History of the Arkansas Valley, Colorado, Part 54

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

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HON. THOMAS H. GREER.

This gentleman, owner of the Greer Smelting Works at Kokomo, was born in Albany, N. Y., October 6, 1837. At the age of nineteen, he graduated from the Albany Academy. In 1860, he entered a partnership with his father, Alexander Greer, the well-known and exten- sive tobacco dealer, under the firm name of A.

Greer & Son. In 1873, his father withdrew from the firm, which has since been known as Alexander Greer's Sons, of which Thomas H. Greer is still a member. In January, 1880, he came to Ten Mile District for the purpose of looking up a site for a smelter, and in May fol- lowing began erecting his works, which are now completed and running. Mr. Greer is largely interested in the Texas Star Combination of Mines, and the Stalwart Combination, both lo- cated in this district. During the fall of 1878, he was elected a member of the State Legisla- ture of the State of New York, which office he honorably filled one year. Mr. Greer was mar- ried September 6, 1860, to Miss Anna L. Scott, of Albany, N. Y., and has one son.

GUST GAMER. -

Mr. Gamer is of German descent, and was born in Cook County, Ill., September 12, 1853. He remained on the paternal farm and attended dis- trict school until eighteen years of age, then went to Chicago and served an apprenticeship at the shoemaker's trade. After remaining there eighteen months he went to St. Joseph, Mo., where he followed his trade six years. During the spring of 1879, he came to Colora- do, located in Kokomo, Ten Mile District, and opened a boot and shoe store, which he has since conducted in connection with his trade.

HON. JOHN N. HARDER.

The above named gentleman was born in Kinderhook, N. Y., April 29, 1842. At the age of sixteen he completed his education at Kinderhook Academy. He then removed with his parents to Niles, Michigan, where he re- mained on his father's farm three years. In September, 1861, he enlisted in Company E, Twelfth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, and served three years and four months. After be- ing honorably mustered out of the service he returned to Michigan and clerked two years. In 1866, he came to Colorado, located at Cen- tral City, Gilpin County, and followed mining until fall, then returned to Michigan. The fol- lowing spring he again came to Colorado, and during the succeeding year was engaged in the hotel business at Fall River, in Clear Creek County. He was subsequently engaged in placer mining one year, in the hotel business at Idaho Springs four years, and in the bakery and confectionery business at Georgetown four

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years. In 1878, he went to Leadville and en- gaged in the bakery business. During the spring of 1879, he left his business in Leadville and removed to Kokomo and opened a general miners' supply and queensware store, with a bakery in connection, in which business he has since been successfully engaged. In 1879, he sold his bakery in Leadville. He has large real-estate interests in Leadville and Kokomo, and is extensively connected with the mining interests of Ten Mile District. In June, 1879, he was elected first Mayor of Kokomo, and served one year. Mr. Harder was married in 1868, to Miss Addie Stupplebeen, of Niles, Mich.

LEONARD R. HILL.

The above-named gentleman, a member of the firm of Hill & Butcher, attorneys at law, in Kokomo, was born in Spartansburg, S. C., March 6, 1852. He attended Oldfield schools until sixteen years of age. He subsequently attended Gowensville Academy ; Reedville High School ; Firman University, at Green- ville ; Wofford College, in his native city, and took a thorough business course at Eastman's Business College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Dur- ing that time he clerked in his father's store two years. In 1875, he went to Washington, D. C., and entered the Law Department of the Columbian University, from which he gradu- ated in June, 1877. He began practice at Parkersburg, W. Va., in company with Mr. Butcher, his present partner. In May, 1878, he went to Salina, Kan., and, after practicing one year there, came to Kokomo, where he has since devoted his attention to his profession. In November, 1880, he was elected Justice of the Peace, which office he still holds.

