USA > Colorado > History of Colorado; Volume IV > Part 96
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On the 23d of December, 1897, in Mondamin, Iowa, Mr. Cole was united in marriage to Miss Gertrude Kidder, a daughter of H. P. Kidder, who was born in the state of New York and who enlisted there as a soldier of the Civil war, taking active part in de- fense of the Union on southern battlefields. In his fraternal relations Mr. Cole is an Elk. Politically he is a republican and in 1912 he served as chairman of the progres- sive party of Boulder county. He stands loyally at all times for what he believes to be right and in all that he does is actuated by a spirit of progressiveness and advance- ment, whether in relation to the public welfare or the promotion of his individual in- terests. Both he and his wife are widely known in Boulder and this section of the state and occupy a very enviable position in social circles, having the warm regard of those with whom they have been brought in contact.
JOHN EGAN.
With both mining and farming interests in Colorado John Egan has been closely identified and at the present time is concentrating his attention upon ranching and cattle raising. He was born in County Mayo, Ireland, on the 24th of June, 1859, a son of Bryan and Catherine (Harrington) Egan, the former a farmer by occupation.
John Egan acquired his education in the national schools of Ireland, which he attended until he reached the age of twelve years, and then put aside his textbooks in order to concentrate his efforts and attention upon farm work. He assisted his father until he reached the age of seventeen, when he bade adieu to friends and native land and sailed for the United States, with Philadelphia as his destination. He remained in that city for three years, employed as a coachman, after which he went to work in the mines of Pennsylvania, where he was employed for three years. About 1880 he arrived in Colorado and took up mining at Leadville during the period of excite- ment there. After a brief time, however, he went to Como, in Park county, and for three years was employed by the Union Pacific Railroad. He next went to Gunnison, where he worked in the Baldwin mine for six months, and afterward removed to Ara- pahoe county, now Adams county, where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land situated on section 32, township 1, range 65. Throughout the intervening
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period he has carried on general farming, producing the crops best adapted to soil and climate. His farm is well fenced and divided into fields of convenient size. There are substantial buildings upon the place and all modern equipment and he follows the most progressive methods in the care of his land and the production of his crops. He has about one hundred head of cattle upon his place and his stock raising is also proving an important source of revenue to him.
In Denver, on the 1st of May, 1886, Mr. Egan was married to Miss Catherine Keefe, a daughter of Michael J. and Mary (Dwyer) Keefe. She was born in Waterford, New York, and came to Colorado in the early '80s with her parents. Her father is still living. The children of this family are: Mary Ellen, a teacher at Eastlake; Margaret, the wife of J. L. Hunt, by whom she has two daughters, Alice and Grace; Michael; William; Catherine; and John. The sons are also engaged in farming, leasing land and raising cattle in connection with their father. They lease grazing land and the business interests of the family are being capahly and wisely conducted, bringing substantial results.
WILLIAM M. POTTER.
Law and order in Washington county are in the hands of William M. Potter, who efficiently administers the office of sheriff, his headquarters being at Akron, Colorado. He was born in Letcher county, Kentucky, in February, 1871, a son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Anderson) Potter, natives of the Blue Grass state. The father has followed agricul- tural pursuits in Kentucky throughout his life and is still successfully operating the old home place on which he and his wife now reside.
