USA > Colorado > History of Colorado; Volume IV > Part 91
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Mr. Knaus was born February 7, 1882, a son of Clemens and Alice Eliza (Greub) Knaus, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Switzerland: More extended mention of the parents is made on other pages of this work. The father came to America when about twenty-one years of age, shortly after the Civil war had come to a close, and for a time resided in the east. He then removed to Colorado and con- ducted a butcher shop at Blackhawk. Later he went to Oklahoma, following the same line of business. Upon selling out he returned to this state, where for a time he worked for others. He then bought land, upon which he instituted improvements and modern equipment, and this farm he operated for the rest of his life. He was very successful in all that he undertook and at the time of his demise owned seventeen hundred acres. Having been engaged in the butchering business for so many years. he was naturally familiar with live stock and for years was heavily engaged in that line of business. He held the controlling stock in the bank at Niwot and also the controlling interests in the alfalfa mill there. Moreover, he was a heavy stockholder in the Longmont Farmers Mill & Elevator Company. His death occurred in January, 1914, at the age of seventy-one years, but his widow survives and is residing on the old home place. All who knew him esteemed him highly and took him at his true worth. He was a valued member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and In social, educational, moral and material lines ever gave his ready support to worthy measures which had for their purpose public improvements along those lines. Many were those whom he assisted when they found themselves in a tight place or when misfortune or disaster overtook them and it is therefore but natural that his memory is revered.
Albert J. Knaus was reared under the parental roof and early became acquainted with farming methods. He was educated in Boulder County and remained with his parents until he attained his majority, assisting his father in his business affairs up to that time. In the family were ten children, six sons and four daughters, and when the sons became of age the father gave each of them a farm. Albert J. Knaus re- ceived eighty acres, which he has successfully managed and operated ever since. He has improved the place to a considerable extent, has instituted the latest facilities and equipment and in every way has proven himself an up-to-date, judicious, energetic and industrious agriculturist who is ever ready to embrace new methods and ideas if they have proven of worth. In a comparatively short time he has acquired a con- siderable fortune, represented largely by his farming interests, he having increased the value of the property many times through his labors.
On May 17, 1905, Mr. Knaus was married to Miss Gertrude McGovern, a daughter of James and Adelaide (Walter) McGovern, natives of Ohio. Mrs. Knaus was also born in Ohio, her birth having occurred January 13, 1884. Her father was for many years
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connected with railroads and made his home in Massillon, passing away in 1889. His wife died in 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Knaus have two children: Alice Eugenie, born April 28, 1906; and Alberta Leone, born November 8, 1914.
Along fraternal lines Mr. Knaus is prominent and well known, being a member of the lodges of the Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church, and both he and his wife are earnest and devout communicants of that faith. Politically he is a democrat but thus far has not been connected with public office, having concentrated his entire attention upon his farming interests, which are important and require most of his time. How- ever, he has ever been in favor of movements which have for their purpose public advancement and growth and readily gives of his time and means in order to promote the general welfare. He is a loyal, public-spirited and patriotic American citizen, a farsighted business man, a progressive farmer and a stanch friend, thus having well earned the great respect in which he is generally held.
EVERETT L. ASHCRAFT.
Everett L. Ashcraft is the owner of excellent property interests in Elbert county and in addition to conducting his farms has for eight years been mail carrier on a rural route. He was born in Williamstown, Grant county, Kentucky, on the 20th of March, 1880, a son of J. H. and Molly Ashcraft, who came to Colorado on the 20th of March, 1886, and resided for some years in the southeastern part of the state. The family was established in Kentucky at the earliest period of its development, an an- cestor of Everett L. Ashcraft having gone with Daniel Boone to that district when it was known as the dark and bloody ground.
A lad of but six years at the time of the arrival of the family in Colorado, Everett L. Ashcraft has since lived in this state and is indebted to its school system for his educational opportunities. He was reared to farm life and soon acquainted himself with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. Twelve years ago, or in 1906, he homesteaded five miles south of Mattison, in Elbert county, and in addition to that holding now has a fine farm on the edge of the town of Mattison. The further development of his landed possessions occupies much of his time and the remainder is given to his service as a mail carrier on a rural route, which work he has performed for eight years. This has brought him a wide acquaintance, and a genial and obliging manner and unfailing courtesy have gained for him the respect of all with whom he has come in contact.
