USA > Colorado > History of Colorado; Volume IV > Part 103
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In 1907 Mr. Faden was married to Miss Katie Gruidl, a native of Hungary. They are members of the Catholic church and Mr. Faden gives his political support to the democratic party.
HOMER H. THOMAS.
Homer H. Thomas, secretary and treasurer of the Big Five Hundred Oil Company of Denver, was born in Estill, Missouri, June 20, 1882, a son of C. and Jennie (Hetzley) Thomas, both of whom are also natives of Missouri. The maternal grandfather, M. P. Hetzley, established his home in Missouri at a very early perlod and there engaged in farming. The grandfather in the paternal line was also a well known farmer of that state and a Civil war veteran. The father took up the occupation of wagon and carriage building at Estill, Missouri, and has become widely known in that connection. Both he and his wife are still living. To them were born the following children: Noble, who resides at Lander, Wyoming; Homer H., of this review; Gabriel, living in
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St. Louis, Missouri; Mrs. Mary Ashley, also of Missouri; and Mrs. Ruth Delaney, whose home is in St. Louis.
At the usual age Homer Thomas became a pupil in the schools of St. Louis, where he passed through consecutive grades to the high school. He also pursued a business course and afterward turned his attention to coal mining, being first em- ployed by others and later engaging in mining on his own account in his native state. Eventually he sold his interests there and became connected with the American Gas Company as a salesman and business manager at Kewanee, Illinois, where he resided for seven years. He then came to Colorado, settling in Denver, where he operated under lease a moving picture theatre, known as the York theatre, on East Colfax avenue. This he conducted successfully until 1916, when he organized the Big Five Hundred Oil Company, which leases oil lands in Wyoming and Oklahoma and is now successfully operating in both fields, with J. H. Ashby as president of the com- pany, U. S. Dun as vice president and Mr. Thomas as secretary and treasurer.
Mr. Thomas has two children, Clinton and Hugh, both of whom were born in Denver and are now attending school. He has never been active in club circles nor has he sought public office but has given his time and attention to his business affairs and his close application, intelligently directed, has constituted the foundation upon which he has built his success.
JOHN W. McLEAN.
John W. McLean is busily engaged in farming and stock raising and the close attention which he gives to the development of his property in Jefferson county has brought to him a gratifying measure of success. Mr. McLean is of Canadian birth. His natal day was September 11, 1869, his parents being John and Sarah McLean, who were also natives of Canada and crossed the border into the United States in 1867, at which time they took up their abode in Michigan, settling upon a farm there. Both passed away in that state after rearing a large familly of fifteen children, of whom seven are yet living.
John W. McLean spent his youthful days in Michigan and the public school system provided him his educational opportunities. He assisted in the work of the home farm until he attained his majority and in 1892 he came to Colorado, where he secured em- ployment as a farm hand, after spending one year in freighting and prospecting. He believed that he might have better opportunities by remaining in the occupation to which he had been reared and rented the farm upon which he now resides. Pros- pering in his undertakings, he afterward purchased the place, comprising eighty acres of land, all under ditch. He now carries on general farming and stock raising and both branches of his business are proving profitable. His business methods are prac- tical and his unfaltering industry has been one of the strong basic elements of his success.
In 1902 Mr. McLean was united in marriage to Miss Florence J. Beckett, a native of London, and to them have been born four children, John W., Jr., Randolph J., Edward and Ella M. Mr. McLean is a republican in his political views but not an office seeker. He served, however, as water commissioner for eight years and did excellent work in that connection, for he has closely studied the problems of irriga- tion and has done everything in his power to promote the fertility of the district by introducing an adequate water supply here. At all times he stands for progressiveness in relation to public affairs, and his efforts in behalf of the general welfare have been far-reaching and beneficial.
FRANK BRINGE.
