History of Colorado; Volume IV, Part 98

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

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MONROE CLAIR EVERITT.

Monroe Clair Everitt, who is engaged in farming near Edgewater, was born in the vicinity of Golden, Colorado, on the 16th of May, 1883, a son of Neal and Phoebe R. Everitt, both of whom were natives of Ohio. Spending his youthful days under the parental roof, Monroe C. Everitt attended a graded school at Maple Grove and afterward became a student in the high school at Golden, from wifich he was grad- uated with the class of May, 1901. He has always devoted his time and attention to the occupation of farming and stock raising and has met with a substantial measure of success in this connection as the years have gone by. He now has highly cultivated fields and a farm well equipped with modern machinery and improvements, and an air of neatness and thrift pervades the place.

On the 4th of November, 1903, in Denver, Colorado, Mr. Everitt was married to Miss Carolena H. Johnson, a daughter of Erick and Arabella Johnson. They became parents of a son, Merle Monroe, who died when eight years of age.

In politics Mr. Everitt has always been a stanch republican since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and he stands for all progressive public measures calculated to advance the substantial development of county, commonwealth and coun- try. In his fraternal relations he is a Mason, belonging to Golden City Lodge, No. 1, F. & A. M .; Golden City Chapter, No. 5, R. A. M .; Colorado Commandery, No 1, K. T .; also to Denver Council. No. 1, R. & S. M .; Colorado Consistory, No. 1, S. P. R. S, and to El Jebel Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Denver. He is a most loyal follower of the teachings of the craft and exemplifies in his life the beneficent spirit of the order, which is based upon a recognition of the brotherhood of man.

ALBERT ARPS.

A well known representative of commercial enterprise in Denver is Albert Arps, the vice president and manager of the retail department of the George Tritch Hardware Company. This business was originally established in 1860 and is today the pioneer hardware house of Colorado. Throughout the entire period of his business career Mr. Arps has been identified with the hardware trade and his identification with the present company dates from 1911. He comes to Colorado from the middle west, his birth having occurred in New Holstein, Wisconsin, on the 24th of September, 1874. His father, John H. Arps, is a native of Germany and came to America with his parents in 1849, when a little lad of four summers. The family home was established at New Holstein, Wisconsin, where they were among the first settlers of Calumet county. John H. Arps was there reared and educated and became one of the early hardware merchants of New Holstein, where he successfully conducted business for many years. He is now living retired at that place, enjoying the fruits of a well spent life. He married Minnie Hanssen, who was born at New Holstein, Wisconsin, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Hanssen, who were pioneer settlers of that state of German descent. To Mr. and Mrs. Arps have been born four children.

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Albert Arps, the second of the family, was educated in the public and high schools of his native town and at the age of twenty-four years started out on his own account. After leaving school he had been employed in his father's hardware store and was actively associated with him in the trade until 1899, when thinking that the west would offer hetter and hroader business opportunities, he came to Colorado. He made his way to the picturesque city of Ouray where it nestles among high mountains and there he established a retail hardware and mine supply business, which he conducted until 1911. He then sold his interests in Ouray and hecame a stockholder in the George Tritch Hardware Company, with which he has since been connected. Their establishment is located at the corner of Seventeenth and Arapahoe streets, in the Bank block, and is the oldest and largest wholesale and retail hardware business in Colorado. They have a floor space of one hundred and twenty-five thousand square feet and the firm employs on an average of eighty people, including fifteen traveling salesmen. The business was begun in a small log cabin at the corner of Fifteenth and Wazee streets and from that humble beginning has grown to its present extensive proportions, constituting one of the foremost commercial enterprises of the city. Since his school days were over Mr. Arps has been identified with the hardware trade, with which he is thoroughly familiar in every branch, and he is now a most active factor in the conduct of the business as the manager of the retail department and vice presi- dent of the company.

On the 7th of June, 1899, Mr. Arps was married in New Holstein, Wisconsin, to Miss Minnie C. Boie, a native of that place and a daughter of Nicholas C. and Kath- erine Boie, the former a pioneer of Wisconsin who came from Germany about 1849, and who is now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Arps has been born a son, Elwyn, whose birth occurred at Ouray, Colorado, June 5, 1901. The family residence is at No. 2690 Bellaire street.

