History of the Arkansas Valley, Colorado, Part 44

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

USA > Colorado > History of the Arkansas Valley, Colorado > Part 44

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RICHARD DILLON.

Among the successful mining pioneers of Leadville, is the subject of this sketch. Dick Dillon, as he was better known, was one of those who made their big strikes early. He was born in Tipperary Co., Ireland, in 1850; when six years old he came to America, with his parents, and settled in Luzerne Co., Penn., where he remained fourteen years, engaged in coal mining. He received a common-school education; he then went to New Mexico, where he lived one year engaged in placer mining; he then came to Pueblo, Colo., re- maining a short while, then going to Central City, spending three years in lead mining. He was in Boulder County during the tellu- rium excitement in the Sunshine district. He came to Leadville in July, 1877, and worked with the Gallagher brothers on the Camp Bird Mine. He afterward prospected for himself, and discovered the Robert Emmet lode, the Forest City and Result lodes. He also dis- covered the famous Little Chief Mine, on the discovery of which they sunk their shaft 100 feet in ten days. He was one of four of the original locators of the same, selling the mine for $300,000. He now owns large and valua-

ble interests throughout this district, and devotes all his time to mining.

JAMES F. ESHELMAN.

Mr. Eshelman, the Treasurer of the Lead- ville Lumber Company, was born in Spring- field, Lancaster Co., Penn., in August, 1852, and received an academic education at Can- ton, Ohio. He was employed, for a period of nine years, in the Deposit Bank, and in the spring of 1878, came to Leadville to assist in organizing the Lake County Bank. He was appointed President, which office he held until April, 1879, the title of the bank being then changed to the First National Bank of Leadville, the capital being increased to $60,000, he was re-appointed President, and held that position until the fall of 1879, when he resigned on account of ill health and went into the lumber business, being appointed Treasurer of the Leadville Lumber Company, which position he still holds. He was married in the fall of 1878. Mr. Eshelman possesses great natural abilities as a business man, with an abundant supply of that enterprise and energy necessary to success.

HON. EDWARD EDDY.

This gentleman was born in Cornwall, En- gland, June 30, 1840. He received a liberal education in the branch of South Kensington School of Mines, organized by the Government, for the diffusing of technical education in the science of mining. For a period of ten years he had practical experience in every branch of mining and milling known in England, and had, for several years, the management of im- portant mining properties in Cornwall and Devonshire. In the fall of 1871, he carried out a long-cherished desire, and emigrated to the mining regions of America, and on the 12th of October, of that year, he arrived in Georgetown, Colo., with but a few dollars in his pocket, and sought employment in the mines; he obtained a situation in the East Terrible Mine, superintended by his present partner, ex-Mayor William H. James. From his savings, he began taking leases on mines, and was successful in adding to his finances. He then built and operated the first successful concentrating mill in Colorado; afterward organized a company and built the Silver

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Plume Sampling and Concentrating Works, which is regarded as one of the best in the State. Mr. Eddy came to Leadville the 5th day of February, 1878, on a tour of inspection, and his practiced eye perceiving the future of the Carbonate Camp, in conjunction with his present partner, William H. James, built the sampling works, and entered upon what has become one of the largest and most remuner- ative businesses in the State. His experi- ence in milling, and being conversant with ores, and the liberal dealing with mine owners, ably assisted in obtaining a prominence in business circles, and laid solid the foundation for their immense business, which is second to none in the State. The buying of bullion, in connection with ores, was decided on after Mr. Eddy's return from Europe, in 1879, where he paid his aged father a visit, accom- panied by his estimable lady. On the 1st of January, 1880, Eddy and James formed a co- partnership with J. B. Grant & Co., and the business is now carried on under the name of the Grant Smelting Company, and is one of the largest, if not the largest, smelting works in the world. Mr. Eddy is a public-spirited man, in favor of all measures calculated to advance the best interests of the city and State.

JOHN H. ERWIN.

