History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV, Part 105

Author: Hall, Frank, 1836-1917. cn; Rocky Mountain Historical Company
Publication date: 1889-95
Publisher: Chicago, Blakely print. Co.
Number of Pages: 791

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SKERRITT, Thomas, one of the carly pioneers of Colorado, was born in Kings county, Ireland. Ang. 16. 1828, Remaining there until his twentieth year he emigrated to America with an uncle, going at once, after his arrivat, to his father's home in Michigan. Bis father had preceded him several years to this country, leaving Thomas when a lad of seven to the care of his uncle in Ireland. ing a commission from Governor Gilpin as

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BIOGRAPHICAL DEPARTMENT.

2nd lieutenant, company 11, 1st Colo, volun- Central City, another in Black Hawk and teers, immediately recruited 110 men, chiefly among the miners, and at once marched them to the new barracks at Camp Weld just west of the present D. & R. G. shops. lle was in command of the company with Peter Bone- steel as 1st lieutenant, until Christmas, when he proceeded with his men to Fort Lyon, on the Arkansas river. Two months later he marched to a point near Trinidad to meet the regiment, and there the troops took up the line of march toward the South. Mr.

had a wholesale house of the same kind in Denver, all of which he operated until 1879, when he went into the lumber trade. He carried on the latter until 1891 and then en- gaged in the sale of real estate. lle has mining interests also in Lake, Clear Creek and Gilpin counties. He has been married twice, the first time in Nebraska, in 1862. From this union tive children were born. Ilis second marriage occurred in Leadville, in 1886, and one child is the result. Mr. Sanford took an active part in the battle of Schlessinger now resides in Denver.

Apache Canon and commanded an advance guard of 100 men on the day preceding that of the fight. News of severe illness at home compelled him to return to Camp Weld, where he entered the quartermaster's department, serving two years as purchasing agent. In 1864 he filed on a land claim of 160 acres above Denver, on the Platte river, and began

to farm. His first crop was destroyed by grasshoppers and while thinking of his mis- fortune General Lane, then superintendent of the U. S. branch mint at Denver, gave him the position of day watchman in that estab- lishment. Ile was soon promoted to the melting and refining department, which po- sition he held, excepting a few years, until Jan. 1, 1894. lle was one of the original locators of the state university and was one of its first board of trustees.

SATTERTHWAITE, John, was born of the old Quaker stock on a farm situate in he crossed the plains, arriving in Denver in Buck's county, Pa., Sept. 2, 1842. In the Angust. Remaining there four months, he went to the Cimarron mines in New Mexico, and after a brief stay located in El Paso county, at Manitou, where he has resided Mr. Sawin purchased the second matter of education he had only the advan- tages of the district school, supplemented by two terms in the state normal school at Mil- lersville. Pa. Thenceforward, until his since 1872. thirty-eighth year, he worked and managed lot that was sold in that town, after it was his father's farm at the old homestead. In Inid ont, in the spring of 1872. He has been one of the enterprising and influential eiti- 1881, desiring to explore the new West for opportunities to advance his fortunes, he zens of the place; has held a number of offi- came to Colorado and settled in Denver. In cial positions and has in many ways done the spring of 1883, in association with Mr. much to build up the town and to add to its (. ]. Braun, he established what were known material advancement and good name. Many years ago he formed a partnership with Mr. Austin Hutchinson and they to- gether have successfully followed the livery business. as the "Curtis Park floral gardens," under the firm name of Braun & Satterthwaite. This continued until 1888, when the partner- ship was dissolved. Subsequently Mr. Sat- terthwaite entered the real estate business, in which he has remained to the present time. He owns some valuable lots in Denver and a ranch of 320 acres in Weld county that is partly under cultivation. He is a quiet, un- assuming man, with a good reputation for integrity and business management.

SCHLESSINGER, T. S., was born in Aus- tria in 1839, educated in the private schools of his native land and also in those of the I'nited States, to which he emigrated with his parents when thirteen years of age. He located in Cedar Rapids, lowa, remained un- til 1857, engaged most of the time in mer- cantile pursuits, and in 1862 came to Colo- rado. In 1864 he established a grocery in Buford.

SHERMAN, Rollan, was born in Missouri, Dee. G. 1848, and remained there until 1863. when he enlisted in the 4th Mo. cavalry and served until the close of the war. Ile partic- ipated in a number of engagements and made a good record as a soldier. lle came to Colo- rado in 1865 and located on Mule creek. He spent about twelve months there and two years at Living Springs. The next season he put in a crop at Overland Park, near Denver. He then removed to the Bijon country, near Byers, and engaged in raising sheep. In 1889 he settled in Denver and invested largely in real estate, which. together with his stock, sheep and mines, bring him a good income.