J. J. HENDRICKS, M. D.

Dr. Hendricks, one of the pioneers of Koko- mo, was born in Grant Co., Ky., January 10, 1851. He remained on the paternal farm until ten years of age ; then went to La Grange, Mo., and entered La Grange College, from which he graduated in 1873. He then determined to adopt the medical profession, and entered the Keokuk Medical College at Keokuk, Iowa, from which he graduated and received the degree of M. D. in the spring of 1875. He subsequently practiced at Basco, Ill., three years. During the spring of 1878, he came to Colorado, located at Leadville, and opened a drug store, which

he conducted in connection with practice. In January, 1879, he came to Kokomo, and during the first year of his residence here, followed prospecting, and is one of the discoverers of the John R. Mine ; also one of the owners of the Ida L. Mine, both located on Jack Mountain. In the spring of 1880, he opened a drug store in Kokomo, and resumed practice. He has since been successfully engaged in the drug business, in connection with the active practice of his profession. Dr. Hendricks was united in mar- riage, January 4, 1875, to Miss Mollie Musgrove, of Scotland County, Mo., and has one son.

LOUIS HOMAN.

Mr. Homan was born in Oswego, N. Y., April 7, 1849. He attended school until eleven years of age; then went to California with his uncle, David Homan, and followed mining and work- ing in smelters six years. During the year 1866, he followed mining in Arizona, then went to Utah, and accepted the position of Superin- tendent of a smelter, where he remained three years. Thence, in 1869, to Idaho, where he was foreman in a smelter nine months. He subsequently erected a copper works for the Grand Gulch Copper Mining and Smelting Company. In 1873, he went to Nevada, where he was superintendent of smelters six years. In the spring of 1879, he came to Colorado, and after spending a short time at Leadville, accepted the position of Superintendent for the Pittsburg Smelting Company, at Kokomo, Ten- Mile District, of which he subsequently became a stockholder. During the spring of 1880, the company bought the White Quail group of mines on Elk Mountain, which they consolidat- ed with the smelter, aud changed the name of the company to the White Quail Mining and Smelting Company, of which Mr. Homan is Superintendent. He is also one of the mem- bers and the Superintendent of the Red Line Mining Company.

W. M. HELM, M. D.

Dr. Helm was born in Williamsport, Md., July 14, 1832. At an early age he removed with his parents to Springfield, Ill. After completing his education at the Illinois College, at Jacksonville, Ill., in his eighteenth year, he went to Oregon and followed mining there and in California five years ; then he joined William Walker's expedition to Nicaragua and remained

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until the close of the expedition. In 1857, he returned to Springfield, Ill., and began reading medicine under his father, who was a physician. In the fall of 1859, he entered Rush Medical College at Chicago and attended one course of lectures ; he then went to Menard County, Ill., where he practiced until the fall of 1868, when he entered the St. Louis Medical College, at St. Louis, Mo., from which he graduated and re- ceived the degree of M. D. the following spring. He subsequently practiced in Christian Coun- ty eight years, and in Marysville, Mo., eighteen months. In the spring of 1879, he came to Colorado, and located in Kokomo, where he has since been actively engaged in the practice of his profession.

WILL A. HARRIS.

Mr. Harris, of Bickford & Harris, attorneys at law, was born in Dyer County, Tenn .. Feb- ruary 15, 1855. After completing his educa- tion at Cumberland University, at Lebanon, Tenn., he began reading law under Grant & McDowell, of Memphis, and in 1874, was ad- mitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States. In 1875, he went to California, and located at San Bernardino, and began practice ; in 1877, he was elected District At- torney, which office he held two years ; in 1879, he came to Colorado and began practice at Leadville, and was soon afterward appointed Prosecuting Attorney for Lake County. In February, 1881, he removed to Robinson, Summit County, where he is at present engaged in the practice of his profession. Mr. Harris was married in April, 1876, to Miss Nettie Al- len, of San Bernardino, Cal., and has one son.

JOHN A. HALL, JR.

