USA > Colorado > History of Colorado; Volume III > Part 79
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JAMES C. STOVALL
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Aetna Life Insurance Company, also handle automobile insurance for the Home Insurance Company and for others.
In 1908 Mr. Stovall was united in marriage to Miss Elsie Zaiss, of Liberty, Mis- souri, a daughter of Fred Zaiss, and they are well known in the social circles of Denver. where they have many warm friends. Mr. Stovall belongs to the Denver Athletic Club, also to the Lakewood Country Club and to the Civic and Commercial Association. He is likewise identified with the Kappa Alpha fraternity and is a member of various in- surance associations throughout the state. His political endorsement is given to the democratic party, while his religious faith is that of the Baptist church. Golf con- stitutes one of his chief sources of recreation, as he greatly enjoys a game on the links. However. his efforts and attention are largely concentrated upon his business affairs and he has gradually worked his way upward, perseverance enabling him to accomplish his purposes, while experience has augmented his powers and thus enabled him to take a forward step whenever the way has been open. He is now a well known figure in insurance circles, with a business that is bringing him very substantial returns.
LUCIUS LISK MOORE.
While living a quiet and unassuming life, Lucius Lisk Moore, now deceased, displayed sterling traits of character which endeared him to a host of friends. He never sought to figure before the public in any light outside of business, but his sterling worth in that connection was widely recognized and he ranked with the substantial citizens of Denver as the president of the Moore Hardware and Iron Company. He was born in Rochester, New York, September 4, 1856, and was a youth of hut fifteen years when he arrived in Colorado with his parents, John Morse and Hannah (Lisk) Moore. The father, who became a well known Denver merchant, was born in the town of Junius, Seneca county, New York, July 2, 1819, and spent his early youth upon the farm, while the district schools afforded him his primary education. He afterward attended Cazenovia Seminary until 1840 and subsequently he followed the profession of teaching in Junius and in Tyre, New York, while during the vacation periods he worked on a farm. He was but ten years of age when his father died and was early thrown upon his own resources. On the 8th of April, 1846, he married Hannah Lisk and in 1851 established his home at Rochester. New York, where he entered into the hardware business as senior partner in the firm of Moore & Gales. They successfully conducted the business for five years, or until their store was destroyed by fire in 1856. This fire was a general conflagration and was caused by fireworks at the time of the celebration of the laying of the first Atlantic cable. Subsequently he re entered the hardware trade in Rochester, in connection with Henry Hebing, under the style of Moore & Hebing, and remained a factor in the com- mercial circles of Rochester until 1864, when he disposed of his business there and removed to Chicago, where he embarked in the commission business at No. 197 Water street. The hardware trade. however, was more congenial to him so in 1865 he disposed of his Chicago interests and established a hardware store in Decatur, Illinois. In 1870 he again suffered severe loss by fire and after giving his creditors all that remained of his stock he came to Denver in 1871 at the age of fifty-two years, with little capital to start in business life anew. He opened a hardware store in Longmont, but as Denver offered better advantages as a trading center he established a small store in the capital city, having a limited stock of heavy hardware and wagon supplies. He continued in that business until his death, which occurred on the 26th of October, 1883. In the meantime his son, Lucius L., had been admitted to a partnership under the firm style of J. M. Moore & Son and they took their place in the front rank of the hardware mer- chants of the state. Mr. Moore was a man of broad religious views and at the time of his death was president of the board of trustees of the First Unitarian society of Denver.
From his arrival in Denver Lucius Lisk Moore was closely associated with his father's hardware business and under parental training acquired a comprehensive knowl- edge of business methods. As the years passed and his ability increased he more and more largely assumed responsibility in connection with the trade and was admitted by his father to a partnership. Upon the death of the father in 1883 he became president of the hardware company, which continued under the style of J. M. Moore's Sons and was composed of the two sons, Lucius L. and John A. In 1899 the business was incorporated under the name of the Moore Hardware and Iron Company, located at Fifteenth and Wazee streets, where it had been established by the father, John M. Moore, in 1871, and has ever since been continued. The association between the brothers continued until they were separated by death. They fully sustained the high reputation which has
LUCIUS LISK MOORE
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always been associated with the name of Moore in commercial circles of the city and tbeir enterprise was characterized by a spirit of progress and improvement in keeping with the times. The brothers were not long separated in death, Lucius L. Moore passing away on the 18th of May, 1912, while John A. Moore died in September, 1913.
