USA > Colorado > History of Colorado; Volume IV > Part 18
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In the year 1883 Mr. Hoeffer was married to Miss Katherine Summerhauser, a native of Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Hoeffer became the parents of four children: Kath- erine, who is conducting a hotel at Limon, Colorado; Mary, in business in Limon; Elizabeth; and Charles, who is living in Denver. These children were born of Mr. Hoeffer's first marriage and the wife and mother passed away in 1892. In 1900 Mr. Hoeffer was again married, his second union being with Miss Amelia Frederici and they became the parents of four children: Amelia G., at home; Gertrude, who is teaching school; Henry, who is attending Sacred Heart College; aud Helen, who is also in
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Sacred Heart College. Again Mr. Hoeffer was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, for in 1914 Mrs. Amelia Hoeffer passed away.
Mr. Hoeffer is a member of the Catholic church and in his political allegiance has given support to the democratic party, but has never been an office seeker. He now is a valued member of the Grange and belongs to the Farmers Non-Partisan League. His entire time and attention have been concentrated upon his business affairs and the careful direction of his farming and creamery interests has brought to him the success which is now his.
JAMES N. CALDWELL.
James N. Caldwell is the president of the Colorado National Investment Company of Denver and one in whose career the spirit of western enterprise and progress finds exemplification. He is a western man by birth, by training and by preference. The strong appeal of opportunity has never heen unheeded by him and throughout his entire life he has been identified with mining interests, which have constituted one of the chief sources of the wealth of the west. He also now largely handles stocks, bonds and land and is one of the prominent investment men of Denver.
Mr. Caldwell was born in Laramie, Wyoming, November 18, 1876. His father, Isaac P. Caldwell, was a native of Pennsylvania, where his ancestors had lived through several generations. The family is of English origin and was founded in America soon after the Revolutionary war. Isaac P. Caldwell was reared and educated in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, and prior to the Civil war removed westward to Richmond, Missouri. There he engaged in the practice of law for many years and served as judge of the probate court. During the period of hostilities between the north and the south he served in the quartermaster's department of the United States army and was stationed in New Mexico. After the war was ended he removed to the west, becoming a resident of Laramie, Wyoming, and was actively associated with many interests which have had marked hearing upon shaping the history of that state. He was connected with Senator Clark and Mr. Corlett in framing the constitution of Wyoming and he figured as a very prominent official, lawyer and citizen of that state. He served as a member of the general assembly and was for several terms mayor of his city. In addi- tion to the practice of law he had other business interests, being the active president of the Albany County National Bank. His aid and influence were ever on the side of progress and improvement, and Laramie and the state benefited much by his efforts. At the time of the widespread financial panic of 1893 he removed to Denver, where he continued to make his home throughout his remaining days, his death occurring in Not ember. 1916, when he had reached the advanced age of eighty-two years. He had acquired his education in the University of Virginia and that institution had con- ferred upon him the LL. B. degree. In politics he was a stanch republican, laboring .untiringly to advance the interests of his party in state and national elections. His religious faith was that of the Presbyterian church. He was a man who commanded and enjoyed the respect, confidence and honor of those who knew him. In early man- hood he wedded Sarah Margaret Catlett, a native of Kentucky and a representative of one of the old families of that state. The town of Catlettsburg is named in honor of her grandfather, who was of French descent and who was one of the pioneer resi- dents of Kentucky. Mrs. Caldwell survives and yet makes her home in Denver. By her marriage she became the mother of three children, Marion, Jennie B. and James N.
The last named attended the public schools of Laramie and also the University of Wyoming and at the age of nineteen he started out in the business world, entering upon active connection with mining interests of Colorado. In this business he is still actively engaged although his attention is now largely given to stocks, bonds and land, which he handles under the name of the Colorado National Investment Company. Thoroughness characterizes all that he undertakes and his indefatigable effort, his close study of business conditions and his progressive and thoroughly reliable methods have constituted the fundamental forces in his career in the attainment of his present success.