SAWIN, W. D., was born in Wendell, Mass., and lived in that vicinity and at Northamp- ton, in the same state, until 1867. That year

SHIDELER, Charles J., was born in At- tira. Fountain county, Ind., Aug. 21. 1857. After the customary preparatory training in the public schools he entered Asbury uni- versity (now De Paw) at Greencastle, that state, and completed the sophomore year in 1876. In June. 1876, he came to Colorado, went to the San Luis valley, settled at Fort Garland and engaged in the eattle business. In 1878 he went to Texas, still handling live stock with satisfactory results. In 1882 he returned to Colorado, finally settled in Rio Blanco county, and in the fall of 1889 he be- came the first sheriff chosen by the people of that county. lle is now located in

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HISTORY OF COLORADO.

SMITH, D. L., was born in Shoals, Ind., he had spent all he had made "but $200." and remained there until twenty-one years of In 1886 he removed to Delta county and took age. then came to Colorado and in 1879 set- up a farm. He has planted his land in Ben tled in Pueblo. Here he entered the employ of Davis apples and the prospects for good crops the Colorado Lumber company as book- in the course of a few years are now very keeper, remaining about one year, then en- flattering. gaged with the Newton Lumber company. with which he continued four years, In 1885 he was elected county assessor and re-elected in 1887. thus serving two terms. Ile ac- cumulated some property in town and owns a ranch on the St. Charles river.

SMITH, I. S., was born in Pennsylvania in 1858. When he was four years of age the family moved to Iowa, where he attended school, engaged in farming and taught school until his twenty-third year. Ile then came to Colorado and taught a school at Fairplay. In 1885 he was elected county superintendent of schools, and began studying law.

SPARR, Andrew Jackson, horticulturist, seventh son of John and Mary Sparr. was born in Rush county, Ind .. Sept. 6, 1829, and at the age of seven years moved with his parents to Delaware county. Ile attended the district school only in the winter months. Ilis father died in March, 1844, leaving him the care of his mother, one younger brother, two sisters and a large farm. In the summer of 1852 he married Miss Matilda R. Neel and left home Jan. 12. 1854. for Bureau county," 11. Ile remained there until the following May, when his wife joined him and they to- gether traveled in a wagon to Clinton county, Mo. The next spring he moved to Lawrence. Kan., and in 1856 to Franklin county. Ten years later he returned to Lawrence, where his wife died Aug. 26, 1866. After her death and until 1875 he was engaged in working on railroads. During 1875 he came to Colorado. arriving at Pueblo in June. From that place he went to Del Norte, where he prospected all summer, and then going to San Juan country. located at Ouray, where he remained until 1881, when he became a citizen of Delta county. lle has the finest fruit farm in that county, located on the north bank of the Gun- nison river and from the proceeds of which he realizes an annual income of about $1,200.

SUMNER, William E., horticulturist, was born in Giles county, Tenn., Oct. 1. 1858. where he resided until 1872, at which time hls father died, leaving him an orphan. Ile after- wards moved to Arkansas and became a cotton planter, which pursuit he followed un- til the spring of 1880, when he came to Colo- rado. Ho located at Rico when the mining excitement at that point was at its height. Provisions were at the time selling for almost fabulous prices at the mining camps and Mr. Sumner purchased a large burro train, which he used in transporting provisions from Anl- mas City to Rico. He was engaged in this occupation some time and having made quite a sum of money, finally went Into the mining business and "stuck to it." as he says, until

STOUT. William, fariner and stock grower, emigrated to Colorado Springs from the East in 1872, and thence to Fairplay, where he en- gaged in mining and prospecting. In 1872 he removed to Fremont. lle is now the pos- sessor of 360 acres of land: has 400 graded cattle, 20 American mares and has set out on his ranch about 130 apple and cherry trees. The latter have been bearing fruit for about four years. He is interested in the affairs of his neighborhood, and has been school di- rector of township is for the past ten years. Ilis

wife is probably the first white woman who settled in Pleasant valley.

SUMMER, Leonard, was born in Austria in 1838, and came to America in 1866. 1Ie learned the brewery business and located at Dubuque. Jowa, where he remained two years. He moved to Denver and subse- quently lived at Empire, Colo., three years, then in Middle Park and from there re- turned to Denver, where for two years he worked in a brewery. In 1873 he went to Fairplay and built a brewery, which was de- stroyed the same year by fire. le again returned to Denver and embarked in the grain trade; then went to Austria, remaining six months, and thence back to Fairplay, where he engaged again in the brewery busi- ness and erected a number of houses.

