USA > Colorado > History of Colorado; Volume III > Part 9
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On the 9th of May, 1867, Judge Allen was married in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, to Miss Sarah O. Alleu, who although of the same name was not a relative. She, too, was born in Pennsylvania and was a representative of one of the old families of that state. She passed away in Denver, September 6, 1916, her death being the occasion of deep and widespread regret. By her marriage she had become the mother of six children, three of whom are living: Orren, a mining engineer residing in Denver; Harrison, an attorney at law practicing in Portland, Oregon; and George W., who is engaged in the surety and insurance business in Seattle, Washington.
In politics Judge Allen has always been a stanch republican and at times has taken active part in advancing the interests of the republican party, but now holds a strictly non-partisan attitude, that nothing shall bias him in the faithful performance of the high and responsible duties that now devolve upon him. He was made a Mason in Denver and he is an attendant of the Methodist church. Judge Allen started out in life a poor boy, spending his youthful days to the age of seventeen years upon the home farm and then qualifying for the law. In 1880 he was admitted to the state and federal courts of Colorado and as a judge served for twenty-two years on the district bench. While in Pennsylvania he was elected to represent Warren county in the state legisla- ture at Harrisburg in 1873 and filled that office with marked ability and distinction for three years, from 1874 until 1876 inclusive. He has continuously been a member of the County, State and American Bar Associations but aside from this and his connection with the Masonic fraternity he has no club or society affiliations, having ever found his greatest interest and happiness in the society of his family and immediate friends. He has always been a close student. has read broadly and thinks deeply and has ever mani- fested a most enthusiastic devotion to his profession, feeling ever that he should further perfect himself in the law. He is a man of charming personality, knowing no class distinction, being a true commoner in spirit, judging men not by their wealth but by their worth. The integrity of his judicial service is as unshaken as the lofty mountains of this great state, and no man officially or in private life has higher standing or is more deserving of the friendship and regard of friends and acquaintances than is Judge Allen, who might well be termed "the grand old man" of Colorado.
PAUL MARTIN LENNOX, M. D.
Actively engaged in medical practice in Colorado Springs, his native city, the life record of Dr. Paul Martin Lennox stands in contradistinction to the old adage that a prophet is never without honor save in his own country, for he has won a most credit- able place in professional ranks and is accorded a large practice, specializing to a great extent in surgery. He was born in the year 1879, a son of John and Martha (Martin) Lennox, the former a native of Iowa, while the latter was born in Pennsylvania. They were married in Iowa and now reside in Colorado Springs, where they took up their abode in 1877.
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Dr. Lennox obtained his education in the public schools of Colorado Springs and afterward entered the College of Physicians & Surgeons, the medical department of Columbia University of New York city. There he completed his course and was graduated with the class of 1903. He afterward occupied the position of interne in the Williamsburgh Hospital in Brooklyn, New York, from 1903 until 1905 and then returned to Colorado Springs, where he has since remained. He has since given his attention to professional duties, mainly concentrating upon surgery, and his constantly developing powers are attested by his growing practice. He is cool and collected in an emergency, has comprehensive knowledge of anatomy and the component parts of the human body, recognizes the onslaughts made upon it by disease, and at all times he keeps abreast with the latest scientific researches and discoveries which have to do with his pro- fessional activity.
On the 8th of May, 1912, in Manitou, El Paso county, Dr. Lennox was united in marriage to Miss Jetta Gunsolus and they have two children, Patricia and Paul M. Dr. Lennox is a republican in his political views. His military experience covers service as captain of Company A of the Colorado National Guard from February, 1910, until June of that year, at which time he was made first lieutenant and assistant surgeon of the Colorado National Guard. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church and he is well known in club circles, belonging to the El Paso Club, the Benevolent Pro- tective Order of Elks, the Broadmoor Golf Club and the Winter Night Club. He has various membership relations along professional lines, being connected with the American Medical Association, the Colorado State Medical Society, the El Paso County Medical Society, the Society of Railway Surgeons, the Solly Society for the Study and Prevention of Tuberculosis and the Colorado Springs Clinical Club. He is earnest and conscientious in the performance of all of his professional duties, realizing fully the responsibilities and obligations devolving upon him. He is most careful in the diagnosis of his cases and his judgment is seldom if ever at fault in foretelling the outcome of disease.
