USA > Colorado > History of Colorado; Volume IV > Part 75
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Mrs. Wire is a member of the Presbyterian church and takes an active part in promoting its work and extending its influence. Mr. Wire belongs to the Woodmen of the World and is also a member of the Mountain States Hardware and Implement Dealers' Association. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party. Several times he has been called upon to serve on the town board and has put forth effective effort for the welfare and upbuilding of his city.
MARVIN W. TURNER.
The importance banking establishments have in regard to the upbuilding and con- tinued growth of a section is well recognized and in fact it is acknowledged that the progress of a community or district can well be gauged by its financial institutions. Enterprises of this kind are therefore of the utmost importance and their progres- siveness and reliability have much to do with the general weal or woe of a community. Among the financiers and bankers who have wrought much good in Boulder county is Marvin W. Turner, a reliable, confidence-inspiring, able and progressive banker of Lyons, being vice president and cashier of the State Bank of Lyons. A native of Michigan, he was born in Berlin, Ottawa county, April 24, 1877, a son of George D. and Lillian C. (Marvin) Turner, the former a native of the Empire state and the latter of Michigan. Mr. Turner, Sr., is now an honored resident of Grand Haven, Michigan, and for twelve years he ably and efficiently served as county clerk in his part of the state. He subsequently engaged in the abstract business and has since been at the head of such an establishment. For fifteen years he was also in the employ of the United States government, acting as deputy collector of customs. Mrs. Turner is also living.
Marvin W. Turner was reared amid the surroundings of a refined home and under the careful guidance of his parents received his first lessons in life. They were desir- ous that he should have an excellent education and he therefore attended the public schools in Grand Haven, Michigan, until his preparation permitted him to enter the Michigan State University, from which he was graduated in 1898. Well fitted for life's active duties, he made his first step in the world of commerce as an employe in the Grand Trunk Railroad offices in Grand Haven, with which he was connected for a year. Showing a decided inclination toward the banking business, he decided that this was his real life work and therefore joined the staff of the National Bank of Grand Haven and so ably did he perform his duties in that connection that he was advanced from time to time until he became assistant cashier, in which important posi- tion he continued until 1906. The great opportunities offered to a young banker in virgin territory appealed to him and he therefore decided to come to Colorado. After carefully surveying the ground and weighing the opportunities presented in different sections of the state he decided upon Lyons as a likable point which promised to come up to the hopes which he entertained in regard to establishing a bank. That he made no mistake is evident from the subsequent success of the institution with which he is now connected. In August, 1908, he assisted in organizing the Lyons State Bank and ever since he has served as the cashier of the institution, which under his able guidance has remarkably prospered. For the past two years he has also been vice president. A man thoroughly versed in financial affairs, with long and valuable experience, he has used his talents wisely and well. Ever careful in regard to the usage of the bank's money as regards investments, he yet obtains the best returns for the stockholders, at the same time never endangering in the least degree the secur- ity of depositors. In fact, he is a safe, sane and conservative banker who is progres- sive enough to extend credit to worthy clients and to worthy enterprises. Thus he
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has greatly assisted in development and growth by giving aid for industrial as well as agricultural purposes. The capital of the bank is twelve thousand dollars, while its deposits are now seventy thousand dollars and as the town and district grow a pros- perous future may be predicted for the institution. The officers of the bank are all reliable, substantial business men, Dr. W. R. Kincaid heing the president, thus giving by its personnel alone a sufficient guarantee to all those who entrust their funds to the care of the Lyons State Bank.
On the 20th of December, 1900, Mr. Turner was united in marriage to Miss Marion Stickney and they have become the parents of two children: Lynn, who was born October 24, 1901; and Louise E., born July 7, 1905. Both Mr. and Mrs. Turner occupy an enviable position in the social circles of Lyons and vicinity and their pres- ence adds distinction to any social circle. Often they entertain their friends at their own hospitable fireside and thus they have become valued and well liked residents of their community.