It was on the 30th of September, 1891. that Lncius L. Moore was united in marriage to Miss Marie Prince, of Philadelphia, a daughter of David and Eliza J. ( Bell ) Prince, the father a native of Massachusetts and the mother of Philadelphia. Mr. Prince was a prominent business man of Philadelphia. Both of her parents are now deceased, having passed away in Philadelphia. To Mr. and Mrs. Moore were born three sons. Lucius Lisk, Jr., born April 28, 1896, in Denver, was graduated from the Pennsylvania Military College at Chester, with the degree of Civil Engineer. He completed a high school and college course in four and a half years and is now a lieutenant of marines in France. He performed gallant work in the attack on Chateau Thierry, where he was severely shell-shocked, and is now invalided to a French recuperation camp. The younger sons, Truman Prince and Orin Prince, twins, born November 6, 1900, in Denver, are now in Culver Naval School. The eldest child, a daughter, Lucia Prince, died in 1895, aged two and one-half years.
In his political views Mr. Moore was a stalwart republican. Fraternally he was a thirty-second degree Mason and a member of the Knights Templar and the Mystic Shrine and also of the Woodmen of the World. Mr. Moore took a keen and helpful interest in any project that involved the welfare of Denver, and his public spirit was always shown in matters dependent upon the support of men of that type. He belonged to the Denver Club and was recognized as a man of genuine worth by his legion of friends. He was charitable, kind, true and loyal. He held friendship inviolable and was devoted to his family, counting no personal effort or sacrifice too great if it would promote the happiness of the members of his household.
LEWIS G. JOHNSON.
Lewis G. Johnson, attorney at law, practicing as a member of the firm of Johnson & Robison, of Fort Morgan, was born at Roland, Story county, Iowa, on the 20th of September, 1878, a son of Elias and Susan Johnson, who were natives of Norway, but were brought to America during their infancy by their respective parents, their fami- lies locating in Kendall county, Illinois, where both Mr. and Mrs. Elias Johnson were reared. Their marriage was celebrated in that locality and in 1866 they removed to Iowa, taking up their abode in Story county upon a farm which Mr. Johnson had pur- chased previous to their removal. He bought this land at four dollars per acre and it is today worth two hundred and fifty dollars per acre. It was a wild and undevel- oped tract when it came into his possession and the most far-sighted could scarcely have dreamed of the changes which were to occur in that district, leading to the great advance in property values. His widow still owns the original eighty acre traet which he purchased. Throughout his remaining days he continued the work of further devel- opment and improvement upon the home farm and transformed it into a very valuable and attractive property. He died in April, 1901, but his wife still makes her home in Roland, Iowa. They reared a family of eleven children, eight of whom are living. They were worthy pioneer settlers of Story county and contributed in substantial measure to its upbuilding, settlement and improvement, their names being placed high on the list of honored pioneer citizens there.
Lewis G. Johnson spent his youthful days in his native county and attended the public schools of Roland, after which he continued his education in Luther College at Decorah, Iowa, where he was graduated with the June class of 1902. He next entered the State University at Iowa City and was graduated on the completion of the law course in June, 1905, for he had determined to make the practice of law his life work. Seeking a favorable location, he then went to Nevada, the county seat of Story county. and entered into partnership with U. S. Alderman, with whom he practiced law for about a year. In the fall of 1906. however, he removed to Colorado, settling in Denver on account of his health. He did not attempt to do much from 1906 until 1910, but in the latter year, having greatly improved in health. he came to Fort Morgan and entered upon the practice of law alone. On the 1st of June, 1911, he formed a partner ship with Corbin E. Robison under the firm name of Johnson & Robison, with offices in the First National Bank building. They have since enjoyed a good practice and their clientage is now extensive and of an important character. They have conducted much litigation in the courts of the district and Mr. Johnson is most thorough and
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painstaking in the preparation of his cases, while the presentation of his cause is clear and convincing.
In December, 1908, Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Nora Anderson, of Allamakee county, Iowa, a daughter of Christian and Thorine Anderson, the former a native of Allamakee county, while the latter was born in Minnesota. The father was a farmer by occupation and always carried on that pursuit in his native county. He passed away in comparatively early manhood and a little later his wife died, leaving Mrs. Johnson an orphan when but four years of age. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have been born three daughters: Ethel T., born October 11, 1909; Grace L., born May 14, 1914; and Amy I., born April 18, 1918.
