History of the Arkansas Valley, Colorado, Part 87

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

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Jesse 1. Pritcharon

BIOGRAPHICAL.

JAMES A. ADAMS.

This gentleman has spent nearly all his life in Colorado, having come here with his parents when he was but thirteen years of age. He was born in Jackson County, Mo., March 30, 1850. His father was a Baptist clergyman, and also a farmer. James received the benefits of a good school while in Missouri, but his advantages in that line were very limited after coming to this new country-schoolhouses which now adorn so many towns were then un- known. After arriving in Colorado, his father located at Bent's Old Fort, where he resided two years, after which they removed to Fre- mont County, where the subject of this sketch has since lived. After arriving at manhood, he engaged in stock-raising and farming, which he has carried on with success. He was married, iu 1875, to Emma Frazier, daughter of Reuben Frazier, of Canon City.

WATSON R. AGARD.

Mr. Agard was born in Portage County, Ohio, August 27, 1837. In 1840, his parents removed to Illinois, and settled in Adams County ; this was before the Indians had entire- ly given up their right to that part of the public domain. He was brought up a farmer, and given a good common-school education. He served liis country in the Second Missouri State Militia. His father died in 1854 ; he being the youngest son, he remained at home with his mother, and in 1865 they removed to Missouri. In the same year he was married to Miss Ophelia De Groodt. His mother died in 1870, at the advanced age of seventy-seven years. In 1873, he emigrated to Colorado; after wan- dering through the mines and mountains for two years, he settled in Canon City, where he has since resided, and, through appointment or election, has occupied the position of peace officer almost constantly. Mr. Agard's ances- tors, as well as himself, were men who believed in fighting for their country. His grandfather was in the Revolutionary war, and his father in the war of 1812.

E. T. ALLING./

Mr. Alling, the senior member of the firm of Alling & Co., Canon City, was born in Connecti- cut, Oct. 26, 1827. He graduated in the class of 1851, at Brown University ; he then went to Tennessee, and was engaged in teaching till 1857 ; after which he went to Minnesota, and in 1864 commenced the hardware business, where he was very prosperous for several years. His health failing, he sought a Colorado cli- mate; came to Canon City in 1875, and started the hardware business, under the firm name of Alling, Curtis & Co., and later as Alling & Co. The firm has built up a large wholesale and retail trade. Mr. Alling is also senior member of the firm of Alling & Co., of Silver Cliff and Ouray. He has regained his health, and is one of Colorado's most energetic business men, highly respected by all.

EBENEZER B. ALLING.

Mr. Alling was born in Mississippi December 26, 1852. The family moved to Minnesota, where he lived until 1875. He first attended the Northwestern University, at Evanston, III., and afterward the University of Minnesota, at Minneapolis. He also took a thorough business course at Curtiss & Hyte's Business College, at Minneapolis. After two years of active bus- iness, his health failed him, and he removed to Canon City, Colo., in 1875, and became partner in the hardware house of Alling, Curtis & Co., soon after changed to Alling & Co. Like many other invalids, he has regained his health in a Colorado climate, and has built up a large and lucrative business. He was mar- ried, in 1876, to Miss Julia P. Fitch, of Anoka, Minn.

HENRY BELKNAP.

Mr. Belknap was born in Virginia April 1, 1836. His father still resides there, and is now 100 years old, and still retains his faculties remarkably well. Henry attended the common schools, and worked upon the farm till he was nineteen years of age, when he started out to battle with life for himself. He went to Mis-

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souri, where he worked by the month for two years. He then crossed the plains to Salt Lake, Utah, with an ox team. After remaining there. one year, he returned to Missouri. In 1862, he came to Colorado, and located upon a farm in Fremont County, where he has since resided. In 1863, he was married to Miss Nancy Young, of Jackson County, Mo.

JACOB A. BETTS.

Mr. Betts was born in Washington County, Md., November 12, 1830. His father was a blacksmith. The early advantages Jacob had for an education was a subscription school till he was fifteen years of age. He then went to learn the tailor's trade. He worked at this business twelve years; afterward went to Illi- nois and farmed two years. In 1859, he turned his face Westward, and in May he arrived in Den- ver, just before the great snow storm which caused so much suffering on the plains. He went to Central City, and remained there till fall, when he went to New Mexico. In the spring, he returned, and spent the summer in Central. In the fall, he started for San Juan County, but was taken sick on the way, and stopped on the Greenhorn. Here he remained three years. Subsequently he was in the gro- cery trade in Pueblo for three years. In 1873, he bought the ranch he now lives on, in Custer County, near the line of Fremont. He owns 320 acres of land in Custer County, and 420 acres in Fremont. He is very extensively engaged in raising horses and cattle. Mr. Betts was Sheriff of Pueblo County in 1864 and 1865. He was married, November 8, 1866, to Sarah E. Parker.

