History of the Arkansas Valley, Colorado, Part 106

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

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hotel. Soon after arriving at the last-named place, he was appointed Constable and Marshal, and holds these offices at the present time. He has been a member of the Rocky Mountain De- tective Association for a number of years.

ALBERT T. FISHER.

Mr. Abert T. Fisher is a son of the Hon. Lewis Fisher of West Medway, Norfolk County, Mass., and was born on the 3d day of May, 1854. At the Medway district and high schools he was prepared for college, and gradu- ated at Comer's Commercial College in 1876. During his college attendance, his wants were supplied by a generous father, which, with his genial good humor, made the whole course a single holiday with little thought of the future. When he was twenty-two, the year he complet- ed his education, he came to South Pueblo. The opening for doing a profitable coal trade being favorable, he engaged in retailing coal, and has continued in it up to the present time. He began with one team, and is now hurried with a stable full of horses and mules and seventeen delivery wagons to supply his in- creased trade. His stylish residence on the mesa is surrounded on the south and west by plats of grass, and the interior is furnished in a style which exhibits a high degree of refinement. At the early age of twenty- seven, Mr. Fisher is a prominent and wealthy man. He was a member of the City Council in 1880, and the youngest member that ever sat in that body. Being, by a legal resident disqualification, ineligible to the office, he de- clined being a nominee for a second term.

CHARLES T. FISHER.

This gentleman is a son of the Hon. Lewis Fisher, of Massachusetts, and is the brother and partner of Albert T., whose history is herein published. He was born at West Medway, Norfolk County, Mass., on the 16th of Febru- ary, 1852. He attended the Medway High School till he was twenty, working on his father's farm when school was not in session. June 12, 1875, he and Miss Ellen C. Bagley entered into a contract of marriage at Sharon, and September 11, 1876, they started for Colo- rado. After a journey of four days and nights, with an infant son to care for-a trial when traveling, little understood by them till their experience-they stopped at South Pueblo on

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the 16th, and on the following October moved out of the city on a ranch, returning in the spring in time to begin business early in the year, when he and his brother formed a part- nership and commenced retailing coal. Their business has made them known to all classes, and their straight-forward dealing has procured them the good will of all. Their business has enlarged till it is the largest coal and freight transfer trade in the city. On the mesa, a fine building, in front of which is a pretty lawn bordered by a row of shade trees, and stand- ing in plain view of the city, is pointed out to inquirers as his residence. It is a choice site, and a mark of the gentleman's noted judgment in selection.

COL. M. H. FITCH.

This gentleman is well known as a capitalist and banker of Pueblo. He was born in Lexing- ton, Ky., March 12, 1832. When nine years of age he removed with his parents to Cler- mont County, Ohio, about twenty miles from Cincinnati. He attended school at the Farmers' College, six miles out fromn Cincinnati. He studied law and was admitted to the Cincinnati bar in 1860. Soon afterward, however, he went to Prescott, Wis., where he practiced law abont a year. When the war broke out, he entered the Federal army, enlisting in the Sixth Wis- consin Infantry. In 1862, he was transfered to the Twenty-first Wisconsin, and commissioned Adjutant of the regiment. He afterward arose by a series of promotions to the office of Brevet Colonel. After the close of the war, Col. Fitch located in the practice of law at Milwaukee, Wis. He was married at Batavia, Ohio, October 12, 1864, to Miss Alice Rhodes. He immigrat- ed to Colorado and located at Pueblo in the spring of 1870. For some time he devoted his exclusive attention to stock-raising, and he is still considerably interested in that line, having his residence upon a large ranch a few miles from Pueblo. In 1872, Col. Fitch was appoint- ed Major General of State Militia for Southern Colorado, which position he held, by re-appoint- ment, four years. He was also for a time Re- ceiver of Public Moneys in the Land Office at Pueblo. He has been the President of the Stock Growers' National Bank since November 1, 1876, he himself being one of the largest stock- holders. The Stock Growers' Bank was estab- lished in January, 1876. It has a capital stock of $50,000, and does an extensive business, especi-

ally with the stock men of the surrounding country. Col. Fitch has various and valuable interests at Pueblo. Being a man of enterprise and unusual business tact, he has grown quite wealthy.

HON. JOHN W. HENRY.

