History of Colorado; Volume III, Part 92

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

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In Austin, then a suburb but now a part of Chicago, Mr. Best was married on the 29th of June, 1894, to Miss Mabel PaDelford, a daughter of William and Susan M. ( Jenks) PaDelford, who in the maternal line is descended from Revolutionary war ancestry. To Mr. and Mrs. Best was born a son, Whitman, who with the mother sur- vives the husband and father.

Because of the condition of his health Mr. Best was obliged to remain for long periods away from Denver, but he regarded the city as his home and ever maintained for it the deepest affection. He spent the winters in California and had only recently returned to Denver when death called him. He belonged to the Denver Athletic Club and he was always a generous supporter of the civic and charitable movements of the city. In a word, his life reached out in usefulness and helpfulness toward many people and many important public projects and he was most highly esteemed wherever known. The family name has ever been an honored one in Denver and a synonym for all that is most worth while to the individual and to the community at large.

DAN B. SOUTHARD.

Among the six leading automobile dealers of Denver, Dan B. Southard is included, which distinction is not the only one rightfully belonging to him as his connection with that industry probably antedates that of almost any prominent dealer in the Rocky mountain district. Mr. Southard's show rooms at the corner of Broadway and Seventeenth street, occupy what is considered the most favorable location in the city's automobile trade, and as the Rocky mountain distributor for the Mercer and Locomo- bile passenger cars and Riker trucks he has become well and favorably known through- out the district he serves. The business methods which he has employed, his aggress- iveness, enterprise and efficiency have built up his trade to large proportions.

Mr. Southard was born in Indianapolis. Indiana, July 27, 1881, a son of Albert B. and Laura (Brouse) Southard, who were also natives of that state, where they spent the greater port of their lives. The father was well known in railroad circles in the middle west, being general manager of the Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville Railroad, known as the Monon Route He continued in that position for many years and eventu- ally passed away in Chicago. His widow is still living and now makes her home in Denver.

Their only child is Dan B. Southard of this review, who in his youthful days was a pupil in the public schools and afterward entered the University of Chicago. On completing his education he at once became connected with the automobile trade. This

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was in 1901, about the time that the motor car first became a recognized factor as a method of travel. He was employed by various concerns in Chicago for a number of years and became one of the best known automobile salesmen of that city. The year 1914 witnessed his arrival in Colorado, where he became connected with mining interests, which occupied his attention until in 1916, when he decided to return to the business wherein his long experience, and close connection therewith, had given him a thoroughly practical knowledge in every branch and detail. He at once became distributor for the Locomobile and later the Mercer, which are considered two of the classics of the auto- mobile world. From the start the business has prospered and has had not only a rapid growth but a growth of most substantial character. In 1917 he incorporated his interests under the name of the Dan B. Southard Motor Company, with Mr. Southard as the president, George Miller as vice president and H. C. Southard, secretary and treasurer.

On the 5th of February, 1914, Mr. Southard was married to Miss Hazel Carlson, of Portland, Oregon, and they have become parents of a son. Dan B., Jr. born in Colorado, November 13, 1914. Mr. Southard belongs to the Denver Athletic Club. He is also identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks but in politics he maintains an independent course, casting his ballot according to the dictates of his judgment with little regard for party ties. His splendid qualities, his admirable personal character- istics and business ability have all made for popularity and he is most widely and favorably known in Denver.

JOSEPH JAMES CRIPPEN.

Joseph James Crippen, deceased, was one of the most prominent real estate men of the west, his operations covering a wide territory, although he made his home in Denver. He was born January 24, 1848, in the city of Roxbury, Norfolk county, Massachusetts, which city was annexed to Boston in 1868. He was a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Stockwell) Crippen. The family comes of French ancestry and was established in Canterbury, England, at the time of the Huguenot persecution in France in 1572. The Crippens were Huguenots and went to Canterbury, as Queen Elizabeth gave them permission to worship according to the dictates of their own conscience in the crypt of Canterbury cathedral, where to this day Protestant services are held in the French language. Many of the family are buried in the crypt of the Cathedral or in the churchyard of St. Martin, Canterbury, which is the oldest church in England still intact. Henry Crippen, the father, was born in Canterbury, December 3, 1807, and on the 1st of August, 1829, was married at Cheriton, England, to Elizabeth Stockwell. who was born at Sandgate, in that country, on the 1st of November, 1808, and was one of twenty children, thirteen of whom lived to be over eighty years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Crippen came to America in 1842 and settled in New Hampshire, thence removing to Chelsea and afterward to Roxbury, Massachusetts, after about two years. They both passed away in North Grafton, Massachusetts, where they had made their home since 1850.

