History of Colorado; Volume IV, Part 55

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

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John W. Gaynor was reared and educated in Wisconsin and in 1861 enlisted for service in the Civil war, being at that time a youth of nineteen years. He became a member of Company B, Fifteenth Illinois Infantry, and with his command went to the front, serving until the close of hostilities. He participated in the battle of Shiloh and in a number of other hotly contested engagements and was twice wounded, once in the thigh at the siege of Vicksburg, the bullet passing through and then into the knee of a comrade; and once in the lower leg. While in Georgia he was taken a prisoner but was held captive for only one day, as at night he succeeded in making his escape. This occurred during the siege of Atlanta, in which he took active part, afterward going with Sherman on the celebrated march from Atlanta to the sea. He was mustered out at Springfield. Illinois, in October, 1865, and returned to his home with a most creditable military record. He again took up his abode in Boone county, Illinois, where he had previously lived, and in the spring of 1866 he drove a mule team for the government across the plains and thus made his initial trip to Colorado. In the fall of that year he filed on a homestead north of Golden, which he still owns, and in 1888 he purchased the farm whereon he now resides. comprising fourteen hundred and eighty-nine acres of rich and valuable land, all under the ditch and splendidly improved. The place is situated two and a half miles south of Long- mont and is one of the fine ranch properties of the state. No accessory or convenience of the model farm of the twentieth century is lacking upon his place and his pro- gressive spirit actuates him in all that he has undertaken. He makes a specialty of feeding and raising stock and his annual sales of stock and of grain reach a large figure.

In 1884 Mr. Gaynor started the Arkansas River & Land Company and put in the first big ditch in the state. This had a sixty foot head gate in the Arkansas river, west of La Junta and is one hundred and thirteen miles in length. At first the land it watered would not sell as the ditch was put in too early.

JOHN W. GAYNOR

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In 1866, in Illinois, Mr. Gaynor was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Gorman, a native of Illinois, who passed away in Golden, Colorado, in October, 1871. Mr. Gaynor has always remained true to her memory, never marrying again. In 1884 he went to old Mexico, where he spent the winter, having mining interests in that section. In politics he is a republican but has never been an office seeker, and he proudly wears the little bronze button that proclaims him a member of McPherson Post, G. A. R. Through his connection with that order he maintains pleasant rela- tions with his old army comrades and enjoys recalling events and scenes of the war. He is a self-made man whose prosperity has all been won since he came to Colorado. Steadily he has advanced and he is today one of the prosperous, highly respected and honored citizens of Boulder county, for his career has at all times been such as to commend him to the confidence and high regard of those who know him. He has now passed the seventy-sixth milestone of life's journey but still remains an active factor in the world's work and gives personal supervision to the development and control of his large ranch.

ROBERT TALBERT.

Robert Talbert, a retired ranchman residing at Brighton, has been actively identified with farming and stock raising interests in Colorado for the past half century and well merits the rest which he now enjoys. His birth occurred in Burlington, Iowa, on the 13th of January, 1849, his parents being James and Ellen Talbert, who later established their home in Jackson county, Missouri, where the son was educated. In 1868, when a young man of twenty years, he made his way to Denver, Colorado, and there secured employment with the firm of John Hughes & Company, who conducted a stage line and for whom he tended stock for five years. On the expiration of that period he embarked in the live stock business on his own account and purchased a tract of eighty acres in Adams county which is still in his possession. He also rode the range and ran cattle for twenty-five years but at the end of that time returned to his farm, which he con- tinued to cultivate successfully until 1918, when he put aside active business cares and has since lived retired at Brighton. His interests were wisely and carefully managed, so that substantial success rewarded his efforts and gained him recognition among the representative ranchmen of his district.

On the 14th of November, 1877, Mr. Talbert was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Noble, a native of Salt Lake City, Utah, and a daughter of Albert and Maria Noble. They have become the parents of five children, as follows: Delroy C .; Inez, who is the wife of John McManus and has a daughter, Iola; and Robert Blaine, Russell and Ethel, all of whom have passed away.