Fraternally Mr. Arps is identified with Ouray Lodge, No. 492, B. P. O. E. Since coming to this city he has joined the Civic and Commercial Association and takes active interest in its work and well formulated plans. He is also an active member of the Retail Bureau and does everything in his power to advance business interests along the lines of legitimate development. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he is a recognized leader in its local ranks. In 1911 he was elected to represent his district in the house of representatives and hecame a mem- ber of the seventeenth general assembly, in which he gave thoughtful consideration to all the vital problems which came up for settlement. He belongs to the Divine Sci- ence church and cooperates in all those plans which are looking to the material, in- tellectual, social, political and moral progress of community and state.

HARDY SIMPSON.

Hardy Simpson, who, associated with his father, holds landed possessions amount- ing to twenty-six hundred acres near Elizabeth, was born in Colorado, just west of Denver, in 1876, the year which made this the centennial state. His parents are Wil- liam and Annie F. (McHardy) Simpson. The father is a native of the Empire state and removed thence to Canada, where Annie F. McHardy was born and reared. They came from that country to Colorado in 1871 or 1872, having resided in this state to the present time.

Hardy Simpson is indebted to the public school system of Denver for the educa- tional opportunities which he enjoyed. After finishing the work of the grades he spent three years as a student in the North Denver high school. He then became associated with his father in ranching interests. Together they purchased a part of the present farm, feeling that outdoor life would improve the health of Hardy Simp- son, who was then not very rugged. As the years have passed on they have increased their holdings until they now have twenty-six hundred acres. This includes a fine tract of land on Running creek. The cultivation of the fields is largely carried on for the purpose of raising feed for their cattle, for cattle raising has long been made an important feature of their business and for some time they have sold on an aver- age of three hundred head annually. They also sell from sixty to eighty hogs and are engaged in raising fine range horses. Theirs is one of the productive farm hold- ings of the state and the business is most wisely and carefully conducted, bringing a very gratifying financial return.

In 1911 Mr. Simpson was united in marriage to Miss Lula M. Peterson, who was born in Colorado and is one of the most remarkable horsewomen in the state. She

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was formerly in the saddle every day of her life and she is as adept in cow punching as any man. A strikingly beautiful woman, dressing as a cowgirl she presents a most interesting picture and one that might well serve as a study for those artists who have devoted their skill to portraying western life.

SONE NELSON.

Among the valuable citizens and business men that Sweden has furnished to the city of Denver is Sone Nelson, who has made good use of the opportunities offered in this country and attained a position of prominence in the mercantile circles. He was born in December, 1871, and is a son of Anderson and Anna C. Nelson, also natives of Sweden. They were the parents of seven children, of whom Sone Nelson was the fourth in order of birth. In the acquirement of his education he attended the excellent public schools of his native country and after having fitted himself thoroughly for a practical career at the age of twenty he came to Denver, where he soon secured a position. For four years he was engaged along various lines, but at the age of twenty- four identified himself with the Silver State Laundry Company. He acquired an in- terest in the enterprise and today is secretary of this institution. Ever since 1895, he has been connected with the laundry business and in large measure is responsible for the successful conduct of the business of the company and has done much toward promoting its continuous growth. The laundry is thoroughly modern in equipment and its work enjoys the highest reputation. All facilities for prompt delivery are pro- vided and the service of the Silver State Laundry is known throughout the city as one of the best. As an officer of the institution much credit is due to Mr. Nelson, who by his energy, painstaking care and business integrity has helped to build up the business.

On September 11, 1896, Sone Nelson was married in Denver to Miss Mary E. Anderson and to this union two children were born. George R. Anderson Nelson, whose birth occurred in 1898, is a graduate of the East Denver high school and attended the Colorado State University until 1917, when his ardent American patriotism prompted him to enter the officers training camp at Presidio, California, where he is now pre- paring for active duty at the front Ellen Morine Anderson Nelson, who was born in Denver in 1900, is a graduate of the manual training school and is now attending the Colorado State University. The family are prominent in the social life of the city and enjoy the hospitality of many of its best homes.

