USA > Colorado > History of Colorado; Volume IV > Part 73
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The religious faith of the family is that of the Presbyterian church and Mr. Miller is identified also through membership relations with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. His political allegiance has always been given to the democratic party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and he is a firm believer in its prin- ciples. He stands for progress and improvement in all that pertains to the general welfare and he is thoroughly in sympathy with the wholesome and purifying reforms which have been growing up in both parties and which constitute the most hopeful political sign of the period. His fellow townsmen speak of him in terms of warm regard and the consensus of public opinion names him as one of the representative citizens of Boulder.
JOHN W. CARSON.
John W. Carson, a farmer and stock raiser of Adams county, was born at Beaver Creek, Maryland, on the 19th of May, 1862, a son of George T. and Lena (Bishop) Car- son. The father was horn in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and the mother was also a native of the Keystone state. They afterward removed to Maryland and both have now passed away. They had a family of six children, four of whom are living.
John W. Carson, spending his boyhood and youth in his native state, pursued his education in its public schools and on his removal westward established his home in Benton county, Iowa, where he lived for seven years. In 1883 he came to Colorado, where he took up mining, and followed that pursuit for a number of years, after which he turned his attention to farming in Adams county. He now operates one hundred and forty-five acres of excellent land, which is a part of the home ranch. He makes a specialty of farming and stock raising and both branches of his business are proving profitable. He works persistently and indefatigably and his fields produce large and abundant crops. He also exercises great care in his stock raising interests and has upon his place a high grade of cattle and hogs.
In 1896 Mr. Carson was united in marriage to Miss Edith Mitchell, a native of Colorado and a daughter of William and Fannie (Rosencrans) Mitchell, who were natives of the Empire state and came to Colorado at an early period in its development. The father passed away here but the mother is living at the age of seventy-three years. William Mitchell was a native of St. Johns Parish, Cornwall, England, and came to America when a youth of twenty-one years. Shortly afterwards he became a student in Oberlin College, at Oberlin, Ohio, and there he first met Fannie Rosencrans, whom he later married, and who also was a student there. She is directly descended from illustrious families closely connected with our nation's military history, and numbering among their representatives, both General Herkimer of Revolutionary fame, and Gen- eral Rosecrans of the Civil war.
Mr. and Mrs. Carson have become the parents of six children. George Edgar, who sustained the military traditions of his progenitors by enlisting in the United States
MR. AND MRS. JOHN W. CARSON
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navy, in October, 1917, was among the first to volunteer from Colorado. He was sent to the Naval Training Station at Brooklyn, New York, and in July, 1918, was assigned to active duty, with the grade of third petty officer. He was later promoted to second officer and is now on the staff of Admiral Dunn, on active service in the Azores. The other children are: Florence K., now a student at Fort Collins; J. Earl; Gladys M .; Iris N .; and Theodore Lederer.
Mr. Carson votes with the democratic party, which he has supported since reach- ing adult age, but he has never been an office seeker as he finds that his business affairs make constant demand upon his time and attention. He had no special advantages at the outset of his career but has worked steadily and persistently as the years have gone by and whatever prosperity has come to him has been the direct outcome of his labors and enterprise.
GEORGE FERRIS McRAY.
George Ferris McRay was one of the prominent pioneer people of Canon City and mine operators of the Cripple Creek district. He was born in Stamford, Connecti- cut, January 1, 1834, and pursued his education in the schools of that state and of Michigan, the family having removed to the latter state during his boyhood days. His early identification with the west came through freighting operations from Ne- braska to Denver and Salt Lake City, in which work he continued until the early '60s. In 1865 he returned to Michigan and was there married in Orangeville in 1867, to Miss Sarah A. Clark, a native of Oswego county, New York, born July 9, 1844. For seven years thereafter he engaged in the cultivation of the farm which he had purchased from his father and then came with his family direct to Canon City, Colorado.
