USA > Colorado > History of Colorado; Volume IV > Part 93
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Mr. Loveland was a leader not only in the industrial affairs of this newly peopled section but a power in its political affairs as well. At that period he was regarded as the peer of great pioneers like Governor John Evans and General William Palmer. In 1877 when a town was laid out in Larimer county sixty miles north of Denver it was named Loveland by his enthusiastic friends. Early in 1878 The Rocky Mountain News was sold by William N. Byers to a group of republicans, but on July 16th, just at the outset of a bitter state gubernatorial campaign, Mr. Loveland announced himself the owner of the paper and that it would fight the cause of the democratic party. Mr. Loveland was nominated for governor on the day following his purchase of the News but in the election was defeated by Governor Frederick W. Pitkin. In the following January he was the choice of his party for the United States senate, opposing Senator N. P. Hill, who controlled the legislature.
In 1856 Mr. Loveland was married to Miranda Ann Montgomery, of Alton, Illinois. They became the parents of two sons: Frank W., who is now practicing law in Denver; and William L., who is manager of the Mine & Smelter Supply Company of Denver. The father passed away at Lakewood, near Golden, December 17, 1894. Time is the perspective which places all individuals in their true relative positions and time has served to heighten the efforts and accentuate the value of the labors of Mr. Loveland, whose work as an empire builder was indeed far-reaching and resultant.
HON. L. M. SUTTON.
Hon. L. M. Sutton, of Akron, Washington county, Colorado, not only represents important business interests as president of the Sutton Land & Cattle Company but he has also given much attention to public affairs and is at present efficiently serving as mayor of Akron. He was born in Montgomery county, Iowa, November 10, 1872, his parents being George W. and Verona (Ewing) Sutton, the former a native of New York and the latter of Indiana. In 1858 the father removed to Montgomery county, Iowa, and there took up a homestead which he improved and successfully cultivated during the rest of his life. When the Union was threatened by the secession of the southern states he enlisted in the Fifth Iowa Cavalry as sergeant and for three years served during the great conflict between the north and the south. Before this period he had served as a recruiting officer, ably assisting in raising the desired quota in his section. He died in August, 1903, while his wife, surviving him for about ten years, passed away in January, 1913.
L. M. Sutton was reared under the parental roof and received his education in Montgomery county, Iowa. Upon completing his course in the common schools he took a business college course at Creston, that state, after which he returned home, where he remained until nineteen years of age. He then bought a stock of imple- ments at Bloomfield, Nebraska, and operated his machines for about one year, going from farm to farm. At the end of that period he engaged in the real estate business, successfully conducting an office of that kind until 1905, when he decided to remove to Colorado, locating at Colorado Springs. There he remained for a year and a half, when he went to Durango, Colorado, where he was connected with irrigation matters until 1913. He then located in Denver, conducting a business in dry lands until 1915, when he came to Akron, Colorado, and engaged in the land, cattle and general farming business. Since coming here he has been very successful and has at the present writing several thousand acres in wheat. He has always followed the latest methods and in all of his views expresses modern ideas and tendencies. He is a forceful man and resourceful in making use of opportunities. He has never passed by any chance which might be turned to profit and has thus proven himself a business man of exceptional qualifications. It is therefore not remarkable that within a short time he has achieved success in Akron and is now the president of the Sutton Land
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& Cattle Company. This company owns about ten thousand acres of valuable land which is largely located in Washington county.
On September 15. 1896, occurred the marriage of L. M. Sutton and Ella Peters and to this union were born two children, Vivian and Vannetta. The family occupies a position of prominence in Akron and the elder daughter assists her father in the office of the company.