This gentleman, a member of the firm of Hall & Clement, attorneys at law in Robinson, was born in Warren, Penn., December 4, 1845. At an early age he removed, with his parents, to Chautauqua County, N. Y., where his early life was spent in attending public school. He snb- sequently spent one year at the Oswego Normal School, then taught school two years. In 1870, he went to Albany, N. Y., and en- tered the law department of the Union Uni- versity, from which he graduated and received the degree of L. L. B. the following year ; from there he went to Jamestown, N. Y., where he practiced eight years. In the spring of 1879, he came to Colorado, located in the Ten

Mile District and devoted his attention to min- ing until the fall of 1880, since which time he has been devoting his attention to the practice of his profession. He received the appoint- ment of first Postmaster of Robinson. Mr. Hall was married in 1877, to Miss Felicia H. Parker, of Frewsburg, N. Y.

ALFRED KERNS.

Mr. Kerns, a member of the legal profession of Kokomo, was born in Lancaster, Penn., No- vember 1, 1856. At the age of 20 he com- pleted his literary education at the State Normal School at West Chester, having de- voted considerable attention to reading law during the last eighteen months of attendance at school. He subsequently read under E. H. Yundt, of his native city, and was admitted to the bar in June, 1878, and began practice. In the spring of 1880, he came to Kokomo, and has since been engaged in the practice of his profession.

EDWARD LOWE.

Mr. Lowe, one of the early pioneers of Ten Mile District, whose faith in her future has never been shaken, and who has taken an active and prominent part in all measures undertaken for her material improvement, which has made possible her brilliant achieve- ments, was born in Jersey Co., Ill., October 11, 1845. He attended public school until thirteen years of age, then began running on the river as cabin-boy. In the fall of 1861, he enlisted in Company H, Sixty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and after serving eighteen months with that company, was transferred to Company C, Ninety-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war, when he was honorably mustered out of the service. He then returned to Jersey County, Ill., and en- gaged in agricultural pursuits two years. In the spring of 1867, he went to California via the overland route, located at Marysville, and followed placer mining until the fall of 1869. Then went to Nevada, and followed lead min- ing six months ; thence to Utah, and was there engaged in prospecting for Ely & Raymond eighteen months. During the summer of 1871, he came to Colorado, and began mining in Hall's Gulch, Park County. In the spring of 1872, he came to Ten Mile District, where he has since been engaged in mining and pros- pecting. In the spring of 1875, in company

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with Robert Emmett, he located about three hundred acres of placer claims, just below the present site of Kokomo, since known as the Emmett & Lowe placer mines, which, during the succeeding three years, they were engaged in prospecting and working. In October, 1878, he was one of the discoverers of the White Quail group of mines on Elk Mountain, and has since made various other important dis- coveries. In the spring of 1881, he, in com- pany with Charles W. Ellis, bought the Col- onel Sellers combination, consisting of five claims on Elk Mountain, at present all in pay, with good improvements, and yielding twenty- five tons of ore per day. Mr. Lowe is still connected with the Emmett & Lowe placer claims, which they are working very exten- sively this season.

FRANK R. LLOYD.

Mr. Lloyd, of the firm of Bartow & Co., dealers in hardware, queensware, etc., in Rob- inson, was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., March 25, 1854. He attended public school until 14 years of age, then began an apprenticeship at the tinner's trade. In 1872, he came to Col- orado, and bought a ranch in Jefferson County, seven miles northeast of Golden, where he was engaged in stock-raising three years. In 1875, he went to Rosita, Custer County, and worked at his trade two years. Then went to California, and followed mining in Sonora County nine months; thence to Globe District, Arizona, where he remained six months. He subsequently returned to Col- orado, and worked at his trade in Leadville for H. N. Webb two years. In July, 1880, he, in company with his employer, established hardware store in Robinsou, of which he took charge. In November following, H. N. Webb sold his interest to J. L. Bartow & Co. In April, 1881, Mr. Lloyd was elected a member of the Town Board of Robinson.

EDWARD B. MOORE, JR.

