy as well. He is very resourceful, knowing how to accomplish his purposes, and his efforts are constituting an important element in the success of the company in the west.
Mr. Levy was married in St. Louis, Missouri, June 3, 1907, to Miss Helen A. Lewis, a daughter of the late Henry Arthur Lewis, founder and president of the Great Western Smelting & Refining Company, and Theresa (Mathes) Lewis. The family was one of prominence in St. Louis, but both father and mother have now passed away. It was in that city that Mrs. Levy was born and by her marriage she has become the mother of a son, Wolfram Lewis, whose birth occurred in Chicago, August 7, 1908.
Mr. Levy votes with the democratic party and he has membership with the Denver Civic and Commercial Association. He is a lover of literature and possesses a very fine private library, in which are found the best works of the master minds. He possesses a fine sense of discrimination with reference to literature and his studies have included music as well, not as a musician but because of his love of the art. He is constantly broadening his mind by reading and investigation and his discussion of any subject indicates clear analysis and understanding. In a quiet, unassuming way he is doing much for others who are in need and his friends speak of him as "a very unselfish man, liberal almost to a fault."
JAMES C. DOLAN.
James C. Dolan, a dealer in railway supplies and head of the James C. Dolan Railway Supply Company, has attained a position in commercial circles in Denver that places him among the progressive business men of that city. In the period of its existence the business has developed to extensive and gratifying proportions. Mr. Dolan is a western man by birth, training and preference and possesses the spirit of undaunted determination which has ever characterized the growth of the west. He was born in Yankton, South Dakota, November 23, 1883, a son of Michael J. and Mary J. ( Morrison ) Dolan. The father was born in Ireland and was brought to America by his parents when a lad of five summers, the family home being established in Pennsylvania, where he was reared. After leaving home he made his way westward to South Dakota when it was a frontier state and there he engaged in the building and contracting business, becoming one of the successful men of Yankton, where he continued to make his home until 1901. He then removed to Denver, where he now resides. His wife was born in Illinois, but in early life became a resident of South Dakota, where they were married. They have reared a family of five children, of whom James C. was the second in order of birth.
In his youthful days James C. Dolan was a pupil in the public schools of Yankton and after mastering the lessons therein taught continued his education in the Yankton College. During his student days there he took a very active part in athletics and became one of the star players on the college baseball team. This training admirably
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fitted him to enter professional baseball and after leaving college he played for a year on the Yankton baseball team. He then came to Denver in 1904 and secured a clerical position with the Rio Grande Railroad Company, with which he was associated for ten years or until 1914, when he resigned to engage in business on his own account, having carefully saved his earnings in the meantime until his industry and economy had brought him sufficient capital to enable him to take the independent step. He began dealing in railway supplies under his own name, organizing the James C. Dolan Railway Supply Company, and from a small beginning he has built up a business of large proportions and has today the leading house in the handling of railway supplies in this section of the country. He organized The Colorado Brake Shoe and Foundry Company in September, 1918, becoming its president. This company purchased the old plant of the Colorado Grey Iron Foundry Company on Mulberry place, and is engaged in the manufacture of steel back brake shoes, being the only plant of its kind in the west.
On the 5th of January, 1907, Mr. Dolan was united in marriage in Denver to Miss Norma D. Simmons, of that city, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Simmons, well known residents of Denver. They have a daughter, Norma, born May 6, 1918. Mr. Dolan is a member of the Denver Athletic Club. the Lakewood Country Club, also the Rotary Club and the Masonic fraternity, in which he has taken various degrees of the York and Scottish Rites. He belongs to both the lodge and chapter, has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite in the consistory and has also crossed the sands of the desert with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He exemplifies in his life the beneficent spirit upon which the craft is based and has ever been loyal to its teachings. He deserves much credit for what he has accomplished in a business way and throughout his entire life he has commanded the respect, confidence and goodwill of many friends.
JOHN CARLOCK FERRIL.
It seems that Teller county has always been fortunate in the selection of its county officers and one of the most efficient of them now serving is John Carlock Ferril, who holds the office of county assessor, discharging his duties to the great satisfaction of the public. He was born on a farm in Clay county, Missouri, in 1855, a son of Robert Laken and Saralı Margaret (Means) Ferril, both natives of Missouri, the former born in Clay county, that state. in 1830; and there his death occurred in 1878. His widow survives and makes her home in Clay county. The father served as a private in the Confederate army under General Sterling R. Price, but after a short term of sol- diering received his discharge on account of physical disability. After the cessation of hostilities be took up agricultural labors in Clay county, continuing along that line with considerable success until death claimed him. David L. Ferril, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of Tennessee and it was he who established the family residence in Clay county. Missouri, where he farmed with good success until his death in 1863. Originally the Ferril family is of Scotch-Irish extraction.
