USA > Colorado > History of Colorado; Volume IV > Part 79
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H. Johansen came to America with his parents when a youth of fifteen years. He completed his education in the schools of Illinois and remained at home until he had attained his majority, when he took up farming on his own account in Illinois, purchasing land part of which he still owns. In 1902 he came to Colorado. where he carried on general agricultural pursuits in Rio Grande county for three years. On the expiration of that period he purchased the farm which he now owns and occupies, comprising one hundred and sixty acres of rich and productive land, all under the ditch and now well improved. He carries on general farming and also makes a specialty of feeding stock. He is likewise a stockholder in the Farmers' Union Co- operative Elevator & Supply Company at Longmont, Colorado, and his business affairs are wisely and carefully managed, bringing to him the measure of success which is now his.
In 1891 Mr. Johansen was married to Miss Delvina Servais, who was born at Clifton, Illinois, a daughter of August and Louise Servais, who came to the new world as children. Mr. and Mrs. Johansen have had a family of five children, but the first born died in infancy. The others are: Louise, the wife of August E. Nelson, of Boulder county and Bertha, Evelyn and Ruth Anna. at home.
The parents are members of the Lutheran church and Mr. Johansen gives his political allegiance to the republican party, which he has supported since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. For nine years he served on the school board and he is interested in all that has to do with the material, intellectual, social and moral progress of the community. His has been an active life and his success is the merited reward of earnest, persistent labor. In addition to his Colorado property he is the owner of a farm of forty acres in Iroquois county, Illinois, and his wife owns a third
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interest in ninety-two acres in the same county. They are highly esteemed people of the community in which they reside, enjoying the warm friendship and kindly regard of many with whom they have been brought in contact.
S. GUY MORROW.
S. Guy Morrow, who is extensively engaged in farming and stock raising in Elbert county, was horn in Licking county, Ohio, March 24, 1857, his parents being Noah and Mary (Guy) Morrow, both of whom were born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, whence they removed to Ohio, where their remaining days were passed, their residence in that state covering an extended period. They had a family of six children, four of whom are living.
S. Guy Morrow was reared in the Buckeye state to the age of fourteen years, when he left home and started out to provide for his own support. Going to Pennsylvania, he was for eighteen months in that state, after which he returned to Ohio and again spent two years within its borders. In 1876 he arrived in Colorado, first settling in Weld county, where he lived for two years. He afterward took a band of sheep from Wyoming to the Pan Handle of Texas and remained in the south for some time. Later he went to Leavenworth, Kansas, where he resided for a year and a half, and in 1880 lie came to Arapahoe county, Colorado, and purchased the ranch whereon he now resides. He has since greatly improved the property, adding to it fine buildings and all of the accessories and conveniences of a model farm of the twentieth century. He owns altogether four thousand acres of valuable land, upon which he has about twelve hundred head of sheep and also some cattle and horses. His business interests are extensive and wisely directed. He closely studies the problems connected with sheep and stock raising in this section of the state and has provided every facility for the conduct of the business. He is also the president of the Deertrail State Bank, which was organized in 1910 by Mr. Morrow and other representative business men of the community, and his keen business discernment and progressive policy have been strong elements in its success.
On the 18th of January, 1885, Mr. Morrow was married to Miss Dicie Thompson, who was horn in Page county. Iowa, a daughter of James A. Thompson, who in 1875 removed with his family to Colorado, where both he and his wife passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Morrow became the parents of five children: Olive A., now the wife of Hick Hill; Edith May, the wife of C. L. Martin, of Limon, Colorado; Enos Guy, who is a sergeant in the United States army, on active duty in France; Laura Mary, at home; and Ruth, who died at the age of a year and a half.
In his political views Mr. Morrow is an earnest republican but not an office seeker. He has served for twenty-five years on the school board and is much interested in the cause of public education in his community. A self-made man. as he started out to earn his own living when a youth of but fourteen years and had no financial assist- ance, he has achieved a handsome fortune and is one of the prominent and repre- sentative business men of his part of the state.
JEROME F. GOULD.
