History of the Arkansas Valley, Colorado, Part 46

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

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mining enterprises and real estate specula- tions.

CHARLES L. HILL.

Charles L. Hill, one of the leading mine managers of Colorado, was born in Exeter, Me., in 1829. His early education was re- ceived at his native town, and at the age of twenty-one years he went to Monroe, Mich., and engaged to the railroad company; in 1856, he took charge of the Peoria (Ill.) office; he was also for six years connected with the United States Express Company. He came to Colorado in 1860 and engaged in milling at Black Hawk for three years; he then en- gaged in mining, and at one time was largely interested in the Gregory and Bob Tail Mines. In 1865, he went to New York, where he en- gaged in the real estate business for two years, then returned to Colorado, and for a short time was engaged in milling at Black Hawk; he then removed to Granite, and, after pros- pecting a time, took charge of the Yankee Blade Mining Company's property; he has since then had charge, at different times, of the Printer Boy, Little Pittsburgh, Moose Mine, Agazzis, Dunkin, Catalpa and Crescent Mines, which mines he operated successfully; he built the first stamp-mill in California Gulch, for Denver parties, and also built a stamp-mill in Mosquito Gulch for Chicago parties. Mr. Hill is one of the oldest and most successful mine managers in Colorado. He was married to Miss Josephine A. Wait in October, 1855, and has one child, a daughter, nine years old.

OLIVER H. HARKER.

O. H. Harker, Superintendent of the Lead- ville Mining Company, a trustworthy and re- liable gentleman, familiar with mining in all its forms; he has contributed, in no small de- gree, to the development of Colorado's mining resources. Born in January, 1838, at Day- ton, Ohio, he was educated at Yates Academy, in New York, and at the White Pigeon Branch of the Michigan University. He came to Colorado in May, 1860, and located in Gilpin County, where he followed mining for eight years, making one trip to San Juan in 1861, where he spent seven months. In 1868, he went to the White River Mining District, in

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Nevada, where he spent two years, returning to Colorado in 1870. During the fall of 1868, he took a trip to Michigan, where he was married to Miss Mary J. Vorhees. In 1872, he went to Boulder County, where he remained seven years in the mines of that county. During this time, Mr. Harker had charge, as Superintendent, of a number of the large mines of Gilpin and Boulder Coupties, among which may be mentioned the Granville, Kansas & Black, Red Cloud, Corning Tunnel, Last Chance, and others. In March, 1879, he went to Leadville and took charge of the Henriett Mine; he was also connected with the Little Pittsburgh, and subsequently took charge of the Breece Iron Mine. Mr. Harker is now General Superintendent of the Lead- ville Mining Company, having under his charge a large force of miners.

ABSALOM V. HUNTER.

The above-named gentleman, Cashier of the People's Bank of Colorado Springs, and Act- ing Cashier of the Miner's Exchange Bank at Leadville, is well known in commercial and banking circles in Colorado, having been a resident of the State since 1873. He was born in Lincoln County, State of Missouri, Nov. 24, 1846. His early educational advan- tages were somewhat limited, being partly ob- tained in country schools of Lincoln and Pike Counties, with the addition of a course of mer- cantile studies at St. Louis, in the college of Bryant & Stratton. At the age of eighteen, he entered the commission house of his father, J. M. Hunter, of St. Louis, and remained with him for a term of four years. In the spring of 1868, he returned to Clarksville, Mo., and engaged with the dry goods firm of Hicks & Terry as book-keeper, in which position he continued for three years. In 1871, he visited Colorado on a tour of examination, looking around the country, and returned to St. Louis. In 1872, he accepted a position as Clerk on a steamer plying between St. Louis and Keokuk, Iowa. in which employment he continued for one year. In the spring of 1873, he returned to Colorado and located at Colorado Springs, and invested in the stock business; subse- quently sold out and. accepted a position as Cashier of the People's Bank, and it was here

he acquired the principles and laid the found- ations of his accurate knowledge of banking. While here, he became interested in mining operations in Leadville and other camps, and was one of the original locators of the Winne- muck Mine, which afterward was consolidated with the Little Pittsburgh, New Discovery and Dives Mines of Leadville; having sold out his interest in these mines, he devoted his time to his banking and real estate inter- ests; he was one of the original founders of the Miners' Exchange Bank of Leadville, aud it is safe to say that no man occupies a higher position in the public estimation as a finan- cier and business man than Absalom V. Hun- ter. He holds the position of Acting Cashier in the Miner's Exchange Bank, also is Cash- ier of the People's Bank at Colorado Springs, and demonstrates that he is an efficient, capa- ble manager of the finances of both of these well-known banking institutions. He was married, December 18, 1877, to Miss Estelle McFerran, daughter of Judge McFerran, of Colorado Springs.