On the 3d of February, 1903, Mr. Ashcraft was united in marriage to Miss Leah Ashcraft, of Las Animas, Colorado, and they have become the parents of three chil- dren: Leonard, Clarence and Clara.
MIKE WYATT.
Mike Wyatt, a highly respected citizen, interested in all that has to do with the material, intellectual, political and moral progress of the community, makes his home near Sedalia, where he is engaged in ranching. He was born in Edgar county, Illinois, January 23, 1872, a son of James and Eliza (Manning) Wyatt, who were also natives of Illinois. While spending his boyhood days under the parental roof Mike Wyatt pur- sued his education until he had completed a high school course by graduation, after which he became a student in the College of Law of Drake University at Des Moines, Iowa. There he won his professional degree. He located for the practice of law in Red Oak, Iowa, where he remained for two years, being an active member of the bar at that place. For six years he engaged in teaching school in Illinois and in 1902 he removed to Colorado, settling in Huerfano county. Residing in Pueblo, he continued to teach school in Huerfano county for fourteen years and in 1916 he removed to Douglas county, where he purchased the ranch upon which he now resides, becoming owner of four hundred and ten acres of land on Jarre creek, southwest of Sedalia. He devotes his ranch to dairying and general farming and his business affairs are bringing to him a substantial measure of success. He has carefully cultivated his land and raises excellent crops, while the dairy feature of his business is also proving most profitable.
On the 26th of December, 1894, Mr. Wyatt was united in marriage to Miss Nora B.
MIKE WYATT
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Mann, who was also born and reared in Edgar county, Illinois. Her father was a prominent farmer there and was widely and favorably known. His daughter, Mrs. Wyatt, is a high school graduate of Chrisman, Illinois, and by her marriage she has become the mother of three sons. Arthur M., the eldest, born September 8, 1896, spent two years as a high school pupil and was graduated from the American Business College of Pueblo, Colorado. He enlisted in the Quartermaster's Corps in January, 1918. and is now a sergeant. Previous to this time he had occupied a clerical position in the First National Bank of Walsenburg, Colorado. Vernon T., born May 12, 1898, completed two years' work in the high school and is now at home. Laurence M., born September 17, 1902, is a freshman in the high school at Sedalia.
Mr. Wyatt belongs to the Odd Fellows lodge at Sedalia and also to the Modern Woodmen camp at Villisca, Iowa, and is loyal to the teachings and purposes of those organizations. The cause of education has ever found in him a stalwart champion and he has served as president of the board of school directors in District No. 5. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and in 1918 he was a candidate for county superintendent of schools on that ticket. He and his family are members of the Baptist church and they are among the most highly esteemed people of the district in which they live, for their sterling worth of character is recognized by all with whom they come in contact. They stand for all those things which uplift the individual and promote the welfare of the community, and their aid and cooperation can be counted upon to further any measure for the general good.
BEAUREGARD ROSS.
Beauregard Ross, operating extensively in connection with the development of the oil industry in the west, is now president of the Carper-Ross Company, controlling one of the largest interests of the kind in Denver, and is also president of the Calumet Oil & Gas Company, the Equitable Oil Company, and the Venture Oil & Refining Company. He was born in Marshfield, Missouri, April 16, 1861, and is a son of Columbus Mack and Adeline (Cloud) Ross, the former a native of Tennessee, while the latter was born in Virginia. After their marriage they removed to Missouri and the father became a well known physician and surgeon there. He was a surgeon major in the Confederate army during the Civil war and was one of the distinguished men of the south. Follow- ing the close of hostilities he removed to Illinois and later took up his abode in Texas county in south central Missouri, where he was well known and prominent, serving for many years as county clerk. He continued his residence in Missouri throughout his remaining days, there passing away in 1896.