This gentleman was born in Jackson County, near Louisville, Ky., July 30, 1820. When six years of age, his father moved to Coles Conn- ty, Ill., where he was raised on a farm. He studied law and was admitted to the bar at Charleston, in 1841. In 1842, he went to Platte- ville, Wis., where he entered the practice of law, and continued to 1850. In that year, he removed to St. Joseph, Mo., where he practiced law several years. In 1857, he went to Leaven- worth, Kan., at which place he lived about three years. He came to Colorado in 1860, and settled first at Nevada, where he owned an interest in a quartz-mill. He mined and milled in that vicinity until spring 1862. He afterward lived in Denver to February, 1863. His family then joining him he removed to Pueblo County, and settled on a ranch some miles below Pueblo. In 1872, he located at Pueblo, at which place he has since resided. He was a member of the Lower House of the State Legislature from Pueblo County in 1865. He was District Attorney for the Third Judicial District of Colorado from 1872 to 1876. In 1876, he was elected Judge of the Third Ju- dicial District, which position he now holds. His district now comprises the counties of Bent, Huerfano, Las Animas and Pueblo. Judge Henry has become eminent as a lawyer. As a District Judge, he has no superior in the State, and his opinions and decisions are very highily regarded.

JOHN D. HENRY.

This gentleman was born January 17, 1845, at Bowling Green, Ky., where he was reared and educated. He served in the Confederate army through the late war, being a soldier of the Second Kentucky Cavalry, under Morgan. After the close of the war, lie went to St. Louis, where he engaged in business until the fall of 1871. In October of that year, following up the Star of Empire, he came to Colorado and located at Pueblo. In pursuance to an arrange- ment made previous to his coming West, Mr. Henry took the position of Deputy County Clerk, and also opened a real estate and abstract office in partnership with Mr. McBride. In

BIOGRAPHICAL:

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1872, the firm of McBride & Henry was suc- ceeded by Henry, Morgan & Co., of which firm Mr. Henry was a member until 1875. He served as a City Clerk for Pueblo from April, 1872, to April, 1873. He held the office of City Assessor in 1872, and in 1876 and 1877. He was Deputy County Assessor in 1877. He was Engrossing Clerk of the last Territorial Council of Colorado in 1876, which position he filled with ability and with credit. Mr. Henry is now doing business for William H. Hyde, dealer and manufacturer at Pueblo, and he is the present Superintendent of the Water Works for the city of Pueblo.

GEORGE W. HEPBURN.

This gentleman came West at an early day. He was born in Pottsdam, N. Y., in 1836. When sixteen years of age he went to Cleveland, Ohio, where he learned to be a printer, living there about three years. The winter of 1854 and 1855, he spent in Washington City, acting as reporter for the Cleveland Plain Dealer. In the spring of 1855, he went to Omaha, Neb., where he bought a half-interest in the Nebraskan, a newspaper then published at that place. In 1857, disposing of his interest in the Nebraskan, he purchased the Times, which he also sold a short time afterward. In 1858, awakened by the gold excitement in the Rocky Mountains, Mr. Hepburn made his way to Pike's Peak, and spent some time prospecting for mines. He returned East in 1859, and came to Colorado again in 1860. At the breaking-out of the late war, he enlisted in the New Mexican Fourth Cavalry, and served in that about a year, after which he entered the Government employ as a millwright, and continued in that capacity to the close of the war. After the war, he engaged for a time in the cattle business. In 1867, he located at Pueblo, where he has since resided. In 1868, 1869 and 1870, he engaged to a considerable extent in mining and milling. In 1871, he started at Pueblo a newspaper called the People, which he conducted himself about a year. He was elected Probate Judge of Pueblo County in 1871, which office he held two years. During that year, he was married in Pueblo County to a Miss Dotson. He was elected a County Commissioner in 1874, and filled the office three years. Since 1877, Mr. Hepburn has devoted his attention especially to mining. He now has valuable interests in

various camps, some of which he is operating vigorously. Mr. Hepburn's sociable manners, and his many years of Western life, have won for him hosts of acquaintances and warm friends, who delight to take him by the hand.

HON. GEORGE A. HINSDALE.

