History of Colorado; Volume III, Part 8

Author: Stone, Wilbur Fiske, 1833-1920, ed
Publication date: 1918-19
Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 844

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Colonel Hnghes established his home in Denver in 1898 and in 1902 became the organizer of the Coutinental Trust Company of this city. He afterward spent a great

HISTORY OF COLORADO

portion of his time in Denver making occasional trips to Texas and to other points to superintend his business interests, which had grown to mammoth proportions.

Colonel Hughes was a great lover of coaching, the chase, dogs and horses and won many coaching prizes at horse shows. He was also a skilled wing-shot. A most generous man in spirit, his benevolences were many and he became known as one of the leading philanthropists of Denver. He was particularly interested in the Clifton Hughes Training School for Girls, conducted by the City Temple Institutional Society. In 1907 Colonel Hughes sold his splendid Montclair home, to be used as a home school for girls, at a sacrifice, for thirty thousand dollars, although he had previously refused fifty thousand dollars for the property. In order that the payments might be more easily made he sold on the deferred plan, allowing ten years in which to complete payment. In order to assist the school he later donated two thousand dollars to it and still later, when the institution failed to pay the interest on the indebtedness, Colonel Hughes made a donation of the whole sum to the school. When the people of the neighborhood protested against the establishment of the school he said: "I have never before learned of schools, the bulwark of American liberty and happiness, when of good character and properly conducted, producing depreciation in the value of property." He remained a patron of the school to the time of his demise.

On November 21, 1917, was celebrated the golden wedding of Colonel and Mrs. Hughes, the notable event being the occasion of the warmest congratulations and wishes from their many friends. Although Colonel Hughes was never a citizen of Denver in the strict sense of the word and always retained his home in Dallas, Texas, Mrs. Hughes still remains at the Denver residence. Outside of the school above referred to many other public interests of Denver were recipients of gifts from Colonel Hughes and his philanthropies were many. One of the local papers at the time of his demise spoke of him as "a retired Denver business man, a widely known stockman and a national authority on banking. * * A constructive builder of big businesses and a philanthropist, Colonel Hughes won for himself a name through- out the United States that few men possess. In his passing Colorado's grief is shared throughout the nation, for with his acquaintance extending from the Pacific to the Atlantic coast and records of his achievements standing as mute evidence of his greatness, the nation must feel his loss."

CHALMERS HADLEY.

Chalmers Hadley, librarian of the Denver public library, was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on the 3d of September, 1872, a son of Dr. Evan and Ella (Quin) Hadley and a descendant of the Hadleys who held Withycombe-Hadley, Williton-Hadley and Heath- field in Somersetshire, England, while later generations of the family lived in Kings county, Ireland. Chalmers Hadley is a descendant in the seventh generation of Simon Hadley, of Steyning Manor, Pennsylvania, who was judge of the New Castle county courts, and is the ninth in descent from William Clayton, member of Governor Mark- ham's council in 1681; president-justice of William Penn's council in 1682; and acting governor of Pennsylvania in 1684-5. He is also eighth in descent from Nicholas Newlin, member of William Penn's council from 1685 until 1687 and judge of the Chester county courts. He is seventh in descent from Nathaniel Newlin, of Concord, now Newlin township, Chester county, Pennsylvania, who was an assemblyman, a justice of the conrts, a member of the commission to revise the laws of the province of Pennsylvania and trustee of the general loan office of the province.

Dr. Evan Hadley, father of Chalmers Hadley, was a leading physician of Indianapolis, Indiana, for many years and was professor of medicine in the Indiana Medical College.

Chalmers Hadley was a pupil in the Shortridge high school of Indianapolis, Indiana. from which he was graduated in 1892. He next entered Earlham College at P.ichmond, Indiana, and completed his course there by graduation in 1896, winning the degree of Bachelor of Letters. He afterward entered the New York State Library School, where he remained as a student in 1905 and 1906, and he received the honorary degree of Litt. D. from the University of Denver in 1914. He entered the field of business in connection with newspaper work on the Philadelphia Record at Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania. For a long period he has been prominently and actively identified with library work, becoming executive secretary and state organizer for the Public Library Com- mission of Indiana, while later he was made executive secretary of the American Library Association, with offices in Chicago, Illinois. In 1911 he was called to the position of librarian of the Denver public library and has since acted in that capacity. His

HISTORY OF COLORADO

previous broad training and wide experience proved of the greatest benefit to him in this connection, well qualifying him for the onerous, responsible and important duties that now devolve upon him. He was appointed by Governor Ammons as a member of the state board of library commissioners of Colorado and has served as its president from 1913 to the present time.