H. T. BLAKE.

Among the live editors of Colorado is to be found H. T. Blake, of the Canon City Record. He was born in Philadelphia, Penn., May 27, 1846. At the early age of fifteen years, he enlisted in the Sixth Ohio Infantry, and served three years and two months. He was the youngest man in the regiment. He was always at the front ; he was in the hottest part of the fight in the battles in Western Virginia, Pitts- burg Landing, Corinth, Stone River, Chicka- mauga, Mission Ridge, finishing up with Sher- man's march through Georgia, and still he nev- er was wounded, and was always well and ready for duty. In 1865, he was clerk in the Brooklyn, N. Y., Navy Yard, and from 1865 to

1868 was Clerk of the Union League Club of New York City ; from 1868 to 1871, was clerk on Lake Champlain steamers. In 1871, he came to Colorado, and engaged as book-keeper in a bank in Greeley. In 1872 and 1873, was proprietor of the Manitou House at Manitou Springs. In 1874, was clerk of the Colorado Springs Hotel, and in 1875 was book-keeper in the First National Bank of Colorado Springs. In 1876, he went to Rosita, and was cashier of a bank there; was appointed the first Sheriff of Custer County, in 1877. He was sixteen months Superintendent of Mallett's Reduction Works. In February, 1879, he bought the Canon City Record. He has made of that pa- per not only a financial success, but one of the liveliest weekly papers in the State. He also carries on an extensive real estate business in connection with his paper. Mr. Blake has always stood high with every one whom he has done business for, and has never left a man's employ but what that man stood ready to give him the best kind of recommendation. He has always been a stanch Republican, but is always ready, through his paper, to deal fear- lessly with anything like fraud or corruption. He is very liberal-always ready to respond to any laudable enterprise. Mr. Blake was mar- ried, in 1870, to Miss Austin, of New York, who died at Greeley October 15, 1871, of typhoid fever. He remained a widower till June 4, 1876, when he was married to Miss Cornelia Davis, at Rosita; her father was one the oldest prospectors in that district. Their first child, Harry Custer Blake, was born March 8, 1877, and died at eleven months of age; their second. Percival A. Blake, born April 7, 1879; the third, Harry T. Blake, January 30, 1881. Mr. Blake stands high in the estimation of the people of Canon, as a man of ability and strict integrity.

ALEXANDER BOWIE.

Mr. Bowie was born in Linlithgowshire, En- gland, in 1845. He came to America in 1865, and as practical coal miner and pit-boss in mines of Cape Breton, Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia, has been thoroughly educated in all the minutiæ of this important industry. In June, 1877, he was a candidate for Mine In- spector for the first division in the hituininons coal region in Pennsylvania, and in a class of sixty of the expert miners of the State, only

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FREMONT COUNTY.

fifteen of whom passed the rigid inspection of the State Board, he was first among the number of successful candidates. He has since been Superintendent of leading mines, until called to the superintendency of the Canon City Coal Company, in 1880, with headquarters at Rock- dale, Fremont County. Being also an experi- enced mining engineer, and having a thorough understanding of coal formations in different portions of the country, his practical explora- tions in the Canon City Coal Basin have re- sulted in some of the most valuable discoveries yet made in the basin, far exceeding the deduc- tions of all the geological experts who have re- ported on the region since its discovery.

MRS. RUTH C. BRUCE.

This history would not be complete without a sketch of this lady. She has seen so many hardships and went through so many trying scenes, and still, when it became necessary, taken the part of a man in bringing up her family and managing her extensive ranch, that she has be- come extensively known all through Southern Colorado. She was born in Vermont October 13, 1808. At the age of fifteen, she removed with her parents to New York State ; they re- mained there seven years, when they removed to Ohio. At the age of twenty-four she was married to Owen Marsh, and they removed to Hillsdale, Mich. After seven years of married life Mr. Marsh died; she afterward married Franklin Bruce. They lived at different times in Michigan, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin and Kansas till 1860, when they came to Colorado. They first went to California Gulch, but in the fall removed to Fremont county, on Hardscrab- ble Creek, where she has since resided. In 1862, Mr. Bruce had occasion to go to a saw- mill a few miles up the creek. He did not come that night as was expected. Mrs. Bruce was alarmed for his safety and started parties early the next morning in search of him. They found his body, he having been murdered by two Espanosias, who had taken his horse and fled; these same parties kept on their course of murder and robbery until some thirty persons had been killed by them. They were finally hunted down by the settlers and shot. Al- though Mrs. Bruce had lost her husband in this tragic manner, she still remained on her ranch with her children, and to-day has one of the best farms in Fremont County. She lives with