William M. Potter was reared in Kentucky and in that state he received his edu- cation. He remained with his parents and assisted his father in the cultivation of the farm until he reached his majority. He then engaged in a farming enterprise on his own account and was successful along this line, in which he continued until his appointment to the office of deputy sheriff of Letcher county, Kentucky, in which he served for four years. At the end of that period he resumed farming, continuing for one year in that pursuit in Tennessee. In 1910 he came to Washington county, Colorado, filing on a homestead, and upon this property he has made many valuable improvements, instituting modern facilities, erecting up-to-date buildings and bringing his land under cultivation. As he prospered financially he acquired more land and at this writing owns an entire section, located thirty miles south of Akron. The post- office at the farm is called Anton and Mrs. Potter is postmistress there. Mr. Potter also operates a general store at that place. In 1915 he was elected sheriff of Wash- ington county and has served ever since. He has discharged his duties faithfully and efficiently and ever upholds the law with strong hands. Criminals stand justly in awe of him and he has succeeded in ridding the county of many undesirable char- acters. On the other hand lesser offenders who come under his jurisdiction find in him a friend who is ever ready to assist them to return to the path of righteousness. The public greatly appreciates his services and it is generally conceded that he has discharged his duties in such a way as to earn the full measure of appreciation from every lawabiding citizen. At the election, held in November. 1918, Mr. Potter was re- elected as sheriff of Washington county, a strong and well deserved endorsement of his past service. While Mr. Potter still supervises the management of his farm and store, he is also to some extent engaged in the live stock business, dealing in cattle and horses. His various business ventures have proven valuable sources of income to him and in their conduct he has shown more than ordinary business ability.
Mr. Potter was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. Sturdivant and to them were born eight children, two of whom passed away, their deaths occurring in Kentucky while they were still in their infancy. Those living are: William O., now in France, in the railway service of the United States government; and Edgar. Grenade, Lacey, Elizabeth and Virginia.
Politically Mr. Potter is an ardent republican and always stands for the princi- ples of his party. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church and he is interested in church and charitable work. His fraternal connections are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which order he belongs to the lodge and encampment, and with the Farmers Union. As agriculturist, as merchant and as stock dealer Mr. Potter has gained well earned success by his ability and in his official position as sheriff he has won the plaudits of the public. He has many friends in Akron and Washington county and all who know him speak enthusiastically of him in regard
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to his ability and faithfulness as a public official who has ever at heart the general welfare.
Before everything else however, he is a true and loyal American and this loyalty was justly recognized when, under the act of congress, dated May 18, 1917, he was appointed by the president of the United States as chairman of the local selective service board for Washington county. As chairman of the local board he has shown himself to be capable, as well as fearless,-considerate, as well as exacting. In this capacity his services to the government were manifold and throughout the war great trust was reposed in his executive ability by the mothers and fathers of the boys whom it was his duty to call into the military service, to protect, and fight for this, our own United States.
As indicative of the justice with which he performed the duties of this office, may be taken the incident of his oldest son being among the first of the valiant to leave Washington county for the gruelling struggle overseas. His friendly council, his fatherly help were of inestimable benefit to the embryo soldiers who were thereby instilled with that moral enthusiasm so apparent in the stanch lads who left their coun- try homes to quell the Hun. His unstinted energies have shown to all his patriotism and loyalty to country in this giant struggle. So marked were his efforts, so stanch his loyalty,-that we can say that he belongs among the leaders of that great army who also served,-that great army who gave their sons, their energy, their achieve- ments,-yes, and their very subsistence that the boys over there could continue until the welkin of victory should sound over the civilized world.
LESTER BANCROFT WELCH.
Lester Bancroft Welch, who for many years has been identified with farming interests near Brighton, where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land at an early day, was born in Tioga county, Pennsylvania, on the 3d of October, 1833, a son of Josiah and Julia N. (Bancroft) Welch. He pursued his education in the pub- lic schools of his native county and afterward worked with his father in the blacksmith shop until twenty-three years of age, during which time he developed mechanical skill and ingenuity which have been of much worth to him in later years. He then left home and removed to a settlement about four miles in the country, there establishing a blacksmith shop and engaging in business on his own account. Not long afterward, however, he removed to Iowa and from that state crossed the plains to Colorado. For a brief period he worked in Denver and then homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in Adams county, Colorado, which he has farmed until recently. He still has one hundred and five acres of land which returns to him a gratifying annual income by reason of the care and labor which is bestowed upon it. As the years passed he carefully, systematically and persistently cultivated his fields and as the result of his unfaltering industry won a substantial measure of success in his farming operations. He added many modern improvements to his land and converted his place into one of the excellent ranch properties of Adams county. In addition to his homestead he has a beautiful city residence in Denver at No. 579 Elati street.
