History of Colorado; Volume IV, Part 88

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

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The religious faith of Mr. Ginther is that of the Lutheran church, while his wife is a member of the Seventh Day Adventist church. His political endorsement is given to the republican party. He has never been an office seeker but has been a member of the school board for five years. For fifteen years he has served as presi- dent of the Lelatta Ditch & Reservoir Company, and is thoroughly familiar with all phases of irrigation, having taken an active and prominent part in its development in Colorado. His has been an active life and his determination to win success has resulted in the close application and energy which have made him the owner of an excellent farm property in Adams county.

JOHN G. HUDSON.

The office of clerk of the district court of Washington county, Colorado, is in good hands, for it is administered by John G. Hudson, who is well qualified for the posi- tion and in the discharge of his duties has earned the appreciation of the court as well as the public. He keeps his records and files in excellent condition and has intro- duced into the office a system and order which greatly facilitate and expedite the cases which come before the court. He was born in Rochester, Oakland county. Michigan, May 3, 1859, his parents' being Dr. John K. and Amanda (Green) Hudson, natives of the Empire state. The father was a physician and went to Michigan at an early day. In that state he practiced medicine during the balance of his life, passing away in 1865. His widow survived him for more than thirty years, her death occurring in 1898.

Mr. Hudson of this review was reared in Michigan, where he acquired his educa- tion. In 1876, when sixteen years of age, he came to Colorado, being identified with civil engineering in connection with railroad work. For five years he was with the old South Park Railroad, now the Colorado Southern, and during this time was actively engaged in work on the great Alpine tunnel. He then assisted in building the Oregon Short Line, being so employed for three years, at the end of which period he went to Kansas and from there returned to Michigan. The year 1885 marked his arrival in Akron, Washington county, Colorado, and here he engaged in the painting and decorat- ing business and also in contracting, being so occupied for ten years. In 1895 he bought out an abstract business and the same year was elected to the office of county clerk, serving for six years in that capacity and earning the high encomiums of the public by the faithful discharge of his duties. He conducted the abstract business at the same time and has continued the business ever since. For several years Mr. Hudson also served as town clerk and at this writing he is completing his sixteenth year as clerk of the district court, his continuance in the office proving his reliability, faith- fulness and ability. For twelve years he served under Judge Burke. Recently Mr. Hudson proved up on three hundred and twenty acres of land fourteen miles north-

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west of Akron. In connection with his office it may be mentioned that homesteaders may make proof before the clerk of the district court and Mr. Hudson has made over nine hundred proofs on half sections in the past six years. It is therefore but natural that he is known hy practically every agriculturist of the county and by almost all other residents and all speak of him in the highest terms of approval.

In September, 1892, Mr. Hudson was united in marriage to Burtie B. Ball and to this union four children have been born: John G., Jr., a machinist by trade, who is twenty-four years of age and resides in Denver; Gilbert R., aged twenty-one, who is taking the radio course in the United States army and is training at Lincoln, Ne- braska; Leo F., at Fort Collins, Colorado, who is eighteen years of age; and Myrtle, aged fourteen. yet at home.

Politically Mr. Hudson is a republican and has always been faithful to his party. His religious belief is that of the Presbyterian church. He stands high in Masonic circles, being a member of the blue lodge and chapter of Akron, the Knights Templar at Fort Morgan and a member of the Mystic Shrine in Denver. Many have heen the compliments paid Mr. Hudson on his efficiency as an official and hecause of his loyalty as a public-spirited American citizen, hut he must find the greatest satisfaction in the knowledge-a fact really conceded by everyone else that he has discharged the duties of every official position he has held to the best of his ability. He cooperates in public movements readily and is ever desirous of promoting the welfare of his fellow citizens, for he takes great pride in the growth of Washington county and Akron.

JOHN D. STEELE.

