USA > Colorado > History of the State of Colorado, Volume III > Part 24
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January 20th, 1866, the office of county attorney being declared vacant, Mr. John Q. Charles was appointed to fill the vacancy. The resignation of Dexter H. Soggs having been accepted April 7th, 1866, O. W. Shackeltôn was appointed assessor, and soon after Allen B. Sopris was chosen to the same office. During the summer of the
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same year G. V. Boutelle was made county surveyor. For the year 1865 the valuation of property was $2,804,402; the tax levy $44,309.22. The county expenses were $22,051.30. In 1866 the valuation increased to $3,991,151; the tax levy was $58,515.75, and the county expenses were $39,861.05.
In the year last named Freeman B. Crocker and Peter Magnes were elected to the board of commissioners, the third member being James M. Wilson. Allen B. Sopris was chosen assessor, and J. E. Wharton superintendent of schools. Mr. Magnes was a native of Sweden; came to Colorado in 1859 and for more than thirty years has been a successful farmer. He laid out the town of Petersburg. In October, 1866, he pur- chased a " Poor Farm" for the county, the price being $300. This tract was subse- quently sold to the National Mining and Industrial Exposition.
In the fall of 1867 the following officers were elected: Sheriff, Richard Sopris; Clerk and Recorder, Webster D. Anthony; Treasurer, Clarence J. Clark: Probate Judge, Major Jacob Downing; Assessor, Allen B. Sopris; Coroner, R. L. Hatten; Superintendent of Schools, Omer O. Kent; Surveyor, Redwood Fisher; County Com- missioners, James M. Wilson, who with Crocker and Magnes constituted the board. Vincent D. Markham was made County Attorney.
For this year the valuation of property was 83,823,668. In September, Frank W. Cram succeeded F. B. Crocker as commissioner, and it may as well be stated here, that it proved an unfortunate exchange for the county. J. M. Wilson was elected chairman.
The officers chosen in September, 1869, were: Sheriff, David J. Cook; Clerk and Recorder, Webster D. Anthony; Treasurer, Abram R. Lincoln; Assessor, Eli Dough- erty; Probate Judge, Henry A. Clough; Surveyor, Redwood Fisher; Coroner, R. L. Hatten; Superintendent of Schools, Wilbur C. Lothrop: Commissioner, Joseph W. Bowles.
In September, 1870, the following were elected: Surveyor, Cecil A. Deane; Asses- sor, L. A. Curtice; Commissioner, David A. Cheever.
Mr. Bowles succeeded Peter Magnes in 1869, and on October 4th of that year, Frank W. Cram was made chairman of the board. October 24th Cheever came in as the new member.
In 1871 Cook was re-elected sheriff, Clough, probate judge, Lincoln, treasurer, and Cram, commissioner; Frank Church was made superintendent of schools, Dr. M. Mayer Marix, coroner; E. H. Starrett, assessor, and B. M. Whittemore, surveyor. Mr. Church held the office of superintendent four years; was a member of the school board for District No. 1, State Senator in 1879, and for three terms county treasurer. He and his predecessor, Mr. Lothrop, effected a very thorough organization of the school system, which in its later development is a matter of immeasurable pride to every citi- zen of Denver.
Mr. Merrick A. Rogers, who had been elected district attorney in 1870, was now appointed county attorney. A native of Jefferson County, New York, he came to Colorado in 1860, and from that time to the present has been identified with its judicial affairs. In March, 1872, Charles W. Wright was appointed to the office vacated by Mr. Rogers, and served about three years.
In 1871 the assessed valuation of property in Arapahoe County was $9,058,405, and in 1872, 812,115,347. The large increase in those two years was brought about by
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the introduction of two railways, the Denver Pacific and Kansas Pacific, and the build- ing of the first link in the Denver & Rio Grande.
In September, 1872, Fred. J. Stanton was elected county surveyor, and Joseph W. Bowles and E. H. Starrett were respectively re-elected county commissioner and asses- sor. The board of commissioners then stood-Frank W. Cram, J. W. Bowles and David A. Cheever. Mr. Cram was re-elected chairman.