The family has an attractive home at No. 213 Lake street in Fort Morgan, whichi property is owned by Mr. Johnson. In his political views Mr. Johnson is an earnest republican, having supported the party since age conferred upon him the right of fran- chise. He has occupied the position of alderman of Fort Morgan and is now acting as city attorney. He belongs to the Thirteenth Judicial District Bar Association and enjoys the respect, confidence and goodwill of his colleagues and contemporaries in the profession. His religious faith is indicated by his affiliation with the First Presby- terian church. He has many substantial qualities which have gained for him high and favorable regard and he is accounted one of the representative and valued citizens of Fort Morgan.
JOHN C. JAMIESON.
John C. Jamieson, of Denver, state agent in Colorado for the New York Under- . writers Agency, was born in Petersburg, Pennsylvania, October 23, 1876, a son of Robert S. and Nancy ( Schultz) Jamieson. The father was also born in the Keystone . state, where the family had been represented for a long period. The Jamiesons come of Scotch ancestry and the founder of the family in the new world was Cassillis Jamie- son, who came to America shortly after the Revolutionary war. He had previously served as a captain in the British army and on coming to the new world he took up his abode in Pennsylvania. Robert S. Jamieson was reared and educated in the Key- stone state and there engaged in the oil business throughout the period of his active business career in Pennsylvania. He now resides in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and is still interested in the oil industry. His wife was also born in Pennsylvania and was of German descent, her father having been a colonel in the German army. Mrs. Jamieson has passed away, leaving three children, two daughters and a son.
The latter, John C. Jamieson, pursued his education in the public schools of Brad- ford, Pennsylvania, and afterward took a business course in the Lima (Ohio) Business College. At the age of twenty years he started out independently to provide for his own support and was first employed by the A. P. Coles Company in the insurance busi- ness at El Paso, Texas. He there acquainted himself with all phases of the insurance business and continued with the company for a period of eight years. He afterward removed to Dallas, Texas, where he became associated with the firm of Trezevant & Cochran, general agents for all kinds of insurance. A year later he removed to Okla- homa City and was there identified with the Commercial Union Insurance Company, which he represented until November, 1911, when he removed to Denver. In this city he immediately took charge of the New York Underwriters Agency as state representa- tive for Colorado and has since continuously and acceptably filled this position. In fact his territory covers not only Colorado but also New Mexico and Wyoming. and as state agent Mr. Jamieson has supervision over one hundred and sixty-five local agents. The business has reached extensive proportions and is wisely and carefully directed by Mr. Jamieson.
On the 21st of June, 1898, at Peru, Indiana, Mr. Jamieson was united in marriage to Miss Pearl Armitage, a native of Indiana and a daughter of John T. Armitage, an attorney at law, residing in Peru, Indiana. Her mother is Mrs. Virginia ( Vanderventer ) Armitage, representing one of the prominent families of Peru. Mr. and Mrs. Jamieson have become parents of two children: Robert, who was born in El Paso, Texas, June 10, 1900; and Virginia, born in El Paso, May 17, 1902.
In his political views Mr. Jamieson is a republican. He has membership in the Blue Goose, au insurance federation, and he belongs to the Denver Civic and Commer- cial Association. He is interested in all that has to do with the welfare of his adopted city and in his life he has displayed the progressive spirit of western enterprise and progress. Starting out in the world a poor boy, his success is attributable entirely to
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persistent effort, unfaltering energy and determination. Step by step he has advanced and each forward step has brought him a broader outlook and wider opportunities, which he has eagerly and honorably utilized.
JOHN H. WILLIAMS.
John H. Williams might well be termed a "mayor of high degree," for he is the chief executive of the city of Victor, which nestles high up on the side of the Rockies. That his fellow townsmen would agree that he deserves the title is indicated in the fact that they have three times elected him to the office which he is now filling, giving to the city a businesslike, progressive administration in which he has wrought many reforms and improvements that have been greatly for the benefit of the town. In this day of widespread political corruption no one doubts his integrity or the honesty of his motives. Every official act is for the interest and benefit of his city and while there are no spectacular phases in his career, his course has ever been most straightforward.
