History of Colorado; Volume IV, Part 35

Author: Stone, Wilbur Fiske, 1833-1920, ed
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 836

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Mr. Holt gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and in 1916 was elected to the office of county commissioner, in which capacity he is now serving. He has always been loyal to the best interests of the community and active in sup- port of valuable public measures but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking. His farming interests have largely claimed his time and energy, and the results of his close application and intelligently directed efforts have been most gratifying.

MICHAEL M. RINN.

Prominent among the able members practicing at the Boulder bar is Michael M. Rinn, whose thoroughness combined with a natural gift of oratory has made him a strong advocate before the court, while his sound judgment is manifest in the wisdom of his counsel. He was born in Covington. Indiana, in 1883, and is therefore yet a comparatively young man but already has made for himself a place in professional circles that many a one of twice his years might well envy. His father, Thomas M. Rinn, was born in County Kerry, Ireland, but in infancy was brought to the new world, the family home being established in Indiana, where he spent his remaining days, his death occurring in Covington, that state, in 1913.

Michael M. Rinn passed his boyhood and youth in Covington and pursued his early education in the schools there. He afterward entered the University of Michigan, from which he was graduated with the class of 1905 on the completion of a law course that brought to him the LL. B. degree. For a year thereafter he engaged in the prac- tice of law in Denver but in 1906 removed to Boulder, where he opened an office and has since followed his profession. He has made for himself a creditable position at the bar. He throws himself easily and naturally into the argument with a self-

WALTER E. HOLT RANCH

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possession and a deliberation that indicate no straining after effect. The precision and clearness of his statement, the acuteness and strength of his argument indicate a mind trained in the severest school of investigation and to which the closest reason- ing has become habitual and easy.

In Covington, Indiana, in 1914, Mr. Rinn was united in marriage to Miss Fauneil Hall and they are now the parents of a daughter, Alice Marie. Mr. Rinn is a director of the Citizens National Bank. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party and for five years he has filled the office of county attorney of Boulder county but has sought no political preferment outside the strict path of his profession. He belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, to the Phi Delta Phi fraternity and to the Sons of the American Revolution, being entitled to membership in that organization through his maternal ancestry. He stands for progress and improvement in all community affairs and has taken active part in advancing many interests which have been of great worth to the city in which he lives.

COLOMAN JONAS.

Coloman Jonas, prominent in the art of taxidermy and animal group mounting, having won international fame in this connection, and also a most successful furrier of Denver, has proof of his fine workmanship and ability in many large natural history museums in the country. He was born in Budapest, Hungary, February 18, 1879, a son of John and Julia (Szilady) Jonas, who were also natives of that country. The father was identified with the government postal service throughout the greater part of his active life and is still living in Budapest, but the mother has passed away. In the family were twelve children, eight of whom survive. One of these was Louis Jonas, a brother of Coloman Jonas and until the declaration of war a partner in business with him. He enlisted in the national army as a member of the Engineering Corps and is now serving with the rank of sergeant in France. This young man is one of America's leading sculptors. He has made a special study of animal life and has done some wonderful work in his art, making his studies from life. He was a student under Professor Proctor, the distinguished New York sculptor, and was for four years connected with the American Museum of Natural History in New York city. John Jonas, the second brother, has charge of a branch house in Livingston, Montana, and he, too, is well known as a taxidermist. A sister, Miss Zella Jonas, is also in business with her brother and has charge of the Denver fur department. Four of the family, Stephen, Laslo, Geza and Ethel Jonas, are still living in Budapest, Hungary.

Mr. Jonas of this review was the third in order of birth in the family. He attended the public and high schools of his native country and afterward pursued special courses. Later he took up the study of animal life and of taxidermy under the direction of a firm in Budapest that had an international reputation. He continued to devote his time and thought to that work and remained with the firm for ten years, gaining broad and valuable experience. As he became more proficient in his art his fame in that connection spread and he believed that his experience justified his removal to America with the purpose of engaging in business on this side of the Atlantic. Ac- cordingly in February, 1905, he arrived in the United States and settled first at Col- orado Springs, where he remained in business for three years. He then removed to Denver in 1908 and has since won a reputation and built up a business that is one of the largest of the kind in the west. In 1917 he received orders for furs and for animal mounting from thirty-eight different states. He carries a very extensive line of fine furs of all kinds and at the same time the taxidermy department of his business is a most extensive and important one. Specimens of his splendid work in this con- nection are seen in some of the natural history museums of the country and there is no one who gets more lifelike results in the mounting of animals and birds than Mr. Jonas.

