USA > Colorado > History of Colorado; Volume IV > Part 102
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Mr. Michael was married in Decatur county, Indiana, on the 1st of March, 1892, to Miss Loretta Elliott, a daughter of Michael and Hulda Elliott. Mrs. Michael is a native of Virginia but was reared in Indiana. By her marriage she has become the mother of one child, Mary, who is attending school.
Mr. Michael belongs to the Grange and is interested in all that has to do with ranching interests in the state. He has membership in the Non-Partisan League and his religious faith is indicated by his connection with the Baptist church. His life has been governed by high and honorable principles and the sterling worth of his character is attested by all who know him.
R. M. AITKEN.
R. M. Aitken is at the head of one of the prosperous and prominent oil companies of the west whose range of trade extends throughout the mountain states and as far south as the Gulf states. Operations are conducted under the name of the Mountain & Gulf Oil & Refining Company, with properties in the big oil fields of Wyoming, Colo- rado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. As president of the corporation Mr. Aitken is directing its affairs and interests and the results attained are gratifying.
A native of Illinois, he was born in Mercer, August 4, 1882, the third in a family of four children whose parents were Richard and Mary (Mckinney) Aitken, the former a native of Scotland, while the latter was born in Ohio. The father came to America in early life and resided in Illinois until 1899, when he came to Colorado, settling in Colorado Springs, where he engaged in the manufacture of wagons and carriages and where both he and his wife still make their home. Their children are: L. L., living in Colorado Springs; A. D., of the same city; R. M., of this review; and Mrs. Thomas Hunter, of Cheyenne, Wyoming.
After attending public school in Illinois in early life R. M. Aitken was employed along various lines until he came to Colorado with his parents. Soon afterward he secured an option on oil lands in Texas and Louisiana and later in Colorado and Wyoming and these hecame highly productive fields. As a result of the indications for splendid development the Mountain & Gulf Oil & Refining Company was organized and Mr. Aitken hecame its president. Their fields now largely extend through Colorado, Kansas and Texas to Oklahoma, Louisiana and Kentucky. The company is operating
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actively in all these fields with large producing wells. The business was incorporated in 1917 with M. M. Aitken as the president, L. L. Aitken as the vice president and Mr. Gardner as secretary.
In 1906 Mr. Aitken was married to Miss Zadie Zinn, of Colorado Springs, and they now have a son, Richard Lyle, who was born in Colorado Springs in 1907 and is now in school. Mr. Aitken belongs to the Denver Athletic Club and is well known in the city, his social qualities making for personal popularity, while his business ability has gained him a position of leadership along the line in which he operates.
JOHN FRANKLIN TOWNSEND.
John Franklin Townsend, engaged in ranching near Aurora, was born in Atchison county, Missouri, January 16, 1854, a son of James and Elizabeth (Williams) Town- send. The grandfather was a native of Tennessee and removed to Indiana during the territorial days of that state. In the family were seven brothers who lived near Indianapolis, but all have now passed away. James Townsend was a soldier of the Civil war, enlisting in a company of the Twenty-second Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with which he served as a private for two years. Later he started from Missouri to meet Price and at the close of the war received an honorable discharge. He devoted his entire life to the occupation of farming.
John F. Townsend pursued a district school education in one of the little log schoolhonses of Atchison county, Missouri, and also studied for a year in Mount Vernon, Missouri. He then took up the occupation of farming, which he followed in his native state, and when twenty-eight years of age he removed to western Kansas. At a later period he returned to his birthplace in northern Missouri and purchased eighty acres of improved land, which he cultivated for a time and then sold. He next took up his abode in western Nebraska, where he homesteaded and proved up on the property. He
was married and spent ten years upon his place in western Nebraska, but for three years there was no rain and the drought caused him to seek a home elsewhere. He made his way to Colorado, arriving in Sullivan on the 6th of December, 1894, at which time he began to work as a common laborer at a dollar per day and on that salary maintained his family. He afterward engaged in ranching in connection with the Platte Land Company and eventually he purchased eighty acres of land in Adams county. He has since leased other property and he now has thirty acres planted to beans and fifty-six acres in corn. He produces good crops as the result of his practical and progressive methods and an air of neatness and thrift pervades his place. Every- thing about the farm is kept in good condition and the work is systematically done, so that substantial results accrue.
