USA > Colorado > History of Colorado; Volume III > Part 94
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On the 8th of January, 1903, Mr. Sweeney was united in marriage to Miss Lucile Newton, a daughter of George A. Newton, the founder of the Newton Lum-
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ber Company. Both Mr. and Mrs. Sweeney are widely and favorably known in Pueblo, where their circle of friends is almost coextensive with the circle of their acquaintance. Mr. Sweeney joined the National Guard at a period when his youth would have prohibited him and ran away to join the American troops for service in the Spanish-American war but was brought back home. The same spirit of loyalty, however, has characterized him in all the intervening years and he has ever stood stanchly in support of those measures and interests which he believes to be of public benefit. His political allegiance has always been given to the repub- lican party and he is now serving as deputy state bank commissioner, and the af- fairs of the International Bank of Commerce of Pueblo are in his hands for liquida- tion. Fraternally he is identified with the Elks and he belongs to the Chamber of Commerce of Pueblo, to the Minnequa Club and Argonaut Club. He is a man of pleasing personality, very popular in Pueblo, his genuine worth winning for him the high and enduring regard of those with whom he has been brought in contact.
CLAUDE EVERETT RICHMOND, M. D.
Since 1912 a resident of Colorado Springs, Dr. Claude Everett Richmond first engaged in general practice but he has now given up this line and works only as an anaesthetist. He was born in Doniphan, Missouri, in 1887, a son of Alfred E. and Elizabeth ( Arnold ) Richmond, the former of whom was born in Tennessee in 1860, while the latter is a native of Kentucky. Both parents are now residing in Missouri. The father is a retired merchant, having been quite successful in this occupation during his active life.
Claude E. Richmond in the acquirement of his education attended the public schools of Doniphan, Missouri, and the Missouri Military Academy at Mexico, that state, from which he was graduated in 1902. Deciding upon the medical profession as a life work, he entered the medical department of Washington University at St. Louis, from which he was graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1909. At that time he became an interne in the St. Louis City Hospital, continuing so for nearly two years, adding to his theo- retical knowledge that valuable experience which only hospital practice can give. In 1912 he came to Colorado Springs and opened an office, his ability soon being rec- ognized, for his patients increased rapidly as his reputation grew. Thoroughly trained, he is always ready to follow the latest methods if convinced of their worth, but now has given up the general practice of medicine, doing work only as an anaesthetist.
On April 29, 1915. in Colorado Springs, occurred the marriage of Dr. Richmond and Miss Bernice Hosman, a daughter of Elijah Hosman, who has now retired from tbe active duties of life. In his political views the Doctor is independent, though not indifferent to important public questions. He is ever ready to assist in carrying for- ward the banner of progress as regards public improvements and takes a lively interest in the growth and development of the city which is now his home. Fraternally he is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Masonic order, belong- ing to the blue lodge, and the beneficent principles underlying these organizations guide him in his conduct toward his fellowmen. Professionally Dr. Richmond stands very high and enjoys the esteem and respect of his colleagues.
WARD C. ROBERTSON.
Ward C. Robertson, manager of the Princess and Rialto Theatres of Pueblo, was born in Montrose, Missouri, on the 1st of June, 1874, a son of Charles and Elizabeth (Henry) Robertson. The father was a farmer by occupation and removed from Mont- rose, Missouri, to Boonville, that state. In the later years of his life he lived retired, enjoying the fruits of his former toil, but both he and his wife have now passed away, his death occurring in 1894, while his widow long survived him, being called to her final rest in 1915.
Ward C. Robertson attended the public schools, but his education has been largely acquired in the school of experience. He early began to earn his own living and when a boy of but twelve years took up the task of selling papers in Kansas City. He was thus engaged from 1886 until 1888 and as he advanced in years he felt the necessity of acquainting himself with a trade. He then learned the slater's trade, at which he worked for three years, and subsequently he followed the grocery business in San Fran-
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cisco, California, and at Bisbee, Arizona. He has been identified with the moving picture business since 1905.
