History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV, Part 57

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

USA > Colorado > History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV > Part 57

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BERTHOUD, Edward L., railway engi- neer, was born In Geneva, Switzerland, March gun. In this campaign Capt. Berthoud was 20. 1828. The family came to America in attached to the staff of Gen, Rosencranz as 1830. and took up their resklenee In New engineer offleer. After the battle of Osage

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he returned to Warrensburg and Jefferson City. Mo. Dec. 20, 1864, he was ordered to Fort Riley, Kan., to report for duty on United States; was for many years a promi- the plains in midwinter. In February, 1865, nent member of the American bar associa- tion, and in the course of his practice was re- tained in much important litigation. Never especially active as a politician, yet he was once nominated by the democratic party as its candidate for Congress in his district, but he declined, and was again offered the nomination, which he again declined, and he was appointed inspector of the 1st district of the upper Arkansas. In April and May the command of Col. Ford was heavily re- inforced, preparatory to a decisive campaign against the Indians. Berthoud was appointed chief of staff to Col. Ford. This campaign was subsequently abandoned through the in- trigues of the Indian bureau at Washington, afterward, by an almost unanimous expres-

when Ford, intensely disgusted and dis- heartened, resigned and was succeeded by Gen. Sanborn, when Capt. Berthond was made engineer officer of the district. All- other campaign was organized, but again postponed, when he went to Fort Riley and thence to Fort Leavenworth, where the 2nd Colorado was mustered out. From that point he went to Fort MePherson and thence to Fort Sedgwick with a detachment of the Tth lowa cavalry, remaining at the latter post until July 4, then definitely left the service and returned to Goklen. As chief engineer of the Colorado Central railway he built the several lines of that road from Den- ver to Golden, Cheyenne, Black Hawk, Cen- tral City and Georgetown. In addition he made surveys for the U. P. R. R. extending over the territories of Wyoming, Utah, ldaho and Montana; also from Cheyenne to Dead- wood, Dakota. le has been ardently de- voted to the public schools of Jefferson county, and is one of the trustees of the State School of Mines located at Goklen, and has done much to advance that very useful insti- inte to the high position it now occupies. He is one of the most experienced railway engi- neers in the West, and an excellent public spirited citizen withal. For some years he has been collecting all the books, records, etc .. bearing upon the history of the "Louisiana Purchase," ont of which so many of the west- orn states have been created, and in writing an elaborate history of that vast territory from the first settlement. He is correspond- ing member of the New York Lyceum. Phil- adelphia Academy of Sciences, National Geo- graphie Society of Washington, and Daven- port Academyof Sciences, in full membership.

Boal. Jackson & Wilson. In 1868 he was en- tered at the bar of the supreme court of the

sion of the democratie press of the state of lowa, urged as the most suitable and avail- able candidate of the party for governor. Judge Boal died vory suddenly in the city of Denver, May 17, 1895.

BROWN, Frank Mason. This estimable and very useful citizen of Denver lost his life among the whirlpools of the Colorado river while conducting a survey of the borders of that stream for a railway to the Pacific ocean. Ite was born at Blue Hill, Me., in 1844, and was educated there and at Bow- doin college. Thereafter he was agent for three years for the Alaska I'm Seal com- pany, remaining most of that time at the Seal Islands in the North Pacific. From thence he settled in California, and in 1877. when only 33 years of age, was elected to the senate of that state. The same year he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Raworth Ward, second daughter of Hon. JJ. D. Ward of Chicago. While in the senate, and during most of his residence in California, he was general manager of the Amador ('anal-Min- ing Co. In 1878 he came to Colorado, settled in Leadville and engaged in mining. He developed the property and constructed the mills of the Farwell Consolidated Mining company in Independence district, besides promoting many other mining enterprises. in which he achieved considerable success. Passing 1882 in California, he returned to Colorado, located in Denver and entered upon the promotion of irrigating canals, land, mining and other projects with satisfactory results. le manifested a lively interest in public affairs, and in the political campaign of ISSS made many speeches in different parts of the state, advocating the election of Benjamin Harrison, and the republican state ticket. In 1889 he conceived a plan for build- ing a railway through the Grand Cañon of the Colorado river, the line to begin at Grand Function in this state: organized a company to oxcente this stupendous undertaking, and in June of that year, at the head of his engi- neer corps, started for the scene of action. While thus engaged, and after the perilous work of the survey had been more than half accomplished. he perished. his boat being overturned and his body swept beneath the raging waters, never to be recovered. This

BOAL. George J., lawyer, was born Oct. 4. 1835, at Boalsberry, Contor county, Pa. His father. Judge Boal, was descended from Scotch-Irish ancestry, but his mother was of German-French extraction. George re- moved in 1857 to lowa City, the old capital of lowa, and in March. 1859. entered the practice of his profession of law. There he established a reputation as a snecessful law- ver and built up an extensive and profitable practice, devoting his efforts mainly to the law of corporations, not. however, to the ex- clusion of the general practice. In July, 1887. he came to Denver, Colo,, and resumed prae- melancholy event occurred July 10, 1889, and tice. He was a member of the legal firm of caused universal sorrow among his multi-