LA FAYETTE TWITCHELL.
La Fayette Twitchell, a well known attorney of Denver, practicing as a member of the firm of Goudy, Twitchell & Burkhardt, was born in Hardin county, Illinois, upon his grandfather's farm, December 22, 1859. He is a son of La Fayette Twitchell, Sr., and a grandson of Moses Twitchell, who was one of the pioneer settlers of Illinois of 1818. His Twitchell ancestors came from England and the first representative of the family in America of whom there is record was Benjamin Twitchell, who settled at Dorchester, Massachusetts, and took the freeman's oath there in 1634. Captain Joseph Twitchell, the great-great-grandfather of La Fayette Twitchell, was a resident of Sher- born, Massachusetts, and participated in the colonial wars and in the war for inde- pendence. The great-grandfather, Eleazer Twitchell, was one of the founders of Bethel, Maine, and his son Moses became a pioneer resident of Illinois and it was in that state that the father, La Fayette Twitchell, Sr., was born and reared. At the time of the discovery of gold in California the father went to California and engaged in placer gold mining and was connected with transportation interests of those early days. In 1859 the father came to Colorado and engaged in mining until 1862, when he responded to the call of his country to aid in the preservation of the Union, enlisting in Illinois in 1862. He served with the rank of first adjutant and as lieutenant. Later he recruited a com- pany, of which he was made captain. He participated in the siege of Vicksburg and in many hotly contested battles, ever proving his loyalty and encouraging and inspiring his men by his own valor and devotion to his country. He wedded Harriett A. Steele, who was born in Hardin county, Illinois. Her parents were natives of Ireland and on coming to the new world settled in Virginia. To La Fayette Sr. and Harriett Twitchell were born four children who are yet living: Robert A., who is a practicing physician of East St. Louis; Benjamin E. and James W., who are practicing physicians of Belle- ville. Illinois; and La Fayette, of this review.
The last named acquired his education in the public schools of Elizabethtown, Illinois. His father was clerk of the circuit court and this awakened the interest of the boy in law. He determined to engage in practice as his life work and began studying with that end in view. He went to Bloomington, Illinois, where he entered the Bloom- ington Law School, from which he was graduated with the class of 1880, and was then admitted to practice in Illinois. In 1883 he became a resident of Colorado but after- ward returned to Illinois, where he resided for four years. Once more he came to this
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state, settling in Denver in 1895, and during the intervening period he has continued in the active practice of his chosen profession. He entered into partnership with Frank C. Goudy and they were later joined by Mr. Burkhardt, thus forming the present firm of Gondy, Twitchell & Burkhardt. The association with Mr. Goudy has been maintained for twenty-three years and the firm has ever occupied a foremost position at the Denver bar. Mr. Twitchell is a man of excellent presence, possessing an earnest manner, marked strength of character, a thorough grasp of the law and the ability to accurately apply its principles. These qualities have made him an effective and successful advocate and few lawyers have made a more lasting impression upon the bar of the state, both for legal ability of a high order and for the individuality of a personal character which impresses itself upon a community.
In 1882 Mr. Twitchell was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ledbetter, of Elizabeth- town, Illinois, and to them have been born four children, one only of whom is now ยท living.
Mr. Twitchell turns to golf for recreation when the duties of his profession permit of leisure. His political allegiance is given to the republican party. He is well known in club circles, holding membership in the Denver Club, the Denver Country Club. the Lakewood Country Club and the Stockmen's Club. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias and in the former organization has passed through the chairs. Along the strict path of his profession he has membership with the Denver Bar Association, the Colorado State Bar Association and the American Bar Association. While he has continued in the general practice of law, he has largely specialized in irrigation law and no resident of the city is better informed concerning that branch of jurisprudence.
MARK A. SKINNER.
Mark A. Skinner, United States collector of internal revenue at Denver, was born in Newton county, Missouri, October 8, 1870, a son of William H. and Elizabeth (Griffin) Skinner. The father was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and devoted his life to the occupation of farming. His wife was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and both have passed away. They had a family of seven children, of whom two died in infancy, and all have now departed this life save Mark A. Skinner and one sister.