Reaching his destination, Mr. McRay purchased the site of the home still occu- pied by the family in South Canon. Mr. McRay and two brothers were among the big operators in the Cripple Creek district. They discovered valuable mining property which was consolidated with the Ajax Mining and Milling Company, and in which the family still retains a substantial interest. They also discovered other valuable properties in the Cripple Creek district and for many years Mr. McRay was a promi- nent operator in the mining regions of the state, winning notable success as the result of his sound judgment and enterprise. He died at San Diego, California, June 27, 1902, and thus Cañon City lost one who had made valuable contribution to her develop- ment and welfare.
Mrs. McRay has throughout her entire life been keenly interested in temperance work, was at one time president of the twelfth district organization of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union as well as president of the local organization of that body for some time, and is still one of its most active and ardent members. More- over, she has lived to witness the fulfillment of her hopes in the recent ratification of the prohibition amendment. She has likewise been deeply interested in the mis- sionary work of the Baptist church. Nature endowed her with keen intellectuality and her life has been actuated by the highest purposes in an effort to uplift mankind.
Mr. and Mrs. McRay were the parents of three children: Blanche, now Mrs. C. S. Rogers, of Canon City; Beulah, the widow of Dr. H. W. Lane, also of Canon City; and George La Verne McRay, of Buxton, Oregon. There are three grandchildren.
WILLARD P. FORSYTH. 1
A native of Colorado, Willard P. Forsyth is accounted one of the progressive and successful young agriculturists of Boulder county, where he was born on the place adjoining his present farm on the 30th of October, 1884, a son of James R. and Mary J. (Beasley) Forsyth. He is not only successfully following general farming but is also prominent as a live stock raiser, his property being situated four miles south of Longmont. James R. Forsyth was for many years very successfully connected with farming and live stock interests and is now manager of the Longmont Farmers Mill & Elevator Company and is a resident of that place. He was born in Nova Scotia, while his wife is a native of Missouri. When eighteen years of age he crossed the border into the United States, locating in Kansas, but later removed to Colorado, taking up a homestead at the age of twenty-one. This farm he put under a high state
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of cultivation and personally operated the same until 1895, when he took up active duties as manager of the elevator company, as before mentioned. This is one, of the foremost institutions of its kind within the state and they operate large mills and a string of elevators in Denver and Longmont and at other places. Not only has Mr. Forsyth, Sr., attained a gratifying degree of prosperity but he is highly honored and esteemed by all as one of the early settlers of this state and through his labors he has contributed and is still contributing largely toward general prosperity.
Willard P. Forsyth was reared under the parental roof and in his early life valuable lessons were impressed upon his mind by his good parents, who in the acquire- ment of his education sent him to the common schools of the neighborhood and also at Longmont. He remained with his father until he reached his majority, thus acquir- ing valuable knowledge in regard to local farming methods and conditions, and at the age of twenty-one took over a part of the place which his father owned. This farm he has since operated, making many valuable improvements and instituting modern equipment, thus increasing the yield of his fields from year to year. Moreover, he has given considerable attention to cattle feeding and has been very successful along this line.
On the 28th of November, 1906, Mr. Forsyth was united in marriage to Miss Mary Alice Smith, a daughter of George E. and Mary C. (Emerson) Smith, the former a native of Illinois and the latter of Iowa. They came to this state during the frontier- day period, locating in Loveland. At first the father was interested in the banking business there but later removed to Longmont, where for many years he continued along the same line of occupation, but during his later years has given most of his attention to real estate. He still resides at Longmont, as does his wife. Mr. and Mrs. Forsyth have become the parents of twins, Juanita J. and Willard J., horn June 30, 1915, but the latter died August 18th of the same year. Both Mr. and Mrs. Forsyth are very popular among the younger people of Longmont and vicinity and have many friends in this district, all of whom speak of them in terms of high regard. Through his labors he has not only contributed toward development and progress in his dis- trict along material lines but he has also ever been interested in educational and moral advancement. He is a republican hut has never been desirous of holding office, and in religious faith is a Congregationalist. Fraternally he belongs to the Masonic order and the honorable principles underlying that organization have ever guided him in his conduct toward his fellowmen. Besides his farming interests he is a stockholder in the Longmont Farmers Mill & Elevator Company, thus being connected with one of the large enterprises of the state. There is great credit due Mr. Forsyth for what he has already achieved and his progress thus far is indicative of the fact that he is well on the highroad to substantial prosperity.