Mr. Erwin is one of the "old timers" in Colorado. He started, May 15, 1860, for the Centennial State, and has made it his home until the present time. Mr. Erwin was born in Upper Canada May 20, 1838; his parents removed to Boone Co., Ill., in 1840, where he made it his home for twenty years, working on a farm and attending the common schools of the county. When Pike's Peak excitement broke out, Mr. Erwin, in company with many others, started for the Rocky Mountains. He drove an ox team the entire distance, from Belvidere, Boone Co., Ill., to Denver. Before working in the mines, he made three trips across the plains, from Omaha, Neb., to Denver and Mountain City. After making his third trip, he worked in the mines for a season. In October, 1861, Mr. Erwin enlisted in the First Colorado Infantry, Company D. The regi- ment afterward became a cavalry one. His company was formed in George Gulch, and it

remained in Denver until February, 1862, when the regiment was ordered to Fort Union, N. M .; they made a forced march the entire distance. At the fort, the regiment received arms, clothing, ammunition and provisions, and then started for Santa Fe; March 26 and 28, 1862, his regiment fought Confederate troops in Apache Canon, N. M. They then started for Paralto, by the way of Albuquer- que, where they had an engagement, and took six pieces of artillery and ten mule wagons. For several months following, the regiment was engaged in New Mexico. Afterward they went to Fort Lyon, on the Arkansas .River, and then to Fort Larned, Kan., and returned to Fort, Lyon. At Bent's old fort, on the Arkansas, the regiment received horses; from that time until the close of the war, the regi- ment was a cavalry one. They were then ordered to Denver; from there the regiment escorted seven Ute chiefs to the Missouri River, on their way to Washington. During the time the chiefs were absent, Mr. Erwin was scouting with his company in Missouri. When the chiefs returned, he escorted them back to Denver. July 15, 1863, the regiment went to Middle Park, and returned October 1 to Denver. For a short time afterward, he was scouting for Indians, near Fort Larned, Kan., where they had a two days' fight with them. After this engagement, the regiment was ordered back to Denver, where they re- mained the balance of the winter. May 24, 1864, Mr. Erwin went to Fort Lyon, where he obtained a sixty days' furlough. At the expiration of this time, he entered the serv- ices of Capt. Gorton, who was Assistant Quar- termaster. After a short time, he joined his regiment at Fort Morgan, and went to Cache La Poudre, where his company escorted a mail coach, from Cache La Poudre to Fort Hallock, on the old Salt Lake stage route. On this trip they lost two men; one was killed by the In- dians, and the other by a careless emigrant, who accidentally discharged his gun, killing the soldier and his horse. The Indians were troublesome, and soldiers were detailed to do escort duty. After serving in this capacity for a time, Mr. Erwin was ordered to Denver to be mustered out of service. After the war closed, he made a trip to Salt Lake City, and

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back to St. Joseph, Mo., when he returned to Denver. In 1868, Mr. Erwin was married to Miss Victoria Reithman. He then settled on a cattle ranche, on First Creek, where he re- mained for nine years, and for three years he was on the Platte River, engaged in stock-rais- ing and farming. In 1879, Mr. Erwin sold out his cattle, and removed to Leadville, where he has resided until the present, engaged in mercantile life. In 1881, in company with a Mr. Paddock, he bought the Steam Cracker Works, at No. 300 East Sixth street, Lead- ville, where he is having a prosperous busi- ness, not only largely supplying the city with their goods, but also a large extent of terri- tory surrounding Leadville.

J. WARREN FAXON.

J. Warren Faxon, a native of Massachusetts, was born in December, 1836; at the age of sixteen years, he engaged in the grocery bus- iness with his brothers, and subsequently, in the wholesale grocery business, in Boston. In 1868, they retired from the grocery bus- iness and invested in real estate; they built three fine blocks in Boston, which they still own. J. W. Faxon came to Colorado in the fall of 1869, and located in Leadville; he has given most of his time to real estate business, though was, for a short time, President of the City Bank; he built the Boston and Quincy Blocks, the latter being one of the finest in the city. He was married to Miss F. L. Worster, daughter of Asa Worster, Chicago, in June, 1880.