Mr. Welch was married in Tioga county, Pennsylvania, to Miss L. A. Hammond and they have two children, Minnie and Robert. Mr. Welch is a republican in his political views, having ever given stalwart support to the party since reaching adult age. He has never sought nor desired office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs. He has now passed the eighty-fifth milestone on life's jour- ney and is one of the venerable and respected citizens of his section of the state, with which he has been closely, prominently and honorably connected from pioneer times to the present. His worth as a man is attested by all who know him and as a ranch- man he has contributed in marked measure to the development of the section in which he lives.
JOHN WALLACE SPRINGER.
John Wallace Springer, agriculturist and banker, is preeminently a successful and resourceful business man and yet that presents but one side of his character, for he is affable, genial, public-spirited, patriotic, a political leader in his influence over public thought and a man whose interests compass the universe in all that has to Vol. IV-49
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do with the upbuilding of national life. It has been said that the history of a man man be read in the story of his ancestors. This story has been told by a contemporary biographer as follows:
"The Springer family was prominent in the colonial history of this country and the line of descent extends hack to Alfred the Great, Henry the Fowler, Otho the Illus- trious, the czar and grand duke of Russia. The family tree also extends back to Charlemagne in 742 and to old Pharamond in the year 420 A. D. The origin of the name Springer dates from Landgraf Louis II, Germany, A. D. 1089, who was military officer under the emperor, Henry IV. Having caused some slight offense to his superior officer, Louis was imprisoned in the battlements of the old castle of Giebichenstein, near Halle, one hundred feet above the river Saale, but owing to his popularity and the fact that he was innocent of any serious crime, no effort was made to bring him to trial. He made his escape after two years of imprisonment, by a leap or spring from the castle, and on being taken before the emperor, was pardoned by the latter for his courage and given by him the name of Springer, which he retained. He was born in 1042, built Wartburg castle, and died in 1128. Further down in the ancestral line are reached Charles Christopher Springer (1658-1738) and his half-brother, Lorentz (Lawrence) (1646-1741). The old Swedes church, Wilmington, Delaware, erected by Charles Christopher Springer in 1698, is still standing."
The less remote ancestry of Jobn Wallace Springer is equally interesting. He is a son of John Thomas and Sarah (Henderson) Springer. The mother was a lady of innate culture, of rare charm and graciousness and was a descendant of one of the distinguished families of Kentucky. An uncle was William Springer of Illinois, who for twenty years represented his district in the national halls of legislation and after- ward sat upon the United States court of appeals bench in Washington, D. C. The father was a prominent attorney and banker of Illinois who did not seek to figure in public life hut made his influence strongly felt in professional and financial circles.
John Wallace Springer is a native of Jacksonville, Illinois. He was born July 16, 1859, and after mastering the branches of learning taught in the public schools of that city became a student in Asbury College, now De Pauw University, of Indiana, which conferred upon him the Bachelor of Arts degree at his graduation with the class of 1878. His college work served also to develop his oratorical powers and give him his initial training in public speaking. He proved resourceful in debate and to him was accorded the honor of delivering the graduating address of his class, for which he chose the subject of "Statesmanship," a subject which he ably handled. Since then he has been heard on many public occasions and on various subjects and his elo- quence has been a potent factor in winning for him prominence in the west. When his college course was completed he traveled abroad and upon his return to his native land took up the study of law, in which his father had become prominent. Passing the examination before the supreme court of Illinois in 1880, he located for practice in his native city, where he remained for about a decade. He was made clerk of the committee on territories in the house of the fiftieth congress and in 1891 he became a representative of his district in the Illinois state legislature. All these years he was studying not only his individual business interests and questions relative thereto but was also studying the questions and issues affecting his commonwealth and the nation at large. He has ever been a man of discriminating judgment and of careful analysis. Banking interests and law practice occupied his attention during five years' residence, from 1891 until 1896, in Dallas, Texas, and in the latter year be came to Denver to take a prominent part in support of Mckinley during the presidential cam- paign of that year.