JOHN ALEXANDER BOYD.
John Alexander Boyd, engaged in farming near Arvada, was born in Jefferson county, Colorado, December 11, 1877, a son of James B. C. Boyd, who was born in New Castle, Pennsylvania, April 19, 1840. His parents were Theodore Perry and Mary S. (Clow) Boyd, the former born in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, while the latter was a native of Beaver county in the same state. In 1859 James B. C. Boyd drove three yoke of oxen across the plains, following the old Santa Fe trail, and was seventy days en route. He bought his outfit and cattle at Leavenworth and started on the long journey for Colorado, ultimately arriving in Denver, then a small town that was little more than a mining camp. He took up the business of raising vegetables as well as general farm products and acquired a section of land but has since disposed of much of this to good advantage, as prices have steadily increased. In 1859 he built the first house at Golden-a little log cabin-and as the years have passed has been closely identified with the development and progress of his section of the state.
On the 27th of January, 1875, at Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, Mr. Boyd was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Fleming and their children are: Jennie, the wife of J. M. Winslow, of Denver; John A., of this review; Mrs. Mary Hayes, living near Lit- tleton; Mrs. Belle White, whose home is at Greeley; and Theodore, an aviator, who trained at Key West, Florida. In his political views the father is a republican. His military service covers experience with the Colorado militia as an Indian fighter, hav- ing been sworn in by the government for that duty in 1868.
John A. Boyd attended the Fruitdale school until he reached the age of fifteen years, after which he worked on his father's farm and continued in active business
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with his father until 1913, when he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in Middle Park. On the 1st of October, 1917, he returned to the old home county and settled on ten acres of land which he owned. In addition to the cultivation of this he has farmed the old homestead and makes a specialty of the production of garden vegetables and of the raising of hay and grain, having ten acres planted to alfalfa. His methods of crop cultivation are most progressive and the results are gratifying.
Mr. Boyd was married in his own home to Miss Viola Johnson, a daughter of John and Lucy ( Allison) Johnson and a native of Osceola, Missouri. She came to Colorado in her girlhood days and on the 1st of January, 1905, gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Boyd. They are rearing an adopted son, James Beach Clow Boyd.
Fraternally Mr. Boyd is connected with the Woodmen of the World and he is also a member of the Grange. His entire life has been passed in Colorado and in the community in which he lives he has many friends who recognize in him one of the substantial citizens whose business activity and sterling worth constitute an element in the steady growth and upbuilding of this section.
JOSEPH HARRIS MARION.
Joseph Harris Marion, whose farm of one hundred and sixty acres situated in the vicinity of Broomfield is largely devoted to the raising of alfalfa and grain, has by unfaltering enterprise and progressive methods won a substantial measure of success during the period of his residence in Colorado. He was born in Allegheny county, Penn- sylvania, May 12, 1847, and is a son of Joseph and Margaret (Dunlap) Marion. The father was a chairmaker, thus providing for the support of his family.
The son, Joseph H. Marion, pursued his education in the public schools of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, and starting out in the business world, secured a situation as mate on a steamboat making the run between Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and New Orleans. He was thus engaged for seventeen years, serving in that capacity through- out the Civil war, at which time his position involved considerable danger. After leaving the east he removed to the Pacific coast in 1877, spending three years in Cali- fornia, during which time he engaged in farming in the Sacramento valley. In May, 1880, he came to Colorado and entered the mines of Leadville, working in that way for three years. On the expiration of that period he turned his attention to agricul- tural pursuits and in February, 1883, took up one hundred and sixty acres of land near Broomfield. Through the intervening period he has devoted hls attention to improv- ing the property and is now giving his attention to the cultivation and raising of grain and alfalfa, having eighty acres planted to the latter crop. His farm work is conducted along progressive lines and his fields annually return to him excellent harvests.
On the 1st of December, 1883, in Ringgold county, Iowa, Mr. Marion was united in marriage to Miss Philena E. Scott, a daughter of Joseph M. and Elizabeth (Mitchell) Scott. Mrs. Marion was born in Pennsylvania and by her marriage has become the mother of three children, Ethel Alice, Clara Agnes and Percy William. The last named married Frances Cram and has a daughter, Dorothy Marie.