The subject of this sketch died January 15, 1874. To those who knew him long and well, an extended essay upon his character would seem but tame reproof to their memories of his life. For those who knew less of him we pen a brief history. Mr. Hinsdale was born at the village of Hinesburg, in Vermont, December 21, 1826. He was a son of Hon. Mitchell Hinsdale, an eminent lawyer, and once a member of Con- gress from the State of Vermont, and who moved to the State of Michigan when the sub- ject of this sketch was but seven years old. He was educated in the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and graduated in the classical course in 1849. He studied law in his father's office, but subsequently turned his attention to civil engineering, and was for several years in charge of the works of a Cannel Coal Mining Company on the Ohio River, near Hawesville, Ky. Here he became acquainted with, and, in 1856, married, Miss Josephine Sebastian, of Kentucky. A year or two later, with his young wife, he came West, and settled in Dakota, Neb., where he engaged in the practice of law. In 1859, he was elected, and served, as a mem- ber of the Nebraska Legislature from the Dakota District. He had been troubled with asthma for many years, and had hoped the climate of Northern Nebraska would benefit him ; but in this he was disappointed, and suf- fered so much, that, in the spring of 1860, he determined to join in the rush to Pike's Peak, in the bare hope that the Rocky Mountains would afford relief from his disease. As was the custom, he outfitted with an ox team and wagon, and with his brave and devoted wife and infant boy, crossed the plains and became a pioneer in a new and strange land. His asthma left him almost entirely soon after he reached the mountains, and only seldom re- turned in brief attacks during his life in Colo- rado. He first engaged in mining in California Gulch, and in the fall of 1860, went down to Canon City, which had just been laid out as a wintering town for miners, built one of the first dwellings, and during the winter he assisted in

alexander Thorsten

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framing a code of laws and organizing the first people's court for the government of that dis- trict. In 1863, he settled in Pueblo, when there were scarcely a dozen families living there, in the rudest of huts. In 1864, he moved to San Luis, in Costilla County, where he lived nearly two years, during which time be ac- quired a thorough knowledge of the Spanish language; and in the summer of 1866 he. moved back to Pueblo, where he ever after- ward resided, and ei gaged in the practice of law. At the election npon the adoption of the State Constitution in 1865, Mr. Hinsdale was elected Lieutenant Governor upon the Demo- cratic ticket, being the only Democrat elected on the State ticket ; and as such he presided over the joint session of the State Legislature, which was held in Denver, in December, 1865, and which elected Gov. John Evans and Hon. J. B. Chaffee, United States Senators under the Enabling Act for State admission, the bill for which passed Congress, but was vetoed by President Johnson. In 1868, he was elected a member of the Territorial Council, and at the session of 1870 was chosen President of that body. He was a member of the first Board of Trustees of the town of Pueblo after its incor- poration, and at the time of his death was President of the City School Board, and County Attorney of Pueblo County. He filled nu- merous offices of public trust and honor, and was ever identified with the history and growth of Southern Colorado. In politics, he was always a Democrat of the firmest type. and, as one of the leaders of the party in Colorado, he ever held the respect of his political opponents by his ability no less than his sincerity, fidelity and conscientious integrity. As a lawyer, he was a- profound thinker, forcible in logic of argument, zealons in the interest of his client, and one of the most successful criminal lawyers of his judicial district. As a scholar, he had few equals in the Territory, and was one of the most forcible, graceful writers for the press. When the Chieftain as, the first newspaper in Sonthern Colorado, was started in Pueblo, Mr. Hinsdale became one of its editors, and for over two years assisted in contributing gratuitous services to this means of promoting the develop- ment of Southern Colorado. He was after- ward one of the leading organizers of the Pueblo Printing Company, publishers of The People, and, until about one year previous to

his death, was one of the editors of that paper. He was President of the Public Library Asso- ciation of Pueblo, and took an active interest in fostering that, one of the most creditable institutions of the young city. We estimate the need of such men in communities by their loss. They are the men who rule the world for good, and hold a rein upon its evil course. In all that was good in the development of his community and of the Territory, Mr. Hinsdale was an element. He could read the history of Colorado, whose every mountain and valley he loved, and in the fabric of whose civic life he felt the pride of a builder, and might be well entitled to exclaim : Omnia vidi et quorum pars fui! His life of nnostentatious good should ever be an example to those who have outlived him.

DR. ANDREW Y. HULL.