On the 27th of March, 1907, Mr. Caldwell was married in Kansas City, Missouri, to Miss Ada L. McAtee. a native of Kansas and a daughter of James McAtee. They have become parents of two daughters: Laura Margaret, born in Denver, December 24, 1911; and Virginia, born in Denver, June 24, 1913.
The family reside at Willow Grange on Josephine street in an attractive home .which is owned by Mr. Caldwell. He finds rest, recreation and interest in his war
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gardening and he also turns for diversion to hunting, fishing and motoring. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and his religious faith is that of the Divine Science church. His military experience, following his two years' mili- tary training while in the University of Wyoming, covers three years in the Colorado National Guard as sergeant in the Signal Corps. He stands as a high type of American manhood and citizenship, ever interested in the welfare and progress of his community and his country and thoroughly alive to the duties and obligations of every loyal American.
J. G. WINTERMEYER, M. D.
Dr. J. G. Wintermeyer, a practicing physician of Denver, was born in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, July 7, 1865, a son of August and Elizabeth (Schoupf) Wintermeyer. The father was born in Wiesbaden, Germany, but came to America when a lad of only thirteen years. The mother's birth occurred in Bavaria, Germany, and she, too, was thirteen years of age when she crossed the Atlantic. Valentine Wintermeyer, the grandfather, established his home in Wisconsin. where he engaged in farming, and he was also well known as a literary writer and poet. He died in Chicago, Illinois, in 1908. His son, August Wintermeyer, was reared in Wisconsin and took up the occupation of farming. He came to Colorado and resided in Elizabeth to the time of his demise, which occurred in 1913, when he had reached the age of seventy-six years. His widow still occupies the old homestead there. They were the parents of eight children: Mrs. Ida Nelson, Emma, Mrs. Elmer Green, Mrs. Louise Vogelsang, Julius, Oscar, J. G., and one who has passed away.
Dr. Wintermeyer pursued his early education in the graded schools of Wisconsin but on account of the condition of his health was obliged to leave school. He after- ward attended a business college in Chicago, from which he was graduated and then went again to Manitowoc, Wisconsin, where he spent a year in a general store. He was suffering, however, from asthma and his health failed rapidly. He therefore sold out his business in Manitowoc and on the advice of his physician removed to Colorado Springs in 1887. There, after partially recovering his health, he entered into the whole- sale fruit and produce business and while thus engaged he also did whatever he was able for the benefit of the community. He was chosen a delegate to the Lutheran con- ference at Baltimore, where he was in close consultation with the head of the Lutheran church in America. He was sent to Baltimore at his own request to secure for Colorado Springs a church and pastor, but the purpose of the trip proved unavailing, as he received very little encouragement. After his return, however, he persevered in his efforts, assisted hy two or three others, who finally gave up the struggle to secure a church. Dr. Wintermeyer then continued alone and eventually was able to obtain a lot for the purpose for which he so persistently labored. He then renewed his efforts, which ultimately resulted in the building of the present fine Lutheran church at Colorado Springs, a church which is the direct result of the untiring labor and. consecrated zeal of Dr. Wintermeyer. He also did much other work for the benefit and upbuilding of the community while a resident of Colorado Springs, but his old ail- ment returned, and on the advice of a prominent physician of that place, he began to study his own condition and at the same time he entered the Gross Medical College of Denver, having disposed of his business interests at Colorado Springs. He was graduated in medicine in 1896 and his wife. Mrs. Thurza Wintermeyer, was a member of the same class, being now a registered and well known physician of Denver. To- gether they began practice. Dr. Wintermeyer had closely studied the disease of asthma and felt that he had attained a high measure of proficiency in treatment of such cases. He decided to begin his professional life in a smaller town than Denver and removed to Laramie, Wyoming, where for two years he continued in active practice. While there he met an old and prominent member of the medical profession who had per- fected a relief for asthma but not a permanent cure. He disclosed his theories and ideas to Dr. Wintermeyer, who, recognizing their value, began working out along the same line, combining the practitioner's knowledge with his own experience and the knowledge which he had acquired in college. He worked upon his own case first and found that in a short time his asthmatic condition had entirely disappeared and that he had finally effected a permanent cure. His discovery became known and patients flocked to him from various parts of the country to consult him concerning their ail- ment. He has since effected many cures of the most obstinate cases and he now has an established and well merited reputation for most efficient work in this branch of medical practice. Mrs. Wintermeyer also practices medicine and is well known in
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this connection. In 1898 they returned to Denver and have since been located In their beautiful home at No. 3409 West Thirty-second avenue.