In 1917 Mr. Hadley was married in the chantry of Grace church in New York city to Miss Edna Florence Hendrie, a daughter of Charles Francis Hendrie, of Denver, who was the founder of the Hendrie-Bolthoff Company of this city. Mr. Hadley is a birthright member of the Society of Friends. He is well known socially in Denver as a member of the Mile High Club, also of the Cactus Club of Denver and of several other social organizations and clubs of this and other cities.

ALEXANDER JOSEPH ELSNER.

Alexander Joseph Elsner, the cashier of the State Bank of Ramah at Ramah, Colo- rado, was born July 12, 1882, in Elbert county, this state, a son of George and Ida (Maul) Elsner. The father was a native of Wisconsin, while the mother's birth occurred in Germany. George Elsner became one of the first settlers in Elbert county, estab- lishing his home there when the work of progress and development seemed scarcely begun and the most farsighted could not have dreamed of the changes which were rapidly to occur and transform it into a very productive and profitable farming section.

Alexander J. Elsner, supplementing his common school education by a course in a business college, started upon his commercial career as an employe in the general store of the Elbert Mercantile Company, where he remained for three years. He after- ward removed to Ramah in connection with Lemuel Gammon, whom he represented in a mercantile way for three years, and upon the organization of the State Bank of Ramah he was made cashier of the institution, with which he is now connected, being also one of its stockholders and directors. In his official capacity as cashier he has largely had charge of the bank and the control of its business and in such matters displays sound judgment. keen sagacity and unwearied industry. The success of the in- stitution is largely attributable to his labors and he has the entire confidence of Mr. Gammon, whom he has long represented in a business way.

On the 20th of June, 1906, Mr. Elsner was married to Miss Clara M. Brazelton, of Elbert, a daughter of Alex and Emma (Charman) Brazelton. She acquired a common school and business college education. By her marriage she has become the mother of two daughters: Vida Beth, born April 20, 1913; and Lillian Alexandria, born Sep- tember 27, 1916.

Mr. Elsner is a Mason, holding membership in Kiowa Lodge, No. 116, and also belongs to Ramah Lodge, No. 178, I. O. O. F., and Elbert Lodge, No. 152, W. O. W. His political endorsement is given to the republican party. He is a clean-cut, energetic young business man of fine appearance, active, shrewd, persistent, possessing the full confidence of Mr. Gammon, whom he represents, and of the general public. He is making steady progress in a business way and he well deserves the success which is now his.

FRANKLIN EUGENE CARRINGER.

· Franklin Eugene Carringer, founder and president of The Midland Savings & Loan Company of Denver, is one of the well known figures in connection with financial Inter- ests and public life of his city. His career from the time he started out on his own account furnishes an excellent demonstration of what ability, ambition and self-reliance will accomplish.

Mr. Carringer was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, April 25, 1859, a son of .Anthony S. and Maria (Moyer) Carringer, who were also natives of the Keystone state, where they spent their childhood and youth and were married. The father took up black- :smithing, which trade he followed for a time in his native state and afterward in Iowa 'and Illinois and still later in Colorado. He came to this state in 1891 and while still identified with blacksmithing he was killed in a mine accident in 1910 at the age of seventy years. His widow afterward removed to Chicago and passed away in that city in January, 1918.

Franklin E. Carringer was the eldest in their family of six children. During his youthful days his parents removed with their family to the middle west, settling first

FRANKLIN E. CARRINGER

HISTORY OF COLORADO

in Iowa, where he began his education in the public schools. At the age of twelve years he worked by the month on a farm and after that practically made his own way in the world. At a later period the family home was established in Monmouth, Illinois. After receiving a common school education he entered into business with his father and learned the blacksmithing trade, which he followed at times, also working at machinery and factory work. It was his ambition, however, to devote his attention to other lines and with this end in view he took up the study of stenography and afterward was employed in this capacity in the city of Chicago, beginning in 1882, at ten dollars per week. After several years he removed to Topeka, Kansas, where he was special com- missioner of the supreme court of Kansas and secretary to Albert H. Horton, chief jus- tice of the supreme court of Kansas. While thus engaged he devoted his leisure hours to reading law, passed the required examination and was admitted to practice in the courts of Kansas. At this time he made a move that was to prove the most important one he had ever made, although he was advised by his friends not to do so. He left Kansas for Denver, thus seeking a new field for his lahors. He had attained high stand- ing in the former state, occupied a remunerative position, had influential friends there and, having been admitted to the bar, it seemed an nuwise move for him to go to a new city where he would have to form new acquaintances and where there was no especially favorable outlook for his future. However, he had made up his mind to go to Denver and the wisdom of his conclusion is fully borne out in the face of subsequent results. Soon after reaching Denver he became one of the organizers of The Midland Savings & Loan Company, which was formed in August, 1891. The original board of directors elected Mr. Carringer to the position of manager and after a short period he was elected to the presidency and has since been the executive head of the institution.