To successfully edit a newspaper in Colorado requires unusual tact and ability. In the East- ern States, where the country is thickly settled and scores of journals are published on every hand ; where sensations are frequent, and in- numerable news items are floating on every breeze, the average writer can have no great difficulty in gathering material for a weekly or a daily. But in the New West, far from the center of the journalistic world, where the country is sparsely populated, where the towns are many miles apart, and but few newspapers are published for hundreds of miles around, the reporter must sweep clean for his locals, and the editor-in-chief must ransack his brain and clear the eastern sky for his editorials. Dr. A. Y. Hull is widely known in Southern Colorado, as, for a number of years, the able and esteemed editor of the Pueblo Democrat, which he him- self founded, and continued to April 27, last, and the writer of this takes peculiar pleasure in noting his career. The Doctor is by nativity an Ohioan. He was born in Highland County, Ohio, July 28, 1818. He received an average academical education, and, at the age of twenty, began the study of medicine, pursuing his first studies mainly at Frankfort, Ohio. He took lectures at the Ohio Medical College, Cincin- nati, and received his diploma from that insti- tution March 2, 1841. He then located at Bourneville, Ohio, where he lived and practiced his profession for more than eight years. He was married, at Frankfort, Ohio, August 17, 1847, to Miss M. E. Tiffin, a niece of Dr. Ed-

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ward Tiffin, first Governor of Ohio. In Sep- tember, 1849, the Doctor removed to Des Moines, Iowa. For a time he practiced medi- cine there, and dealt in real estate, but, tiring of medicine, he decided to study law, which he did, and was admitted to the bar at Des Moines. He was elected to the State Senate of Iowa, in 1861. In 1863, he took an active part in pro- curing the removal of the State capital from Iowa City to Des Moines. During the late war, he was a strong Union man, but was opposed to the war and took no part in it. In 1866, on account of the failing health of Mrs. Hull, the Doctor removed to Sedalia, Mo. In 1868, he took charge as editor and business manager of the Sedalia Democrat, a daily and weekly paper. He entered npon his editorial carcer at a time when the Democracy of Missouri was in the mi- nority, owing to the disfranchisement of the ex- rebels, and fierce was the war he made upon the dominant party. In 1876, still having in view the restoration of his wife's yet impaired health, Dr. Hull disposed of his interests at Sedalia and removed to Pueblo, Colo., where he has since resided. He started the Pueblo Democrat, a semi-weekly paper, March 1, 1877. Since then it has been continued, part of the time as a daily and part as a weekly, and has ever been strong in its advocacy of Democracy. The Democrat is now owned by the Hull Brothers, sons of Dr. Hull, and, since April 27, 1881, Dr. Hull then resigning, has been under the edito- rial management of Col. David R. Murray. Having arrived at that age where men natural- ly require rest and retirement, Dr. Hull has bade adieu to public life. He retires with honors, and to the regret of many admirers. He has interests at Pueblo and will make his future home at that place.

WILLIAM H. HYDE.

Mr. Hyde is well known in Southern Colo- rado as a manufacturer of wagons and dealer in agricultural implements. He was born in Joli- et, Ill., in 1839, where he was raised and early learned the trade of blacksmith and wagon- maker. In 1857, he went to California and worked at his trade, until the breaking- out of the war in 1861, when he enlisted in the First California Volunteer Infantry after- ward serving through Arizona and New Mexi- co, until December, 1863. He then quit the army, having served his time, and located at

Denver, Colo., resuming his trade. In 1866, he went to Golden, Colo., and remained there until 1868, when he again returned to Denver. He located at Pueblo in November, 1870, and opened a blacksmith and wagon shop. Since then he has erected large and capacious build- ings which he now occupies. He was elected Mayor of Pueblo in April, 1879, and was re- elected in 1880, his second term of office ex- piring April, 1881. He was married, in Pueblo, December 1, 1871, to Miss Laura S. Loy. Mr. Hyde has succeeded well in the West, and is now doing an extensive business, dealing in farming implements of all kinds, and manufact- uring wagons for a large custom throughout Southern Colorado. His business is constant- ly increasing, and has become an important factor in the growing interests of Pueblo.

J. LOUIS ISENBERG.

The subject of this sketch is a prominent architect and builder of Pueblo. His ances- tors were among the early settlers of Virginia, near Yorktown, but at about the beginning of the nineteenth century they moved to the then wilderness of Central Pennsylvania, and en- gaged in farming upon the borders of Blair County, where young Isenberg was born No- vember 15, 1849. At two years of age, he moved with his parents to Alexandria, Hunt- ingdon County, Penn. He was educated in the graded public schools of that place and at Cassville Seminary (now a Soldiers' Orphan Home), at Cassville, Penn. While attending the institution above mentioned in 1864, when the Confederate army under Gen. Lee invaded Pennsylvania, young Isenberg, with two com- panions, deserted school and joined the State Militia at Harrisburg. After the war, he served an apprenticeship at millwrighting. In 1869, he turned his attention Westward, and emigrated to Sharon, Penn., on the extreme borders of the State. where he entered the office of an architect and remained two years. He afterward engaged in business with his father-in-law as contractors and builders, in which he was successful until 1873. The panic of that year swept away almost all Mr. Isen- berg possessed. He then turned his face to the " Land of the Setting Sun," and, accompanied by his wife, arrived at Pueblo, Colo., August 7, 1873, where he located, and has since re- sided. He was married at Brookfield, Ohio,

