USA > Colorado > History of Colorado; Volume III > Part 55
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"Roll back the veiling mists of time from that eventful day- How like a dream the retrospect ?- old things have passed away. The very face of nature changed, where erst was arid waste, Sage brush and cactus, dusty weeds through which lithe lizards raced, The thirsty soil now oft refreshed, is carpeted with green, And leafy avenues of shade where never tree was seen. Ten-story blocks mark cabin sites, ox-trains have vanished quite, From gambling halls we hear no yells or fiddlers through the night. No motley groups indulge in talk of 'big things' lately found, No threats of burning town at night by Indians prowling 'round. No roughs upon the rampage go, with frequent pistol shot, There is no 'man for breakfast,'-no excitement raging hot. Draw, draw the misty veil again o'er memory's passing show, O'er scenes so vivid to our sight-just forty years ago.
"Just forty years ago today, just forty years ago,
We keep repeating o'er and o'er, in dreamy mood and slow. The words have such far distant sound 'tis hard to grasp their truth- What's count of years to one whose heart claims kinship still to youth ? A truce to cheery sentiment, dissemble as we may, They've left sure trace on form and face and streaked our locks with gray. These be thy tell-tale marks, O Time! slight handicap as yet,
In busy life's unceasing round with duties must be met. Most grateful we for needful strength that thou hast spared as such, On mind and heart and senses all, hath laid so light a touch.
While golden dreams delnsive prove, and wealth takes sudden wings, The truest joy that stirs the breast from faithful service springs.
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More good than ill the years have brought, more happiness than woe. And fate was kinder than we knew-just forty years ago."
While Mr. Greenleaf comes of New England ancestry, his genius has been developed in the west. His father, Gardner Greenleaf, was a New Englander, and his mother, who bore the maiden name of Rebecca J. Caldwell, was a native of Nova Scotia. For almost sixty years, however, he has been a resident of Colorado. Here, on the 30th of March, 1869, he was married to Miss Jennie S. Hammond, of Denver, and to them have been born three children, two sons and a daughter, all of whom are married and reside in other states. Mrs. Greenleaf is a daughter of Lorenzo R. Hammond, of Massachu- setts, and came to Denver with her mother and stepfather, Martin Rollins, in 1860. The sons and daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Greenleaf are: Gardner, who was born in 1871 and is now in Chicago; Eugene Lawrence, who was born August 19, 1875, and is a magician, traveling with the Redpath Bureau and known as Eugene Laurant; and Rebecca Jane, who was born in 1877 and is the wife of Don R. Lewis, a merchant of Salt Lake City. Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence N. Greenleaf still make their home in Denver.
From the nature of his pursuits Mr. Greenleaf was disinclined to seek political office, but has always been a stalwart champion of the democratic party. He served on the board of education in School District, No. 1, for two terms, from 1885 until 1891. He and his family are attendants of the Episcopal church, and he is an honored member of the Colorado Pioneer Society and has been active in the Masonic fraternity for more than forty-six years, having presided over lodge, chapter, council and commandery, while in the grand bodies he has filled the offices of grand master, grand high priest and grand master of the Royal & Select Masters. He is a thirty-third degree Mason and was the deputy of the inspector general in Colorado, and he has presided over the various bodies of the Scottish Rite, yet all this comprises but a small part of the many positions he has filled. As merchant, as Mason, as editor and writer of prose and poetry, he has exerted a widely felt influence for progress, for advancement and for culture, and today, in the eightieth year of his age, he is one of the most honored and venerated citizens of Denver.
ANDREW J. SMILLIE.
Andrew J. Smillie, who is now living retired at Eaton, was for a considerable period prominently connected with agricultural interests in Weld county and through his carefully directed labor won a success that now enables him to rest from further business cares. He was born in Richmond, Quebec, November 8, 1857, and is a son of James M. and Violet (Wilson) Smillie, both of whom were natives of Edinburgh, Scotland. The father was brought to the new world when but three years of age, the family home being established in Richmond, Quebec. They proceeded up the river in small boats to Richmond and James M. Smillie became identified with the farming interests of that locality. He remained for many years on the old home- stead, there passing away at the age of ninety-four years.