On the 1st of January, 1888, near Max, Nebraska, Mr. Townsend was united in marriage to Miss Corabelle Davis, a daughter of Elijah G. Davis. Their children are four in number: Charles; Lula, the wife of Frank Lydon, by whom she has three children; Corabelle, the wife of John Willis, by whom she has two children, Ralph and Bessie; and Joy, now in school.
In his political views Mr. Townsend is an earnest democrat and has served as justice of the peace in Aurora township for three terms. In this office he has proven faithful and loyal, his decisions being strictly fair and impartial, being based upon the law and the equity in the case. He lias, however, never been a politician in the sense of office seeking, as his business affairs have made steady demand npon his time and energy. Obstacles and difficulties have at various points in his career im- peded his progress toward the goal of success, but with persistent effort he has pushed forward and is today one of the substantial ranchmen of his section of the state.
CHARLES M. MILLER.
Charles M. Miller is a prominent funeral director, undertaker and embalmer of Denver. In fact he is the second oldest in this line of business in Colorado, having been continuously so engaged since 1879. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 20, 1853, a son of Charles M. and Louisa (Frederickson) Miller, who were like- wise natives of Philadelphia, where they always resided, the father being a well known banker of that city. Both have now passed away.
Charles M. Miller was the youngest in their family of seven children. In early boyhood he attended the schools of Philadelphia and afterward became a student Vol. IV-51
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in the Kansas State Agricultural College at Manhattan. He had gone to that state as a boy and after leaving the institution he removed to Denver, where he arrived on the 21st of September, 1871. He was employed along various lines until 1879, when he turned his attention to the undertaking business, in which he has since heen actively engaged. He has continued uninterruptedly in this line for more than a quarter of a century and for many years he occupied one location, but eventually the growth of his business forced him to seek larger quarters. His mortuary, which is now located at No. 800 East Colfax avenue, is one of the finest in the city. It is equipped as nearly as possible like a home and many of the leading funerals of the city are there held.
In 1881 Mr. Miller was married to Miss Nellie Dority, a daughter of Arthur and Philomena Dority, hoth of whom were born in Salem, Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Miller became parents of three children, but two have passed away-Arthur and Nellie. The surviving daughter, Marie J., is a graduate of St. Joseph's Sacred Heart College.
Mr. Miller gives his political allegiance to the republican party and in 1882 and 1883 served as county coroner of the city and county of Denver. He is identified with all branches of Masonry and has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite. Since joining the order he has been a worthy exemplar of the craft and his many sterling traits of character are attested by his brethren of the fraternity as well as by many with whom he has come in contact through business and social relations.
ISADOR RUDE.
Isador Rude is the president of the Union State Bank of Denver and his record is a notable one of successful achievement. Denver knew him first as a dishwasher in a summer garden. He had come to the west on money advanced him by a charitable institution of New York city, making the trip in search of health, which had failed him in the east. He was born in Belgium, November 14, 1875, a son of Meyer and Rachael Rude. The father was a well known diamond cutter of his native land, where he resided until 1890, when he crossed the Atlantic to New York and there worked at his trade until his death, which occurred in 1913. To him and his wife were born five children, four of whom are still living: Alexander, Isador, Joseph and Irma.