Joseph James Crippen was but two years of age when his parents went to North Grafton, where he attended the public schools, while later he continued his education in Colby Academy of New London, New Hampshire, and in the commercial college at Concord, New Hampshire. He made his initial step in the business world as assistant in the state treasurer's office at Concord and when twenty-three years of age became assistant cashier of the First National Bank of that city. In 1873 he removed to Kansas and accepted the cashiership of Simpson's Bank at Lawrence, of which he afterward became vice president. In 1879 he removed to Salina, Kansas, where he entered into the real estate business with C. W. Banks under the firm name of Crippen & Banks. In 1880 he founded Crippen, Lawrence & Company, a real estate firm, with main offices in Concord, New Hampshire, and western offices in Salina, Kansas. Later the. main office was transferred to Denver, Colorado, where Mr. Crippen purchased a home at No. 1135 Logan street and there lived for twenty-eight years, or to the time of his death in 1917. The other two offices were retained after the establishment of the head office at Denver and a branch was subsequently opened in North Yakima, Washington. This firm loaned over twenty million dollars in the twenty-three years of its existence. In the early days in Kansas, Mr. Crippen was known as one of the most successful financiers of the west and the firm of Crippen, Lawrence & Company was one of the three largest then existing in the field of real estate In 1894 the new firm, known as the Crippen-Lawrence Investment Company, was organized, with offices in Denver,

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Concord and Salina, and extensive real estate, mining and irrigation interests were held by them. Mr. Crippen became recognized as an authority upon everything having to do with real estate activities in the west and the intelligent direction of his affairs brought him a notable measure of success.

On the 15th of October, 1872, in Bradford, New Hampshire, Mr. Crippen was married to Miss Helen Frances Durell, a daughter of David and Polly Patch (Colby ) Durell. The Durells were of Norman French descent, coming to New Hampshire from England, where they possessed an old manor house in Norfolk county dating from the fourteenthi century. They were agriculturists and were noted throughout New England for their fine farms and pure bred horses. To Mr. and Mrs. Crippen were born three children who died in infancy: Durell, Elizabeth Lorraine and Harold Stockwell. The surviving children are: Henry Durell of Denver who was married in 1898 to Mary Virginia Huston, a daughter of General Huston. United States treasurer under President Harrison; Joseph Stockwell of Denver, who married Lorena A. Payne, a daughter of J. H. Payne, of Littleton, Colorado, in 1903; and Helen Elizabeth.

In his political views Mr. Crippen was a republican and in 1898 be became a member of the Denver Club, while in 1903 he joined the Denver Country Club. For twenty-eight years be was a devoted member of St. Mark's church at Denver. He was of a conservative character, kindly, generous, always helping anyone who appealed to him. He was especially fond of children, flowers and animals, and at one time owned one of the finest thoroughbreds from Kentucky to be found in Colorado. For several years his summers were spent on the Yerby ranch near Morrison, one of the many large ranches in which he was interested in Colorado. Although born and bred in New England, he loved the freedom and largeness of the west and believed in its great future. He was always ready to assist in any project which would bring Colorado's resources before the world. In the spring of 1917 his health failed and he went to Excelsior Springs, there receiving much benefit, but on his return to the high altitude he became worse. He then went east, hoping that the sea air would restore his usual good health, but his nervous system was shattered and he rapidly failed, passing away October 8, 1917, a few days after his return to Denver. His remains were carried back to New Hampshire, where he reposes in the family lot in Pleasant View cemetery in Bradford a hallowed spot on the bank of a rippling brook surrounded by noble trees, the whole forming a picture whose beauty is unsurpassed in all New England.

