History of Colorado; Volume IV, Part 70

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

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James Field Willard, whose name introduces this review, began his education in the public schools of Philadelphia and in 1898 was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with the degree of Bachelor of Science. He afterward spent two years as a student in the University of Wisconsin at Madison in post-graduate work and later returned to the University of Pennsylvania, which in 1902 conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. From 1902 until 1904 he was teaching history at the Northwestern University of Evanston, Illinois, after which he spent two years as Har- rison Fellow for Research at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1906 he became con- nected with the University of Colorado at Boulder as assistant professor of history and in 1907 was made professor of history, which position he has since occupied.

On the 4th of January, 1912, in Boulder, Professor Willard was married to Miss Margaret Love Wheeler, a daughter of Stephen and Mary Kathleen Wheeler. They have one child, Mary Kathleen Willard. Professor Willard belongs to the Alpha Chi Rho fraternity. In politics he maintains an independent course. He largely concen- trates his efforts and attention upon his work in the educational field, where he has won a position of distinction, having specialized in mediaeval history in England and the history of mediaeval taxation in that country. A book entitled The Union Colony at Greeley, Colorado, 1869-1871, published in 1918, by the university, was edited with introduction and notes by Mr. Willard.

SCHUYLER C. PECK.

Schuyler C. Peck, to whom opportunity has ever been a call to action, is now the secretary and assistant treasurer of the Denver Coal By-Products Company, but the extent and importance of his business interests do not monopolize his time to the exclusion of active participation in public affairs at the present crisis in history, for he is now serving as chief clerk on the United States exemption board No. 6, of Denver and in every possible way is doing everything in his power to aid in promoting the interests of his country.

Mr. Peck is a native of Michigan and a record of his family is given in connection

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with the sketch of Dr. G. S. Peck on another page of this work. He was educated in the public schools of Buchanan. Michigan, to the age of seventeen years and then started out to earn his own living, being first employed as a telegraph operator by the Michigan Central Railroad Company. He continued in that work for four years and was afterward advanced to the position of ticket agent at Saginaw, Michigan, with the same road, filling the latter position until 1900, when he removed to Colorado, settling in Denver, where he arrived on the 1st day of December, 1900. Here he estab- lished the Peck Delivery Company and conducted the business successfully until 1912, when he sold his interests in that line and became one of the organizers of the Denver Coal By-Products Company, with which he has since been actively identified, filling the offices of secretary and assistant treasurer. He has contributed in marked measure to the success of the undertaking, which has rapidly developed and has become one of the profitable concerns of the kind in the city.

Mr. Peck has been married twice. In Hastings, Nebraska, on the 22d of October, 1890, he wedded Miss Theresa Byerlein, a native of Saginaw, Michigan, and to them were born two children: Marguerite, whose birth occurred July 8, 1892, in Saginaw, Michigan, and who is now the wife of Emile R. Mayer, of Brighton, Colorado; and Ruth, who was born in Denver, March 14, 1902. Mrs. Peck passed away on the day of the birth of her daughter Ruth at the age of thirty-two years. Mr .. Pack afterward married Miss Harriet M. C. Vincent, a native of Canada, the wedding being, celebrated in Denver, April 8, 1903. Of the second marriage a son and a daughter have been born: Sidney J., who was born in Denver in August, 1905; and Dorothy J. C., born in Stonewall, Mani- toba, June 15, 1909.

Mr. Peck is a man of domestic tastes who finds his greatest happiness at his own fireside and he and his family are pleasantly located at No. 2336 Race street. In poli- tics Mr. Peck is a republican. He belongs to Palestine Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and was the first master of the lodge, which was organized in June, 1918. He also has mem- bership in Colorado Chapter. No. 29, R. A. M .; in Denver Commandery, No. 25, K. T., of which he served as eminent commander in 1908; and in El Jebel Temple A. A. O. N. M. S. He likewise has membership in the Denver Civic and Commercial Association, in the Rotary Club, and in St. Stephen's Episcopal church. In the last named he has served for a number of years as vestryman and takes active and helpful part in pro- moting the church work. In fact, his aid and influence are always on the side of progress and improvement, whether relative to individual or community advancement or relating to the material, intellectual, social or moral progress of the city.