The history of The Midland Savings & Loan Company since its organization is largely a history of Franklin E. Carringer for the same period. Its record of growth and progress is perhaps best shown in its twenty-seventh annual report, issued January 1, 1918, at which time its resources included first mortgage loans amounting to one million, seven hundred and fourteen thousand dollars and stock loans amounting to over fifty thousand dollars. Its installment and prepaid accounts amount to nearly one and one- fourth million dollars. It has in fully paid accounts five hundred and forty-seven thousand, four hundred and twenty-six dollars, and in undivided profits nearly eighteen thousand dollars. The surplus in the expense fund is over thirteen thousand dollars and the reserve and contingent funds amount to one hundred and six thousand, two hundred and thirty-eight dollars. Something of the growth of the business is indicated in the fact that since its organization the company has loaned, largely for building homes, five million, four hundred and sixty-one thousand, three hundred and twenty-one dollars and in the period of its existence, covering twenty-seven years, it has paid to members nearly three million dollars, of which amount six hundred and eighty thousand, four hundred and sixty-six dollars was dividends, while the total dividends paid and col- lected to Jannary 1, 1918, amount to one million, thirty-six thousand, one hundred and fifty dollars and forty cents. In addition to Mr. Carringer, who has so long served as president, the other officers are: Charles C. St. Clair, vice president; Frederick W. Carringer, secretary and treasurer; Andrew J. Bryant, attorney and director; and Dr. James P. Willard, also a director. The Midland Savings & Loan Company has long since taken a high position among Denver's well managed financial institutions and the foregoing statement certainly reflects great credit upon all who have had to do with the conduct of its affairs. The beginning was most modestly made, and during the first two years as its president Mr. Carringer did not draw any salary in order to conserve its resources until a time when such an expenditure would be less felt. In addition to lis activities as president of The Midland Savings & Loan Company, Mr. Carringer has many other important business connections and investments.

In June, 1913, Mr. Carringer was married to Miss Ethel England, of Denver, in which city she was born, a representative of one of its pioneer families. They have one daughter, Ruth, born in October, 1915. By a former marriage Mr. Carringer has two daughters: Jennie M., horn in Topeka, Kansas, an accomplished and highly educated young lady, who was graduated in music from the Northwestern University in 1916, and on the 23d of July, 1918, was married in Evanston, Illinois, to the Rev. Oscar Frank- lin Smith, of Sedalia, Missouri, a graduate of Baker University and Garrett Biblical Institute of Evanston; and Zillah, who was born in Denver and is also a graduate of Northwestern University. She is now teacher of sciences in the Illinois Woman's College at Jacksonville, Illinois.

Mr. Carringer holds membership in Trinity Methodist Episcopal church, and is a Scottish Rite Mason and Shriner, having attained the thirty-second degree in the order.

HISTORY OF COLORADO

He also belongs to the Denver Civic and Commercial Association and is interested in all that has to do with the welfare and progress of the city, the extension of its business connections and the establishment of its high municipal standards.

In politics Mr. Carringer is a stanch democrat, is a member of the Denver Demo- cratic Club, and one of the strong men of the party in the state. He has long heen one of the active workers for its success and during the present decade he was promi- nently mentioned in connection with the candidacy for governor of Colorado, heing in the same year at the primary election 'a candidate for lieutenant governor, on which occasion he was defeated by a very small plurality. He served with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents as a member of the house of representatives in the thirteenth Colorado general assembly in 1901, and later was elected senator as a member of the seventeenth and eighteenth general assemblies, his services continuing from 1909 until 1912. He is now serving as mayor of Edgewater, where he resides, and he has given to that city a businesslike as well as a progressive administration under which many improvements have been made. In all matters of citizenship he is actuated hy a lofty devotion to high ideals and in business affairs he has ever main- tained the highest standards, winning his success by methods that neither seek nor require disguise. His plans have always been carefully formulated and promptly exe- cuted and his energy and determination have not only enabled him to overcome the difficulties and obstacles in his path but also to carve out a way that has led to the goal of substantial success. At this writing, in October, 1918, he is the nominee of the democratic party for the office of lieutenant governor of Colorado.

