History of the Arkansas Valley, Colorado, Part 89

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

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WILLIAM A. HELM.

One of the early settlers of Colorado is Will- iam A. Helm, of Canon City. He was born in Bedford, Penn., September 19, 1831. His father was a cabinet-maker, a trade which William learned, and worked with his father till 1852, they having moved to Indiana when William was nine years of age. In 1852, he went to Iowa, and spent one year, after which he went back to Indiana, and in 1854, he went into bus- iness for himself, at Wintersett. After six months, he returned to Oskaloosa, and went in partnership with his father. Very soon after, his father died, after which he carried on the business at different places till 1860, when he came to Colorado. He first stopped in Golden, and in the fall went to Denver. In 1861, he went back for his family, and that winter locat- ed near Canon City on a ranch. After three

years, he came to Canon City, where he has since resided. Mr. Helm saw some hard times in those days, when there was no place to buy provisions nearer than Denver. But he fought it through, and says, with all his privations, he was happy in anticipation of the future. After coming to Canon, he opened the first hotel ever here, which he ran for three years. He has now an elegant home in the heart of the city, surrounded with plenty. He has taken great interest in growing fruits, and has a lovely orchard of all kinds of fruits, of which he is justly proud. He has also a very nice farm of ninety acres, two miles east of the city. Mr. Helm is also interested quite extensively in mines near Gothic City.

FRANK HARTWELL.

Frank Hartwell, one of the publishers of the "History of Fremont and Custer Counties," was born in Saratoga County, N. Y., December 12, 1833. At the age of sixteen, he went to learn the blacksmith's trade. In 1865, he came to Colorado, first locating at Georgetown ; here he remained three years, and then removed to Pueblo. After one year there, he moved onto a ranch in Fremont County, where he spent one year, since which time he has resided in Canon City, engaged in his trade. In 1879, he, in connection with Mr. Brinkley, published a his- tory of Fremont and Custer Counties, a very interesting and worthy work. He was married, in 1856, to Miss Eliza Harris, of North Hamp- ton, Mass.

GEORGE HENRY.

Mr. Henry was born on a farm in Hardin County, Ohio, April 27, 1843. When sixteen years of age, he started ont in life for himself. He worked by the month for four years, and then, in 1863, came to Colorado. He first worked in a quartz-mill at Black Hawk for six months, after which he removed to Fremont County, where he has been engaged in stock- raising and farming since. He was married to Margaret Brewster in 1866.

RUDOLPH JESKE.

Mr. Jeske was born in Prussia July 1, 1842. Twenty-five years of his early life was spent in his native country, six years of which he was in the Prussian army. In 1867, he sought a new home in America. He spent two and one-half years in Chicago, Ill., in the wholesale tobacco

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and cigar business. At the end of this time, there was a large German colony formed in Chicago for the purpose of locating in the West, and Mr. Jeske was one of the committee who was sent out to find a desirable place to locate. They decided upon the Wet Mountain Valley, Colorado, and the colony came on in 1869. In 1872, he came to Canon City, and embarked in his old business of tobacco and cigars, and has succeeded in building up a very large trade, occupying the whole of one of the largest stores in the city. Mr. Jeske enjoys the respect and esteem of the people to a high degree.

JOHN W. JOHNSON.

Perhaps no man in Colorado has seen more of the frontiersman's life than the man whose name heads this sketch. He was born in Galla- tin County, Ky., June 30, 1826. He was a farm- er's son, and received only the advantages of the common schools of that day. In the spring of 1848, he went to St. Joseph, Mo., and served his apprenticeship as brick-layer. In the fall of 1849, he went to Iowa, where he worked at his trade till 1855, when he crossed the plains to California. In the spring of 1859, he went to Trinity County, where he remained two years. The summer of 1861 he spent in Ne- vada. In 1862, he went to the Caribou Mines in British America. In 1864, went to Idaho City. In 1869, he came to Fremont County, and bought him a farm. He went to Pueblo, and remained five years, working at his trade. Many of the fine brick blocks of that city, and also Canon City, were built by him. He is now turning attention to farming, having recently added to his possessions two large farms adjoining. Mr. Johnson is highly respected, and considered one of the solid men of Fre- mont County.

WILBUR K. JOHNSON.