For four years he has made his home at Pueblo. Under his direction is conducted the Rialto Theatre of Pueblo, which is the finest in the state, and employment is here given to twenty-eight people. He also has under his charge the Princess Theatre and he puts forth every effort to give the public most interesting and artistic entertainment.
On the 10th of December, 1903, Mr. Robertson was married to Miss Ahbie May Shaffer, whose grandfather was one of the pioneers of Missouri, his place being known as the old Steel mansion. He engaged in buying horses and mules for shipment to Great Britain, these being sent by boat down the Mississippi river.
Fraternally Mr. Robertson is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and with the Knights of Pythias. He is also a member of the Commerce Club of Pueblo and is interested in all that has to do with the progress and improvement of the city, cooperating heartily in well defined plans and projects for the general good. He is interested in fishing, hunting and motoring when business permits of his enjoy- ment of those things. In all that he does he is actuated by a progressive spirit and is greatly esteemed as a man of gennine worth. He has done much for the amusement lovers of Pueblo in the building of the Rialto and in presenting to the public the high class of attractions which are there given. Financial success is attending his efforts in this direction and he is now at the head of interests of large extent and importance.
ROBERT M. WORK.
Robert M. Work, district attorney at Fort Morgan, was born at Rochester Mills, Pennsylvania, June 17, 1878, his parents being Josiah and Sarah ( Hindman ) Work, who were also natives of the Keystone state. The father there engaged in the lumber business and later was active in irrigation work. He followed the Inmber trade, in Pennsylvania until 1898, when he came to Colorado and established his home in Greeley where he lived for a time and then removed to Fort Morgan. He became interested in irrigation projects and was president of several of the hig irriga- tion companies of northern and eastern Colorado. He bought two thousand acres of land in Morgan county and was numbered among the wealthy and prominent resi- dents of his section of the state, putting all of his funds into irrigation projects and thereby contributing in substantial manner to the development, npbuilding and con- sequent prosperity of the region. He continued to reside in Fort Morgan throughout his remaining days and passed away in December, 1909. During the Civil war he was one of the reserves and drilled at camp but was not called upon for active duty. His wife passed away in March, 1885.
Robert M. Work was reared and educated in Pennsylvania, attending the com- mon and preparatory schools, after which he entered Westminster College. Subse- onently he taught school for three years and then sought the opportunities of the west. In 1901 he arrived in Colorado and in 1903 he won the Bachelor's degree upon graduation from Colorado College at Colorado Springs, while the following year the Master's degree was conferred upon him. After completing his more specifically literary course he took up the study of law in Denver, where he pursued his reading for a year and then completed his preparation for the bar as a law student in the office of Stnart & Murray. In 1907 he was admitted to the bar and hy reason of the fact that Mr. Murray was ill and away from business Mr. Work remained for a year in the office as Mr. Stuart's assistant under the firm nome of Stuart, Murray & Work. On the expiration of that period he came to Fort Morgan and formed a partnership with L. C. Stephenson under the firm style of Stephenson & Work. This association was maintained until 1911, when Mr. Work began practicing alone and so continued until April, 1916, when he was joined in a partnership by George C. Twombly, now serving as deputy district attorney. The firm name is Work & Twombly. They have made for themselves a most creditable position in legal circles in Morgan county and they have been entrusted with much important litigation. Mr. Work served as deputy district attorney from 1909 until for two years. 1911 under Mr. Stephenson and did much of the criminal work in the six counties He was named at the primaries in 1912 as the republican candidate for district attorney but met defeat at that election. He was again the republican candidate in 1916 and popular suffrage placed him in the position which he is now acceptably and capably filling. He was also called to public office in 1909. when he became a member of the city council. For the past seven years he has served as
Potomwork
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attorney for the Bijou irrigation district and has otherwise been the legal repre- sentative of irrigation projects and corporations, including the Morgan County National Bank. He is the owner of two thousand acres of excellent land in Morgan county, eight hundred of which is improved irrigated land. He is largely interested in the raising of Hereford cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs and has two hundred and fitty head of each. He feeds cattle in the winter months and everything that he has undertaken in the way of agricultural or stock raising activity has proven suc- cessful. At the same time he has made for himself a most enviable position as a representative of the bar and he is now attorney and agent for large eastern land owners.