Mr. Williams is a native of Cornwall, England. He was born February 9, 1857, of the marriage of James Williams and Sophia Curtis, the former a native of Wales and the latter of England. The father was born in 1814. The marriage was celebrated in England and in 1864 they brought their family to the United States, settling at Dover, New Jersey, where the father died in the year 1880, while the mother survived until 1909. continuing her residence in Dover to the time of her demise. Mr. Williams was an iron miner of New Jersey throughout the entire period of his residence in the United States.
Between the ages of seven and nineteen years John H. Williams was a resident of Dover and a pupil in the public schools. In 1876 he came to Colorado and in the meantime he had learned the blacksmith's trade, at which he worked in Central City, Colorado, where he took up his abode in the month of August. He there remained until January 6, 1879, when he went to Leadville, Colorado, where he resided until April, 1888, working at his trade. He next went to Aspen, Colorado, where he remained until Janu- ary, 1894, and on the 22d of that month he arrived in Victor, where he engaged in black- smithing until the 1st of April, 1918. He had also opened a wagon shop on coming to Victor and was engaged in that business from the spring of 1894 until April, 1918, when he leased his shop and retired from active business life.
Mr. Williams has been married twice. His first wife died in 1900 and on the 27th of June, 1918, in Central City, he wedded Mary E. Pollard, née Trevartha, who was born in England and came to Central City, Colorado, with her parents in 1868.
In religious faith Mr. Williams is an Episcopalian. Fraternally he is a Mason, connected with both the York and Scottish Rites and with the Mystic Shrine. He is also a charter member of Elks Lodge, No. 367, of Victor. His political allegiance has always been given to the republican party and from the 10th of July, 1894, until April, 1898, he served as alderman of Victor and later was reelected and served for two more terms, or four years. In 1912 he was chosen mayor of the city and has twice been reelected, so that he is now the incumbent in the office for the third term. He served as assessor of Teller county for one term, having been called to that position in 1910. It was the year of his arrival in Victor that he was first called to public office, his fellow townsmen recognizing in him the character of a man who would be loyal to the best interests of the community. Throughout the intervening years he has been continued in office much of the time and all who know aught of his official career speak of him in terms of the highest regard and respect.
GURNEY C. WALLACE, M. D.
Dr. Gurney C. Wallace, a practicing physician and surgeon of Denver, was born October 28, 1877. in Monroe county, Missouri, a son of the late William D. Wallace, who was born in Kentucky, where the family was established in an early day. He came of Scotch and Irish ancestry but for five generations representatives of the family have been residents of America. William D. Wallace was a merchant of Sedalia, Missouri, and spent the greater part of his life in that state and in Illinois. In 1898, however, he came to Colorado and took up his abode in Denver, where he remained until called to the home beyond, May 14, 1917, when seventy years of age. He married Ella Kipper,
MR. AND MRS. JOHN H. WILLIAMS
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a native of Missouri, who belonged to one of the old pioneer families of Monroe county, that state. Her father was John Kipper, a prominent miller and merchant of Monroe county. Mrs. Wallace passed away in June, 1908, at the age of sixty-one years, and like her husband, her last days were spent in Denver. She had a family of two sons and a daughter but the latter is now deceased. The surviving brother is John Kipper Wallace, a noted musician residing in Los Angeles, California, being well known as a soloist on the Pacific coast.
Dr. Wallace of this review acquired a high school education in Sedalia, Missouri, where he was graduated with the class of 1895. He afterward completed his studies ir. the University of Denver and won the M. D. degree with the class of 1906. Suhse- quent to his graduation he spent eighteen months in the Denver County Hospital and later he entered upon private practice, in which he has since engaged. He has never specialized along a particular line but has given his thought and attention to general practice and has by reason of his ability built up a practice of large and gratifying proportions. For the past nine years he has held a professorship in the Colorado College of Dental Surgery at Denver and he is a member of the staff of Mercy Hospital and the County Hospital. He belongs to the Medical Science Club and also has mem- bership with the Denver City and County Medical Society, the Colorado State Medical Society and the American Medical Association.
On the 27th of February, 1908, Dr. Wallace was married in Denver to Miss Nellie Lindsley, a native of Pueblo, Colorado, and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. R. Lindsley, the father a prominent mining man and old settler of Pueblo. Mrs. Wallace passed away May 3, 1918, in Denver, when thirty-one years of age, leaving two children: Francis, who was born in Denver, December 8, 1909; and Virginia, born in Denver, April 1, 1914. The home of Dr. Wallace is at No. 701 South Downing street.