WILLIAM L. HAUPTLI.

William Hauptli, vice president of the First National Bank of Wellington, Colo- rado, was born in Norfolk, Nebraska, March 22, 1887, a son of Jacob and Euricka (Krueger) Hauptli, the former a native of Switzerland, while the latter was born in Germany. Jacob Hauptli came to the new world in 1874 and took up his abode in California, but after a time removed to Norfolk, Nebraska, where he has resided for the past twenty-two years, devoting his attention in large measure to railroading. His wife is also living.

William L. Hauptli was reared and educated in Norfolk, Nebraska, and after his textbooks were put aside he turned his attention to the banking business, securing a position as bookkeeper in the Citizens National Bank of Norfolk, in which he after- ward won promotion until he had become assistant cashier of that institution. He subsequently went to Monowi and accepted the position of cashier in the Monowi State Bank, remaining there for four years. He afterward came to Colorado in November, 1916, and settling in Wellington, purchased the First National Bank in connection with H. B. Persons. They have the controlling interest in this institution and have since successfully conducted it. The bank is capitalized for twenty-five thousand dollars and has surplus and undivided profits amounting to more than eleven thousand dollars, while its deposits reach one hundred and eighty-five thousand dollars. The bank is enjoying a prosperous existence, owing to the enterprising methods and progressive- ness of the leading stockholders. Mr. Hauptli also has farming interests here and likewise conducts an insurance business, in which connection he has gained a large clientage.

In October, 1914, Mr. Hauptli was married to Miss Norene W. McCandless, a daugh- ter of C. S. and Jennie McCandless, who were born in Pennsylvania and became pioneer settlers of North Dakota. The father was a cement contractor but is now living retired,

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making his home at Hemet, California. Mr. and Mrs. Hauptli have one child, Winfred H., born January 9, 1916.

The religious faith of Mr. and Mrs. Hauptli is that of the German Lutheran church and fraternally Mr. Hauptli is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. In politics he is a republican, well informed on the questions and issues of the day, but he does not seek nor desire office. He has made steady progress along business lines, and experience and study are constantly broadening his knowledge and promoting his efficiency.

DANIEL ALBERT EITEL.

Daniel Albert Eitel is the owner of an extensive ranch in the Riverbend district of Elbert county and displays marked business ability and enterprise in its conduct. He was born in Adair county, Missouri, April 21, 1882, a son of John F. and Eva Eitel. While spending his youthful days under the parental roof he pursued his edu- cation in the public schools of Missouri and after arriving at years of maturity he was married to Miss Fannie Leavengood, of Sullivan county, that state, the wedding being celebrated in the year 1911.

Mr. Eitel afterward successfully followed farming in the Mississippi Valley but in 1917 came to Colorado, settling in Elbert county, where he purchased one of the largest farms of the Riverbend district. He knows thoroughly the business of farming and cattle growing and his production in the present year of 1918 surpasses any- thing previously done upon this extensive place. Closely studying the situation which confronted him when he came to the county, he has made the best possible use of his time and opportunities in the further development and improvement of his land and year by year will add to its productiveness because of the practical value of his service in crop raising.

Mr. and Mrs. Eitel are the parents of two children, Charles Sherman and Clara June. Already the family have made many acquaintances in Elbert county and have gained the high regard of those with whom they have been brought in contact.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN ROCKAFELLOW.

The Rockefellers do not all spell their name alike. When, however, it comes to genealogy there is but one spelling, and the book issued once every five years is called the "Record of the Rockefeller Family Association." Of this organization Benjamin Franklin Rockafellow, of Canon City, has for over eight years been president. The book is an exceedingly interesting series of volumes, for it traces the family history back to Raimond Perellas Rocafull, sixty-third grand master of the Order of Malta, 1697 to 1719. From this point it is easy to trace the ancestral line back to the thir- teenth century. There are French ancestors who spell the name Roquefeuille; Ger- mans who spell it Rockenfeller, while the English use the form of Rockefeller; but all have the motto dating from 1250, "Nonquam Propius Erunt." The immediate ancestor of the American branch of the family was a German, Johann Peter Rocke- feller, 1723. The great-grandfather of John D. Rockefeller, the oil magnate, and the great-grandfather of Benjamin Franklin Rockafellow, the subject of this review, were brothers, and the misspelling in America began with these two ancestors.