The undertaking which has distinguished Mr. Work in this vicinity was the successful refinancing of the Bijou irrigation system, which involved the refunding of some eight hundred and thirty thousand dollars in bonds and the passage of legis- lation providing a workable refunding act, which takes away from the irrigation district the burden and the stigma which has brought so many irrigation districts in western states to financial ruin. Their bondholders were induced to accept refund- ing bonds, which are clearly special assessment bonds, so that any land owner at any time may pay off his share of bonded indebtedness and be released from all other honds. This was the first district in the west to take advantage of such a course and many other districts are now following the same procedure. The deal involved two years of negotiations with a committee of bankers and attorneys from five different eastern states, representing bondholders, with headquarters at Chicago, and the plan was finally consummated in November, 1917. Mr. Work has closely studied irrigation problems and opportunities and is convinced of the value of build- ing irrigation ditches in order that the arid lands of Colorado may be transformed into productive fields, a fact which is easily accomplished when water can be se- cured. His work in this connection has been of the greatest possible public value, a fact now widely acknowledged.
On the 9th of June, 1909, Mr. Work was united in marriage to Miss Roberta Gibson and to them have been born four children: Robert Marshall, Jr., who was born April 23, 1910; Raymond Phidelah, born July 27, 1911; Emma Gibson, born January 2, 1913; and James Richard, born September 20, 1918.
Mr. Work is well known in Masonic circles, belonging to Oasis Lodge, No. 67, A. F. & A. M .; to Fort Morgan Chapter, R. A. M .; and Colorado Consistory, No. 1, S. P. R. S., in which he has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite. He also belongs to the United Presbyterian church and in these associations are found the rules which have governed his conduct and shaped his relations with his fellowmen. His life work has been far-reaching in its influences and results, and his record is one of much benefit to the community in which he lives by reason of what he has accomplished in connection with the irrigation project and also by reason of the excellent things that he has done as a member of the bar. He is now carefully safeguarding the interests of his district as its attorney and his work shows that he is well qualified to cope with intricate and involved legal problems.
ABEL J. HAMMERTON.
Abel J. Hammerton is actively engaged in ranching in the vicinity of Calhan and his success is the direct result of earnest, persistent labor. A native of England, he was born at Farnborough, March 9, 1847, a son of John and Charlotte ( Edwards) Hammerton. The father was gamekeeper on a large estate in England. The son began earning his living when but six years of age by leading horses and doing errands for his father's employer, receiving forty cents per week. At the age of nine years he went to work in a silk mill at fifty cents per week and when a lad of but twelve years he worked as a farm hand, doing a man's work and receiving a dollar per week. For a few years prior to coming to America he harvested wheat and other grains under contract, doing the work with a sickle, and by working long hours he could make a dollar per day. This was regarded as making money very rapidly in those days in England.
In 1870 Mr. Hammerton crossed the Atlantic to the new world and made his way across the country to Chicago, where for one year he was employed in Im- heryards. He afterward worked on a dredge for the state of Illinois in con- nection with the building of the Michigan canal and afterward in the work of keeping the canal open. He was also employed by the Chicago, Rock Island &
ABEL J. HAMMERTON
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Pacific Railroad Company steam shovels in Missouri, Iowa and Illinois for about six years and at Pueblo, Colorado, worked along the same line for six months in 1886. He later spent a year in a smelter at Pueblo and for two years he had charge of the North Side cemetery of that city. Desirous, however, of engaging in business on his own account, in 1888 he filed on a tree claim of one hundred and sixty acres and in 1889 homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres, on which he now resides. For twenty years he has also leased six hundred and forty acres of school land adjoining his ranch and has a further lease on the property, which he uses for pasture covering five years more. He is one of the progressive and representa- tive farmers of his community. He follows advanced methods in all that he does and is now largely assisted by his son.