Mr. Moore was born in Bridgeton, N. J., July 30, 1857. At an early age he removed with his parents to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he attended the public and high schools until four- teen years of age. He then went to Lawrence, Kan., where he clerked two years, and was subsequently engaged in the book and news business five years. In 1878, he came to

Denver, and, in the spring of 1879, located in Ten Mile District, and began mining and pros- pecting. He is the discoverer of the Parole Mine on Chalk Mountain, one-half mile south of Robinson, and in April, 1881, organized the Parole Consolidated Mining Company, of which he is General Manager.

D. W. MCKENZIE.

This gentleman who has, during the past thirty years, devoted his attention to mining and the superintending of mines in the Far West, was born in Ottawa, Canada, April 5, 1836. He acquired a limited education in the public schools of his native city. At the age of fifteen he went to California via the Isthmus route, and followed mining six years. He then began superintending mines, and during the succeeding twenty-three years continued that vocation for various companies in California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah and Montana. During the spring of 1880, he came to Colorado, and was employed as Superintendent of the Low- land Chief Mine at Leadville three months. Then came to Ten Mile District, and took charge of the Empire mine on Sheep Mountain, where he remained until January, 1881, when he accepted the position of Superintendent of the Aftermath Mine on Elk Mountain, which, under his able management, has become a very large producer.

HERMAN D. MYERS.

This gentleman, a member of the firm of Ordean, Myers & Co., bankers in Ten Mile Dis- trict, was born in Canton, Ohio, April 26, 1858. He completed his education at the age of sev- enteen, in the Canton Collegiate Institute. He subsequently clerked in the Canton Post Office four years. In 1879, he came to Colorado, located in Kokomo, and became a member of the banking firm since known as Ordean, Myers & Co.

WILLIAMSON G. MOORE.

Mr. Moore, a son of the late Hon. Joseph G. Moore, Consul from the United States to Cuba, and of Elizabeth T. Glover, of Alabama, was born in Columbus, Miss., April 12, 1857. He was under the instruction of a private tutor until thirteen years of age, then went to Macon, Miss., where he attended a private school two years. He then spent two years with his father in Cuba. In the fall of 1874, he came to Den-

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ver, and clerked for Daniels & Fisher two years ; he then returned to Mississippi, and clerked and traveled for Hudson, Humphreys & Hud- son, of Columbus, until 1878. During that year he again came to Denver, and entered the employ of Daniels & Fisher. In September, 1880, he located in Robinson, and opened a general mercantile store, in which business he has since been engaged.

HON. JAMES A. McCUNE.

Mr. McCune is of Scotch-Irish descent, and was born near Huntsville, Ala., in August, 1851. At an early age, he removed with his parents to Philadelphia, Penn., where, at the age of fif- teen, he completed his education at Academia College. He then went to Leavenworth, Kan., and during the succeeding three years followed freighting across the plains to Government forts in the Northwest. He subsequently located in Virginia City, Mont., and there followed min- ing until 1875. He then returned to Philadel- phia, and was there engaged in mercantile bus- iness three years. During the spring of 1878, he came to Colorado, located in Leadville, and began mining operations. In June, 1880, he came to Kokomo, and has since been devoting his entire attention to mining. He is Superin- tendent for a Philadelphia company, who own large interests in this district, and of which John B. Stetson, of that city, is President. He is also otherwise largely interested in the mines of this district. Mr. McCune was elected Mayor of Kokomo in April, 1881, which office he still holds.

JOHN M. MAISEL.

This gentleman was born in Bavaria, Ger- many, August 30, 1848. In 1850, he came with his parents to America. His early life was spent in Jefferson City, Mo., and Spring- field, Ill .. After attending public school until seventeen years of age, he served an appren- ticeship at the jeweler's trade. In 1878, he went to Lincoln, Ill., and there worked at his trade, and had an interest in a news-stand, two years. In the spring of 1880, he came to Col- orado, and followed his trade in Leadville until February, 1881. He then came to Kokomo, and opened a jewelry store, in which business he is still engaged.

