History of the Arkansas Valley, Colorado, Part 63

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

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BIOGRAPHICAL:

in 1853, to Miss Judith Cell, of Oxford, Ind., and has a family of seven children, three sons and four daughters.

WILLIAM STRIEBY, A. M., E. M.

Prof. Strieby was born in Knox County, Ohio, August 12, 1852. At an early age he removed with his parents to Syracuse, N. Y., thence in 1862 to Newark, N. J., where he fitted for college in the public and high schools of that city. In 1871, he entered the University of the City of New York, from which he gradu- ated with the degrees of Bachelor and Master of Arts in 1875. In 1878, after a term of three years he graduated with the degree of Mining Engineer from the School of Mines, Columbia College. He then went to Santa Fe, New Mexi- co, and took charge of the Santa Fe Academy. He now has charge of the Mining and Metal- lurgical Department at the Colorado College at Colorado Springs, to which position he was appointed in November, 1880. Prof. Strieby is eminently fitted for the work in hand. His attainments in metallurgical and general chem- istry are of high order, and his ability to im- part instruction in these branches remarkable.

A. Z. SHELDON.

A. Z. Sheldon began his youthful struggles with the great problem of life in Southampton, Mass., July 28, 1833. He is derived of the bluest Puritanic stock of the early settlers in Massachusetts, and his ancestors, paternal and maternal, were generously represented in the war of the Revolution. He early profited by the admirable common-school system of his native State, and mastered Adams' Common School Arithmetic at the age of ten years. He enjoyed the advantages of Williston's Seminary, and was nearly two years at Amherst, but is not a graduate. His propensity for mathemat- ics inclined him to give his attention to civil engineering, which he subsequently made his profession, though he dabbled, for a year or two, after the manner of American youths, in school-teaching. He pursued his profession in Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Louisiana, Kansas and Colorado. He was in Kansas during the Border Ruffian war, and, at one time, acted as aid-de-camp to Jim Lane. Inasmuch as the corps of correspondents for the Eastern press in Kansas attained a brilliant reputation as liars, he is especially proud to have it recorded that

he was one of them, and breathed his inspira- tions, mostly, through the medium of the Illi- nois State Journal. He was a confrere of Phil- lips, Richardson, Realf, Redpath, Hinton and poor John Cagi, and considers the character of his associates a sufficient extennation of the reputation given them by the "diabolical press." He assisted in the organization of the Lawrence party, for explorations in the neighborhood of Pike's Peak, with the intention of accompanying that famous expedition, but was detained by business, which, though less fascinating, prom- ised to be more profitable. The spring of 1860, however, found him, in company with B. F. Crow- ell, George A. Crofut, Fred Spencer and Jim Tap- pan, threading the plains for the new El Dorado. Arriving at Colorado City the last of June, the remainder of the season was spent, mostly, in taking notes of the situation. Everything was novel, and needed to be studied. First impres- sions are not always just, and Colorado did not especially commend herself to the newly arrived; but, the result of study was- excluding the preceding couplet-

"As she grew familiar to the face,

First to pity, next endure, then embrace."

The following year, he addressed himself to mining, and, after spending the season, and all his money, returned to Colorado City with the net profit of his experience. He then engaged in such work in his profession as the country afforded, selected a farm, and patiently abided the growth of the country. In 1864, he mar- ried Miss Calanthe Everhart, and established himself on his farm near Colorado City, where he has lived until the present time He has ever been zealous in the promotion of the inter- ests of his county, and of Colorado. He. has been honored by various offices in the gift of the people, including several terms in the Leg- islature, but never, in any instance, by his own solicitation. He has ever evinced an abiding confidence in the future of Colorado, and she has rewarded his faith with a pleasant home and a reasonable competence.

WILLIAM M. STRICKLER, M. D.

