USA > Colorado > History of Colorado; Volume IV > Part 10
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He organized the Higgins Investment Company, a holding company for the property of the late L. L. Higgins, and has been a director and officer in this company since its organization. He has been actively engaged in irrigation and real estate enterprises for many years, platted several additions to Denver, some of which bear his name. His fruit place in Highlands is now occupied by the Mullen Home for the Aged.
He is a member of the Colorado Pioneers Association and was a member of the board of trustees of the Central Presbyterian church, during the building of that edifice. He bought the four corner lots where the Equitable building now stands from the late Henry C. Brown for twelve hundred dollars, where the Seventeenth Street Presbyterian church was built in 1872. These lots are now said to be worth six hundred thousand dollars. He was a charter member of the Chamber of Commerce, also a member for years of the Real Estate Exchange and other associations. A director in several banks prior to the panic of 1893 and directly thereafter. At one time was one of the heaviest tax payers in the city and county of Denver. The panic of 1893 and subsequent depre- ciation of real estate stripped him of everything, so he has been compelled to start at the beginning again. His long and honorable connection with the real estate business in Denver has won for him the highest standing and a reputation for straightforwardness and integrity not surpassed by any of his contemporaries.
In his political connection he has always been a stalwart republican. The keen and active interest manifested by bim in political matters has never been prompted by pecuniary consideration but solely by his public spirit and genuine desire for the city's good and progress. While never having held a political office, his work and influence have been of distinct value to the residents of Highlands as the residents of the old western district well remember. It is doubtful if the city of Denver has a private citizen living today whose interest in civic betterment and whose activities have been of such distinct value and with less personal gain. His labors in connection with the securing of franchises, viaducts, park systems and boulevards have invariably been without remuneration.
Mr. Wolff was twice married. His first wife, Miss Sara A. Carver, was one of the pioneer school teachers of Denver and a daughter of Professor Henry Carver, who was one of the first principals of the Denver public schools before the Denver district owned a single school building. This wife died in 1895, and in 1897 he married his present wife, Jean A. Carver, a sister of his first wife. He has a son, Frank C., born October 22,
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1873, who is married and lives in Los Angeles, California, and this son has one daughter. Another son, Hiram B., born May 25, 1898, is registered in the navy and is in his junior year at the Colorado University, taking the course in chemical engineering.
Mr. Wolff's wonderfully well preserved condition is more becoming of one twenty years the junior of his three score and ten. He has the happy faculty of growing old gracefully which seems but the just reward for a regular, temperate life. He has never used whiskey or tobacco in any form.
HARRY E. MULNIX.
Harry E. Mulnix, state treasurer of Colorado and one of the best known men in the state, was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, October 15, 1856, a son of the late Alexander Mulnix, who was likewise a native of the Keystone state, where his an- cestors had lived for several generations. Mingled strains of Scotch and Irish blood flow in his veins and through succeeding generations there has been manifest in the family a force of character that has made its representatives substantial and valued citizens of the various communities in which they have lived. The founder of the American branch of the Mulnix family arrived in the new world shortly after the Revolutionary war. Alexander Mulnix was a successful farmer, who spent his entire life in Pennsylvania. He wedded Mary Margaret Sampson, a native of the Keystone state and a representative of one of the old Pennsylvania families of Scotch-Irish descent. His wife died in Pennsylvania, in 1902, at the age of eighty years. Her family numbered eight children, six sons and two daughters.