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tude of friends and admirers. Mr. Brown politician in the common interpretation of the was a man of great force and daring, a nat- term. He was called, not self-nominated, to ural leader among his fellows. This fact is the offices he held. His elevation to the dis- nowhere more fully expressed than by the triet, and subsequently to the supreme court, little band of men who accompanied him on

was the spontaneous work of his many ad- this fatal expedition, who witnessed his mirers and friends, men who honored him death while pioneering the way for them, but were powerless to aid or resene him. All those entertained the highest regard and admiration for him. the result of his amia- bility. dauntless courage, and power for skillful direction. In his domestic relations he was a model husband and father, a true friend and a good citizen. Therefore his tragic fate brought great grief to those who best knew him, and shocked the people of the entire state who watched his course in that awful journey with intense interest. lle left two bright boys, one of thirteen and one of four years, the first of whom bears the full name of his heroic and ill-fated but honored siro.

for his ability, his spotless integrity and fidel- ity to every known duty. It was the public belief in his sterling worth. the conviction that he would discharge the duties with serupulons honesty, that he would give his whole mind and soul to the work, that in- duced his selection. While there were abler men than Judge Beck, more scholarly and profound jurists, no man has occupied a place in any of our courts who was more thor- oughly trusted than he. and few whose opin- ions have been sounder, more accurate, or more conscientiously uttered. His life and character were absolutely pure. lle was a just and upright judge, a just and upright citizen in the highest significance of the ex- pression. At the expiration of his duties in the supreme court he was appointed reporter of the decisions of that tribunal, which po- sition he held to the time of his death, Sept. 2. 1892.

BECK, Wm. E., a noted jurist, late chief justice of the supreme court of Colorado. born on a farm in Venango county, Pa .. Nov. S, 1532, and was educated, first in the limited district schools, and afterward at the Pine Grove and Mont View academies of Center county in the same state, and later at the Classical and Commercial high school of Lawrenceville, N. J. He was an indefati- gable student, and learned rapidly. After completing his education in the institutes mentioned he taught school for a few years, then began the study of law. In the of business. Eighteen months later he sold fall of 1856 he settled in La Salle county, Ill., his interest and formed a partnership with Mr. A. A. Bennett, with whom he established admitted to the bar by the supreme court of a large mercantile house in Milford. Mich. After two years he purchased Mr. Bennett's

where his studies were continued. He was that state. Nov. 6. 1861. le practiced law in the town of Mendota and city of Ottawa, interest and continued the business until 111., until the fall of 1872, then came to Colorado and located in the town of Bonkler, where the practice was continued until 1876. In ist5 he was elected by the republican party a delegate to the constitutional con- Vention from Boulder county, and was ap- pointed to the chairmanship of the commit- 14( on "congressional and legislative appor- tionment," and a member of the committees on "judiciary department," "right of suffrage and "elections," and the "miscellaneous divi- sion." He was one of the most conscientions, intelligent and tireless workers in that his- torie assembly. In due course, this funda- mental charter was completed, submitted to the people and ratified July 1, 1876. In Octo- bor, 1876, he was duly elected judge of the first judicial district for the term of six years, but remained only three years in that posi- tion. In October, 1879. he was elected a jus- tice of the supreme court of the state for a term of nine years, and took his seat on the bench Jan 13. ISSO. He became chlef justice um the expiration of Judge S. H. Elbert's term, Jan. 9. ISS3, and occupied that position until BOWLES, Joseph W., farmer, was born the close of his teri, Jan. S. ISS9. He was not a in Rockford. N. C .. July 17. 1536. When

BENNETT, Horace W., capitalist, was born in Michigan, Sept. 1, 1861. and attended the common schools of that state. In IST7 he embarked in mercantile pursuits in De- troit, but after continuing about a year he sold his interest and moved to Corona, same state, where he engaged in the same kind 1552. He came to Denver in February. ISAB, and opened a real estate office in the Duff block, on Larimer street, and soon met with almost phenomenal success. During the next two years he also conducted a boot and shoe store next door to Skinner Bros. & Wright. which he traded for real estate, and then oper- ated the real estate and loan business with J. A. Fisher, of St. Louis. In ISS5 he formed a partnership with Mr. J. A. Myers, under the name of Bennett & Myers, which con- tinnes to the present time. He has been largely interested in the cattle business, and located and laid out the town site of Cripple Freek, where he still owns large interests. His investments in Denver real estate com- prise some of the choicest pieces of property in and around the city. Having acquired a large fortune he is naturally proud of the success he has achieved in the business and financial world. See history of tripple Crook gold mines, this volume. Oct. 2, 1852. he was married to Miss Eva Thompson, of North- ville, Mich.