This gentleman was born in Hopkinton, Mass .. April 18, 1852. At an early age, he removed with his parents to Iowa City, Iowa, where he enjoyed good advantages for an edu- cation, first at the common, schools and later at the State University at Iowa City. At the age of twenty-one years, he took a position as trav- eling salesman for Diebold, Norris & Co., safe manufacturers at Camden, Ohio. He traveled for this firm two years, and then took a similar position with J. M. Butler, a paper dealer of

Chicago, Ill. He remained at this business till he came to Colorado, in 1879, arriving in Cañon City July 20. He, seeing the need of a good system of water works, first got the franchise of the town, then formed a stock company, com- posed of the citizens of Canon. Mr. Johnson was sent to Boston by the company, to select the pump and machinery, and the people of Cañon are largely indebted to Mr. Johnson for originating, and, in connection with the com- pany he formed, carrying on to completion one of the best systems of water works in the country. Mr. Johnson, though young in years, has demonstrated that he is a practical business man. Having a great amount of energy and sound judgment, he carries to a successful ter- mination any enterprise which he undertakes.

WILLIAM E. JOHNSON.

Mr. Johnson was born in Hopkinton, Mass., October 26, 1857. When he was six years of age, his father, who was an extensive contractor, moved to Iowa City, Iowa. He received a good education at the common schools and later at the State University at Iowa City. Feeling that the Far West was the place for young men with pluck and energy, he started for Colorado with only $17 in money. He worked his way along, and arrived in Alamosa July 4, 1878. He at once went to work, and soon fortune be- gan to smile upon him. He soon after came to Canon City, and commenced the real estate business in a small way. It soon grew into a large business and he was eminently success- ful. In the fall of 1879, he opened the bank- ing house of William E. Johnson ; this proved another very successful move. In Angust, 1880, he sold ont to what is now known as the Exchange Bank. He was very instrumental in connection with his brother, Wilbur K. John- son, and O. G. Stanly, in forming the company for building the water works, and to their efforts Canon City is indebted to a great extent for one of the best systems of water works in the country.

HON. LEWIS JONES.

Hon. Lewis Jones was born in Bourbon County, Ky., in 1799 ; he subsequently moved to Boone County, Mo., in 1808; was mar- ried 'to Mrs. Elizabeth Mckinney in 1818, and moved to Shawnee Nation, where he was Government Blacksmith for four years ; moved from there to Independence, Mo., in 1823, be-

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ing the first settler on the ground ; served as Justice of the Peace and Judge of the County Court ; took an active part in the Mormon troubles of the years 1835-36, and in the fall of 1837 was Commissary on expedition of Missouri State Militia against the Osage Indians. He afterward engaged in the Santa Fe traffic, making his first trip in 1829, when he trusted a treacherous guide and was robbed, in the Taos Mountains, of his large pack train and every- thing except his private horse and a small quantity of provisions. It was some years before he recuperated, when he embarked in the same trade, extending his operations to Chi- huahua; he soon made his losses up, as he cleared on some trips $10,000, or more. On one trip, when he was furnished with an escort of 200 Mexican soldiers, when on the Cimarron River, Indians appeared with the cross earried, hoisted high before them, at which the Mexican officer was inspired with confidence as to their peaceful intentions, and invited them into camp and were passing the pipe of peace, when the Indians, at a signal, gave the war-whoop and fired promiscuously among them, killing only the officer in charge of the troops. Mr. Jones and the train men being more suspicious of the Indians, were not in the parley, grabbed their firearms and in turn so surprised the In- dians that they fled in consternation, being hot- ly pursued by the entire force, who slaughtered the Indians without mercy. They afterward reported their loss to Mexicans at 125. He extended his operations to near the City of Old Mexico, and was there at the time of the proclamation of war with the United States in 1846. He succeeded in escaping with 40,000 pounds of silver and $3,000 in gold. In 1849, when he proposed to go to California, his fame as a traveler caused 300 people to apply to go under his leadership. He fitted out a large train, accompanied by Rev. B. F. Moore, of Canon, his son-in-law and Green J. Jones, his son, now living on Currant Creek ; taking with him supplies for eighteen months. Before starting, he freed several slaves he was owner of. At the sink of the Humboldt, many of his animals having given out, he abandoned three prairie schooner wagons loaded with pro- visions and closely sheeted, marking on them, " Let every hungry man who comes this way help himself." In California, quite a number reported to him that the provisions found in