There are distinct epochs in the history of Colorado. Settlement began in the state many years ago but for a considerable period attention was chiefly given to mining interests and to stock raising. Mining camps sprang up here and there as gold and other metals were discovered and upon the broad plains the stockman pastured his herds, but for a considerable period there was little done toward demonstrating the value of the state for crop production. At length, however, the attention of the country was drawn to the fact that the supposedly arid lands of Colorado were extremely fertile, especially when irrigation systems brought water to the fields, and many settlers flocked
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therefore to the state and have wrought a marked transformation in its appearance. Today almost every crop produced in the temperate zone is here successfully cultivated and Frank Bringe is among those who are carrying on general farming and stock raising in Adams county.
He was born in Danville, Illinois, August 29, 1873, a son of Theodore and Lena (Knack) Bringe, both of whom were natives of Germany. They came to America in 1862 and settled in Danville, Illinois, where they resided for a time, but afterward removed to Detroit, Michigan, where they remained for nine years. They next took up their abode in Chicago, where they lived for three years, and in 1888 they removed to Colorado, settling in Adams county, where both passed away. Their fam- ily numbered six children, of whom three survive.
Frank Bringe was a youth of fourteen years at the time the family home was estab- lished in this state. He acquired a common school education and he continued with his father during the period of his boyhood and youth. He then turned his attention to farming and stock raising in Adams county and has since concentrated his efforts and energies upon agricultural pursuits, being now the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of good land, all fairly improved. He raises good crops and at the same time he has a splendid herd of graded cattle upon his place. Both branches of his business are proving successful and indicate his ability and enterprise in business affairs.
In 1901 Mr. Bringe was united in marriage to Miss Albie Hamill, a native of St. Clair county, Illinois, and a daughter of William and Martha (Douglas) Hamill, who were likewise natives of the Prairie state and came of Irish and Scotch parentage. Both the father and mother are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Bringe have become the parents of a daughter, Irene Roberta, who was born July 28, 1902.
Mr. Bringe votes with the democratic party, which he has supported since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He has served as school director of his district for a number of years and is interested in advancing the standards of educa- tion in his locality. In fact he stands for advancement and progress in all things and his own career has been marked by successive stages of development that has brought him to a creditable position among the farmers and stockraisers of Adams county. He may truly be called a self-made man, for he started out in the business world empty- handed and has worked his way upward by persistent effort and indefatigable energy. Today he is in possession of a good property and is numbered among the substantial residents of his community.
FREDERICK P. JOHNSON.
Frederick P. Johnson is one of the best known newspaper men of Colorado, being now proprietor and editor of the Record-Stockman of Denver, a weekly paper, which is largely devoted to the livestock interests of the state and is most widely read. Mr. Johnson is a native of Crawfordsville, Indiana. He was born' September 9, 1862, and is a son of Mahlon V. and Katherine (Patterson) Johnson. The mother was a native of Ireland and came to the new world with her parents when a maiden of sixteen years, the family settling in Indiana, where she was reared and educated. Mahlon V. John- son was a native of Indiana, his parents having come to America in early life, settling in the Hoosier state. In the early part of 1871 Mahlon V. Johnson removed to Colo- rado. Prior to that time he had been a well known civil engineer of Indiana and he came to the west to assume the superintendency of bridges and buildings for the Colorado Central Railroad Company and was thus actively identified with the build- ing of that railroad system and of other Colorado railroads as well. During his active life he continued in that line of business but is now living retired, making his home in Denver at the age of eighty years. His wife was born in 1837 and is still living in Denver at age of eighty-one. Their family numbered five children, two of whom died in early life, those still living being: Arthur P., a resident of Denver; Mrs. E. M. Pease, a resident of Rye, New York; and Frederick P., of this review.
The last named is the eldest. In his boyhood days he attended the Arapahoe Street public school of Denver and later became a student in the public schools of Golden, Colorado. While in school there he and several of his schoolmates operated a minia- ture gold-panning outfit near Golden. They built a sluice box and panned the gravel in the creek near the schoolhouse at Golden, actually making a success of the opera- tion. They sold their ore to the United States mint in Denver, and keeping track of the money thus secured, they found at the end of their school term that they had taken
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more than seven hundred dollars worth of gold dust out of the sands of the creek. This money was used by the boys to promote various undertakings in which they were interested.
