History of the Arkansas Valley, Colorado, Part 90

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

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REV. B. F. MOORE.

The subject of this biography was born in Rutherford County, Tenn., in 1820. He removed to Jackson County, Mo., in 1837 ; he entered the ministry of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church when twenty-one years of age. He was married to Miss Nancy C. Jones, in Independence, Mo., in July, 1844. Went to California in 1849, not remaining but two years on account of the distasteful recklessness dis- played in every department of association, though he enjoyed occasions when permitted to preach to the miners, owing to their unusual interest when their attention was once secured. While returning, via Panama, an episode

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occurred which brought out the fighting pluck of the Parson. There were no wharfs, and ships anchored twelve miles out, passengers and baggage being transferred to within three- fourths of a mile of shore by natives in small boats. On disembarking, he was placed in charge of the gun, and his father-in-law, Lewis Jones', trunk containing their treasure. It was a heavy tug for the natives, through the water, mud and shells, to the beach, yet they managed to get far ahead of the balance of the party, and on approaching the beach, kept yelling Oro ! Oro ! Spanish for gold. By the time they were ready to drop it on the beach, quite a number of natives were gathered, and they made at- tempts to take the trunk to the hotel for the

traveler. He resolutely thrust them aside, cocked the gun and threatened to give the con- tents to any who might venture to interfere with his baggage. There was a great turmoil amongst them, and a Frenchman, coming out of the crowd, told Mr. Moore he was in great dan- ger. He made him, too, stand back, and in various ways gained time until the main party approached. There was no load in his gun, and the party joked him abont playing bluff too well for a parson. In 1862, he first came to Colorado, being attacked with lung fever on the way, and was in a very low condition when he arrived. He took up his permanent resi- dence in Montgomery in 1865 ; came to Fre- mont County in September, 1866. These were the special days of fraternal feeling among the members of the churches in Canon, and it is still their boast that there is one town in the country at least, where " brethren can dwell to- gether in unity." He early set to work in the erection of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, placing .upon it the "First Church Bell " in the Arkansas Valley whose silvery tones invited the wayward to come into the fold. He is a Royal Arch Mason and Chaplain of the Blue Lodge in Canon.

THOMAS D. PALMER, M. D.

Among the active and prosperous young pro- fessional men of Colorado is Dr. Thomas D. Palmer, of Canon City. His genial and gentle- manly ways, strict integrity and close attention to his business and profession has already, in the short time he has been there, gained him a very lucrative practice. He was born in Jack- son, Miss., February 28, 1850. He commenced

the study of medicine with Dr. Wirt Johnson, in his native town in 1869; after which be attended lectures at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Penn., receiving his degree of M. D. in 1871. After his first course of lectures he was appointed assistant to Dr. Charles Car- ter at the Northern Dispensary, Philadelphia, where he enjoyed great advantages for clinical study and practice. He located in Mendon, Mo., in June, 1871. He enjoyed a large prac- tice there for eight years, but on account of failing health, he left to see what a Colorado climate would do for him. He came to Canon City in 1879, and has built up, in two years, a lucrative practice, besides regaining his health. He was married, April 5, 1877, to Mary Bell Freeman, daughter of Gen. John D. Freeman, of Jackson, Miss.

REV. JOHN W. PARTRIDGE.

Rev. John W. Partridge, Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Canon City, was born in Princeton, Mass., September 24, 1844. He was prepared for college at Wooster, Mass. He graduated from Yale College in 1867, and took a theological course at Princeton and Andover. He commenced the ministry at New Haven, Conn., where he remained three years and a half, but poor health compelled him to resign. He came to Colorado, but after six months re- turned to Scranton, Penn., and took charge of the Second Presbyterian Church for two years. His health was such he was obliged to abandon the East permanently. He returned to Colorado and located at Greeley, where he remained two years; here he lost his wife and little boy. Later on he came to Canon City, where he has since resided, beloved by his church and re- spected by every one.

DAVID GEORGE PEABODY.