Although Mr. Sutton's time is precious he has not neglected his public duties. On the contrary he has taken an important part in public affairs. His ability for administrative control found recognition in his election to the position of mayor of Akron in April, 1918, and he is now giving his town an administration which fore- shadows numerous much needed public improvements. He is able and efficient, look- ing into the future and recognizing the demands of future generations and therefore his election to the chief executive office of his town is to be considered a happy choice. Moreover, Mr. Sutton had previous experience in the executive chair, for he served as mayor of Bloomfield, Nebraska, for two terms. He has also always taken great stock in public improvements, particularly road improvements, and serves at present as president of the Burlington Highway Association, with headquarters in Akron. Politi- cally he is a republican, loyal to his party, and was elected state representative for Washington and Morgan counties. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Episco- pal church and fraternally he is connected with the Masonic order, the Woodmen of the World and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the principles of brother- hood underlying these organizations guiding him in his conduct toward his fellowmen. Reviewing the life course of Mr. Sutton, there is great credit due him for what he has achieved and none can grudge him his success, for it has been won by honorable methods. While he has obtained prosperity for himself he has in large measure con- tributed to general development by his activities, and his life work thus constitutes a valuable factor in the upbuilding of his section of the state.
JAMES HARVEY CRAWFORD.
James Harvey Crawford, who makes his home in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, but during the winter resides in Denver, has not only to his credit a most interesting Civil war record which entitles him to distinction but he is also numbered among those hardy pioneers who assisted in breaking the ground in which the first seeds of civiliza- tion were sown when this country was yet a wilderness and invited newcomers from the east and as far as Europe to develop its acres into rich agricultural fields, to explore and develop its mines and in later years to make this state an important industrial district. In many ways James H. Crawford has contributed to progress along different lines by ever taking that active and helpful interest which is productive of lasting results.
A native of Missouri, Mr. Crawford was born in Pettis county, near what is now the city of Sedalia, on the 30th of March, 1845, a son of John E. and Sarilda Jane (Donahue) Crawford. The first ancestor in the family to be identified with America was Captaln John Crawford, who crossed the Atlantic in colonial days and settled in Pennsylvania. Later the family removed to Kentucky and thence to Missouri.
James H. Crawford was reared upon the parental farm in Missouri, attending neighboring schools in the acquirement of his education and early in life giving his attention to farming, assisting his father. Being brought up among frontier conditions in Missouri, the pioneer spirit was early implanted in him and throughout his life it has remained with him as a most valuable asset, building up that quality which gives an individual the stamina to withstand hardships and vicissitudes. Although but a boy of less than seventeen, Mr. Crawford enlisted as a private on the 10th of February, 1862, at Georgetown, Missouri, in Company E, Seventh Regiment of Missouri Cavalry, readily making the sacrifice at the altar of his country, and so well did he discharge his duties that his ability was recognized and he was promoted from time to time until he received a commission. He served as first lieutenant in the famous Missouri regiment commanded by Colonel John F. Phillips, which army unit covered itself with glory during the long strife between north and south. Judge Phillips, the colonel, was one of the great jurists of the west and for many years served on the United States district bench. The lieutenant colonel of this regiment was Thomas T. Crittenden, later famous as governor of Missouri. Lieutenant Crawford valiantly served for over three years, fighting with the Trans-Mississippi department. He participated in a number
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of important and significant battles and also in smaller campaigns, ever giving to his men an example of loyalty and patriotic devotion. By those who served under him as well as by his superior officers he was well liked and esteemed. After the war Lieutenant Crawford returned to civil life in Sedalia, where for eight years he gave his attention to farming.
Only a month after being mustered out of the service, Mr. Crawford was married on the 25th of May, 1865, to Miss Margaret Bourn, who was born on a farm adjoining that on which his birth occurred, her natal day being January 18, 1849. She is a daughter of John R. and Mary Ann (McCormick) Bourn. To Mr. and Mrs. Crawford have been born four children. Lulie M. is now Mrs. C. W. Pritchett, of Denver, and has two children, Margaret E. and Lulita Crawford. Logan Bourn, who is head of the United States biological survey for Colorado, married Clara Lee Woolery, a native of Leadville, by whom he has a daughter, Clara Leola. John Daniel, county clerk and recorder of Routt county, married Minnie M. Welch, of Denver, and has a son, James Daniel, born June 23, 1908. Mary B. resides with her parents and is the only member of the family born in Colorado, her sister and brothers being natives of Missouri.