In politics Mr. Nelson is independent, following his own judgment in regard to the support of measures and candidates. He is much interested in the progress and growth of the city and leaves nothing undone which will contribute to the moral, in- tellectual and material development of the community, which interest finds expression in his membership with the Denver Civic and Commercial Association. He also helongs to the Manufacturers Association. Fraternally he is a Mason, being a member of the blue lodge and also belonging to the Mystic Shrine. He is, moreover, connected with the Woodmen of the World and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Hunting and fishing constitute his recreation and in fact he is interested in all athletic sports, being a member of the Denver Athletic Club, the City Golf Club, the Lakewood Country Club and the Motor Club. These connections) indicate that his mind is a well balanced one, in which work and recreation are splendidly blended. In civic as well as busi- ness circles his reputation is of the highest and he receives the respect of all those who come in contact with him. There is much credit due Mr. Nelson for what he has achieved, for he has attained his position in life entirely unassisted.

THOMAS GALLAGHER.

Thomas Gallagher, engaged in farming in the vicinity of Littleton, was born in County Mayo, Ireland, on the 12th of January, 1859, a son of Thomas and Catherine . Gallagher, both of whom remained residents of the Emerald isle until called to their final rest.

Thomas Gallagher attended the national schools of Ireland until he reached the age of fifteen years, after which he worked on the home farm until he was nineteen years of age. He then went to England, where he remained until 1888, when he crossed the Atlantic to the new world, arriving at New York in May. He devoted a year to

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railroad work in the east and in 1889 came to Colorado, where he took up the occu- pation of farming near Littleton. He was employed as a farm hand for five years, but ambitious to engage in business on his own account, leased farm properties for fifteen or sixteen years. At the end of that time he purchased fifteen acres near Lit- tleton and has since cultivated that tract. In addition he also farms leased land and he is engaged to some extent in dairying, having about fifteen cows. He has worked diligently and persistently in his efforts to attain success and is now most comfort- ably situated in life.

Mr. Gallagher was married in Littleton, Colorado, on the 27th of July, 1897, to Miss Delia Gallagher, a daughter of John and Margaret Gallagher. They have become the parents of five children, Margaret, Thomas, Marie, Catherine and Joseph.

The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church, to the teachings of which they have always loyally adhered. Thirty years have come and gone since Mr. Gallagher emigrated to the new world-a step which he has never regretted, for he here found the business opportunities which he sought and has gradually worked his way upward. Everything that he possesses has come to him as the reward of his labors and he may truly be called a self-made man, for as the architect of his own fortunes he has builded wisely and well.

EDGAR HOWBERT.

Edgar Howbert, clerk of the district court of the fourth judicial district of Colorado, comprising El Paso county, and one of the honored pioneer settlers of Colorado Springs, where he took up his abode in 1861, was born in Clarinda, Iowa, in 1856, his parents being William and Martha ( Marshall) Howbert. His father was born in Roanoke, Virginia, in 1820 and was married in Indiana. His death occurred in August, 1871, while his wife passed away in 1863, he having survived her for eight years. They had removed with their family to the west, settling in Colorado City, now a part of Colo- rado Springs, in 1861. Their family included two sons, one of whom is Irving Howbert.

Edgar Howbert was a lad of but five years when the family home was established in Colorado Springs, where he has since resided, covering a period of fifty-seven years. He has therefore been a witness of the entire growth and progress of this section of the state. In January, he was appointed clerk of the district court of the fourth judicial district, comprising El Paso county, and served continuously for twelve years, or until 1901. He then retired, but in January, 1907, was again called to the position, which he now holds. In 1887 he was chief engrossing clerk of the state senate. Much of his life has thus been devoted to public service and the record which he has made has been a most creditable one. His political allegiance has always been given to the republican party.