A representative of the successful agriculturists of the west is John D. Steele, of Niwot, Boulder county, this state, a successful farmer and live stock man. A native of Wisconsin, he was born April 2, 1865, his parents being Edward P. and Phoebe A. (Evans) Steele. The mother was born in Pennsylvania and the father in New York and both removed in early life to Wisconsin, in which state they were married. In the year of the great rush to Pike's Peak-1859-Edward P. Steele came to Colorado and took up a homestead in Boulder county, whereon he built a log cabin, there resid- ing until 1864. After improving his place to a certain extent he returned to Wiscon- sin in order to bring his family to the western frontier. The return trip to this state across the plains was made by ox teams and four months were consumed in making the journey. Three weeks after he and his family arrived here Mr. Steele suddenly died. His wife is still living, making her home with our subject, and is now eighty- four years of age. She became the mother of three children, all of whom survive.

John D. Steele of this review, who was born shortly before the western trip was undertaken, was reared and educated in Colorado and after laying aside his school- books engaged in farming and stock raising, being quite successful along those lincs. During the last ten years he has also operated a threshing outfit. He now owns five hundred and sixty acres of valuable land in Boulder county, upon which he has made many improvements, his ranch representing a life of industry, perseverance and care- ful application to local farming conditions. Mr. Steele has ever followed progressive methods and through the development of his farm has largely contributed toward the improvement of his section of the state.

In 1887, at the age of twenty-two years, Mr. Steele was united in marriage to Miss Blanche E. Bliven, a native daughter of Colorado. Her parents were Andrew J. and Sarah (Hempstead) Bliven, who were born in Connecticut and came to this state in 1868. Both are now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Steele were born eight children, of whom Merle, the first born, is deceased. The others are, in order of birth: Phoebe, the wife of Roy Green; and Andrew, Douglas, Evart, Alice, Ray and Jessie, all at home. Mr. and Mrs. Steele have many friends in the neighborhood in which they reside, all of whom recognize in them a worthy couple of sterling character.

Mr. Steele is quite prominent in fraternal circles, being a member of Lodge No. 154 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and also helonging to the lodge of the Modern Woodmen of America. He is likewise a valued member of the Grange. In his political affiliations he is a republican, steadfastly upholding the candidates of that party in national and state issues. Although thoroughly versed in the questions and issues of the day Mr. Steele has never actively participated in politics, preferring to give his undivided attention to his farming pursuits. The cause of education, however, has found in him a vigorous supporter and for a number of years he has served on the school board of his district, doing everything in his power in order to

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improve educational facilities in Boulder county. There is great credit due him for what he has achieved as he started out in life empty-handed and is now numbered among the prosperous and well-to-do agriculturists of Boulder county.

ROBERT M. WORK.

Robert M. Work, district attorney of Fort Morgan, was born at Rochester Mills, Pennsylvania, June 17. 1878, his parents being Josiah and Sarah (Hindman) Work, who were also natives of the Keystone state. The father there engaged in the lumber business and later was active in irrigation work. He followed the lumber trade, how- ever, in Pennsylvania until 1898, when he came to Colorado and established his home in Greeley, where he lived for a time and then removed to Fort Morgan. He became interested in irrigation projects and was president of several of the big irrigation companies of northern and eastern Colorado. He bought two thousand acres of land in Morgan county and was numbered among the wealthy and prominent residents of his section of the state, putting all of his funds into irrigation projects and thereby contributing in substantial manner to the development, upbuilding and consequent prosperity of the region. He continued to reside in Fort Morgan throughout his remaining days and passed away in December, 1909. During the Civil war he was one of the reserves and drilled at camp but was not called upon for active duty. His wife passed away in March, 1885.

