USA > Colorado > History of Colorado; Volume III > Part 47
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In 1905 Mr. Denious was nnited in marriage to Miss Edith J. Boughton, a native of Albany, New York, and a daughter of Edward J. Bonghton, and to them have been born six children, one of whom has passed away. The others are: Dayton, born May 20,
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1907; George B., born December 26, 1908; Emma; Wilbur F., Jr., born October 5, 1913; and Martha. Mrs. Denious is a communicant of the Ascension Episcopal church.
Mr. Denious is identified with several clubs and social organizations, belonging to the Denver Athletic Club, the Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity, the Kappa Sigma college fraternity, having been grand master of the order in the United States, and to the Masonic fraternity, having membership in Arapahoe Lodge, No. 130, A. F. & A. M .; Colorado Chapter. No. 29, R. A. M .; Denver Commandery, No. 25, K. T .; the Scottish Rite Consistory, and El Jebel Temple of the Mystic Shrine, while along the strict path of his profession he has connection with the Denver Bar Association and the Colorado Bar Association. He is a man of attractive personality, winning friends wherever he goes, while his high professional attainments have gained him recognition as a leading repre- sentative of the Denver bar.
CHARLES H. NORMAN.
Among the successful operators in real estate in Cheyenne county is Charles H. Norman, of Cheyenne Wells, whose connection with this section of the state covers the pioneer period as well as the later era of progress and prosperity. He was born in New York city, July 29, 1856, and is a son of Richard and Henrietta (Oule) Norman, the former a tobacco merchant.
Charles H. Norman acquired his early education in the American metropolis but left school at the age of thirteen years and made his way westward to Iowa. He also spent one year in Missouri and then came to Colorado, making his way to a point forty miles south of Denver. Going to Plum Creek, he worked for S. S. Green on the ranch, engaged in herding cattle, milking cows and performing other such service as is incident to ranch life. After four years he removed to Colorado Springs, enter- ing the employ of the Holt Live Stock Company, with which he remained for fourteen years on the ranch. He saw many buffaloes and antelopes in those early days and also numerous Indians, who camped within a mile of the ranch. This was ahout the year 1872. The Indians would come into the white men's camp and eat up all the beans. At that time they made several raids through the country and at one time there was an Indian scare on Horse creek, on which occasion Mr. Norman and a neighbor went out on horseback to let all the settlers know that the Indians were on the warpath. Mr. Norman's horse, however, played out and he was forced to take his saddle and return to camp on foot, walking a distance of more than fifteen miles. At a later period Mr. Norman severed his connection with ranching interests and turned his atten- tion to the hotel business, in which he engaged at Hugo, Colorado, from 1885 until 1890. He then removed to Cheyenne Wells, where he also conducted a hotel for five years and on the expiration of that period he became actively engaged in the cattle business. His fellow townsmen, however, recognizing his worth and ability, called him to public office by electing him sheriff of Cheyenne county in 1893 and successive reelections continued him in that office for the notable period of eighteen years-a fact which stands in incontrovertihle evidence of his fidelity to duty, his promptness in the discharge of the tasks devolving upon him and the confidence reposed in him by his fellow citizens. In his real estate activities he has been very successful. He became a member of the Cheyenne County Land Company, which was formed in 1906, and later he and two others purchased the interests of seven other stockholders and became sole proprietors of the business, which they have since successfully conducted. They are now the owners of five thousand acres of valuable land in Cheyenne county and their real estate activities have hrought to them a notable measure of success. Mr. Norman is also interested in the stock business, finding great pleasure in develop- ing and watching his herd.
On the 4th of January, 1882, Mr. Norman was married in Colorado Springs to Miss Jennie Semple, who was born in Hamilton, Canada, a daughter of Robert Semple, who was a stone mason by trade. Both Mr. and Mrs. Norman are widely and favorably known in Cheyenne Wells and their section of the state and enjoy the warm regard and friendship of those with whom they have been brought in contact, while the hospitality of their attractive home is greatly enjoyed by all.