Beauregard Ross of this review was but six months of age at the time of his mother's death. In his youth he attended the public schools of Texas county, Missouri, and after- ward became a student in the Houston (Mo.) Academy. At a later period he became a pupil in the Missouri School of Mines, and was graduated therefrom with the class of 1882. He next turned his attention to the newspaper business. At the age of fifteen years he had assisted in establishing the paper that is now conducted under the name of the Houston Herald. It was after this that he pursued his college course and follow- ing his graduation from the School of Mines he removed to Cameron, Missouri, where he edited the Cameron Daily Sun. He likewise served as postmaster of Cameron for four years under the administration of President Grover Cleveland. Eventually he disposed
of his interests at Cameron and made his way westward to Colorado, going to Cripple Creek in 1898. There he engaged in assaying and mining, leasing some of the famous mines in that district. He remained there for five years, when, disposing of his interests at Cripple Creek, he took up his abode in Denver. At different periods he owned interests in mines in Colorado, Utah and Nevada and was active in connection with the operation and development of mining interests until 1915, since which time he has concentrated his attention and efforts upon the oil business in Oklahoma and Louisiana. He is now presi- dent of the Carper-Ross Company, which has developed until it is the largest in this line in Denver, and he is also the president of the Calumet Oil & Gas Company, the Equitable Oil Company and the Venture Oil & Refining Company. In the development of their oil fields the companies with which he operates have secured the services of most competent men and in the distribution of oil stock the most efficient salesmanship has been manifest, so that the combined activities in these two lines have produced most substantial results.
On the 5th of July, 1882, in Rolla, Missouri, Mr. Ross was married to Miss Electra Prigmore, a daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Lee Prigmore, of Rolla, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs.
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Ross have become parents of five children. Harry B., born in Rolla in 1884, is a mechanical engineer with the Doyle Machine Company. Mrs. E. B. Wood was born in Houston, Missouri, in 1886 and is now living at Portland, Colorado. She has one child, Thomas Ross Wood. Blanche A., born in Houston, Missouri, in 1887, resides at home. Robert McDonald was born in Cameron, Missouri, in 1891 and is in Washington, D. C., with the rank of first lieutenant where he has charge of the construction department of an ammunition plant. J. Francis, born in Cameron, Missouri, in 1895, is secretary of the Carper-Ross Company.
Mr. Ross gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and fraternally he is connected with New Lodge, No. 110, A. F. & A. M., of Cripple Creek, and, has also taken the degree of Royal Arch Masonry. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church, South. He is actuated in all that he does by a spirit of progressive- ness that has enabled him to work his way upward. He started ont empty-handed and without assistance has steadily advanced until he has made for himself a credit- able position in business circles in Denver.
GEORGE F. JONES.
George F. Jones, freight service inspector at Denver, was born in Leadville, Lake county, Colorado, in the year 1886, a son of Charles W. and Elizabeth (O'Neil) Jones. The father was engaged in the transfer business, transferring commodities on a large scale, and also became interested in the railroads. He was in Leadville for about twenty-five years, resided in Cardiff for about six years and in May, 1914, came to Denver, retiring from active business life in order to enjoy the fruits of his former toil. He reared a family who are a credit to his name. The eldest son, Warren Jones, born in 1871, is interested in railroad business at Minneapolis. Ray died when thirty- nine years of age. He was superintendent of the Harvey eating houses and during his car service was also manager of the Vail Hotel at Pueblo, Colorado, for five years. The Harvey eating honses have ever been among the most popular and best of the south- west and as superintendent thereof Ray Jones became widely and favorably known and was respected by all. He passed away in February. 1917, his remains being cre- mated. He was a thirty-second degree Mason and in his life exemplified the beneficent spirit of the craft. Martha Jones, the next member of the family, was born in 1885 and is the wife of W. A. Murphy, western representative of the Acme Truck Company of Michigan. She has two children. When her husband, Mr. Murphy, was eighteen years of age he was editor of the Murphy Magazine and was considered a most brilliant young man.
