History of the Arkansas Valley, Colorado, Part 104

Author: O.L. Baskin & Co
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 1080

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The Methodists, north and south, also erected churches in South Pueblo. Previous to 1869, brick buildings were unknown in Pueblo. Adobes, logs and boards were the materials used in the coustruction of houses. In that year, Messrs. Morgan, Barndollar and Mullaly, and Moses Anker established brick-yards. A lively competition arose between the parties, which ended in the former firm selling out to the latter. The old county jail was the first brick building erected in Pueblo. True, the bricks were very soft, and it was necessary to handle them like eggs, but still they were bricks.

In 1869, the County Commissioners ordered a sale to be made of a uumber of town lots in the county addition adjoining the town proper. The sale was at auction, and one gentleman paid $185 for a choice lot on Seventh street, near Main. He was considered crazy, and the wise ones winked their eyes and chuckled to think how the greenhorn had been bitten. If the purchaser owned the property now, he could probably get his money back for it.

About the only amusements of the people of Pueblo at this period of the town's exist- ence were card-playing, horse-racing and dan- cing. The dances took place in the large room in the second story of Thatcher Bros.' store, on the southeast corner of Santa Fe avenue and Fourth street. There were but two unmarried ladies in the town, but the married ones liked to dance just as well as if they were single, and a small room was pro- vided for the reception of the babies, while the mothers tripped the "light fantastic." Fifteen minutes notice was all that was re- quired to get up a ball. The toilets of the ladies were not elaborate, nor were " scissors- tailed " coats required on the part of the gen- tlemen. Joe Cox was the fiddler, and he played the "Arkansas Traveler," and "Dog Bit a Rye Straw," while the male and female pioneers "hoofed it" until the floor and windows rattled. Vet Clark and his brother Luke succeeded Joe Cox as purveyors of dance music, and Tom Willey occasionally came down from the mountains and regaled the people with the dulcet notes of his violin. The first masquerade ball ever given in Pueblo took place in the room above alluded to.

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HISTORY OF PUEBLO COUNTY.

Among the maskers were Judge Hart as Don Juan, Dr. Thombs as a Prussian officer, R. N. Daniels as a German peasant, Ferd Barn- dollar as a wharf-rat, M. Anker as a colored lady, D. B. Berry as a clown, Aug Beach and George Morgan as colored gentlemen, Ezra Graves as a priest, Dr. Beshoar as a " what-is- it," and divers and sundry others. Many of the costumes were home-made, but the fun was fast and furious, and the disguises, in many cases, excellent.

At this time, Messrs. Thatcher Bros., Rett- berg & Bartels, Berry Bros., James Rice, D. G. Peabody and Cooper Bros. were the lead-

ing merchants. Judge Hallett presided in the District Court. The bar consisted of Hon. A. A. Bradford, Hon. George A. Hinsdale, Wil- bur F. Stone, H. C. Thatcher, James Macdon- ald, J. W. Henry and G. Q. Richmond. Drs. P. R. Thombs and J. W. O. Snyder repre- sented the medical profession, and Lewis Conley, Flynn & Beach and Gus Bartlett were contractors and builders. In 1870, Pueblo became a corporate town. Lewis Conley was the first President of the Board of Trustees, and Hon. G. A. Hinsdale, Sam McBride, Henry Cooper and Cal Peabody were members of the board.

CHAPTER III.

THE RAILROAD PERIOD-DENVER & RIO GRANDE RAILWAY-UNITED STATES LAND OFFICE- THE PEOPLE-SOUTH PUEBLO LAID OUT-COUNTY COURT-HOUSE-RAILROAD BANQUET- BOOM-WHITE LYNCHED-PUEBLO BECOMES A CITY-WATER WORKS BUILT- FIRE DEPARTMENT-ADVENT OF THE PUEBLO & ARKANSAS VALLEY RAIL- ROAD-A THREE-DAYS. JUBILEE-SAM MCBRIDE DEPARTS WITH THE SCHOOL FUND-THE PUEBLO DEMOCRAT-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION-SMELTING WORKS-INSANE ASYLUM -STEEL WORKS-STREET RAILROAD-GAS WORKS-GENERAL PROSPERITY.

TN 1871, the question of voting bonds of the county in aid of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad was agitated. The road was at that time constructed as far as Colorado Springs, and the people of Pueblo County were solicit- ed to subscribe $100,000 in bonds to the stock of the. road, the company threatening that, in case the subscription was not made, to construct the road south via Canon City, and leave Pueblo out in the cold. The bonds were voted by a large majority, and the road in consequence came to Pueblo.