his wagons saved their lives. He remained but two years in California, when he returned, when he engaged in real estate operations, which proved more lucrative than his trip to the Golden Gate. He then finished the Jones Hotel (fall of 1852), at Independence, which cost $22,000. In 1859, he made a trip by wagon to Texas, accompanied by his wife and Mr. and Mrs. Moore. In 1860, he fitted out a train loaded with miners' supplies for Colorado, coming the Arkansas River route, and leaving a part of his stock at Colorado Springs, and taking the balanee to Hamilton, where he established a store. In the fall of 1861, he moved to Montgomery, where he did extensive mining, sinking one shaft 285 feet, expending in his operations $35,000. He was elected to and served in the Territorial Council from Park County District. He went to Pittsburgh, Penn., in 1864, where he made a sale of one-third of his interest ; he received $35,000 cash, and $50,000 was placed to the working capital fund of the Pittsburgh Company they organized at that time, and machinery was brought on. He afterward built fine large stores at Lin- coln's (now called Little Buttes), also at Colo- rado City. In 1867, retiring from trade, he engaged snecessfully in the cattle business, when he moved to Canon City, where he built two of the largest, most substantial residences of brick and stone we yet have. For the last twenty years of his life, he was an active member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and used his money freely for its sup- port, and in church edifices, being one of the largest subscribers toward the church in this city. Mr. and Mrs. Jones had a great pas- sion for traveling among the mountains, being at the ages of eighty-one and seventy-five when on their last trip, and annually made a trip to visit their children in Missouri. He was stricken with paralysis in August, 1875, from which he never recovered, and from that time until his death, April 20, 1876, was confined to his bed, much of the time perfectly helpless, though always patient and resigned to the approaching close of his earthly career. He willed to the Canon City Cumberland Presby- terian Church $300 a year for four years, and to the Rocky Mountain Presbytery the same sum for the same period of time. A good man in the full sense of the term gone to re- ceive his reward.

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FREMONT COUNTY.

J. W. LESTER.

Mr. Lester came to Colorado twenty-two years ago, and has had his full share of ups and downs incident to pioneer life. He was born in Bucks County, Penn., November 17, 1828. At the age of nine years his parents moved to Ohio. His chances for gaining an education were very limited. In 1852, he moved to Indiana; he came to Colorado in 1859 in search of gold and silver, and right hard did he work to find it, for twelve years in Colorado and Nevada. Not finding the precious metals as plentiful as his ambition desired, he turned his attention, in 1871, to farming. He now owns 240 acres of fine land four miles below Florence, on the Arkansas River. Mr. Lester was married, in 1852, to Elizabeth N. Wilson ; he has lost two sons by death, and has two daughters living; one, Mrs. Cyrus R. Hen- line, who lives at the homestead ; the other, Mrs. C. C. H. Brnce, who lives in Custer County.

JAMES F. LEWIS, M. D.

James Fletcher Lewis was born July 21, 1844. In his youthful days he developed a talent for medical studies, and while attending Isbury University, at Greencastle, . Ind., he prosecuted. the study of medicine under Dr. J. W. Hall, an eminent practitioner of that city. He left his studies to serve his country during the rebellion, and performed gallant service. On his return he completed his college course, graduating with the highest honors of his class. His health at this time partially failed, and his life was threatened with an early and untimely end. His alma mater has considered herself honored in conferring npon him honorary titles these later years, and in adding his name to her scientific societies. He pursued the thor- ough medical course of the Miami Medical College, Cincinnati, Ohio, receiving its diploma in 1870, with all the honors it and the personal commendation of the faculty conld confer. In October of the same year, he was married, and, after practicing for a time at his old home, his wife's health failed, and they moved to Missouri; and, finally, in August, 1872, they were both obliged to seek the boon of health in the in- vigorating atmosphere of Colorado. They pre- sented letters to the Methodist Episcopal Church of this place, and were received in full fellow- ship, the doctor taking more than ordinary interest in church work. He also was an

honored member of the Masonic fraternity, and joined the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He was appointed Medical Examiner by the Pension Bureau. Constant in his studies, he sought to give his patients the benefits of the most approved practice of the times. To re- lieve suffering he was called upon, and respond- ed, night and day, until typhoid fever fastened its fangs in his own debilitated system. Still he attended to his practice, until forced to seek his bed, and then the fever raged with such fury as to baffle the utmost skill of his faithful attendants. He was literally worn out. His statement that he could do no more, and that he could not recover, proved too trne, and he died at Canon City September 30, 1879, after a life rich in labor and sacrifice for the good of his fellow-men.

