USA > Colorado > History of Colorado; Volume III > Part 49
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Deeply impressed with the scenic beauty and majestic grandeur of the Mountain West and delighted with the invigorating, energizing climate of Colorado, which doubly makes life worth living, Mr. Boutwell came to appreciate this singular com- bination during a visit in 1900, and being convinced that Denver's cultured and appre- ciative people offered an exceptional opportunity for a business such as they had in mind, he and his brother decided to remain and launch a new enterprise in Denver, specializing in art objects and interior decorating and withont loss of time arranged to establish themselves. Their store, which was carefully selected and suitably fitted up, had its opening that fall and the partnership continued until 1910 to mutual good advantage. In that year Rolland L. Boutwell removed to Manitou, where he established himself alone, founding the well known "Craftwood Shops." Cyrus Boutwell has continued the art and interior decorating business in Denver and his interests have grown and prospered under his able management until he today has one of the most exclusive establishments of the kind in the west. His antique department is one of the attractive features of his business and has appealed strongly to a discriminating clientele. Many rare and beautiful articles are on exhibition in his establishment and from there find their way into the magnificent homes of the wealthy not only of Colorado but of other states throughout the country. Valuable works of art and of ancient handicraft are among the articles which he tastefully displays and people are attracted from far and near to his store on account of the exquisite objects there to he found, his rich collection having been filled with carefully selected contributions from all parts of the world.
On the 10th of June, 1913, Mr. Boutwell was united in marriage to Miss Margaret MeCrary, of Denver, in which city she was born, her parents being Mr. and Mrs. Napoleon Bonaparte Mccrary, who came to Denver in 1872. Her father was well known in business circles here and as a member of the Chamber of Commerce. Mr.
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and Mrs. Boutwell have become the parents of two daughters: Margaret Ruth, born April 23, 1914, in Denver; and Susanne, born November 18, 1915.
Mr. Boutwell is a charter member of the Rocky Mountain Club, also belongs to the Cactus Club, to the Denver Civic and Commercial Association, to the Motor Club and to the Art Association-connections that indicate much of the nature of his inter- ests and the rules which govern his conduct, for he stands not only for the social interests but also for those activities which are a matter of worth to the community in advancing its civic standards and promoting public progress.
CHARLES ALLEN PARKER.
Charles Allen Parker, a retired ranchman living at Cheyenne Wells, was born in Wyandot county, Ohio, on the 20th of April, 1862, a son of E. L. and Martha ( Harvey) Parker, who were farming people. The son had limited educational opportunities, for at an early age he found it necessary to concentrate his efforts and attention upon general agricultural pursuits. He went to work with his father upon the home farm, where he remained for a year and then rented a farm in the neighborhood upon which he lived for another year. Later he removed to Kansas, where he cultivated rented land for two years. On the expiration of that period Mr. Parker came to Cheyenne Wells, Colorado, where he worked on the railroad for five years. He next, as engineer, assisted in the operation of a school district water pump and at a subsequent period went upon a ranch and became interested in the raising of horses and cattle. At that time the country was very dry and barren and it was five years after his arrival before he could see any kind of weeds growing on the prairies. There were still many antelopes to be seen, but the Indians and the buffaloes had disappeared. Mr. Parker raised white-faced cattle on his ranch. His house was a two-story structure, eighteen by twenty-eight feet, and as the years passed he continued the work of devel- opment and improvement upon his place, converting it into one of the fine ranches of the district. He arrived here without a dollar and had some hard times in the early days. The hot winds spoiled his crops, but from that period of hardships down to the present, conditions have gradually improved and the county today bears little resem- blance to the desolate and barren district into which he made his way many years ago. Land that sold in 1893 for a dollar and a half per acre is now selling for from twenty to thirty dollars per acre. In the beginning it was very difficult to raise wheat, but good crops are now annually gathered. When Mr. Parker arrived in this part of the county there were few buildings. At Cheyenne Wells was a section house, depot and one little shack. He has lived to witness the entire development and transforma- tion of the section and has contributed in marked measure to the work of public prog- ress. While he is now living retired from active ranch life, he still holds a quarter section of land. Everything in the early days was open prairie and no roads had been laid out when he came to Cheyenne county. In the task of development and improve- ment he has borne his part, his labors being a factor in bringing about the changes which have made this one of the productive regions of the state.