In his political views Mr. Talbert is a stanch democrat, while fraternally he is identified with the Woodmen of the World and the Knights of Pythias. He is likewise a member of the Grange. He has been an interested witness of the growth and devel- opment of his section of the state through the past half century and has ever borne his full share in the work of progress and upbuilding, while his own career has been such as to win and retain the high regard and esteem of all with whom he has been brought in contact in business or social relations.

SAMUEL HARTSEL.

Samuel Hartsel had almost reached the eighty-fourth milestone on life's journey when death called him. His friends will miss him, but the memory of his beautiful life, of his sincerity and simplicity, will not be forgotten. They will not mourn for him as they would for a young man cut off in the flower and promise of his youth but will rejoice in his memory as that of a man who laid down his task in the twilight of the day, when all that he had to do had been nobly and fully completed. He had remained active in business to the last and no long illness terminated his passing. Only on the day of his demise he had visited his office in the Ferguson building in Denver, in which city for a number of years he had made his home following long connection with exten- sive ranching and cattle raising interests in Park county. He had for fifty-eight years been identified with the development of the west and even in the evening of life, when success in substantial measure had come to him, he would not put aside business cares and duties. Such a record should put to shame many a man who, grown weary of the

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struggles and trials of life, would relegate to others the burdens that he should bear. Mr. Hartsel found interest and pleasure in business to the last. His plans were ever carefully thought out and promptly executed, and what he accomplished represented the fit utilization of his innate powers and talents.

Mr. Hartsel was born November 22, 1834, in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, near the town of Bethlehem, a son of Jacob and Katherine (Hartman) Hartsel, who were also natives of the Keystone state. The founder of the family in the new world came from Switzerland in 1735. Jacob Hartsel was a farmer by occupation and thus provided for the support of his family, which numbered ten children, all of whom are now deceased. The parents have long since passed away.

Samuel Hartsel was educated in private schools and early began work upon the home farm. In 1850 he removed westward to Ohio, settling near Youngstown, where he remained for two years and then returned to Pennsylvania. In 1852, however, he became a resident of Benton county, Indiana, where he remained until 1856, when he removed to Dubuque, Iowa, where he continued until the spring of 1857. At that date he estab- lished his home in Leavenworth, Kansas, and was employed by the famous overland company of Russell, Majors & Waddell until the spring of 1860, when he started from Atchison, Kansas, along the Platte River trail and arrived in Denver on the 22d of May, 1860, and on May 25th he reached Hartsel, which was named for him. The journey westward had been made in an ox train and he located at the placer mining town of Hamilton, on Tarryall creek, near the present town of Como. Although the mining excitement had brought him to Colorado, he gave up mining within a few months and spent two years in herding cattle by the month at from a dollar and a half to two dollars and a half per head, being employed by the Hamlin Cattle Company. In the fall of 1862 he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres, a tract which constituted the nucleus of the Hartsel ranch, comprising nine thousand acres of patented land and three thousand acres of leased land, becoming one of the largest and best stocked cattle ranches of the state. He also developed the Hartsel hot springs and the Hartsel town site. His origi- nal homestead cabin is still the central part of the main ranch house, its huge fireplace having made the cabin an attractive sitting room through fifty-six years. There is no phase of pioneer life with which Mr. Hartsel was not familiar. In 1866, after a round trip requiring two years and marked by two attacks from Indians, he reached Colorado with the first herd of thoroughbred shorthorn cattle brought into the state, which he had purchased from Mr. Cobb, father of Mrs. Gordon Jones, having made the trip from Missouri. Seven of his Mexican herders were killed in the Indian battles on the Kansas plains. Mr. Hartsel himself was at one time captured by Indians, this occur- ring when he was picking wild raspberries in the Puma hills, about twenty miles from his ranch, and about two years after he had brought his shorthorns to Colorado. After a brief period, however, he was released. He always remained a cattle man and spe- cialized for many years in the raising of shorthorns. His first ranch was located on Tarryall creek, about three miles below Hamilton, but in 1862 he removed to another part of Park county, settling in a district that has since been known as Hartsel. There he located at the junction of the two Plattes and resided upon his ranch for a half century, at the end of which time he sold out and also disposed of the Hartsel town site and the Hartsel hot springs. His business affairs were always most energetically, wisely and carefully directed and success in substantial measure came to him. Although he practically lived retired after disposing of his ranch and removing to Denver, he was nevertheless connected with investment interests and spent much time in looking after several pieces of residence property which he owned in the city, maintaining an office in the Ferguson building. He became a large property owner in Denver, and his keen judgment in business affairs remained unimpaired to the last, he spending several hours in his office in the management of his interests the day of his demise. He always maintained a deep interest in the pioneers, realizing how valuable was their contribu- tion to the development of the state, and he spent much time in visiting the early settlers, delighting in the reminiscences of the early days. He made it a point to attend the funerals of the pioneer settlers of Colorado whenever it was possible for him to do so and he was long a valued member of the Pioneer Society and also of the Sons of Colorado.