On the 17th of June, 1912, Mr. Jonas was married to Esther (Balogh) Bordas, of Denver, the widow of Paul Bordas. She had two children by her first marriage who have since taken the name of Jonas. These are: Helen, born in Budapest in 1902 and now attending the high school at Denver; and Joseph, born in Chicago, Illi- nois, in 1905, and also in school. There is one child of the second marriage, Esther, born in Denver in 1913.

In politics Mr. Jonas maintains an independent course. Fraternally he is con- nected with the Denver Lodge of Elks, No. 17. He belongs to the Civic and Commer- cial Association, also to the Manufacturers Association, the Kiwanis Club and to the

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Ad Club and he is an officer of the First Reformed church of Denver. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to try his fortune in the new world. He has here found excellent opportunities and a quick recognition of his superior skill and ability and as the years have passed he has built up a business of most extensive and gratifying porportions. Since he and his brother established their branch store in Montana E. A. Lockwood, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, made the statement that others would either have to improve their methods or go out of business, which indicates the care and painstaking methods of the firm, their enterprise and artistic work. They have ever held to the highest standards and ready recognition has come to them in their steadily increasing patronage.

HARVEY STEWART.

Among the venerable citizens of Jefferson county is Harvey Stewart, who from pioneer times has been familiar with the history of Colorado. He was in this state when there were only a few isolated mining camps, the work of progress and improve- ment having scarcely begun. In 1863 he became identified with farming interests independently and in 1880 acquired the property upon which he still resides. He has passed the eighty-third milestone on life's journey, his birth having occurred in Macoupin county, Illinois, December 31, 1835, his parents being Charles and Mary Stewart, natives of Virginia and North Carolina respectively. The paternal grand- father was of Scotch birth. The maternal grandfather was one of the heroes of the Revolutionary war.

During his infancy Harvey Stewart was taken by his parents from Illinois to Missouri, the family home being established near Independence, in Jackson county, where he lived for twenty-three years. He came to Colorado in 1859 and made his way into the mining camps above Denver, arriving in that locality on the 28th of April. He purchased the second copy of the Rocky Mountain News, obtaining the paper while it was still wet from the press, but found nothing in it to interest him, except a hint of the discovery of the Blackhawk mine at Central City. Mr. Stewart then went to Cen- tral City and over to Spanish Bar, now Idaho Springs, where he worked through the summer, continuing there until November, when he returned to Denver and for two weeks sought in vain to obtain work. As he could find no employment he went back to Independence, Missouri, where for one year he engaged in teaching school. He then entered the Confederate army in the Raines Division and served until taken ill, when he was honorably discharged and sent home. He was detained by the authorities for a few days for being a Confederate, but after taking the oath of allegiance to the Federal government was released and in 1862 returned to Colorado, where he entered the employ of a Mr. Fisher at Fort Halleck, cutting hay for the government. He was thus employed during the first fall, after which he took up a homestead on Clear creek in 1863. There he engaged in farming for eighteen years. In 1880 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land from George Yule and took up his abode upon that tract, which has since been his home, his time and attention through the intervening years being given to general agricultural pursuits. In fact he has engaged in farming in Colorado for a half century and more, and has contributed in no small measure to the agricultural development of the eastern section of the state.