GILES H. FONDA.

G. H. Fonda, Chief of the Leadville Fire Department and one of Leadville's most wide- awake citizens, was born in Augusta, Ill., on the 25th day of January, 1848. He received a good common-school education, and at the age of fourteen years was apprenticed to the drug firm of Smith & Dwyer, in Chicago, where he remained until 1866, being put in charge of the wholesale department a few months before leaving the firm. While yet a boy, he connected himself with the fire depart- ment of Chicago. He came to Colorado in 1866, and located in Central City, where he engaged in mining for one and a half years. He then embarked in the drug business, as

senior member of the firm of Fonda & Farn- ald. Mr. Fonda helped organize the first fire company in Central City. In 1869, he moved to Caribou, and embarked in the general mer- cantile business for one year. He then moved to Boulder, where he again engaged in the drug business; in 1875, he helped organize the Boulder Fire Department, and continued an active member for three years, working one year on the rope, one year as foreman of the Phoenix Company and one year as Chief of the Department. He then came to Leadville, where he started a drug store, and at once connected himself with the Leadville Fire De- partment, and was chosen Chief at the end of the first year. He has since re-organized the department, making it one of the best in the West, consisting of 160 active members, a general history of which will appear in an- other place in this work. Mr. Fonda was married to Miss E. Hull in 1872, and has three children.

GEN. WILLIAM H. FISHBACK.

William Henry Fishback was born June 10, 1829, in Warren Co., Ind. His father, Free- man Fishback, and his mother, Mary Jackson Fishback, were exemplary members of the Presbyterian Church. His mother was a daughter of Dr. Jackson, of Sandusky, Ohio, who was a soldier in the war of 1812; partic- ipated with credit in the celebrated defense of Fort Stephenson, under Croghan, and was in the naval battle, now known as Perry's Vic- tory, on Lake Erie. William H. Fishback's early education was attended by numerous obstacles, not the least of which was poverty. His father died when the boy was quite young, but he was ambitious to acquire an education, and all his efforts were bent to the accom- plishment of this end. He taught school, and followed other occupations, to obtain the nec- essary means for his collegiate course, and was educated, in part, at the University of Indi- ana, Bloomington and Knox College, Gales- burg, Ill. He then began the study of law, under Hon. Paris C. Dunning, of Blooming- ton, Ind., and was admitted to the bar, at Ox- ford, Benton Co., Ind. He began the practice at Williamsport, in the same State, where he was appointed Deputy Treasurer and Collector

Chas L. Sofall

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of the county, by Hon. B. F. Gregory, then (1855) Treasurer of Warren County, and his salary, together with his practice, gave him a financial start. After practicing two years, he removed to Kansas, locating at Olathe, in 1859. While in Kansas, he secured a large practice at the bar, and secured the confidence of the citizens of his own and adjoining counties as a lawyer of ability and a hard worker. He was frequently elected to the Legislature, as member of the House of Rep- resentatives, and afterward Senator, where his abilities as a legislator were recognized by appointment to the most important commit- tees. He was elected Mayor of Olathe, for three successive terms, and held other posi- tions of trust. During the late civil war, Mr. Fishback took an important part in the affairs of Kansas; was appointed Aid-de-Camp to the Governor, and afterward became Lieutenant- Colonel of the Fifteenth Kansas Volunteers. In 1864, he was appointed Brigadier General of Kansas State Militia, being actively en- gaged in the affairs of the border until the close of the war. In the spring of 1879, Gen. Fishback came to Colorado, locating immedi- ately at Leadville, where he has since re- mained. He has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession, and particularly in the mining litigation of Lake County, from which he has acquired a handsome compe- tency, the firm, Fishback & Fishback, being one of the best known and most popular in Leadville. Gen. Fishback's family consists of a wife, one son, Charles F., and one daugh- ter, Miss Minnie, all of whom have resided in Leadville for the past two years.