On the 1st of April, 1877, Mr. Hartsel was united in marriage to Mrs. Nancy B. Mayol, the widow of Frank Mayol, a pioneer, who passed away in Chaffee county. Mrs. Hartsel bore the maiden name of Nancy Boone and was born near Millersburg, Ohio. By her second marriage she became the mother of the following children: Katherine, who is the wife of Dr. F. E. Prewitt, of Denver; Myrtle Louisa, who gave her hand in marriage to George W. Schoephoester, who died of influenza, December 7, 1918; Henri-

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etta S., the wife of Paul J. Donovan; and Samuel B., who died in infancy. The wife and mother passed away in Denver, March 29, 1910.

In his political views Mr. Hartsel was always a republican from the time he cast his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont, ever remaining most loyal to the prin- ciples of the party. While in Park county he served as county commissioner and also as assessor, making a creditable record in office. His religious faith was that of the Presbyterian church and his life was guided according to its teachings. He never deviated from a course that he deemed right between himself and his fellowmeu, and the respect and honor accorded him were the legitimate outcome of the manly and honor- able course that he ever followed in all of his relations with his fellowmen. His life and his character were as clear as the sunlight. His record was as the day with its morning of hope and promise, its noontide of activity, its evening of completed and suc- cessful effort, ending in the grateful rest and quiet of the night.

HARVEY H. GRIFFIN.

Harvey H. Griffin, one of Colorado's native sons who has always believed in the opportunities of the state, is now agricultural superintendent for the sugar company at Fort Collins. He was born on the old family homestead near Brighton on the 8th of February, 1866, and is a brother of George M. Griffin, in connection with whose sketch on another page of this work is made mention of the family and their long identification with Colorado, dating from early pioneer times to the present. Harvey H. Griffin completed his education at Fort Collins, being graduated from the Colorado State Agricultural College in the class of June, 1888. He was afterward employed at the agricultural experiment stations of Colorado and New Mexico for fifteen years. He was subsequently made agricultural superintendent of the Fort Collins sugar factory, which is his present business connection. His previous experience well qualifies him for the work which he has assumed and he is most faithful, competent and progressive in the discharge of his duties, his labors contributing in no small measure to the success of the undertaking.

On the 1st of January, 1889, Mr. Griffin was united in marriage at Fort Collins to Miss Lillian E. Post, a daughter of William M. and Emeline (Emmons) Post. They have become the parents of seven children as follows: Edward M., who wedded Miss Gladys Mitchell; Myron H., who married Agnes Saunders; Helene and Lucile, twins; Florence; Norma; and Lenore.

Mr. Griffin is connected with Empire Grange No. 148 and he is thoroughly inter- ested in everything that has to do with farming conditions and the improvement of agricultural methods throughout the state. He has studied broadly and deeply along these lines and his progressive ideas have constituted an influencing factor for good in Colorado. His religious faith is that of the Unitarian church, to which he belongs.

VICTOR PETERSON.

Victor Peterson, residing on section 20, township 8, range 68, five and a half miles northeast of Fort Collins, is largely engaged in feeding cattle, sheep and hogs. He has a well developed ranch property which is the visible evidence of his life of intel- ligently directed energy and thrift. He was born in Sweden, January 17, 1864, a son of Peter and Eva (Peterson) Peterson, who were natives of Sweden. The father was a farmer who throughout his entire life carried on agricultural pursuits in Sweden, where he died in 1886, while his wife passed away in 1888.