JOHN M. BUTLER.

One of the old residents of Denver whose memory still clings with his friends was John M. Butler, who came to this city in 1860. During the rest of his life he was successfully engaged along mercantile lines in Denver, being thus numbered among the earlier merchants of his city. Mr. Butler was a native of Pembrokeshire, South Wales, where he was born November 23, 1829. In 1856, when twenty-seven years of age, he came with his wife to the United States, the trip being accomplished on a sailing vessel which was three months in making the ocean voyage. On Sep- tember 9, 1854, he married Jane Davies, daughter of David and Mary Davies. He was a son of Thomas and Martha Butler, natives of South Wales, where both parents spent their entire lives. Mr. and Mrs. John M. Butler spent about one year in New York state and then by wav of Council Bluffs, Iowa, removed overland to Salt Lake City, Utah, where they arrived in 1856. There they remained for several years but in May, 1860, returned eastward, coming to Denver, Colorado. Mr. Butler was a merchant tailor by vocation and during his entire life followed that trade. He cpened an establishment in Denver which proved very successful and he was re- nowned for his reliable work and the high quality of goods which he carried. He was always prompt and ever endeavored to please his customers, so that naturally lis patronage increased and he enjoyed a trade which assured him of a gratifying income. He passed away October 5, 1870.

In South Wales, in Glenmorganshire, John M. Butler was united in marriage to Jane Davies, a daughter of David and Mary ( David) Davies. While her husband only attained the age of forty-one years, she lived to the age of eighty-seven, pass- ing away April 3, 1918. She contracted a second marriage with Thomas Hughes, who was also a tailor and native of South Wales. At her demise she left a sister, Mrs. L. L. Reese, of Denver, who is now the only survivor of the party which came across the ocean in 1856 to seek new homes in this country. Mr. and Mrs. Butler had the following children: Carolina, deceased; William B., who is a mining engineer

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and resides in Colorado Springs; Oliver C., deceased; Mary, the wife of George Walter Brown, of Denver; and David, Martha and Albert, all of whom are deceased. Mrs. George W. Brown was born October 15, 1860, and has the distinction of having been the first white girl born in Denver. Her birth took place at the family home on Larimer street, between Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets. She was chosen to represent Colorado as queen in the procession of the states at the time of the cen- tennial state celebration on the 4th of July, 1876. On the 8th of December, 1879, she became the wife of William Phillips, who passed away in 1892. He was a member of the firm of Phillips & Son, who conducted an extensive livery business in Denver for many years and who shipped many of the finest draft horses into Colorado. Mr. Phillips went to Cripple Creek and later to Alaska in search of gold but lost his health and returned to the States, getting only to San Francisco, Cali- fornia, where he died. The Phillips family were among the pioneers of Denver. To Mr. and Mrs. Phillips were born two children: Edith, now Mrs. F. R. Smith; and Ralph, who married Laura Perry. In 1893 Mrs. Phillips became the wife of George Walter Brown. Both Mr. and Mrs. Brown stand high in the community and have many friends. They are interested in all those movements which pertain to the growth and upbuilding of their city. Mrs. Brown is a member of the Woman's Club, the Pioneer Ladies Aid Society and numerous small clubs, as well as of the Pioneer Association. She has been a most earnest worker in the Red Cross and various other war activities, is a member of the Byron L. Carr Woman's Relief Corps of Denver and when a child was confirmed in St. John's Episcopal church. It is to Mrs. Brown that we are indebted for the history of her honored father, John M. Butler.

The death of John M. Butler, which occurred October 5, 1870, was a great blow to his family. For ten years a resident of Denver, he had many friends in the young city and all spoke of him in terms of highest praise. He was a modest man, strictly attending to his business, and he succeeded in providing for his family liberally, his dear ones at home being to him of the greatest concern. As one of Denver's pioneers he is justly entitled to a prominent place in a work of this kind.

EDWARD L. HENSLEY.