On the 22d of July, 1884, in Denver, Mr. Howbert was married to Miss Helen M. Hol- lister, who passed away July 14. 1885, leaving a son, Earl Hollister. On the 9th of February, 1897, in Chicago, Mr. Howbert was married to Jessie I. Cowgill and they have a daughter, Martha Agnes, and a son, Edgar Cowgill Howbert.

Fraternally Mr. Howbert is connected with the Masons and with the Elks. He has a very wide acquaintance in Colorado Springs and this section of the state and numbers his friends by the hundreds.

H. A. WALKER.

H. A. Walker, the vice president of the Walker Manufacturing Company of Denver, manufacturers of mine and smelter machinery and iron foundry products, was born August 4, 1876, in the city which is still his home, his parents being Thomas C. and Hannah A. Walker, both of whom were natives of Birmingham, England. They came to America in early life. The father was the senior member of the Walker Manufac- turing Company at 2156 Fifteenth street in Denver, and he passed away at his home in this city on the 13th of February, 1917, being then in the seventy-third year of his age. His birth occurred in Birmingham, England, August 4, 1844, and he hecame a resident of Colorado in 1871, when he took up his abode at Longmont. Later he removed to Denver and organized the Midland Foundry & Machinery Works at 1535 Delgany street in 1878. In 1904 he changed the name of the business and removed to the Fifteenth street address. He long figured prominently in industrial circles of

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the city and contributed to the business development of Denver. At his death he was survived by a widow and two sons: Thomas C. Walker, Jr., the president, and H. A. Walker, the vice president of the Walker Manufacturing Company. The daughter is Miss Blanch Walker. The father was a Mason and had attained the Knight Templar degree of the York Rite. He commanded the respect, confidence and goodwill of all who knew him and his many sterling traits of character gained to him warm friend- ships.

H. A. Walker attended school in Denver and also the North Denver high school, after which he entered into business with his father and rose steadily through the various departments of the extensive institution which his father has founded and developed. The firm manufactures mine and smelter machinery and supplies and in this connection is well known throughout the mining sections of the west. They have built up a business of very extensive proportions through honorable methods and in- defatigable energy and the growth of the business is being still further promoted by the two sons, who from boyhood days were associated with their father and who became his successors and owners of the business. H. A. Walker has active charge and management of the interests of the company. In addition to their mining and smelting machinery their output also includes foundry products. The trade has con- tinually increased and developed during the time that H. A. Walker has heen active in control and he is continually studying to further develop the interests of the busi- ness.

On the 4th of June, 1898, Mr. Walker was united in marriage to Miss Mabel Felp, of Denver, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Felp, of this city. They have one child, Mildred, who was born in Denver on the 9th of May, 1902, and is now a student in the North Denver high school. In politics Mr. Walker maintains an independent course. He is well known as a representative of one of the honored pioneer families of Denver and is held in high esteem in this city, in which his entire life has been spent.

JASPER A. WRITER.

Jasper A. Writer, who died March 20, 1919, was the secretary and treasurer of the Colorado Fuel & Iron Company of Denver. His position at the time of his demise was in marked contrast to the point from which he started out in the business world. His initial step was made in a humble capacity but steadily he worked his way upward as his powers increased and developed until he became one of the foremost figures in in- dustrial and commercial circles in the state.

He was born in Otisville, New York, on the 15th of April, 1858, and was a son of the late George S. Writer and a grandson of Jasper Writer. Three generations before carried the name of Jasper, so that the subject of this review was the representative of the family in the fifth generation to bear that name. The family comes of Dutch ancestry and was founded in America prior to the Revolutionary war, some of the representatives of the name participating in the long struggle for national independence. George S. Writer was born in Otisville, New York, and became a successful farmer, following that pursuit in the Empire state, where two generations of the family before him had carried on farming. He continued his residence in New York to the time of his death, which occurred in 1906, when he had reached the age of seventy-three years. His wife bore the maiden name of Esther Shay and was a native of Sussex county, New Jersey. She was born upon a farm and was descended from an old New Jersey family of Irish lineage. By her marriage she became the mother of six children, four sons and two daughters, of whom one son and one daughter died in infancy.