It was on the 26th of August, 1894, that Dr. Wintermeyer was married to Miss Thurza Young, of Kansas, a daughter of Robert and Lucy Young, the former a Civil war veteran from Kansas. Mrs. Wintermeyer is widely known because of her activity in women's organizations. She is clerk of Highland Circle, No. 98, of the Neighbors of Woodcraft, a position which she has occupied for eighteen years, and in this connection she has worked up the membership from forty to five hundred. She is now filling the position of grand magician of the Grand Circle of the Women of Woodcraft and she is identified with the Independent Order of Foresters, the Royal Neighbors and the Modern Brotherhood of America. Dr. J. G. Wintermeyer has membership with the Modern Woodmen of America, the Woodmen of the World, the Neighbors of Woodcraft, the Court of Honor, the Sons of Herman, the Bavarian Society and several other organizations. In politics he maintains an independent course.
Besides his city property Dr. Wintermeyer is the owner of two fine ranches, one of which he leases. This is located near the city of Golden. The other he operates on his own account as a dairy and stock ranch and it is situated at Deertrail, Colorado, not far from Denver. Both are valuable properties and are the visible evidence of his life of well directed energy and thrift. Dr. Wintermeyer, in his perfection of an asthmatic cure and in his work for the church, has made his life of great usefulness and benefit to his fellowmen and Denver numbers him among her well known and skilful physicians.
EDWARD PRENTISS COSTIGAN.
Edward Prentiss Costigan, named a member of the United States tariff commission on March 21, 1917, is a leader in the group of younger Coloradoans, who have in recent years claimed national attention.
Edward P. Costigan, born in King William county, Virginia, is a son of George Purcell and Emilie (Sigur) Costigan. Both the father and mother have been prominent in Colorado affairs. The family removed to this state from Ohio in 1877, locating at Lake City, in the southwestern part of Colorado, there remaining for about a year. They thence removed to Ouray, where they resided for about five years, and when San Miguel county was created the father, George P. Costigan, was appointed by Governor Grant the first judge of that county. He was subsequently twice elected to the same position in Telluride. Both he and his wife, Mrs. Emilie Costigan, were interested in mining. They became the owners of the Belmont mine, which was subsequently sold to an English company. The property has since been expanded into the Tomboy mine of Telluride. The Belmont was originally thought to be a silver lode. Mrs. Costigan first acquired an interest in it and she and Judge Costigan were developing it when its gold values were discovered. Judge and Mrs. Costigan make their home in Denver, although the Judge with unabated interest and energy is engaged at present in mining in Mono county, California, near the Nevada line. Judge Costigan is a well known Mason, and Mrs. Costigan is prominent in the Denver Woman's Club and similar centers of activity and influence.
George Purcell Costigan, Jr., another conspicuous member of the family, was formerly for a time a law partner of Edward P. Costigan, and became later dean of the Nebraska State Law School at Lincoln. He is now a professor in the law department of Northwestern University at Chicago, Illinois: and is the author of several legal works, including "Costigan's Mining Law." and "Legal Ethics," which have attracted wide attention.
Edward P. Costigan was educated in the schools of Denver, was admitted to the bar in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1897, and graduated from Harvard University in 1899. In 1900 he began practice in Denver and immediately took part in reform politics. In 1902 he was declared elected a member of the Colorado house of representatives, a contest preventing his assuming his seat during the session. At this early period in his career he hecame one of the leaders in the movement for honest elections, a fight that continued for over a decade. During and after 1906 he was attorney for the Honest Elections League and from 1906 until 1908 for the Law Enforcement League.