Edward L. Hensley is the senior partner in the firm of Hensley & Temple, real estate dealers of Eaton, and in this connection is building up a large clientage. He was born in Jefferson county, Missouri, September 20, 1879, a son of Alfred and Ella (Frye) Hensley, the former a native of Missouri, while the latter was born in Pennsylvania. The father devoted his entire life to the occupation of farming in Jefferson county, Missouri, save during the period of the Civil war, when, in re- sponse to the call for troops, he became a member of a regiment of Missouri infan- try. He died in May, 1880, while his widow survives and is now living in Eaton, Colorado.

Edward L. Hensley was reared in Jefferson county, Missouri, and is indebted to its public school system for the educational privileges which he enjoyed up to the age of thirteen years, when he accompanied his mother and his stepfather to Eaton, Colorado, his mother having in the meantime become the wife of C. P. Thomas. He then resumed his studies in Eaton and has the distinction of being the first boy graduate from the high school, in which he completed his course with the class of 1901. He afterward attended Colorado College at Colorado Springs and then entered the Boulder Business College and has a record there, not often equaled, of ninety-seven per cent in his studies. On completing his course he returned to Eaton for the purpose of visiting but was persuaded to establish a class in book- keeping and stenography. This he conducted for a time and later was engaged in the real estate business for eight years. He then sold the business and turned his attention to farming and dairying, which claimed his efforts and attention for four and a half years. In 1916 he entered into partnership with C. H. Temple for the conduct of a real estate business and under the firm style of Hensley & Temple they have secured an extensive clientage and are conducting a large and gratifying busi- ness, which amounted in the first year and a half to one hundred thousand dollars.

On the 4th of October, 1905, Mr. Hensley was married to Miss May Smith, a daughter of E. A. and A. M. (Howarter) Smith, who were natives of Illinois. The father was a farmer by occupation and developed and improved farm lands in Illinois and Nebraska. After residing in the latter state for several years he came

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to Colorado about 1898 and purchased land near Fort Collins. He has since farmed that place and is today the owner of three hundred and seventy acres of rich and productive land which returns to him a gratifying annual income. His care and efforts have transformed it into one of the fine farming properties of the district. To Mr. and Mrs. Hensley have been born three children: Edward Leslie, Jr., whose birth occurred August 13. 1909; Franklin Leroy, who was born October 16, 1913, and died December 23, 1914; and Ilamae, born July 29, 1917.

In his political views Mr. Hensley is a republican and he was the youngest police magistrate in the state, holding that office in Eaton for a period of four years. He was also justice of the peace for two terms and his decisions on the bench were strictly fair and impartial. He belongs to the Woodmen of the World and is secretary and treasurer of the fire department, which is also the Home Guard. His religious faith is that of the Methodist church and he is serving as one of its stewards. He takes an active interest in all that pertains to the material development, the intellectual, social and moral progress of the community and to the civic betterment, and is continually lending his aid and cooperation to move- ments for the public good.

JOHN J. PUGH.

John J. Pugh, deceased, was a representative and respected farmer of Kit Carson county who contributed actively to the agricultural development of the district up to the time of his demise. He was born in Llanidloes, Wales, on the 25th of December, 1857, and passed away in Colorado on the 23d of April, 1913. He was very young when his father died and his educational opportunities were quite limited. As soon as old enough he began working on his grandmother's farm and was thus employed until he attained his majority, when he determined to try his fortune in the new world. He then sailed for the United States and on reaching the Atlantic seaboard started across the country to Iowa, where he arrived on the 18th of September, 1879. For two years he was employed on the Charles Springer ranch in New Mexico and was thereafter identified with the west.

On the 22d of February, 1886, Mr. Pugh was married to Miss Jane Richards, of Columbus City, Iowa, and the same year they removed to eastern Colorado, settling near the Tuttle postoffice in Kit Carson 'county, where Mr. Pugh engaged in stock rais- ing. He soon became owner of the noted Tuttle ranch His business affairs were wisely directed and carefully managed and as the result of his close application and unabating energy he gained a substantial measure of prosperity, remaining upon what was known as the Tuttle ranch to the time of his demise. He was deeply interested in Kit Carson county from the period of its early development and was actively and helpfully associated with its material upbuilding, with the establishment of its com- mercial policy and with the development of its educational welfare.