CHARLES F. FISHBACK.

Charles Fremont Fishback was born in Warren County, Ind., July 9, 1856, being now twenty-five years of age. In 1859, his par- ents, William H. and Sarah Fishback, removed to Kansas, locating at Olathe, a thriving town twenty miles southwest of Kansas City, Mo. He received a very thorough and complete academic education, and at the early age of fourteen, was admitted to the Freshman Class of the State University of Kansas. At the close of his schooldays, Mr. Fishback engaged in teaching, with great success, being Profes-

sor of Languages in the Olathe Academy, of which institution he afterward became part owner, having acquired a high reputation over a large section of country as an earnest and careful instructor of the highest ability. Mr. Fishback, however, used all his successes as a stepping-stone to the legal profession. He was admitted as a student to the office of Hon. John P. St. John, now Governor of Kansas, where he remained a sufficient time to prepare himself for admission to law school. He afterward entered the law department of Washington University, of St. Louis, Mo., took the studies of both the junior and senior classes, passed a successful examination in both, and graduated at the end of his first year, a thing before unknown in the history of the institution. Mr. Fishback came to Leadville in the early part of 1879, and de- termined to make Colorado his future home. In September, of the next year, he returned to Olathe, Kan., and was married, to Miss Lucia Kirke Phillips, second daughter of Dr. T. H. Phillips, of that place. He returned, with his wife, an accomplished and estimable lady, to Leadville, where they now have a most pleas- ant and comfortable home.' In politics, Mr. Fishback is a stanch Republican. He is a gentleman of known integrity and fine social qualities, and as a lawyer possesses the ability which will undoubtedly carry him with rapid strides to the front rank of his profession.

PETER FINERTY.

Mr. Finerty is a native of Ireland; he was born December 12, 1840, and came to the United States, with his family, when five years of age. He lived in Pennsylvania, Vermont and Iowa until 1874; he received no educa- tion, except what he acquired while outside of schools, and by his own exertions; in 1874, he came to Colorado, and engaged in mining in Summit County, for three years; he then removed to Leadville; here he has been one of the most successful mining operators in the district; he purchased the Little Chief Mine, out of which he took about $300,000, and then sold the mine for $350,000; he is now interested in some of the best mines in the State, and looked upon as one of Colo- rado's leading mining men.

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JOHN W. FRASER.

Mr. Fraser was born in Inverness, Scot- land, in 1842, and came to America, with his parents, when three years of age, settling in Canada. When about seventeen years old, he went to St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., where he lumbered in the winter and farmed in the summer, for a period of five years; he then went to the lumber regions of Michigan, leav- ing the Upper Peninsula of that State and coming to Colorado in 1875. He first lo- cated at Greeley, then at Breckenridge, devot- ing his time in the summer to mining, and in the winter to lumbering. He came to Lake County in the fall of 1877, and engaged in mining; he was the first policeman of Lead- ville, the first City Jailer and the first Cap- tain of Police; he made a good and efficient officer, and during those necessarily turbulent times, escaped from many dangerous places unhurt while performing his duty as an officer. In the fall of 1879, Mr. Fraser re- signed his position as a policeman and as Captain to attend to his duties as Constable, having been elected that same fall for a term of two years. The first and only stage robbery on the road to Leadville occurred on the 18th of September, 1879. Mr. Fraser very skillfully soon detected the robbers and had them all under arrest that same day; they are now serving their sentences at Lincoln, Neb. Mr. Fraser is one of Leadville's most active and efficient officers.

EDWARD FITZGERALD.