Victor Peterson was reared and educated in Sweden and remained with his parents until he reached the age of seventeen years, when he came to America, attracted by the better and broader business opportunities which he believed he might secure in this country. It was in 1880 that he crossed the Atlantic and, tarrying not on the Atlantic coast, he made his way to Boulder, Colorado, where he was em- ployed by others. He also worked at Longmont and at Loveland, Colorado, being employed in the coal and mineral mines until 1890, when he came to Larimer county and rented land. He thus engaged in farming for thirteen years and on the expira- tion of that period purchased his present place of one hundred and sixty acres, which he at once began to improve and develop. He has continued its cultivation since that time and now has a valuable property. He has also bought more land and at

MR. AND MRS. VICTOR PETERSON

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one time was the owner of a hundred-acre tract south of Fort Collins, which, however, he sold in the fall of 1918. He makes a specialty of feeding sheep, cattle and hogs, annually selling particularly a large number of hogs. He has made good at everything that he has undertaken and he has a splendidly improved farm. Upon his place is a nice orchard largely planted to apples, and there is no accessory or convenience of the model farm of the twentieth century that is lacking upon his property, the entire ranch indicating his progressive spirit.

On the 6th of June, 1890, Mr. Peterson was united in marriage to Miss Matilda Johnson and to them were born two children: Arthur Eugene, who died in 1902, at the age of eleven years; and Clarence T., who married Rachel Childers and is now operating the old home farm, which he has purchased. The wife and mother passed away in 1914, after an illness of six days.

Mr. Peterson is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being con- nected with the lodge, the canton and the encampment. He is also identified with the Woodmen of the World. In politics he maintains an independent course, while his religious faith is that of the Lutheran church. He has always regarded it a fortunate day when he decided to come to America and try his opportunities in this country. Here he found the business chances which he sought and in their utilization has steadily advanced, carrying forward to successful completion whatever he has undertaken and winning that prosperity which is the direct result of unfaltering labor and perseverance.

WILLIAM EICKEL.

William Eickel, proprietor of the Grandview Hotel at Berthoud, was born in Essen, Germany, May 22, 1862, a son of William and Caroline (Koch) Eickel, who were natives of the same country. The father was a tailor by trade and always worked at that occu- pation in his native land, where he passed away in March, 1891. His widow survived him until November, 1898.

William Eickel of this review was reared and educated in Germany and there learned the machinist's trade, which he followed in his native country until 1891, when he came to America and took up his abode in Philadelphia. There he secured a position with the government at the Midwell Steel Works, where he made big guns for seventeen years or until 1908, when he removed to Denver and embarked in the grocery business on his own account. He conducted his store there for eight years, after which he removed to Berthoud, Larimer county, and purchased the Grandview Hotel, which he has since owned and conducted.

In September, 1888, Mr. Eickel was united in marriage to Miss Matilda DeWild, the wedding being celebrated in Germany. Mrs. Eickel is a daughter of Gerhard and Matilda (Martin) DeWild, the former a native of Holland, while the latter was born in Germany. Mrs. Eickel's birth occurred in Holland, March 30, 1866. Her father was a merchant of that country for many years and is still living in Holland, although he has frequently paid visits in America. His wife is also living. Mrs. Eickel was edu- cated in a convent in Holland and remained with her parents up to the time of her marriage, which was celebrated in Germany, where Mr. and Mrs. Eickel continued to make their home for three years and then came to the new world. Their religious faith is that of the Catholic church and in his political views Mr. Eickel is a democrat. He is conducting a good hotel, liberally patronized, and the capable management of his business affairs is bringing to him a substantial measure of prosperity.

JOHN LAURIDSON.

John Lauridson, a prosperous agriculturist of Adams county, is actively engaged in the operation of a farm of eighty-one acres on section 31, township 2, range 67. He was born in Denmark on the 9th of September, 1883, a son of Diedrich and Karen (Jorenson) Lauridson, who spent their entire lives in that country. They became the parents of three children. all of whom are living and reside in Denmark with the exception of the subject of this review.

