USA > Colorado > History of Colorado; Volume III > Part 88
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Le Roy Peasley was reared in Colorado and educated in the School for the Blind at Colorado Springs. He afterward took up the occupation of farming near Boulder and was identified with agricultural interests in that locality for eight years. He then wandered around the country for a time, spending different periods in various localities. He was at Cripple Creek, Colorado, at the time of the boom there and made quite a suc- cess in his business ventures during that period. In 1906 he returned to Weld county and took up the further cultivation, development and improvement of his farm, which he continued to operate successfully until a recent date, but is now renting the land. In 1915 he erected one of the finest and most modern homes in the state, a most com- modious and beautiful country residence, supplied with every modern convenience and most tastefully and attractively furnished. He is now the owner of four hundred and forty acres of rich, productive and valuable land in Weld county, from which he is
LE ROY PEASLEY AND FAMILY
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deriving a most substantial annual rental. He has always made a specialty of feeding cattle and has about two hundred head per year upon his farm, which is pleas- antly and conveniently located on section 29, township 6, range 64. not far from Greeley.
Mr. Peasley was united in marriage in 1899 to Miss Hattie Davis and to them were born three children: Verner, fifteen years of age, who is attending high school in Greeley; George K., twelve years of age, also in school; and Catherine A., a little maiden of six summers. The wife and mother passed away in 1912 and Mr. Peasley was mar- ried the second time, on January 1, 1914. to Miss Gertrude Grosheider, of Nashville, Tennessee.
Mr. Peasley belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and his political support is given to the republican party. He has never sought or desired office, pre- ferring to concentrate his efforts and attention upon business affairs. His has been a notable career. In early life he was handicapped by loss of sight, so that he was obliged to attend the School for the Blind. He afterward traveled all over the country and spent ten thousand dollars in an effort to have his vision restored. In this he was successful, so that he is now able to drive his motor car all over the country. His sound business judgment has been manifest in the success which has attended his labors. His beautiful home is the visible evidence of his progressive spirit and his interest in the welfare, comfort and happiness of his family. He does everything in his power to maintain high standards not only along agricultural lines but in matters of citizen- ship and his aid and influence are always on the side of progress and improvement. He is widely known in Colorado, where the greater part of his life has been passed, and his course has ever been such as has won for him the confidence, goodwill and regard of those with whom he has been brought in contact.
EMIL DESSERICH.
It is a far reach from the machinist's bench to the presidency of a prosperous banking institution but such is the record of the achievement of Emil Desserich, the president of the West Side Bank and also the president of the Desserich Furniture Company. A native of Alsace-Lorraine, he was born on the 1st of April, 1862, a son of Jacob and Katherine (Schuler) Desserich, both of whom were also born in Alsace- Lorraine. The father was a prosperous farmer who there passed away in the year 1882. The mother afterward came to America and resided in Denver to the time of her death in 1888. Five children were born to them, of whom one has passed away. The others are: Mrs. Rosie Jensen, of Denver: Jacob, living at Pine Grove, Colorado; Emil, of this review: and Charles a resident of Denver.
In his boyhood and youth Emil Desserich attended the French and German schools of his native district and after coming to America on the 1st of October, 1878, when he was a lad of sixteen years, he again attended school in Cincinnati, Ohio. Before coming to America he had learned the machinist's trade and on taking up his abode in Cincinnati he secured a position as a machinist and for nine years worked con- tinnously along that line in the Ohio city. In 1887 he came to Denver and for a time continued to work at his trade here. He afterward secured a position as collector and for nine years he continued to follow hoth occupations. He then determined to . engage in business on his own account on the west side. After a year he made such lieadway that he removed to a building which he had purchased and in 1910 his busi- ness was incorporated under the name of the Desserich Furniture Company, of which he has since been the president. In this connection he has built up a trade of large and gratifying proportions and he carries an extensive line of goods, ready at all times to meet the wishes and demands of the public. His business methods have been thoroughly reliable and progressive and his enterprise has brought to him a substantial measure of success in this connection. In 1916 he was elected president of The West Side Bank and has since been its directing head, although he has been a director since 1912. In matters of business judgment he is seldom if ever at fault and he readily discriminates between the essential and the non-essential in all commercial and financial transactions.