John C. Ferril was reared in his native county, there attending school during the winter months to the age of twenty-one, assisting his father with the farm work during the remainder of the year. His school days being over, he continued at home until 1880, when he left the farm in order to learn telegraphy, continuing in that occupation for about thirty years. The year 1888 marked his arrival in Colorado and upon coming here he was for twelve and a half years employed by the Colorado Midland Railroad as operator and station agent in various places, coming in 1899 to the Cripple Creek district as operator for the Midland Company. His long connection with the same rail- road company indicates his faithfulness and the confidence which his employers reposed in him. His fellow citizens have also become cognizant of these qualities and in 1912 elected him to the position of assessor of Teller county and they have since reelected him to the office. In his treatment of the public he is always cordial and polite and has made many friends while in office. Moreover, he has introduced time-saving devices and has simplified the assessor's books and in every way improved the official records of the office.
On January 11, 1877, in Clay county, Missouri, Mr. Ferril was married to Miss Phoebe E. Rupe, who passed away in 1891, leaving two children: James Russell, born in 1885, who married Miss Bertha Fowler, of Colorado Springs; and Mary L., who is the wife of B. D. Billington, of Kansas City, Missouri. In 1895, in Denver, Mr. Ferril was again married, his second union being with Nellie May Davis. They occupy an enviable position in social circles of Cripple Creek, where they have many friends, and are members of the First Presbyterian church in Victor, of which Mr. Ferril is a trustee.
JOHN C. FERRIL
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Affairs of public import have always held the attention of Mr. Ferrril, who is well informed upon political and governmental questions of the hour. He is a democrat and faithfully supports the principles and candidates of his party. While a resident of Goldfield, Colorado, in 1908 he had the honor of being elected mayor of that city and that his administration brought good results is evident from the fact that he was re- elected to the office, serving two terms. Fraternally he is a Royal Arch Mason and the beneficent principles underlying that organization guide him in his conduct toward his fellowmen. He has made many friends in Cripple Creek since coming here who speak of him in the highest terms, appreciating in him a true friend. a patriotic citizen and a faithful official.
JOHN P. HEISER.
John P. Heiser, president and general manager of the Hermann H. Heiser Manufac- turing & Selling Company, one of the largest corporations of this character west of the Missouri river, was born at the corner of Fifteenth and Stout streets in Denver on the 25th of September, 1878. He is a son of one of Colorado's early pioneers and one of the founders of the Hermann H. Heiser Saddlery Company, the outgrowth of which is the Hermann H. Heiser Manufacturing & Selling Company of today. The father, Hermann H. Heiser, was born in Germany, while the mother, Mathilde (Wolter) Heiser, was born just across the Danish border. Their families emigrated to America. the land of the free, in order to escape autocratic rule and to avoid contamination by military requirements with a government that was continuously preparing for and anticipating war. The father was a youth of sixteen years when be crossed the Atlantic and the mother was but eight years of age. The former made his way direct to Platteville, Wis- consin, where he arrived in 1854. There he established a harness and saddlery business in 1858, having previously learned the trade. He was a man of studious nature, very energetic, and he applied himself at night to the study of the English language and to reading such books as he could procure. In this way he soon acquired a thorough knowledge of English and also picked up much general information. At that period overland travel was largely by wagon train across the plains, so that there was a great demand for the products of Mr. Heiser's manufacture. At the time of the outbreak of the Civil war he volunteered for active service, but he was not strong and robust enough, so that he was rejected. His loyalty to his adopted country, however, found an avenue for manifestation. He donated his little harness shop in the small Wisconsin village as a recruiting office and there several regiments were formed that constituted important factors in preserving the Federal government. In 1865 Mr. Heiser disposed of his business at Platteville, Wisconsin, at the advice of a physician, who told him that he must live in a higher altitude or he would become a victim of tuberculosis. With another man, therefore, he outfitted with a large stock of goods to sell on the way and by easy stages they traveled westward by ox team until they reached Denver on New Year's eve of 1865. They were favorably impressed with the little town, as it was then, with its bright lights and busy people and they decided then and there to remain and cast in their lot with its pioneer population. After selling out their remaining stock of goods and their entire outfit with which they had traveled westward Mr. Heiser established a harness and saddlery business, which from the outset proved a successful undertaking. When the mining boom was on at Central City, near Blackhawk, Colo- rado, they disposed of their barness and saddlery store in Denver and with the proceeds of the sale they removed to the mining camp and established two harness and saddlery shops, one at Central City and the other at Blackhawk. This arrangement was main- tained for several years, but Mr. Heiser found his partner to be dishonest in his business dealing and the firm made no progress on that account. He therefore decided to dissolve the partnership relation with such a man and rather than to take anything that had been obtained dishonestly he turned over the business to him and in 1870 again made his way to Denver. He then rented a storeroom on Blake street, between Fifteenth and Sixteenth streets, and started out in the business world anew. By his fair and straight- forward dealing and earnest efforts to please his patrons he soon secured a good business and in fact prospered to such an extent that within a short time he was able to buy out a competitor across the street, taking over the business of Gallup & Gallatin at No. 1530 Blake street. There he continued to do business up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1904. The small shop was developed to large proportions and the floor space was increased to more than three times the original size. In 1904 he decided to go back to Germany to visit his sister, who was still living at Altenberg, for almost a half century