The United States Land Office was opened in Pueblo during this year, with Judge Wheeler as Register and Mark G. Bradford aș Receiver.

In September, the Pueblo-People, a weekly journal, Democratic in politics, was estab- lished by a joint-stock company, with Hon. George A. Hinsdale as editor, The office was located in the brick building on the northeast corner of Fourth and Summit streets. The

paper was well edited and handsomely print- ed, but bad financial management proved its ruin, and in 1874 the material was sold under a trust deed, and purchased by the proprietors . of the Chieftain.

About this time, the Colorado Central Im- provement Company, a branch of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad Company, having purchased the Nolan Grant, proceeded to lay out the town of South Pueblo, on the southern bank of the Arkansas, directly opposite the city. The first buildings were the Grand Central Hotel, and the building next to it on Union · avenue. Other buildings followed rapidly, and numerous handsome residences were erected on the mesa, which is now one of the most attractive places of residence in Colorado. South Pueblo has a city corpora- tion of its own, water works, etc., and is a thriving business point.

In 1872, the county court house was com- pleted, Mr. E. H. Barber being the contractor.

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HISTORY OF PUEBLO COUNTY.

This building, the finest of its kind in the State, was paid for by the money received from the sale of town lots in a quarter-section of land pre-empted by the county authorities and filed as an addition to the city. Hence it cost the people of the county nothing.

During the same year, the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad was completed to Pueblo. The first depot was located on the Fontaine, a short distance north of the court-house, but was shortly afterward removed to South Pueblo. The completion of the railroad was the occasion of a banquet given at the court house, which was attended by many leading citizens from all parts of the State. Grace Greenwood was present, and delivered a short address.

At the time of the advent of the Denver & Rio Grande Railway, Pueblo experienced a genuine boom. Hundreds of buildings were erected, and the streets of the town were crowded day and night. Dance halls, variety theaters and gambling rooms flourished, and the crack of the pistol was common on the streets. Among the rough characters who arrived in the city at this time was a Chicago sneak-thief named White. One night, he went through a number of rooms in the Na- tional Hotel, and also several in the upper stories of business blocks, securing a quantity of valuable property. Next morning he de- camped and went to Denver. By means of telegraphic dispatches, he was captured at Denver and promptly returned to Pueblo. On the night of his arrival at the latter place, he was taken from the jail and hanged to a tele- graph pole.

In 1878, Pueblo was incorporated as a city, with James Rice, Esq., as Mayor. Mr. Rice was succeeded by Messrs, John R. Lowther, M. D. Thatcher, W. H. Hyde and George Q. Richmond, the latter gentleman being the present incumbent.

About this time, the construction of water works was agitated, and an election held to decide whether the city should issue $130,000 in bonds to carry out this important enter- prise. The election was carried in favor of the bonds, with but one dissenting vote, and in 1874, the present Holly Works were con- structed, the contract having been let to the

National Building Company of St. Louis. The fire department was organized shortly after the completion of the works. It con- sisted of two hose companies and one hook and ladder. W. R. Macomb was elected Chief; R. M. Stevenson, Assistant Chief; W. H. Middaugh, Foreman of Hose Company No. 1; W. H. Redfield, Foreman of Hose Company No. 2; and C. J. Hart, Foreman of Hook and Ladder No. 1.

The Pueblo & Arkansas Valley Railroad, connecting with the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, was completed to Pueblo in 1875, thus giving to Southern Colorado a direct line to the East. The people of the county sub- scribed $350,000 in bonds of the county to the capital stock of the road, which stock was afterward sold at a good figure. The com- pletion of the road was the occasion of a mon- ster excursion from Kansas, as well as from Denver and other points in the State. The jubilee lasted two days. On the first day, a parade took place of all the firemen, civic so- cieties, etc., followed by a banquet, the guests being the visitors from Colorado. On the second day, the Kansas people arrived, and were hospitably entertained. A reception and ball in the evening closed the festivities of the occasion.

The handsome school building now in use in Pueblo was erected in 1876. The people of the district voted bonds to the amount of $14,000 to erect an appropriate school build- ing. The funds recieved from the sale of the bonds were placed in the hands of Sam McBride, Treasurer of the School Board. Samuel went East that year, and failed to return. After his departure, it was dis- covered he had embezzled a large portion of the money placed in his hands. The courts released his bondsmen from liability, and the tax-payers of the district footed the bill.