As Mr. Springer traveled over the state he became impressed with its opportuni- ties and its resources and determined to remain a resident of Colorado. It was not long before his influence was strongly felt in the business, political and social circles of Denver and the state. Possessed of a good income, he carefully looked about him before he entered business circles. He purchased a splendid ranch of ten thousand acres overlooking Denver and took up the work of raising fine stock. Today he cul- tivates one thousand acres of this land and his farm is equipped with steam plows and all of the most improved implements that modern science has brought to the aid of the farmer. Ditches and reservoirs furnish him with a practically inexhaustible supply of water and his place is one of the model ranch properties of the state. In 1902 he aided in organizing the Continental Trust Company, purchased the Continental build- ing at the corner of Sixteenth and Lawrence streets and assumed the vice presidency of the company, in which capacity he continued to serve until the 19th of April, 1909, when the business was reorganized and Mr. Springer was elected to the presidency. He is also the president of the Continental Building Company and he recently pur-
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chased outright the building on the corner of Seventeenth and Larimer streets, which is now being thoroughly overhauled and remodeled, the upper floors being used for offices, while the first floor will be occupied by the Continental Trust Company in the continuance of the banking business, which under Mr. Springer's guidance has been developed to such large proportions. The bank is now capitalized for two million dollars and has become one of the strongest financial concerns of the west. In addi- tion to his other interests Mr. Springer is secretary and treasurer of the Continental Land & Cattle Company; was president of the National Live Stock Association from 1898 until 1905, and has been president of the Colorado Cattle & Horse Growers Asso- ciation since 1907. In fact, he is prominently and officially connected with many organ- izations which have to do with the development of live stock raising and kindred in- terests in the west. He has been a member of the National Wool Growers Association and of the Cattle Raisers Association of Texas and he is a very prominent member of the Denver Chamber of Commerce, of which he has served as vice president.
Mr. Springer married Eliza Clifton, a daughter of Colonel William E. Hughes, of Dallas, Texas. She passed away in 1904, leaving a daughter, who is with her father in Denver.
Mr. Springer is identified with many of the organizations which have to do with civic progress or public benefit in Denver and is a member of almost all of the leading clubs of the city, including the University, Denver Country, Overland Country, Stock- man's, Gentlemen's Driving and Riding, Pan-Hellenic and Denver Motor Clubs. He likewise has membership in the Real Estate Exchange and the Denver Bar Associa- tion. It is said that as a presiding officer and public speaker he has no superior in the state, and he figures prominently in all republican gatherings in Colorado as well as in many meetings and conventions of a nonpolitical nature. He has wielded a wide influence over public thought and action and his efforts have at all times been directed in the path of individual, local and national progress.
C. E. JOHNSON.
C. E. Johnson, attorney at law of Berthoud, was born in Loveland, Larimer county, Colorado, August 29, 1891, a son of August and Tillie (Peterson) Johnson, who are natives of Sweden. They came to America in 1886 and settled in Larimer county, where the father rented land in the vicinity of Loveland, there residing for five years. He also worked in a stone quarry for three years and in 1890 he rented a section of land in Weld county, which he continued to cultivate for thirteen years. On the expiration of that period he retired from active business life and took up his abode in Berthoud, where he has since resided. He is still the owner of two hundred and ten acres of rich and valuable land in Weld county and he has sixty-five acres whereon he now resides, just outside the corporation limits of Berthoud. His wife is also living and they are numbered among the highly respected residents of their com- munity.
C. E. Johnson was reared in Weld county and pursued his education in its public schools, passing through consecutive grades until he had completed the work of the eighth grade, after which he became a student in the high school at Berthoud, from which he was graduated with the class of 1909. He next spent a year upon the road as a traveling salesman, after which he entered the University of Colorado, pursuing a course in law, which he completed as a member of the class of 1914. He then re- turned to Berthoud, where he opened an office and has since engaged in practice with excellent success. He has a fine law library, with the contents of which he is largely familiar, and the thoroughness with which he prepares his cases is one of the strong elements in his success. He is logical in his reasoning, clear in his deductions and he marshals the evidence in his case with the skill and precision of a military com- mander. He also has business interests outside the strict path of his profession. He is the treasurer and counsel for the Boulderado Mining & Milling Company of Denver, a tungsten concern, is the counsel for the Berthoud Lake and Ditch Company and practically put the company upon its feet, and he is also the owner of eighty acres of improved farm land in Weld county.