On the 22d of October, 1884, Mr. Parker was married to Miss Cora B. Mason, of Augusta, Ohio, who was born in Marion county, that state, in 1867. Her parents were also natives of that locality, where they spent their entire lives as farming people and were very successful in the conduct of their business interests. Her father died Octo- ber 30, 1916, while the mother passed away on the 29th of July of the same year. They were long valued residents of Meeker, Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Parker have been born the following named: Edith, who married Merl Smith, a resident of Kit Carson, Colorado; Earl, who died at the age of five years; Lloyd and Lola, twins, the former of whom died when four months old, while the latter is now the wife of Harry Huey, a resident of Cheyenne Wells, interested in the Overland garage.
In his political views Mr. Parker is a republican and in 1901 was elected county commissioner, which office he acceptably filled for nine years, having heen reelected again and again-a fact indicative of his loyalty and capability in the discharge of his duties. He and his wife and their children have been active members of the Meth- odist church, taking deep interest in all of its work and also in war activities.
When Mr. Parker first came to Cheyenne county there were hundreds of wild horses on the prairies, some of which he caught, broke and then sold. The homes of the neighhors were widely scattered-some five miles apart, others from twelve to twenty miles. Mr. Parker had to go to Lamar, Colorado, for information concerning his land. He says that those were happy days in spite of the hardships, and notwith-
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standing the difficulties he has encountered, he has remained a man of genial disposi- tion and kindly spirit. He is much interested in the town and its affairs, is liberal in support of all measures for the general good and is held in high esteem by his neighbors for his honesty and his individual traits of character, which ever command confidence and respect. As the years have passed he has prospered, hut he has never made the attainment of wealth the end and aim of his life. Success has come to him because his efforts have been wisely and intelligently directed and because his industry has been unremitting. In this way he has gained a comfortable competence that now enables him to live retired, enjoying in well earned rest the fruits of his former toil.
THOMAS IBBISON.
Thomas Ibbison, identified with farming interests at Wheatridge, was born in Leeds, Yorkshire, England, November 21, 1874, the son of James S. and Elizabeth B. Ihhison, who came of good old English stock, the ancestral line being traced back to the conquest of the Danes. Thomas Ibbison pursued his education in the schools of his native country to the age of twelve years, when he crossed the Atlantic to the United States with his parents, the family home being established at Wheatridge, Colorado, where he again attended school and was also for a year a student in the North Denver high school. He then returned to the home farm and has since engaged in truck gardening, meeting with substantial success in this connection. He is now joint owner of twelve acres of very productive land. The tract is given over to the cultivation of fruit and vegetables and his products are of splendid size and quality and command a good price in the market. The care of his crops demands his entire time and attention and his success is the direct result of his close application and energy.
On the 23rd of June, 1909, Mr. Ibbison was united in marriage to Miss Maude Marrion Athey, a daughter of William and Sarah (Marrion) Athey. Mrs. Ibbison was born in Kansas and by her marriage has become the mother of two children, Sarah Elizabeth and Hubert A.
In his political views Mr. Ibbison is a republican, having supported the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He helongs to the Grange of Wheatridge and is interested in all that has to do with land development, while in the conduct of his individual business affairs he follows the most progressive methods.
A. P. MACKEY.
To start out empty-handed and build up a fortune requires a certain kind of genius, hut to build at the same time an untarnished reputation indicates the possession of the qualities of honor, courage and nobility that make the record of the individual a most enviable one. In a homely but forcible way, friends of A. P. Mackey speak of him as "one of the most honorable men who ever stepped in shoe leather." His business activities were many and each was carried forward to successful completion, but his path was never strewn with the wrecks of other men's fortunes. He builded along con- structive lines and many benefited as the result of his own prosperity.