In his political views Mr. Turner has always maintained an independent attitude, caring not for party affiliations. On the contrary he carefully sifts the character and qualities of a candidate, taking into consideration his fitness for the office to which he aspires. However, he has ever taken the most active interest in his community and district, which fact is evident from his connection with the public life of his town. He has ably served as town trustee and with that public organization has made him- self felt in promoting progressive measures along many lines. Greater honor came to him in his election as mayor of the town and he also has efficiently served as secre- tary of the school board, thoroughly believing in careful education as a means of making better American citizens. Along fraternal lines he is connected with the Masonic order and his religious faith is that of the Unitarian church, to the work of which he helpfully contributes. From every point of view the career of Mr. Turner is a com- mendable one and he has made for, himself a place as a substantial and respected citizen in Lyons, enjoying in full measure the confidence of the public-a confidence which he has richly earned and fully deserves.
JUDGE WILLARD B. FELTON.
Judge Willard B. Felton, designated at the time of his death by one of the local papers as "soldier, legislator, jurist, editor, horticulturist and splendid citizen," was indeed one of the substantial residents of Canon City who well merited the high regard in which he was uniformly held. He left the impress of his individuality in marked measure upon the industrial and political development of the state and in his life he displayed many of the sterling traits of an honored New England ancestry. He was a direct descendant of Nathaniel Felton, who, coming from England, founded the family in the new world. He landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1633 and through successive generations down to the present time some of his descendants have been residents of that state.
Willard B. Felton was born in Prescott, Massachusetts, November 26, 1837, and continued to there make his home until he had reached the age of twenty-five years, when he sought the opportunities offered in the growing west. In 1862 he arrived in Denver, Colorado, but in the same year went to Cache creek, near Leadville, arriving there on the day that the last battle was fought between the Sioux and Arapahoe Indians on the one side and the Utes on the other. He continued his residence In Lake county for eight years and during that time engaged in mining. while his personal worth and public spirit led to his selection for various important official positions. Throughout his entire life he remained prominent in public affairs, for his worth as a man and citizen was so widely recognized that he was again and again called upon for public service. He was made a delegate to the first constitutional convention of Colorado, held at Golden. in 1864 and adjourned to Denver. This convention framed a constitution which, however, was not ratified. In 1865 Judge Felton became enrolling clerk of the territorial legislature and the same year he joined the Mounted Militia. In 1868 he was chosen superintendent of schools of Lake county and later was called to the hench in election to the office of county judge.
In 1870 Judge Felton removed to Saguache county and the following year was chosen county superintendent of schools there. In 1872 he was elected to the office of county assessor and in 1873 was made county judge, serving upon the bench continu- ously until 1880. He was also a member of the convention that in 1875 framed the present organic law of the state and during his residence in Saguache county he was
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also clerk of the district court and water referee. During the first two sessions of the state legislature he was chief clerk of the house of representatives and in 1878 he became his party's candidate for the office of lieutenant governor. In 1880 he was made penitentiary commissioner and the same year was appointed warden of the penitentiary, at which time he became a resident of Cañon City, where he spent the remainder of his life. He continued to act as warden of the penitentiary for two terms, after which he served as clerk of the district court. In 1892 he was appointed postmaster of Cañon City for a four years' term and while serving in that position was elected state senator from Fremont county to the eleventh and twelfth general assemblies. In 1898 he was chosen mayor of South Canon and in 1899 and 1900 he was treasurer of the school board. In 1890 Judge Felton was supervisor of census for southern Colorado. He enjoyed the warm friendship of many of the most prominent political leaders of the state, including Senator Henry M. Teller and, like him, was prominent in the republican party, until the silver issue came up, when he became a supporter of the democratic party and marched in its ranks to the time of his demise.