The Democrat, a daily and weekly newspa- per, was established in Pueblo about this time, Dr. A. Y. Hull, a veteran journalist from Se- dalia, Mo., purchased the Republican, founded a year or two before by Mr. J. M. Murphy, and, changing its name and politics, published the first regular Democratic organ in Pueblo County. The paper then passed into the hands of Messrs. Hull Bros., who afterward

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sold it to Judge Royal, formerly of St. Jo- seph, Mo. The name of the paper has been changed, and it is now the Daily News.

The Centennial of the independence of the United States was celebrated in fine style by the people of Pueblo. A large procession, consisting of civic societies, firemen and citi- zens, paraded the streets and marched to Con- cordia Park, where an oration was delivered by Rev. Brouse, Rector of St. Peter's Church, followed by a historical sketch of Pueblo, by Hon. Wilbur F. Stone. Judge Stone's address was printed and from it the writer has gleaned much valuable information.

Messrs. Mather & Geist inaugurated the first great manufacturing enterprise in Pueblo in 1878, by the erection of their extensive smelting works at the crossing of the Pueblo & Arkansas Valley and Denver & Rio Grande Railroads near the southern boundary of the city. This extensive establishment, one of the largest in the State, has now in operation six smelting furnaces of forty tons capacity each, with the requisite number of calcin- ing furnaces and other apparatus. Ores from all parts of the State have been successfully treated here. Several hundred men are now employed, and the enterprising proprietors are extending their works in order to handle the increasing supply of ores.

The Legislature of the State during the session of 1879-80, authorized the establish- ing of a State insane asylum at Pueblo, and appropriated a fund for procuring land and buildings. Under this act, Messrs. James Macdonald, Theo. F. Brown and J. B. Romero, were appointed Commissioners by the Governor. The board purchased the commodious mansion of Hon. George M. Chilcott, a short distance west of the city, and made the necessary improvements to render it suitable for the purpose. Dr. P. R. Thombs, of Pueblo, was appointed Superin- tendent. Mr. Macdonald resigned shortly

afterward and was succeeded by R. M. Ste- venson, who in turn resigned and was suc- ceeded by O. H. P. Baxter. The asylum was opened in October, 1879, with accommoda- tions for forty patients. The building was soon crowded to its utmost capacity and the Legislature of 1880-81, found it necessary to make an appropriation of $60,000 for the erection of another building. which is now in course of erection. Dr. Thombs' manage- ment has been very successful and numerous cures have been effected.

The Colorado Coal & Iron Company are now erecting extensive iron and steel works on the mesa, just below South Pueblo. The iron ores of Colorado will be smelted and from the product thereof will be manufactured pig iron, bar iron, steel rails, stoves, machin- ery, etc. The works are being constructed on an extensive scale, and when finished will fur- nish employment for upward of 1,000 men. Several million dollars will be invested in the enterprise. The Pueblo street railroad, which was constructed in 1880, furnishes ready means of communication between Pu- eblo and South Pueblo. William Moore, Esq., is the President of company. The cor- poration is now preparing to extend its lines in several directions. The wave of prosper- ity which swept over the entire country reached Pueblo in 1880, and since then the two cities have enjoyed a veritable "boom." Business has been exceedingly brisk; stran- gers in great numbers arrive daily, and num- erous fine buildings are in course of erection on both sides of the river. The works of the Union Gas Company are in course of con- struction and in a short time both cities will be illuminated by gas. Pueblo has the geo- graphical location and railroad connections requisite to make her a great city, and within a few years the site of the little trading post of 1854, bids fair to be covered by a populous and busy n etropolis. -

BIOGRAPHICAL.

JOHN V. ANDREWS.

This gentleman is a well-known merchant of Pueblo, being the sole proprietor of an exten- sive wholesale grocery house. He was born on a farm in Montgomery County, Ohio, May 5, 1845. He attended the Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio, and graduated in the liter- ary department in 1861. He afterward at- tended the law department and received his diploma in due course. In 1863, he located at Dayton, Ohio, and began the practice of law, but was soon compelled to abandon it, owing to the condition of his health. From Dayton he moved to Kingston, Mo., where he lived more than a year. From Kingston, he removed to Lin- coln, Neb., at which place he engaged in the gro- cery business. After about two years, he dis- posed of his store and went to San Diego, Cal., where he lived, with the exception of a time which he spent in Nevada, until 1870. In the spring of that year, he returned east as far as Colorado and located at Pueblo. He first opened a general store at Pueblo, but subse- quently embarked in the wholesale grocery business, which he has since continned with fine success. Mr. Andrews now carries a large stock, and has an extensive trade, receiving his custom from the various points in Southern and Western Colorado and New Mexico.

