USA > Colorado > History of Colorado; Volume III > Part 99
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109
DR. FRANK M. MCCARTNEY
Vol. III-47
738
HISTORY OF COLORADO
comes of English origin. Representatives of the name became early settlers of New York and the family was represented in the War of 1812 and in the Civil war. Members of the McCartney family also participated in the Civil war. The death of Mrs. McCartney occurred June 22, 1916, when she was seventy-three years of age, her last days having been passed in Denver. She was the mother of six children, four sons and two daughters. The daughters are yet living, these being: Ellen, the wife of W. R. Sanborn, a resident of Park county, Colorado, and Belle, the wife of W. R. Milligan, who is a stock raiser in South Park, Colorado, where they make their home.
The only surviving son is Dr. Frank Maxwell McCartney, who acquired his primary education in the country schools of Park county, and was also instructed by his parents. He afterward attended the Ashland high school of Denver and other schools, continuing also under his father's instruction. His early life had been spent upon the home ranch and his experiences were those that usually fall to the lad amid such environment. He did not desire, however, to give his attention to agricultural interests, and turned to a professional career. In 1902 he was graduated from the Gross Medical College of Denver, after a course of four years in that institution, and he entered upon the practice of his profession as assistant to the late Dr. Sherman T. Brown. a noted surgeon, with whom he remained for three and a half years. He next took up the private practice of his profession, specializing in surgery-in fact, giving his time and attention exclusively to that branch. Since 1903 he has been on the surgical staff of St. Anthony's Hospital. He has been a frequent and valued contributor to medical journals and he keeps in touch with the advanced thought and researches of the profession through wide reading and study, and also as a member of the Denver City & County Medical Society, the Colorado State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He displays marked ability as a surgeon, is a man of cool nerve and steady hand, and with most comprehensive knowledge of anatomy and the component parts of the human body. His work has been highly satisfactory and he has performed many of the most difficult surgical operations in this part of the state.
On the 16th of October, 1916, Dr. McCartney was married in Littleton, Colorado, to Miss Elizabeth Mitchell. a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of the late Dr. G. W. Mitchell, a prominent physician and surgeon of Newport, Pennsylvania. In his fraternal relations Dr. McCartney is an Elk, belonging to Denver Lodge, No. 17, B. P. O. E .. and he also has membership in the Royal League, the Denver Athletic Club and the Denver Civic and Commercial Association. connections that indicate the breadth and nature of his interests. He is a great hunter and never misses a season in which he does not make his way into the wilds after game. He thus finds recreation and rest from arduous pro- fessional cares and responsibilities, for the demands made upon his time and energies in connection with his surgical work are many and of a strenuous nature. He fully understands the obligations that devolve upon him in a professional way and meets these obligations with high purpose based upon broad scientific knowledge.
JOHN LAWRENCE BARR.
John Lawrence Barr is the president and general manager of The F. C. Ayres Mer- cantile Company of Denver and the extent and importance of his business interests place him among the prominent representatives of commercial life in Denver. He was born in Sealkote, Upper Punjab, North India, February 28. 1864. a son of James S. and Mary E. ( Black) Barr. His father is a prominent member of the United Presbyterian church, who has devoted his time largely to missionary work and to government schools conducted by the English government. He is now living in New Wilmington. Pennsylvania, and his wife, who has passed away, was a native of Pennsylvania.
John L. Barr acquired his education in the public schools of Pennsylvania and in early life followed farming for a number of years. He arrived in Colorado in 1888 and was employed for some time by others. He then embarked in business on his own account as a commission merchant. In 1891 he became connected with The Ayres Mercantile Com- pany and remained in that association for ten years, at the end of which time he purchased the business, of which he is now president and general manager. The Ayres Mercantile Company owns a large fireproof grain elevator with a capacity of three hundred thousand bushels, handling grain, flour. hay, grist, field seed and burlap bags. The business which he now controls is extensive and his interests are most wisely and carefully conducted, bringing to him a substantial financial return.