ROBERT S. LEWIS.

Among the younger men of enterprise and business integrity who have been connected with the business interests of Canon City for a number of years, is R. S. Lewis. He was born in New Haven County, Conn., January 1, 1850. His father was a farmer, and had a family of eight children, Robert being the youngest. He received a good education at the common school, and afterward at the high school in a neighboring village. At the age of eighteen years, he started ont in life to make his way in the world for himself. He engaged as traveling salesman for a cutlery house, and remained in this business three years, after which he clerked in a drug store two years. In 1873, having a desire to see the Western world, he came to Colorado, and located in Canon City, where he has since resided, engaged at one time in the drug business, and later on in the McClure Honse, and now is a member of the Canon City Transfer Company. He was married, October 29, 1880, to Miss Helen M. Sheetz. He. has been one of the City Council for two years.

JOHN LOCKE.

Mr. Locke was born in Marion County, Ohio, October 4, 1829. When he was one year old, his father moved to Indiana, and afterward to Michigan; was living in Michigan during the Black Hawk war. His father being a farmer, the only education he got was by attending dis- trict school winters and working on the farm sommers. In 1850, he went to Illinois, where

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he remained till 1859, when he came to Colo- rado. He spent one year prospecting for gold and silver, after which he freighted across the plains till 1863. He then located in Fremont County, where he has since resided. He has held the office of County Commissioner six years since he has lived in the county. He has a nice farm in the suburbs of Canon City, over- looking the entire city, and takes great interest in fitting up and gathering home comforts around him. He was married, in 1861, to Barbara Ann Welch.

EDWIN LOBACII.

It is safe to say that there is no man in Colo- rado who has had a more chequered life than Edwin Lobach. If all were written of his travels and hardships, his ups and downs, it would fill a volume. He was born in Pennsyl- vania August 1, 1834. When only seven years old, his parents both died, and his uncle was appointed his guardian, and he went to live with him. At the age of fifteen years, he went to learn the saddler's trade. Two years later, he went to Freeport, Ill .; not finding a job there, he footed it to Mount Carmel ; there he was more fortunate, and got employment for the winter. In 1854, he went to St. Louis, from therc to Independence, Mo .; here he engaged to drive a team of five yoke of oxen to Salt Lake, Utah ; he was three and one-half months on the road. After arriving at Salt Lake, he started with a party of sixteen to foot it to California. At that time, there was but one settlement or ranch upon the whole route. They had one pony team to take provisions for the whole party. He followed mining, staging and work- ing at his trade, at different points in California and Oregon, till 1858, when he returned to his native State, and attended school one winter. In 1859, he started for Pike's Peak. He was at several points trading with the miners till 1860, when he went back to Leavenworth, Kan., and commenced freighting. In 1862, he fitted ont a freighting train of twenty-six wagons, six yoke of oxen to the wagon, to haul freight be- tween Leavenworth and Denver. In 1865, he went to Salt Lake again ; from there to Helena, Mont. ; remained there trading and mining for a year ; then back to Salt Lake. He then fit- ted up ten six-mule teams to haul freight from the Colorado River to Pahranagat, but they could not get up the river with the freight, so

he loaded up with salt at the salt banks, and brought that back, He then went to Los An- geles, and freighted back a quartz-mill. After- ward he went to Julesburg, and freighted for Wells, Fargo & Co. In the spring of 1868, he went to grading on the Union Pacific Railroad; continued with them till the road was finished to Promontory Point. He afterward went from point to point, east and south, till 1870, when he located in Fremont County, and has been engaged in farming and stock-raising since. In 1871, he was married to Miss Nancy A. Crouch, a very estimable lady. He then quit his roving, and settled down on one of the best farms in the Arkansas Valley. He has all the comforts of a home around him, and with his happy little family, he seems just as contented as though he had not traveled all over the world. He does not aspire to political honors, but rather spends his time looking after his ranch and herds of horses and cattle.