Robert M. Work was reared and educated in Pennsylvania, attending the com- mon and preparatory schools, after which he entered Westminster College. Subse- quently he taught school for three years and then sought the opportunities of the west. In 1901 he arrived in Colorado and in 1903 he won the Bachelor's degree upon graduation from Colorado College at Colorado Springs, while the following year the Master's degree was conferred upon him. After completing his more specifically literary course he took up the study of law in Denver, where he pursued his reading for a year and then completed his preparation for the bar as a law student in the office of Stuart & Murray. In 1907 he was admitted to the bar and by reason of the fact that Mr. Murray was ill and away from business Mr. Work remained for a year in the office as Mr. Stuart's assistant under the firm name of Stuart, Murray & Work. On the expiration of that period he came to Fort Morgan and formed a partnership with L. C. Stephenson under the firm style of Stephenson & Work. This association was maintained until 1911, when Mr. Work began practicing alone and so continued until April, 1916, when he was joined in a partnership by George C. Twombly, now serving as deputy district attorney. The firm name is Work & Twombly. They have made for themselves a most creditable position in legal circles in Morgan county and they have been entrusted with much important litigation. Mr. Work served as deputy district attorney from 1909 until 1911 under Mr. Stephenson and did much of the criminal work in the six counties for two years. He was named at the primaries in 1912 as the republican candidate for district attorney but met defeat at that election. He was again the republican candidate in 1916 and popular suffrage placed him in the position which he is now acceptably and capably filling. He was also called to public office in 1909, when he became a member of the city council. For the past seven years he has served as attorney for the Bijou Irrigation District and has otherwise been the legal representative of other irrigation projects and corporations, including the Morgan County National Bank. He is the owner of two thousand acres of excellent land in Morgan county, eight hundred of which is improved irrigated land. He is largely interested in the raising of Hereford cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs and has two hundred and fifty head of each. He feeds cattle in the winter months and everything that he has undertaken in the way of agricultural or stock raising activity has proven success- ful. At the same time he has made for himself a most enviable position as a representa- tive of the bar and he is now attorney and agent for large eastern land owners.

The undertaking which has distinguished Mr. Work in this vicinity was the success- ful refinancing of the Bijou irrigation system, which involved the refunding of some eight hundred and thirty thousand dollars in bonds and the passage of legislation pro- viding a workable refunding act, which takes away from the irrigation district the burden and the stigma which has brought so many irrigation districts in western states to financial ruin. Their bondholders were induced to accept refunding bonds, which are clearly special assessment bonds, so that any land owner at any time may pay off his share of bonded indebtedness and be released from all other bonds. This was the first district in the west to take advantage of such a course and many other

ROBERT M. WORK

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districts are now following the same procedure. The deal involved two years of negotla- tions with a committee of bankers and attorneys from five different eastern states, representing bondholders, with headquarters at Chicago, and the plan was finally con- summated in November, 1917. Mr. Work nas closely studied irrigation problems and opportunities and is convinced of the value of building irrigation ditches in order that the arid lands of Colorado may be transformed into productive fields, a fact which is easily accomplished when water can be secured. His work in this connection has been of the greatest possible public value, a fact now widely acknowledged.

On the 9th of June, 1909, Mr. Work was united in marriage to Miss Roberta Gib- son and to them have been born four children: Robert Marshall, Jr., who was born April 23, 1910; Raymond Phidelah, born July 27, 1911; Emma Gibson, born January 2, 1913; and James Richard, born September 20, 1918.

Mr. Work is well known in Masonic circles, belonging to Oasis Lodge, No. 67, A. F. & A. M .; to Fort Morgan Chapter, R. A M .; and Colorado Consistory, No. 1, S. P. R. S., in which he has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite. He also belongs to the United Presbyterian church and in these associations are found the rules which have governed his conduct and shaped his relations with his fellowmen. His life work has been far-reaching in its influences and results, and his record is one of much benefit to the community in which he lives by reason of what he has accomplished in connection with the irrigation project and also by reason of the excellent things that he has done as a member of the bar. He is now carefully safeguarding the interests of his district as its attorney and his work shows that he is well qualified to cope with intricate and involved legal problems.

HARPIN DAVIS.

Harpin Davis, who passed away on the 10th of July, 1915, was one of Colorado's pioneer settlers. He arrived in the state in 1863 and about a year later took up his abode upon the farm on which he continued to reside until called to his final rest. He made purchase of a tract of wild land about eight miles east of Golden and with characteristic energy began its development and improvement, converting it into one of the excellent ranch properties of the district. At all times and in every relation of life he measured up to high standards of manhood and citizenship.