In 1873 the family came to Colorado and Mr. Crawford has therefore been a resi- dent of this state for forty-five years. They made their way direct to Routt county and this was at the time that John Rollins, after whom Rollinsville and Rollins Pass were named, was building the toll road over the mountains. In June, 1874, this road was completed and James H. Crawford's wagon and his Missouri mules were the first to use this road aside from the road-making outfit. Typical pioneer conditions still maintained at that time. The Ute Indians were roaming over the region and settlers were few and far between. Mr. Crawford built a cabin at what is now Hot Sulphur Springs and there he remained for a year. In the meantime he explored the district which now constitutes Routt county and he set his stakes in what is now the pros- perous and well established town of Steamboat Springs. With wise foresight he antici- pated that these famous springs would eventually become the site of a town and he com- menced to make his improvements upon the place which he had staked out in July, 1874. There was not another settler in the valley at the time. In 1875 he decided to make Steamboat Springs his permanent residence. Few were the cattle and horses which he had when he started upon his career. It took him ten days to drive the first herd to Leadville on account of the absence of roads, as he had to make a trail, follow- ing valleys and gulches as they would permit of passage.
In 1876 several other families settled in the valley a few miles above the Craw- ford place, these constituting their first white neighbors, although Indians were plenti- ful, in fact conspicuously so. However, Mr. and Mrs. Crawford had the faculty of getting along with them fairly well, despite the fact that the red men were rather unruly at times. Other settlers kept away from this neighborhood at first largely because of fear of the Indians. In 1879 the memorable and tragic Meeker massacre occurred, details of which are given in the first volume of this work. After this sad occurrence the government removed the Indians to another reservation and the settle- ment of Routt county then began in earnest. In 1881 the town of Steamboat Springs was founded and in the meantime the country around had been surveyed by the gov- ernment and Mr. Crawford received title to the land upon which the town now stands. Under the federal law he had a homestead, a timber claim and a preemption claim and these holdings covered the entire original town. He succeeded in settling this spot by interesting Boulder people in the town site and soon his efforts came to fruition. This beautiful, energetic town, which stands as a monument to his inception, has since been his home, although he spends several months during the winter in Denver, where the family residence is at No. 663 Gaylord street.
Mr. Crawford is highly honored as the original pioneer of Routt county, in the development of which he has played such a conspicuous part. From the beginning he has endorsed and furthered all movements that were for the advancement not only of that county but the entire state, and although now in his seventy-fourth year, is ever ready to lend his weighty support to worthy causes. Although he has never been an office seeker, it is but natural that public offices have been thrust upon him and he served as the first mayor of Steamboat Springs and also as its first postmaster. More- over, he represented Routt county for two terms in the state legislature and succeeded in having passed a number of bills which have proven of great benefit to the county and state and are evidence of his foresight and consideration. While sitting in the state legislature he had at heart the welfare of those whom he represented and ably took care of their interests. When Routt county was created, the governor, after whom this county was named, appointed him county judge and, moreover, Mr. Crawford
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was for some time superintendent of schools, ever showing due appreciation for the value of a thorough education. His allegiance has ever been given to the democratic party and he loyally upholds its standards. Although entitled to a well earned rest, Mr. Crawford still takes an active part in public affairs as well as administering his private interests very successfully and has shown the deepest interest in war activi- ties, to which he has largely and generously contributed. In 1915 there came to Mr. and Mrs. Crawford an occasion which comes to few indeed, for in that year they were permitted to celebrate their golden wedding, which event was participated in not only hy members of their immediate family and other relatives but also by hosts of friends, who came from all over the state to honor this worthy pioneer couple on this occasion.
WILLIAM HEEBNER.