For eight years this great-grandfather of B. F. Rockafellow fought in the Revolu- tionary war and his own military career was probably inspired by this notable fact.

B. F. Rockafellow was born November 18, 1835, in Nunda, Livingston county, New York. Captain Rockafellow attended first the district schools of Conesus, New York. In this town his father was engaged in the general milling business, shipping his product to New York city. This was before the days of railroads, and canal transpor- tation was utilized. The Geneseo Valley Canal carried the flour and other merchandise to the Erie Canal, on which the cargo was carried to Albany and thence down the Hudson river to New York city. In taking up his more advanced schooling Captain Rockafellow entered Temple Hill Academy at Geneseo, New York, later was a student at the Wesleyan Seminary of Lima, New York, and concluded his collegiate work at Oberlin College of Oberlin, Ohio, in the early '50s. His college expense was met from his own earnings. When he was nineteen years of age the family removed to Lyons, Michigan, and there despite his youth, he became prominent at once, building the

BENJAMIN F. ROCKAFELLOW

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Gothic steam mills. The funds for the erection of this property were secured through a successful speculation in what was then known as Oak Openings, wild land, a project in which his favorite aunt, Miss Abigail Warner, gave him substantial assistance. This mill was removed as soon as the first water power plant was completed, which he and a partner operated under the firm name of Rockafellow & Hathway, becoming one of the best known milling firms in that section of Michigan as long as it was in operation. In the summer of 1862 he enlisted in the Sixth Michigan Cavalry, was commissioned second lieutenant and soon rose to the rank of captain. He had been seriously wounded in the battle of the Wilderness, May 6, 1864, and his commission was dated back to March 16th of that year; and "Captain" Rockafellow he has been ever since. It was the officers of the Sixth Michigan who told President Lincoln when he visited them that they proposed to present General Jeb Stuart, the Confed- erate leader, to him. "I should much rather see General Stuart than all of you," was the president's reply. General Stuart was killed in an action in which the Sixth Michigan participated. Captain Rockafellow was one of the brave men who destroyed the pontoons back of Lee's army in July, 1863, thus delaying the Confederate gen- eral's movement seven days. Captain Rockafellow's wounds were slow in healing and after he had seemingly recovered his wounds again broke out and later after he con- valesced he was for a time commanding the first division at Remount Camp Stone- man, near Washington. In 1865, however, he was with his regiment in Sheridan's famous Charlottesville and James River raid.

After the rebellion was ended Captain Rockafellow participated in General P. E. Connor's Powder River Indian expedition. In November, 1865, he was sent to Fort Bridger and assigned to command Company D of the reorganized First Michigan Veteran Cavalry and ordered to Camp Douglas, Salt Lake, where trouble with the Mormons was brewing. In March, 1866, he was mustered out and came hy team to Denver. His father had arrived in the state in 1860 and with him the Captain began mining the placer fields below Hamilton. That fall he removed to Canon City, in the development of which he has been the greatest individual factor.

After selling his mining properties to Philadelphia, parties Captain Rockafellow returned east and was married on the 30th of April, 186,7, to Miss Kittie M. King, of Greenfield, Michigan. They made their permanent home in Cañon City. Their honey- moon trip was replete with danger. The railroad had been built only to North Platte and for two nights and a day they were on the way between Kearney, Julesburg and Denver hy relay coaches. This was just before the worst outbreak of the Indians.

In 1869 Captain Rockafellow was appointed postmaster of Cañon City and held that position continuously until 1879. He was one of the promoters and incorporators of the original coal companies at Rockvale and Brookside. Some of the properties of these companies the Santa Fe Railroad finally secured through his effort.

In 1882 Mr. Rockafellow was elected to the legislature and framed and secured the passage of the first 'coal mining law. He has ever closely studied questions and issues bearing upon the welfare and development of his state and has looked beyond the exigencies of the moment to the opportunities and possibilities of the future. His opinions have been carefully formed after wide reading and investigation and have exerted considerable influence in molding public thought.