Mr. Norman has always given his political allegiance to the republican party and aside from serving as sheriff for so long a period was master at arms in the twentieth general assembly in the house of representatives for one hundred and ten days. Coming to Colorado in pioneer times, he has been an interested witness of its growth and development and has never failed to respond to any call whereby he could
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cooperate in the work of general improvement and upbuilding beneficial to the state. He has been identified with the Masonic fraternity since 1893 and also belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The religious faith of Mr. and Mrs. Norman is that of the Christian Science church, in which Mrs. Norman is second reader.
AUGUST JOHN SPENGEL.
The life of August John Spengel, which ended March 13, 1917, was not lived in vain. Its fruits were many and constituted important features in the upbuilding and develop- ment of the communities with which he was associated. He was a public man in the sense of contributions to the public good; he was a business man of marked enterprise, initiative and progressiveness; and, more than all, he was a faithful and devoted friend, possessed of many lovable qualities and characteristics.
His birth occurred in Highland, Madison county, Illinois, on the 29th of December, 1856, and he was the eldest son of Carl and Francis Spengel. Carl Spengel died at the early age of twenty-eight years and his widow then removed with the family to St. Louis, Missouri, where August J. Spengel soon afterward secured a position in a large grocery house, where he was a coworker with the late David R. Francis, later the governor of Missouri and in recent years United States ambassador to Russia.
Mr. Spengel of this review was a young man of twenty-four years when, his health failing, in 1880 he sought the restoring climate of Colorado and took up his abode at Gunnison. There he resided for seven years, having been much benefited in his health, and at the end of that period started to return to Missouri but in Wichita, Kansas, met friends who persuaded him to settle in that city. This was in 1887 and there he made his home until the lands in Oklahoma were open for settlement. He then made his way to that district and had not long been a resident of Oklahoma before he was elected mayor of Guthrie, becoming the first executive of the town. He continued there to make his home until 1896, when he returned to Colorado, settling in Denver. He then established a house furnishing business near the corner of Twenty-second and Larimer streets and later removed his stock to a point "just around the corner from the post- office," which was the slogan that he used in advertising. He was also the originator of another slogan, "A little at a time," for he inaugurated the installment plan of pur- chase, and still another slogan which made his house well known was "You furnish the girl and we'll furnish the house." He built up an extensive business in the handling of house furnishings and continued active along that line until 1916, when he disposed of the business, which had long been conducted under his own name, and became the head of the Kilpatrick-Spengel Furniture Store on California street. In this connection he remained until his death on March 13, 1917. His business career was characterized by a marked spirit of progressiveness and enterprise and whatever he undertook he carried forward to successful completion. He studied the needs and wishes of the people and anticipated their demands and through his foresight won a place among the most prominent merchants of the city.
On the 27th of September, 1887, Mr. Spengel was married to Miss Ella Cary New- comb, whom he had met in Wichita, Kansas, where she was visiting. Their wedding was celebrated in Eastport, Maine. She is a daughter of George H. and Mary C. (Meaton) Newcomb and a representative of one of the old New England families whose ancestry is traced back to Mayflower times. Her grandfather was Henry Newcomb, while John Newcomb, the great-grandfather, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. His father was Robert Newcomb, while the great-great-great-grandfather of Mrs. Spengel, Andrew Newcomb, came to this country during early colonial times and married Mercy Olden, whose father was one of the Mayflower Pilgrims. The Newcomb family settled in Massachusetts and later in Maine. Mrs. Spengel is a member of the Peace Pipe Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution of Denver. To Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Spengel were born two daughters, Margaret and Pauline. Both were educated in Miss Wolcott's School for Girls in Denver and Miss Margaret is now attending Sweet Briar College of Sweet Briar, Virginia.