AUGUSTUS MACON.

Mr. Macon is senior member of the law firm of Macon & Cox, Canon City. He was born in Chris- tian County, Ky., September 10, 1832. In 1839, his father moved to Bloomington, Ill. At the age of twenty-two years, he began the study of law, and two years later was admitted to the bar. He at once located at Omaha, Neb., where he had a very successful practice until 1865, when he came to Colorado, and located at Canon City, where he has since resided, practicing his profession. The firm of Macon & Cox is con- sidered one of the leading law firms in the State. Mr. Macon never aspired to political honors, but has preferred to give all his time and energies to his profession. He not only stands high as a lawyer and advocate, but also as a gentlemen by all his brother lawyers. By his strict integrity and his liberal views in all mat- ters pertaining to the welfare of his adopted city, he has won the respect of all the people.

COL. WILLIAM HENRY MAY.

This gentleman was born in Vermont June 13, 1832. He remained on a farm with his parents till he was twenty-one years of age, after which he worked by the month till 1857, when he went to Nebraska. In the fall of the same year he went to Iowa, where he remained till 1860. He then came to Colorado, locating in Fremont County, where he has since resided.

AugustRisch

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He has been engaged in farming most of the time. He at one time owned the land where the Canon City coal mines are now located. He is a stockholder and director in that company now. He is a bachelor, having always preferred single blessedness.

HON. JAMES A. McCANDLESS.

The subject of this sketch was born in North Carolina February 28, 1836. He was a farm- er's son, and the means for getting an education were very limited, and what he did get were by his own efforts. At the age of nineteen years, he went for himself and engaged in the mer- cantile business for three years. He then went to Jones County, Neb., where he engaged in farming and stock-raising till 1864, when he removed to Colorado. He followed the pursuit of farming at the head of the Grand Canon, Fremont County, for two years, after which he moved to Florence, in the same county, where he now resides, largely interested in raising horses and general farming. In 1877, he was appointed by the Governor, County Commis- sioner. He was elected to the Legislature in 1878, and re-elected in 1880. He was married at the early age of seventeen years to Sarah Franklin, in North Carolina. Mr. McCandless is a genial, whole-souled man, respected by every one. In his official capacity, he has worked hard for the interests of his constitu- ents, and given general satisfaction, as his re- election shows.

WILLIAM H. MCCLURE.

This gentleman is one of Fremont County's most worthy citizens, and has been very largely instrumental in building up her interests, especially in Canon City, where he resides. He is a native of Kentucky ; born on a farm in Pulaski County, January 16, 1837. He re- ceived only such an education as could be ob- tained at the common schools, but enough to make him a thorough business man. After attaining his majority, he engaged in mercantile business in Iowa for one year, subsequently followed farming for seven years. He came to Colorado in 1864, and located at Canon City, and was engaged in mercantile business for ten years, and has since then been in the real estate business. He built the first frame house in Canon City ; it was for a long time the finest residence in Fremont County. He also built

the McClure House, one of the finest brick hotels in Southern Colorado. He also built some very handsome brick blocks of stores, which are certainly an ornament to the town. He and his brother, J. C. McClure, built the Grape Creek wagon road. Mr. McClure's faith in Cañon City, and his indomitable push in business, led him to invest more largely than his means would warrant. The depreciation in real estate caused his failure, and he had to succumb to the fate of many other good men, and the splendid blocks of buildings passed into other hands. But his perseverance and keen business tact has enabled him to come out from under the cloud, and he is now in possession of most of the old property again.

WILLIAM B. McGEE.

Mr. McGee is one of those men who sought a Colorado climate for his health, he being troubled very badly in the East with that ter- rible disease, asthma. He was born in Massa- chusetts March 9, 1834. His parents were farmers, but he got a good common-school edu- cation. He went to Illinois, where he re- mained a few years, but his health was such that he found he could not live there, and, in 1875, he came to Colorado and located in Canon City. He has not only regained his health, but has built up a very large wholesale and retail grocery business. The firm is McGee & Mack, and they sell goods all through the southern portion of Colorado. Mr. McGee is one of those genial, whole-souled gentlemen one loves to meet, and by his fair dealing and strict in- tegrity he has gained the confidence and esteem of every one in Canon City.

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History of the Arkansas Valley, Colorado, Part 89

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