In early life Isador Rude attended school in Belgium and after coming to America in 1896 remained with his parents in New York until 1898, when he made his way to Denver. The story of his achievements is a most interesting one. On reaching the new world he at once procured employment in a tailoring establishment of New York city of the sweat shop class. For two years he worked day and night and then his health failed. He lost his position and with no means of support it seemed that he must become an object of public charity, but the character and ambition of the young man would not permit of this. However, he accepted a temporary loan from a charitable institution, securing a sufficient sum to enable him to reach Denver, where he arrived with but eighty cents in his pocket. After reaching this city he called on the local charity board and was offered a small sum every week. He said, however, that he did not wish financial assistance all that he wanted was the opportunity to earn his own living. He was first employed as a man of all work at a big summer garden, where he remained for a week, and then secured a position as waiter in an eating house. After a brief period his employer announced his unfitness for the job, telling him, however, that he would give him work at washing dishes, paying him with three meals a day. By work at night he managed to pay his room rent and was con- stantly on the alert for opportunity to secure something better. He was not long in obtaining a position with Schradsky, the tailor, at a wage of four dollars per week and in a year was earning six dollars per week. It was then that he started out on his own account. Obtaining a few samples, he managed to rent a store and then went from door to door and to various offices, taking orders. On the second anniversary of the day on which he reached Denver he was able to deposit one hundred and twenty- five dollars in the bank. From that time forward his trade steadily increased. He adopted as his business motto: "Truth, first, last and all the time," and the policy which he thus inaugurated has guided him in every relation of life. He has been quick to recognize opportunity and to utilize advantages and has displayed an initiative spirit that has brought him prominently to the front. On one occasion he visited a printer, a man of large physique, in order to get some cards printed. The man, look- ing at Mr. Rude, said: "You'll have to get on a stepladder to talk to me." The idea
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as an advertising medium at once appealed to Mr. Rude, who had his cards printed: "I. Rude, the Little Tailor," and put a picture of himself standing on a stepladder measuring a pair of pants for a big man. The clever advertisement soon won atten- tion and when once he secured patronage he had no difficulty in holding the trade. As the years passed on and he prospered, Mr. Rude never forgot that in the early years of his career he needed assistance and he has always been a most generous contributor to charities. He has repaid his fare to Denver many thousands of times and still contributes to the organization which advanced him the money to make the trip. He has been a close student of many sociological and economic problems and has always believed in giving the individual a chance to help himself. It was this that led him to make gifts of clothing to newsboys that they might be presentable and might be able to save. Moreover, he taught them to tell the truth and not to be stingy when there was a call of charity. After a time Mr. Rude became an investor in business interests in Texas and eventually he became a stockholder in the Union State Bank of Denver. It was then that his well earned reputation for honesty and reliability stood him in good stead, for his friends, learning that he was connected with the bank, felt that it must be a thoroughly reliable institution and in eight months the deposits of the bank had doubled-all through his friends. He still conducts sev- eral branch tailoring establishments in a number of the larger cities in Texas but in Denver is largely concentrating his efforts and attention upon his banking business. In January, 1918, he was elected by the directors of the Union State Bank to the presi- dency, notwithstanding he was a minority stockholder, and to the management of this institution he is bringing the same unfaltering enterprise, clear judgment and determined purpose that have characterized his business activities in former years.
On the 15th of June, 1904, Mr. Rude was united in marriage to Miss Bessie Mandles, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Mandles, and they have one child, Gustave, horn in Denver in December, 1906, and now attending the Westlake Military Academy.
Mr. Rude has never believed in extravagance in his personal affairs, and as he has prospered in his undertakings he has given his surplus earnings to charity. He de- votes much time to charitable institutions and is one of the largest individual con- tributors to Jewish and other charities in Denver. There is never an appeal made to him in vain. Outside of his actual needs, for which he allows about thirty-five hun- dred dollars per year, he gives his entire income to charity and he is now the vice president of the Jewish War Sufferers' Relief and is also associated with various national Jewish charities. He is still a comparatively young man and his future career will be well worth the watching. His course, however, is well marked out and the future will but indicate a broadening of the scope of his activities for the benefit of mankind. A man of his kindly nature and generous disposition naturally has hundreds of friends and all know that throughout the entire period of his residence in Denver his course has measured up to the highest standards of manhood and citizenship.