At the time of Mr. Spengel's death one who had long known him wrote: "In the death of 'Gus' Spengel Colorado loses one of her best citizens. He was a road blazer, a pioneer; never in all my experience in studying human nature have I met a more lovable character. He knew the life of the frontier better than any man I ever met. The most lovable trait of 'Gus' Spengel was his dogged constancy in his love for and devotion to his pioneer friends and neighbors. He was absolutely and inherently honest
AUGUST JOHN SPENGEL
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in his commercial and political life. Some great writer has defined right and wrong as: 'The right is the devotion of self to good. The wrong is the devotion of good to self.' 'Gus' Spengel, from my own personal knowledge of his life, inherited the former of these definitions. His whole life was devoted to the good of the community in which he lived. As mayor of Guthrie, Oklahoma, in the formative and wild days of that city, and also of the empire of Oklahoma, he had the entire confidence of the community, good citizens as well as bad. His fairness and broad-mindedness endeared him to the bad men. the outlaws of Oklahoma. I remember in the early days of Oklahoma one particular instance when his own influence and his good traits of character prevented the Dalton gang from looting the Guthrie banks. The Daltons lived near Guthrie. Mayor Spengel's chief of police of Guthrie, Ed Kelly, now general agent of the Rock Island Railroad at El Reno, knows that but for 'Gus' Spengel, the Daltons would have raided and robbed the banks at Guthrie."
During the period of his residence in Oklahoma Mr. Spengel served as grand master of the grand lodge of Masons, in fact, was the first to occupy that position. After he had removed to Denver, as a recognition of his service there was presented to him by the members of the Masonic order in Oklahoma a magnificent jewel valued at fifteen hundred dollars. One of his most pronounced traits was his philanthropy. Possessing a most benevolent spirit, he did much in a quiet way to distribute aid to the poor and needy of Denver and during his term as director of the Federation of Charities he largely upbuilt the charity funds from which the poor of the city received help. Upon his arrival in Denver he soon became identified with the organization and the men who were seeking to upbuild the city. He was a member of the board of directors of the old Chamber of Commerce, now the Denver Civic and Commercial Association, and continued to serve in that capacity. During his presidency the San Francisco earth- quake occurred and, realizing that something should be done immediately to relieve the suffering of that stricken city and supply food for the destitute people, he headed a movement to gather needed supplies and within twelve hours after the disaster he had filled a baggage car with foodstuffs and sent it on its way to San Francisco. As a business man he was of the most progressive type and when the Denver, Laramie & Northwestern Railroad began the construction of its line he was chosen treasurer of the Northwestern Land & Iron Company, the executives of which were interested in the construction of the road. His business activities, however, constituted but one phase of his work and character. He never forgot his obligations to his fellowmen nor ceased to realize his duties to the community and the country in which he lived. He stood at all times for development and progress and aided in every possible way in furthering improvements. He was known as a political leader and served as super- visor of Denver under the old form of government and during his second term was president of the board. His business enterprise, his public spirit, the integrity of his character, his devotion to the welfare of others and his many likable qualities placed him high in public regard and all who knew him were proud to claim him as a friend.
GUSTAVE C. BARTELS.
Gustave C. Bartels, an active representative of the Denver bar, has since 1880 been a member of what is one of the oldest and most successful law firms of the city -that of Bartels & Blood. Mr. Bartels was born in Bellevue, Nebraska, January 22, 1858. his parents being Louis F. and Caroline H. (Dieterichs) Bartels. His father was a prominent figure in the early history of Denver, becoming one of Colorado's pioneer settlers. He was born in the university city of Goettingen. Germany, in 1826 and when nineteen years of age crossed the Atlantic to America, first settling in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1851 he made a trip across the plains to New Mexico and took up his abode in Albuquerque, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits. He soon acquired a knowledge of the Spanish language and traveled extensively throughout the western country. In 1856 he returned to St. Louis, Missouri, was there married and soon afterward established his home in Bellevue, Nebraska, where he engaged in business until 1861. In that year he again crossed the plains but this time with Denver as his destination and, taking up his abode in this city, continued to make it his home until his demise. Here he soon built up a large and profitable mercantile business. In 1870 he and his brothers opened mercantile and forwarding houses in Pueblo, also at West Las Animas, Walsenburg and San Antonio in southern Colorado. He was like- wise largely interested in stock raising and in 1869, with other prominent men of Denver, he organized the Colorado Savings & Loan Association, of which he was
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president up to the time of his death. He was also the secretary of the Denver Gas Company and became one of its founders. He readily discerned the opportunities of any business situation and utilized chances which others passed heedlessly by. He was always an enterprising and progressive business man and a public-spirited citizen, prominent in local affairs and seeking ever the welfare and upbuilding of the community in which he lived. As a supporter of the republican party he was elected to represent his district, comprising Arapahoe and Douglas counties, in the fifth legislative assembly of the territory of Colorado. His death occurred in Denver, July 27, 1874, while he was still in the prime of life and in the midst of a career of great usefulness.