Mark A. Skinner pursued his education in the public schools of Illinois, and was reared to farm life, devoting the vacation periods to work in the fields. He continued to follow farming in that state until he reached the age of seventeen years and during the winter months was engaged in mining coal. He came to Colorado in 1890. making his way to Colorado Springs. He had previously learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked for a number of years and while thus engaged assisted in building the El Paso Club, the El Paso Bank and the El Paso Block. For a length of time he was engaged in the dairy business in connection with the Sinton Dairy Company, having charge of the retail department for fourteen years. He afterward spent three years in the insur- ance business as a manager and on the 3rd of June, 1913, he received appointment from President Wilson to the position of United States collector of internal revenue in Denver. which office he has since acceptably filled, discharging his duties with marked promptness and fidelity.
In June, 1893, Mr. Skinner was united in marriage to Miss Hattie B. Hedges, a native of Burlington, Iowa. who lived for a number of years in Lincoln, Nebraska, to which state she removed with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jesse W. Hedges. To Mr. and Mrs. Skinner have been born three children: Dorothy E., at home; Dwight L., twenty- one years of age, who is in France with the Seventy-seventh Division as a second lien- tenant-a son of whom the parents have every reason to be proud; and Jessie Carol, twelve years of age.
Mr. Skinner has figured very prominently in political circles. He has long been a stalwart advocate of the democratic party-in fact has been an active worker in its ranks for thirty years. He was chosen to represent his district in the state senate during the seventeenth and eighteenth general assemblies, serving from 1909 until 1911 and during the extra session of 1910. He was made a member of various important committees, including the judiciary and enrollment, and he was connected with much important constructive work in the senate. He has always stood for advancement and progress in public affairs and has done much effective and resultant work for the benefit and upbuilding of community, commonwealth and country. Fraternally he is connected with Tejohn Lodge, No. 104, A. F. & A. M., of Colorado Springs, and he also belongs
MARK A. SKINNER
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to the Denver Athletic Club and to the Denver Civic and Commercial Association. He is fond of athletic sports and is a baseball fan, greatly enjoying our national game. His personal qualities are such as make for popularity wherever lie goes and he has a very extensive circle of warm friends. Moreover, in his official position he is recognized as most efficient and his course in public and private life commends him to the confidence, respect and honor of all with whom he has come in contact. Actuated by devotion to the general good, his efforts have been tangible factors in the upbuilding of public interests and his name is synonymous with all those manly virtues to which the world instinctively pays deference.
WALTER K. HURD.
Walter K. Hurd, conducting business under the name of the Arkansas Valley Automobile Company in Pueblo, was born in Fontanelle, Iowa, on the 23d of March, 1882, a son of James S. and Annette (Sears) Hurd, who are yet residents of Pueblo. The family came to Colorado in 1900, settling first in Florence, where Mr. Hurd engaged in the hardware business and later had the Ford agency at that place. In 1912 he removed to Pueblo, where he established the Arkansas Valley Antomobile Company, and under his capable direction the business has grown to its present gratifying proportions. He has one of the largest motor car agencies in the state, the buildings covering one- fourth of a square in Pueblo, and he utilizes about the same amount of space in Bessemer. Something of the volume of his business is indicated in the fact that he now employs fifty men in the various departments, covering the sales, the garage and the supplies. This large enterprise is the direct outcome of the efforts, industry and business manage- ment of Mr. Hurd, who is justly accounted one of the representative and progressive men of Colorado. In addition to his interests as the head of the Arkansas Valley Automobile Company he is the president of the O'Meara-Green Motor Company of Denver, Ford agents, and also of the Commercial Investment Company of Denver and Pueblo, which concern handles over one-half million dollars in time paper on automobiles.
In September, 1905, Mr. Hurd was united in marriage to Miss May Agnes McRae and they are well known socially in Pueblo. Fraternally Mr. Hurd is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. While residing in Florence he acted as president of the Chamber of Commerce and the Business Men's Association. He is now vice president of the Rocky Mountain Auto Dealers Association and is a member of the Commerce Club of Pueblo. He is much interested in the subject of good roads and does everything in his power to improve the highways and advance public sentiment in that connection. In a word he stands for all that is progressive in relation to public affairs and civic improvement and his efforts have been far reaching, beneficial and resultant.
GEORGE S. COOPER.