After leaving the public schools Mr. Johnson attended the School of Mines at Boulder and also became a student in Wabash College at Crawfordsville, Indiana. On account of ill health, however, he was obliged to leave that institution before gradu- ating and returned to Colorado, where he took up civil engineering under Captain E. L. Berthon over the Loveland pass. He afterward entered the service of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad Company as a representative of its engineering department and worked along the line in survey work across Tennessee pass and over other important places along the road demanding marked engineering skill. For several years he con- tinued in the service of the Denver & Rio Grande and afterward was connected with the Grand Forks & Silverton Line. In 1882, however, he withdrew from civil engineer- ing work and turned his attention to newspaper publication. He had previously heen connected with the Colorado Transcript, a local Denver daily paper, but after a short period he had taken up civil engineering, and when he decided to discontinue the latter work he turned to his first vocation. He secured a position as reporter on the Toledo Blade at Toledo, Ohio, and was with that journal in various capacities from 1882 until 1889. He then again came to Denver and secured a more remunerative position on the Rocky Mountain News, with which he was connected for a year. On the expiration of that period he established the Boulder Camera, which he successfully conducted until 1893, when he sold out, having been appointed chief clerk in the state senate, which important position he occupied through several sessions. He then became interested in a project in connection with the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago and concentrated his energies upon that enterprise, which was maintained until the fair closed. Once more he returned to Denver and again accepted a responsible position with the Rocky Mountain News, with which he remained until 1897. One day, when on pleasure bent, he was in the neighborhood of the Denver stock yards and then and there he conceived the idea of becoming a live stock reporter for the paper. He pro- posed his plan to his superiors, to which they agreed, recognizing the value of his idea, and from that time he became contributing editor on stock conditions for a Denver daily. Several small stock papers were being edited at the stock yards at that time, including the Record and the Stockman. Neither of these was very successful, however, and in 1900 Mr. Johnson purchased the Stockman and for a few years con- ducted the paper with moderate success. The Record was his competitor and he ap- proached the owners with a view of buying or consolidating the two papers. They agreed to the former and he then renamed the paper the Record-Stockman. The new journal immediately under his able management became the leading live stock paper in the state and is today the most widely known paper of the kind in Colorado. It is splendidly edited, with a view to advancing the live stock interests of the country, Mr. Johnson closely studying the situation from every possible standpoint and at the same time he labors to advance the interests of Colorado in general and of Denver in particular. It was through his efforts that the live stock show was first held. He advertised it largely throughout the state and drew to it not only a large attendance from Colorado but from all over the country as well. He also organized the first Denver Horse Show, which is now looked forward to from year to year as a most im- portant and interesting event, not only from the standpoint of the livestock raiser and dealer but also as a social event. Mr. Johnson has lectured in many parts of Colorado to farmers' organizations on stock raising, discussing many vital subjects of interest in relation to the raising of sheep, cattle and horses. He has also written a fine history of the cattle and live stock industry of Colorado. His has been a suc- cessful business career and yet he has met many difficulties and obstacles as he has worked his way upward. He started out for himself at the early age of thirteen years, wisely utilizing his time and opportunities, and he is today not only at the head of a very successful live stock journal but has made large and judicious investments in real estate until his holdings are now extensive and profitable.
On the 26th of May, 1886, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Marie Foley, of Toledo, Ohio, a daughter of James and Margaret Foley, representatives of a well known and prominent Denver family. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have become the parents of a son, Mahlon B., who was born December 31, 1900, in Denver and is now attending a military academy.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Roman Catholic church, and Mr. Johnson is identified with the Knights of Columbus. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party and at one time he served as a member of the state emigration
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board, acting as special agent for the United States government on the 1900 census. He is one of the popular citizens of Denver, standing high in the regard of his fellow townsmen, his social qualities winning for him high regard and warm friendship wherever he is known.