Mr. Barr was married in 1900. to Miss Glenn Scott. of Denver. He is well known as a
JOHN L. BARR
740
HISTORY OF COLORADO
representative of Masonic interests. belonging to Oriental Lodge, No. 87, A. F. & A. M .; Colorado Chapter, No. 29, R. A. M .; Denver Commandery, No. 25, K. T., and El Jebel Tem- ple of the Mystic Shrine. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church. He is a member of the Rotary Club and is well known in Denver, where he has now made his home through three decades. He is a man of pronounced ability whose plans have been well defined and carefully executed, and the success which he has achieved as the years have passed is the direct result of his close application, keen sagacity and indefatigable energy.
LEON M. HATTENBACH.
Leon M. Hattenbach is the editor and manager of The Merchants' Index of Denver, but is now devoting much of his time and attention to work as chairman of the Retail Trade Division of the United States Food Administration for Colorado, in which con- nection he is rendering important service to the government as a "dollar-a-year" man in our war against autocracy and militarism. He is prominently identified with national retail merchandising as well as trade press work. A native son of Colorado, he was born in Denver, April 18, 1874, and is a son of Michael and Jeannette (Sands) Hatten- bach. In early life his parents crossed the continent and became residents of Colorado during the pioneer epoch in its development.
Michael Hattenbach settled in Denver when the city was a straggling village of the plains. He established a grocery and general merchandise store and in the conduct of his business became very successful. He accumulated considerable wealth through his mercantile interests and investments and in many ways aided materially in the early growth, development and improvement of Denver and the prosperity of its people. It was partly through his efforts and generosity that the magnificent Temple Emanuel and the Progress Club were built.
Mr. Hattenbach was also deeply interested in Masonry and attained high rank in the order. He was a man of earnest purpose, of deep sincerity and of high principles and he cooperated heartily in all movements for the uplift of the individual and the promotion of community interests and welfare. At the time of his death, which occurred in Denver in 1906, when he was sixty-five years of age, he left behind him many warm friends, who esteemed him highly by reason of his sterling personal worth and the good which he accomplished. His widow is still a resident of Denver. For many years she was active in charity work. They were the parents of five children, three of whom have passed away. The surviving brother of Leon M. Hattenbach is Nathan J. Hatten- bach, who conducts business under the name of the Denver Grocery Company, of which he is the president and Leon M. Hattenbach is secretary and treasurer.
Leon M. Hattenbach was the third in order of birth in his father's family. In early life he attended the public schools of Denver, passing through consecutive grades to the high school, and later he became a student in the University of Denver, pursuing the law course for a year. He next hecame identified with his father's business, which he entered in a minor capacity in order to thoroughly learn every phase of the trade. Gradually he worked his way upward as his capability and knowledge increased and in 1896 he purchased an interest in the business, of which he became the secretary. He has thus been identified with the company since that time and his sound judgment and enterprise have constituted an important factor in its successful control.
His high standing in business circles is indicated in the fact that in 1911 he was elected to the office of secretary of the Retail Merchants' Association of Colorado and he has been reelected every year since that time. There are many who feel that no more capable incumbent could be secured for the position. He is also editor and man- ager of The Merchants' Index, a paper which is issued weekly for the benefit of the grocery trade and recognized as a leader among trade papers of the United States. Mr. Hattenbach is a brilliant writer and his editorials and business philosophy are reprinted in trade papers throughout the country. He is likewise a director and officer in several mining and oil properties.
Since the organization of the food administratiou movement in the United States as a war department, Mr. Hattenbach has done important work in that connection, receiving official appointment as chairman of the Retail Trade Division of the United States Food Administratlon for Colorado, contributing his services to the winning of the war. He is also a member of the National Retail Distribution Committee of the Food Administration.
On the 5th of April, 1908, Mr. Hattenbach was married to Miss Edna Kayser, of
741
HISTORY OF COLORADO
Denver, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kayser, of Leavenworth, Kansas, and they now have one child, Leon Nathan, who was born in Denver, April 24, 1911, and who is now attending the public schools. Mrs. Hattenbach is actively engaged in Red Cross, Liberty Loan, Council of Defense and charity work.