HENRY H. HEWETT, M. D.

The life and services of Dr. Hewett, who has practiced medicine in Colorado since 1860, is so well known and appreciated by the citizens of Leadville that it is unnecessary to present, in this volume, other than a brief allusion to the events and incidents of his career. Born in Otsego Co., N. Y., May 9, 1834, he spent his early life at home with his parents, receiv- ing a liberal education at the public schools and academies of his native town; in 1849, removed with his parents to Wisconsin; after- ward, to Iowa, where he studied his profes- sion. In 1855, he went South for his health, and spent three years. traveling in Arkansas and Texas, the latter being then an unbroken wilderness. In 1859, he came to Council Bluffs, Iowa, where he remained for a short time, and, in the spring of 1860, upon the breaking-out of the Pike's Peak excitement, crossed the Plains and settled in West Denver, embarking in the drug business with D. Y. E. Kennedy, in which he remained until 1863; he sold out the drug business and removed to Lake County and engaged in mining in Colo- rado Gulch, five miles from Leadville; in

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1864, was appointed Deputy United States Marshal and Deputy Provost Marshal for the southwestern portion of the Territory now known as the State of Colorado. For a pe- riod of three years, Dr. Hewett was engaged in practicing medicine, giving some of his time to his mining interests, and, when occa- sion required his official duties, he was chas- ing horse-thieves, deserters and Indians. In the fall of 1866, he removed to Georgetown, as, in his opinion, the camp at Leadville was " played out," and organized a mining com- pany, and for two years met with comparative success in working the mines. In 1869, he attended a course of medical lectures at Cin- cinnati, Ohio; returning, he commenced prac- ticing medicine at Denver, where he remained until April, 1878, and returned to his old stamping-ground. When the Leadville boom commenced, he renewed the practice of his profession, and at present has a large and lu- crative practice. Dr. Hewett was the first County Physician appointed for Lake County, and can relate many interesting reminis- cences of his travels and adventures with the "barnacles" of the camp. The Doctor is prominently identified with the medical pro- fession, and we feel glad to notice him in this work. He is an honored member of the fra- 1

ternity of Odd Fellows, having filled many distinguished positions in that order. Dr. Hewett has experienced all the ups and downs of an active business career, and is content to enjoy the fruits of his years of toil and ex- citement. He was married, a few months since, to a most estimable lady.

ADDISON HAWKINS, M. D.

Dr. Hawkins is one of Leadville's successful practitioners in medicine and surgery. He was born April 24, 1848, in Tippecanoe Co., Ind .; he received a collegiate education at Farmers' Institute, near La Fayette, Ind .; also attended Normal Institute at Lebanon, Ohio, for one year; he attended three courses of lectures at Rush Medical College, Chicago, Ill., receiving his diploma from said college. He came to Colorado in the spring of 1877; returning for a brief period, he then settled in Leadville in March, 1879, and commenced the practice of his profession; he is a member

of the State and County Medical Association, and may now be classed among the prominent physicians of Leadville; he is the resident surgeon for the D. & R. G. R. R. and South Park Railroad, at this place, being the first appointment made. He was married, Oct. 10, 1876, to Mary I. Fisher, his wife being a sis- ter of a prominent railroad official.

JOHN H. HAM.

Among the successful business men of Lead- ville may be found the name of J. H. Ham, born in Amsterdam, Montgomery Co., N. Y., June 7, 1830. He passed his youth in his native town, receiving his education there; at the age of fifteen years, he went to Rochester, and was employed in a hotel for a short time. In 1854, he removed to Milwaukee, Wis., and engaged in mercantile business, where he re- mained until the breaking-out of the rebellion in 1861; he received a commission as First Lieutenant of the First Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and subsequently was appointed Quartermaster of the same regiment; after serving with his regiment for six months, was appointed Post Sutler at Stevenson, Ala., in which position he continued until the close of the war. Having concluded to remain in the South, he embarked in mercantile pursuits and opened a general store in Stevenson, Ala., where he was quite successful, and accumu- lated a competence, which subsequently was lost by an unfortunate venture. In 1867, he returned to Milwaukee and again ventured into the mercantile trade, where he remained until 1869; he then went to Whitewater, Wis., and started a cheese manufactory on an extensive scale, using the milk obtained from 600 cows. In the spring of 1872, he emi- grated to Colorado and embarked in the gro- cery trade at Denver, where he remained for five years; removing to Boulder County, he engaged in mining, in which business he man- aged to again lose all of his hard earnings. In April, 1878, he came to Leadville and lo- cated the Winnemuck Mine the same day the Little Pittsburgh was located, but a prospect- ive law-suit induced him to give up his claim, and he returned to Leadville and took a posi- tion as General Manager in the large and growing business then carried on by George B.