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December 14, 1871, to Miss Nettie T. Taylor. At Pueblo, he has continued in his line of contractor, architect and builder, and has planned and constructed a number of the im- portant buildings in and around the city. He was the first builder in the construction of the smelting works, also the steel works. He planned and constructed the present Insane ·Asylum. Mr. Isenberg has always been a stanch advocate of and believer in the future greatness of the Arkansas Valley and the city of his choice-Pueblo-as his many published letters will testify, he having at various times been the correspondent of different Eastern journals and the newspapers of the city. In the spring of 1880, he was elected Alderman for the city from the Fifth Ward, and was after- ward instrumental in getting the city water mains laid in his ward, much to the gratification of his constituency at that time. He now de- votes his exclusive attention to building-has met with much success, and is well established among the business men of Pueblo.

GEORGE W. INK.

Mr. Ink was born in Luzerne County, Penn. His mother's death necessitated his being raised by her parents, and he was ac- cordingly put under their care. By them he was sent to school winters till he was fifteen, and from fifteen till he was twenty, was kept at work on their farm. Mechanism came natural to him, and, without serving an apprenticeship, he took up carpentry and followed it success- fully for five years. He went to Lawrence, Kan., when he was twenty-seven, and worked in a saw-mill, afterward buying a mill and sawing lumher in several counties in the State. In partnership with others, he has owned two saw- mills on the divide, Colorado, and sawed many million feet of lumber there. One of those mills he moved to Bergan's Park, near Pike's Peak, and, in connection with it, opened a lum- ber-yard and set up a planing-mill in South Pueblo. He dissolved partnership with his partners in 1873, taking the lumber-yard and planing-mill as part of his interest in the prop- erty. He sold the lumber yard and planing- mill in 1878, and has been engaged exclusively in building and contracting from then to the present time. Mr. Ink is the owner of much town property, residences and lots, and is con- sidered a wealthy man. He is Justice of the

Peace and Police Magistrate, and has gained more popularity by his willingness to accom- modate than he can ever gain through moneyed and official positions.

THEODORE R. JONES.

Mr. Jones is well known as a prominent stock man of Southern Colorado. He is num- bered among the "old timers," almost his en- tire life having been spent in the West. He was born at Fort Wayne, Ind., September 2, 1847. He moved with his parents to Missouri in 1856. The following year they moved into Western Kansas, to Bent's Fort, now in Colo- rado. They afterward removed to Booneville, Colo. In 1862, when but fourteen years of age young Jones was placed in charge of the Gov- ernment stores at Booneville or Camp Fillmore. He disbursed supplies until the next year. He had become quite proficient in speaking Span- ish, and in 1863 he went to Tucson, Arizona, where, for a number of years, he acted as in- terpreter for the Quartermaster's Department of that district. In 1871, Mr. Jones came to Pueblo County, Colo., and embarked in the stock business. He was for several years in partnership with H. S. Stevens, but he is now connected with his brother in business, and de- votes his attention entirely to sheep. The sheep interest has become quite important in Colorado. Mr. Jones and his brother handle immense flocks of sheep. Between September, 1880, and January, 1881, they sold 42,000 head. They expect to excel all their former opera- tions in 1881. Mr. Jones has been very suc- cessful in his undertakings, and has grown- quite wealthy. He was married at Booneville, Colo., October 5, 1876, to Miss Harriet Boone, a descendant of the noted Daniel Boone.

LUDWIG KRAMER.

This gentleman is numbered among the "old- timers" of Colorado. He was born in Witten- berg, Germany, September 24, 1825. He came to America in 1852, and located in Iowa. He was married in Germany, and brought his wife and son with him to America. In 1858, he re- moved from Iowa to Jackson County, Mo., where he lived about two years. He came out to Colo- rado in the spring of 1860, and prospected in California Gulch about six months, after which he returned to his family in Missouri, and re- mained with them until 1863. In the spring of

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History of the Arkansas Valley, Colorado, Part 106

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