This gentleman is an old-timer in Colorado, having crossed the plain in 1860, with four yoke of oxen, landing in Denver without money, but with plenty of energy and pluck. He made a large fortune in Denver merchandising, but in the panic of 1873 he was obliged to succumb. But he has rallied again and is one of the lead- ing dry goods men of Canon City. He was born in Vermont March 23, 1835. At the age of thirteen years he learned the carpenter's trade with his father, he worked at his trade and clerking till 1855, he then went to Illinois, and

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was agent for the New England Union Store at Dover, for one year. He was for a time in the real estate business in Minnesota, and finally turned his face toward the Rocky Mountains. He at once went to Georgia Gulch, over the Ute Pass; he was engaged mining and merchandis- ing until 1862, a part of which time he was Postmaster, when he returned to Denver, where he engaged in merchandising till 1875, when he came to Canon City. He was a member of the first Constitutional Convention, and also of the first State Legislature. He was married in 1864, to Julia Penfield, also again in 1878, to Fannie E. Thayer, of Brandon, Wis. He has one son and one daughter by his first wife.

JAMES H, PEABODY.

Among the highly respected and thorough business young men of Canon City is James H. Peabody, of the firm of Clelland & Peabody, grocers. He was born in Orange County, Vt., August 21, 1852. He received a good district school education, and afterward a thorough course at Bryant & Stratton's Business College, at Burlington, Vt. He came to Colorado in 1872, and was for two years book-keeper for J. O. Jordon, in Pueblo .. In the spring of 1875, he removed to Canon City and was book-keeper for James Clelland for one year and a half. He then took one-half the business. They are one of the leading grocery firms in the city. In 1878, he was married to Mr. Clelland's daugh- ter.

DR. WILLIAM K. PERKINS.

This gentleman, although not a pioneer, has come to Colorado to stay. He came to Cañon City in May, 1880, and established himself in the dentistry business, and has already built up a very large practice. He was born in Bethel, Conn., March 18, 1856. At the age of seven- teen years, he commenced the study of den- tistry, in Cumberland, Md., and graduated at New Haven, Conn. He then went to Cumber- land, Md., and formed a partnership with H. Virgil Porter; remained there with a very suc- cessful practice till he came to Colorado.

JOSEPH JUDSON PHELPS.

Mr. Phelps was born in St. Lawrence County, N. Y., July 17, 1825. His father moved to Ohio when he was eight years of age. The only advantages for an education was the com- mon district school. After spending several

years in Ohio and Illinois, he came to Colorado in 1860. After spending one year and a half at Black Hawk, Colo., he went back to Illinois, and engaged in farming, except six months that he was in the army, until 1865, when he again returned to Colorado, engaged in team- ing and raising stock in Canon City, where he now resides. In 1879, he was elected County Commissioner for Fremont County. Mr. Phelps is a very exemplary man, and is held in high esteem by all his neighbors. He has been a member of the Baptist Church since 1848, and takes a very active part in church affairs. He was married to Rosilla Fossett, in Illinois, in 1856.

IRA R. PORTER.

Among the substantial farmers of Fremont County is Ira R. Porter. He was born Decem- ber 8, 1838, in Knox County, Ohio. At eight years of age, his parents moved to Iowa. When eighteen years of age, he began life for himself, and engaged in farming till 1864, when, becoming anxious to see more of Western life, he started for Colorado, arriving in Canon City on the 4th day of May. He was engaged in freighting for four years. Then he bought a ranch on Hardscrabble, where he now resides. He is a model farmer, and a man who enjoys the universal respect of his neighbors. Mr. Porter was married, in 1862, to Catharine Kelly, of Iowa.

JOSEPH L. PRENTISS, M. D.

Dr. Prentiss was born in Norwich, N. Y., June 8, 1842. He removed with his parents to Kansas His father was a physician and druggist. He worked in the drug store and studied medicine for four years ; then entered Rush Medical College, Chicago, and graduated from there in 1865. He took ad eundem degree in Bellevue Hospital in 1867. He was medical cadet in the army in 1863. He received the appointment as Surgeon of the First Kansas Volunteers. He had charge of the general hospital. at Tale- quagh, Cherokee Nation, for six months. He was one of the youngest surgeons in the army. He came to Colorado in 1872, and has been practicing his profession and conducting a drug store since. He was Physician for the Peni- tentiary for five years. He was married in Kansas, to Mary Anderson, who died in 1875. In 1878, he was again married, to Marian N. Little, of Denver ; he has three sons.

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JESSE RADER.