SCHWANDER, Benjamin, is a native of Germany. Ile left his native land in 1848 and emigrated to America, first going to Pittsburg. Pa. He subsequently lived in lHi- nois, Nebraska and Kansas, and in 1860 came to Colorado, and may therefore be classed as one of the early pioneers of the state. IIe went to Summit and Park counties and in 1864 moved on to a ranch where he has since resided, engaged in farming. He assisted in discovering the Orphan Boy and Eagle mines. During 1865 vegetables were very high in Colorado and Mr. Schwander sold what he raised at twenty-five cents a pound or at $15.00 a bushel.

STICKLE, James, farmer, was born in York coumy, Pa., in 11. and went with his parents soon afterwards to Macon county, 11, lere be attended the common schools, fin- ishing his education with a conse in Me- Kondrie college, at Lebanon, the same state. Ile engaged in the lumber and grain business, which he followed until 1860, when he came to Colorado. He settled near Golden on a ranch, but soon changed his place of resi- dence to a farm located on Clear creek at a point known as Boyd's crossing. He finally removed to Wheat Ridge, where he now lives as a farmer, owning 120 acres of finely Im- proved land.

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BIOGRAPHICAL DEPARTMENT.

STUBBS, Joseph L., assistant superinten- burg, Jackson, Nashville, Mobile, General Bank's raid on Red river, Old River lake, also dent of express, was born in Richmond, Ind., in 1851, and when twelve years of age his in eighty-five skirmishes and small engage- family moved to Council Grove, Kan., where ments. He was mustered out of service Aug. 18, 1865, with the rank of non-commis- sioned otheer for efficient service, whereupon he returned to Towa and engaged in farming for two years; then entered the railway serv- ice, which he followed until the fall of 1872, when he came to Denver and engaged in the express business for one year. He then went to the South Park and began ranching, but not succeeding satisfactority, returned to Denver and entered into the freight and transfer business, continuing until 1882. He his father was engaged as a missionary to the Kaw Indians located there. Joseph's early education was obtained by attending the In- dian schools until he was eighteen years of age, then returned to Richmond, Ind., and entered Earlham college, which at that time was one of the first colleges of the state. After attending college for two years he again returned to Conneil Grove. His father being appointed Indian agent of the Kaw tribe by President Grant, moved his family to their reservation in the Indian Territory, then tried mining for two years and now has where Joseph acted as clerk for his father an interest in a fine gold mine in Gilpin county. During 1884 he was in the in- surance business, which he dropped to asso- ciate himself with Walter A. Wood in selling machinery. Withdrawing at the end of one year, and being of an inventive turn of mind, he invented and secured patents upon a rail -. way switch and track appliance which has been adopted by many railroads. Enteringinto railway construction, he organized the Swem Supply and Construction company, of which he is the president and general manager, in which connection he has traveled through every state in the Union.

until 1875, when he left that employment and went to Arkansas City, Kan., and embarked in the general merchandise business for himself, building up a large and prosperous trade, which he sold out in 1876 and accepted the po- sition of chief clerk to Indian agent Beede of the Osage tribe, where he remained untit Oct., 1878, when he was appointed clerk for the Adams Express company at Emporia, Kan. In July, 1880, he was transferred to Colorado Springs, Colo., as agent for the Adams Express company and in July, 1883. was transferred to Trinidad in charge of the Wells, Fargo Co.'s Express business. In 1884 he was appointed route agent for the Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Express, with head- quarters at Emporia, Kan. In 1885 he was promoted to the position of assistant superin- tendent, with headquarters at Albuquerque, N. M., and had charge of the company's busi- ness for New Mexico and Arizona. In Jan., 1886, he was appointed special officer of the central department for the company, with headquarters at Council Bluffs, Iowa. The next year he was again transferred to Albu- quergne, N. M., assuming his former position of assistant superintendent, which he main- tained until 18SS, when he was transferred to Denver and took charge of the company's business as superintendent, which position he still retains, his territory embracing Colorado and New Mexico. Mr. Stubbs married Miss Gertrude Finney, of Ohio, in 1877, at the Osage Indian agency, in Indian Territory, and they have been favored with one child, a daughter. Mr. Stubbs was a member of the city council of the city of Highlands, Colo., and is an active member of the Masonic order.