MOSES CLINE.
Moses Cline, one of Colorado's pioneer agriculturists, having lived since 1869 upon the farm upon which he now resides in Adams county, has been prominently associated with the development of its irrigation interests as well as with the cultivation of the land. He was born in Boston, Ontario, September 19, 1847, a son of John and Miriam (Barber) Cline. The father was a native of Pennsylvania, while the mother's birth occurred in Boston, Ontario. John Cline served as a' soldier in the War of 1812. He afterward went to Ontario and hoth he and his wife died in that province. They had a family of seven children, six of whom are yet living.
Moses Cline was reared in the place of his nativity and continued his residence there to the time of his removal to Colorado, which was in the year 1867. He made his way first to Denver, where he arrived on the 22d of May. There he remained until 1869, when he purchased the farm which is now his home. With characteristic energy he began its development and has added many improvements as the years have passed by. There are now fine buildings upon the place and all the accessories and conveniences of the model farm of the twentieth century. Well kept fences divide the place into fields of convenient size and he annually harvests good crops from his tract of one hundred and twenty acres. Interested in the question of irrigation, he has for years served as president of the Colorado Agriculture Ditch Company and he is thoroughly familiar with all of the problems of irrigation and has done much to promote progress along that line.
Mr. Cline has been married twice. In 1877 he wedded Miss Katherine Baldwin and to them was born a son, Edwin B., who died in 1881. The wife and mother sur- vived until 1890, when she, too, passed away. In 1893 Mr. Cline was again married, his second union being with Miss Anna F. Hotchkiss, who was called to her final rest in 1917.
Mr. Cline votes with the republican party, and while not a politician in the sense of office seeking, is interested in all that has to do with the welfare and progress of his community. He has served on the school hoard for fifteen years and the cause of education finds in him a stalwart champion. He is a self-made man-one who owes his prosperity entirely to his own efforts. He started out in life empty-handed and early recognized the eternal principle that industry wins. Industry therefore became the beacon of his life and his well directed energies have been the means of bringing him substantial success.
TRACY R. LOVE, M. D.
Dr. Tracy R. Love, a physician and surgeon of Denver, was born in Washington, D. C., December 23, 1878, a son of Charles Gurley and Minnie C. (Tucker) Love. The father was born in the state of New York, where his ancestors had lived for many years. For a long period he was chief clerk in the pension department at Washington, D. C. In 1892 he came to Colorado, where he was associated with the Colorado Supply Company until the time of his death, which occurred in the fall of 1907, when he was fifty-eight years of age. His wife is a daughter of Captain Nathaniel Tucker, who won hls title by service in the Civil war and who was a prominent resident of Chicago. Mrs. Love is still living. She is a graduate physician and surgeon, having completed a course in the Howard University at Washington, D. C., and she is today recognized as one of Denver's leading physicians. By her marriage she became the mother of three children, a son and two daughters.
Dr. Love of this review, the eldest of the children, was educated in the public and high schools of Denver, being graduated from the high school with the class of 1898. He next entered the Colorado College, in which he won the Bachelor of Philos- ophy degree upon graduation with the class of 1902. He then entered Columbia Uni- versity of New York city and received his professional degree in 1906. He afterward served as interne in the Englewood Hospital of Englewood, New Jersey, for a period
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of eight months and then returned to Denver, where he has since engaged in practice in connection with Dr. J. N. Hall, a leading physician of the city. He belongs to the American Medical Association and the Colorado State Medical Society. He is serving on the staff of the Denver City & County Hospital and is a member of the medical and surgical staff of the Children's Hospital. He is conscientious in the performance of all of his professional duties and his wide reading and comprehensive study have greatly promoted his knowledge and made him most proficient in the conduct of his practice.