George S. Cooper, secretary and treasurer of the Appleman-Cooper Insurance Agency Company of Denver, with offices in the Central Savings Bank building, was born in Myers Valley, Kansas, March 15, 1877, a son of the late George R. Cooper, who was a native of Illinois and a representative of one of the old pioneer families of that state of English lineage. He became a stockman and farmer and from the age of twenty-one years was a resident of Myers Valley, Kansas. His political allegiance was given to the democratic party and he took quite an active interest in local political affairs and civic matters, standing at all times for progress and improvement along lines leading to general development. He passed away in June, 1904, at the age of sixty-six years. His wife, who in her maidenhood was Elizabeth Simpson, was born in Virginia and is also of English descent. She is still living and now makes her home at Wamego, Kansas. To Mr. and Mrs. Cooper were born nine children, four sons and five daughters."
George S. Cooper, who was the seventh in that family, was educated in the public schools of his native city and at the age of eighteen years started out in the business world. It was in 1895 that he left home and made his way to Denver. He devoted the first two years to advancing his education, becoming a student in the Central Business College of Denver, where he secured a gold medal for perfection in his studies and deportment for the entire term. On completing his studies he secured a position with the D. C. Packard Agency Company at No. 639 Seventeenth street, Denver, then the leading insurance firm of the city. He thus made his initial step in connection with
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the business in which he is now engaged. He entered the employ of the firm in a very humble capacity but eagerly mastered every task that devolved upon him and learned the insurance business in all of its departments. He remained for a period of five years with that firm and afterward became chief clerk with the Colorado Insurance Agency Company, of which L. P. Appelman was manager. He continued in that position until the death of Mr. Appelman twelve years later or about 1903. Mr. Cooper then succeeded to the business and incorporated it in 1915, after the Colorado Insurance Agency had expired. by limitation. The other officers of the company are Mrs. L. P. Appelman, who is president, and Nathan Skinner, vice president, while Mr. Cooper is the secretary and treasurer of the company. They conduct a general insurance business, specializing in fire insurance, and they are among the leading fire underwriters of the state, having developed a clientage of large and extensive proportions.
On the 17th of October, 1906, Mr. Cooper was united in marriage to Miss Edith Stewart, a native of Kansas and a daughter of R. A. and Margaret ( Williams) Stewart, of Marion, Indiana. To Mr. and Mrs. Cooper has been born one son, Dale Stewart, whose birth occurred in Denver, July 27, 1908.
In politics Mr. Cooper maintains an independent course, believing in supporting the man whom he thinks best qualified for office. He is a stanch admirer of President Wilson and his policies. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias, having joined the organization in Denver in 1908. He belongs to the First Avenue Presbyterian church, was formerly vice president of its board of directors and takes an active and helpful interest in church work.
The career of Mr. Cooper has been a successful one owing to his persistency of purpose, unfaltering determination and straightforward methods. After becoming secre- tary and treasurer of the Appelman-Cooper Insurance Agency Company and after succeeding in holding all of the business of the previous company, he was made state agent for the Milwaukee Mechanics Insurance Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1917 and was authorized to adjust all losses for the home company and further authorized to issue drafts for losses in payment according to his findings and judgment -a fact indicative of his high standing with the company and the unqualified confidence reposed in his business integrity-a confidence to which he is most loyal, while his ability has brought him to a place in the front ranks among the insurance men of Denver.
J. L. RECTOR.
J. L. Rector, successfully engaged in the real estate business at Calhan, was born in Bowling Green, Kentucky, December 24, 1859, a son of G. W. and Katharine (York) Rector. the former a native of Tennessee, while the latter was born in New Jersey. The common schools of Milford, Missouri, afforded J. L. Rector his educational oppor- tunities, for the father removed with his family to that place upon leaving Bowling Green. When the son was fourteen years of age he put aside his textbooks and started forth in the business world on his own account. He went first to Fort Griffin, Texas, where he remained for a short time and then made his way to Wyoming with a herd of cattle for the firm of Snyder & Corathers, well known cattle men of the southwest. He continued in Wyoming until 1893, herding and tending cattle, having taken a man's place in the business world from the time that he was sixteen years of age. In 1893 he began operating on the live stock market at the Denver Union stock yards and was thus engaged for a decade. He then removed to Calhan, Colorado, and became connected with the Holt Live Stock Company as manager. This firm was one of the largest handling live stock interests in their section of the state, having at times on their ranch near Calhan as many as twenty thousand sheep and two thousand head of cattle. There is no feature of the live stock industry with which Mr. Rector is not perfectly familiar. for his experiences in that line have been broad and varied. He has also figured in other business connections, for he was one of the organizers and became a stockholder and director of the Bank of Calhan, which later, in 1907, was reorganized into the First State Bank of Calhan, and he continues as a stockholder and as a representative of the directorate of that institution. It was in 1905 that Mr. Rector severed his connection with the Holt interests and opened a real estate, farm loan and insurance office in Calhan. since which time he has conducted business along this line on his own account. He thoroughly understands values and has negotiated many important realty transfers. His insurance business is also an important item in the attainment of his success.