WILLIAM EDWARD EDOM.

William Edward Edom, a prominent contractor specializing in bridge building, pile driving, flumes, headgates and dams, his work being of a most important character, was born January 27, 1839, in what was then Morgan but is now Scott county, Illinois, his parents being John and Emeline Malinda (Draper) Edom. The father was a native of England and made the occupation of farming his life work. His wife was a native of the state of New York and was of German lineage. Both passed away in Illinois.

In the rural schools of his native county William E. Edom pursued his education and early became familiar with all branches of farm work, assisting his father in the cultivation of the fields throughout the period of his hoyhood and youth. He began his journey westward in 1860, making his way to Leavenworth, Kansas. He drove a team between Fort Riley and Fort Union and on the 1st of August, 1860, left over the Santa Fe trail, crossed the Arkansas river at the old Bent's Fort in Colorado and proceeded on to Santa Fe, New Mexico. In the summer of 1861, however, he returned to Colorado, making his way to Denver, where he engaged in contracting, although at a later period he spent about six years in mining in Gilpin county. While thus employed he took the first min- eral out of the noted Roderick Dhu mine, now the San Juan mine. In the fall of 1869 he again became a resident of Denver, and although he is now in the eightieth year of his age, he is still engaged in the contracting business and for many years has figured as one of the most prominent builders along certain lines in the state. He constructed the first dam in Denver on Twenty-fourth street and he has always specialized in the building of dams, headgates, flumes and bridges and in pile driving. Thoroughly under- standing every scientific phase as well as all practical features of the work, he has been accorded a liberal patronage and his success is indeed well deserved.

On the 25th of January, 1866, Mr. Edom was married to Miss Clara A. Graves, of Blackhawk, Colorado, who is a native of Illinois. To them were horn six children: Luella A., who was horn at Nevada, Colorado, December 16, 1866, and who is the widow of Elias Prosser; Oline E., whose birth occurred at Apex, Colorado, August 6, 1869, and who is the wife of John Foster, of Denver; Mary Belle, who was born April 7, 1872, and who is married and has two children, Delhert B. and Carl G .; Charles K., who was born September 30, 1874, and passed away on the 5th of March, 1875; Edward, who was born September 5, 1877, and is a steamfitter by trade; and Nellie, who was born June 12, 1880, and gave her hand in marriage to Clyde Johnson, of Denver.

With various public interests and activities of Denver Mr. Edom has been closely and prominently associated. After his removal to this state he became identified with Company L, Third Colorado Cavalry, and was always on detail service. He was engaged in transportation work at Sand Creek at the time Chivington's command massacred the Indians under Black Kettle and viewed the battlefield the day after the engagement.

HISTORY OF COLORADO

For two years, in 1877 and 1878, he was assistant chief of the Denver fire department. His political allegiance has always been given to the republican party and in 1878 he served as alderman of Denver, while in 1884 he filled the office of street commissioner. He is a member of the Veteran Volunteer Firemen's Association, the Colorado Pioneer Association and the Colorado Soldiers Association. Thoroughly familiar with every phase of the state's development and progress, he has not only been a witness of its changes but has contributed in substantial measure to its growth and upbuilding. Public-spirited, he has ever cooperated in works of general improvement and has ever stood on the side of advancement. His reminiscences of Denver and of the state in early pioneer times are most interesting, picturing forth many episodes in Colorado's history or events that have figured largely in shaping the annals of the state.

HON. GEORGE W. ALLEN.

Spending the first seventeen years of his life upon the home farm in Pennsylvania, Hon. George W. Allen then entered upon preparation for a career that has brought him to the highest judicial position within the gift of the people of Colorado. He served for twenty-two years upon the district hench and was then called by popular suffrage to the office of supreme court judge, winning the notable distinction of being the only republican elected on the state ticket. There is perhaps no other jurist of Colo- rado whose record extends over a longer period and none has been more faultless in honor, fearless in conduct or stainless in reputation.