Dr. Strickler is one of Colorado Spring's tried and successful practitioners in medicine and surgery. He was born in the Shenandoah Val- ley, Va., September 28, 1838. His early life was spent on a farm and in acquiring an edu- cation, completing the same at Dickinson Col-

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EL PASO COUNTY.

lege, at Carlisle, Penn. He then determined to adopt the medical profession, and with that view pursued the study of medicine at the Uni- versity, Charlottesville, Va., one year. At the breaking-out of the war of the rebellion in 1861, he entered the Confederate army as Assistant Surgeon, in which capacity he served until peace was declared, having participated in thirty-five regular battles. He then returned home and the following year taught school. He subsequently entered the Medical College of Virginia, at Richmond, from which he gradu- ated and received the degree of M. D. In 1869, he came to Colorado and located at Colo- rado City, El Paso County, and during the suc- ceeding five years practiced medicine there and at Manitou Springs. In 1874, he removed to Colorado Springs, where he has since resided, engaged in the active practice of his profession. For the past few years he has been interested in sheep-raising and wool-growing. He has a good range in the southern part of El Paso County, near the line of the Denver & Rio Grand Railroad, well stocked with improved sheep, where he occasionally spends a day or two by way of recreation from professional cares. In connection therewith he has farming lands, which he has cultivated in cereals for his flocks. During the fall of 1870, he was elected Superintendent of the Public Schools of El Paso County, which office he honorably filled four years. Dr. Strickler has taken great inter- est in the order of Freemasons in this county, having served his lodge for several years as Worshipful Master, and has the gratification of seeing his lodge in a highly prosperous condi- tion. He was married, in September, 1865, to Miss Virginia Lipscomb, with whom he first be- came acquainted while caring for the wounded on the field after the second battle of Manassas.

HON. LINUS E. SHERMAN.

This gentleman was born in Fairfield, Vt., June 30, 1835. He is of English and Welsh descent, and the early portion of his life was spent in working on a farm and attending pub- lic school. At the age of twenty, he began preparations at Burr Seminary at Manchester, to admit him to college, and in 1857 he entered Middlebury College, from which he graduated in 1861. In 1862, he enlisted in Company A, Ninth Vermont Volunteer Infantry, by whom he was elected First Lieutenant, but afterward

was promoted to the rank of Captain. In this capacity as well as in staff duty, he served un- til the close of the war, when he returned to Vermont and entered the drug business in Ludlow. In 1876, he emigrated to Colorado, and located in Colorado Springs, and em- barked in the wholesale and retail grocery business, in which enterprise he is still con- nected. From 1873 to 1875, he was the Presi- dent of the Vermont Pharmaceutical Associa- tion, of which he was one of the charter mem- bers. He was also one of the members of the Constitutional Convention which was originat- ed in 1869 for the purpose of amending the Constitution of the State of Vermont. He is still an active and energetic business man, and is commanding a large and steadily increasing trade.

CAPT. CHARLES STEARNS.

This gentleman, the well-known merchant tailor of Colorado Springs, was born in Perth- shire, Scotland, Angust 12, 1841. He attended school until ten years of age; then served an apprenticeship at the tailor's trade, at which he subsequently worked in the leading cities of England six years. In 1860, he sailed from Liverpool for Apalachicola, Fla. On the breaking-out of the war of the rebellion he en- tered the Confederate service and was shortly afterward promoted to the rank of Captain, and served until the close of the war, being wounded five times and made prisoner twice. During the succeeding five years, he worked at his trade in New York City, Philadelphia and Chi- cago. In 1870, he crossed the plains with a mule team and located in Denver, where he followed his trade two years; then came to Colorado Springs, and established himself in the merchant tailoring hnsiness, which he has since successfully carried on.

JAMES .M. SIGAFUS.

The history of this gentleman is an example of the enterprise of Western men, and presents a record of active, busy and successful life, and he is now enjoying the rich reward which he so justly merits. Mr. Sigafus is a native of Penn- sylvania, and was born in Wayne County of that State February 21, 1837. At the age of sixteen, after receiving a limited education in the public schools of his native county, he went to Marathon County, Wis., where he was engaged in the lumbering business until 1861.

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In November of that year, he enlisted in the Eighth Wisconsin Light Artillery and served with his company through its various engage- ments until January 15, 1865, when he was honorably mustered out of the service. After spending a short time in Illinois, on April 20, he started for Colorado with an ox team. After spending one year prospecting on Bear and Clear Creeks, in Jefferson County, he took up a ranch of 160 acres on the first-named creek, twenty-eight miles west of Denver, which he subsequently pre-empted, where he resided un- til 1871, engaged in farming, gardening and stock-raising. He then removed to South Park, and bought a hay ranch of 920 acres and there followed stock-raising and hauling hay to the mountain camps, five years. In 1876, he re- moved to Colorado Springs and, during the succeeding three years, was largely engaged in freighting between the latter place and Lead- ville. In 1878, he sold his ranch in South Park, and during the winter of that year "grub-staked " George W. Belt, who, in April following, discovered the famous Robert E. Lee Mine near Leadville, which has yielded nearly $3,000,000, and with which he was connected until February, 1881, when he sold his interest. Mr. Sigafus is still largely connected with the mining interests of Leadville and Southwestern Colorado. He is one of the Directors of the First National Bank and of the Gas Company, in Colorado Springs. Mr. Sigafus has retired from active business, and purposes enjoying his accumulated wealth. During the past four months he has been on a pleasure trip through Florida and the West India Islands. He was married, in 1860, to Miss Augusta Swartz, of Marathon County, Wis., and has one daughter.