In his political views Mr. Marion is a republican, which party he has supported since reaching adult age. His activities have been of a varied character, bringing him many interesting experiences, but for long years he has been closely connected with the agricultural interests of this section of the state. He has labored diligently to make a good living for his family, actuated by the desire of winning honorable success, and his course illustrates what can be accomplished when one has the will to dare and to do.
JAMES McDOWELL LIVESAY.
James McDowell Livesay, better known as J. McD. Livesay, a representative of the Denver bar, was born on a farm in Warren county, Missouri, and is a son of Joseph and Sarah (Yeater) Livesay. The father was born in Virginia and in early life re- sided in Tennessee, while about the time he attained his majority he became a resi- dent of Missouri, near St. Louis. He enlisted for service on the Union side in the Civil war, becoming captain in a Missouri regiment and serving with distinction and
JOSEPH H. MARION
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valor. After the war he moved to Moberly, Missouri, where he continued to reside to the time of his death. His wife was born in Warren county, Missouri, and they became the parents of four children: James McDowell, of this review; Ella and John C., who have passed away and Mrs. Sue Tuttle, now living in Moberly, Missouri.
No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of life for James McDowell Livesay in his early boyhood, which was mostly devoted to the acquire- ment of a public school education, teaching and then attending school. He taught school in Warren, Lincoln and St. Charles counties in his native state and then near Moberly. He attended Central Wesleyan College, now the Western Educational Insti- tute, at Warrenton, Missouri, for three years, reading law while teaching and attending school as time permitted. He completed his legal studies in the office and under the direction of Colonel D. P. Dyer, familiarly and better known as "Pat" Dyer, at St. Louis, Missouri, who was then United States district attorney, and who is now United States district judge at St. Louis. Mr. Livesay was admitted to the bar in the begin- ning of 1876 by the St. Louis court of appeals and soon after migrated to Central City, Colorado, where he began practice about May 1, 1876. He was not long in winning a large clientage and continued as a successful representative of the profession at that place for fifteen years, with the exception of one year at Leadville, Colorado. He then moved to Denver and has since been. an active representative of the Colorado bar in that city save for the period of four years which he devoted to the practice of his profession at Cripple Creek. Denver and other places have witnessed many notable forensic victories which he has won. He is clear in his interpretation of the law, sel- dom if ever, at fault in the application of a legal principle and his deductions are sound and logical, carrying conviction to the minds of court and jury.
Mr. Livesay was married on the 28th day of January, 1884, at Black Hawk, Colo- rado, to Miss Mattie M. Snyder, who passed away in Denver, leaving a son, Dowell, who was born in Central City, Colorado, and is a graduate of the East Denver high school and of the University of Colorado, and is well known in the newspaper circles of Denver. He was married October 16, 1915, to Mrs. Elizabeth Tarvin and resldes in Denver. Mr. James McDowell Livesay was married to Miss Edna N. Lake, of Golden, Colorado, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carlos W. Lake, early residents of Golden, May 6, 1911. There is one child of this marriage, James Clarendon, who was born Novem- ber 19, 1917.
Politically, Mr. Livesay originally was a republican, but for some twenty odd years has been an independent; that is, has worked with and supported the political party the nearer right in his judgment, and locally has voted for men regardless of party. The only offices he has held have been along the path of his profession. He was dis- trict attorney of the first judicial district, all of northwestern Colorado, from 1881 until 1885 and was county attorney of Gilpin county and city attorney of Central City for several terms and was city attorney of the city of Goldfield while in Teller county. He was a member of the Colorado legislature in 1879-80. He belongs to the Denver Bar Association and other legal associations and in his practice he is ever careful to conform to the highest professional ethics and standards.
Mr. Livesay is versatile; takes an interest in any and everything; is a student of history; delves into literature; writes for newspapers and periodicals, and is re- garded as a forceful writer; is unassuming and decries sensationalism, notoriety and fanaticism.
JOHN LEWIS.