LITTLE PRINCE MINE LEADVILLE COL.

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Robinson, doing all the buying for that exten- sive store for two years; he then decided to again go into business for himself, opening a meat and vegetable stand on Chestnut street, in which he has been successful, and, after his many ventures, he is contented to remain. He was married, Aug. 19, 1856, in Milwaukee, to Miss Sarah E. Wheeler, and has four chil- dren, and will celebrate his silver wedding the 19th day of August, 1881.

HON. JOHN J. HENRY.

Judge Henry, present Register of the United States Land Office at Leadville, is a gentle- man of ripe scholarship and large experience in professional work. Patient, untiring in- dustry has always been one of the most im- portant features of his character, marking not only his maturer years and professional career, but his early life as well. He was born in New Castle Co., Del., in 1822, and received an academic education in the academies of Wilmington, Del., and Norristown, Penn. At an early age, he took an active part in poli- tics, and joined himself to the old Whig party; had an intimate acquaintance, which ripened into friendship, with the Hon. John M. Clay- ton, from whom he learned much of the prin- ciples and practices of the leading old-school Whigs of the nation; although a slaveholder in his native State, he was among the first to adopt the principles of the Republican party, and supported John C. Fremont for the Pres- idency in 1856, and has always been a stanch supporter of the Republican party: he served with honor a long apprenticeship in the State Legislature of his native State. In 1863, he was appointed Minister to Liberia by Presi- dent Lincoln, it being the first appointment made; and in 1872, President Grant appointed him Consul to Kingston, Jamaica, both of which appointments he declined. In 1875, he was appointed by President Grant to the office he now holds. Judge Henry has hon- orably filled various offices of public trust in a creditable manner, and has attained a posi- tion of prominence and influence in the com- munity. He was married to the daughter of Gideon Lusby, of Cecil Co., Md .; his wife is also the niece of the late Commodore Jacob Jones, United States Navy, who, in the war of

1812-15, commanded the sloop-of- war Wasp, and gained such a noted victory over the Brit- ish war vessel Frolic. He has three children -two sons and one daughter.

ROBERT A. JOHNSTON.

Mr. Johnston was born in New York City in 1846, and lived there until 1861, when he went to Minnesota, remaining thirteen years, engaged in the horse and cattle trade. Dur- ing the time of the great Indian troubles in that State, Mr. Johnston served in the State militia, and took an active part throughout the war; he was several times badly wounded, and to-day shows many scars made by Indian bullets. He was elected Sheriff of Watonwan County in 1872, serving one term. Coming to Colorado, he located at Denver and engaged in the horse and cattle trade until 1879, with John G. Lilly, the well known cattle dealer. In 1879, he arrived in Leadville, and was ap-' pointed a Deputy Sheriff-a position he has since held with great credit to himself. He is now the officer of the County Court, and Collector of county licenses. He is also engaged in mining. Mr. Johnston is well liked by all who have business dealings with him. What education he has-which is far above that usually acquired in the common schools-has been gathered by his own per- sonal efforts and observations in every-day life.

GEN. HORACE B. JOHNSON.