Fortunate among the prospectors who ar- rived in Leadville during the last few years, may be mentioned Mr. Edward Fitzgerald; his labors have been well and fittingly re- warded. He was born in County Water- ford, Ireland, in 1847, and remained there until 1872, engaged in farming, and was known as a very successful one. He came to America in 1872, and located at Omaha, Neb., where he lived four years, working for the Union Pacific Railroad. He came to Colo- rado and engaged in mining at Alma, in Park Connty. In May, 1877, he came to Leadville, and mined in California Gulch; soon after, he prospected on Carbonate Hill, and, with others, located the Little Giant

Mine, which has since proved so rich, and made all of its owners independent. This property was sold on the 20th of April, 1881, for $225,000, Mr. Fitzgerald being the owner of three-eighths. He is now interested in promising mining properties in Adelaide Park. He is a gentleman possessed of more than ordinary ability, and has a host of friends. Mr. Fitzgerald was also one of the original owners of the Matchless Mine, on Fryer Hill.

HON. LUTHER M. GODDARD.

Mr. Goddard was born in Wayne Co., N. Y, the 27th of October, 1837, and resided there until he had reached his fifteenth year, when he removed, with his parents, to Knox County, Ill., where he remained about six years. While there, he attended Hedding Seminary. He was married in this county, in 1858, and moved, with his family, to Leavenworth, Kan., in 1862. Mr. Goddard may be classed with the pioneers of Colorado, for, in 1864, he crossed the plains as a freighter from Leaven- worth to Denver. He shortly afterward re- turned East, and attended the Chicago Law School, having, previously to this time, devoted a great portion of his time to the study of law. He graduated at that institution in the class of 1865, his acquirements gaining for him the position of valedictorian. He then returned to Leavenworth, where he engaged in the practice of his profession, and, through his rare ability, obtained a large and remu- nerative practice. In 1871, he associated himself with Hon. John L. Pendery, between whom and himself the strongest friendly rela- tions exist to this day. In 1872, he was elected County Attorney, and afterward re- elected for a second term. In 1872, he was also a member of the Kansas Legislature, a position he held with great credit to himself and perfect satisfaction to his constituents. In August, 1878, Mr. Goddard arrived in Lead- ville, where he entered into partnership with his former associate, John L. Pendery, and soon had a lucrative law practice. He imme- diately interested himself in mining, and soon laid the foundation for his present wealth. He was one of the original locators of the since famous Pendery Mine, and it was through his perseverance, with that of his co-owners,

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that all the theories in regard to the Carbon- ate belt, were exploded, and to him is due a large share of the credit which has since made new and valuable discoveries, where before mineral was never supposed to exist. In the fall of 1879, he abandoned the practice of law, and devoted his whole time and attention to mining. He is interested in numerous mining properties, some of which are very promising; his interests are scattered through- out different counties of the State. He is one of the owners of the Crown Point Group, at Ten Mile, also of the Consolidated Virginia, in Frying Pan Gulch, and of the Ypsilanti and Portland, near Leadville. He is the President of the Gerard Mining and Smelting Company. At the city election of Leadville, in the spring of 1880, Mr. Goddard was elected a member of the School Board for a term of three years. Under the regime of that Board, the large and elegant schoolhouse was built; he is now President of the Board. Mr. God- dard's legal ability is unquestionable; in all his undertakings while here, he has been suc- cessful, and is at this time one of Leadville's most enterprising and prosperous men-a gentleman who is unpretentious in manners, but one who, on account of his affability and geniality, makes many friends, and has no enemies.

SAMUEL P. GUTSHALL.