Mr. Hattenbach is a trustee of The National Association of Retail Grocers, secre- tary of the Grocery and Allied Trade Press of America, vice president of the National Association of Retail Secretaries, vice president of the Western Trade Press Alliance and vice president of the Pacific Coast Grocers' Association. Mr. Hattenbach belongs to the Independent Order of B'nai B'rith, to the Temple Emanuel, to the Associated Jewish Charities, to the Federated Charities of Denver, to the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, to the Sons of Colorado, to the Advertising Club of Denver, to the Denver Retail Grocers' and Meat Dealers' Association and to the Denver Civic and Commercial Association as well as several other fraternal and charitable organizations. He is likewise connected with the League to Enforce Peace, 100% American Loyalty Club, Kiwanis Club, Lincoln Republican Club, National Editorial Association and Colo- rado Editorial Association. For several years he was secretary and then president of the Young Men's Hebrew Association of Denver.
His political endorsement has always been given to the republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and in November, 1916, he was elected to the office of state senator from the first Colorado senatorial district for a four years' term, so that he is the present incumbent in that position. He is proving an active working member of the upper house, giving most thoughtful and earnest consideration to the vital questions which are coming up for settlement, and has been active in the promotion of progressive legislation. He is an orator of ability and forcefulness.
These connections are evidence of his important standing in business and public circles, as indicated by the consensus of opinion on the part of his colleagues and contemporaries. His life is indeed proving one of usefulness along many lines. Not only has he won for himself a substantial competence through the capable manage- ment of his private business interests, but has also contributed toward general pros- perity through his cooperation in the work of advancing business conditions in general, and, more than that. he is leaving the impress of his individuality and ability for leadership upon state legislation, while, meeting every demand of his country in this hour of crisis, he is giving the most loyal and efficient service to the important task of planning food conservation, controlling distribution and securing the adoption of individual cooperation in the request of the government that those foods shall be con- served that are needed by our soldiers and the allies abroad; and also that there shall be elimination of profiteering and hoarding, so that the morale of our people may be maintained.
Now that glorious victory has crowned the valiant efforts of the United States of America and her allies, thus assuring the perpetuation throughout the world of America's high ideals and consummating a condition that will make for freedom and democracy on every soil. Mr. Hattenbach states that he is proud of the fact that he could avail himself of the opportunity to lend his efforts, to the best of his ability, to the purpose of aiding our country in its wonderful work for humanity and now is ready to again take up his work in his chosen field of business and political endeavor and go forward with renewed vigor and enthusiasm, to help to build up and make secure a prosperous and happy Colorado, so that our beloved state may shine resplend- ant, the brightest jewel in the diadem of states.
RHOMINE G. BONKER.
Rhomine G. Bonker is the proprietor of the Santa Fe Trail Garage. located in Pueblo, and in the conduct of the business displays a spirit of enterprise which, coupled with close application and indefatigable energy. is winning for him substantial and well merited success. Mr. Bonker is a native son of Michigan, his birth having occurred at. Eaton Rapids on the 11th of May, 1875, his parents being O. H. and Julia Sweezy Bonker, both of wbom have passed away. having spent their last days, however. in Colo- rado. where the father engaged in carpentering and building.
Rhomine G. Bonker pursued his education in the public schools and in the school of experience has learned many valuable lessons which have been of great worth to him in the conduct of his business. He has ever retained a receptive mind, so that he has continually added to his knowledge. and he displayed marked ability in imparting to others the knowledge that he had acquired. during seventeen terms in which he
JO. SISK. AUTO PAINTING
SANTA FE TRAIN GARAGE
GARAGE
ZZZ
TÚES
TLAES SUD TINES
NOILS GREASES
SANTA FE TRAIL GARAGE OWNED BY R. G. BONKER
RESIDENCE OF R. G. BONKER
744
HISTORY OF COLORADO
engaged in teaching. He followed the profession in Alma, Wisconsin, and also in North Dakota. In 1901 he came to Colorado, where he engaged in railroad work for a few years. He had previously learned the plumbing trade and was master plumber with the railroad company for a period of twelve years. In the fall of 1917 he purchased his present business in Pueblo in connection with a partner and, winning success in the undertaking. he has since purchased the interest of his partner in the business, which he is now carrying on independently under the style of the Santa Fe Trail Garage. He has a large service department. does vulcanizing and all kinds of repairing and handles tires and other automobile accessories. The growth of his business is indicated in the fact that he now employs six men and he has a large and well equipped garage, the floor space being eighty-eight by one hundred and twenty feet, with a storage capacity for one hundred cars. He makes every effort to thoroughly accommodate his patrons and care for their interests and his uniform courtesy as well as his capability constitutes one of the elements in his growing patronage.