In 1879 Mr. Hammerton was united in marriage to Miss Betty Jane Peacock, who was born in Indiana but was reared in Kellogg, Iowa. They have two living children: Julia May, the wife of William Roberts, of Loveland, Colorado, hy whom she has two children, Bertha and Dora; and William Henry Bayley, who married Mattie Hodge and has four children, Melvin R., William F., John Benjamin and Donald D. The son lives upon the ranch with his father, but in a separate dwell- ing, and is now acting as manager of the property. The ranch is devoted to diversi- fied farming and stock raising and is most carefully and wisely conducted.
Mr. Hammerton has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world. He is truly a self-made man. Providing for his own support from the age of six years, his has been a life of intense activity, in which there have been but few idle hours. He is a man of determined purpose who has made wise use of his time and opportunities and his diligence has been the basic element of all the success which he has achieved and enjoyed.
GEORGE F. KERN.
George F. Kern, who is engaged in farming and stock feeding near Windsor, in Weld county, was born October 8, 1878, in the town, his parents being Lewis and Elizabeth (Gross) Kern. The father is a native of Germany but was brought to this country when a little lad of but six years. At the time of the Civil war he responded to the call of his adopted country for aid in crushing out the rebellion in the south and joined the Union forces, known as the Ellsworth Avengers. He is a wagon maker by trade and followed that pursuit in Hartford, Wisconsin, whence he removed to Windsor, Colorado, in 1870. Later in life he took up the occupation of farming and stock raising, in which he has continued to the present time although he now rents much of his land. He has reached the age of about seventy-eight years, while his wife is about seventy-five years of age. They are now in Los Angeles, Cali- fornia. During the course of his active career Mr. Kern was very successful and became interested in the First National Bank of Windsor as well as in farming activities. He was also identified with the development of water interests and rights in this section of the state, becoming connected with projects for the building of ditches and reservoirs and doing very practical and progressive work in connection with irrigation. His health is now considerably impaired and he is having much trouble with his eyes as the result of exposure during the Civil war, this forcing him to undergo an operation. At one time he was interested in the Windsor Manufacturing Company. His sound judgment and enterprise in business were manifest in many substantial ways. His political endorsement is given to the republican party, while his religious faith is that of the Methodist church.
George F. Kern acquired his early education in the schools of Windsor and after attending the grammar school became a student in the State Agricultural Col- lege at Fort Collins, from which he was graduated with the class of 1898. He worked in a produce house of Denver for a year and subsequently entered a grocery store, after which he became connected with what was then known as the Colo- rado Bank, now the First National Bank of Windsor. He resigned his position in that connection in the fall of 1905, when he became interested in stock feeding and farming on his own account.
On the 4th of January, 1911, Mr. Kern was united in marriage at Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Miss Isaphine De Moss Cooper, a daughter of the Rev. C. M. Cooper. To Mr. and Mrs. Kern has been born a daughter, Carol Altabelle.
In his political faith Mr. Kern is a republican and gives stanch allegiance to
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the party and its principles. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons and with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The rules which have governed his con- duct have always measured up to high standards and he is a valued and respected citizen of Windsor who along financial and agricultural lines has contributed much to the upbuilding and development of Weld county.
FRANK WALTER FREWEN, JR.
Frank Walter Frewen, Jr., an architect of high professional attainments, is prac- ticing in Denver as a member of the firm of Mountjoy, French & Frewen, with offices in the Chamber of Commerce building. He was born September 28, 1887, in the city which is still his home, a son of Frank Walter Frewen, Sr., who was born in Chicago, Illinois, and for many years was engaged in the insurance business in Denver but is now living retired, enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly merits. He wedded Catherine Murphy, who also survives, and they are the parents of five children who are yet living.
In the acquirement of his education Frank W. Frewen, Jr., attended the public schools of Denver and the Manual Training high school, from which he was graduated with the class of 1906. In the same year he entered the University of Colorado, of which he remained a student for two years, and afterward entered upon the profession of architect in 1908 and for some time was connected with various concerns, thus con- stantly broadening his knowledge through varied experience. In 1913, however, he embarked in business on his own account as a partner in the firm of Manning & Frewen. That connection was maintained for four years, or until 1917, when Mr. Frewen became the junior partner in the firm of Mountjoy, French & Frewen, leading architects of Denver, having a very extensive clientage. Their ability is manifest in some of the finest structures of the city and state. Their plans combine utility with comfort and beauty, and structures which have been erected under their supervision are a marked ornament to the city.