On the 6th of September, 1905, Dr. Love was married at Fort Collins to Miss Ger- trude Amoss, a native of Boulder, Colorado, and a daughter of W. G. and Gertrude (Bowler) Amoss, who became early residents of this state. Dr. and Mrs. Love have two children: Blanche Gertrude, horn August 2, 1908; and William Amoss, born Jan- uary 24, 1914.
Dr. Love turns to hunting and fishing for diversion but the major part of his time and attention are concentrated upon his professional duties and he is most con- scientious in their discharge.
OLIVER B. GRAVES.
Oliver B. Graves, a well known citizen of Arvada, devoting his attention to the busi- ness of threshing and well drilling, was born January 27, 1870, being one of the eleven children of William M. and Elizabeth (Perrin) Graves, who are mentioned at length elsewhere in this work. Spending his youthful days under the parental roof, Oliver B. Graves attended the public schools and thus became qualified for life's practical and responsible duties. He has led a busy and useful life and is now devoting his attention to threshing, which fully occupies his time during the summer seasons, and to drilling wells. His work in both connections is promptly and capably done and there is con- stant demand for his service along those lines.
In March, 1896, Mr. Graves was united in marriage in Arvada to Miss Gertrude Frey, a daughter of William and Elizabeth Frey, and to them have been horn seven children, namely: Herbert, Mildred, Louis, Elizabeth, Lucille, John and Walter.
Mr. Graves is a Mason, belonging to the blue lodge No. 141, and is a worthy follower of the craft, loyally adhering to its teachings. His entire life has been spent in the community in which he still makes his home and those who know him speak of him in terms of high regard as an industrious and energetic business man and as a reliable citizen.
RICHARD RUSSELL, M. D.
Dr. Richard Russell, of Arvada, Colorado, was the first physician to settle in this city and since coming to this community he has built up a practice of gratifying pro- portions, his ability being readily recognized by the public. He is regarded equally high by his professional brethren and throughout his career he has been successful in a number of intricate cases which have been entrusted to his care.
Dr. Russell was born in Viola, Illinois, March 8, 1865, a son of Samuel E. and Effie (Cabeen) Russell. The family located in Illinois in 1842. There the father followed farming and the mother is still living on the home farm. Richard Russell attended the Viola public schools and in order to better prepare himself for a profes- sional career entered Monmouth College, from which he was graduated in 1889 with the degree of B. S. He then matriculated in Rush Medical College of Chicago but on account of his health came to this state, where he completed his medical course in 1900. Since then he has successfully engaged in practice in Arvada and as the years have passed his patronage has steadily increased. He is a thoroughly reliable physician, following the most approved methods, yet is ever ready to try out new ones if he can convince himself of their value. He is careful in diagnosis, but after reaching a decision follows the course laid down unswervingly. Many dangerous and desperate cases have been treated by him successfully and it is therefore but natural that as the result of his professional work material success has come to him.
Dr. Russell is happily married to Miss Estelle Graham, a daughter of G. H. and Anna (Wells) Graham, of North Denver, where both are widely and favorably known. The Grahams are a prominent family, as are the Wells. The grandfather of Mrs.
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Russell, Elisha Wells, was the owner of several fine farms. His wife was one of the descendants of Ezra Cornell, founder of Cornell University. Mrs. Russell before her marriage was successfully engaged in business and her ability as a business woman was widely recognized and found high appreciation.
Dr. Russell came to Colorado practically a sick man, but anyone seeing him today would never know it. He has ever been foremost in the public life of his community, in the progress of which he has taken a deep interest, and he served as the first mayor of Arvada, giving it a businesslike administration greatly to the benefit of the com- munity. He also helped to establish the office of town health officer. He was one of the organizers of the First National Bank in 1905, and he has ever since served as a director. It may thus be seen that he is a man who has not only achieved profes- sional success and professional standing, hut one who has taken a public-spirited part in the upbuilding of his city and who is ever ready to aid measures which will pro- mote the general welfare. His political leanings are toward the republican party and his religious faith is that of the United Presbyterian church, his membership being with the Denver congregation.
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