William Heebner is one of the active, energetic farmers of Adams county, busily engaged in the cultivation of four hundred and ninety-five acres of land. He was born in Schenectady, New York, October 6, 1880, a son of William and Julia (Snell) Heebner, in whose family of three children William was the second in order of birth. The father was a machinist by trade.
In the schools of the Empire state William Heebner pursued his education to the age of fourteen or fifteen years and then started out to provide for his own support, being employed at the General Electric Works for two years. In 1899 he arrived in Colorado, making his way to Fort Collins, where he spent three months. Responding to the country's call for troops for service in the Spanish-American war, he had en- listed in the Thirty-fourth United States Volunteer Infantry, becoming a member of Company M, and took part in several engagements, being discharged with the rank of corporal. After the war was over he returned to Colorado and settled in Denver but after a brief period removed to Adams county and for two years was in the employ of his aunt, Mrs. Mary Snell.
Mr. Heebner then married and leased one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he cultivated for two years. He is now leasing four hundred and ninety-five acres and is actively and successfully engaged in farming, devoting his attention to the raising of wheat and alfalfa, and he also has one hundred and forty-five acres planted to beans.
On the 2d of May, 1906, Mr. Heebner was married to Miss Elma Ora Brewer, a daughter of James and Elizabeth Brewer. Mrs. Hebner was born in Arapahoe county, Colorado, her people having come to this state at a very early period in its develop- ment and improvement. By her marriage she has become the mother of five daughters: Elizabeth, Julia E., Alice O., Edna May and Dorothy Mary.
Mr. Heebner is a democrat in his political views and he has served as school director in District No. 97 but has never sought political office. His time and interests have ever been concentrated upon his business affairs and he may truly be called a self-made man, for from the age of fourteen years he has depended entirely upon his own resources and whatever success he has achieved is the direct result of his per- sistency of purpose, his energy and his integrity in business affairs.
CHARLES BRADFORD.
Charles Bradford is a public-spirited citizen of Boulder county who in the conduct of business affairs devotes his attention to general farming. He is a typically western man in his spirit of enterprise and progress but was born on the Atlantic coast, his birth having occurred at Astoria on Long Island, June 7, 1844. His father, Eli Bradford. served as an American soldier in the Mexican war. In the family were but two chil- dren and Charles is the only survivor. He was reared and educated in Chicago, where he resided until 1860. With the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted as a member of Company I of the Third Illinois Cavalry, with which he served for four years and eight months. He participated in several hotly contested engagements and on one occa- sion was shot in the hip. General Grant was shot while riding Mr. Bradford's horse. Mr. Bradford was promoted to the rank of quartermaster sergeant and remained at the front until the country no longer needed his military aid in the preservation of the Union. He was then sent to Fort Snelling, Minnesota, to assist in subduing the Indians, who when the country was engaged in civil war went upon the warpath and con- stantly menaced the safety of the settlers in that section. Eventually Mr. Bradford Vol. IV-48
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was mustered out at St. Paul, Minnesota. He then engaged in the barbering business, which he followed for forty years.
In 1866 Mr. Bradford removed to Colorado and in 1883 purchased the farm at Lyons upon which he now resides. It contains one hundred and seventy-nine acres of arable land which he has carefully cultivated. He has sold a portion of the tract and he has the remainder under ditch. His business affairs have been wisely and carefully conducted and his indefatigable energy and close application have been salient features in the attainment of his present success.
In 1868 Mr. Bradford was married to Miss Sarah White, who was born in Petersburg, Illinois, a daughter of Aaron B. White. Mr. Bradford votes with the republican party, which he has supported since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. For thirty-six years he has been a member of the school board and the cause of education finds in him a stalwart champion-one who does everything in his power to promote the school interests of the community. Fraternally he is connected with the Red Men. In his business career he has steadily advanced, for he started out in the world empty-handed and his persistency of purpose has brought him to a place that enables him to enjoy all of the comforts of life. He has now passed the seventy-fourth mile- stone on life's journey and his has been a creditable record in which one of his strongly marked characteristics has been his loyalty to duty in every relation to his country through days of peace as well as in times of war. He has ever manifested the utmost loyalty to the nation's starry banner and rejoices in the latest victory of the country in her efforts in making the world safe for democracy.