her daughter, Mrs. Jones. She has another daughter who married Henry Burrouglis, and lives a short distance from her down the creek. Mrs. Bruce is very highly respected by all her neighbors.

SAMUEL H. BOYD.

Among the old pioneers who came to Colo- rado in an early day is the subject of this sketch ; he has seen a great many ups and downs ; made money and lost it by misfortunes and made it again several times. But he is a man of nerve and pluck and never gives up. He is now proprietor of the Boyd House, Canon City, and is doing a thriving business. Mr. Boyd was born in Wheeling, Virginia, De- cember 9, 1827. At the age of twelve years, he learned the wire-working business, when he was so small he had to stand upon a box to reach the work-bench ; he worked at this business twelve years. He then went to Missouri, and was traveling salesman for Elliott, Hay & Stanly, selling wheat fans ; he was engaged at this for five years. He then went to St. Joseph, Mo., and was at one time City Marshal ; he was also in the grocery business, till 1862, when he came to Colorado, leaving his family in St. Joseph. In 1863, he went back for them. He was engaged in various mining camps, until 1864, when he went to Fremont County and engaged in farming. When his crops were nicely started and everything look- ing finely, including thirty acres of wheat and sixty acres of corn and other vegetables, the grasshoppers came and completely destroyed the whole crop, almost in a night. He has been engaged for several years in hotel-keeping in Canon City, and always kept a good house. He is a genial, whole-sonled man, and every one is his friend. He has been Trustee of the city at different times, and, in 1880, was elected its Mayor.

MARTIN BRUMBLY.

This gentleman is an old-timer in Colorado. He is a rustler in business. He has been all over the State since 1859, ever ready to turn his hand to anything honorable where he could see money in it. He was born in Ohio February 3, 1834. At the early age of thirteen years, he started out in life and has taken care of himself since. At the age of twenty-three, he took a trip through Iowa and Minnesota- sometimes working at the carpenter's trade, at others farming. In 1859, he crossed the plains to

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BIOGRAPHICAL:

Colorado. He has been in various businesses at different points. In 1864, was in the Sand Creek Indian war, under Capt. Talbot. In 1866, was master mechanic in building Fort Reynolds, after which he went to Pueblo, re- maining there till 1874, when he went to Ros- ita, then a new mining camp, and engaged in merchandising and livery business. Later on and during the railroad war, he came to Canon City, where he has since resided. He has a nice livery, well stocked, and Mrs. Brumbly has an extensive millinery store.

HENRY BURNETT.

Among the old-timers who crossed the plains in '59 is found the subject of this sketch. He was born in South Hadley, Mass., July 15, 1815. At the age of fifteen years, he went to learn the mason's trade; he worked at this business till 1849, when he was one of the first to emi- grate to California. A company of 126 bought a ship, and went around Cape Horn ; was seven months on the voyage between New York and California. After remaining there eighteen months engaged in mining, he returned to Massachusetts. In 1853, he went to Kane County, Ill., farming and working at his trade for two years. He then went to Minnesota, and took up a farm, and lived there till 1859, when, hearing of the rich gold and silver regions of Colorado, crossed the plains with the throng, and located for the winter on the Hard- scrabble. In the following spring, he went to the mountains prospecting. He was in the Tarryall placer diggings for three years. In the fall of 1863, he went to Montana, and remained there three years. In 1866, to Fre- mont County, where he has been engaged in farming and stock business since; he has been very successful. He is highly respected, and has concluded to make Colorado his home while he lives.

J. F. CAMPBELL.

Among the younger men of enterprise and business integrity who have been connected with the business interests of Canon City for three years past, is J. F. Campbell. He was born in Madison, Wis., March 10, 1857. When eleven years of age, his parents moved to Can- ton, Ohio, at which place he received a com- mon-school education. At the age of seventeen years, he entered upon a clerkship in one of

Canton's leading book stores. Here, by his strict attention to business, faithfulness and pleasant ways, he made many friends. In two years' time, he left this position to accept the better one of book-keeper in a large hardware store of the same place. In February, 1877, he came to Colorado, and entered the Fremont County Bank of Canon City, as book-keeper. After two years of faithful service in this capac- ity, he was made Cashier of the bank, which same position he still holds. He was married,. in January, 1881, to Miss Hattie N. Danner, of Canton, Ohio. In the April municipal election of the same year, he was elected Mayor of the city of Canon, being at the time but twenty- four years of age-the youngest man on the ticket, and the youngest Mayor in the State.