Dr. Wallace is a democrat in his political views and in Masonry he has attained high rank in hoth the York and Scottish Rites. He belongs to Albert Pike Lodge, No. 117. A. F. & A. M .; also Denver Commandery, No. 25, K. T., and Rocky Mountain Con- sistory, No. 2, S. P. R. S. He is likewise identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. with the Knights of Pythias and with two Greek letter fraternities, Omega Epsilon Phi and Phi Lambda Epsilon. His religious faith is indicated hy his membership in the Christian church. Dr. Wallace has a most creditable record inas- much as he worked his own way through the university, playing the bass fiddle in the Broadway theatre. He thus provided the means necessary to meet his tuition and since that time he has steadily progressed in his chosen calling. He served in the Second Missouri Volunteer Band during the Spanish-American war and he is a member of the Spanish-American War Veterans. He is much interested in natural history and has a splendid collection. He turns to hunting and fishing for diversion and for his study of nature's handiwork. He also possesses a fine collection of arrowheads as well as mounted specimens and is interested in everything that has to do with the history, progress and development of the state from prehistoric times down to the present.
HENRY W. SWIGERT.
Henry W. Swigert is the secretary and treasurer of the Swigert Brothers Optical Company, conducting business at No. 1550 California street in Denver, in which city he has made his home since 1901. He had received thorough scientific and practical training in the middle west and was well qualified for the duties which he took up as the representative of F. A. Hardy & Company in Colorado. The years have marked his steady development and progress in business, bringing him to an enviable position as one of the officials of an extensive and profitable business conducted under the name of the Swigert Brothers Optical Company.
Mr. Swigert is a native of Chelsea. Michigan. He was born June 26, 1878, and is a son of the late Peter Swigert, who came to America when twenty-four years of age, arriving in 1866, at which time he settled in Chelsea, where he made his home to the time of his death, which occurred in 1887. when he was forty-four years of age. He was a contractor and builder and was closely identified with important building opera- tions in that section of the country. He married Bertha Moran, a native of Ireland. who came to the new world when a maiden of eighteen years in company with her parents, who settled at Chelsea. Michigan, where she, too, lived to the time of her demise, being called to the home beyond in 1889. when forty-two years of age. By her marriage she had become the mother of six children, three sons and three daughters.
Henry W. Swigert, the second of the family, was educated in the public schools of
HENRY W. SWIGERT
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Chelsea and was early thrown upon his own resources, owing to the fact that he was left an orphan when a little lad of but ten years. Since that time he has earned his own living and whatever success he has achieved is the direct result of his persistency of purpose, his capable management and sound judgment. He was first employed as mes- senger boy in connection with a men's furnishing goods establishment. At the age of fourteen years he left his native city and went to Cleveland, Ohio, where he was employed along clerical lines, and realizing the necessity and value of further educa- tion, he attended night school, thus completing his studies. He afterward went to Chi- cago but before leaving Cleveland he had served an apprenticeship with the Grant- Whittlesey Optical Company of that city, a leading optical firm, with which he began the study of the profession that now claims his time and attention. After his removal to Chicago he secured a position with the Geneva Optical Company and afterward finished his studies in the Chicago Ophthalmic College and Hospital, pursuing a course in the night school, from which he was graduated in 1900 with the degree of Doctor of Optics. On completing his studies he entered the employ of Marshall Field & Company, being given charge of the mechanical interests of the optical department. He remained in that position for two years, when he became connected with F. A. Hardy & Company of Chicago, which firm sent him to Denver to look after their interests in the establish- ment which they had previously opened in this city. Mr. Swigert continued with the Hardy Company for a year and was afterward connected with the Columbian Optical Company of Denver until 1904, when he entered into partnership with his brother, the late Louis M. Swigert, and established the present business. They began in a small way but gradually their patronage increased and today Henry W. Swigert is at the head of the largest exclusive retail optical house in Denver. In 1902 the brothers established a store in Phoenix, Arizona, which on the death of Louis M. Swigert was sold, although Henry W. Swigert still has an extensive patronage in Phoenix, which city he visits in his professional capacity twice a year. All lenses and forms which he uses are manufactured into the finished product in their Denver factory and in this con- nection Mr. Swigert employs a number of expert people. He may well be proud of what he has accomplished, for steadily he has worked his way upward through merit, ability and progressive business methods. He is also a stockholder of the Guardian Trust Company of Denver.
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