HON. O. H. P. BAXTER.

Mr. Baxter was among the early men in Colorado, having come West in 1858. For nearly twenty-two years he has steadily re- mained and advanced with the country, and now he is a prominent citizen and capitalist of Pueblo. He was born at Madison, Ind., Octo- ber 31, 1835. He received a common school education, and learned the trade of a black- smith. In 1855, he went to Keokuk, Iowa, where he pursued blacksmithing for a short time ; he also afterward worked for a time at Moline, Ill. In 1856, he located at Nebraska City, where he followed his trade for about two

years. In the fall of 1858, Mr. Baxter started for Pike's Peak, and, in October, he arrived at the mouth of Cherry Creek, where Denver is now situated. For about two years, he engaged in prospecting and mining in the mountains. Soon after the discovery of the famous Gregory lode, in 1859, he went to Central, where he re- mained some months. He spent some time in South Park, and was among the early ad- venturers in California Gulch. In September, 1860, he came down to Arkansas Valley, and located upon a ranch about five miles below Pueblo. The following spring, he sold out and removed to the month of the St. Charles River, where he located a ranch, and be- gan farming. He was one of the first farm- ers in the county. In 1864, Mr. Baxter volunteered in the United States service for a term of three months. He raised a company, of which he became Captain, in the Third Colorado. He was with his regi- ment at the noted battle of Sand Creek. After the expiration of his term, he returned to his ranch and continued farming ; he also kept up his stock business, in which he had been interested since 1862. Mr. Baxter was a member of the Territoral Legislature in 1864-65. He was a member of the Council during the sessions of 1865-66 and 1866-67. He removed to Pueblo, in 1866, and bought a half interest in the well-known Jewett Grist Mill, which in- terest he has since owned. He was one of the first town company which located the town of Pueblo in 1861. The town was afterward jumped by parties who obtained a patent, but some years later, owing to priority of title, it reverted to the original company. In 1870, the County Commissioners appointed Trustees, who proceeded to organize the town of Pueblo on a permanent basis. Mr. Baxter was one of the Trustees and continned as such for several years afterward. He was, for a number of years, a County Commissioner, and was also a Commissioner of the State Penitentiary several

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PUEBLO COUNTY.

years. He is at this time a Commissioner of the State Insane Asylum. Mr. Baxter is now one of the largest property holders of Pueblo County. He is connected with many of the important interests of Pueblo ; he is improving his real estate and steadily increasing his fort- une. He was married in Pueblo County, April 17, 1866, to Miss Edna A. Henry, by whom he has three children.

HON. ADOLPHUS P. BERRY.

This gentleman is the present County Judge of Pueblo County. He was born in St. Louis, Mo., November 12, 1848. When three years of age his parents moved to Ed- wardsville, Ill., where he was raised. He was educated principally at Shurtleff College, Alton, Ill. When but fifteen years old, in 1863, he left school and came West. Arriving first at Trinidad, Colo., he went from there to Elizabethtown, New Mexico, where he followed gulch-mining about a year. Subsequently, for a number of years, he was connected with en- terprises at various places. He was interested in a saw-mill near Trinidad about two years. He had mining interests at different points, and spent much of his time in traveling over the West. In 1868, he assisted in starting the Col- orado Chieftain, now a flourishing newspaper at Pueblo, Colo. He was married at Trinidad, Colo., January 10, 1870, to Miss Fannie T. Doyle, a daughter of J. B. Doyle. In the spring of 1870, he and his brother-in-law, James Doyle, opened a wholesale grocery store and auction and commission house at Trinidad. In 1871, disposing of his business at Trinidad, Mr. Berry settled upon Doyle's ranch, in Pueblo County, where he lived about five years. During the time, he held the office of Justice of the Peace. In 1876, having met with financial reverses, Mn Berry disposed of his remaining property and removed to Pueblo, where he has since resided. He has long figured in the local politics of Pueblo County, and has held the position of assistant in the different county offices at Pueblo. In the fall of 1877, he ran for County Judge on the Democratic ticket, but was defeated. He ran the second time in 1880, and was elected by a nice majority. The office he now fills with honor and ability, to the satisfaction of his constituency. The Judge is strong in his political convictions, and ever sanguine of the success of his party.

JULIUS BERRY.