On the 15th of June, 1888, Mr. Desserich was married to Miss Frances Smith, of Cincinnati, Ohio, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Smith, and to this marriage has been born a daughter, who is now Mrs. G. Estelle Plunkett, of Denver, and who has one child, Frances Emily Plunkett.
Mr. Desserich belongs to the Knights of Pythias and also to the Alsace-Lorraine
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Society. He is truly a self-made man in the highest and best sense of the term. From the age of fourteen years he has been dependent entirely upon his own resources and that he is a man of business strength and ability is indicated in the enviable position to which he has attained since casting in his lot with the residents of Denver. Opportunity has ever been to him a call to action, and making ready response to the call, he has progressed step by step, winning not only prosperity but also an honored name.
WILLIAM OWENS CHAMBERLIN.
William Owens Chamberlin, who is engaged in landscape gardening, with offices in the Central Savings Bank building in Denver, was born in Greeley, Colorado, Octo- ber 26, 1881, a son of Harry M. and Minnie F. (Owens) Chamberlin, the former a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, while the latter was born in Monmouth, Illinois. In early youth Harry M. Chamberlin removed from the Buckeye state to Illinois and in 1879 came to Colorado, establishing his home in Greeley. He was there married in 1880 and later he engaged in freighting between Greeley and Leadville. In 1890 he removed to Denver and established business as a landscape gardener, since which time he has done muchi toward beautifying the grounds in connection with many of the most attractive homes of the city and this section of the state. He is enjoying a well earned rest at the age of sixty-three years. His wife still resides in Denver and is now sixty years of age. They have reared a family of two children: W. O., of this review; and Mrs. Robert J. Leebrick, living in Berkeley, California.
W. O. Chamberlin was quite young when his parents removed from Greeley to Denver, so that he pursued his education in the public schools of the city, becoming a pupil at the Ashland school, where he passed through consecutive grades. He eventually hecame a high school pupil and afterward attended the School of Mines, from which he was graduated as a mining engineer with the class of 1905. He then followed mining engineer- ing in old Mexico, being located at various points in that country until 1910, when he returned to Denver to become associated in business with his father. Shortly after this his father, because of ill health, retired and since then the firm known as H. M. Chamber- lin & Son has been entirely under his management.
On the 21st of September, 1910, Mr. Chamberlin was married to Miss Beatrice Hales, of Chicago, Illinois, a daughter of Simeon Hales, of that city, and to them was born one son, W. A. Chamberlin, Jr., whose birth occurred July 26, 1917. They also lost one child in infancy.
Mr. Chamberlin belongs to the Rotary Club and is a member of the Civic and Com- mercial Association. He is likewise well known in Masonic circles and has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite. His religious faith is that of the Christian church and he is a loyal adherent of its teachings. All who know him, and he has a wide acquaintance, speak of him in terms of respect and regard, for his salient characteristics are such as in every land and clime awaken confidence and respect.
HARRY MARTIN CHAMBERLIN.
Harry Martin Chamberlin, engaged in landscape gardening and the nursery business in Denver for many years, his handiwork being seen in many of the most beautiful lawns and parks of the city, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, April 30, 1855, a son of W. G. and M. Sarah (Litzenbigler) Chamberlin. The father, a native of Cincinnati, lived to the venerable age of ninety-one years, spending his entire life in his native city, where he was engaged in the printing business for thirty-five years. His wife was born near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and in early life went to Cincinnati, where she became a prominent choir singer. She was there married and passed away in that city at the age of forty-three years. To them were born eleven children, seven of whom are still living.
In early life, while spending his youthful days under the parental roof, H. M. Chamberlin attended the public schools of his native city. He afterward worked upon a farm for three years in the vicinity of Monmouth, Illinois, and then began farming on his own account, devoting three more years to general agricultural pursuits. In 1879 he moved to Colorado, coming first to Denver, but afterward settling at Greeley, where he took up the work of landscape gardening. He did the first professional lawn work in
Wo. chamberbil
HMMChambulin
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Greeley and continued there in the nursery and shrubbery business for ten years. He again came to Denver in 1889 and has since been an active factor in the improvement of the city through landscape gardening. His work has been a most potent element in beautifying the homes and parks of Denver.