PROF. WINTHROP D. SHELDON.

W. D. Sheldon was born in Raymond, N. H., December 18, 1839. He fitted for college at a military school at New Haven, Conn., and grad- uated at Yale in 1861. When the class met for its last term of college life, the war of the rebellion had just begun. A company of sixty , men was immediately organized in the class, for drilling, of which he was chosen Captain. Half of this number afterward entered the army. In 1862, he enlisted as a private in the Twenty-seventh Regiment of Connecticut Vol- unteers, and served in Gen. Hancock's Division of the Second Army Corps. He was soon

afterward commissioned as Second Lieuten- ant, and served with the regiment until it was mustered out in the summer of 1863. At the battle of Fredericksburg, Va., he was slightly wounded in the charge up the Mary's Heights back of the city. In the course of the battle of Chancellorsville, he was taken prisoner while out on picket in the dense woods, when Gen. Hooker fell back to a new line, leaving the pickets to be surrounded by the enemy. From Chancellorsville, he marched to Richmond, and after a. short detention, was paroled and ex- changed. After his return home, he prepared a series of papers for the "Connecticut War Record," which were subsequently published in a volume entitled a "History of the Twenty- seventh Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers." He then taught for several years in New Haven, Conn., and graduated in 1868 at the Yale The- ological Seminary. In 1869, he became Prin- cipal of the Preparatory Department of the Western Reserve College, Hudson, Ohio, which position he resigned in 1873, and then went to Europe, where he spent the succeeding fifteen months. Soon after his return, he became Principal of the Classical Department of the Chickering Institute of Cincinnati, Ohio. He is now Professor of Greek and Latin in Colo- rado College, Colorado Springs, to which posi- tion he was appointed in 1876.

ANDREW SAGENDORF.

In the fall of 1858, when the news of the rich discoveries of gold at Pike's Peak was heralded throughout the States, such a stream of immi- gration began to pour into the then almost unknown country, as had rarely been witnessed, even in the palmiest days of the California gold excitement. Among the first to join this throng, and to unite his destiny with the Far West was the gentleman whose name is written above. Mr. Sagendorf was born in Columbia County, N. Y., August 26, 1828. His early life, until attaining his majority, was spent on a farm and in acquiring an education. During the succeeding seven years, he was engaged in farming and school-teaching. In 1854, he removed to Sarpy County, Neb., where he was engaged in the real estate business until the fall of 1858. On September 3 of that year, he left Omaha, Neb., for what was then known as the Pike's Peak country, arriving at the mouth of Cherry Creek, where Denver now stands,

Lou. C. Leonard

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EL PASO COUNTY.

November 5, and there spent the winter. On May 8 of the following spring, he went np Clear Creek to Chicago Bar, near the present site of Idaho Springs, and began placer mining. On the 15th of that month, he, in company with R. P. Smith, discovered the Spanish Bar dig- gings three miles above there, where he contin- ued to wash for gold until July 1. He then returned to Auraria, now Denver, and the fol- lowing spring, 1860, was elected Secretary of the Auraria Town Company, which office he held two years. During 1862, he was engaged in the real estate business, and the following year held the position of Weighing Clerk in the United States Mint at Denver. He then em- barked in mercantile pursuits in that city, con- tinuing the same two years. In 1866, he was appointed Postmaster for Denver, which office he honorably and efficiently filled until the fall of 1869, when he resigned. The sub- sequent two years were spent in erecting build- ings and establishing the White River Agency, on White River, in the Ute Indian reservation, in Western Colorado. In 1871, he removed to Douglas County, Colo., where he was engaged in stock-raising three years. During the spring of 1874, he removed to Colorado Springs, and the succeeding two years ran the Express and Transfer Line. He then succeeded Palmer & Lorenz in the drug store on Tejon street, in which business he has since been successfully engaged. Mr. Sagendorf was married, in April, 1862, to Mrs. E. D. McCook, and has two sons.