October 10th, 1872, a petition was presented requesting them to call an election by the people to vote upon the question of subscribing $200,000 to the Denver, George- town & Utah Railway Company, and at an election ordered November 11th for that purpose a majority of 520 was given in favor of the proposition. By consent of the company the bonds issued in accordance with the vote were canceled. June 18th, 1873, the board was petitioned to submit a proposition for $300,000 in aid of the Denver, South Park & Pacific Road, but the following day the petition was withdrawn, only to be resubmitted June 25th. At the election held on the 28th of July, a majority of 1,302 was given in favor of the subscription.
The county now began to consider the ' expediency of building a jail and poor- house. Emmett Anthony submitted plans for the latter institution, which were adopted, and May 5th George W. Smith was awarded the contract to build the same for $4,900. Additional ground amounting to 2.69 acres was purchased of R. E. Whitsitt for $1,250. June 3d the Commissioners issued a call for an election to vote upon the proposition to issue $50,000 in bonds for the erection of a county jail, which was defeated. The question was resubmitted July 28th, when it received a majority of 1,527. The plans drawn by P. J. Pauley & Bro. of St. Louis, were accepted, and September 13th, 1873, the contract for building the jail was awarded to George W. Smith for $26,023, with Emmett Anthony as superintendent of construction. Smith assigned his contract to Hallack & Brother, by whom the building was completed.
In September, 1873, the following county officers were chosen: Sheriff, E. A. Wil- loughby; Probate Judge, W. C. Kingsley; Treasurer, J. M. Strickler; Clerk and Recorder, W. D. Anthony; Assessor, George C. Roberts; Surveyor, E. J. Hall; Cor- oner, H. Stein; Superintendent of Schools, Frank Church; Commissioner, Freeman B. Crocker, who with Bowles and Cram constituted the board, the latter re-elected chairman. The courtrooms and various county offices had been for some time located in the second story of the building at the corner of Fifteenth and Lawrence streets, owned by John Hughes & Co., where they remained until removed to the new court- house.
In 1873, a year of great financial disaster throughout the land, the shock was felt here in a general shrinkage of values, made apparent to all minds, not only in the reg- ular channels of business, but in the assessment returns, which receded from a total of $12,115,347 in 1872 to $11,871,908.
December Ist, 1873, E. H. Kellogg was appointed County Surveyor, vice E. J. Hall, resigned. February 3d, 1874, a contract was entered into with Joseph K. Wilson, who purchased the $50,000 in bonds issued for jail purposes. On the 14th block I, A. C. Hunt's addition, was bought for a site, the price paid being $8,500. September 5th the building was completed and accepted by the Commissioners.
Frank W. Cram resigned from the board, and on June 12th, 1874, Joseph W. Bowles
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was elected to the vacancy. In September following, at the general election, these officers were chosen: Assessor, George C. Roberts: Surveyor, S. H. Gilson; Commis- sioners, A. J. Williams and H. D. Steele, each for three years, I. H. Batchellor for two years, and A. M. Stanbury for one year. These four, with Freeman B. Crocker and Joseph W. Bowles, constituted the board-six in all under an amendment to the law. But this was soon changed, and the number reduced to five. Mr. Crocker was elected chairman October 5th.
Charles W. Wright resigned, and December 17th, 1874, Wm. B. Mills was elected county attorney, who served twelve years in that position, a competent, vigilant and faithful adviser, in a period involving great responsibility and the expenditure of large sums, especially in building the present superb courthouse and in the settlement of many important financial questions. He was industrious and methodical, a wise counselor and guide. He was born near Syracuse, New York, and became a resident of Denver in 1873.