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had passed since he had seen her. He left his Colorado home in comparatively good health, but the excitement of the trip had perhaps something to do with undermining his strength and he passed away suddenly at the home of his sister at the age of sixty- seven years, exactly fifty years after he had left his native land to establish his residence in the land of the free and the home of the brave. Throughout that period he had been most devoted in his loyalty to American interests and ideals, supporting the country with all the intensity of his nature. His children were instructed in the principles of American citizenship and often the parents related to them the story of the oppression of Germany and its compulsory military training, so that the sons were imbned with a dislike for the land of their forefathers and a great love for the land which their parents had adopted. Mr. Heiser was a charter member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the various Masonic bodies and for many years was secretary of those organizations. He was highly respected by all who knew him and he won a legion of friends, who greatly mourned his sudden taking away. His widow still resides at the old homestead which he had provided for the family in Denver and she has reached the age of sixty years. Mr. and Mrs. Heiser were the parents of four sons, the eldest of whom is John P. The others are: Ewald F., who is connected with the Heiser Com- pany; Herman W., who met an accidental death in 1904: and Arthur B., who is now manager of the sales department of the H. H. Heiser Auto Company.
John P. Heiser attended the Longfellow and Ashland schools of Denver, completing his studies there in 1896, after which he pursued a business course which included accounting and penmanship. After leaving school he accepted a position as shipping clerk and salesman and later was employed as a bookkeeper. but the inside work under- mined his health and in 1900 he assumed the management of his father's business in the manufacturing and sales department. This he continued until 1904, when his father gave him entire charge of the business, and soon afterward went abroad to visit his sister, a trip from which he never returned. John P. Heiser was then made adminis- trator of the estate and after a family conference with his brothers they decided to continue the business, which they then reorganized as a close corporation with John P. Heiser as the president. Their interests have been most wisely, carefully and success- fully conducted since that time, and the business which in 1904 amounted to about forty thousand dollars annually, had increased by 1917 to six hundred thousand dollars in annual sales. This result is due to the wise control, profitable investments and wise direction of the plant by the brothers, who from time to time have been enabled to pur- chase the business of competitors until the firm today has the largest wholesale harness and saddlery business between the Missouri river and the Pacific coast. They employ thirty-five expert workmen and have large salesrooms and storerooms with a most com- plete stock of goods always on hand. In 1915, realizing that the automobile had come to displace the horse, they decided that they would direct their efforts into that channel and secured the Colorado agency for the Velie automobiles and trucks. They started in business with a salesroom of sixteen foot frontage and within six months' time they purchased two business lots and erected a forty thousand dollar service station. In this magnificent building a large showroom, a garage and a repair shop are located. In the development of this business Mr. Heiser and his associates have met with notable and most gratifying success. They have departed from the usual methods and policy of auto sales agencies by giving to every owner of a Velie car free service as long as the car is in use instead of the regular specified period of sixty days or four months, this service to continue as long as the car is brought to their garage for all repair work save in case of emergencies. This plan is known as "Heiservice," indicating the double measure of consideration that the company gives to its patrons in its endeavor to please. They agree with every purchaser of a Velie car to assume the responsibility of its mechanical perfection and proper performance and when troubles occur to promptly and conscientiously eradicate them upon a basis that is absolutely just and fair to the purchaser if he brings all work to their repair shop, thus ensuring a freedom from all workmanship by those who are unaccustomed to the Velie car. The name "Heiservice" has been copyrighted as a trademark. On the 19th of June, 1917, the Heiser Saddlery Company and The Heiser Brothers Investment Company were merged into a two hundred thousand dollar corporation, now called the Hermann H. Heiser Manufacturing & Selling Company. of which Mr. Heiser is the president and general manager. He is recognized as a most forceful and representative business man, carrying forward to successful com- pletion and along legitimate lines whatever he undertakes. He is also the president and director of the Centennial Refining & Development Company. an oil drilling and land holding company of Wyoming.
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