GEORGE R. CASSEDY.

Mr. Cassedy was born in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, April 16, 1849. His father was a coal miner, being the one who opened the first coal mine in that county. In 1872, he went into the jewelry and music business ; he con- tinued in that business till April, 1880, when he came to Canon City, Colo., and entered into partnership with Mr. Shaffer; and now Shaffer & Cassedy have one of the finest jewelry stores in the southern portion of the State.

HON. JAMES CLELLAND.

James Clelland was born in Glasgow, Scotland, September 20, 1823. He was married to Miss Anna Bayne in 1845; they have one son and one daughter. He came to America in 1848, located in Iowa City, Iowa, and for ten years engaged in the construction of railroads. In 1860, he removed to Atchison, Kan., and with mule and ox trains followed the overland freighting business, making about six round trips to Den- ver each season, passing unharmed through all the perils of life on the plains. He was with the well-known wholesale firm of Stebbins & Porter, in Denver, for several years, gaining through them a large acquaintance throughout the State. In 1871, he removed to Canon City, becoming at once permanently identified with the county, by purchase of real estate, and by engaging in trade, the grocery portion of which he had specially fitted himself for by his long connection with the above-named firm. By his close attention to business, he has endeared himself to a large following of customers,

Ino, m, Growers

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FREMONT COUNTY.

among whom he is known far and near as " Uncle Jimmy." In politics, he is a Democrat. He was member from Fremont County in the last Territorial Council in 1876, and Senator from this (the Fourteenth) district in the first State Senate, in 1877, where he won consider- able distinction for his ready manner of dis- patching business, and his aptness in adapting himself to the phases of legislative life. In the famous railroad war of this county, conceiving it to be the only way to correct the misunder- standings existing between the Denver & Rio Grande Railway and the people, he early fos- tered schemes to secure a competing line, and punish them in turn if possible, being a Di- rector and Treasurer of the Canon City & San Juan Railroad, which was the first company to beard the Denver & Rio Grande lion in its claimed exclusive Grand Canon fastness. The opportunity came in that never-to-be-forgot- ten-by people of this county-April 19, 1878, commencement of the Grand Canon war, in which he entered with spirit, which did not lag until the courts and compromises ruled out the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, to which the local company was allied. It was not his province to pour oil on the troubled waters ; the sinews of war were his forte, and the Den- ver & Rio Grande toppled on the verge of bankruptcy over the contest. That Mr. Clel- . land, as well as the antagonist, have come out strong financially, shows the stuff of which the contestants were made. He is acknowledged to be a natural leader, so much so that in whatever station he occupies, it is calculated his counsels must prevail, which, being a man of sound judgment and large experience in business and among the people, there is seldom any objection to, the more especially as success uniformly crowns his schemes for himself or the public. The social amenities of life have some attractions for him, but generally show a tendency toward financial ends; while in his son, George W., the opposite trait predominates -overflowing with wit and good feeling through whatsoever shadows may darken his pathway. His only daughter, Frances, now the wife of James H. Peabody, Esq., is a model wife, and a great favorite among a large circle of friends. To his connection with the Canon City Water Works, the public are in a large measure in- debted for this inestimable blessing to the town. He has just completed another fine

store, the most substantial and best- finished store in town, in which he inaugurated the use of the beautiful Rockvale buff stone for trim- ming purposes. He is a working member of Royal Arch Masonry, also Treasurer of the Blue Lodge, and active in all public enterprises.

WILLIAM C. CATLIN.

Among the early pioneers of Colorado who came in search of fortunes was William C. Cat- lin, and right well has his anticipations been realized. He was born in Lincolnshire, En- gland, in 1827. At the age of twenty-two years, he concluded to seek his fortune in a new world ; he came to America with his young wife, and first located in Medina, Ohio; after four years he went to Nebraska, but being desirous of seeing what was still further west, he crossed the plains into Colorado. He spent two years in mining in California Gulch, after which he removed to Fremont County. He has shown great enterprise in farming, raising stock and brick-making. He has furnished all the bricks used in building up the nice blocks in Canon City. He has a very handsome residence and grounds in South Cañon, and is one of the most active business men in the community, highly respected by all the people.