CHARLES STOCKBRIDGE.

Mr. Stockbridge was born in Cambridgeshire, England, November 27, 1843. He attained his education by attending boarding-school. At the age of sixteen, he embarked with his father in the grain business, in the Mark Lane Corn Exchange in London. In 1871, he sold out his interests, and early in 1872 he emigrated to America and located in Colorado Springs, Colo., and engaged in the real estate business and money-loaning. In December, 1877, he organized the El Paso County Brewery Company, of which he was elected President. In the fall of 1879, he, in company with Charles Elwell, one of the stock- holders, bought out the remainder of the com- pany, and have since been engaged in that bus- iness. Mr. Stockbridge was married, in 1866, to Miss Annie Ayers, of Bedford, England, and has seven children, three sons and four daugh-

ters. One of his sons is now in England receiving his education.

GEORGE H. STEWART.

Mr. Stewart is of Scotch-Irish descent, and was born in Montpelier, Vt., March 24, 1815. At an early age, he removed with his parents to Genesee County, N. Y., where his early life was spent in acquiring such education as the schools of that early day afforded. At the age of eighteen, he began work in his father's woolen- mills, where he remained four years. He sub- sequently ran a woolen-mill eight years in Yates County, N. Y., and one in Onondaga County, same State, from 1842 until 1853. He then removed to Beaver Dam, Dodge County, Wis., where he started the Pioneer Woolen-Mill, there being no other mill between Wisconsin and California, and continued in that business thirteen years. In 1866, he sold his mill and purchased a farm, and engaged in agricultural pursuits three years ; then, owing to failing health, was com- pelled to dispose of his farm and retire from active business. In 1872, he came to Colorado, and located in Colorado Springs, where he has since resided. In 1874, he aided in organizing the First National Bank, of which he was elected first President, and remained an active member of that institution until 1879, when he severed his connection with the bank. Mr. Stewart is one of the original stockholders in the plaster paris mill, at Colorado City, and in 1878 leased the mill, which he has since been engaged in run- ning. In 1879, he was appointed by Gov. Pitkin a member of the Board of Trustees of the Mute and Blind Institute, and was by the board elected Treasurer, which office he still holds.

J. HENRY THEDINGA.

This gentleman, a member of the wholesale and retail grocery firm of Conant & Thedinga, in Colo- rado Springs, was born in Dubuque, Iowa, June 5, 1857. After completing his education in the high school, he entered Baylie's Commercial College, in his native city, for the purpose of preparing himself for a business life, and gradu- ated from that institution in his seventeenth year. He then accepted a clerkship in a hard- ware store, where he remained four years. In April, 1880, he came to Colorado, and after spending six months traveling over the State, located in Colorado Springs. In December of that year, he, in company with W. L. Conant,

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succeeded S. Sessler, and by their integrity and close attention to business, are building up a large and steadily increasing trade.

GEORGE W. TURNEY.

Mr. Turney, one of the enterprising and worthy young merchants of Colorado Springs, was born in Marion, Ohio, May 7, 1855. He received a limited education in the public schools of his native city. His father being a jeweler, it was but natural, as well as wise, that he should follow in his footsteps, and at the age of ten began an apprenticeship at that trade in his father's store, where he remained until January, 1879. He then came to Colo- rado, located in Colorado Springs, and, in com- pany with his brother Henry, succeeded R. Morris in the jewelry business, under the firm name of Turney Bros. That firm existed until February 1, 1881, when he purchased his brother's interest, and has since continued the business. Mr. Turney has a large and well- stocked store, and through integrity and close attention to business, is building up a large and steadily increasing trade. Mr. Turney was married in Chicago, November 4, 1880, to Miss Flora P. Page, daughter of D. W. Page, of the publishing house of Culver, Page, Hoyne & Co., of that city.

F. D. TAYLOR.

Mr. F. D. Taylor, of the grocery firm of Everleth & Taylor, was born in Boston, Mass., February 26, 1855, and received his education here and at Cambridge. In 1870, having completed his education, he embarked in the mercantile business with John Herington & Co., an old and prominent firm of Boston, in the capacity of clerk. Mr. Taylor held this position, with great honor and credit to himself and complete satisfaction to the firm, for seven years. In 1877, he resigned his position as clerk, and resolved to take Horace Greeley's advice and try his fortunes in the great West. He came to Colorado that year, and, after so- journing for two years in the State, located in Colorado Springs and embarked in the grocery business, in which he is still actively engaged.