On the 21st of September. 1904, Mr. Bonker was united in marriage to Miss Nora Cox, and though they have had no children of their own. they have reared three boys. one of whom is now connected with the navy, while one is an electrician in Colorado mines and a third is in high school.
In politics Mr. Bonker has always maintained an independent course, considering the capability of the candidate rather than his party ties. His religious faith is that of the Baptist church, to which he loyally adheres, and he is interested in all that has to do with the public welfare of Pueblo and this section of the state. cooperating in many well defined plans and movements for the general good.
JOHN ATON MCMURTRIE.
In the town of Manch Chunk, Pennsylvania, Jolin A. McMurtrie was born December 24, 1848. He was the son of Josiah and Rachel Frances ( Bush) McMurtrie. the father being a civil engineer and of enviable reputation in the state. Both of the parents are now deceased.
John A. McMurtrie received his primary education in the public schools of Sum- mit Hill. Pennsylvania. In 1863 his scholastic training was interrupted and he com- menced work in the engineers' corps of the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company, then making surveys for the Lehigh & Susquehanna Railroad between Mauch Chunk and Easton, Pennsylvania. Here he remained until August 24. 1864, when, though only sixteen years of age, he joined the colors and was enlisted in Company A, Two Hundred and Second Pennsylvania Volunteers. In this regiment he served until August 3, 1865, when he was mustered out with his comrades.
The war having ceased, young McMurtrie found the opportunity to continue his education, which he did for a period of six months at Jersey Shore. Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, after which he reentered the engineering department of the Lehigh & Susquehanna Railroad and assisted in constructing the Nesquepuk branch of the same railroad, continuing with the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company, mining and engineer- ing upon the gravity and other roads until the year 1869. At this time Mr. McMurtrie became acquainted with the far west through the stories of men who had returned from the Pike's Peak country and by reading the numerous colorful tales published. The result was that he quickly decided to cast his fortunes in that great country. He had been frugal during his years of employment in Pennsylvania and he had saved enough money to pay his fare to St. Louis. Arriving there he sought employ- ment with the railroads but failed in his quest, whereupon he went on to Fort Leaven- worth, Kansas, and there secured work. The Leavenworth bridge over the Missouri river was then in the course of construction and Mr. McMurtrie was hired to work in the cylinders under compressed air below the surface of the water. This was hard, grind- ing toil and would have broken the heart of a lesser man, but with indomitable grit he carried on.
He was next employed upon the survey of a line between Leavenworth and Topeka, then upon the Kansas.Pacific Railroad, which was building through western Kansas and eastern Colorado to Denver. He was connected with the engineering department of this road and while thus engaged reached Denver for the first time in 1870, where, in his own words, he found "a nice little village." His next move was to Golden, Colo- rado, in company with J. P. Mersereau, one of the old resident engineers of the Kansas- Pacific, and there made surveys for that company from Golden to Blackhawk and Idaho Springs. He then engaged in surveying for the Colorado Central from Arvada
745
HISTORY OF COLORADO
to Boulder, and also did some surveying for Mersereau in Clear Creek Canon during the winter of 1870-71, at which time the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad Company was being organized. His first work for the latter road was to survey and locate its line through the Royal Gorge of the Arkansas river. and into Leadville, the carbonate camp, which in itself was one of the greatest engineering feats of the entire western rail- road building era. After this accomplishment he superintended the construction of the present line of that road over the Continental divide, between Larkspur and Colo- rado Springs. He also constructed the road from the latter place to Pueblo and Elmore. The preliminary surveys through Eagle River canon, tor a distance of seventy miles, were also made by Mr. McMurtrie.
He carried it over Marshall Pass at an elevation of ten thousand, eight hundred feet above sea level and through Tennessee Pass at an elevation of more than eleven thousand feet. He pushed it through the Black Canon of the Gunnison over the high mesas beyond and through the valley of the Grand into Utah. His most remarkable engineering was, however, done on the San Juan division of the Denver & Rio Grande, a section rarely visited by tourists. The loop west of Antonito and the tunnel and roadbed through Toltec Gorge are marvels of engineering, but all pale into insignifi- cance when compared with the line through the canon of the Rio de Los Animas, between Durango and Silverton.