His eldest son, Gustave C. Bartels, acquired his early education in the schools of Denver and later he became a student in the Washington University at St. Louis, Missouri, where he pursued a four years' course. In 1877 he matriculated in the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and devoted two years to the study of law, winning his professional degree with the class of 1879. He then returned to Denver and in 1880 entered into partnership with J. H. Blood under the firm style of Bartels & Blood. This firm has since remained in existence, covering a period of thirty-eight years, and is one of the strong and able law firms of Denver, notable success having attended their efforts. Mr. Bartels has made a specialty of corporation law and was corporation counsel of Denver in 1895, under the administration of Mayor Lee. The same year he was chosen president of the Denver Bar Association and he has ever remained one of its honored members.
On the 30th of April, 1883, in Denver, Mr. Bartels was united in marriage to Miss Emma R. Godfrey, a daughter of Dr. N. P. Godfrey. They have one son, Earl G., who was born in Denver in 1884 and married Martha G. Wood.
Mr. Bartels is a republican in politics and in 1900 was the nominee of his party for the supreme court bench, being the unanimous choice at the party convention. Fraternally he is a Mason and his appreciation of the social amenities of life is indicated in his membership in the Denver, the University and the Denver Country Clubs.
SHELDON E. TUCKER.
Sheldon E. Tucker, secretary of the Colorado tax commission at Denver, was born August 9, 1879, in Dansville, Livingston county, New York. His father, Edward Tucker, was a native of England and about 1855 crossed the Atlantic to the new world, settling first in Shortsville, Ontario county, New York, where he was in charge of the leading paper mills of the place engaged in the manufacture of news print paper. In fact, the plant was one of the largest of its kind in the country. Later Mr. Tucker, in connection with James Flynn and Edward Burby, purchased a mill and machinery at Norwich, Connecticut, and there operated their plant. Mr. Tucker, however, after- ward removed to Niagara Falls, New York, and was there employed by the Pettibone Paper Company, having control of the aniline dyes. He was an expert in the manu- facture of paper and devoted his entire life to that business. He passed away at Niagara Falls in 1902, when seventy-eight years of age, having for about three years survived his wife, who died in 1899 at the age of sixty-five years. She bore the maiden name of Minerva Sutton and was a native of Naples, New York, and a member of one of the old families of the Empire state, of English lineage. To Mr. and Mrs. Tucker were born four children. two sons and two daughters, of whom two are yet living, the surviving daughter being Elizabeth, the wife of Charles M. Browne, a resident of Niagara Falls.
Sheldon E. Tucker acquired his education in the public schools of Connecticut and of Niagara Falls, New York, supplemented by a course in Eastman's Business College at Poughkeepsie, New York, from which he was graduated with the class of 1897. His first position was that of a bookkeeper with the Pettibone Paper Company and following his graduation he spent two years in the employ of that company. In that early day he had ambitions to become a lawyer and for a considerable period devoted his time to the study of law principles, but circumstances over which he had no control prevented his continuance of preparation for the bar. However, he secured a con- siderable knowledge of law and this has been of much benefit to him in later years. Through the influence of Peter A. Porter, sole owner of the Niagara Falls Gazette, Mr. Tucker turned his attention to journalism and became business manager for the paper, with which he was connected for two years. Mr. Porter then purchased a hotel called the Cataract House and at his request Mr. Tucker resigned his newspaper work
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and became confidential man and assistant to Mr. Porter and acted as financier for the business for two years. He was afterward confidential man with James M. McKay at the Arlington Hotel in Buffalo, New York, where he spent seven years. He resigned that position to come to Denver, where he was made clerk of the state board of equalization and secretary to the state auditing board. In 1913 he became secretary of the tax commission, which took over the duties of the state board of equalization, and in this office he has since continued, making a most creditable record by the prompt and faithful discharge of his duties.