SWEM, J. M., contractor, was born in Wayne county, Ind .. March 30, 1845. When three years of age his parents moved to Darke county, Ohio, remaining there five years, then moved to lowa in 1853, where the youthful Swem received a common school education and grew to manhood. Aug. 1. 1862, he enlisted in the 35th lowa infantry and served with credit until the close of the war. He was in active service most of the time, participating in the battles of Vicks-

SMITH, B. M., was born in New Haven, Conn., in June, 1860, and graduated at the high school of that city. He remained there until 1881, when, owing to ill health, he went to live with his uncle on a farm. Three years later he came to Colorado, settled in Denver and took a position with the Adams Express company. Afterward he was with the Wells-Fargo and D. & R. G. Express com- panies for seven years. In 1888 he was made cashier of the A. T. & S. F. railroad company. remaining until 1893, when he was appointed auditor of the Denver, Lakewood and Golden railroad, which position he still retains.

SMITH, A. H., was born in Ireland, connty of Cavan, May 14, 1843. Ile came to Amer- ica in 1847 and located in Franklin county, N. Y., where he remained until 1855. He then went to Madison, Wis., where he was educated in the state university. He moved to Colorado in 1860 and engaged in the cattle business with his brother. He built about thirty miles of the Denver Pacific railroad. In 1863 he speculated in real estate in Montana and was also engaged in freighting for a short time. lle conducted a cattle ranch near Evans, Colo., but in 1877 came to Denver and began purchasing and shipping cattle and hogs, continuing until 1889. Ilis ventures in business proving remunerative, he pur- chased much valuable property in the city of Denver.

SIMS, Harry E., farmer and legislator. was born in Pueblo, Colo., April 26, 1861, and enjoys the distinction of being the first chikl born in that city. The scene of his birth

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was near the famous "old cottonwood tree," so well remembered by all the early settlers in that section. After living in Pueblo five years the family removed to Num- mit county and remained there two years; from there to Colorado City, then to Denver, where, after two years, they again returned to Colorado City. Twelve months later Den- ver became his permanent home and after the completion of his education at the Denver university he engaged in farming and con- timed the same for two or three years, when he removed to Gunnison county and engaged in the stock business. Returning to Denver he again engaged in farming and the dairy business until the fall of 1802, when he was elected to the Colorado House of Representa- tives on the republican ticket.

SOLIS, Ramon, manufacturer, was born in Asturias, Spain, Feb. 3. 1853, and remained there until fourteen years of age. Ile was educated in the common schools. In 1869 he left his native land, settled in Havana, on the island of Cuba, and there in that world- renowned center of cigar manufactures learned the trade to which all his after years have been devoted. After five years' resi- dence in Havana he went to New York City and in 1874 opened a factory on his own ac- count in the city of Brooklyn, which he con- ducted for eight years. In IS$3 he came to Colorado, located in Denver and soon after- ward organized the Solis Cigar Manufactur- ing company, which. in the succeeding years, has become the largest of its class between the Missouri river and the Pacific coast, em- ploying a very large number of men and con- suming vast quantities of tobacco. The business of cigar mannfacture has become an important and constantly growing element of local industry, and Mr. Solis is the acknowl- edged leader in the trade.

SPALTI, Florian, was born in Switzerland in 1536, where he remained until 1855. when he crossed the Atlantic for America. After his arrival ho settled in Iowa and became a farmer. In 1863 he came to Colorado and lived on a ranch in Arapahoe county, near Denver. Hle subsequently followed the oc- cupation of a teamster for nine years and finally engaged in the grocery, coal and wood business. He is at this time the only pioneer dealer in his line in the city. His accumula- tion of property increased until he has ho- come one of the large tax-payers of the county. He is a member of the Swiss society and .is also a member of the Turner organ- ization.

wagons in their business. Four years were spent in that trade, when he moved to Lead- ville and engaged in mining with Hon. H. A. W. Tabor. Ile managed a hotel in Cheyenne, Wyo., and operated the Manitou house at Manitou, Colo., until 1886, then set- tled on the farm now known as the "Sumner fruit ranch," which is one of the most pro- ductive tracts on Wheat Ridge. In connee- tion with his farm he has a dairy. He has been president of the Fruit Growers' asso- ciation.