Jerome F. Gould is a retired farmer of Boulder county and no other resident of this section of the state has resided for so long a period in the district. Moreover, he has traveled far on life's journey, having passed the eighty-fourth milestone. He was born in the state of New York, April 21, 1834, a son of Jotham and Miranda ( (Patterson) Gould, who were also natives of the Empire state, whence they removed to Pennsylvania, where they lived for a number of years. In 1854 they became resi- dents of Iowa, where they settled upon a farm, and there resided until 1863. In that year they crossed the plains with ox teams and established their home in Boulder county, Colorado, which was then a wild frontier district in which the work of progress had scarcely been begun. They purchased a farm on Boulder creek and their remaining days were passed thereon. They contributed to the early agricultural development of the region and were well known and highly respected among the pioneer settlers. Their family numbered ten children, of whom three are yet living.
J. F. Gould of this review, one of the three survivors, was reared and educated in Pennsylvania, the public schools affording him his educational opportunities. He was
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a young man of twenty years when he became a resident of Iowa and in 1861 he arrived in Colorado, making his way to Boulder county, where he preempted one hun- dred and twenty acres of land. He has spent many years of his life upon that farm. After a time he purchased other land, which he has since sold to his children. His life has been devoted to general agricultural pursuits and stock raising and the care- ful management of his business affairs, combined with his industry, has been a salient feature in the attainment of well deserved success. He is now living retired, enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves. He started out in life empty-handed but by persistent effort and energy has won a creditable measure of prosperity.
In 1861 Mr. Gould was united in marriage to Miss Amy Foster, a native of Ohio, their marriage being celebrated, however, in Iowa. They became the parents of eight children: Olive, now deceased; Della, the wife of A. M. Dodd; May, the wife of William Ellinger, living in Texas; Ernest, who has passed away; Flora, the wife of Charles Sherman; Margaret, the widow of Albert Remley; James, who is upon the home farm; and Lola, the wife of John A. Hill. Mr. Gould now has thirty-one grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Mr. Gould is a self-made man whose enterprise and untiring labors have gained for him the measure of prosperity which he now enjoys. In 1883 he was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who passed away in that year and was laid to rest in the Niwot cemetery. For about fifty-eight years Mr. Gould has resided in Boulder county and there is no one now living in his neighborhood, who was here at the time of his arrival. He has lived to witness remarkable changes as the years have passed and the wild lands has been reclaimed for the purposes of civilization. He has seen barren tracts converted into productive farms, while towns and villages have sprung up and the work of progress and improvement has been carried forward along all lines. He has ever stood for those things which are most worth while to the community and he has rejoiced to see what has been accomplished.
CLEMENS KNAUS.
Among those who for many years successfully followed farming in Boulder county was Clemens Knaus, who was born in Germany, November 21, 1843. He was reared and educated in that country and when a youth of eighteen came to America. Cross- ing the Atlantic, he remained a resident of New York for several years or until 1866, when he came to Colorado and for several years thereafter was engaged in the butch- ering business at Black Hawk.
In this state Mr. Knaus was married to Mrs. Eliza (Greuh) Bader, a native of Switzerland and a daughter of Rudolph and Elizabeth Greub, who were also natives of the land of the Alps, where they resided until 1852 and then made the voyage to the new world. They first took up their abode in Illinois, where they lived for a short time and then removed to Missouri, where they continued to make their home until 1864. In that year they came to Colorado, settling in Boulder county. They drove across the country with ox teams and three months were required in making the trip, during which they experienced various hardships and privations, but with resolute spirit they met these in order to establish a home upon the frontier. The father took up a homestead claim and one hundred and forty acres of the land which he thus secured was owned by Clemens Knaus. Upon his place he built a log cabin and occupied that pioneer dwelling for several years. Both he and his wife passed away in Colorado.