In business affairs Judge Felton also figured prominently, especially in connec- tion with newspaper publication. He was editor and publisher of the Saguache Chronicle from 1876 until 1880 and in 1883 he purchased the Cañon City Record, which he edited and published until 1891. In 1901 he became the editor of the Cañon City Clipper and so continued until 1903. He figured prominently in newspaper circles in the state, being a cogent writer, discussing in clear and unbiased manner many of the vital questions and problems of the day and exerting not a little influence over public thought and opinion.
Judge Felton was also decply interested in the subject of Colorado's possibili- ties for fruit raising and was at one time president of the Colorado Horticultural Society, while for ten years he was the chief executive officer of the Fremont County Horticultural Society. He studied closely the question of fruit raising and was re- garded as one of the foremost authorities on that subject in the state. With Captain B. F. Rockafellow and Jesse Frazier he was one of the pioneer apple growers of the Arkansas valley. He was the author of a number of laws now on the statute books of Colorado, one of these establishing the state board of horticulture, and his writings on horticultural subjects, many of which are published in the reports of the state board of horticulture, are ranked as high authority and have done much to inform the world of the adaptability of Colorado's soil and climate to the production of the finest fruit.
Judge Felton was married in 1885 to Miss Tillie Hemmerle and they became the parents of two children: Willard B .; who is now in the service of his country; and Alice, who is assistant city librarian of Canon City. Mrs. Felton has been most active in all of the war-service societies and is one of the prominent women of the county in social and charitable work, her leadership being followed by many. The family circle was broken by the hand of death on the 27th of April, 1911, when Judge Felton, in the seventy-fourth year of his age, was called to his final rest. He had indeed taken active part in the development and progress of the state and his ability had placed him in a position of leadership. The career of few men in public office has extended over so long a period and none has been more faultless in honor, fearless in conduct or stain- less in reputation.
THOMAS JEFFERSON RUTHERFORD.
Thomas Jefferson Rutherford, who is well known as a progressive ranchman in Adams county, his home being near Brighton, was born in Dubuque county, Iowa, July 22, 1862, his parents being Samuel and Mary (Boyle) Rutherford, the former a native of Iowa, while the latter was born in Illinois. The father devoted his life to the occupation of farming and died during the period of the Civil war while serving as a member of the Twenty-first Iowa Volunteer Infantry.
Thomas J. Rutherford attended school in Iowa and Nebraska and after his text- books were put aside turned his attention to agricultural life. In 1898 he came to Colorado, arriving in this state on the 10th of March. He made his way to Adams county, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land and afterward he added to his holdings a tract of eighty acres. Later he gave this to his son and to his daughter he gave one-half of the original farm, so that he has eighty acres remaining. This is an improved farm property, constituting one of the most attractive
MR. AND MRS. THOMAS J. RUTHERFORD
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places of the district. Upon his land he has a beautiful twelve-room residence, supplied with all modern conveniences, and in the rear stands a splendid barn with all neces- sary sheds and outbuildings for the shelter .of grain, stock and farm machinery. He utilizes the most improved agricultural implements in the care of his place. He has also operated a steam threshing machine for fourteen years and has one of the best outfits of Adams county. His place is supplied with water from the Burlington ditch.
In Osceola, Nebraska, on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1883, Mr. Rutherford was married to Miss Eula Brewer, a daughter of Eugene and Maria Brewer. Mrs. Ruther- ford was born in Triangle, Broome county, New York, but was educated in Nebraska 'and by her marriage has hecome the mother of three children: L. Vere, who married Ada Snyder and has three children, Bernice, Vera and Arline; Hazel, the wife of Clarence Lytle, by whom she has two children, Eula and Jeanne; and Duverne, who married Elsie Story, and is now in the automobile garage business in Brighton.
Mr. Rutherford belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen and his political allegiance is given to the republican party, but he has never sought or desired office, his time and attention being fully claimed by his business affairs and home interests. He is devoted to the welfare of his family and has found his greatest pleasure in pro- viding for them an attractive residence and those things which add to the comfort and happiness of life.
JOSEPH D. MEILLAN.