Among the old-timers who came to Colorado in an early day and battled with its privations and hardships is Jesse Rader. He was born on a farm in East Tennessee May 25, 1829. His facilities for an education were only the common schools. In 1855, he went to Missouri, and in 1860 came to Colorado and operated in the mines of Summit County until 1864, when he returned for his family, and in the fall of the same year he removed to Fremont County, where 'he has since resided. He has an elegant farm on Four Mile Creek, a few miles from Canon City. He was married, in 1854, to Miss E. D. Bell, in Green County, E. Tenn. Mr. Rader enjoys the respect and esteem of all his neighbors.

F. A. RAYNOLDS.

Nowhere in the civilized world has the old maxim of "Industry brings its own reward " been better exemplified than in the life of Mr. F. A. Raynolds, now the most prominent bank president in the State of Colorado. He is now only thirty years of age, and for nearly two years has been President of the First National Bank of Leadville, the most flourishing and successful bank in the great carbonate metrop- olis. The following will be of interest to our readers, as it is a true outline of the life of the youngest National Bank President in the United States. F. A. Raynolds was born in Canton, Ohio, on September 26, 1850. His father was a first-class business man, and was engaged in mercantile pursuits when young F. A. was born. At an early age, the common schools of Canton had amongst its pupils the subject of this biography, and here he remained until about fifteen years of age, when his atten- tion was turned to the more difficult pursuit of making his own living. Upon leaving school, he entered the dry goods house of David Zollars & Co., father of John W. Zollars, now cashier of the First National Bank of Leadville. At the end of three years, Mr. Raynolds had saved from his earnings about $500, which he was desirous of investing in some good speculation. The most promising of several which were pre- sented to him was a butter and egg scheme, which promised large returns, but unfortunately yielded nothing, and finally resulted in the loss of his entire investment. Shortly after this failure, the position of traveling salesman for

the Eagle Woolen Mills, of Canton, Ohio, was offered to Mr. Raynolds, which he willingly accepted, as it gave him an opportunity to earn a'good living, aud develop his latent business ability. Appreciating his merit, in two years he was made Secretary and Treasurer of the same company, and under his personal super- vision and management the stock of the concern advanced from 50 cents to par, and the young treasurer was the means of making some very handsome profits for the corporation. In this manner the time rolled on, until he was imbued with the advice of Horace Greeley, and decided to "go West," and the 4th day of August, 1874, found Mr. Raynolds in Canon City, Colo., start- ing a bank. This was, and still is, the Fremont County Bank, of which Mr. R. was made Cashier, and afterward promoted to President. This proving a profitable investment, and seeing an opportunity to start another similar institu- tion at Rosita, in 1876, the doors of the bank at that place were thrown open, with F. A. Raynolds as President. Two years later, the Leadville boom was starting, and another chance was offered, and as quickly accepted, . in the Carbonate camp ; and in April, 1878, Mr. Raynolds was the silent partner of Zollars, Eshelman & Co., of the Lake County Bank ; and in less than a year later was elected to the presidency of the same institution, although it had then changed its title to the First National Bank. At this time he was only twenty-eight years of age, and President of a National and two State Banks. In the fall of the same year, the Custer County Bank was started at Silver Cliff, about thirty miles from Canon. This has proven itself to be the best investment, as yet, of any of his undertakings, although the com- petition at Silver Cliff is stronger than any- where else in the State. It is the second mining town in importance, and the third in population, in Colorado. Notwithstanding the competition, however, through the able management and business-like efforts of Mr. F. A. Raynolds, the President, and F. W. Dewalt, Cashier, the Custer County Bank is doing nine-tenths of the busi- ness of the town. In the spring and summer of 1880, the institutions at Buena Vista, Alpine and Saguache, were started by Mr. F. A. Ray- nolds, and are doing a prosperous business. Considerable forethought and ability have been displayed by Mr. Raynolds in organizing this chain of banks, as now the majority of the

RESIDENCE OF AUGUST RISCHE. MALTA, COLO.

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business of the State, excluding Denver, is transacted through his several institutions, and they can assist each other to a wonderful de- gree in making business. Mr. Raynolds takes a lively interest in educational matters, and is now President of the Board of Trustees of a new college to be established in Canon City. Although Mr. Raynolds is but thirty years of age, his hair is slightly sprinkled with gray. He is of courteous demeanor and agreeable, and also quick in his decisions in business matters. In business he is invariably cool and decided, and although sharp at a bargain, scorns to take any mean advantage. He is a universal favorite with all his employes and associates, and from the even tenor of his living, a long and prosperous life will probably be the reward of his efforts.