Following the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Knaus in 1874, he began farming upon the land now owned by his widow. Mrs. Knaus had been previously married, her first husband being Nicholas E. Bader. Mr. Bader came to Colorado in 1859 and took up land, devoting his energies mostly to stock raising, aithough he took some interest in mining. He was married to Eliza Greub, December 25, 1867, and to this union were born three sons: William E., Frank A. and George N., all of whom are living. On December 5, 1873, Mr. Bader passed away upon the same place where Mrs. Knaus now resides. By the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Knaus there were ten children: John A .; Matilda, the wife of Roy Hawley, of Rifle, Colorado; Mollie, who on January 15, 1901, married Ansel Duffield, by whom she has five children, the family residing in Roggen, Weld county; Albert; Clemens; Fred; Emma, the wife of Mat Oliphant, of Fountain, Colorado; Daniel; Jessie, the wife of James Whaley; and Carl. The chil- dren are all yet living, but the family circle was broken by the hand of death when
MR. AND MRS. CLEMENS KNAUS
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on the 8th of January, 1914, the husband and father was called to the home beyond, his remains being interred in the Burlington cemetery. Mrs. Knaus still owns and occupies the old homestead, comprising one hundred and forty acres of rich land a half mile north of Niwot, in Boulder county. This is splendidly improved, all under the ditch, and the fields are now very productive, bringing forth substantial crops annually.
THOMAS RICHART.
Thomas Richart, deceased, was numbered among the prosperous agriculturists of Boulder county and his residence in that district dated from pioneer times, for he took up his abode in Boulder county in 1869. He was born in Olio, December 1, 1848, a son of William and Nancy Richart, who were natives of Ohio. On leaving that state they removed to Iowa in 1856 and there both passed away. Their family numbered five children, three of whom are now living.
Thomas Richart was reared and educated in Benton county, Iowa, and when a youth of about twenty years came to Boulder county, Colorado, the year 1869 wit- nessing his arrival. Great indeed have been the changes which have occurred since that time. As there were no railroads in the district, he followed freighting for a number of years, making trips across the plains when such a journey involved many hardships and ofttimes dangers. He afterward turned his attention to farm- ing near Niwot, purchasing land in 1876. Throughout his remaining days his atten- tion was given to its further development and improvement and he made it a val- uable farm property.
In Colorado, in 1876, Mr. Richart was married to Mrs. Mary (Shepard) Gates, who was born in Appanoose county, Iowa, in 1857, a daughter of David L. and Mary S. (Osborn) Shepard. Her father was born in Ohio, while her mother was a native of Pike county, Illinois. They were married in Iowa and came to Colorado in June, 1861, both spending their remaining days in this state. They had a family of six children, of whom three are now living. To Mr. and Mrs. Richart were born six chil- dren: Thomas M., William L. and John, all now deceased; Mary A., the wife of Jesse Anson; David Earl Roy. who is now in France with the United States army, being a musician in Headquarters Company No. 341; and Henry George, who is with his mother upon the farm. By her former marriage Mrs. Richart had a daughter, Martha S., who is now the wife of Orange P. Wirick, of Los Angeles, California.
The death of Mr. Richart occurred January 24, 1918, and he was laid to rest in Niwot cemetery, leaving a widow and three children to mourn his loss. Mrs. Richart still owns the home farm comprising eighty acres, all of which is improved and is well irrigated. She is a member of the Grange and also of the Seventh Day Adventist church. Mr. Richart was held in high esteem as a pioneer resident, as a progressive citizen, representative farmer and honorable man. With her husband, Mrs. Richart shared in the high regard of all who knew them and she has an ex- tensive circle of warm friends in her part of the state.
JOHN W. CLINE.
John W. Cline, deceased. was born in Canada on the 23d of September, 1825, and passed away in the year 1893. For some time prior to his demise he had been a resident of Colorado, connected with the agricultural interests of Adams county. He was reared and educated in his native country and in 1859 he came to Colorado, settling in Adams county, where he took up a homestead and remained to the time of his demise. Throughout his life he carried on farm work and his energy and persistency of purpose were strong elements in the development of his land, which he converted into a rich and productive farm, while the sale of his crops brought to him a substantial annual income.