The youngest of the household was Harry E. Mulnix, who is indebted to the public schools of Pittsburgh for his early education, which was supplemented by study in the Iron City College, from which he was graduated with the class of 1875. He started out to provide for his own support when a youth of eighteen. His second employment was that of a clerk in mercantile lines and his first position was that of a bookkeeper with the firm of Harshaw & Templeton. His initial experience was therefore of a broadening character that qualified him for further advancement. In 1878 he came to Colorado, arriving in Pueblo on the 17th of May. In the fall of that year he removed to Trinidad and there he engaged in general merchandising. While a resident of that city he served for four years as a member of the city council and was acting mayor of the city when but twenty-three years old. In 1887 he entered the railroad contracting business, which he followed until 1893. In 1892 he was the candidate for state treasurer but went down to defeat in the democratic landslide of that year, although leading his ticket in a manner that indicated great strength throughout the state. In 1894 he was elected state treasurer on the republican ticket and served for one term of two years, after which, in 1896, he was nominated for the position of secretary of state hut declined the proffered honor. In 1898 he was again nominated for the position of state treasurer but refused to become a candidate. His party thus acknowledged his powers of leadership as well as his efficiency and ability in office. From 1898 until 1914 he followed his profession as a certified public accountant. In the latter year he was nominated for the office of state auditor, to which he was elected. His incumbency in 1915 and 1916 was one noted for a degree of efficiency that has seldom been attained and never surpassed in the management of a state office in Colorado. It involved the handling of over forty millions of dollars of state funds, without having to account for a single penny. In 1916 he was the unanimous choice of the republican assembly for the office of state treasurer, thus obviating the necessity of a primary campaign, and in the election that followed, while he was defeated, he ran seventy-five thousand six hundred votes ahead of his ticket. The democrats carried the state by seventy-six thousand five hundred and eight. This was one of the most remarkable instances of personal political strength ever shown in the political history of the state. Resuming his practice of accountancy together with the management of other private interests, Mr. Mulnix continued until assuming the duties of state treasurer in January, 1919, to which he was elected in the fall of 1918. Mr. Mulnix owes much of his great popularity in the state to the unquestioning faith the people have in his unswerving integrity. When out of office he has been for nearly two de- cades the official auditing authority for most of the counties of the state. He has uncovered no little in the way of wilful wrongdoing and in the way of accounting errors due to mistaken methods. In all cases he acted with such tact that publicity was avoided, wrongs were quietly made good and penalties were imposed, but never with the blare of trumpets. In most of the courts of the state his methods of book-
HARRY E. MULNIX
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keeping have been adopted. It is this element of personal contact with county officials that has endeared him to leading citizens of both parties throughout the state and gave them, too, an insight into the absolute trustworthiness of the man.
Mr. Mulnix has always been a stalwart republican since becoming a voter. He perhaps has a more extensive acquaintance throughout Colorado than any other man in the state. His democratic manner, his innate courtesy and politeness have always been prominent characteristics, which are probably surpassed only by his admirable family life and ideal devotion to the rearing and training of his children. His hosts of friends know and address him as "Harry" without the least thought of indignity or affront. His kind-heartedness and generosity are seldom appealed to in vain by worthy causes. A deserving appeal invariably meets with response and has never been turned away without help of some kind.
Mr. Mulnix has been married twice. In Trinidad, Colorado, he wedded Miss Sophia A. Lewelling, who was the first American white child born in southern Colorado, a daughter of Jefferson W. and Anne Lewelling. Jefferson W. Lewelling was a pioneer of this state, coming to Colorado in 1860. He was also a Civil war veteran, enlisting from Colorado for service in that struggle. Both he and his wife are yet living and are residents of Dodge county, Kansas. To Mr. and Mrs. Mulnix were born five chil- dren, three of whom survive. Sophia Jane is the wife of Colonel E. J. Boughton, who is a colonel on General Pershing's staff and prior to his participation in the war was an attorney of Denver. To him and his wife have been born three children, Elizabeth J., Edward J. and Evelyn' J., all born in Colorado, as was Mrs. Boughton. Harry B. Mulnix, the eldest son of Harry E. Mulnix, married Edna Olcott and died in Denver, October 13, 1917, at the age of thirty-five years, leaving a son, Harry Olcott, who is nine years of age. Llewellyn Grant, the next member of the family, is a resident of Denver and is office manager of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company of this city. He married Lucy Fortune and they have a daughter, Barbara. Robert C., the next of the famlly, married Novella Stull, of New York, and is engaged in the automobile husiness in Denver. He and his wife have a daughter, Charlotte Louise. Anna May, the next member of the family, hecame the wife of William J. O'Brien and died, leaving a son, James Llewellyn. Mrs. Mulnix passed away October 23, 1889, at the age of twenty-six years. On the 4th of September, 1907, Mr. Mulnix was again married, his second union being with Miss Grace Alice Strayer, a native of Indiana and a daughter of Calvin and Alice Strayer, the former now deceased, while the latter resldes with Mr. and Mrs. Mulnix.