Andrew J. Smillie was a pupil in the public schools near his father's home and afterward became a student in St. Francis College, which he attended for two years. He remained upon the old homestead farm with his father until he reached the age of twenty-four years and then sought a fortune in the west, making Colorado his destination. For four years he engaged in farming, after which he purchased and sold farm lands near Eaton. He continued upon his farm until 1892 but now rents the property. He owns about two hundred and sixty acres of rich and arable land, from which he derives a substantial annual income. He is also a stockholder in the First National Bank of Eaton.
In 1885 Mr. Smillie was united in marriage to Miss Etta Wolfe, a daughter of James and Catbarine Wolfe, of Iowa. Mrs. Smillie passed away August 11, 1915, and was laid to rest in the Eaton cemetery. She was a member of the Congregational church and a most estimable woman, her death being deeply deplored by many friends as well as her immediate family. Besides her husband she left two daughters: Hazel G., born July 10, 1890; and Cecile C., born March 31, 1894. They were pupils in the public schools of Eaton and Hazel afterward became a student in the Chicago University. She specialized in music, won a gold medal in 1910 and for some time taught music. She is now the wife of L. F. Pattee, who is engaged in the produce business in Denver. The younger daughter was graduated from the Eaton schools and became a student in the Colorado College.
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The religious faith of the family is that of the Presbyterian church. In 1916 Mr. Smillie toured Colorado and also made an extended trip through Canada, visiting his old bome at Richmond, where many years before his father had served as mayor for a considerable period and where the days of his boyhood and youth were passed. He has never had occasion to regret the fact that he crossed the border into the United States and became a resident of Colorado, for here he found good business opportunities and as the years passed steadily worked his way upward, becoming one of the prominent and representative residents of Eaton and a substantial business man.
MARTIN SVEDMAN.
The life record of Martin Svedman is an illustration of what may be accomplished through individual purpose intelligently directed. Coming to America from Sweden when a young man of twenty-one years, unacquainted with the language and the customs of the people, he has steadily worked his way upward, industry and determination constituting the weapons with which he has victoriously fought life's battles. He is today one of the men of affluence in Windsor, Weld county, holding valuable farm property in this section of the state. He was born in Sweden, March 9, 1850, and is a son of Jepson and Ingor Svedman, both of whom were natives of Sweden. The father followed the occupation of farming in that country throughout his entire life and he and his wife reared a family of eight children, four sons and four daughters, six of whom came to the new world. The mother died in the year 1884, while the father survived until 1887.
Martin Svedman remained in his native country through the period of his minority and enjoyed the educational opportunities accorded by the public schools. After his textbooks were put aside he worked as a farm band until he attained his majority and then determined to try his fortune in the new world. Accordingly he bade adieu to family, friends and native land and sailed for America in the year 1871. He did not tarry on the eastern coast but made his way at once into the interior of the country, going first to Topeka, Kansas. In that locality he worked as a farm hand until 1876, when he came to Colorado, settling in Weld county. Here he also began work as a farm hand in the vicinity of Greeley at a wage of fifteen dollars per month. He was thus employed until 1883, when he took up a tree claim four miles west of Windsor, or more correctly four miles west of the present site of Windsor, for at that time the town had not been established. He at once began improving his land and carried on the work according to most progressive and resultant methods, bringing his farm under a high state of cultivation. To his original purchase he has added from time to time as his financial resources have increased until he is now the owner of a valuable property of eight hundred acres, which he has continuously and successfully operated through all the intervening years. In 1911 Mr. Svedman removed to Windsor and purchased a nice home, but he still operates a part of the farm, having two hundred acres which he personally superintends. The remainder of his land he now rents and the rental thereof adds materially to his income. His farm is situated across the border in Larimer county.