The life record of Mr. Mackey covered the intervening years from the 15th of January, 1849, when lie first opened his eyes to the light of day in Lexington, Missouri, to the 13th of September, 1917, when he passed away in Denver. He was the son of Dr. A. P. and Mary ( McCauley) Mackey, of Hagers town, Missouri. The father was a dentist and passed away in 1898, while the mother survived for a decade, her death occurring in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1908.
The public school system of Missouri afforded A. P. Mackey his educational oppor- tunities and when a mere lad he began providing for his own support, being employed as mailing clerk on the Gazette at St. Joseph, Missouri. Through his ability and his talents in the journalistic field he worked his way upward to the position of managing editor of that newspaper, remaining in that connection for a number of years.
With his removal to Colorado, Mr. Mackey became managing editor of the Republi- can at Denver, a paper owned by N. P. Hill, and here for a year he was associated with Eugene Field and other newspaper men who won distinction. In 1881 Mr. Mackey removed to Aspen, Colorado, where he established the Rocky Mountain Sun, which he published successfully for a number of years. He left Aspen in 1894 to return to Denver
A. P. MACKEY
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and throughout his remaining days his attention was given to various business interests. He speculated in mining properties, in oil and in real estate. His business activities were numerous and of a diversified character and his ability enabled him to carry for- ward to successful completion whatever he undertook. Prospering as the years passed by, he hecame the builder of the structure now occupied by the Princess theatre in Denver and he also acquired other realty in the city.
On the 9th of March, 1869, Mr. Mackey was married to Julia Badger, a daughter of Joseph and Rachel Badger, of St. Joseph, Missouri, whose people were originally from Illinois. Her father was a soldier during the Civil war, being stationed with the quartermaster's corps at Jefferson City, Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Mackey were born two daughters: Ida, now the wife of Edward Stower, of California; and Lora, who resides with her mother at the family home in Denver.
Politically Mr. Mackey was a republican but never held or desired office. He was a fearless newspaper man and worked for the interests of his patrons and of the public rather than for corporations or private interests. He did not care for social life in the generally accepted sense of the term, preferring the quiet and happiness of his own fireside and the companionship of congenial friends. He never deviated from a course which he believed to be right between himself and his fellowmen and his integrity and honor stood as unquestioned points in his career. His ideals of life were very high and he utilized every opportunity to raise himself to their level.
CHARLES CLARK WELCH.
When the first tri-weekly westbound coach arrived in Denver from Fort Kearney in the latter part of March, 1860, among its passengers was Charles Clark Welch, who was destined to play a most important part in the history of Colorado's development. As the years passed on he figured most prominently in connection with mining, with railroad building, with the development of the coal fields and with the promotion of irrigation projects, and the extent and importance of his business interests made him one of Colorado's well known capitalists. His life record extended from June 14, 1830, when he first opened his eyes to the light of day in Pamelia, Jefferson county, New York, until February 1, 1908, when death called him at Jacksonville, Florida. He was a son of Charles and Pamelia (LaValley) Welch and through the maternal line he came of French ancestry, the first representatives of the family in America estah- lishing their home in Rhode Island, where they took part in founding the city of Providence. In the paternal line Mr. Welch came of Scotch and English ancestry, being a descendant of Elder William Brewster, who was one of the Mayflower pas- sengers who arrived at Plymouth Rock in 1620 and who was the first pastor of the Mayflower colony. Through the paternal line Mr. Welch was also a descendant of Major John Mason, one of the founders of Norwich, Connecticut, and deputy governor of the Connecticut colony. His great-grandfather, William Webb, served in the Revo- lutionary war, on the battleship Trumbull, in 1777, was taken prisoner by the British and was confined on the notorious British prison-ship Jersey, from which he escaped after suffering untold hardships. When the war was over and the nation had achieved its independence he removed to northern New York, hecoming one of the sturdy pioneers of that state, contributing in substantial measure to its early development and upbuilding.