On the 1st of December, 1867, Mr. Stewart was united in marriage with Miss Mary Patrick, who was born in Andrew county, Missouri, March 23, 1846. She was educated in the public and high schools of Fillmore, Missouri, and when a young lady of sixteen years, came with her parents to Denver. She is a daughter of John and Sarah (Cloyd) Patrick, who were both natives of Missouri. In 1863, they came to Colorado, taking up their ahode on a farm six miles below Denver. In 1865, they removed to a farm on Clear creek, in Arapahoe county, where they were numbered among the early set- tlers, and where they continued to reside until their demise, the father dying January 11, 1874. He was born February 15, 1818. The mother died February 19, 1866. Her birth occurred August 29, 1823. To Mr. and Mrs. Stewart were born two daughters. Minnie Agnes, born January 28, 1869, is the wife of Alexander Ritchie, and they have a daughter, Lois Minnie. The second daughter, Sarah Gertrude Stewart, was born February 6, 1871, and died July 6, 1909. She was educated in East Denver high school, later becoming a student at Denver University, from which she graduated, with honors, as a member of the class of 1904. In the fall, immediately following her graduation, she accepted the position of teacher of English in North Denver high school, continuing there for five years, and winning for herself high esteem in her chosen profession. Vol. IV-19

HARVEY STEWART

MRS. MARY STEWART

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While connected with this school she had taken post-graduate courses at the University of Chicago, and also at the University of California. Her untimely death cut short a brilliant career as an educator, and brought deep sorrow to a wide circle of friends.

In his political views Mr. Stewart has always been a democrat, giving stalwart support to the party, and he served for one term, about 1896, as a member of the state legislature, but the honors and emoluments of office have had little attraction for him. However, he has always kept well informed on the questions and issues of the day and has ever been able to support his position by intelligent argument. He belongs to Highlands Lodge, No. 86, A. F. & A. M., and is also identified with High- lands Commandery, No. 30, K. T. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Christian church. It will be observed that Mr. Stewart is one of the few remain- ing pioneers whose advent into the state dates back to 1859, and he is a living witness of the wonderful transformation which has taken place since that time, a transforma- tion in which he had an active part. His first journey to Colorado was made by wagon, over the old trail, and consumed many weeks in the making. Danger constantly lurked along the way, and many interesting incidents of the trip are recalled by him. Possessed of sterling traits of character and guiding his life by high and honorable principles, Mr. Stewart has ever commanded the respect and confidence of all with whom he has come in contact and his friends are many.

JOHN POLLOCK.

John Pollock, president of the Littleton Feed & Fuel Company and formerly closely identified with ranching interests in Colorado, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 11, 1848. His father, Richard Pollock, was a native of Belfast, Ireland, and when a little lad came with relatives to the United States. They landed at Philadelphia and some years later he established a grocery business in that city and as the years passed became one of the prosperous merchants in his line but later lost much of his well acquired fortune in speculation in the oil fields. In 1834 he married Sarah Morrison, who came to this country with her parents from Glasgow, Scotland, her native city. Her death occurred in the year 1858, while Mr. Pollock survived until 1868.

Their son, John Pollock, after mastering the branches of learning taught in the graded schools of Philadelphia, continued his studies in the high school but did not get to complete his course there owing to the death of his father, which necessitated his providing for his own support. He then took up the painting trade in Philadelphia, at which he worked for a short time, and in 1868 he removed to Omaha, Nebraska, while later he went to North Platte and then to Denver. He spent only two weeks in the Colorado metropolis, however, and returned to Omaha on horseback. continuing his residence in that city until 1871. He was employed there in the painting shop of the Union Pacific Railroad and afterward became timekeeper and bookkeeper for Joshua Taylor, who had taken the contract for the stone used in the erection of the Lincoln penitentiary. This necessitated Mr. Pollock's removal to Lincoln, Nebraska, where he was engaged until the completion of the work, when he started with Mr. Taylor for St. Paul, Minnesota. Át Knoxville, Iowa, however, they paused and Mr. Taylor secured a contract there for getting out stone for culverts on the Albia & Des Moines Valley Rail- road, Mr. Pollock remaining in his employ until 1871, when following the great Chicago fire he went to that city to view the ruins. He then continued his journey to Phila- delphia and afterward visited New York city but again came to Colorado in June, 1874. Here he began contracting and secured the contract for painting the courthouse at Castle Rock. In the following year he went to San Juan county when the gold excitement there was at its height. In the fall of 1875 he became identified with ranching interests, beginning to herd cattle on his own account and at the same time was similarly employed by Albert Benjamin. He watched the herds under his charge in the vicinity of Acquia until 1879, when on account of the scarcity of grass he started his herd for the head- waters of the north fork of the Republican river. Mr. Pollock continued in the cattle business until 1883, when he sold his herd of three hundred head, for which he received about sixteen thousand dollars. He then returned to Denver and soon afterward pur- chased a farm near the city, on which he engaged in general agricultural pursuits for a considerable period. In 1903, however, he sold his ranch and took charge of the Green- land ranch, owned by J. A. McMurtrie, remaining in that connection until 1909. The following year he lived retired from business, but indolence and idleness are utterly foreign to his nature and when a twelvemonth had passed he joined with Ben. Kelt and R. F. Gill in organizing the Littleton Feed & Fuel Company, of which he has since