John Lauridson spent the period of his minority in the land of his nativity, there acquiring his education. In 1904, when a young man of twenty-one years, he crossed the Atlantic to the United States and made his way across the country to Colorado,

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here securing employment as a farm hand. Two years later he began the operation of a rented farm and when six years had been thuis passed he found himself in possession of sufficient capital to enable him to purchase property. It was then that he secured his present place of eighty-one acres on section 31, township 2, range 67, in Adams county, all of the land being under the ditch, and as the years have passed he has brought his fields under a high state of cultivation and improvement. Industrious, energetic and enterprising, success has attended his efforts in the work of general farm- ing, the excellent crops which he gathers bringing him a gratifying annual income.

In 1912 Mr. Lauridson was united in marriage to Miss Maggie Lauridson, who though of the same name was not a relative. She is also a native of Denmark and a daughter of Graves and Bodil Lauridson, who never left that country. Mr. and Mrs. John Lauridson are now the parents of four children, namely: Clarence R., Carl R., Donald G. and Mary E.

In his political views Mr. Lauridson is a democrat, while his religious faith is that of the Lutheran church, of which both he and his wife are devoted and consistent mem- bers. He also belongs to the Grange and takes an active and helpful interest in all matters pertaining to the advancement and upbuilding of the community. He has never regretted the fact that in young manhood he determined to take advantage of the oppor- tunities offered in the new world. His present success is self-acquired, being the merited reward of his well directed industry, indefatigable energy and sound judgment.

JAMES TYNON.

The year 1859 witnessed the arrival of James Tynon in Colorado and for a long period he was identified with farming interests in this state. His genuine personal worth gained for him the friendship and high regard of those with whom he was brought in contact, causing his death to be a matter of deep regret to those who knew him. He was born in the city of Alexandria, Virginia, November 2, 1835, and acquired a good common school education, having a special fondness for history. He main- tained his studious habits throughout his entire life, constantly broadening his knowl- edge by observation and reading. From 1851 until 1853 he directed his uncle's herring fishery and other commercial business interests on the Potomac, near Mount Vernon. Subsequently he went to Boston, Massachusetts, and was connected with the grocery and jobbing business until 1856. when he disposed of his interests in that connection. Removing to Florida, he was there associated with the coast survey for two years and in the summer of 1858 he made his way up the Mississippi to the mouth of Swan river, where he spent the winter, being engaged in buying and selling hides and furs during that period.

It was about that time-in 1858-that Mr. Tynon was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca Bulmer and to them were born three children, a daughter, Adeline, and two who died in childhood. In the spring of 1859 Mr. Tynon started across the plains for Pike's Peak, following the Platte River trail and proceeding as far as Beaver creek, near where the town of Fort Morgan now stands. Having suffered from several hemorrhages of the lungs, he concluded to remain in Colorado and engaged in freight- ing on the plains of the state. He crossed the plains forty-four times from various points on the Missouri river to Denver and had numerous skirmishes with hostile Indians. Regaining perfect health in his outdoor life, Mr. Tynon then engaged in the grocery business in Denver, at Fifteenth and Wazee streets, then called F street. The letter of credit which he required from each new settler who traded with him was that he should have a wife. two children and also possess a yoke of cattle or a span of horses. Upon these certificates of solvency and honesty Mr. Tynon would load their wagons with a year's provisions, thus giving them a chance to keep a few milch cows and their increase of calves. Once or twice a year they came to Denver to report progress. If the birth of a child in the family was reported. he gave the happy parents a gallon of wine. The settlers of this section all prospered for about six years and Mr. Tynon did not think there were more honest men or women in any country than those around him. They were loyal to the trust which he reposed in them, their word proving good if life lasted or the Indians left their scalps. He never took a mortgage on their farms for security or ever received an acre of land for debt or trade. In 1879 he closed out his grocery business but still carried on the hide and wool business until 1882, when he disposed of his interests in the latter and devoted his time to improv- ing his farm and ranch, the one consisting of six hundred and forty acres situated nine miles west of Denver near Westminster and the other of twenty-four hundred

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History of Colorado; Volume IV, Part 55

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