This gentleman has been a Coloradoan since 1861. He was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, April 23, 1841. When sixteen years of age, he came to America. Arriving first in New York, he went from there to Kansas. He lived in Kansas and in Missouri about four years. He clerked in a store in St. Joseph, Mo., about two years. In 1861, he went to Denver, Colo., where he embarked in the clothing business. After a time, he opened a branch house in Vir- ginia City, which he continued to 1866. In 1868, Mr. Berry disposed of his business at Denver and removed to Pueblo. He was mar- ried in 1868, September 9, at Cincinnati, Ohio, to a Miss Hoffman. He opened a clothing house at Pueblo, in partnership with his brother. In 1874, he purchased his brother's interest, and has since owned and conducted the business himself. He now carries a very large stock, and has an excellent custom- doing a business of from $85,000 to $100,000 per year. He has been eminently successful, and is now connected with some of the most important enterprises of Pueblo.

HON. ALLEN A. BRADFORD.

We have rarely ever noted the career of a man so peculiarly his own, not only in origi- nality of mind and general characteristics, but in point of history and varied experience as Judge A. A. Bradford. Being originally from Maine, he has lived respectively in four other States- Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and Colorado-in each of which he has held office and been more or less connected with public affairs. He was born in Friendship, Me., July 23, 1815, at which place he was reared, and received an academ- ical education. In 1841, he emigrated to Mis- souri, locating at Atchison County, where he afterward studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1843. He was elected Clerk of the Circuit Court at Atchison, in 1845, which posi- tion he held five years. He was married at St. Joseph, Mo., November 1, 1849, to Miss Emi- line Cowles. In 1851, he removed to Iowa, and the following year was appointed Judge of the Sixth Judicial District of that State. In 1855, resigning his Judgeship, he removed to the Territory of Nebraska. He was a member of the Legislative Council of Nebraska in 1856- 57-58. Leaving that Territory in 1860, he settled in Colorado, locating at Central City.

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BIOGRAPHICAL:

He removed from Central to Pueblo, in 1862, at which place he has since made his home. He was appointed Judge of the Supreme Court of Colorado Territory in 1862, which office he filled with ability and with honor until his election to the Thirty-ninth Congress of the United States in 1864. He represented Colo- rado in Congress two terms, being elected the second time in 1868. In Congress he stood up well among his peers and feared not to assert the rights of his constituents. During his first term, and while at Washington, the assassina- tion of President Lincoln occurring, he was placed upon the National Committee appointed to accompany the remains of Lincoln to Illinois. Upon returning from his last session in Con- gress, in 1871, Judge Bradford resumed his practice at Pueblo. Since then he has preferred the more private walks of life and has devoted his exclusive and untiring energies to the duties of his profession. He is the present County Attorney of the county of Pueblo. Many interesting incidents are related of Judge Bradford, especially when referring to his pioneer life, but space will not here admit them. His remarkably retentive memory has secured for him an almost inexhaustible store of reminiscences, historical data and general information, so that his mind is a perfect en- cyclopedia-a reference book, so to speak-for all those who know him. Few men are better posted in the law than he, and his opinions upon legal questions are very highly regarded. Although the silver tints of life's winter are plainly visible about the Judge's head, yet he is active and vigorous and seems to have lost none of his native vivacity. Long may he yet live.

GEORGE T. BREED.

This gentleman is widely known as the genial proprietor of the Lindell Hotel at Pueblo. He was born in Boston, Mass., and was educated at the old Elliott School. He early engaged in the restaurant business, in which he continued to the beginning of the late war. He entered the war as a private in the Federal army, and came out a Quartermaster Sergeant. After the close, he returned to Boston, where he again embarked in the restaurant business. In 1868, he went to Denver, Colo., where he was for a time in business with Powers & Brastow, pro- prietors of the Pacific House ; afterward, for about two years, he assisted Mr. C. G. Noble in

keeping a restaurant upon Blake street. Sub- sequently he was proprietor of the Commercial Hotel in West Denver, until 1875 ; in May of that year he went to Pueblo, and, in company with C. G. Noble, took charge of the Lindell Hotel. In September, 1879, Mr. Breed became the sole proprietor of the Lindell, and as such has since remained. The Lindell is the principal hotel at Pueblo, and is constantly crowded to its capacity. Extensive additions are now being built to it, which will make it one of the largest and most commodious hotels in the State. Be- ing by nature a landlord, generous and cour- teous, Mr. Breed has won for himself an enviable reputation as a hotel man, which is evinced by the large patronage of his house. Mr. Breed was married, at Lowell, Mass., in April, 1855, to Miss Anna S. Davis.

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History of the Arkansas Valley, Colorado, Part 104

Author: O.L. Baskin & Co Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co. Number of Pages: 1080

Author: O.L. Baskin & Co
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 1080