Joseph D. Meillan is the owner of an excellent farm of one hundred and sixty acres near Derby and the persistent effort which he displays in its development has been the basic element of his success. He was born in France, February 26, 1859, a a son of Casimir and Mary Meillan. He pursued his education in the schools of his native country and served for four years in the French army with the rank of corporal.
Mr. Meillan was a young man of twenty-six years when he came to America. Making his way to Illinois, he spent two years as a farmer in that state in connection with his brother and in 1887 he came to Colorado, making his way to Leadville, where he was employed for fifteen years, devoting that period to teaming and hauling. Care- fully saving his earnings because he was ambitious to invest in property, he then purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land near Derby and remained thereon for two years. He afterward rented his property and went to Greeley, where he cultivated a tract of leased land for nine years but on the expiration of that period returned to his own place, on which he is now living. He has since given his attention to farming here and has added many modern improvements to his land and has brought his fields under a high state of cultivation. His work is systematically done and the results achieved are therefore certain.
Mr. Meillan was married in Denver, on the 20th of June, 1897, to Miss Mary Fitz- gerald, a native of Ireland. They are communicants of the Catholic church and Mr. Meillan gives his political endorsement to the democratic party, which he has sup- ported since becoming a naturalized American citizen. There is no regret connected with the thought that thirty-three years ago he determined to leave his native country and seek a home in the new world. Here he found the business opportunities which he sought and in their utilization has won a place among the substantial agriculturists of Adams county.
JESSE BARTON LOVELL.
To the public Jesse Barton Lovell is known as a successful mining and real estate man, conducting business in the Arapahoe building in Denver. To his friends he is known as a most genial and cultured gentleman, widely read, popular in club circles, and with a record for amateur hunting and fishing. He has ever attributed much of his success to the early advice and Christian training of his mother, for he was fortunate in his early home surroundings. A native of Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, he is a son of Amon Lovell, who was born in Washington county,. Maryland, December 19, 1802, and a member of an old Maryland family, believed to have been founded in America by three brothers. His ancestral line is traced back directly to Zebulon Lovell, who came to the new world prior to the Revolutionary war and it is believed that he took part in the struggle for American independence. An-
J. BARTON LOVELL
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other of the three brothers was the first mayor of Boston, and sympathizing with the Crown at the outbreak of the Revolutionary war, he escaped to Halifax, Nova Scotia, and died there. His son, James Lovell, born in 1737, was a graduate of Har- vard University and was a member of the Continental Congress from 1776 to 1782, and held other prominent offices under the government, and his son was a prominent soldier in the Revolutionary war and died in the South.
The Lovell family has figured prominently in New England and in the South from Colonial days. It was one of the members of this family that established the first Latin School in Boston. There have been two distinct characteristics in the ' Lovell family, a leaning toward education and a leaning toward military life. Rep- resentatives of the name have participated in all the principal wars in which the country has been involved. Mansfield Lovell, born in 1822, was a General in the Civil war; graduating at West Point he served in Texas and Mexico, and in 1861 entered the Confederate service, and was commissioned Major General. John Q. Lovell served in the Navy and was retired as an Admiral. Mr. Lovell of this review is descended from the military branch of the family, and while too young to have entered the service during the Civil war, his older brothers, Albert Galletin and K. Allen, left college in 1862, and enlisted in the One Hundred and Twenty-second Pennsylvania Regiment. Two of his uncles, his mother's brothers, were also in the Civil war, one in the Confederate service and the other Captain of the First Maryland Cavalry, and was killed in 1863 while leading his men in a charge near Charlestown, West Vir- ginia. Zachariah Lovell, his grandfather, was born near Baltimore, Maryland, August 20, 1765, and married Ruth Plowman. Their only child was Amon Lovell. The fam- ily, shortly after his birth, removed from Maryland to Pennsylvania and there re- sided, giving attention to the cultivation of three hundred acres of a five hundred acre farm, while their son was being educated and grew into manhood. He was a man of fine physique. about six feet in height, and weighed nearly two hundred pounds. He was not a very large man but a very well proportioned man, broad- shouldered and erect, "straight as an Indian," and had great physical strength as well as being quick of action. Like all pioneer settlers of Huntingdon county, Penn- sylvania, he was a trained rifle-shot. Here he married and resided to the time of his death which occurred when he was but forty-eight years of age. His wife, whose maiden name was Wealthy Houck, was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, belonging to one of the old and prominent families of that State, and was of English lineage. Mr. and Mrs. Lovell became the parents of eight children, five sons and three daughters.