The question of purchasing a site for a courthouse caused much heated discussion in and outside the conferences of the board, whose members were evenly divided, pro- ducing a long deadlock. May 5th, 1875, it was agreed to purchase lots, one to eight, in block 44, East Denver, from George W. Brown and John J. Reithmann for $10,000. The owners demanded $13,250 for the property, but a few days later accepted an offer of $10,000. ' Real estate owners and dealers throughout the city then rose up in rebel- lion against the proposed location. Remonstrances and petitions poured in from all quarters. The newspapers were fairly lurid with protests, and suggestions of sites in other places. Lots 25 to 32, in block 158, Clement's addition, were offered for $3,200. The site chosen was at the corner of Fourteenth and Larimer. The agitation became general. The action of the board was furiously assailed. All sorts of propositions flowed in. The board found itself in a predicament, from which extrication seemed impossible, owing to the wide division of public sentiment, though a vast majority were vehemently opposed to the location fixed upon. The holders of lands in other sections, recognizing the importance of the final location, moved with all their energies to secure the coveted prize near their own possessions. It became a veritable tempest of self- seeking, and every man interested eagerly took part in spreading dissension. Thirty- seven citizens appealed for the selection of block 208 (the present site), supporting their petition with a subscription of $1,925 toward the purchase price. May 7th, 1875, Commissioner H. D. Steele offered a resolution looking to the withdrawal of the offer made to Brown and Reithmann, which A. J. Williams moved to lay on the table. Both were lost by a tie vote-three to three-Steele, Crocker and Batchellor voting for the resolution, Bowles, Williams and Stanbury against. Other petitions came in. H. G. Bond and eighty others petitioned for the purchase of the Arapahoe street school building and its conversion into a courthouse. July 9th D. Hurd and Wilbur C. Lothrop, who had been appointed by the board of education to confer with the com- missioners, reported that the school building and grounds could be bought for $60,000, but the price being considered too high, nothing came of it. The problem did not reach solution until September 7th, when Steele's motion to withdraw from the proposed purchase on Larimer street was adopted, and block 208 was taken for $16,000. Since the owner, Bishop Macheboef of the Catholic Church, refused to
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accept less than $18,000, the extra $2,000 was raised by subscription among adjacent lot owners, whereupon the ground was duly transferred. The final selection was far from satisfactory, however, a majority regarding it as much too remote from the business center, which was then between Larimer and Blake streets, with a tendency to develop along the north and south parallels. At that time, indeed until long after H. A. W. Tabor began the erection of his beautiful buildings on Sixteenth street, no one dreamed of its taking a different course. It was the action of the commissioners and the enterprise and foresight of Mr. Tabor which changed the destiny of the city, and not the natural growth of business arteries. It was not until Tabor had built his mag- nificent opera house, and by herculean endeavors and financial sacrifices secured the building of the Federal postoffice on Sixteenth street, that the people at large became reconciled to their courthouse site, for prior to that time the entire trend of commerce was in the other direction, northward.
In September, 1875, the following county officers were elected: Sheriff, David J. Cook; Clerk and Recorder, Wilbur C. Lothrop; Probate Judge, Amos Steck; Treas- urer, James M. Strickler; Assessor, George C. Roberts; Coroner, Dr. Charles Denison; Superintendent of Schools, W. A. Donaldson; County Commissioners, Joseph M. Brown and A. M. Stanbury.
In October, 1876, at the first election held under the new State organization, the following were chosen: Assessor, Waldo Corbett; Surveyor, E. H. Kellogg; Coroner, O. D. F. Webb; Commissioner, Freeman B. Crocker.
In the fall of 1875, the board of commissioners was composed of A J. Williams, Henry D. Steele, I. H. Batchellor, A. M. Stanbury, J. M. Brown and F. B. Crocker, the latter chairman. November 17th in that year, Dr. Denison resigned the office of coro- ner and O. D. F. Webb was appointed to fill the unexpired term, and at the ensuing election was chosen for the full term.
April 6th, 1876, David M. Richards was appointed agent for Arapahoe County to collect and forward exhibits to the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia. November 6th, Freeman B. Crocker was again chosen county commissioner, and immediately made chairman of the board, which, under the amended statute was again reduced to five members-Crocker, Steele, Williams, Stanbury and Brown.