ROBERT HOERY.
Robert Hoery, engaged in the cultivation of three hundred and twenty acres of land near Aurora, was born in Baden, Germany, on the 27th of March, 1856, a son of Joseph and Bebeana Hoery. He acquired his education in schools of his native coun- try and when seventeen years of age came to the United States, making his way to Buffalo, New York. where he was employed for three years. He then came to Colo- rado, making Denver his destination, and engaged in gardening near Smith's Lake in Arapahoe county for six or seven years. He afterward removed to Harman, Colorado, where he again followed gardening for three years, after which he took up his abode on Colfax avenue, near Denver, living at that place for two years, dur- ing which period he was also active in gardening. He then took up the occupation of farming on Sixth avenue, where he continued for five or six years. He now has three hundred and twenty acres of land which he leases and carries on general agri- cultural pursuits, raising the crops best adapted to soil and climatic conditions here. He annually gathers good harvests and his place, neat and thrifty in appearance, indicates his careful supervision and progressive methods.
Mr. Hoery was married in Denver to Miss Kate Pellens, a native of New Orleans, and to them were born eight children: Joseph; Edward; Leonard; Theodore, who married Evelyn Lovejoy; Frederick; Helen, the wife of Walter Scott; Anna; and Amelia. The wife and mother passed away in 1912. The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church and Mr. Hoery also has membership with the Grange, being interested in all that has to do with agricultural development and progress. He has never regretted the fact that he left his native land to seek his fortune in the new world. He has here found good opportunities and his record proves that success may be obtained through persistent effort and well directed energy without the aid of wealthy or influential friends. He has worked hard and is now in possession of a comfortable competence.
FERDINAND KUEHN.
Ferdinand Kuehn is now living retired from active business, although for many years he was closely associated with ranching interests in the vicinity of Denver, being numbered among the leading farmers of Arapahoe county. He was born in Schoenlanke, Prussia, on the 2d of July, 1832, and is a son of David Kuehn, who was a prominent citizen of his town, serving as treasurer there for thirty-five years. He passed away in 1863, while his wife, who bore the maiden name of Carolina Leu,
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died when their son, Ferdinand, was but twenty-seven days old. She also left a daughter, who is now Mrs. Amalia Mittelstadt.
In the land of his birth Ferdinand Kuehn spent the days of his boyhood and youth and after pursuing a public school education he entered the army, serving for two years between the ages of eighteen and twenty under his uncle, Captain August Leu. He afterward determined to try his fortune in the new world and when twenty-four years of age took passage on the steamship Oder, under Captain Swanson, and sailed for America. Making his way to Chicago, he continued a resident of the city for a year and then removed to St. Louis, where he remained until he received his naturali- zation papers. In 1861 he went to Wyoming and was connected with the Ben Holliday stage line for a year, after which he again went to his native country, spending almost a year in visiting among old-time friends and relatives there. He returned to America about the time that gold was first discovered in Montana and for three years remained in the mines of that state. after which he engaged in freighting between St. Joseph, Missouri, and Montana for a year.
On the expiration of that period Mr. Kuehn removed to St. Louis, Missouri, and was engaged in freighting from that point to Denver until the fall of 1866, when he became a resident of Colorado. Settling at Sand Creek, he removed the following year to a ranch about fourteen miles from Denver, which he still owns and which he occu- pied for many years. He there engaged in raising stock and hay and as time passed he added many improvements to his place and converted it into an attractive and valuable farm. At length, however, he retired from active business, turning his farm over to the management and care of his nephew, Fred L. Amick, while he is now enjoying the rest that he has earned.
In 1882 Mr. Kuehn was married to Miss Helene Wolter, a daughter of Peter Wolter, who was a teacher of Germany and did not cross the Atlantic to the new world until he reached advanced age.
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