AARON RIPLEY.

Aaron Ripley was born in Ohio March 24, 1835. His life was spent upon a farm and working in a saw-mill till he was eighteen years of age. He then started for himself and took charge of a saw-mill at Plymouth, Ind., until March, 1859, when he crossed the plains to Colorado. He first mined for one year in the Gregory diggings and then went to California Gulch, and was engaged in supplying the min- ers for four years, buying his stock in Den- ver. In 1871, he removed to Garden Park, Fremont County, and has been engaged in farming and stock-raising since. Mr. Ripley is highly respected and is one of the solid men of Fremont County.

GEORGE ROCKAFELLOW.

Mr. George Rockafellow was born in Bethle- hem, Huntingdon County, N. J., near the city of Philadelphia. His parents moved to Alexandria, on the Delaware, when he was four years old, and were among the pioneers in Western New York, where they settled, near Nunda, Livingston County, when he was twen- ty-two years of age. The place then had but two houses, a blacksmith-shop and a little log schoolhouse, which was also used for a honse of worship. He was married to Eliza Warner, January 11, 1835. For ten years he did his full share subduing the forests of the Genesee Valley country. In 1837, he moved to Conesus, in same county, where his family of one son and two daughters was reared. He built the large stone flouring-mills of that place, and for

many years his brand of flour ranked among the best in the seaboard cities. In addition to his home mills, that turned out 100 barrels flour per day, he stocked the Shaker Frost Hol- low and Pike's Hollow Mills, each of about the same capacity, besides dealing extensively in wheat. Being previous to advent of railroads, all this .business was done by canal, the prod- uct often arriving on a market so different than when started, that the fluctuations of fortune with him were great. It required good judg- ment, besides almost sleepless labor to keep the wheels all moving. He was an active mem- ber of the Baptist Church from boyhood, and foremost in every good work in the community. The location of the Buffalo, Corning & New York Railroad through that region, was, in a great measure, owing to his efforts and influ- ence. Having a good memory for the pleasing events that characterized pioneer life, his office was a rendezvous for the old settlers, where temperate good cheer always held sway, as lie possessed in a marked degree the confidence and respect of the people. The writer calls to mind one or two of his anecdotes abont neigh- bor Deacon, at Nunda, who was addicted to asking long blessings, but on one occasion, being hurried by business, he closed abruptly with : "All of which we ask for Christ's sake -histe up your old frouzzle-head," to his pa- tient wife, who had disposed her head for a long dissertation over the sins of the world. The old deacon, in saying grace, always asked for a "competency of this world's goods." Mr. R. asked him what he meant by that, as he was already the richest man in the region ; the old deacon answered : "Why, I suppose I mean a little more." The schoolmaster of that period excited his full powers of mimicry, as well as contempt. He described the Jersey school- master as ignorant, brutal and drunken, with tact to dupe older persons, but none to manage younger ones with. On account of the strug- gles to secure an education in that day, he felt a great interest in the progress of schools in later years, being one of the most earnest and earliest advocates of the free school system in New York State. In 1856, he moved with his family to Lyons, Mich., where his estimable wife died in 1869. He came to Colorado in 1860, at different times owning and working gulch claims in "Georgia Gulch," "On the Blue," (where he was caught through the hips by cav-