Mr. Mulnix is a member of the Colorado Society of Certified Public Accountants and is a member of the American Institute of Accounts. Fraternally he is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He also belongs to the Denver Civic and Commercial Association and is interested in all that has to do with the welfare, progress and upbuilding of the city and the extension of its trade relations. He has ever figured prominently in public connections, nature seeming to have qualified him for leadership. The integrity of his motives is never questioned and his progressive- ness has led him to take a forward step in such a way that he has drawn with him a large following. He is public-spirited in the true sense of giving his time, efforts and ability for the welfare of community and commonwealth, even at the sacrifice of his personal interests. Stanch as he is in his republicanism, he places the general good before partisanship and is unfaltering in his support of measures which he believes will benefit city and state, while over the record of his official career there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil.
FRANK H. POTTER.
Frank H. Potter, conducting business at Brush as a general merchant and under- taker, was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, October 4, 1868, a son of Alexander W. Potter, who is of Irish descent, while the mother was of Scotch lineage. She died when their son was an infant. On coming to the new world the father first located in Ohio in company with his parents and afterward removed to Mount Pleasant, Iowa, where his father was engaged in the shoe business. Alexander W. Potter took up the trade of bricklaying and was thus employed for a time but after the outbreak of the Civil war put aside all business and personal considerations and responded to the call for troops, enlisting in Michigan. He served throughout the period of hostilities between the north and the south and on one occasion was wounded. After the war he removed to
FRANK H. POTTER
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Denver and worked at his trade for many years hut is now living retired and makes his home in Los Angeles, California, where he is enjoying a well earned rest.
Frank H. Potter was reared at Council Bluffs, Iowa. His youth was spent upon a farm in Iowa, and there he received his education, and early became familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. Later he learned the machin- ist's trade and followed steam engineering for fifteen years. In 1903 he came to Brush and for a year was at Fort Morgan before taking up his abode in the town where he still resides. Here he established a furniture and undertaking business in partner- ship with J. A. Yenne, of Fort Morgan, and in 1908 he sold the furniture stock but has since continued in the undertaking business. He is also manager of a department of the Nelson Mercantile Company, of which his wife is one of the owners. They carry an immense stock of goods, occupying two floors and basement, and Mr. Potter is recognized as one of the most progressive merchants of this section of the state, actu- ated by a spirit of progress and enterprise in all that he does.
In October, 1902, Mr. Potter was united in marriage to Miss Lena Yenne, a daugh- ter of J. A. Yenne, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work. To Mr. and Mrs. Potter was born one child, Helen, whose birth occurred June 9, 1907. The wife and mother passed away on the 17th of July of the same year and on the 20th of May, 1915, Mr. Potter was again married, his second union being with Miss Clara Nelson, a daughter of Ole and Christina (Christenson) Nelson, who are mentioned below. Mr. and Mrs. Potter are consistent members of the Presbyterian church and he is a faithful fol- lower of Masonic teachings, belonging to the lodge, chapter, commandery, the Mystic Shrine and the Eastern Star. He likewise has membership with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Rebekahs and also with the Knights of Pythias. Politically he is a republican, believing firmly in the principles of the party, and he has been called upon to serve in some public positions, acting as county coroner of Morgan county and also as mayor of Brush. He is of a high type of American manhood, loyal to each interest entrusted to his care and thoroughly reliable as well as progressive in business,
OLE NELSON.