In November, 1885, Mr. Svedman was united in marriage to Miss Ida Anderson, a daughter of A. P. and Bertha S. Anderson, who were natives of Sweden and came to America in 1880. They settled in Longmont, Colorado, where Mr. Anderson followed the occupation of farming. He purchased land in Larimer county and continued its further development and cultivation throughout his remaining days, his life's labors being ended in death in 1899. He had for five years survived his wife, who passed away in 1894. To Mr. and Mrs. Svedman have been born seven children, namely: Helen B., who was born July 30, 1889, and is the wife of Joseph Perry, a mining engineer residing in Oakland, California; Lillian A., whose birth occurred April 27, 1892, and who is now engaged in teaching school at Hoquiam, Washington; Ann Lucille, who was born October 8, 1895, and is at home; Hattie M., who was born October 29, 1900, and is a high school student; Clarence M., whose natal day was August 23, 1906, and who is also attending school: and two who are deceased, passing away in the years 1894 and 1898 respectively.
Mr. and Mrs. Svedman are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are people of genuine personal worth, enjoying the high regard of all with whom they come in contact. In politics Mr. Svedman has been a republican since becoming a naturalized American citizen but has never been an office seeker, preferring to concentrate his time and efforts upon his husiness affairs. While upon the farm he made a specialty of feeding sheep for twenty years but in 1915 retired from that branch of business. He still, however, raises high grade cattle and horses. He is a stockholder in the Farmers
MR. AND MRS. MARTIN SVEDMAN
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Bank of Windsor and owns the building which the bank occupies, together with other valuable business property of the town. He makes his home in Windsor and from this point directs his farming and other business interests. As the years have gone by he has made steady progress, each year finding him in advance of the position which he occupied the previous year. His life record should serve to inspire and encourage others, showing what may be accomplished through determined effort, diligence and business integrity. His path has never been strewn with the wreck of other men's fortunes but along constructive lines he has builded his prosperity, which is indeed well deserved.
GEORGE A. HENDERSON.
George A. Henderson, prominently known as the president of the First National Bank of Sterling, took up his abode in the city where he still resides in 1887, at which time he became identified with commercial interests. Throughout the intervening period, covering almost a third of a century, he has been closely associated with the development and progress of the city along many lines and as the years have passed his carefully directed business affairs have won for him substantial success. He was born in Delaware county. New York, September 19, 1860, a son of James and Nancy (McNealy) Henderson. The paternal grandfather, George Henderson, was the founder of the family in the new world, coming to this country from the south of Scotland in company with his parents when a youth of but thirteen years. They arrived in New York city and eventually he made his way to Delaware county, New York, where he married Elizabeth Smith, after which he took up his abode upon a farm and gave his attention to general agricultural pursuits. The maternal grandfather of George A. Henderson was Andrew McNealy, who was born in Ireland, where he married Elizabeth Morrow, coming to the United States when their daughter Nancy was a maiden of ten summers,
James Henderson, the father of George A. Henderson, was born in the year 1822 and became a well known farmer and stockman, devoting his attention to that line of business for many years. He first married Miss Nancy Harkness, by whom he had a son, William H., who was connected with the Courier-Journal of Louisville, Kentucky. When William H. Henderson was but seventeen months old his mother died and the father afterward married Miss Nancy McNealy, and had nine children, George A. being the fourth in order of birth. His half brother, William H., has passed away. The other members of the family are: Andrew M., now serving as postmaster at North Kortright, New York; Emma C., the wife of H. H. Mitchell, of East Meredith, New York; John H., who was engaged in merchandising at East Meredith but has now passed away; Jessie A., the widow of L. L. Leonard, a well known physician of Bloomville, New York; James M., a resident farmer of Delaware county, New York; Irving, who occupies the old homestead in the Empire state; and Florence, who resided with her mother and brother on the old homestead to the year 1901, when she was called to her final rest.