Jesse Barton Lovell. the youngest of the family, was educated in the public schools of Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, and completed his business education in Eastman's National Business College of Poughkeepsie, New York, while his lit- erary course was completed in an academy in Huntingdon county. His early child- hood was spent upon Oakdale Farm where all the children were born. After the home farm had been sold, he started out to earn his own living, working during the summer and attending school during the winter. His first employment was on a farm, where he received his board and clothing in compensation for his labor. A neighboring farmer, seeing that he was a good, hardworking and honest boy, took him away from his first employer and paid bim the sum of four dollars per month in addition to his board and clothing. In this humble way Mr. Lovell started out, but being of an ambitious nature he constantly sought opportunities for advancement, while each forward step in his career gave him a broader view of life. While at college in Poughkeepsie, New York, he was offered a position in a publishing house in Phila- delphia. This offer he accepted after his graduation. During a continuous service of fourteen years he advanced from the position of assistant bookkeeper until he became the business manager, but the service had been too exacting, resulting in nervous prostration, obliging him to seek a dry climate. Broken in health, though still optimistic, on the 15th of August, 1881, he arrived in Denver, with many letters of introduction to prominent people, including Senator Hill. He was an utter stranger here, without friends or relatives, but he possessed qualities which would win success anywhere. A modern philosopher has said, "Success does not depend upon a map, but upon a time-table"; in other words, locality does not figure in the attainment of advancement, but the wise use which one makes of every hour, and this fact Mr. Lovell early came to realize. He spent his time from August 1881 until January, 1882, the first months after his arrival in Colorado, in riding over the plains in quest of health, which he found, owing to the beneficial influences of the climate of this State. He was later requested by the White Quail Mining & Smelting Company in Summit county, Colorado, to investigate difficulties in their management, and after
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a short period of investigation and correction of conditions he was appointed general manager for the company, in which position he continued for six years when the property was sold. He then took up mining on his own account and has since ac- quired and jointly operated some valuable mining property. He was at one time president of the Broadway Investment Company, a Denver corporation, holding a large suburban addition to Denver, but which has since been mostly sold. It was this company that built the Cherrylynn car line, which became so popular and widely known because of the horse riding back on the car he had drawn to the end of the line, up-grade from Englewood, where connection was made with the Denver Tram- way cars.
In his real estate activities he has had large experience and the wise direction of his efforts has brought substantial results. His personal investments in Denver realty have at all times had careful attention and been wisely directed.
Mr. Lovell holds membership in the Denver Athletic Club, with which he has been identified for twenty-seven years, or since February, 1891. He was president of the Interlachen Golf Club, of which he is a life member, and he is a member of the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Club, of which he was formerly President. He is also a member of the First Baptist church.
In review of his career one sees Jesse B. Lovell starting out to provide for his own support, a poor boy working as a farm hand. He has made his way through his own efforts, guided always by the teachings and principles which his mother in- stilled into him in his youth. Towards her he ever manifested the most filial affec- tion and love, realizing how much he owed to her training. Opportunity has ever been to him a call to action, a call to which he has energetically responded. He has found his chief diversion from the cares of business, in hunting and fishing. He also turns to golf for recreation. He has enjoyed various hunting trips, and has many beautiful specimens of his skill with rod and gun mounted and hanging in his office.
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