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ing of a mine bank, and suffered for months), "Stilson Patch " and "Tarryall Diggings,' meeting with all the ups and downs of those times. The placer mines below Hamilton, on Como side of gulch, which bear his name, cov- er a large number of acres, and which he worked with hydraulic. He sold in the win- ter of 1866-67, taking up permanent residence in Canon. In politics, was Republican, he and Anson Rudd, Esq., being the only ones to vote for right of suffrage to the colored men in Canon City Precinet. He, however, could not resist the temptation to vote for Horace Gree- ley, who, he believed, could, better than any other man, carry out the policy of "charity to all," and make friends of those who so recently had been in deathly combat. He came first to Cañon the fall of 1864, and ran the Four Mile Mill for Col. E. Johnson and Egbert Bradley, in which, though a very crude affair, he made an article of flour that the old settlers now often remark "was just as good as they wished for;" besides, they received a much more sat- isfactory return from their grain than the newer, more perfectly constructed mills give them, or, as John Smith used to say, "' Rockey' gives us more flour by holding up the mill with one hand and grinding with the other, than we used to get back in America." The Ute Indians swapped buckskins for flour a good deal with him, and on one occasion, when Colorow and his band had swapped quite a pile of buckskins, which, as trade after trade was closed, were thrown back on a pile of sacks of flour, as he stooped to regulate the grinding, he discovered a movement toward his buckskin piles; sud- denly turning, he found it was Colorow himself in the act of appropriating them to trade over. He grabbed them from him, and drove the whole band from the mill, refusing to trade with them for some days, until they assured him that he was "heap buena, and Colorow heap cheat," when trade relations were resnmed, and no attempt was ever made after that to disturb what did not belong to them. Wheat was 8 to 10 cents per pound, and flour $15 to $18 per sack. In his trips among the mines selling flour, he constantly advocated the advan- tages of this portion of Arkansas Valley, and did his utmost to turn the very lucrative trade of Granite, Cache Creek, Oro, Buckskin, Fair- play, Hamilton, Breckenridge and tributary mines, this way. He was a member of the

Canon Park Claim Club, and promoter of the present "Big Ditch " for irrigating the park, which he believed would some day be of great value, when brought under proper cultivation, for raising fruit as well as grain, and early set out a large orchard, which was labor and expense. lost, owing to the length of time the trees were in transit from the States. His ideas on that subject are now' proven by expe- rience to have been correct, as shown by the orchard-dotted farms that are outgrowing the name of ranches, and the beautiful trees and vines that surround the home he built in Cafion, are lasting monuments to his taste, which have encouraged many younger persons to plant seeds and trees. The last three summers of his life were spent in Lake County mines, as all kinds of mining possessed a peculiar fasci- nation for him. His efforts on Fryer Hill to secure a location did not strike him favorably with the advantages of that location. As he commenced digging a shaft on ground that seemed unoccupied, Chicken Bill suddenly appeared before him with a cocked rifle leveled at him, and asked : "What you doing here sir ? " He said he answered : "Sinking here, " and that he really thought he was by the way he felt just at that time. The result was, neither he nor Chicken Bill were made millionaires over that ground. The labors of an active, eventful life, were closed at seventy- four years of age, receiving marked attentions from neighbors and friends during his last sickness. His memory was honored by all places of business in the city being closed dur- ing the funeral exercises, his last resting- place being in Colorado soil, to which he was so warmly attached, and is marked by a plain granite monument, bearing only the inscription, GEORGE ROCKAFELLOW, Born November 18, 1805, Died April 21, 1880.

CAPT. B. F. ROCKAFELLOW.

Capt. Rockafellow was born November 18. 1835, in Nunda, Livingston Co., N. Y. He attended high schools, Temple Hill, Geneseo and the Wesleyan Seminary, Lima, N. Y .. also one season at Oberlin, where he paid his way by selling Goodrich's " History of All Nations " in surrounding towns on Saturdays. He lived in New York State until nineteen years of age, when his parents moved to Lyons, Mich., and

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he entered active life on his own account. In 1857-58, he built the Gothic Steam Mills of that place ; taking a partner in 1859, using the grand water-power of that point as soon as completed. The mills did a large business and excellent work. In the summer of 1862, he enlisted in the Sixth Regiment of Michigan Cavalry, then forming at Grand Rapids, Mich. Was mustered Second Lieutenant October 12, 1862 ; First Lieutenant, dating back from July to March 16, 1863. Was seriously wounded in the battle of the Wilderness May 6, 1864, and on July 23, was commissioned Captain of Com- pany I, which promotion was dated back to March 16 of that year. The Sixth was armed with Spencer rifles, and was one of the regi- ments of Michigan Cavalry Brigade commanded by Gen. George A. Custer, through which he won his Major General's star. He tells a story of President Lincoln he thinks never before related in print, that before their regiments left Washington, Col. Francis C. Kellogg, their member of Congress, who had the honor of or- ganizing the Michigan Cavalry Brigade, ar- ranged to present the officers to the President at the White House, remarking, after the President had given each officer the impulses of his earnest heart, through the touch of the sturdy grip of his hand, "Mr. President, the officers of this cavalry brigade propose to present Gen. Jeb Stuart to you (his initials J. E. B.).

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History of the Arkansas Valley, Colorado, Part 90

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