George A. Henderson spent his boyhood days upon the farm owned by his father and during the winter months studied at the country schools, while later he supple- mented his early educational opportunities by study in the academy at Walton and afterward in the academy at Delhi, New York. He later took up the profession of teaching in Delaware county, and in the year 1883 he removed westward to Iowa, where he entered the drug and grocery business, entering into partnership with his half brother, William H. They conducted their interests together for a time but eventually George A. Henderson sold out to his brother in order to give his time and attention to the store which had been established in Sterling, Colorado. It was in 1887 that he came to this state and established business in Sterling as a dealer in hardware, vehicles, farm implements, grain and seed. His store was situated opposite the court- house and later he made a removal to Main and Second streets. As his patronage increased he kept adding to his stock from time to time until he was occupying a building fifty by one hundred and ninety feet. He later established a large trade in alfalfa seed. He was known on both sides of the Atlantic in this connection and for several years he handled all the seed grown in Logan county and shipped three-fourths of it to London, Hamburg and other foreign ports. He proved a very prosperous and enterprising business man and was equally well known for his commercial honesty and integrity. Upon the failure of the Bank of Sterling in 1893 he was made its assignee and closed up the business of the bank. He has been the president of the First National Bank of Sterling since its organization in the fall of 1900 and he gives the major part
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of his time and attention to its conduct and interests, which are wisely and profitably managed. His judgment in all matters of banking is sound, his discrimination keen and his enterprise unfaltering. He is also interested in three other banks in Colorado and is the president of the Sterling Lumber & Investment Company, with offices in Denver. He is the president of the Sterling Hardware & Implement Company and his activities have been a most important element in the commercial and financial development of the city in which he makes his home.
On the 24th of January, 1894. Mr. Henderson was united in marriage in Kirks- ville, Missouri, to Miss Phoebe A. Corbin and to them have been horn two daughters. Isabel C., who was born November 16, 1894, was graduated from Colorado College in 1915. Mildred, born on the 14th of November, 1899, was graduated from the Marl- boro Preparatory School at Los Angeles and is continuing collegiate work in the fall of 1918. The members of the family are prominent socially and they take a very active part in church work, heing of the Presbyterian faith; in Red Cross work, and in fact in all war work.
Mr. Henderson gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He holds membership with the Masons and has taken all of the degrees of the York and Scottish Rites save the honorary thirty-third degree. He is also connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. As the years have passed he has attained wealth, yet he is most liberal with his means, giving freely where aid is needed, either by the individual or by the institution. He stands for progress and advancement in all things and his career illustrates the possibilities tor successful achievement through individual effort. Starting out in life without special advantages and without pecuniary assistance, he has steadily worked his way upward and each forward step in his career has brought him a broader outlook and wider opportunities. He has ever quickly and advantageously used the chances which have been his and as the years have gone on has drawn closer and closer to the goal of prosperity and is now enjoying the fruits of his earnest and intelligently directed toil. He owns many thousand acres of land. He was several times elected a member of the town board of Sterling and in 1895 was chosen to fill the office of mayor, giving to the city a most progressive and beneficial administration. In all local enterprises he takes a warm interest, fostering them by his influence and assisting them with his means.
EDWARD JOSEPH HEATLEY.
On the list of Colorado's pioneer settlers appears the name of Edward Joseph Heat- ley, who was prominently known for a quarter of a century as a general merchant of Golden and later as a successful real estate dealer of Denver. He was horn September 3, 1843, in County Wicklow, Ireland, and was a son of Dr. William Emerson and Elizabeth (Cullen) Heatley. He was but seven years of age when his parents bade adieu to friends and native land and crossed the Atlantic to the new world, settling in Little Rock, Arkansas, after which a removal was made to Dubuque, lowa. Finally they became residents of Harpers Ferry, Iowa, being numbered among the pioneers of that locality. The father was a physician.
Edward J. Heatley was largely reared in Iowa, where he remained until he had almost attained his majority, when in May, 1864. he left that state to take up his abode in Denver, where he engaged in the freighting business in the employ of the firm of Brown Brothers. At a subsequent period he spent a year at Mount Vernon, Colo- rado, where he conducted a small store, and then seeking a more favorable location for business, removed to Golden, Colorado, where he opened a general store, which he successfully carried on for twenty-five years. During that period his trade steadily increased with the growth of the city and the development of the surrounding com- munity and he enjoyed a liberal patronage. On disposing of his store at Golden in 1892, he removed to Denver where he opened a real estate office and continued active in that business until his demise.