GEORGE O'CONNOR, M. D.

Dr. O'Connor is of Scotch-Irish descent, was

born near Cobourg, Canada, December 12, 1852. He received his literary education at Victoria and Regiopolis Colleges. At the age of seven- teen he attended two terms at Kingston Medi- cal College at Kingston, Canada, and subse- quently entered the medical department of Canada Victoria College, from which he gradu- ated and received the degree of M. D., in 1874. After practicing two years in Canada, he re- moved to Jackson, Mich., and practiced there until 1878, when failing health compelled him to abandon practice. He subsequently spent eighteen months at Cheboygan and Mackinaw, Mich., endeavoring to regain his health. During the spring of 1880, he came to Colorado, located in Kokomo, where he has since been actively engaged in the practice of his profession. In the fall of 1880, he was ap- pointed County Physician of Summit County.

A. L. ORDEAN.

This gentleman, of the well known banking firm of Ordean, Myers & Co., of Ten Mile Dis- trict, was born in Pennsylvania, August 22, 1856. At an early age, he removed with his parents to Wooster, Ohio, and later to Canton, same State. In 1874, he entered the banking house of Harter & Sons, of that city, as book- keeper, and there remained until 1878. He then went to Abilene, Kan., as Cashier of the Abilene Bank. In April, 1879, he came to Colorado. and established the Summit County Bank at Kokomo. In June following, he ac- cepted the position of Assistant Cashier of the First National Bank in Leadville, where he remained until the fall of 1880 ; then returned to Kokomo, and in February, 1881, opened a bank at Robinson, under the firm name of Ordean, Myers & Co.

WILLIAM F. PATRICK.

Mr. Patrick was born in St. Louis, Mo., in May, 1853. He graduated from the Washing- ton University, of his native city, in his twenty- second year. In 1875, he went to the Black Hills, D. T., and there followed mining one year, then came to Colorado, located at Georgetown, and engaged in assaying during the succeeding two years. In the spring of 1878, he went to Leadville and followed as- saying for various smelters until March, 1880. During the fall of 1878, he and J. H. Bridge,

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grub-staked Charles E. Ellis and Val. Jones, who discovered the Aftermath Mine on Elk Mountain, Ten Mile District, on which they be- gan active work in June, 1880. The mine is now well developed, with a shaft 400 feet deep, and about 2,000 feet of tunnels and drifts, show- ing about 25,000 tons of mineral in sight, and is producing about fifty tons of ore per day, average valne $50 per ton. The present owners of the mine are J. B. Bissell, of Leadville ; J. H. Bridge and S. B. Morgan, of Denver ; R. S. Grant, of New York City, and Mr. Patrick, who is general manager.

HON. GEORGE B. ROBINSON.

The history of Robinson's Camp during the first years of its existence, is so blended and interwoven with that of its founder as to be in- separable therefrom. Referring the reader to the historical portions of this work for a history of the town in detail, this sketch will be con- fined to a brief outline of the events which con- stitute in part the personal history of its orig- inator, its benefactor, the prime mover in its enterprise, and the main-spring of its prog- ress. George B. Robinson was born in the town of Gun Plains, Allegan County, Mich., January 28, 1848. When he was two years old his father removed with his family to Kala- mazoo, and was engaged in business there for a number of years. After attending the public schools of Kalamazoo until he was nearly ready to graduate from the high school, yonng Robinson in 1863, went to Detroit and attended Bryant & Stratton's Business College. Returning to Kalamazoo in 1865, he became assistant in the office of the Register of Deeds, where he remained until 1867. Very soon after this he was employed as book-keeper by Messrs. Kendall, Mills & Co., who were engaged in the lumber business at Kendall, and was for a time interested in a lumber enterprise with Mr. L. B. Kendall. In June, 1868, he returned to Kalamazoo, as book-keeper in the Michigan National Bank, which position he held until June, 1871, when he went to Allegan, to accept the position of Cashier of the First National Bank of that place, where his careful business training and acknowledged ability and integrity brought him well merited success.