Mr. Davis was a native son of New England. His birth occurred in New Haven county, Connecticut, February 24, 1825, his father being Anson Davis, who was born in Oxford, Connecticut, in 1784. The father spent the greater part of his life upon a farm and was a well educated man who successfully taught school for several years in early manliood. He was called upon to fill various positions of honor and trust in the community in which he lived and he passed away respected by all who knew him in the year 1868. In early manhood he wedded Sally Pruden and they became the parents of ten children.

Harpin Davis spent his youthful days upon the old homestead to the age of fifteen years, when desirous of learning something of the world and wishing to start in busl- ness on his own account, he started to Philadelphia. However, he left the boat at Burlington. twenty miles from that city, and secured employment in driving horses along the canal. He did not enjoy that occupation, however, and for a year there- after was employed at farm labor. He then shipped aboard a coasting schooner and afterward became a member of the crew of a full-rigged vessel which was engaged in the West India trade. He spent a number of years at sea and was promoted to the rank of mate on his ship. At the age of twenty-two, however, he returned to his old home and there took up the business of contracting in brick and stone work. He also taught a few terms of school and proved a capable educator, imparting readily and clearly to others the knowledge that he had acquired.

Mr. Davis became identified with the west in 1854, at which time he went to California, thinking to make that state his permanent abode. The family, however, did not desire to live so far west and the same year he returned eastward as far as Davenport, Iowa, where he engaged in masonry work and also established and conducted a lumberyard. In the fall of 1856 he removed to Florence, Nebraska, now a part of Omaha, and for one term taught school there, after which he engaged in the sawmill and lumber business. The year 1863 witnessed his arrival in Colorado and after passing a year in Central City he removed to the vicinity of the farm upon which he so long resided. It was about 1865 that ne purchased this place, which is situated about eight miles east of Golden, and for many years thereafter he concentrated his

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efforts and attention upon its cultivation and development. He added many substantial improvements, making it one of the attractive features of the landscape, with its growing crops, its well kept buildings and its many indications of the progressive spirit of the owner.

On the 31st of March, 1850, Mr. Davis was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Chatfield, a daughter of Enos Chatfield, of Oxford, Connecticut, and a descendant of George Chatfield, a native of England, who came to the new world in 1639, thus found- ing the family in America during early colonial days. He made the trip in company with his brothers, Thomas and Francis, who were members of the party conducted by the Rev. Henry Whitfield and made a settlement at Guilford, Connecticut. George Chatfield afterward lived in Killingsworth, Connecticut, until called to his final rest. Representatives of the family served as soldiers of the American army in the Revo- lutionary war. Mr. and Mrs. Davis became the parents of four children. Charles H. is managing a part of the home farm. Ella M. is the wife of Mason Seavey, a cap- italist of Denver. Hattie C. is now Mrs. Mathison, of Arvada, and is a noted horse- woman. She was also one of the founders of Craig Colony, a large free tubercular sanitarium. She has one son, Earl F. Walker is a member of Company G of the Three Hundred and Fifty-fourth Infantry of the Eighty-ninth Division, A. E. F. Arthur L., the youngest of the family, is a graduate of the Gross Medical College of Denver and for two and one-half years was head physician in St. Anthony's Hospital. He is now engaged in the practice of his profession in Central City, where he has won prominence.

Mr. Davis belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and to Morning Star Lodge, No. 47, A. F. & A. M. He was always loyal to the teachings and purposes of these organizations and his life was ever upright and honorable, commending him to the confidence and goodwill of all. There were no spectacular phases in his career. He did not seek to figure prominently in any public light but concentrated his efforts and attention upon his business affairs and by reason of his close application, sound judgment and unfaltering enterprise he won a substantial measure of success.

PROFESSOR JOHN BERNARD EKELEY.

Professor John Bernard Ekeley, state chemist and head of the department of chem- istry in the University of Colorado at Boulder, was born in Orebro. Sweden, on the 1st of January, 1869. His father, John Ekeley, also a native of that country, was born in 1843 and came to America in 1870, at which time he settled in Omaha, Nebraska. In 1878 he removed to Wahoo, Nebraska, and was there engaged in merchandising until 1890. In the latter year he became a resident of Stromsburg, Nebraska, where he retired from active business and still makes his home. His wife passed away in Omaha in 1874.