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been president. They have conducted a substantial business at Littleton, their trade steadily increasing, so that the enterprise has become one of the profitable commercial interests of the town.

On the 23d of July, 1884, Mr. Pollock was married to Miss Jessie M. Babcock, of Douglas county, Colorado, and a daughter of Alonzo A. and Rosa (Estlake) Babcock. They are well known socially, having a large circle of warm friends who esteem them highly by reason of their sterling worth. Mr. Pollock is well known in Masonic circles, belonging to Western Lodge. No. 22, A. F. & A. M., of Littleton, and Denver Chapter, No. 2; Colorado Consistory, No. 1, and El Jebel Temple, at Denver. Of the first he is a past master and the treasurer. His political allegiance has always been given to the republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and while a resi- dent of Douglas county he was a candidate for county commissioner, also for the state legislature, being defeated for the latter by the narrow margin of seven votes. In all matters of citizenship he stands for progress and improvement, for development and advancement, and his efforts in behalf of the public good have been far-reaching and beneficial.

FRANK L. MOORHEAD.

Boulder, the seat of the University of Colorado, with its splendidly organized law school and also the seat of many progressive business enterprises and the center of large mining interests, has drawn to it a large number of the leading attorneys of the state. Testing his ability with other representatives of the profession, Frank L. Moorhead has become well established as an able lawyer of developing powers and is now accorded a gratifying clientage. Boulder numbers him among her native sons. He was born in 1885, of the marriage of James L. and Josephine (Carnahan) Moorhead. The father was born in Holmes county, Ohio, and after removing westward to Colorado when this was still largely a frontier state he was married in Boulder to Josephine Carnahan. Rear- ing their family in Boulder, Frank L. Moorhead attended its public schools and in 1907 completed a classical course in the State University with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He determined upon the practice of law as a life work, and with broad literary learning to serve as the foundation upon which to rear the superstructure of profes- sional knowledge, he entered the law school and won the LL. B. degree upon gradua- tion with the class of 1909. He has since practiced in Boulder and in April, 1916, he was appointed city attorney to fill a vacancy caused by the death of H. E. Rowland. He was reappointed in April, 1917, and was again appointed under the new charter on the 1st of January, 1918, so that he is the present incumbent in the position. He is also a director of the Boulder Building & Loan Association.

In his political views Mr. Moorhead has always been a republican since age con- ferred upon him the right of franchise. He belongs to the Delta Tau Delta and the Phi Delta Phi, two college fraternities. He is also a member of the Boulder Club and he attends the Episcopal church. His genuine worth has won him high regard on the part of his fellowmen and his professional career thus far is an augury of future success and advancement.

GEORGE P. STEWART.

George P. Stewart, serving for the third term as county treasurer of Douglas county, was born February 18, 1863, near Melbourne, Australia, a son of Charles and Emma (Salas) Stewart, the former a native of Scotland, while the latter was of Aus- tralian birth. When George P. Stewart was but four years of age he was taken to England by his uncle to be educated in the schools of that country and they were three months in making the trip. He attended the public schools of London and St. Aubins, and later became a student of Victoria College on the isle of Jersey. He crossed the Atlantic to America in 1879, when a youth of sixteen years, and made his way to Plum Station, now Sedalia, Colorado, where he lived with an uncle. He afterward took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres and also preempted one hundred and sixty acres and secured a timber claim of equal amount. Subsequently he kept adding to his holdings from time to time as his financial resources increased until his landed possessions aggregated seventeen hundred acres. He had been educated for engineering work and since coming to the new world has done more or less in that

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connection, in addition to his labors along other lines. For twenty years he occupied the position of county surveyor-a fact which stands as unmistakable evidence of his capability, fidelity and the confidence reposed in him by his fellow townsmen. Appre- ciative of his worth and recognizing his loyalty to every public duty, his fellow citizens elected him to the office of county treasurer and by reelection have continued him in the position for four terms. Since first coming to Colorado he has spent one year in California and at two other times has visited that state.