George F. Jones, whose name introduces this review, pursned his education in the schools of Leadville to the age of twelve years, when he went to work in connection with the hotel business. During that time he met some of the leading artists of the day and others prominent along other lines. After a few months, however, he became interested in the medical profession and began preparation therefor, but owing to unforeseen circumstances he was obliged to change his plans and became interested in the railroad business. He was anxious to get an insight into the business and started at the bottom. His first duty was to clean coaches in the car shops and later he performed such service as trucking freight. He did with thoroughness and ability everything that he undertook and gradually he worked his way upward until he was occupying a position in the traffic office of the Rio Grande at Leadville. In October, 1904, he became connected with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad in Denver, starting in the local freight office. He served in various capacities there and in 1910 was appointed traveling tariff inspector of the Burlington lines in the west. In 1911 he was appointed claim agent at Denver under William J. Valley and in 1912 was appointed contracting freight agent. In 1918, owing to the government taking over the railroads, he was transferred to the operating department of the Burlington as freight service inspector of the Wyoming district and is now acting in that responsible position.
Mr. Jones is also interested in mining and is the president and one of the directors of the Denting Mining Company of Denver. He takes an active interest in several other financial propositions and in all business affairs has displayed progress and sub- stantial advancement.
On the 26th of June, 1908, Mr. Jones was united in marriage to Miss Pearl Fristoe, a daughter of Shannon and Ruth (Green) Fristoe, both of whom were natives of Virginia. In politics Mr. Jones is independent and supports the candidates whom he
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believes will give the working man better conditions. His reputation among those who know him best is a most enviable one. Nature endowed him with a ready mind and he employs repartee to good advantage. His social qualities and appreciation for the good in others make him a genial companion and he is a man of liberal spirit and of genuine worth. He is now doing excellent service in connection with the government management of the railroads and his previous training well qualifies him for the onerous and responsible duties that devolve upon him.
WALTER W. WILCOX.
Walter W. Wilcox, of Denver, is the proprietor of the Wilcox Farm, one of the most progressive, sanitary and scientifically conducted dairies of the entire west. In fact its product has set a standard for other institutions of similar character and the developed business, now one of extensive proportions, is the direct outcome of the study, investigation and enterprising business methods of the owner.
Mr. Wilcox was born in Erie county, New York, July 27, 1868, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Van Velsor) Wilcox, who were likewise natives of the Empire state. In 1873 they removed with their family to Grand Rapids, Michigan, and there the father engaged in blacksmithing, being rated as one of the best mechanics in the business. He was a very skilled workman and could forge almost anything out of the rough material. At the outbreak of the Civil war, however, his business interests were put aside, for he felt that his first consideration was his country and he volunteered with a New York company, serving throughout the period of hostilities as a private. He rendered valuable aid to the Union cause and returned to his home with a creditahle military record. Both he and his wife died in Michigan.
Walter W. Wilcox was the third in order of birth in a family of nine children. In his youthful days he attended the schools of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and later of Chicago, Illinois, and after his textbooks were put aside he secured a position in a clothing store in the latter city and for twenty years devoted his energies to that line of merchandising. He then decided to engage in a more profitable business if he could find one and selected the real estate and building field as one in which he hoped to win greater success. He purchased vacant property on the outskirts of Chicago and decided to build better homes than any other real estate and building firm in Chicago. To this end he began studying every feature of the business and soon won the reputation of being the most conscientious builder in the city. He erected and sold hundreds of homes in and around Chicago in the ten years in which he was engaged in real estate dealing there. In seeking a location to colonize with Chicago people he came to Denver in 1907 and bought five sections of irrigated land from the Denver Reservoir & Irriga- tion Company for the purpose previously indicated. Through intelligently directed newspaper campaigns in the Chicago daily papers, representing an investment of thirty thousand dollars, he sold seven hundred acres to homeseekers from Chicago. In March, 1911. he had disposed