Jasper A. Writer whose name introduces this review was the eldest of the children. He began his education in one of the oldtime country schools of his native village and afterward attended the Middletown Academy of New York. His early life to the age of thirteen years was spent upon the home farm with the usual experiences of the boy who is reared amid rural surroundings. During the succeeding six years he lived in the village near the old homestead and largely devoted his time to the acquirement of an education. When his student days were over he took up the profession of teaching, which he followed for a short period in the east, and in 1882 he arrived in Colorado, settling first at Colorado Springs, where he was employed as a clerk by the Colorado Coal & Iron Company, which later became the Colorado Fuel Company. From that humble position he steadily worked his way upward through various departments, ad- vancing step by step, and in 1915 his orderly progression had brought him to the position which he occupied at the time of his death. Previously he had been auditor

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for the company and was also secretary, and in 1915 he was elected both secretary and treasurer, filling the dual position in connection with one of the foremost enterprises of the kind in the state, having voice in the management and control of a business of far-reaching extent and importance.

Mr. Writer was married in Pueblo, Colorado, in 1889, to Miss Gail Hamilton Smith, a native of Kansas and a representative of one of the old Iowa families of English lineage. Her father died as the result of a bullet wound sustained while serving his country in the Civil war. To Mr. and Mrs. Writer were born a son and a daughter, Margaret E. and Jasper. The son is now with the Denver Base Hospital Unit, No. 29, at Deming, Mexico. He was for three years a student at Princeton and had one year yet to attend, but left college in order to aid his country.

Mr. Writer of this review was at one time a member of the Colorado National Guard, serving for five years. He joined the organization as a private and on the completion of his term was second lieutenant. His service covered the years between 1884 and 1889. In politics he always maintained an independent course, voting for men and measures rather than for party. He belonged to the Denver Civic and Com- mercial Club and was intensely interested in all that had to do with the progress and welfare of the city and the promotion of high civic ideals. Both Mr. and Mrs. Writer were members of the Plymouth Congregational church, in the work of which they took an active and helpful part. Mrs. Writer was for eight years a member of the library board of Denver and has been very active in church and charitable work and is now chairman of the Women's Inter-Church Council. In a word, Mr. and Mrs. Writer have always given their aid and influence to plans and measures for the general good, especially those which seek the intellectual and moral progress of the community, and their efforts have been an effective force along those lines. They have enjoyed the warm friendship of many and kindly regard of all and have been numbered among Denver's most representative residents.

AMOS LINCOLN BARKER.

Amos Lincoln Barker, chief of the Denver Veteran Volunteer Firemen's Associa- tion and manager of the Denver Fire Reporter & Protective Company, is one of the city's representative residents and native sons. He was here born September 7, 1860, a son of A. H. and Lucindia (Liston) Barker, natives of Ohio. Mr. A. H. Barker came to Denver in 1858 and built the first cabin on the present site of the city at what is now Twelfth and Wyncoop streets. This cabin was one of the interesting landmarks for several years, indicating Denver's growth and development. Mr. Barker was a blacksmith by trade and conducted a successful business for many years, re- maining a resident of Denver throughout his entire life. He was born in the year 1822 and passed away in 1895, while his wife, whose birth occurred in 1823, passed away in the year 1899. In their family were four sons and five daughters. Those still living being: Mrs. Mary McClain, Mrs. Josephine Parsons, Mrs. Annie Law- rence, and Margaret Barker, who are now residing in California, and Amos Lincoln Barker of Denver.

Amos L. Barker was the seventh in order of birth in the family. He attended the public schools of Denver and also a business college, after which he became con- nected with the Volunteer Fire Department in August, 1876, and became a member of the paid department on the 16th of March, 1882. He continued with the fire de- partment until 1893, when he resigned and became Manager of the Denver Fire Dis- patch Company, and later was made Manager of the Denver Fire Reporter & Protec- tive Company, which position he now fills. It is one of responsibility but he fully measures up to the requirements of the position and is making an excellent record in that connection.

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History of Colorado; Volume IV, Part 98

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