In 1877 the following were chosen: Sheriff, David J. Cook; County Judge, Amos Steck; Clerk and Recorder, Wilbur C. Lothrop; Treasurer, John L. Dailey; Coroner, Charles K. McHatton; Assessor, Henry A. Terpenning; Superintendent of Schools, W. A. Donaldson; Surveyor, E. H. Kellogg; Commissioners, H. D. Steele and W. B. Palmer.
At a meeting of the new board-Steele, Stanbury, Brown, Palmer and Crocker- held January 8th, 1878, Mr. Crocker was again made chairman. In October of that year John C. Kuner and Joseph M. Brown were elected, qualifying February 3d, 1879, Crocker re-elected chairman.
In the year last named (October), the following officers were chosen: Sheriff, Michael Spangler: Clerk and Recorder, Wilbur C. Lothrop; Treasurer, John L. Dailey; Assessor, George C. Roberts; Coroner, Thomas Linton; Superintendent of Schools, William T. Bennecke; Surveyor, John K. Ashley; Commissioner, Freeman B. Crocker.
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In this term the following in substance was adopted by the board:
Whereas, In 1868 the county of Arapahoe issued bonds to the amount of $500,000 in payment for stock in the Denver Pacific Railway & Telegraph Company, of which the county now holds 10,000 shares of the par value of $1,000,000; and,
Whereas, In 1873 the county issued bonds to the amount of $300,000 in payment for stock in the Denver, South Park & Pacific Railroad Company, of which the county holds 3,000 shares,
Resolved, That the county sell its interest in the Denver Pacific for $100,000, and in the Denver & South Park for $150,000.
The resolution was adopted and subsequently ratified by the people. The transfer of the stock was made to Jay Gould, December 9th, 1879, through Walter S. Chees- man, his agent. Thus the county which had at one time been seriously embarrassed, extricated itself, and thenceforward kept its finances in excellent condition. On the 16th following, County Treasurer John L. Dailey was instructed to invest the amount received from Mr. Gould ($250,000) in United States four per cent. bonds, which was done. It is estimated that the interest on these bonds, together with their increase in value, effected a saving to the county of about $80,000.
In 1880 Mr. Crocker was again made chairman of the board. Next arose the expediency of building a courthouse. After some time occupied in examining plans and specifications, those of E. E. Myers were adopted March 31st, 1880, and August 30th following the contract was awarded to George H. Kunmacker for $178,112. He failing to furnish a satisfactory bond, the contract was awarded to Peter Gumry and Lester Fillmore for $185,000. These men filed their bond September 22d, and the work began soon thereafter.
The corner stone was laid June 24th, 1881, by the Colorado Grand Lodge of Masons, L. N. Greenleaf, Grand Master. Henry D. Steele was chairman of the board at the time. Governor F. W. Pitkin was orator of the day, and delivered a fine address.
The courthouse was completed (the stone used for the superstructure a greenish tinted fine-grained sandstone from the Brandford quarry near Canon City), and formally dedicated on Tuesday, April 17, 1883, when a number of speeches were made by dis- tinguished citizens. In the evening it was brilliantly illuminated, and a vast multitude of people gathered there to inspect and admire the beautiful edifice. It was a source of extreme gratification that this superb structure had been built upon the wisest plans of economy, not a dollar of the public money being unlawfully abstracted or wasted. From a report to the commissioners prepared by Mr. W. H. Salisbury, their clerk, the following abstract of its cost completed and delivered, is taken:
Building $236,313.00
Steam heating fixtures. 16,564.00
Furniture .. 20,546.00
Granite coping about the grounds. 7,640.00
Sidewalks. . 14,157.00
Two bronze fountains. 4,450.00
$299,670.00
The $18,000 paid for the site, $2,000 of which was met by outside subscriptions, advances the total to $317,670. From a subsequent report by Mr. Salisbury to County
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Attorney W. B. Mills, certain other items of expenditure appear as extras for furniture, steam heating apparatus, fees of architect, superintendent and other details, making the grand total $327,602.74. But even at the latter figure all agree that the people received full equivalent for their money. The building was well constructed in all its parts, handsomely but not extravagantly furnished, the grounds adorned in fastidious taste, the principal rooms tastefully decorated, all needful conveniences provided. The taxpayers, who have been so accustomed to robbery in public places, felt almost extrav- agantly proud of the county commissioners for this exceptional display of honorable and economical management, thoroughly satisfied that those officers had discharged their duties faithfully and well. It was a source of amazement to them, indeed to nearly all observers, that such a building should have been produced for the sum expended. It is a matter for universal gratification to this day that they are able to exhibit its beauties to strangers from other cities and States, name the price, and say, "Here is at least one public building in which there was no stealing, no rascally contracts, no jobbery of any kind, no money borrowed for its erection, no com- plaints from the public, nothing to cause the blush of shame to mantle their cheeks." When we come to consider the City Hall by and by, erected by the municipal gov- ernment, we shall have a different tale to tell. We do not exhibit that building in the same spirit. However, even that was not so bad as it might have been.