HON. A. D. COOPER.

Mr. Cooper ranks among the old pioneers of Colorado, he having emigrated here in 1859. He was born in Venango County, Penn., Sep- tember 22, 1822. He received a good district school education, and also attended Farming- ton Academy, at Trumbull, Ohio. At the age of twenty-two years, he went to Kentucky, where he was engaged in teaching for three years. He then returned to his former home, and was engaged in farming and buying stock, which he would drive to Eastern markets to sell. In 1858, he moved to Nebraska ; after remaining there one year, he again turned his face toward the setting sun, arriving June 16, at Auraria. In August, he crossed the range and located on the Blue. He was one of the number who built Fort Mary B. He was elected Delegate to the first Constitutional Con- vention, from Summit County, which met in Golden, in July, 1865. He was elected State Senator to the first State Legislature, which met at Golden, in 1865 ; was Enrolling Clerk for two years in the Territorial Legislature. In

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1867, he moved to Clear Creek County, where he engaged in mining till 1869, when he came to Fremont County, where he still lives. He owns a nice farm, nine miles from Canon City, but he lives in the city, and has occupied the position of Postmaster for two years. He represented Fremont, Lake, Park and Saguache Counties in the Ninth Territorial Legislature. He also represented the same counties in the Third Constitutional Convention, which framed the present constitution. In all his official capacities, Mr. Cooper has performed his duties to the perfect satisfaction of his constituents ; and for honesty and strict integrity, no man in Colorado stands higher than Mr. Cooper.

JABEZ T. COX.

Mr. Cox is one of the leading lawyers of Southern Colorado ; he being one of the firm of Macon & Cox, Canon City. He was born in Clinton County, Ohio, January 27, 1846. He was educated at Westfield Academy, Indiana ; after which he studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1866. He practiced his profession in Tipton, Ind., till 1875, when he removed to Hutchinson, Kan. In 1878, he was nominated by the Democrats and indorsed by the Green- hack party, for Attorney General. He was beaten by Willard Davis, by only six thousand votes, while the head of the ticket was beaten by over forty thousand. He polled the largest vote ever given for any Democrat in the State of Kansas. In 1879, he came to Canon City, Colo., where he has had a very successful prac- tice since.

M. MILLS .CRAIG.

Among the substantial farmers of Fremont County is the subject of this sketch. Mr. Craig was born upon a farm in Burke County, N. C., October 16, 1832. He remained at home, receiving a good education at the com- mon schools and high school at Burnsville, N. C., until he was twenty-one years of age ; after which he taught school for five years. In 1860, he joined the throng who were marching west- ward in search of gold. He first went to Fry- ing-Pan Gulch, and later to other camps, till 1861, not finding mining all he expected, he re- moved to Fremont County, and has been ex- tensively engaged in farming since. He owns 320 acres of nice land four miles from Canon City. In January, 1869, he was married to Re- becca E. Brown, of McDowell County, N. C.

THOMAS H. CRAVEN, M. D.

This gentleman was born near Richmond, Mo., May 26, 1837. His boyhood days were spent upon his father's farm. He received a common-school education. In 1856, he took a position as clerk in his brother's store at Cam- den, Mo. Here he remained four years, after which he began the study of medicine with Dr. W. W. Mosby, of Richmond, Mo. He attended one term at Richmond College, but in 1862, feeling that his country needed his services, he recruited Company H, Fifty-first Regiment of Missouri Volunteers, and was elected its Cap- tain. He served principally on scout duty in the Western Department, until May, 1863, when he resigned his position on account of failing health. He then went to Philadelphia, Penn., and continued the study of medicine at Jeffer- son Medical College. He began practicing at Kearney. Clay Co., Mo., in April, 1864. In August of the same year, he removed to Colo- rado, and resumed practice at Nevada, Gilpin County. In April, 1869, removed to Cañon City, where he has continued the practice of his profession with marked success. In 1873, he was elected Treasurer of Fremont County, re- elected in 1875, and declined the nomination in 1877. He has never sought official positions, but the office and the people sought him. He is President of the Fremont Medical Society, and a member of the State Medical Society. He is Surgeon of the Denver & Rio Grande Railway Company. The Doctor enjoys a lucra- tive practice, and has the respect and esteem of the people.

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History of the Arkansas Valley, Colorado, Part 87

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