PLEASANT DE SPAIN.
Pleasant De Spain has spent almost his entire life in Colorado, having been but a little lad of five years when brought to this state. His birth occurred in Monmouth, Illinois, on the 15th of December, 1858, his parents being Pleasant and Sarah De Spain. The father was born in Kentucky, while the mother was a native of Illinois. Mr. De Spain followed farming in the Mississippi Valley and remained in Illinois until 1863, when he brought his family to Colorado. He afterward engaged in freight- ing between Denver and the mines for three years, at the end of which time he began getting out timber in Cold Creek canyon. In 1870 he filed on one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 32, now known as Westminster, and there he devoted his atten- tion to general agricultural pursuits throughout his remaining days, his death occurring in 1891. His widow survived him for a considerable period and died in 1904.
Pleasant De Spain of this review, a lad of but five years when brought to Colorado, pursued his education in the schools of Wheatridge and also the Wolff school in District No. 9, near his father's home. At an early age he began to assist his father in the work of the fields and continued farming with him until he reached the age of twenty- six years, at which time he started out independently, leasing one hundred and sixty acres of land which he cultivated for two years. He next turned his attention to the contracting business in Denver, doing excavating work for four years. He afterward resumed farming, however, and has specialized in fruit growing on a ten-acre tract,
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farming at Westminster throughout the intervening period. He bas closely studied the subject of fruit culture, the condition of the soil, the needs of the trees and the best methods for their care. His orchards have been large producers, indicating that his methods are at once practical and progressive.
On the 15th of May, 1883, in Westminster, Colorado, Mr. De Spain was married to Miss Myrtie V. Davis, a native of Virginia and a daughter of Henry Davis. They have become parents of four children: Maude M., the wife of Burt Flanders, by whom she has one son, Delton; Stanley, living at Westminster, who marrled Gertrude Riggs and has three children-Shirley, Louise and Olive; A. Lynn, of Denver, who married Laura Sheldon and has one son, Sheldon; and Allan, of Westminister, who married Anna Nichols.
Mr. De Spain votes with the democratic party and for two years served as con- stable in Adams county but has never been an office seeker, preferring to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his business affairs, which have been wisely directed and have brought to him a substantial measure of success. As a pioneer citizen of Colorado he has witnessed the growth and development of the state for fifty-five years and is familiar with its history and the events which have marked its progress. He can relate many interesting incidents of the early days and stories of the conditions which then existed, and he rejoices in what has been accomplished as the years have gone on and as the progressive settlers have carried their work steadily forward.
ADDISON J. MCCUNE.
Addison J. McCune, thoroughly grounded in the fundamental principles of civil engi- neering and with power strongly developed through practical experience, is now serving as state engineer and is regarded as one of the best as well as one of the oldest repre- sentatives of irrigation and civil engineering work in the state. He was born in Ames- ville, Athens county, Ohio, August 27, 1848, a son of Joseph and Sarah (Cradelbough) McCune, both of whom were also natives of Ohio. The father engaged in farming and both he and his wife passed away in 1850, when their son Addison was but a little lad of two summers. Being thus left an orphan, he was taken by an aunt, who reared him as her own child. After mastering the branches of learning taught in the district schools he continued his education by a high school course and when eighteen years of age took up the profession of teaching, which he followed until he had earned a sufficient sum which enabled him to pay his tuition in the acquirement of his further education. He then entered the Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio, and after completing a special course there was again engaged in teaching. He followed that profession until 1874, when his health failing, he engaged in farming. From 1869 until 1879 he utilized his leisure hours for reading, investigation and study and was thus actively preparing for higher training. In 1876 he was elected county school superintendent of Jackson county, Indiana, where he remained for five years, filling that position most acceptably. He then resigned in 1879 and came to Colorado in search of health. His health improving, he was with a Union Pacific Railway Company survey party for a short time in connection with location work, but later secured a better position on the engineering force of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad Company, and was on location work in the Gunnison