Captain Rockafellow was the first man to plant a great orchard in Fremont county, which is now one of the most important fruit raising sections of Colorado, and his orchard is among the largest in this section. Throughout all the intervening years Captain Rockafellow has been a member of the Loyal Legion and of Greenwood Post, G. A. R., at Cañon City, and of the latter was for several terms commander. He was also for eleven years on the State Agricultural College hoard and has been for years and is today one of the authorities on horticulture in Colorado.

On the 30th of April, 1917, in the old home in Canon City, the Captain and his wife celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. Their children are: George F., president of the Fremont County National Bank, with which institution he has been connected for twenty-nine years; Charles Custer, cashier of the Costilla County State Bank at San Acacio; and Mrs. Wilbur T. Little, whose husband, Dr. Little. was sta- tioned as Captain of the Raritan arsenal of New Jersey and is now assistant to the surgeon in chief at the big government recuperation camp at Aurora, Colorado. All these children and the grandchildren were present at the golden wedding. Mrs. Rockafellow is active in church and social life, as she has been throughout her entire connection with Canon City. She was a charter member and was long president of the ladies' library, which is now the public library. Her life, however, has also been one of constant devotion to her home and family.

Both Captain and Mrs. Rockafellow have exercised marked influence over events

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which have had to do with the social, intellectual and moral progress of the com- munity and with its upbuilding along many lines, and no history of Canon City would be complete without extended reference to them.

TITO CAPOPERRO.

Tito Capoperro, who is engaged in the raising of vegetables on the Globeville road, near Westminster, was born in southern Italy on the 13th of February, 1852, a son of Richard and Angelina Capoperro. He attended school in his native country and remained under the sunny skies of that land until about twenty-six years of age, when he crossed the Atlantic to the new world. seeking better business opportunities. For a time he engaged in farm work in the east and in 1881 made his way westward to Denver, where he was employed for three years, working in a hothouse at Thirty- first and California streets. He then rented ten acres of land in Adams county and began farming on his own account. There he remained for eight years, during which time he carefully saved his earnings until his economy and industry had brought him sufficient capital to enable him to purchase ten acres. He thus acquired his pres- ent place and has since followed gardening. He raises fine vegetables which find a ready sale on the market and by reason of its extent his business makes continuous demands upon his time and energies and brings to him a gratifying reward for his labors.

In 1894 Mr. Capoperro was married to Miss Rose Arciere, the wedding being cele- brated in Denver on the 16th of July of that year. They have two children: Jerry, at home; and Angelina, the wife of Vito Albanese, by whom she has one daughter, Dominca. Their religious faith is that of the Catholic church. Mr. Capoperro has prospered since coming to the new world and has never had occasion to regret his determination to seek his fortune on this side of the Atlantic. He found that in America labor is king and that diligence and determination will win success.

ST. CLAIR ROSS, JR.

St. Clair Ross, Jr., a representative business man of Henderson whose activities have been well directed, bringing him a substantial measure of success, was born in Keithsburg, Illinois, March 21, 1855, a son of Rev. St. Clair and Lucy (Davidson) Ross. The father was the first minister of the United Brethren church in Colorado, to which state he removed in 1869.

Mr. Ross of this review pursued his education in district schools of Colorado near what is now the town of Henderson. He made the trip here on the first passenger train out of Denver, June 21, 1870. The father purchased two hundred and forty acres of land and St. Clair Ross remained at home, assisting in the development and improve- ment of the farm. His uncle, G. J. Ross, had homesteaded this land. Throughout much of the time in his early manhood Mr. Ross of this review has engaged in farming and is well known among the leading agriculturists of the community. He engaged in mining in Leadville in the early days and he is now the owner of a blacksmith shop in Henderson which is being conducted by his son. In 1882-83 he was engaged in the undertaking business in Denver under the firm name of Ross & Behymer, and is also engaged in the mercantile business both at Henderson and Erie. He is the owner of valuable realty, while at a recent date he sold one hundred and twenty acres of land.