On the 8th of September, 1880, Mr. Chamberlin was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Owens, of Monmouth, Illinois, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Owens. They have two children: W. O., mentioned elsewhere in this work, who is the active head of the business established by his father; and Irma, now Mrs. R. J. Leebrick, who is residing in Berkeley, California, but was educated in Denver and has one child, Harriet Charlin.
About a year and a half ago Mr. Chamberlin was seriously injured in an elevator in which he was a passenger. For a long time his life was despaired of, but his won- derful constitution brought him through. He belongs to the Chamber of Commerce and to the Woodmen of the World and his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Christian church. His life has been a husy and useful one and his career has ever been actuated by high and honorable principles. Holding to the highest standards in his chosen life work, he has constantly studied along lines that have to do with the im- provement and beautifying of lawns and park systems and his labors have been a most potent element in making Denver the beautiful city that it is today.
A. G. PINELLO.
A. G. Pinello, a prosperous farmer living near Colorado Springs, was born on the 2d of February, 1860, near Naples, Italy, and is the eldest of a family of five children, three sons and two daughters, the others being Jannie, who lives in Italy; Maria Francesca, who is in a convent; Ilario who is a farmer of Washington; and John, a priest of the Catholic church in Italy.
A. G. Pinello of this review remained a resident of his native country until he reached the age of twenty-two years, when on the 12th of October, 1882, he came to the new world. He landed at New York city, where he remained for four months and then crossed the continent to Denver, where he secured employment in the steel mills. He also worked in coal mines in addition to working in the steel mills up to the time when he purchased the farm upon which he now resides, comprising seventy acres of irrigated land. The soil is rich and productive and responds readily to the care and labor which he bestows upon it. He milks fifteen cows throughout the year and has thirty-five head of cattle and horses upon his place. His farm is well stocked and well improved and he is meeting with prosperity in his under- takings.
On the 31st of December, 1888, Mr. Pinello was united in marriage to Miss Florence Cimino, a native of Campobasso, Italy, the place in which her husband was born. They have become the parents of eight children: Patrick; Joe, who is a member of the United States Navy; Ange; Ollie; Nick; Dick: Lee; and Jobn. The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church. Mr. Pinello is giving his children good educational opportunities and thus qualifying them for life's practical duties. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world, for he has here found the opportunities which he sought and in their utilization has made steady progress toward the goal of success.
OSKAR N. ANDERSON.
Oskar N. Anderson, prominent in connection with the feed and fuel trade of Denver, has for many years been a highly respected citizen of Colorado, where he has made for himself a creditable position in connection with the trade annals of the capital. He was born in Sweden, July 2, 1873, a son of Nels and Kajsa Sophia Ander- son, who were natives of the same country, where they spent their entire lives. The father was actively engaged in stock raising. continuing in that business until his death, which occurred in 1902. His widow survived only until 1903.
Oskar N. Anderson is the youngest of their family of eight children and in his boyhood days was a pupil in public schools of Sweden, completing his education in a high school on Oland island. He afterward took up his abode on the mainland of Sweden and learned the brewer's trade, completing his apprenticeship. When eighteen years of age he came to the new world and settled in Denver, where he immediately
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secured a position in connection with a brewery. He continued to work at his trade until 1894, when, in connection with a brother, he entered into the coal and feed business. This partnership was continued until the brother's death in April, 1916, and the firm enjoyed a very successful business, their trade steadily increasing as a result of their earnest efforts and close application. Since the brother's death Mr. Anderson has carried on the business alone. The site on which he has his yard was purchased by the brothers in 1895 and a substantial building thereon erected. It has excellent facilities for railroad shipping, with trackage to their plant, as it adjoins the railroad yards. Mr. Anderson has put forth every possible effort to develop his business along legitimate lines and straightforward dealing and unfaltering enterprise have placed him at the head of a profitable feed and fuel trade.