John Lewis, devoting his time and attention to farming and stock raising in Boulder county, was born in Ohio, July 4, 1865, a son of David and Mary Lewis, both of whom were natives of Wales, but they left that little rock-ribbed country when young people and crossed the briny deep to the new world. They made their way to Ohio and were residents of that state to the time of the mother's death. In 1870 the father brought his family to Colorado and followed mining in this state until his demise. The family numbered seven children but only two are now living.
John Lewis acquired his education in the schools of Boulder county. He was only five years of age when his father brought the family to Colorado, so that practi- cally his entire life has been passed within the borders of this state and he has ever been imbued with the spirit of enterprise and progress which has been the dominant factor in the upbuilding of this section of the country. After reaching adult age he, too, followed mining and freighting for a number of years and later turned his atten-
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tion to farming and stock raising, in which occupations he has since continued, meeting with substantial success as the result of his indefatigable effort. He is now the owner of seven hundred acres which is largely pasture land and raises good sized herds of cattle. He resides on the Hi Fullen place near Niwat, which he rents, there annually gathering rich harvests as a reward for the care and labor which he bestows upon his fields.
In 1887 Mr. Lewis was united in marriage to Miss Mattie Hammontree, who was born in Warren county, Missouri, a daughter of James and Mary (Means) Hammon- tree, who were of English descent. The father was born in Tennessee and the mother in Pennsylvania. In 1871 they became residents of Colorado, where Mr. Hammontree engaged in freighting during pioneer times. He later turned his attention to farming and both he and his wife spent their remaining days in this state, the latter passing away a few years after coming to Colorado. Mr. Hammontree lived to be over ninety- two years of age and died February 24, 1916, spending the last twelve years of his life with Mr. and Mrs. Lewis. To him and his wife were born six children, four of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have two sons: Joe, a resident of Denver; and James David, who is married and has established himself as an attorney in Boulder, having been admitted to the bar in 1918.
Mr. Lewis votes with the democratic party, of which he has always been a stanch advocate but has never been an office seeker. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has filled all of the chairs in the lodge at Niwat, being a faithful follower of the order and one who has done much to promote its interests. He is likewise connected with the Modern Woodmen of America and with the Benevo- lent Protective Order of Elks, and he and his wife attend the Presbyterian church. Mrs. Lewis is a prominent member in the Daughters of Rebekah and the Royal Neighbors, having filled the chairs in both orders. They are people of genuine worth, enjoying the warm regard and confidence of those with whom they have been asso- ciated, and the hospitality of the best homes of the locality is freely accorded them.
MERRITT MORTON BROWN.
In the vicinity of Barr Lake is the ranch property of Merritt Morton Brown, rec- ognized as one of the progressive farmers of his section. He was born in Greensburg, Decatur county, Indiana, April 11, 1863, a son of James Madison and Rhoda Emily (Stout) Brown. James Madison Brown was born January 17, 1827, and died, in Indiana, October 10, 1880. His widow, who was born March 29, 1831, spent the latter years of her life in Colorado, making her home with her sons, and passed to eternal rest June 25, 1913. In the maternal line the ancestry of Mr. Brown can be traced back to Richard Stout, who was the progenitor of the family in America and landed at New York with a party of emigrants from England in 1618. One of his sons, Jonathan Stout, founded Hopewell, New Jersey, and a son of Jonathan Stout, Joab, served in the Revolutionary war, being present at the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown. Richard Stout married a Miss Van Princess, who came from Holland about the year 1620.
In the schools of his native connty Merritt M. Brown pursued his education till he reached the age of eighteen years, after which he gave his undivided attention to the cultivation of the old homestead farm in connection with his brother for four years. When a young man of twenty-two he left Indiana for Kansas and there he again engaged in farming for two years. In 1887 he arrived in Denver, Colorado, and was engaged in general contracting with his brother, George E. Brown, until 1905, when he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of dry land and turned his attention to general farming. Upon this place he pastures from thirty to forty head of cattle. His labor has been untiring, his purpose high and his effort unfaltering, and that he is now one of the substantial ranchmen of his county is due to these qualities.
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