Mr. Gutshall was born near Blain, Perry County, State of Pennsylvania; he is of Ger- man extraction, born in April, 1840; he lived on a farm and attended the common schools of the county until he was twenty-one years of age. When the war of the rebellion broke out, Mr. Gutshall enlisted in the Ninth Penn- sylvania Cavalry. At the expiration of his term of service, he re-enlisted, and served uutil he was discharged in June, 1865. When he first entered the army, he served under Gen. Buell, in Kentucky, and afterward under Gen. Rosecrans in Tennessee. During Gen. Sherman's march to the sea, Mr. Gutshall was in Gen. Kilpatrick's command. He was wounded at Wilmington, N. C., in his right arm, for which disability he is receiving a pension. He served four years in the United States Army, and was engaged in 125 battles and skirmishes. At the close of the

war, Mr. Gutshall returned to his old home in Pennsylvania, where he remained until the following spring, when he came to Colorado. He started from Leavenworth, Kan., with one of Ben Holliday's outfits of ox-teams, which consisted of forty-six yokes of ox-teams. He was sixty days crossing the plains, before reaching Denver. The whole train was so thoroughly armed they were not molested by the Indians, though the train that preceded them was attacked and several of the party were killed. The train arrived in Denver in July, 1866. Mr. Gutshall lived in the vicinity of the city a few months before he went onto the Divide between Denver and Colorado Springs. There he lived six years, and dur- ing that period he experienced a great deal of trouble from the Indians. The Arapahoes and the Cheyennes were the attacking parties. They killed a number of people, and also many cattle, besides running off all the horses they could find. When the town of Colorado Springs was laid out, Mr. Gutshall moved there, and engaged in the lumber business, where he remained until 1879, when he re- moved to Leadville and continued in the same occupation. Mr. Gutshall was married, De- cember 25, 1878, to Miss Essie Klinepeter; they have one child living.

DANIEL G. GOLDING.

Mr. Golding was born at Albany, N. Y., in 1857, but from the age of four years until his removal to Colorado, he lived in Leavenworth, Kan. In 1861, he came to Central City, Colo., afterward going back to Kansas, where he resided until 1873; he then went to Omaha and engaged in the dry goods business for two years, removing thence to Atchison, Kan., where he engaged in the jewelry business. In the spring of 1879, he arrived in Leadville, and opened a branch jewelry house for Hatch, Davidson & Co. On the 1st of Janu- ary, 1881, he went into the jewelry business for himself, his place of business being 112 Harrison avenue. He is largely interested in mining.

E. H. GRUBER.

Mr. Gruber is undoubtedly one of Lead- ville's best-known men, and also one of its most industrious in developing the mineral

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resources of this section. He was born in Hagerstown, Washington Co., Md., on the 25th of March, 1833, and received a common school education up to the age of sixteen, when he attended Wittenberg College, at Springfield, Ohio. He afterward went to St. Louis, where he was engaged by McLelland, Scruggs & Co., as cashier, in which capacity he served from 1851 to 1857, from whence he went to Leavenworth, Kan., at which latter city he founded the banking house of Clark, Gruber & Co., a branch of which was opened in Denver during the Pike's Peak excitement of 1859, Mr. Gruber looking after its interests in that place; the house met with great suc- cess. It was then that Mr. Gruber conceived the idea of coining gold and stamping it with their firm name; finding no law prohibiting the same, their house erected a mint and forth- with commenced to coin money, at the rate of $10.000 to $15,000 per day. This coin was circulated throughout all business portions of Colorado, and it proved of great assistance in trade, and was recognized at par at all times. In 1863, the mint was purchased by the United States Government for $25,000. Their firm closed business in Denver in 1864, and Mr. Gruber returned to Leavenworth, where he continued in banking until 1866, at the same time being engaged in the above business in the States of New York and Lou- isiana. In July, 1878, Mr. Gruber returned to Colorado, and located in Leadville, where he has since been engaged very heavily in mining, he being one of the original owners of the famous Pendery Mine, out of the sale of which he realized a handsome sum; he was also interested in the Greenwood, and at pres- ent is the owner of some very fine property, hav- ing discovered mineral recently in the Eudora. He has been successful in most of his mining projects, and has considerable real estate throughout the city, the Gruber Block, on Harrison avenue, having been erected by him.

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History of the Arkansas Valley, Colorado, Part 44

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