November 9th, 1880, Mr. Crocker, who had been so long chairman of the board of commissioners, and to whom all the people were profoundly attached for the distin- guished service he had rendered them throughout the many years of his membership in that body, resigned to engage in business in another part of the State. Mr. H. D. Steele, whose term was near its expiration, also resigned, but was almost immediately appointed by the Governor to fill the vacancy caused by the withdrawal of Mr. Crocker.
On the 23d of November Wolfe Londoner was appointed by the Governor to the unexpired term of Mr. Steele. The latter was made chairman. In the fall of the same year Mr. B. F. Harrington was elected to the office of county judge. Londoner and J. A. Shreve, who in the meantime had been elected commissioners by the people, filed their respective oaths January 11th, 1881. The board now consisted of Joseph MI. Brown, John C. Kuner, James A. Shreve, Wolfe Londoner and H. D. Steele, the latter chairman. November 19th, 1882, Peter Winne, who had been chosen to fill the unex- pired term of F. B. Crocker, qualified as a member, and Londoner was elected chair- man, but declined, owing to the demands of his private business, when Mr. Shreve was elected.
In 1881 the following county officers were chosen: Sheriff, Michael Spangler; Clerk and Recorder, Wilbur C. Lothrop; Treasurer, John L. Dailey; Assessor, George C. Roberts; Coroner, Charles K. McHatton; Surveyor, John K. Ashley; Superin- tendent of Schools, John L. Fetzer; Commissioners, Joseph M. Brown, J. C. Kuner and Peter Winne. In November, 1882, Joseph E. Bates was elected commissioner and qualified January 9th, 1883, succeeding Mr. Winne.
The officers chosen in 1883, were: Sheriff, George H. Graham ; County Judge, Benj. F. Harrington; Clerk and Recorder, Charles H. Scott; Treasurer, Frank Church; Assessor, Warren W. Whipple; Coroner, Charles W. Miller; Surveyor, Peter O'Brian; Superintendent of Schools, John L. Fetzer: Commissioners, George L. Aggers and
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Jacob Scherrer. The board then consisted of those just named, with J. C. Kuner and Joseph M. Brown. January 8th, 1884, Mr. Bates was made chairman. In the fall of that year Christopher C. Gird and F. W. Gromm were elected, succeeding Brown and Kuner, Bates re-elected chairman. April 14th, 1885, Mr. Bates resigned and was elected mayor of Denver, when Levi Booth was appointed to the vacancy. April 20th, C. C. Gird was made chairman.
At the election held in November, 1885, the following were chosen: Sheriff, Frederick Cramer; Clerk and Recorder, Charles H. Scott; Treasurer, Frank Church; Corone:, Charles K. McHatton; Assessor, Isaac Brinker; Superintendent of Schools, John L. Fetzer; Surveyor, Peter O'Brian; Commissioner, Emil Reithmann in place of Levi Booth.