In his political views Mr. Pugh was a stalwart republican from the time he became a naturalized American citizen. He joined the Congregational church at Tuttle upon its organization and continued one of its consistent representatives as the years passed. He was also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of the Woodmen of the World and of the Knights of Pythias and proved a loyal follower of these organizations.

Mr. Pugh was stricken with apoplexy while preparing to attend Sunday school. After this stroke his moments of consciousness were few. He was soon surrounded by the members of his family, who called to their assistance physicians and nurses. Friends and relatives also came to offer their aid and he was given every attention and care that could be thought of, but his powerful frame succumbed to the disease and after a few days he passed away on the 23d of April, 1913. Three days later. on Sunday, his remains were interred, on which occasion hundreds of people gathered at the home to participate in the funeral services. The school choir rendered the music on that occasion and the funeral sermon was delivered by the Rev. E. P. Owen, who paid merited tribute to the ability and usefulness of Mr. Pugh, while beautiful floral offerings attested the regard in which he was uniformly held by those who knew him.

Mr. and Mrs. Pugh had a family of eight children: Leona, Arthur, Mabel, Gladys, Lloyd, Luther, Clara and Helen. To his family Mr. Pugh was a devoted husband and father, putting forth every effort in his power that would enhance the welfare and promote the happiness of the members of his household. Because of his close com-

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panionship with his children and his interest in them, his loss has been most deeply felt.

Lloyd Llewellyn Pugh, the second son of the family, now twenty years of age, acquired his early education in the country schools and later attended the Central Business College of Denver. He then returned home and worked upon the farm, becoming the active assistant of his father. He enlisted. however, on the 3d of December, 1917, for aviation service with the Six Hundred and Fifteenth Squad and was sent to Kelly Field, Texas, while at the present time he is in Georgia, preparing to go across to France to aid in winning world freedom from the military rule of the Huns, whose so called kultur is a note of aversion to all who love liberty, justice and right.

MAY TOWER BIGELOW, M. D.

Dr. May Tower Bigelow is one of the most widely known women physicians in the west, not merely because of her superior ability in her chosen profession, but also because of the great amount of charitable work which she does and her activities in behalf of the Red Cross. Dr. Bigelow occupies an elegant home, handsomely and taste- fully furnished with many rare and beautiful art treasures, most of which are the work of her own brush, for she has been a student under some of the most noted masters of Munich and of Paris. All this indicates her versatility and the wise use which she has made of her time and talents.

Dr. Bigelow is the wife of Dr. Charles Wesley Bigelow, formerly president of the Union State Bank of Denver, and now a director of the Merchants Bank of Denver. He is equally well known for his charitable work and also for his ability as an educator, for he has graduated hundreds of Colorado's well known business and professional men, having been engaged in educational work in Denver for twenty-four years. He is now professor of psychology and American history in North Denver high school. The work for his Ph. D. degree was done at the University of Chicago and Harvard and Denver Universities.

Dr. May Tower Bigelow was born in St. Charles, Minnesota, April 13, 1866, a daughter of Myron and Lucretia (Maynard) Tower. Her father was born at Smyrna, Chenango county, New York, March 20, 1833, and was a son of Almon and Mary (Sexton) Tower. He was a representative of one of the old New England families, his grandfather, who was born in Connecticut, having when a young man penetrated into the then wilds of Chenango county, New York. Employed by the United States government, he assisted in cutting a mail route across the Empire state. He became one of the first permanent residents of Chenango county, where he passed away at the venerable age of ninety-six years. His son, Almon Tower, was born and reared in Plymouth, New York, where he wedded Mary Sexton, also a native of that place. She was born in December, 1808, a daughter of Seth Sexton, a native of Connecticut and a pioneer settler of Plymouth. He was one of the founders of the Congregational church there, in which he served as deacon for many years. He passed away at the age of seventy-two. Subsequent to his marriage he removed to Smyrna, New York, where he resided until 1843. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Almon Tower were seven in number, Myron, Addison, Nancy A., Amasa, Warren, Nettie and Flora E.

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History of Colorado; Volume III, Part 92

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