SCOTT, A. J., contractor and builder, was born in Lynn, Mass,, where he grew to man- hood. He lived in the state of New York about ten years, came to Colorado in the spring of 1880 and at once resumed his for- mer business of contracting and build- ing. He owns considerable real estate, both improved and unimproved, in dif- ferent parts of Denver, and has super- intended the erection of many handsome private and public buildings which are strong testimonials to his ability as a builder, He is a member of the A. O. U. W., a Royal Tem- plar, and has done much for the advancement of the city.

STOCKBRIDGE, Charles, merchant, was born in Cambridgeshire, England, Nov. 27, 1843. After having acquired a liberal educa- tion in the schools of his native land he be- came associated with a firm of grain dealers of which his father was principal, and they conducted their operations at the Corn Ex- change, Mark Lane, London. In 1871 he sold ont his interests and early in 1872 emi- grated to America. After making himself generally familiar with the prospects and business opportunities which were offered to his notice, he finally concluded to settle at Colorado Springs, where he engaged in trans- acting real estate business in addition to that of loaning money. Although Mr. Stock- bridge's business interests are largely in Colorado Springs, and have been since ISSO, he has made his residence in Colorado City, where he conducts the largest wholesale wine and liquor business in the state, outside of Denver. One of the most extensive bottling establishments in the West is another of his many enterprises. Colorado City was incor- porated in 1ss7 under the laws of the state. and Mr. Stockbridge cloeted first mayor. At two subsequent elections he was called to till the same responsible position.

SIEGRIST, John J., was born in Switzer- land in April, 1841, and came to America in 1867. lle stopped first in Chicago, but the following year went to Wyoming, where after living two years, he moved to Colorado, settled in Kiowa county and engaged in the lle sold his property in Isto and coming to Denver, invested his money in real estate. In 1881 he made a protracted visit of seven years to his native

SUMNER, Edward H., horticulturist, was born May IS, IS55. in Wisconsin, where he attended the public schools, afterward finishing his education at Freeport. Ill. He castle business. came to Colorado in 1872 and after remaining with his father a short time engaged in the grocery business with Frank Wintiekl. This was the first firm in Denver that used order land, where he married. He returned to

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Colorado in 1888 and purchased his present volunteers, and. when discharged, embarked home. He has three children, Henry, Mar- in the grocery business at Central City; was gherite and Flora.

SIMMS, W. B., was born Dec. 19, 1849, in in New Jersey, where he received his educa- tion. learned the carpenter's trade and con- tinned to reside there until 1877, when he emigrated to Kansas. He remained there about a year, then came to Colorado and en- tered the employ of the Denver and Rio Grande railway company, continuing seven years. He subsequently engaged in horti- culture, and in 1888 went into the dairy busi- ness, which he has since followed.

STEARNS, William S., was born in Seran- ton, Pa., where he grew to manhood. He went to Kansas in 1878, and in 1880 came to Colorado, first locating at Colorado Springs. The following year he came to Denver and has followed various pursuits since that time. He lived a short time in California and re- turning to Colorado, he began the dairy busi- ness, which he is conducting at the present time and in which he has been quite suc- cessful.

STEPHENS, William P., dairyman, was born in Missouri in 1864. In 1884 he came to Colorado and has followed various occu- pations since that time; he has chiefly, how- ever, been engaged in the dairy business and is now located in the vicinity of Denver. where he owns the "Silver Leaf" dairy. His plant is situated on ten acres of land which he owns and where he resides. He married Miss Ida Moe, of Colorado, and they have three children, Frank, Stella and Helen. Mr. Stephens is a member of the M. E. church and is a liberal contributor to all worthy objeets of charity.

STRATTON, J. O., dairyman, was born in Niles, Mich., in 1862, and moved with his parents to New York when an infant, where he received his education. After attaining his majority he divided his time in teaching school and the dairy business until 1885. when he came to Colorado. The first four years were spent with the Sylvester lee com- pany in Denver, after which he engaged in the artesian water business for four years more. Since then he has been conducting a dairy, in which pursuit he has been quite successful.

subsequently in the commission trade and moved to Denver in 1872. Ile has since that time dealt in stock, owned a commission establishment, a grocery store, and finally be- came a real estate dealer. In 1872 he mar- ried Miss Ella Davis, and four children have been born to them, two boys and two girls.

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History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV, Part 105

Author: Hall, Frank, 1836-1917. cn; Rocky Mountain Historical Company Publication date: 1889-95 Publisher: Chicago, Blakely print. Co. Number of Pages: 791

Author: Hall, Frank, 1836-1917. cn; Rocky Mountain Historical Company
Publication date: 1889-95
Publisher: Chicago, Blakely print. Co.
Number of Pages: 791