In 1886, Elias R. Barton and John G. Lilley were elected members of the board, which was now composed of the two last named, F. W. Gromm, Emil Reithmann and C. C. Gird, the latter made chairman. George W. Miller was elected county judge in place of Harrington, and re-elected in 1889.
In 1887 the following were elected: Sheriff, Albert H. Weber; Clerk and Recorder, Joseph H. Smith; Treasurer, Frank Church; Assessor, Isaac Brinker; Coroner, I. N. Rogers; Surveyor, Peter O'Brian; Superintendent of Schools, A. D. Shepard; Commis- sioners, Joseph M. Brown and Dr. W. M. Robertson.
These with Reithmann, Barton and Lilley, now constituted the board, with E. R. Barton chairman. In 1888 John C. Twombley was elected, succeeding Mr. Reithmann, when Joseph M. Brown was made chairman.
Now for the first time in many years a change was made in the office of deputy county clerk, Recorder Smith appointing Colonel E. J. Brooks in place of W. H. Salisbury.
In February, 1887, William B. Mills was succeeded as county attorney by Lafe Pence, who in 1889 was succeeded by Earl M. Cranston.
In the year last named the following officers were elected: Sheriff, Elias R. Barton; County Judge, George W. Miller; Clerk and Recorder, Joseph H. Smith; Treasurer, David W. Hart; Assessor, Isaac Brinker; Superintendent of Schools, A. D. Shepard; Coroner, J. J. Walley; Surveyor, Peter O'Brian; Commissioners, Peter Magnes and Thomas Nicholl, in place of Barton and Lilley. Mr. J. C. Twombley was elected chairman of the new board, and Mr. O. E. LeFevre appointed county attorney to succeed Earl M. Cranston.
Politically the county offices have for the most part been filled by Republicans. The county is now completing a new jail with criminal courtrooms and offices attached. This structure, erected on the west side of Cherry Creek, is very large and rather imposing, built at a cost of about $300,000, from plans furnished by F. C. Eberley, architect, the construction superintended by Mr. R. C. Greiner. The contract was awarded to the E. F. Hallack Lumber and Manufacturing Company.
From the earliest times the county has been liberal and tender with its poor and afflicted. In the years anterior to the building of the poorhouse and hospital, these indigent classes were cared for very largely by popular subscriptions. The city and county hospital charities were combined in those days. November 21st, 1860, Dr. J. T. Hamilton was elected city physician by the legislative council of Denver, to serve
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without salary, and at the same meeting Mr. Lewis N. Tappan offered a resolution recommending a course of lyceum lectures for the purpose of raising funds for char- itable purposes. December 4th, the same year, Richard Sopris, William Bell and Will- iam N. Byers were appointed overseers for the poor by the same body. In 1862, Mrs. E. Smith had charge of the poorhouse, caring for both county and city patients. Thomas McGavran and J. J. Walley were the public undertakers. Several buildings in West Denver were used as hospitals until the county erected its own buildings. The last of these was built in 1889 at a cost of about $30,000. Drs. J. M. Clark, W. F. McClelland and others were the hospital physicians early in the sixties, and at times the patients who were scattered in different parts of the city, were assigned to special phy- sicians, as were sick prisoners also. Dr. W. F. McClelland was also surgeon at the Camp Weld military hospital in 1864. He was president of the Colorado Medical Society in 1873, and of the Denver Medical Society in 1876. Dr. R. G. Buckingham, who was a member of the Territorial council in 1874, mayor of Denver in 1875-76, and president of the Denver school board from 1868 to 1872, also assisted in the early hos- pital service. Dr. F. J. Bancroft, an experienced army surgeon during the war, who had been post surgeon at Fortress Monroe, was one of the early physicians at the county hospital. While at Fortress Monroe the captive president of the Southern Con- federacy was brought there. The fallen chieftain being in ill health, objected to being treated by Dr. Bancroft for the sole reason that he was a native of Connecticut and a Republican, therefore another less objectionable practitioner was detailed to attend his royal highness. However, at a later time he consented to allow Bancroft to prescribe for him.
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