In the midst of his general law practice Mr. Costigan acted as legal adviser in the fight for a local option law, which was finally sustained in the supreme court of the state. In 1910 he was chairman of the Dry Denver Committee in its Denver campaign. He was among the leaders of a newly organized Direct Primary League and a Direct Vol. IV-10
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Legislation League of Colorado in their successful efforts to adopt the constitutional amendments and laws indicated by the names of these organizations. In this period he was also president of the Civil Service Reform Association of Denver; and in 1912 he helped organize the citizen's party, which carried the municipal election of that year. Later when the progressive party was organized, he was its Colorado candidate for governor both in 1912 and in 1914. His association with many reform movements indicates his standing upon questions of vital interest to his community and state.
In his practice Mr. Costigan on different occasions represented the Denver Chamber of Commerce and Arizona commercial organizations in freight rate litigation before the Interstate Commerce Commission. In 1914, at the time of the congressional investi- gation into the Colorado coal strike, Mr. Costigan was attorney for the United Mine Workers of America. In the now celebrated murder cases growing out of the strike Mr. Costigan represented and secured acquittals for numerous defendants.
On the 12th of June, 1903, Mr. Costigan was married to Miss Mabel G. Cory, of Denver, who was a classmate of her husband in the East Denver high school. She was secretary and Mr. Costigan was president of the class in which they graduated. She has long been active in the educational, church and club circles of Denver and in other public connections. In church circles she is widely known as a lecturer at summer schools of missions such as are held at Boulder, Colorado, and at Omaha, Nebraska, being an expert in Sunday school primary work, renowned for her remarkable gifts for story-telling, for children. For three years, from 1912 until 1915; she was president of the Woman's Club of Denver. In the spring of 1916, as chairman of the industrial committee of the Colorado State Federation of Women's Clubs, she organized and conducted a campaign to amend the child labor law of Colorado so as to prohibit such labor in the beet fields of the state. She has long been a deep student of the problems of labor and of the foreign born in America, and for some years she has been a member of the advisory council of the National Child Labor Committee.
Mr. Costigan has delivered many public addresses in recent years including pub- lished discussions before the State Bar Association. On the 30th of December, 1917, at Philadelphia, in an address before the joint session of the American Economic Asso- ciation, The American Historical Association, the American Political Science Associa- tion and the American Sociological Society, he asserted that the victory of the Allies meant international control in many new fields, including a fair apportionment of essen- tial raw materials among the nations, and a policy of conservation and use of national resources as the best means of cancelling hereafter the heavy war debts of the world. In the course of his remarks, he added: "Nothing during these trying times said or done by President Wilson has more strikingly or serviceably evidenced his leadership than his rejection of 'selfish and exclusive economic leagues.' His criticism brought home to a large portion of the public, both here and abroad, what historians and economists instantly perceived when the Paris resolutions were announced, that the division of the world into two permanently hostile economic groups would give inter- national sanction to the vast and inhuman ruthlessness which has irredeemably dis- credited German autocracy."
In September, 1918, while the war was in progress, Mr. and Mrs. Costigan went to France. Together they visited the battlefields and investigated conditions in the region between Chateau Thierry, Soissons, and Rheims; and Mr. Costigan in October also visited the fighting region in the St. Mihiel sector between Metz and Verdun. They were in London at the time of the signing of the armistice, and returned in December, 1918, with the first after-the-war homeward movement of American soldiers.
ROBERT B. SPENCER.
Robert B. Spencer, owner and editor of the Fort Morgan Times and the Evening Times, the former a weekly and the latter a daily paper published at Fort Morgan, was born in Monroe county, Iowa, September 2, 1872, a son of Wellington and Amanda (Hammond) Spencer, who were natives of Ohio. The father was a farmer by occupation and at an early period in the development of Monroe county, Iowa, went to that section and purchased land whereon he and his family took up their abode. He then improved and developed the property, which he continued to cultivate until 1915, when he sold his farm there and removed to Kansas. In the latter state he purchased land which he is still cultivating and which is pleasantly situated near Topeka, where he and his wife have an attractive home.