Charles Welch, Jr., the father of Charles Clark Welch of this review, was the first white child born north of the Black river in the state of New York and became a representative farmer of that locality. Upon the old homestead farm Charles Clark Welch early became familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the farm-bred lad. His time through the summer months was given to the work of the fields, while in the winter season he mastered the branches of learning taught in the public schools. He was ambitious, however, to secure further education and when a youth of fifteen became a student in the academy at Watertown, New York, where he prepared himself for the profession of teaching, which he most capably followed until 1850.
Attracted by gold discoveries in California, he perfected his plans for a trip to that state in March, making the journey by the Isthmus route and reaching San Fran- cisco in the latter part of May. He successfully followed placer mining at Auburn, Placer county, for two years, being there part owner of the first quartz mill erected in the state. In June, 1852, he sailed for Australia and after visiting the South Sea islands en route landed at Sydney, thus completing a voyage of seventy days. He
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was successfully engaged in mining in New South Wales for a year, after which he sailed from Melbourne and by way of Cape Horn reached New York at the conclusion of a ninety days' voyage.
Mr. Welch became a resident of Chicago in 1855 and through the remainder of that decade was engaged in the real estate and brokerage business, but in 1860 left Chicago to cross the plains, arriving in Denver as previously stated. He took up his abode in Gilpin county, where he employed a large force of men at placer mining in the Nevada and Russell gulches. Subsequently he engaged in quartz mining on the Kansas, German and Burrows lodes, and for several years he continued his operations in Gilpin, Clear Creek, Park and Boulder counties and also operated large sawmills at the same time. From his arrival in the state Mr. Welch was prominently identified with projects and plans which have been of the greatest benefit to the commonwealth in the development of its natural resources and the promotion of its interests. In 1870 he became identified with railroad building, being one of those who took the initial step toward the construction of the old Colorado Central Railroad from Golden up Clear Creek canyon to Georgetown and to Central City, and also from Denver to Cheyenne and Julesburg. It was a mammoth undertaking to finance and construct such a road in those days, as the heavy mountain grades of Clear Creek canyon were a problem to overcome. After this railroad was completed Mr. Welch was vice presi- dent and general manager for several years, but at length the road was sold and now constitutes a part of the Colorado Southern system. He was also one of the directors of the Santa Fe Railroad. He was one of the first to discover coal in Boulder county and as the years passed was prominently identified with the development of the rich coal deposits of the state. In 1877 he sunk the first shaft at Louisville, Boulder county, having previously discovered a ten-foot vein of coal at a depth of two hundred feet, the discovery being made while boring a well to supply water for the men engaged in the construction of the Colorado Central Railroad from Denver to Cheyenne. This was known as the Welch coal mine and was owned and operated by Mr. Welch for many years. He extended his operations in the coal fields, becoming president of the Louisville Coal Mining Company and one of its heaviest stockholders. The mines which he owned are now operated by the Northern Coal & Coke Company.
At all times recognizing the opportunities and possibilities for the state's develop- ment, Mr. Welch became a student of the subject of irrigation and did much to pro- mote activity along that line. He was one of the pioneer developers and was the owner of extensive farming interests, which were greatly advanced under the irriga- tion system. In 1878 he became one of the organizers of the Handy Ditch Company of Larimer county and was chosen its president. The company constructed a ditch that now irrigates more than twelve thousand acres of land. Mr. Welch owned large tracts of farming land in Larimer county upon which in one year he produced fifty thousand bushels of grain. In 1880 he built what is known as the Welch Irrigation ditch by constructing flumes in the rocks in Clear Creek canyon and taking the water from the creek, two and a half miles above Golden, and bringing it down almost to Denver. In 1891 Mr. Welch was one of the promoters and builders of the Denver, Lakewood & Golden Railroad, of which he served as president for many years. This is an electric trolley road at the present time, known as the Inter-Mountain Road and operating between Golden and Denver.