Mr. Cline was married to Mrs. Elizabeth Smith, a native of Clinton county, New York, and a daughter of Edward and Elizabeth McGovern, both of whom were natives of Ireland. They came to America when young people and after living for some time in the Empire state removed to Wisconsin, where their remaining days were passed. Their family numbered fourteen children, three of whom survive. Mr. and Mrs. Cline became the parents of five children, but John E. and Bessie J., the first two, have passed away. C. Henry is living on the old homestead farm, Lucy M. is
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also at home and Alice E. is the wife of A. P. Ertz. The family circle was again broken by the hand of death when in 1893 Mr. Cline was called to his final rest, his remains being interred in the Riverside cemetery at Denver. He had led an active and useful life which was quietly passed, but the sterling worth of his character was recognized by his associates and gained for him the respect and goodwill of all. His widow still occupies the old homestead, of which she has sold a part, but she still owns sixty-seven acres from which she derives a good income. Excellent im- provements and fine buildings have been placed upon the farm and it is one of the attractive properties of Adams county.
Mrs. Cline is one of the few remaining pioneer women of Colorado. She was born in New York, May 3, 1845, and was but three years of age when her parents removed to Iowa county, Wisconsin, where they were pioneers. Her father par- ticipated in the early Indian fighting, and was also one of the first to engage in lead mining in that region.
On February 9, 1865, Elizabeth McGovern, now Mrs. Cline, married Patrick Smith, a native of Ireland, who had come to America when a boy of sixteen years. The young couple went to New York, and thence, by boat, to Panama. They sailed on the ship, Ocean Queen, which afterwards became a training ship for the United States navy. The trip being made during war times, the vessel was convoyed by gunboats and guarded by a detachment of marines, since much mail and important government papers were aboard the boat. Having crossed the isthmus they em- barked on the famous old ship, Constitution, aud after a voyage of four weeks and four days landed at San Francisco, whence they proceeded, by boat up the river to Sacramento. There purchasing a team and supplies, they went to Virginia City, and still later, on into Montana. During the trip, the driver mutinied and Mrs. Smith. taking the reins herself drove the four mule team through the mountain passes of the Sierras. In Montana a party was organized to make the journey to Colorado, Mrs. Smith being one of three women in the party. They arrived in Denver on the 2d of October, 1865, and within a few weeks located on a tract of one hundred and sixty acres, in what is now Adams county, where the home is still maintained. Mr. Smith died in 1870. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith were born two children: James, who resides upon a part of the original homestead; and Mary Isabel, now Mrs. George F. Decatur, and they also occupy a part of the old homestead.
J. A. WILLIAMSON.
J. A. Williamson, the postmaster and one of the merchants of Barr Lake, was born in Portage county, Ohio. December 6, 1845, his parents being Allen and Margaret (Wilson) Williamson. The father was born in Pennsylvania, while the mother was a native of Ohio, in which state they were married. There they resided for some time and the mother passed away in that state, after which the father came to Colorado in 1870 and spent his last days in the west. Their family numbered three children, two of whom survive.
J. A. Williamson spent his boyhood days under the parental roof and in the acquire- ment of his education attended the public schools. With the outbreak of the Civil war, however, his patriotic spirit was aroused, and although he was yet a youth in his teens, he responded to the country's call for aid, joining the Union army as one of the boys in blue of Company M, Ninth Ohio Cavalry. He served with that command for two years and although he was frequently on active duty in the thickest of the fight, he was never wounded. He was with Sherman on the celebrated march to the sea and took part in all of the engagements of that campaign. He never faltered in the performance of duty, and his bravery and valor were recognized by all of his comrades.
When the war was over Mr. Williamson returned to his Ohio home and was mustered out at Columbus, that state. He continued to live in Ohio until 1870, when attracted by the opportunities of the west, he made his way to Colorado, settling in Denver, where he resided for about fourteen years. In 1884 he returned to the Mis- sissippi valley, taking up his abode in Chicago, Illinois, where he lived for three years, during which time he was employed at the Union stock yards. In August, 1887, he went to California, settling at Oakland. where he worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad Company as a conductor. He continued upon the western coast until 1896, when he came to Adams county, Colorado, where he engaged in merchandising, opening a store at Barr Lake. Here he has since remained and has steadily conducted his business with good success. He carries an attractive line of goods and is enjoying
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a gratifying patronage. During the period of his early residence in Colorado he was a conductor and also an engineer, being one of the first conductors running on a train into Denver.