of a large portion of the tract of land which he had acquired and he had advertised the sale in Chicago papers and had arranged to bring out and feed five car loads of prospective buyers, when the Denver Reservoir & Irrigation Com- pany made arrangements to double the water supply to the land. This cut off entirely the water and Mr. Wilcox canceled his contracts, thereby sustaining heavy losses. There was nothing else then for him to do but to farm the land, which he did until 1913. He had a large force of workmen and farm laborers employed and was obliged to house and feed them. For this purpose he maintained several cows and it was the duty of one of these men to do the milking. One day Mr. Wilcox accidentally came upon this man, who was heating a cow with a club. Mr. Wilcox took the weapon away and sent the man to other work. After quieting the poor, excited animal he proceeded to milk her and for several years thereafter he nevermore had any trouble with that cow. It was this that gave him the idea of producing better milk and devoting his time to dairying on a scientific and sanitary basis, for it seemed at that time that most of the dairies and farms paid little attention to the quality of their milk and dairy products, as seen in the tumble-down cow sheds. He soon secured a herd of blooded Holstein cows and began the erection of a sanitary milking barn, and since that time his herd has developed until it now numbers more than eighty Holstein cows, which are the best and healthiest milk producers that money can buy. Mr. Wilcox has today one of the finest dairy farms in the west. His cow barns and milking barns accommodate fifty cows at a milking and the place is kept immaculately clean, being much more cleanly than many parlors.
WALTER W. WILCOX
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The walls are of glazed brick and there is ample ventilation. The building, too, is heated for cold weather and equipped with electric fans for summer. Immediately on being taken from the cow, the milk is strained and bottled by the most sanitary processes possible and then placed in a large refrigerating and ice plant which Mr. Wilcox main- tains upon his farm. Every bottle of milk is tested before it leaves the farm and shipments are made to a radius of five hundred miles outside of Denver. The popularity of the Wilcox Farm Dairy is continuously growing. Thousands of travelers who visit the state make trips to the farm to inspect the place, for its reputation has gone abroad throughout the world. Mr. Wilcox employs a chemist and bacteriologist and the labora- tory report shows that the bacteria count is several thousand lower than the lowest count required by any state or.city in the United States. The Wilcox Farm sells perfect milk, produced under the most sanitary conditions, and while the farm is located at Broomfield, a Denver depot is maintained at 519 Eighteenth street. The Denver office and dairy are conducted along the same sanitary and scientific lines as the farm and the whole plant is the outcome of the study of Mr. Wilcox, leading to the adoption of the most scientific principles in regard to the handling of milk and the care of the cows. Dairying, as practiced by experts of the present time, did not happen. It is the outgrowth of the keenest investigation and the adoption of the most progressive methods and Mr. Wilcox stands as a leader in that field of business.
On the 27th of November, 1888, Mr. Wilcox was married to Miss Emma E. Decker, of Chicago, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Decker. They now have three children. Arthur D., born in Chicago in September, 1889, was graduated from a high school there and is now in the national aviation corps. W. L., born in Chicago in 1891, is also a graduate of the schools of that city. E. A., born in Chicago in 1895, completes the family.
Mr. Wilcox is a member of the Denver Athletic Club and has taken the degrees of both the York and Scottish Rites in Masonry, being a Knight Templar and Consistory Mason. He is widely known, standing high in business circles, and he has made valu- able contribution to the dairy interests of the state by setting a high standard for work of that character.
FRED F. REINERT.
Fred F. Reinert, postmaster of Fort Morgan and a substantial and highly respected citizen of his section of the state, was born in Sigourney, Iowa. February 12, 1883, a son of M. and Mary (Horras) Reinert, the former a native of Germany, while the latter was born in Iowa. The father came to America when eighteen years of age, and during that time the Civil war was in progress. He volunteered for service with the northern army, enlisting as a member of Company B. Second lowa Infantry, under General James B. Weaver. He thus served from 1862 until 1864. Following his military service he returned to Sigourney, Iowa, and also purchased land in Keokuk county. He then located upon his farm, which he developed and improved, continuing its cultivation until 1915, when he retired. taking up his abode in the adjoining city of Sigourney. where he still makes his home. In 1912, however, he was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who passed away on the 8th of February of that year.
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