On the 28th of September, 1908, Mr. Anderson was married to Miss Elizabeth Burnett, at Golden, Colorado. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Burnett, who are residents of Denver but natives of Pennsylvania. The father has been a rail- road employe for more than fifty years. Mrs. Anderson was born and educated in Pennsylvania. She is an accomplished musician, especially well known as a violinist. She taught the violin in the Denver Conservatory prior to her marriage. To Mr. and Mrs. Anderson has been born one child, Kajsa Philippine, who was born in Denver, June 29, 1909. and is now attending the public schools.
Mr. Anderson is a Scottish Rite Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine, loyal to the teachings and purposes of the craft. Politically he maintains an independent course, nor has he ever been an office seeker. He stands for all that pertains to the progress and improvement of his community, however, and is deeply interested in all those projects which are a matter of civic virtue and of civic pride. Coming to America when a youth of eighteen years, he has never regretted the determination that brought him to the new world, for in the business conditions of this country he found the opportunities which he sought and by their utilization has steadily worked his way upward until he is now classed with the substantial business men of Denver. where his intelligently directed labors are bringing to him gratifying and well deserved success.
WILLIAM M. BLOOMER.
William M. Bloomer is now identified with mining interests as the president and general manager of The Modern Ore Reduction Company of Denver and in former years was widely known in journalistic circles. He was born in Huron county, Ohio, February 28, 1853, a son of Seeley and Julia Ann ( Miller) Bloomer. The father, a minister of the Methodist church, was a native of the state of New York and removed to Ohio in early life. Settling in the northern part of that state when a young man of twenty years, he was from that time until his ninetieth year active in the work of the ministry. During the later years of his life his field of service was at Big Rapids, Michigan, where both he and his wife passed away. They had a family of four children: John M., who laid down his life on the altar of his country in the Civil war; Mrs. Adell Gardner, now residing in Petoskey, Michigan; Mrs. Arvilla A. White, whose home is in Chicago, Illinois; and William M., who is the youngest of the family.
In early life William M. Bloomer attended the public schools of Michigan, and later became a student in Hillsdale College of that state. When his school days were over he entered a printing establishment and learned the trade, beginning work in a newspaper office first as a typesetter. He was afterward connected with the Daily Journal of Springfield, Illinois, as foreman and telegraph editor and on legislative work, being thus connected with the paper until 1879, when he took over the management of the Daily Transcript of Peoria, Illinois. He then suc- cessfully conducted the latter journal for thirteen years and while thus engaged he became interested in mining at Ward, Boulder county, Colorado.
After disposing of his interests in Peoria, Illinois, Mr. Bloomer removed to Denver and has since figured prominently in connection with the development of the mineral resources of the state. His properties are located in the Ward dis- triet, Boulder county, Colorado, which bear gold, silver and copper values. Last. but by no means least, he organized The Modern Ore Reduction Company in the Ward district of Boulder county, a company that was capitalized for fifty thousand dollars and of which he is the president and general manager, with H. C. Wann as vice president, M. Dore as treasurer and John H. Leiper as secretary and attorney.
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In this connection a business of substantial proporions is being built up -- oue that constitutes an important element in the development and utilization of the great mineral resources of the state. At one time Mr. Bloomer was also manager of the W. F. Robinson Printing Company on Fifteenth and Arapahoe streets, a large con- cern which has developed a business of extensive and paying proportions. He is likewise the president of the Northwestern Gold Mining & Milling Company, located in the Ward district.