H. B. Johnson was born at Marengo, Mc- Henry Co., Ill., on the 14th day of August, 1842; in 1852, he removed to Fayette Co., Iowa; here he resided until the commencment of the war, and during which time he received his education and studied law at the Upper Iowa University. Upon the first call of the President, for troops, he enlisted in the Third Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and served in that regiment during the summer of 1861; in the fall of 1861, he organized, at St. Joseph, Mo., a battery of artillery, known as the First Mis- souri Battery of Horse Artillery, which ren- dered good service during the war; he was twice slightly wounded. At the close of the war, he located at Kansas City and engaged in the active practice of his profession. In the spring of 1865, he was appointed Circuit

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Attorney of the circuit composed of Jackson, Cass, Bates, Johnson, Pettis, Saline and La Fayette Counties; he held this position until the fall of 1868, when he was elected Attorney General of the State; in 1870, he was re-nom- inatied by acclamation by the Republican Convention, but, this being the year of the well-known bolt from the Republican party, he was defeated, together with his whole ticket, at the election. Although he was always a Republican of the most pronounced order, and although living in a Senatorial dis- trict which had about one thousand Demo- cratic majority, he was elected, in 1875, as a member of the Constitutional Convention which framed the new constitution of that year. With the exceptions above noted, he has kept out of office and politics and devoted his atttention studiously to his profession. During the last ten years of his residence in Missouri, he found it necessary to limit his practice almost exclusively to the Federal Courts and the Supreme Court of the State. In 1877, he determined to remove from that State, and accordingly located at Topeka, Kan., and practiced his profession there, in partnership with Willard Davis, then the At- torney General of Kansas, until, in the spring of 1879, he came to Leadville on professional business; here he was so impressed concerning the future of this city and the State that he immediately returned to Topeka and prepared to close his office there and remove to Lead- ville. He opened an office here in July, 1879, and has enjoyed a fair share of the legal busi- ness of the city up to the present time. He is married, and has one daughter, eleven years of age. He married, in 1868, the daughter of E. J. Mariner, who now resides at Olathe, Kan. He has, during the past ten years, been a con- tributor to the American Law Register, pub- lished at Philadelphia.

HON. WILLIAM H. JAMES.

William H. James, the first Mayor of the city of Leadville, is in all respects a repre- sentative Western man. His twenty years' residence in the mining districts of Colorado have familiarized him with the elements and necessities of such communities. His adurin- istration has deepened the high estimation in

which he has been held by his friends, as a straightforward, incorruptible and public- spirited citizen. He gave his whole time and energies to the affairs of the City Government and the advancement of the city interests, in- trusting his private business affairs to the management of others, so that his personal supervision of public enterprises might has- ten their completion. He was born in Mon- mouthshire, Wales, in 1838, and came to America when eight years of age, with his parents, they settling in Brooklyn, N. Y .; he acquired the rudiments there of a common- school education, and also learned the watch- maker's trade. In 1855, we find him in Iowa City, Iowa, in the employ of G. W. Marquardt & Co., jewelers, until the gold excitement al- lured him in the direction of Pike's Peak. In June, 1860, with his young wife, he pitched his tent in Nevada Gulch, Gilpin Co., Colo., and has never but once since been east of the Missouri River; he was one of the owners of the fourth stamp-mill brought into Gilpin County, and immediately doubled its capacity to eight stamps; with this mill, for the first winter, he cleared, after paying all expenses, exactly $13.85; his second venture, in remov- ing that mill to Empire, in Clear Creek County, was more disastrous, but he was lucky enough to sell the fine white shirts sent out to him by his mother for enough to move his family back to Nevada; with the loan of $20 from a friend, he began the watch-making and repairing business, and was doing hand- somely until the fire came and swept away his entire possessions. In relating his experience, he remarked: "I gathered greens upon the hillside, not because my wife and I were par- ticularly fond of greens, but we wanted some- thing to eat." Mr. James afterward became Superintendent for the Terrible Mine for Clark & Crow until its sale to European par- ties; he then became Superintendent of the Burleigh and Baltimore Tunnels, operating the first Burleigh steam drill that was intro- duced in the mines of Colorado. In 1873, he superintended the gulch mines of Fred A. Clark at Fairplay, Park Co., using the first hydraulics and Little Giant nozzles brought into the State. Coming to Lake County in 1875, he had charge of the Printer Boy Mine