On the 24th of March, 1915, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Marg- aret Young and to them has been born one child, Jean, whose birth occurred June 23, 1917.
In politics Mr. Johnson maintains an independent course nor has he ever sought office outside the strict path of his profession, although at the present time he is city
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attorney of Mead, Colorado. Fraternally he is a Mason and is the present master of his lodge. He likewise belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and to the Knights of Pythias. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church and his life is guided at all times by high and manly principles, and the salient traits of his character are such as command respect and confidence wherever he is known.
M. L. COZAD.
M. L. Cozad is the owner of a productive ranch situated on West Plumh creek, ten miles south of Sedalia. He has been the owner of this property for only a brief period but already his efforts have done much for its further development and improvement. He dates his residence in Colorado from 1913 and previous to that time was a resi- dent of Iowa. His birth occurred at Leon, in Decatur county of the latter state, Jan- uary 9, 1880, his parents being Jacob and Jane (Hubbard) Cozad, both of whom were natives of Indiana.
M. L. Cozad of this review acquired a common school education while spending his youthful days upon his father's farm in Iowa and after putting aside his text- books he continned to devote his attention to agricultural pursuits there until 1913, when he removed to Colorado, settling first at Strasburg, Arapahoe county. There he conducted a ranch and was also manager of the Farmers Elevator Company for a period of three years. In 1917 he removed to Douglas county and purchased eleven hundred and twenty acres on West Plumb creek. This ranch is largely devoted to stock raising but he also has two hundred acres planted to timothy and seventy-five acres to alfalfa. He irrigates for these crops and the soil, naturally rich and pro- ductive when water is added thereto, brings forth splendid harvests. He has good buildings upon his ranch and everything about the place indicates his careful super- vision and progressive methods. He uses the latest improved machinery to facili- tate the work of the fields and everything about the ranch bespeaks system and order.
In 1902 Mr. Cozad was united in marriage to Miss Birdie Gore, a daughter of Zed and Paulina Gore, of Decatur county, Iowa. They have three children: Audrey, fourteen years of age; Roscoe, aged eleven; and Ivan, a lad of nine. Mr. Cozad is a member of the Grange at Strasburg, Arapahoe county. His political endorsement is given to the democratic party and he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day but is not an office seeker. He has never had occasion to regret his removal to the west, for he has found the business opportunities which he sought and in their utilization has made for himself a creditable place as a representative of the ranching interests of Douglas county.
FRANK W. VANDERHOOF.
It is a well recognized fact that real estate transactions immeasurably contribute toward and stimulate the growth of a community and Frank W. Vanderhoof. presi- dent of the Mid-West Land & Leasing Company of Otis, Colorado, has in that way wrought great good in regard to the development of his city. He is a shrewd business man, well informed, who makes wise use of his knowledge but who has never been known to take advantage of any of his customers. On the contrary, all who have had dealings with him have complete confidence and trust in him and he therefore enjoys a large and growing business, which brings to him a gratifying financial return. Moreover, Mr. Vanderhoof is now serving as mayor of Otis and exerts his powers in order to give the city a businesslike administration. He was born in Michigan in September, 1881, his parents being L. D. and Susie ( Schultz) Vander- hoof, the former a native of Michigan and the latter of Iowa. The father was en- gaged in general merchandising in Michigan but on his removal to Nebraska entered the drug business and later was connected with real estate deals and the meat business at Holdrege. Nebraska. This was prior to his coming to Colorado in 1905. He now has a real estate office in Fort Morgan, his yearly transactions netting him a gratify- ing income. His wife is also living.
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