WILLIAM F. TILTON.

Among the prominent business men of Colorado Springs is Mr. W. F. Tilton, engaged in the queensware business. Mr. Tilton was born at Ludlow, Vt., May 31, 1852. From

here he removed with his parents at an early age. to Leominster, Mass., where he received his early education. In 1874, he entered Fort Edward Institute, near Saratoga, N. Y., to complete his education ; but, owing to failing health, he was compelled to drop his studies here in 1875 and travel. In the autumn of 1875, he went to California, but finding little relief there, he returned to his home in Massa- chusetts, in 1876, stopping off for a short time at the Centennial, and taking in the world's fair. In the autumn of this year he started South to try the climate of Mobile, Galveston, New Orleans and other places in the Southern States, but in vain. He returned to his home again in 1877, and, after a brief visit, started westward once more, to try the climate of Colo- rado. He was so much relieved by the climate of this State, and highly pleased with it, that he resolved to remain. He located at Colorado Springs and embarked in the glassware and queensware business, in which he is still en- gaged, being the leading wholesale and retail dealer.

GEORGE P. VAUX.

Mr. Vaux was born in Erie County, N. Y., September 13, 1847. At an early age, he re- moved with his parents to Dodge County, Wis., where he resided twelve years, thence to Eau Claire County, same State. He attended public school until sixteen years of age, then enlisted in Company I, of the Thirtieth Wisconsin Vol- unteer Infantry and served two years. After being honorably mustered out of the service, he returned home and engaged in the drug business in Eau Claire, where he remained eleven years. In 1876, he came to Colorado and bought a ranch of 720 acres in El Paso County, seven miles north of Colorado Springs, and engaged in stock-raising. May 1, 1881, he succeeded W. H. Roby, of the firm of Roby & Coulter, dealers in hay, grain, flour and feed, in Colorado Springs. He has some valuable mining interests at Ruby, Gunnison County, where he spent some months during the past year. Mr. Vaux was married, April 27, 1869, to Miss Josephine Searl, of Augusta, Eau Claire County, Wis., and has a family of three children, one son and two daughters.

SAMUEL B. WESTERFIELD.

Among the many well-known business men of this city is the subject of this sketch. Mr.

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EL PASO COUNTY.

Westerfield was born in Louisville, Ind., May 11, 1850, but at an early age he removed with his parents to Greencastle, Ind., where he com- pleted his education at the Asbury University of that State. At the age of nineteen, he went to Burlingame, Kan., where he applied him- self studiously to the profession of law, and in 1871 was admitted to the bar. From this time until 1873, he practiced law at the above-named city, when, owing to ill health, he gave up his profession and spent the next two years of his life in traveling through the States of Colorado and California. In 1875, he came to Colorado Springs and located here and embarked in the furniture business. in which he is still success- fully engaged. Mr. Westerfield was married in September, 1875, to Miss Addie Hodgman, of Colorado Springs, and has one daughter.

LEWIS WHIPPLE.

Mr. Whipple, the well-known contractor and builder, was born in that part of Luzerne County, Penn., since cut off and known as Wyoming County, May 10, 1822. His early life was spent on the paternal farm and in at- tending district school. At the age of nineteen, he accepted a clerkship in a store at Tunkhan- nock, in his native county, where he remained five years. He then engaged in mercantile and lumbering business and in running a grist-mill at the above-named town, continuing the same until 1864, when, owing to failing health, he was compelled to retire from active business pursuits. He then determined to seek health in the Far West, and notwithstanding the fact that seven physicians with whom he consulted, expressed the opinion that he would not live to reach the Great Plains, he started toward the "setting sun," accomplishing the trip to the Missouri River by traveling a portion of one day and resting two days. At the Missouri River he joined a party bound for the Pacific coast and started across the plains. He soon began to regain his health, and on the way so far recovered that the greater part of the last few hundred miles was accomplished on foot, preferring to walk rather than ride. From the Red Buttes on the North Platte River, his party opened a new road, via the Yellow Stone to Vir ginia City in Montana Territory, and from there proceeded north to British Columbia and from there to Salem, Oregon. 'Near the last-named city he engaged in farming, but at the expiration of

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History of the Arkansas Valley, Colorado, Part 63

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