On the 8th of October. 1892, Mr. Rector was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Vol. III-5
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Gillespie, of Hastings, New York, who is a graduate of the New York State College for Teachers at Albany. She engaged in teaching in the Empire state in early woman- hood and afterward in Wyoming, and it was there that she met and married Mr. Rector, their wedding being celebrated at Lusk.
Mr. Rector is a Mason, belonging to Ashland Lodge, No. 10, A. F. & A. M., of Wyom- ing. His political allegiance is given to the republican party but he has never been an aspirant for office. He generously supports all churches, the Salvation Army and other organizations that have for their object the advancement of higher standards and ideals among men. He is today well situated financially and is regarded as one of Calhan's most substantial citizens, not only by reason of the success he has achieved but also by reason of the stalwart support which he gives to all those interests which are a matter of civic virtue and of civic pride.
G. W. LINGER.
G. W. Linger is widely known as one of the wealthy stock raisers and ranch owners of Colorado and also as the president of the Linger-Goff Automobile Company of Denver. distributors of the Mitchell cars. It is in the former connection, however, that he has developed interests of great magnitude-interests which have constituted an important element in the development of the state and the utilization of its natural resources of mountain and plain. Carrying on his business on a most extensive scale, he has studied everything that has to do with cattle raising in this section of the west and no one is more able to speak with authority upon this subject. His interests have been of a character that have contributed to general prosperity as well as to individual success and the equipment of his ranches has necessitated the expenditure of vast sums of money, and thus the state through its commercial avenues has greatly benefited by the ranching interests of Mr. Linger.
A native of the Empire state, Mr. Linger was the seventh in order of birth in a family of ten children and was born in Ulster county, New York, on the 18th of April. 1858, his parents being Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Linger, both of whom were natives of Germany. They came to America in early life, settling in New York about 1834. There the father engaged in farming and he and his wife continued residents of New York throughout their remaining days. G. W. Linger pursued his education in the public schools of New York, where he spent the period of his minority. He was twenty years of age when in 1878 he removed westward to Iowa, where he resided for three years, during which time he was employed along various lines of business. He then removed to Buffalo county. Nebraska, and subsequently he devoted his attention to farming, to the livery business and to the hardware trade, while still later he became cashier of the Meisner Bank of Shelton, Nebraska, occupying that position for five years, or until he resigned in 1892, in order to become associated with the interests of the Swift family of Chicago. He was identified with their land and live stock interests for several years, being a prominent representative of ranch interests of the Swifts in Nebraska, Colorado, Texas, New Mexico and Mexico. In 1897 he removed to what is now Jackson county, Colorado, in order to take charge of the large holdings of the North Park Cattle Company, and continued as the managing head of the company until the business was sold out. He then turned his attention to the conduct of his own interests, but continued to represent the Swifts in the west until 1913. The previous year he had purchased a vast amount of acreage in the San Luis valley of Colorado, and later secured more holdings, and he now owns more than twenty-five thousand acres of land, while in addition he has vast tracts of leased land, approximating about one hundred thousand acres. His ranch property is one of the finest in Colorado, if not in the entire country. It is situated in the San Luis valley, two hundred miles southwest of Denver, and is one of the best equipped ranch properties of the United States, with thousands of cattle grazing over its immense ranges of mountain and valley. He is also interested in many other enter- prises of the state, but regards these largely as side issues to the vast business connected with the management and control of his cattle ranch. He is the president of the Canon Land & Cattle Company of Cafion City, Colorado, and he is also at the head of the Linger- Goff Automobile Company of Denver, in which connection a large business has been built up as distributors of the Mitchell cars.
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