Mr. Tucker was married in Buffalo, New York, to Miss Loretta F. Keenan, who was born in that city, a daughter of Michael and Mary Keenan. They have become parents of two children: Gertrude E., who was born in Buffalo, New York, August 22, 1905; and Sbeldon E., horn in Buffalo, October 3, 1911.
In politics Mr. Tucker has always been a stalwart democrat. He is well known in Masonic circles, having been made a Mason at Niagara Falls, New York. He has attained the Knight Templar degree of the York Rite and has ever been a worthy exemplar of the craft. His religious faith is that of the Methodist church and to its teachings he is very loyal. He started out in the business world withont assistance or aid from anyone and whatever he has accomplished in life or what success he has enjoyed has come to him through his persistent and indefatigable effort. His business affairs have always been of an important character and ofttimes have required delicate judgment. He has displayed marked capability in carrying on the interests entrusted to him and is now doing splendid service as a public official, making a most creditable record by his promptness and fidelity in discharging the duties of secretary of the Colorado tax commission.
STEPHEN KNIGHT.
For thirty-eight years Stephen Knight has figured in the business circles of Denver and has advanced from the position of bookkeeper to positions of managerial capacity. being widely known as the manager of the Eagle Milling & Elevator Company of Denver. His business connections are now of a most important character, ranking him with the leading and prominent business men of the city. While promoting hls individual for- tunes he has also contributed to the progress and prosperity of Denver through the upbuilding of its commercial and industrial activities.
Mr. Knight was born in Syracuse, New York, June 16, 1855. a son of James and Eliza (Martin) Knight, who were natives of England and emigrated to the new world in early life, becoming residents of Syracuse, New York. The family home was maintained in that city for several years and it was there, in 1858, that the mother's death occurred. She left three children: Mary, now Mrs. Morris Philbrook, of Lakeside, California; Harry, now residing at Littleton, Colorado; and Stephen, the youngest, of this review. For his second wife James Knight chose Elizabeth Beeney, of Syracuse, New York, and continued to reside in that city until 1870, when he removed to Colorado with his family. He was identified with the railroad industry in the east as an expert draftsman and in that connection came west. Soon after locating in Colorado, however, he turned his attention to the lumber business as draftsman. Later, on account of failing health, he became a resident of Littleton, Colorado, where he spent the remainder of his life. He was active in many ways aside from business, and his efforts and enterprise con- stituted an important element in the growth and development of the community in which he made his home. He died at Littleton in April, 1900, at the age of seventy-seven years. His wife passed away in Littleton in 1901, at the notable old age of eighty- six years.
In his youthful days Stephen Knight attended the public schools of Denver and also studied in private schools. When his textbooks were put aside he made his initial step in the business world. In 1883 he became connected with the Eagle Milling & Ele- vator Company in the capacity of bookkeeper and for thirty-five years he has been identi- fied with this enterprise. He did not continue long, however. in his original position but has worked his way steadily upward, gaining knowledge and skill from each experi- ence that have qualified him for further duties and responsibilities. At length he acquired an interest in the various branches of the flour milling business and is today not only manager of the Eagle Milling & Elevator Company but is also one of the directors and stockholders of the Colorado Milling & Elevator Company, controlling one of the largest concerns of the kind in the west. For many years he has been the head
STEPHEN KNIGHT
Vol. 111-22
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of the Eagle Milling & Elevator Company as its manager and one of the directors and he is also a director of many other large manufacturing interests in Colorado and other western states. His administrative ability, his executive force and keen discrimi- nation have constituted important elements in the successful control of many interests. He is president and one of the directors of the Lindquist Cracker Company of Denver; also of the Purity Biscuit Company of Salt Lake City; of the Macklem Baking Company of Denver; of the Campbell-Sell Baking Company of Denver. These constitute only a portion of his business connections, for he has continually broadened the scope of his interests and every enterprise with which he is associated has benefited by his co- operation and keen business judgment. He has ever seemed to readily discriminate between the essential and the non-essential in all business matters and, quickly discarding the latter, he bas utilized the former to the benefit of every corporation with which he has been associated.
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