and Grand valleys, remaining with them until July, 1882. He resigned his position to take up mine engineering, which he followed at Aspen and at Ashcroft. He remained in that work, however, only until January, 1883, when he removed to the Grand valley, Colorado, to en- gage in irrigation work. This seemed to Mr. McCune a small undertaking, but from the initial effort in the digging of the first small ditch the project developed into one of the largest irrigation canals in the west. He removed his family to Grand Junction to be near his work and they remained there through the succeeding sixteen years. He brought to the solution of the problems connected with the work scientific understanding of principles underlying his efforts and his ready adaptability enabled him to quickly secure a solution for vexed questions and promote the project in such a way that it became a source of untold value to the district in which he operated. Along with his irrigation work he took up mining and furthermore added to his activities by serving as county clerk, to which position he was elected by popular suffrage, also serving for three terms as county surveyor. During his sixteen years' residence in the Grand valley he held the office of superintendent of irrigation of Division No. 5 for one term and his efforts in that connection did much toward reclaiming the arid lands of the district and converting them into a most productive region. In 1899 he was appointed hy Governor Thomas to the position of state engineer and remained in that capacity under Governor
ADDISON J. MCCUNE
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Thomas and his successor, Governor Orman. He then concentrated his efforts and atten- tion upon private enterprises and civil engineering work, hut was appointed state engi- neer for the third time by Governor Gunter, the present gubernatorial incumbent of Colorado, and is again most efficiently and faithfully serving in that capacity. In the private practice of his profession he has largely confined his attention to irrigation work and has therefore become one of the best informed and most capable irrigation engineers of the west. He is also recognized as an authority on hydro-electric power plants and has done much for the promotion of hydro-electric work. He is also the vice president and one of the directors of the Negros Philippine Lumber Company.
In 1873 Mr. McCune was united in marriage to Miss Belle Hinderlider, of Medora, Indiana, who there passed away in 1878. She was a daughter of Joel C. and Ellen Hin- derlider and by her marriage became the mother of one child, Nellie McCune, who died in California. In June, 1889, Mr. McCune was again married at Grand Junction, Colo- rado, his second union being with Miss Emma Kent, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Kent.
Their religious faith is that of the Baptist church and through fraternal relations he is identified with the Masons, these associations indicating much concerning the rules and principles which govern his life. He is a man of high purpose, of unquestioned integrity in business affairs, and his record is such a one as wins instinctive deference from the world. His life should serve to inspire and encourage others, showing what may be accomplished through individual effort. He provided for his own education, and while he is today a man of pronounced ability, this has come through his personal activity and is illustrative of the fact that power grows through the exercise of effort. Each hour with him has marked off a full-faithed attempt to know more and to grow more and he is today occupying an eminent position in professional circles.
KARL FADEN.
Karl Faden, who is devoting his attention to the business of commercially raising trout in Adams county, was born in Germany, December 5. 1879, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Kreszenzia (Mattes) Faden, who were also natives of that country, where they have always resided. They had a family of eleven children, three of whom are now living.
Karl Faden spent his youthful days in his native country and pursued his educa- tion there. He was a young man of twenty-three years when he left Germany and came to America in 1902. He crossed the continent to Denver and for five years was employed at the cabinetmaker's trade in that city, during which period he care- fully saved his earnings until the sum was sufficient to enable him to embark in busi- ness on his own account. Later he purchased a brewery at Silverton, Colorado, and conducted the business there for about nine years. On the expiration of that period he removed to his present place of twenty-five acres, whereon he has given his attention to the business of trout raising and now has about two hundred thousand trout on hand. He has recently purchased eighteen acres additional, and will devote this to trout raising in connection with the Colorado State Fish Hatchery No. 1. This has become an important commercial enterprise. He bas thoroughly studied the busi- ness and his capable direction of his interests is bringing to him deserved success.
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