In the celebrated contest between the Santa Fe and the Denver & Rio Grande for possession of the Royal Gorge, described in Volume I, Mr. McMurtrie bore a prominent part and there exhibited his qualities of leadership and tactical skill. His association with the Rio Grande as chief engineer, which was of high value to both company and man, continued until 1884. Something of his achievements is given by a prominent California journal, in which state he worked during the later years of his life.
Mr. McMurtrie's brother, Samuel, came to Colorado several years after he did and later the firm of McMurtrie Brothers & Stone was organized, which was known as one of the leading engineering and contracting companies of the west.
His work in Colorado having been completed, John A. McMurtrie began a period of contracting for the Southern Pacific. In this locality he made the same record for efficiency and success as he did in Colorado. This was the last railroad building of note that he did, the later years of his life having been spent in Denver, his death occurring there on February 15, 1899.
John A. McMurtrie was married at Kansas City, on January 1, 1874, to Miss Pheriba Wilson and to this happy union there were born three children: Dee McMurtrie, now Mrs. Claude K. Boettcher, of Denver, who has one son, Charles Boettcher II; Nettie McMurtrie, now Mrs. Harry Haley, of Kansas City, Missouri; and John Alfred McMurtrie. Mrs. McMurtrie passed away in the year 1894.
Fraternally. John A. McMurtrie was a member of Denver Lodge, No. 5, A. F. & A. M .; Pueblo Chapter, No. 5, R. A. M .; Pueblo Commandery, No. 5, K. T .; Colorado Consistory, No. 1, thirty-second degree; and the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.
MAJOR WILLIAM A. SPANGLER.
Major William A. Spangler, attorney at law and judge advocate of the Colorado National Guard, was horn in Denver, August 14, 1873, a son of Michael Spangler, who was a native of Ohio and came of Dutch ancestry, the founder of the American branch of the family having settled in this country in pioneer times. Michael Spangler was reared and educated in Osborn, Ohio, and in 1872 arrived in Colorado, having made Denver his destination. He filled the office of sheriff of Denver county from 1873 until 1883 and made a most commendable record by the promptness, fearlessness and fidelity with which he discharged his duties. After his retirement from the position he entered the banking business in connection with the Union Natonal Bank of Denver, being elected its vice president, in which capacity he served until 1893. He then retired and spent his remaining days in the enjoyment of well earned rest. He was born in 1849 and was therefore but forty-eight years of age when he was called to the home beyond in 1897. In politics he was a stanch republican and was quite active in political and civic affairs, doing everything in his power to advance the general welfare and maintain high standards of citizenship in his adopted state. He married Jane Bom- berger, a native of Dayton, Ohio, and a descendant of one of the old families of the Buckeye state. She is still living and now makes her home in Denver. By her mar- riage she became the mother of six children, four sons and two daughters.
746
HISTORY OF COLORADO
William A. Spangler, who was the eldest of the family, was educated in the public and high schools of Denver and pursued a preparatory course in Holbrook's Military School at Ossining, New York. He next entered Williams College at Williamstown, Massachusetts, and completed a classical course there by graduation with the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1896. With this to serve as the foundation on which to rear the superstructure of his professional knowledge, he entered Denver University and won his LL. B. degree upon graduation with the class of 1898. He entered upon the proc- tice of law in Denver and has since continued an active member of the bar, appearing continuously in connection with important cases heard in the courts until November 30, 1917, when he was appointed judge advocate of the Colorado National Guard, with the rank of major, and has since acted in that capacity. His military training was obtained in the Holbrook Military Academy and he became a member of Troop B of the First Squadron of Cavalry in 1902. He entered as a private and was commissioned second lieutenant in 1904, while in 1906 he was advanced to the rank of first lieutenant and in 1908 was made adjutant. He resigned the position in 1914 but was commis- sioned judge advocate, as previously indicated, and at that time was advanced to the rank of major. He has thus been prominently and actively associated with the military interests of the state.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.