Professor Ekeley of this review was but three years old when brought by his mother to the new world and the days of his boyhood and youth were passed in Ne- braska. After attending the public schools of Wahoo until 1885, in which year he was graduated from the high school of that city, he entered Colgate Academy at Hamilton, New York, and completed his course in that institution in 1887. He next entered Col- gate University at Hamilton and was graduated therefrom in 1891 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Two years later Colgate University conferred upon him the Master of Arts degree In 1900 he went to Germany, where he studied at the University of Freiburg in Baden and in 1902 he received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, while in 1911 Colgate University conferred upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Sci- ence. In 1909 and 1910 he was a student in the University of Berlin and at the Sor- bonne of Paris. In the meantime, however, he entered upon the line of activity that has largely constituted his life work. From 1891 until 1893 he was instructor in chem- istry in Colgate University at Hamilton, New York, and then accepted the position of science master at St. Paul's School in Garden City, Long Island, where he remained until 1900. It was subsequent to this time that he went abroad for further study. Since 1902 he has been head of the department of chemistry of the State University of Boulder, Colorado, and since 1911 has occupied the position of state chemist. He also has other interests, being a member of the Black Metal Reduction Company of Boulder, and is a co-inventor of the process used by that company in extracting tung- sten from low grade tungsten ores.

On the 18th of July, 1894, in Hamilton. New York, Professor Ekeley was married to Miss Adelaide Evelyn Hobbs, a daughter of the late Thomas Hobbs. He is identi- Vol. IV-46

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fied with various college fraternities, including Delta Kappa Epsilon, Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi, Theta Nu Epsilon, and Alpha Chi Sigma. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a member of the American Chemical Society, American Electrochemical Society, Colorado Scientific Society, and is the author of A Laboratory Manual of Inorganic Chemistry, John Wiley and Sons, 1912, and also the author of various research articles on chemical subjects in American and European chemical journals.

FRANCIS J. HILDEBRAND.

Francis J. Hildebrand is the owner of an extensive ranch property in Jefferson county which he is successfully cultivating in addition to raising stock. Actuated by a spirit of enterprise and progress, he carries forward to successful completion what- ever he undertakes and his life record is an interesting one, for it is the story of earnest endeavor crowned with success.

Mr. Hildebrand was born August 22, 1871, on the ranch which is still his home, his parents being Frank and Elizabeth Hildebrand, who were natives of Germany and came to America in their youth. During the gold excitement at Pike's Peak the father started west across the plains with an ox team in 1859. He first settled on land in the Platte river bottom, just north of Denver, near the mouth of Clear creek, but the floods of 1864 ruined his crops and he sold out. He then engaged in freighting between Denver and Cheyenne and also worked in the placer mines in the Georgetown district. During those early days he had many encounters with the Indians but bravely faced all the hardships, privations and dangers of pioneer life and lived to see remarkable changes as the work of progress and civilization was carried forward. In 1866 he settled on land in the beautiful valley of Deer creek, seven miles southwest of Little- ton, in Jefferson county, and his wife joined him soon afterward. They contributed their full part to the work of general improvement and development and continued residents of the county until called to the home beyond. In their family were two children, Francis J. and Albert.

Both sons spent their youthful days under the parental roof, attending the com- mon schools near their home, and after reaching manhood took charge of the farm, which they further developed and improved. They engaged extensively in the stock business and owned twenty-five hundred acres of land, of which two hundred acres is under ditch. On the irrigated tract they raised large crops, utilized in considerable measure for feeding purposes. They had high grades of cattle and their business, wisely and carefully directed, brought to them a very gratifying measure of success. In 1902, however Alhert Hildebrand withdrew from the firm and removed to the Ohio Creek valley in Gunnison county, where he is today one of the prominent cattlemen. Francis J. Hildebrand of this review still continues to carry on the home farm.

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History of Colorado; Volume IV, Part 88

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