Mr. Ross was married to Miss Sophronia L. Gilson, a daughter of Robert H. and Euphrasia Gilson. Mrs. Ross was born in Idaho Springs, her people having removed to Colorado from Kansas in 1860, taking up their abode at Idaho Springs. The trip across the plains was made with oxen and Mr. Gilson engaged in mining in Gilson Gulch. He was born in 1830 and his wife in 1832, their birth states being Indiana and New York respectively. Mr. Gilson died on September 11, 1905, but his widow is yet living at the ripe old age of eighty-seven years. To Mr. and Mrs. Ross have been born the following named: Leo H., the eldest married Lela Holmes and they have two children, Hubert Holmes and Grace Adele. Rose became the wife of Edward Murphy, a son of J. William Murphy, and their children are Edward and Floyd. Maude is the wife of Chris Anderson and they have a son, Giles. Arthur married Martha Jorgensen and they have two children, Deane and Viola. Irene is the wife of Clark V. Nicholls and their children are Lillian and Doris.

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In his political views Mr. Ross is a republican but has never been an office seeker, although he has very efficiently served on the school board. His activities have been carefully and wisely directed and his energy and enterprise have been dominant factors in winning for him the competence that is now his.

HENRY F. STOFFT.

Henry F. Stofft is the owner of an excellent farm property situated a mile and a half north of Henderson and comprising forty acres of land which he has splendidly improved and brought under a high state of cultivation. Mr. Stofft is a native son of Indiana. His birth occurred in that state September 8, 1874, and his parents, John G. and Christina (Kuhlman) Stofft, were also natives of Indiana and of German descent. They always remained residents of Indiana and there passed away. They had a fam- ily of six children, of whom Henry F. Stofft was the fourth in order of birth.

Reared and educated in his native state, Henry F. Stofft mastered the branches of learning taught in the common schools and in 1904 he left that section of the country to come to Colorado, making his way to Denver, where he resided for a number of years. In 1912 he removed to Adams county, establishing his home a mile and a half north of the Henderson depot, where he now owns forty acres of highly cultivated land which he has splendidly improved. Upon his place are substantial buildings and all modern equipments and he makes a specialty of raising garden products as well as alfalfa hay.

In May, 1908, Mr. Stofft was united in marriage to Miss Bertha L. Gray, who passed away the next year. In 1912 he wedded Miss Gertrude Harms. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran church and in social circles they occupy a most enviable position, having many warm friends in the district in which they live. Mr. Stofft is a republican in his political views and keeps well informed upon the questions and issues of the day but is not an office seeker. His attention is concentrated upon his business affairs and his enterprise and energy have been the dominant factors in the attainment of his success.

LARS ELMER JOHNSON.

Lars Elmer Johnson and wife are owners of three hundred and twenty-seven acres of land in Boulder county, one-half of which is irrigated. He was born in Jefferson county, Colorado, November 20, 1871, a son of Andrew W. Johnson, a retired farmer, who still lives in Boulder county. The father was born in Sweden, September 14, 1843, a son of John and Katie (Halverson) Johnson, both of whom were natives of Sweden, where they spent their entire lives. They had a family of ten children, but Andrew W. is the only one now living. He was reared and educated in his native country and in 1869 came to America, first settling in Carroll county, Illinois, where he lived for five months and then removed to Denver, Colorado. He there worked as a common laborer until 1872. when he went to Golden, where he was employed in the smelter for two years. In 1874 he took up a homestead of eighty acres, whereon he now resides, and later purchased fifty acres more. He has since improved the prop- erty with fine buildings and has planted thereon a grove of trees. He now has one of the finest farms in the county, mostly all under irrigation. His has been an active and successful life, enabling him now to live retired. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and for twenty years he has served as school director. He was married January 2, 1870, to Miss Christina Larson, also a native of Sweden, and they became parents of nine children: Lars Elmer, a farmer; Anna, the wife of Daniel Howard, of Longmont; Christina W., the wife of Albert Lund, of Boulder county; Alfred T., deceased; Charles F., who is agricultural superintendent of the sugar factory at Brighton; Alveda, the wife of Harry Yeager, of Boulder county; Mattie E., who is now a nurse in Denver; Adolph W., deceased and Nancy, the wife of Scott Hershey, of Longmont. The wife and mother passed away June 24, 1912, and was laid to rest in Mountainview cemetery. She was a member of the Lutheran church, to which Mr. Johnson also belongs, and he is now president of the board of deacons.

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History of Colorado; Volume IV, Part 70

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