In January, 1876, Mr. Bloomer was united in marriage at Springfield, Illinois, to Miss Julia E. Payne, a daughter of Enoch and Emily Payne, prominent people of Illinois and warm personal friends of the war governor, Richard Yates, of that state. Mrs. Bloomer passed away in Denver in 1903 and their only child, Harry Bloomer, died in Peoria at the age of seven years. In October, 1904, Mr. Bloomer was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Alice (Cubbage) Jordan, of Kansas City, Missouri, who passed away in this city April 1, 1918. She was a well known newspaper woman, author and writer, and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cubbage, of Gallipolis, Ohio, representatives of a prominent French family. Mrs. Bloomer became widely known as a writer on many of the big dailies of the country and held prominent place in that connection. She was also a most active and prominent member of the Woman's Club of Denver and was the founder, proprietor and editor of the Denver Woman's Club Journal. She likewise held membership in the Denver Press Club and the Denver Writers' Club and for a number of years she was a member of the staff of the Chicago Inter-Ocean. She wrote many special articles for that paper and afterward became a member of the staff of the San Francisco Call. She was sent by the Chicago Inter-Ocean to Paris, France, on special work. She became prominently known in newspaper circles throughout the entire country. She was chairman of the poetry contest committee of the Writers' Club of Denver and her sudden death caused her to be greatly mourned in all sec- tions of the United States. From her pen had come many inspiring words and noble thoughts. Among the most beautiful of these is a toast dedicated to the American Flag Association: "To the dear Stars and Stripes: That flag which hath a gospel of its own; its heanty making beautiful and glorifying the noblest sentiments and patriotic hopes of our national life. Majestic as the sky; perfect as a star: the sign of a triumphant hope, its mystic harmony of grace and order proclaiming to the world the freedom and divinity of man." Kindred interests, tastes and ambitions drew Mr. and Mrs. Bloomer together in a most close companionship. Their ideals were high and each worked along individual lines for their accomplishment. Mr. Bloomer was one of the organizers of the Pioneer Printers' Association of Colo- rado. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order as a thirty-second degree Mason and is a past exalted ruler of the Elks lodge of Peoria, Illinois. His forcefulness and resource- fulness have brought him prominently to the front and his wide vision and qualities of leadership have enabled him to impress his ideas and ideals upon public thought and action.
JAMES A. CURRAN.
James A. Curran, of Denver, who since 1880 has been engaged in the outdoor adver- tising business in Denver and the west, was born in New York city, July 31, 1855. In 1869 he came west with his parents, who settled in Kansas City. There he resided until 1873, when he began traveling on the road, and on the 10th of May, 1876, he arrived in Denver, remaining in the city for some time. He was afterward at Golden, Blackhawk, Central City and Georgetown and later went to California but returned to Colorado and in 1878 again went to Kansas City. He afterward traveled through Texas and in the spring of 1879 made his way eastward to New York. In the fall of 1880. however, he again came to Colorado, settling in Leadville. where he re- sided continuously until 1883. In that year he removed to Pueblo, where he spent about six months, after which he came to Denver. He had established an outdoor advertising business at Leadville in the fall of 1880 and has since continued in this line. With the passing years his business has steadily increased until it now covers Colorado. Wyoming, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. He was the advertising agent for the Denver & Rio Grande from 1881 until 1883. He was identified as advertis- ing agent with the Tabor Opera House of Leadville and the Tabor Opera House of Denver in the early days and he has in the past been interested in a theatrical circuit
JAMES A. CURRAN
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playing companies in different towns between Denver and Leadville, and also in Denver and Cheyenne. He brought legitimate dramatic companies to Colorado, play- ing them in the different towns and theatres in the early '80s, including such com- panies as the Madison Square Company of New York city, Fun on the Bristol, Hav- erly's Minstrels and other well known organizations. He was also the first one to adver- tise the big circuses that came to Colorado. He now owns an opera house at Boulder, Colorado, which he leases to a theatrical manager. It was the first legitimate opera house ever built in Boulder, being erected about 1908 at a cost of fifty thousand dollars.
Mr. Curran has originated a number of features in outdoor advertising that have become standards in that business. He was the pioneer in the use of the billboard on an extensive scale for campaign purposes. In the first Speer mayoralty campaign, when the entire press of Denver opposed Mr. Speer's candidacy, Mr. Curran inaugurated a daily changing billboard campaign. This plan required for its execution twenty expert painters and spaces in all the principal parts of the city. Mr. Speer was elected largely because of the unique plan which has since been adopted all over the country.
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