He retired from that position early in 1877, and spent that year and the following one in a visit to Europe, making quite an extensive

tour of the continent. In February, 1878, Mr. Robinson entered upon that new era of his life which made him so prominent in commercial and political affairs. Little dreaming what the near future was preparing for him, he purchased a ticket for San Francisco, with the intention of going direct to the metropo- lis of California, but on reaching Denver he was induced to change his course and started for Leadville, then just beginning to make a stir in the world on account of its wonderful mineral richness. In going there he was lost, for two days in the snow, but finally reached bis destination and began operation. This was the beginning of a business career which has but few parallels. Purchasing a stock of min- ers' goods he opened a store in Leadville. He was successful from the start. His business grew with the wonderful camp until his honse was one of the largest and most prosperons in the city. He erected a block on Chestnut street, which, at one time brought him a rental of $7,000 a month.

Mr. Robinson had, in common with almost every one, engaged more or less in mining, but up to early in 1879, with little or no success. In the spring of that year he outfitted two prospectors, Charles Jones and John Y. Shed- don, to work in the Ten Mile District, he to have one half of the property located. In June following, these prospectors discovered the '78 and Undine lodes, and subsequently the Check- mate, Rhone, Big Giant, Little Giant and others, ten mines in all, which constitute the Robinson group. In December following, Mr. Robinson bought the interests of his partners, and in April, 1880, organized the Robinson Consolidat- ed Mining Company, in New York, with a capital stock of $10,000,000, retaining a con- troling interest in the property. The town of Robinson, located on a beautiful site around the Robinson Mines, was laid out the same year. Mr. Robinson took great interest and pride in the new town, and exerted himself in every way to stimulate its growth. He built a large hotel and other buildings, made arrangements to establish a bank, and erected a large smelter, convenient to the mines-entirely with his own capital- which should handle the Robinson ore aud as much more as came and could be treat- ed. Besides these he had mining interests in various parts of the State and some in other States and Territories. In November, 1880,

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Mr. Robinson was elected Lieutenant Governor of the State, and his political career promised to be as brilliant as his business career had been. Had he lived he would have rendered the State distinguished service. The circum- stances of his death are still fresh in the public mind. There had for some time been a dispute between the Robinson company and Capt. J. W. Jacque over the ownership of the Smuggler Mine. More recently a difficulty had arisen between the miners and the managers of the mine, and Mr. Robinson had gone over to ad- just matters. It was rumored that Capt. Jacque was coming over to take advantage of the situation and take forcible possession, and Mr. Robinson stationed a guard in and about the mine, with orders to admit no one, and to fire upon anyone who should persist in entering the mine. On the evening of November 27, 1880, Mr. Robinson had been up on the hill near by, and hearing that the guard whom he had stationed at the mouth of the tunnel was not in his place, he went down to ascertain if that was true. Knocking at the door at the mouth of the tunnel, he was met by the inquiry " Who's there ?" With the remark that it was all right he turned to leave, when a bullet from the rifle of the guard struck him in the side. He was carried to the hotel, where he lingered till the morning of the 29th when he quietly breathed his last. In him the State lost a man of fine ability, excellent character and large experience, whose public career was one of great promise, and before whom a brilliant suc- cess was just opening. His prosperity was due entirely to his own exertions. Those who knew him best claim that he had the coolest head, the clearest thought, and was the bright- est, quickest financier of his age in Colorado, and probably in the west. He was the warm- est and truest of friends In his life he was upright and pure ; in his dealings with men he was always honest and honorable, always frank and fair. To those in his employ he was polite and charitable, befriending many and chiding few. Of a quiet, retiring disposition, he bore himself with a uniform courtesy, born of an innate apprehension af the rights of others, and a wide social experience at home and abroad.

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History of the Arkansas Valley, Colorado, Part 54

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