Judge Allen was born upon a farm in Warren county, Pennsylvania, a son of the late Samuel P. Allen, who was born in the Keystone state in 1810 and was a descendant of an old family of Scotch lineage. The founder of the American branch of the family was the grandfather of Judge Allen-Thomas Allen by name-who prior to the Revolu- tionary war crossed the Atlantic to England's colonial possessions in the new world, becoming a resident of Pennsylvania, where he followed agricultural pursuits. His son, Samuel P. Allen, was reared and educated in Pennsylvania and devoted his life to agriculture and to the lumber business. He had remained almost continuously a resi- dent of Warren county, where he passed away in 1894 at the age of eighty-four years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Thompson, was a native of New York and belonged to one of the oldest families of the Empire state, of English lineage. She, too, passed away at the old homestead in Warren county, where she had so long resided. She had become the mother of eleven children. five sons and six daughters, Judge Allen being the sixth in order of birth. Eight of the number reached years of maturity but only three are yet living, namely: Judge Allen of this review; Mary E., who is the widow of Luther Bishop and is a resident of Warren, Pennsylvania; and Ida, the wife of Dr. Bowers, a resident of Jamestown, New York. Two elder brothers of Judge Allen served gallantly and heroically throughout the Civil war. One of these was General Harrison Allen, who was brevetted brigadier general, and the other was Cap- tain Samuel T. Allen. Three others of the family, Hon. Orren C., Walter and Martha, are deceased. while the other members of the household died in infancy.

In retrospect one may see Judge Allen a farm-bred boy attending the country schools of Warren county, Pennsylvania, but eager to advance his education, he em- braced every opportunity pointing in that direction and ultimately became a pupil in the Normal School at Edinburg, Pennsylvania. After leaving the district schools he entered the Randolph Academy, now known as Chamberlain's Institute, at Randolph, New York, and there he attended the summer classes, while during the winter months he taught school in order to provide the funds necessary for the continuance of his edu- cational training. It was through his earnings that he was able to complete his studies in the Normal, which course he pursued with a view of ultimately taking up the law as his chosen profession. He accordingly entered the law office of Samuel T. and Orren C. Allen, two of his elder brothers, who were engaged in practice in Warren, Pennsylvania, under the firm style of Allen Brothers. After considerable preliminary reading Judge Allen was admitted to practice in all the courts of Pennsylvania in 1865 and thus for more than a half century has remained an active member of the bar. He immediately entered upon the work of the profession on his own account in Warren, Pennsylvania, and remained there successfully engaged in the practice of law until 1879, when he removed to the west, settling at Leadville and Fort Collins, Colorado. In 1881 he came to Denver and entered upon the practice of law, continuing successfully in general practice until 1888, when he was elected judge of the district court. He served in that capacity until 1900, or for two terms of office, covering a period of

Geow allen 1

HISTORY OF COLORADO

twelve years. He then resumed private practice, in which he continued until 1906, when he was once more elected judge of the district court for a six years' term and served until 1912. In that year he was a fourth time chosen by popular suffrage to the position of district court judge and continued upon the bench until January, 1917, when he resigned the office in order to assume the higher responsibilities of justice of the supreme court, for which position he had been nominated by the republican party at the primaries, while at the November election of 1916 he was the only republican elected on the entire state ticket, which otherwise gave a strong democratic majority. Be it said to his honor, and contrary to the custom of political campaigns, no effort was made by him individually or a single vote sought hy him to further his cause. As is generally known, he was the unanimous choice of the people, and men in all pro- fessions and walks of life attested their faith in him and gave proof of their belief in his marked ability and fairness by supporting him for the office. He then took his place upon the bench of the court of last resort. He has great respect for the dignity of judicial place and power and no man has ever presided in the court with greater respect for his environment than does Judge Allen. As a result of this personal char- acteristic the proceedings have always been orderly on the part of everyone-audience, bar and the officers, from the highest to the lowest. His opinions are fine specimens of judicial thought, always clear, logical and as brief as the character of the case will permit. He never enlarges beyond the necessities of the legal thought in order to indulge in the drapery of literature. His mind during the entire period of his course at the bar and on the bench has been directed in the line of his profession and his duties.

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History of Colorado; Volume III, Part 8

Author: Stone, Wilbur Fiske, 1833-1920, ed Publication date: 1918-19 Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Number of Pages: 844

Author: Stone, Wilbur Fiske, 1833-1920, ed
Publication date: 1918-19
Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 844