In 1876 Mr. Williamson was married to Miss Carrie Lahr, who was born in New York, a daughter of John and Dorothy Lahr. They own the residence which they occupy and Mr. Williamson has forty-three lots in the town and the store building in which he conducts business. In 1897 he was appointed postmaster of Barr Lake and has since served under different administrations, being reappointed under civil service rule in 1914. His political allegiance has been unfalteringly given to the republican party since he cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. He has served as secretary of the school board for eleven years and the cause of educa- tion finds in him a stalwart champion. In fact his aid and influence are always given on the side of progress and advancement and his work has been a potent force in the upbuilding of the community in which he makes his home.
JAMES A. M. CROUCH.
James A. M. Crouch is the proprietor of Crouch Brothers' department store at Fort Morgan, and a most alert and energetic business man whose high standing in commercial circles is indicated by the fact that he has been chosen for the presidency of the Colorado Retail Clothiers Association. Carefully looking after every phase of the trade, he has so directed his efforts and energies that splendid results have accrued and the wisdom of his opinions in relation to trade interests is acknowledged by many of the merchants of the state.
Mr. Crouch is a native of eastern Tennessee. He was born November 23, 1865, a son of the Rev. George A. and Emeline (Cox) Crouch, who were natives of Kentucky and of Tennessee, respectively. The father was a minister of the Baptist church, devoting his entire life to the work of preaching the gospel, both as an evangelist and as pastor. He was instrumental in building a number of churches in his time and labored most , earnestly and untiringly for the cause, largely in Missouri. He baptized more than three thousand people, and thus his work was of the greatest influence with those among whom he lived and labored. He served as chaplain of a Home Guard regiment during the Civil war and at all times his labors and influence were a potent element for good. He died March 18, 1911, and his memory still remains as a blessed benediction to many who knew him. His wife, a most estimable lady, passed away June 24, 1908.
James A. M. Crouch was reared in Missouri and attended the public schools of Breck- enridge, Gallatin and Chillicothe, after which he was graduated from La Grange College at La Grange, Missouri. Later, in Kentucky, he pursued a course in the Louisville Seminary, covering a year and a half, and afterward he spent three years as a student in the Rochester Baptist Theological Seminary at Rochester, New York, from which he was graduated with the class of 1895. He, too, took up the work of the ministry and accepted a pastorate at St. Louis, Missouri, serving the Euclid Avenue Baptist church for five years. He also acted as supply pastor during his seminary course at Rochester, New York, and at Cincinnati, Ohio, and at different periods he worked in stores at various places from time to time. He thus spent thirteen years of his life, when his health failed, and he then accepted a position on the road as salesman out of St. Louis, with head- quarters in Denver. He traveled in Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico and a large part of Kansas and Nebraska for a year and a half. On the 11th of April, 1901, he came to Fort Morgan, where he purchased a little store. and from time to time he has added to his stock and made removals in order to secure larger facilities, until he now occupies three floors of the Morgan County National Bank building. He started with two clerks, and today employs thirty to thirty-five salespeople, in addition to which he does a large mail order husiness, so that his postage in the past year cost him more than his rent did during the first three years that he was in business, and his average gross income per month during the past year was more than the entire first year's business. His trade is increasing every year and is conducted under the firm name of Crouch Brothers, although the brother now has no interest in the business. It was he, however, who started Mr. Crouch of this review in business, and the firm style has since been main- tained as a compliment to the brother. Mr. Crouch carries an enormous stock of goods and draws business from five different counties in this part of the state. The business in all of its departments is most carefully systematized and wisely directed. He studies every principle and detail bearing upon the conduct of the trade and his sound judgment
JAMES A. M. CROUCH
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and progressive methods are manifest in the excellent results which have been secured. Mr. Crouch is also engaged quite largely in buying and developing farms in Colorado. He has improved several farms in his section of the state, which he has sold, and he owns still others in Morgan county. He sells on the installment plan to people who are not able to purchase outright, and he now has five farms sold on contract.
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