It was on the 15th of October, 1875, in Dubuque, lowa, that Mr. Heatley was married to Miss Katherine G. Doran, a daughter of William and Anna ( Dower) Doran, who were natives of Ireland and on coming to the new world settled first in Mass- achusetts, while subsequently they removed to Iowa. Mr. Doran was a tailor by trade, following that business throughout his entire life. He died February 23, 1898, while his wife survived until the 6th of August, 1907. Their daughter, Mrs. Heatley, was born in Northampton, Massachusetts, September 3, 1855, and by her marriage became the
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mother of seven children. Willard E., who was born October 12, 1876, and now makes his home in Chicago, married Ella Rule, of Boulder, Colorado. Edward I., born December 23, 1882, is living in California. Florence G., born July 10, 1884. makes her home with her mother in Denver. Paul L., born February 11, 1887, married Ethel Fitzpatrick and is a resident of Oklahoma. Louis B., born May 22, 1888, is now in the national army. Francis Eugene, born February 22, 1890, is a graduate of the Colorado School of Mines and is now engaged in mining work in Cuba. Anna Evelyn, born February 25, 1893, married Willard Robert Awenius, of Oklahoma, and they have a son, Willard R., Jr., who was born September 12, 1917. Mrs. Heatley is a member of the Territorial Daughters of Colorado.
Mr. Heatley in religious faith was a Catholic. He gave his political support to the republican party and he belonged to the Masonic fraternity. Practically all of his life was spent in the west and was characterized by the spirit of western enterprise, progress and improvement. He ever felt it to be his duty to do everything possible for his community and the country at large, and as a business man and as a citizen he ranked very high. His demise occurred on the 10th of January, 1912.
Mr. Heatley was considerably interested in mining in the Tarryall district and it was there that he met with an accident which caused his death, two days later. At his funeral in Denver the following tribute was paid him by John E. Leet, an old friend :
"The sons of the deceased have requested me to say a few words. I am an old friend and have known him for many years. Often has he consulted with me as to his personal and business affairs. I am perhaps in a better position than anybody else to justly appreciate the real excellencies of his character, hid beneath a somewhat eccentric bearing. because he recently confided to me his worthy plans for establishing his children in business. Born in Ireland sixty-nine years ago he came with his parents to lowa when he was a child and on reaching manhood he landed in Denver forty-seven years ago with only one dollar in his pocket. By industry and sobriety he has accumulated all that he leaves behind. Settling at Mount Vernon canyon, he later became the largest merchant at Golden, at one time carrying a large stock, and has for many years past been a prominent dealer in Denver real estate, holding his own where many have failed. I consider that, upon the whole, his life has been successful.
"For one I have never felt that old age was greatly to be desired. When a little child, whose parents have struggled to keep it alive for several years, finally dies the pathos of the incident touches all hearts. But when a man like this one has fought out the battle of life from a discouraging beginning to a successful end and has almost reached the Biblical allotment of three score and ten he is to be congratulated upon dying an honorable death. And his death was honorable, indeed, it was essentially heroic. All the world applauds the soldier who dies at the cannon's mouth fighting for his country. But here is a hero who died upon the firing line of life's battle fighting with his last breath for his family, a charming family of which he was proud. To still better provide for it he, an old man, penetrated the deep snows of the dangerous moun- tains in the dead of winter, still searching for the gold that lured him across the plains nearly half a century ago, and actually fell, pick in hand, facing what he felt to be the call of duty."
THOMAS I. GREGORY.
Thomas I. Gregory is widely recognized as a man of keen foresight and business sagacity, who possesses, moreover, the power to assimilate interests and coordinate forces into a unified and harmonious whole. This power has led to his organization of the Western Life & Casualty Company, of which he is the president, and thus he occupies a very prominent position in insurance circles in Colorado. He was born in Lewis county, Missouri, October 14, 1859, a son of Thomas I. and Edith ( Butler) Gregory. The father, a native of Scotland, came to the United States in early life and devoted his attention to the occupation of farming, which he followed in Lewis county, Missouri. He became a very active and prominent resident of that section of the country and there passed away. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Edith Butler, was born in Kentucky, and is now deceased. There is one daughter of the family, Mrs. Alice Tall, whose hushand is a farmer of Lewis county, Missouri.
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