Ole Nelson, who was a most enterprising, far-sighted and sagacious business man, the founder of the Nelson Mercantile Company, was born in Denmark on the 16th of June, 1854. He partially acquired his education in that country, where he remained until he reached the age of eighteen years and then sought a home in the new world. Crossing the Atlantic to America, he made his way first to Chicago, where he resided, however, for only a brief period. He then went to Hampton, Iowa, where he pur- chased and improved a farm and as the years passed he continued its cultivation until sixteen years had been added to the cycle of the centuries. In the spring of 1896 he arrived in Brush, Morgan county, Colorado, and purchased land within the borders of the county, carrying on farming for a year. At the end of that time, however. he abandoned agricultural pursuits and removed to Brush, where he established business under the name of the Nelson Mercantile Company. He opened a store and from the beginning his trade constantly increased, so that he found it necessary to enlarge his stock from time to time in order to meet the growing demands of the business. He developed one of the most important commercial interests of the county and was active in its control and management until his demise, which occurred on the 26th of January, 1913, when he had reached the age of nearly fifty-nine years.
In early manhood Mr. Nelson was married to Miss Christina Christenson, also a native of Denmark, born on the 19th of December, 1864. She still survives her hus- band and now makes her home in California. By her marriage she had five children: Ida M., who is now a student in the University of Denver; Elizabeth A., the wife of W. J. Clark, residing in Los Angeles, California; Clara, the wife of Frank H. Potter, mentioned elsewhere in this work; Effie N., the wife of R. C. Grigg. of Brush, Colorado; and Uriel, who is at home with his mother.
Mr. Nelson served on the town council of Brush for a long period and was county assessor while in Iowa. Mrs. Nelson still owns the old home farm and two residence properties, one of which is situated in Brush. Mr. Nelson erected the first brick build- ing in Brush and contributed in very marked measure to the development and progress of the town as the years passed by. In addition to promoting one of its chief com- mercial interests he was the vice president of the Stockmen's National Bank. His worth and ability were widely recognized and in his passing the community lost one
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of its most valued citizens. He was a loyal and exemplary member of the Masonic fraternity, of which he served as treasurer for five years, and his religious faith was that of the Lutheran church, which found in him a faithful follower.
RAY E. HAVERLAND.
Ray E. Haverland is a member of the well known firm of Hoch & Haverland, prominent lumber dealers of Otis, Colorado. Although he is yet a comparatively young man he has attained a success in commercial life which entitles him to be numbered among the successful business men of his section of the state. He was born in Elgin, Nebraska, in February, 1883, a son of Samuel and Esther ( Ball) Haverland, natives of Wisconsin, who in 1876 went to Nebraska, where they took up a homestead in Antelope county, which the father successfully cultivated until 1910, when he removed farther west, taking up his home in Yuma county, Colorado, where he was engaged in the coal business for four years. He is now living retired, having accumulated a com- fortable competence through his years of labor and industry and resides in Yuma. The mother of our subject is also living.
Ray E. Haverland was reared under the parental roof and received his education in Antelope county, Nebraska, where he attended the county schools. Upon complet- ing his education he decided upon the carpenter's trade as a profitable occupation and learned that trade, at which he worked for about eight years. At the end of that time, in 1909, he came to Yuma county, Colorado, and took up a homestead claim, which he improved to some extent but later sold. He was also connected with the lumber business for two years while following the carpenter's trade in Yuma and Nebraska. In 1913 he formed a partnership with H. C. Hoch and they engaged in the lumber business at Otis, Mr. Haverland having had practical charge of the enter- prise ever since its organization. His sound business judgment. his indefatigable energy and his thorough knowledge have enabled him to extend the enterprise con- siderably, and today their business is a profitable one. He has always followed honor- able methods and his reputation as a reliable dealer and trustworthy business man is thoroughly established.
In September, 1906, Mr. Haverland was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Realm and to them were born two children: Hazel G., January 1, 1908; and Harry E., Febru- ary 2, 1911. In his political affiliations Mr. Haverland is a republican but, although interested in the success of his party, has never been a politician in. the sense of office seeking. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the work of which he takes a laudable and helpful interest, and fraternally he belongs to the Royal Highlanders. Outside of his lumber interests he is a stockholder and director in the Farmers State Bank of Otis, which institution has greatly prospered since its foundation, only a few years ago. As a public-spirited citizen, as a business man and in private life Mr. Haverland enjoys the great esteem and respect of all who know him and is most highly rated by those who know him best, this indicating the true worth of his character.