Robert B. Spencer was reared and educated in Albia, Monroe county, Iowa, and
ROBERT B. SPENCER
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finished his studies at the Wesleyan College at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, where he won the degree of Master of Arts. He then took up the profession of teaching and for five years occupied the position of superintendent of schools of Monroe county. With the outbreak of the Spanish-American war he enlisted for active service as a member of Company F, Fifty-first Iowa Volunteer Infantry, with which he served as sergeant for a year and a half, doing active duty in the Philippine islands for a year.
In 1907 Mr. Spencer arrived in Fort Morgan, Colorado, and purchased the Fort Morgan Times, which he has since published. Later he established a daily paper known as the Evening Times and has published it continuously since 1908. He has made these very attractive journals to a large reading public, for the papers are devoted to a discussion of general and local news, while his editorials indicate thorough familiarity with the vital problems and issues of the day. He has one of the best equipped printing plants in the state, supplied with two linotype machines, and he does a very extensive job printing business.
Mr. Spencer was married on the 10th of September, 1902, to Miss Carrie E. Eyestone and to them were born five children: Alice, whose birth occurred July 9, 1903; Robert, who was born April 21, 1908; Murlin, -born November 11, 1911; Marian, April 9, 1913, and Nelda, July 9, 1916. Mrs. Spencer is a daughter of J. W. and Margaret (Gardner) Eyestone, who were natives of Indiana and of Ohio respectively. They became pioneer residents of Iowa, and at the time of the Civil war Mr. Eyestone went to the front as a lieutenant of Company K of the Thirteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He participated in a number of hotly contested engagements and then returned at the close of the war to Iowa, purchasing land in Washington county. He continued to cultivate this farm for a number of years, but is now living in Mount Vernon, Iowa, having removed to the city in order to give his children the benefit of its educational opportunities. His wife passed away there in 1918.
In his political views Mr. Spencer is a republican, and for two years he filled the office of mayor of Fort Morgan. He also served on the school board for four years and was president of the Commercial Club for some time, doing active work in furthering the welfare and upbuilding of the city in every possible way. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church, he is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and he belongs to the Young Men's Christian Association. In the last named he is very active and has been in charge of the twelfth district for the association, including six counties. In a word, he stands for progress and improvement along material, social, intellectual and moral lines, and his efforts have been far-reaching and resultant.
FRED S. BROWN.
Fred S. Brown, an investment broker of Denver and also the owner of the finest poultry and hog ranch in the west, situated in Arapahoe county, was born April 10, 1869, in the city which is still his home, the family residence then occupying what is now the site of the Chamber of Commerce. His father, John Sidney Brown, was a pioneer of Denver, born in Ohio in 1833, and a representative of one of the old families of that state of English lineage. The first of the family in America came to the new world prior to the Revolutionary war and settled in New England. Members of the family participated in the struggle for independence and in the War of 1812. John Sidney Brown was reared and educated in Ohio and when twenty-seven years of age came to the west, making his way direct to Denver, where he established a wholesale grocery business which is still being conducted. He was active in its management and remained sole proprietor of the business until his death, which occurred in Denver, January 15, 1913, when he was seventy-nine years of age. His political allegiance was given to the republican party and he was a man of genuine worth, highly esteemed both in business and in citizenship. He married Irene Sopris, a native of Indiana, whose parents came to Colorado during the latter part of the '50s and thus cast in their lot with its pioneer settlers. Mrs. Brown passed away in Denver in 1881, at the age of forty-two years. In the family were five children, three sons and two daughters, all of whom are yet living, namely: Fred S., of this review; Elizabeth, now the wife of Andrew B. Inglis, a resident of Seattle, Washington; Edward N., living in Denver; Katherine, the wife of N. A. Johanson, of Seattle, Washington; and W. K., a wholesale grocer of Denver.
Spending his youthful days in his native city, Fred S. Brown acquired his educa- tion in the public and high schools and passed the examination for Yale University but instead of pursuing a college course entered his father's business establishment and
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