Mr. Frewen is a prominent figure in the social circles of Denver. He belongs to the Denver Athletic Club, the Lakewood Country Club, the Optimists Club and to the Sons of Colorado, social organizations which include in their membership the leading residents of the capital. Mr. Frewen is also identified with Alpha Tau Omega, a frater- nity of the University of Colorado, and he is well known in Masonic circles as a member of Denver Lodge, No. 5, A. F. & A. M., and of the Scottish Rite Consistory. He has also crossed the sands of the desert with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine of El Jehel Temple. He turns to golf for recreation and to the Presbyterian church for religious instruc- tion, taking a helpful interest in the work of that church, in which he holds member- ship. Along the line of his profession he is connected with the Colorado Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, and he is now serving as secretary of the state board of examiners of architects and has ever believed in maintaining the highest professional standards.
OTTO L. ALTVATER.
Otto L. Altvater is the proprietor and editor of the Milliken Mail. a weekly paper, published at Milliken, Weld county. He was born at Central City, Colorado, January 14, 1883, a son of Henry and Lena (Mack) Altvater, who were natives of Germany and came to America in childhood, the father heing but twelve years of age when he was brought across the Atlantic to the new world, the family home being established in St. Louis, Missouri. During the '60s, while the Civil war was in progress, the family home was removed to Central City, Colorado. Henry Altvater learned the plasterer's trade in St. Louis and followed it for many years but afterwards engaged to some extent in mining. He died in 1907 and is still survived by his wife.
Otto L. Altvater was reared and educated in Central City and afterward learned the printer's trade, which he followed for a number of years at that place. Later he went to Chicago and subsequently operated a linotype machine in the east and later at Denver, at Fort Morgan and at Greeley, thus spending ten years. In January, 1915, he removed to Milliken and purchased the Milliken Mail, which he has since owned and published. He has a good newspaper plant and enjoys a large patronage, putting forth every effort to make his paper an attractive one to the public. He also conducts
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a moving picture show in Milliken which is liberally patronized, and likewise handles real estate, having conducted many important property transfers. The various branches of his business are wisely and profitably conducted and he has been very successful. He arrived in Milliken with a cash capital of but eighty dollars and today owns an attractive home, keeps a motor car and is most pleasantly situated in life.
In February. 1909, Mr. Altvater was united in marrlage to Miss Lillian F. Maughan and to them has been born one child, Adrian H., whose birth occurred April 8. 1911.
Mr. Altvater has taken quite a prominent and active part in public affairs. He is serving as city clerk, which position he has occupied for two years, and he is now the secretary of the Commercial Club. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, politically with the democratic party and religiously with the Presbyterian church-associations which indicate much of the nature of his interests and the rules that govern his conduct.
W. O. CHENOWETH.
W. O. Chenoweth, engaged in the cultivation of three hundred and twenty acres of good land in El Paso county, was born on the 11th of October, 1873, at Canton, Illinois, a son of Joseph and Mary (Silvernail) Chenoweth, both of whom were natives of Fulton county, Illinois, where they resided until the year 1884, when they removed with their family to Fairfield, Nebraska. Six years later, or in 1890, they established their home at Cope, Colorado, where the father of our subject homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres and began the development of the farm.
Accompanying his parents on their removal westward. W. O. Chenoweth con- tinued his education, begun in the common schools of Illinois, in the public schools of Nebraska. He came to Colorado in 1901 and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres, whereon he now resides, and he also has the one hundred and sixty acres homesteaded by his father, cultivating altogether three hundred and twenty acres of rich and productive land, from which he derives a substantial annual in- come. He also owns a farm of two hundred and sixty acres in Sevier county, Arkansas, which he purchased merely as a side issue, more for speculation purposes than anything else. He has upon his home place in El Paso county a new house and barn, which he built, and the place is equipped with all modern accessories and conveniences found upon a model farm of the twentieth century. He works dili- gently and untiringly in the development of his place and his labors have brought excellent results.
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