EDWARD L. CLOVER.
Edward L. Clover. attorney at law of Denver, was born in Hardin county, Iowa, Jan- uary 25, 1861, a son of Gerettus and Susan D. (Maddox) Clover, both of whom were natives of Indiana. In 1858 they removed westward to Iowa, where Mr. Clover engaged in farming, thus providing for the support of his family. In 1863, however, he established the family home in Grundy county, Illinois, where both he and his wife passed away and were laid to rest. During the period of the Civil war Mr. Clover responded to the country's call for troops, enlisting as a private in the Sixteenth Iowa Infantry, with which he served under the old flag for thirty-seven months and during this period was on the firing line in many of the most hotly contested battles of the war. In the family were two children but one son, Thomas F., has passed away.
The younger, Edward L. Clover of this review, was a pupil in the public schools of Illinois and of Oswego, Kansas, and also attended a private school in Oswego, Kansas, whither his parents had removed in 1879, returning to Illinois in 1882. After master- ing the common branches of learning he took up the study of law in an attorney's office of Oswego, Kansas, and was admitted to the bar there in November, 1861, but
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did not immediately enter upon the active practice of the profession, devoting his attention to other pursuits for five years. He then opened a law office at Morris, Grundy county, Illinois, and became a prominent member of the legal fraternity there during the nineteen years in which he engaged in his chosen profession in that city. For three terms he filled the office of city attorney of Morris, making a most creditabie record in that position. In 1907 he decided to come west and after a careful survey of the field determined to locate in Denver. Subsequent results have justified this determination, for in the intervening years he has built up a large practice and is today regarded as one of the representative attorneys of the Colorado bar.
On the 20th of May, 1883, Mr. Clover was united in marriage to Miss Jessie M. Coles, of Gardner, Illinois, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John H. Coles. They have one child, Inez H., who was born in Morris, Illinois, and is a graduate of the high school of Joliet, Illinois, and of a girls' school at Evanston, that state. She makes her home in Grundy county, Illinois and has become the mother of two children, Edward F. and Elizabeth Harford.
Mr. Clover gives his political allegiance to the democratic party, which he has supported since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He is a Master Mason, loyal to the teachings of the craft, and he also has membership with the Sons of Vet- erans. Along strictly professional lines his connection is with the County and City Bar Association, with the Colorado State Bar Association and the American Bar Association. Those who know him, and he has gained a wide acquaintance, esteem him as a man of genuine personal worth and high professional attainments, while as a citizen he stands loyally in support of all that has to do with public progress and improvement.
DAVID BROTHERS.
Among Denver's citizens who became octogenarians was numbered David Brothers, whose connection with the city dated from early ploneer times. He made the trip across the country from Wisconsin in the year 1859 and cast in his lot with those early settlers who were laying the foundations for Denver's future development and great- ness. He was born near London, England, May 16, 1838, being one of twelve children whose parents were John and Mary (Wightman) Brothers. He was but six years of age when he began to assist in farm work and was employed in agricultural pursuits in his native country until he reached young manhood, when he bade adieu to friends, family and native land and sailed for the United States, believing that he might have better business opportunities on this side of the Atlantic. Making his way to Wisconsin, he there resumed the occupation of farming, which he followed in that state for four years. On the expiration of that period he came to Colorado, arriving in 1859. In 1869 he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land in Jefferson county. He then took up farming on his own account and was so engaged for more than a third of a century, bringing his fields under a high state of cultivation and transforming his land into a rich and productive farm. In 1903, however, he put aside the active work of the fields and retired from business, removing to Denver, where he resided until the time of his demise. He was interested in the Central Savings Bank, of which he had been a director since 1892.
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