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until elected a member of the Constitutional Convention from the counties of Park and Lake. Mr. James was the prime mover and chief advocate of that clause in the constitu- tion which provides that mines should not be taxed for the period of ten years, as mining at that time was in its infancy, and needed em- phatic encouragement; after other faithful services as a legislator, he returned here and assumed charge of the Oro Mining, Ditch and Flume Company's operations. In February, 1878, he formed a partnership with Edward Eddy, and entered upon the business of buy- ing and handling ores. In April, he was the choice of the solid business men for Mayor of the city of Leadville. Mr. James is truly a self-made man, and is ever ready to impart to the stranger reliable information regarding the ores, mines, and general business of this great carbonate camp. On December 13, 1879, just before his departure to New York, he was presented with a handsome gold watch and chain by the members of the City Coun- cil, and regaled with an elegant banquet. During the great strike of the miners, in the summer of 1880, the city of Leadville for a time was in the hands of a mob, and the State troops were called out to protect the lives and property of her citizens, and the city was placed under martial law. Mr. James was appointed Brigadier General, and rendered efficient and valuable service in quelling the riot. As a citizen, Mr. James is held in the highest esteem; possessed of a genial nature, a liberal heart and an energetic will, with an irreproachable character, he occupies an en- viable position in the estimation of the people of Leadville.

JOHN P. KELLY.

Among Leadville's early officials was Mr. J. P. Kelly, who was elected an Alderman in the spring of 1879; he served as Mayor pro tem. for a long term during the Mayor's absence; he is to-day a Justice of the Peace. Mr. Kelly has seen a great deal of the mining countries of the world. He was born in Ireland the 12th of June, A. D. 1840; when twelve years old, he followed his parents to Australia, after- ward going to New Zealand, in which two places he spent fourteen years, engaged in mining; he afterward came to San Francisco and re-

mained two years, removing to Omaha in 1867, where for eight years he was Chief of Police; he then came to Colorado and located in Lake City, where he now owns considerable mining and city property. He arrived in Leadville in 1878, and commenced to mine; he also engaged in business on Chestnut street. Mr. Kelly located the Australia Mine and others on the Big Evans. Ever since his ar- rival here, he has been successful, and is one of Leadville's foremost citizens.

P. S. KEEFER.

Mr. Keefer is Deputy County Treasurer. a position he holds under Richard H. Stanley. Mr. Keefer was born in Frederick Co., Md., in 1852, where he remained until 1868; he then removed to Baltimore, where he remained until the spring of 1879. He came to Lead- ville, Colo., in 1879. Since his arrival here, he has been engaged in mining, outside of the time that he is necessarily engaged in the Treasurer's office.

JOHN L. LOOMIS.

Mr. Loomis was born in New Woodstock, Madison Co., N. Y., April 26, 1838. He at- tended the common schools until the age of fifteen years; from there, went to the Madi- son University at Hamilton, Madison, Co., for a period of three years. In 1856, he removed to Independence, Iowa, and learned the print- ing trade, and worked at that business until the breaking-out of the war; he enlisted in the Forty-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and participated in nearly all the battles of the Army of the Cumberland, and was severely wounded at the battle of Mission Ridge; he was promoted to First Lieutenant for merito- rious conduct, and commanded his company for one and a half years. At the close of the war, he returned to Independence, Iowa, and started the Buchanan County Bulletin news- paper, and published the same for four years; in 1869, was elected County Auditor, and served in that capacity for four years; also held the position of Postmaster of Independ- ence, Iowa, for two years; in 1877, resigned these positions and removed to Colorado Springs, and spent the winter studying assay- ing and mineralogy; in April, 1878, came to

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Leadville and opened an assay office, and was employed by Eddy & James as their assayer for a period of one year; in November, 1878,; was appointed Superintendent of the Robert E. Lee Mine, being the first Superintendent of that celebrated and valuable mine, and re- signed that position in August, 1880, and ac- cepted the position of General Manager of the Hibernian Consolidated Mining Company; also was General Manager of the Yankee and Breece Hill and the Chippewa Consolidated Mining Companies. Mr. Loomis is still en- gaged in the mining business, and is well- known as a mining expert, and has a thorough and practical knowledge of mining. He was married at Independence, Iowa, in 1860, and has a family of two children.

JOHN LIENINGER.

Among the success ful news-dealers of Lead- ville may be mentioned the subject of this sketch. He was born in Russia in 1852, and came to this country when a child, his parents locating in Chicago, and afterward removing to St. Joseph, Mo .; he received a common- school education, and for a number of years was a news agent on various railroads in Kan- sas. In 1871, he came to Colorado, and for awhile remained in Golden and Georgetown and prospected throughout the mountains; he left Colorado for a short time, and was en- gaged in the cabinet business at Omaha. He came to Leadville in December, 1877, and started in business in February, 1878; his place of business is now at No. 324 Harrison avenue; he has met with financial success, and is fully deserving of the large business which he conducts.

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History of the Arkansas Valley, Colorado, Part 46

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