Mr. Stewart was united in marriage to Mrs. Millie MeInroy, also a native of Australia, and to them have been born four children who are living. George H., who was born December 8, 1883, and is residing upon a ranch on Plum creek, married Marg- aret Grout and has four children, Margaret, Amy, Helen and Elizabeth. Douglas N., horn December 25, 1887, married Lena Ayers, of Fort Collins, and has two children, Mildred and George P. Douglas N. Stewart is now county engineer, serving for the second term in that position. Charles C., born in December, 1890, is now in the United States army as veterinary surgeon, being in the Veterinary Medical Corps with the commission of lieutenant. George M., born October 22, 1895, enlisted in the cavalry but is now serving as sergeant with infantry troops.

The religious faith of the family is that of the Episcopal church. Mr. Stewart gives his political allegiance to the Republican party, of which he has always been a stalwart champion. Fraternally he is connected with the Woodmen of the World at Castle Rock and is clerk of the local camp. Coming to the new world in young man- hood, he has always been a loyal American citizen, putting forth the most earnest effort to advance the welfare and substantial upbuilding of his community, his com- monwealth and his country, and the spirit of patriotism dominating the family is indi- cated in the fact that two of the sons are now with the colors.

JASPER D. BABCOCK.

Jasper D. Babcock, filling the office of justice of the peace at Morrison, has led a most active, useful and interesting life, bringing him into close connection with mining interests in various parts of Colorado, while as hotel proprietor he has also become widely known. He has passed the seventy-fourth milestone on life's journey, his birth having occurred in Rochester, New York, February 9, 1845. He is a son of Sanford and Adelia J. (Green) Babcock, the latter a sister of Seth Green, the dis- coverer of the method of artificial propagation of fish. Jasper D. Babcock comes of Revolutionary war stock and his grandfather, Adanijah Green, was a soldier of the War of 1812 and one of the founders of Rochester, New York.

Jasper D. Babcock was educated in the schools of Springfield, Illinois, whither he had gone with his parents, when a lad of about twelve years, and in which city his father for many years, followed his profession of dentistry. The last years of the parents' lives were spent in Colorado where they made their home with their son Jasper D. In 1861, when a youth of but sixteen years, he responded to the country's call for troops, joining the boys in blue of Company C, Second Illinois Light Artillery. He was on detached service with the United States Military Telegraph Corps and the principal engagements in which he participated were at Arkansas Post. Vicks- burg, Champion Hill and Port Gibson. When the war was over he became an operator for the Western Union Telegraph Company and acted as station agent and operator at various places on the Illinois Central Railroad between St. Louis and New Orleans. He afterward remained at Marlin, Texas, as telegraph operator from 1867 until 1869 and in the latter year came to Colorado but remained at that time for only a short period. He then returned to Illinois, going to Macoupin county, where he accepted a position with the old Rockford, Rock Island & St. Louis Railway as telegraph opera- tor and agent, at Medora, where he remained until late in 1873, going then to Kansas City, Missouri, and associating himself with the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company. In April, 1875, he once more made his way to Colorado, settling in Jefferson county, where he entered the employ of the Colorado Central Railroad as agent and operator. He worked at the old Beaver Brook station until 1879, when he turned his attention to the hotel business in Golden, there remaining until 1881. He after- ward built the famous resort "Troutdale in the Pines" in the Bear Creek canyon and conducted it until 1893. He next engaged in mining in different parts of the state until 1897, when he resumed the hotel business at Evergreen, where he continued until 1908. In that year he became a resident of Morrison. He engaged in prospecting and mining until 1910, when he was appointed postmaster of the town and occupied

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History of Colorado; Volume IV, Part 35

Author: Stone, Wilbur Fiske, 1833-1920, ed Publication date: 1918 Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Number of Pages: 836

Author: Stone, Wilbur Fiske, 1833-1920, ed
Publication date: 1918
Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 836