On the 22d of May, 1878, Mr. Welch was married to Miss Rebecca Jeannette Darrow, a daughter of H. S. Darrow of Michigan, a pioneer and one of the leading citizens of that state and a descendant of prominent colonial ancestry. To Mr. and Mrs. Welch were born a son and a daughter: Charles Clark, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work; and Jeannette, who became the wife of Dr. Henry Strong Denison. Mr. Welch was a member of the Society of the Sons of the Revolution and Mrs. Welch has mem- bership with the Daughters of the American Revolution, also the Connecticut Society of Mayflower Descendants, the Society of the Daughters of 1812, the Society of Colonial Dames of Colorado and some of the literary clubs of the state. In Masonic circles, too, Mr. Welch was well known, attaining the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite. It was but natural that a man of his capacity and power should be called upon to serve the commonwealth in public connections. In 1872 he was chosen a member of the territorial legislature from Jefferson county and proved a most able and capable working member of that body. He introduced the bill for the establishment of the State School of Mines at Golden and gave the ground upon which the first building of that institution was erected. He took great interest in and worked for the passage of the bill to establish this school, fully appreciating its importance to the mining industry of the state. For many years after its establishment he acted as one of its trustees and attended each session of the legislature to look after the interests of the
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school. His efforts were ever of a most practical character. While he held to high ideals in public affairs, he used the most earnest and effective effort for their adoption and his labors were far-reaching, resultant and beneficial. Colorado has every reason to class him with her most honored and valued men.
EMIL C. STEINMANN.
Emil C. Steinmann is one of Denver's well known journalists, publisher of the Colo- rado Herald, until recently a German publication, but it is being gradually changed into an English print. This paper is well known all over the state among those who speak the German tongue. Mr. Steinmann was born in Berlin, Germany, October 22, 1882, a son of Bruno and Louise ( Meschelson) Steinmann. His father came to America in 1872 and engaged in the importing business in New York city for several years, after which he returned to Berlin, where he was married. At a subsequent date he again became a resident of New York city, where he continued in the importing business on an extensive scale. He died in the year 1903. and his widow is still a resident of Denver.
Emil C. Steinmann was the only child born of their marriage. In early life he at- tended school in Berlin. Germany, where he also studied journalism, and he was at one time a student in the University of France. After completing his education in France he returned to New York city, where he entered the employ of the Union Publishing Company. He continued in newspaper work in the east in various capacities until 1909. when he came to Denver and has since been identified with newspaper interests as a representative of the Herald Publishing Company. For several years he was the city editor, afterward was advanced to the position of business manager and later became managing editor, since which time he has had entire charge of the paper in connection with the editorial department. The office has splendid equipment. including the finest presses and most modern machinery, and there is nothing lacking that has to do with a city newspaper office at the present time. The paper has always been published in the German tongue, but is now being transformed into an English printed paper.
Mr. Steinmann is a great political factor in the state of Colorado, but has always refused public office althoughi official honors have been tendered him at numerous times. He is secretary and treasurer of the Home Petroleum Corporation, a Colorado corpora- tion, operating in the Coffeyville ( Kansas) field, and a producing company.
On the 12th of October. 1917. in Chicago, Illinois, Mr. Steinmann was married to Miss Hilda Blake, of Chicago, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. F. Blake. In politics Mr. Stein- mann maintains an independent course and follows that policy in all his publications. Fraternally he is a Master Mason and he belongs also to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Colorado Editorial Association and to the Civic and Commercial Associa- tion of Denver, taking active interest in all that has to do with the progress, upbuilding and substantial advancement of the city.
HAMILTON ARMSTRONG.
Hamilton Armstrong, chief of police in the city of Denver, is a native of Jackson. Mississippi. He was born April 27, 1861, of the marriage of Charles and Mary J. (Walmsley ) Armstrong, both of whom were natives of Ireland. They became resi- dents of Jackson, Mississippi, in the early '50s and there the father conducted business as a contractor and builder, winning considerable prominence and success in that con- nection.
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