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quite young his parents moved to Johnson appointed general manager of the Denver county, Ind., and iu the fall of 1817 to Keo- Consolidated Gas company. In October of the same year, at a meeting of the stock- holders, he was elected secretary, treasurer and general manager of the company, which position he still retains.

kuk county, lowa. In 1848 another change of residence was made to Marshall county, in the same state, when that section was com- paratively a wilderness, its population not ex- ceeding a dozen families. He lived on a farm there until March, 1858, then went to Riley county, Kan., where his first vote was cast for the free state constitution the same fall. In the spring of 1859 he emigrated to the Pike's Peak gold region, at that time a sort of terra incognita, vaguely and indefinitely lo- cated in the Rocky Mountains beyond the Great American desert. lle reached the Cherry Creek settlement May 25, and, having come in search of gold, turned his attention to prospecting for that metal. From the plains he entered the mountains, where he encountered many trials and hardships. the fall of 1859 he settled on Quartz Hill. Ne- vada district, and for three years was en- gaged in mining on the great Burroughs lode. During his residence he was twice elected sheriff of the district under the miners' or- ganization. In the fall of 1862 he purchased a ranch claim near the present town of Lit- tleton, where he has ever since resided, and by subsequent purchases and many improve- ments has made it one of the largest and most beautiful farms in Arapahoe county. For some years he was quite extensively engaged in stock growing, his range being on the Re- publican river. In September, 1869, he was elected to the board of county commission- ers, served through his term, and in 1874 was re-elected. He was accounted an honorable, conscientious and faithful officer. He was also elected a member of the legislature in the fall of 1880. By the enhanced value of his landed estate, and by the profitableness of his cattle raising and other enterprises, he has become wealthy. lle is a director jn the City National bank, has a fine home, and, after more than thirty years of honorable service, lives a happy, contented life. Dec. 16, 1867, he married Cynthia R., daughter of Gideon Blackburn Miller of Pettis county, Mo. To them have been born five children, only three of whom are now living.

BREWER, Benn, business man, was born in South Lincolnshire, England, Oct. 11. 1849. Ile came to the United States with his father in 1860, and after two years in New York City they moved to Omaha, Neb. In 1862 he drove an ox team to Denver for Albert McGeath, of MeGeath Bros., general freight- ers, and, returning, drove for his father until 1867. He then learned the bricklayer's trade with Witherill Bros., in Omaha. In 1871 he married and moved to Denver, where, until 1889, he was engaged in building and in the manufacturing of brick. In January, 1883. he became one of the corporators and vice- president of the E. F. Hallack Lumber com- pany, but withdrew in 1886. For the past seven years he has been engaged in the cat- tle business. Since 1SS7 he has been presi- dent of the Robertson & Doll Carriage com- pany. Ile is also a stockholder and director in the National Bank of Commerce. In Feb- ruary, ISSS, he was severely injured in an accident on the Rock Island R. R. near Kansas City, from which he has not yet fully recov- ered. Mr. Brewer is an excellent business man, energetic and successful. For many years he was one of the prominent contract- ors and builders of Denver, a man of great force of character and sterling worth.

BROWNING, John W., lawyer, was born in New York City, June 10, 1842, and ed- ucated in the public schools. He came to Colorado and located in Denver in August. 1884, since which time he has taken an active interest in all public enterprises for the ad- vancement of his adopted state. A lawyer by profession, he opened an office in the Symes block, but in August, 1885, was ap- pointed assistant postmaster and continued in that office until May, 1888, when he was appointed by President Cleveland melter of the mint, which office he resigned in March, 1890, and since that time he has been activety BRANCH, Albert H., general manager Denver Gas company, was born at Orwell, Addison county, Vt., Dec. 25, 1853; was ed- ucated in the public schools, and lived among the granite hills of his native state until 1877. when he came to Colorado and located in associated with the Pacific jurisdiction, Wood- men of the World, which had a beneficiary membership, Aug. 1, 1895, exceeding twelve thousand, and for the last four years and a half has been its head clerk. Besides beinga mem- ber of this organization, he holds a member- Leadville, where he engaged in mining. He ship in the G. A. R., in which heisa past depart- remained there until 1884, when he was ap- ment commander, having been elected to the office at the encampment held at Cheyenne in March, 1SSS, and was knighted a Templar Mason in May, 1866, in Columbian command- pointed private secretary to Governor Grant. He was appointed post office inspector for the district of Colorado by President Cleveland during his first term, and on July 1, 1887, was ery No. 2, in Washington, D. C. Ile is also re-appointed, serving until July 1, 1889, then a member of many other societies. April 18, resigned, and in December following accepted 1861, he enlisted for three months' service a position as bookkeeper with the Omaha- in company E 12th New York State militia Grant Smelting and Refining Co., where he re- under Col. Daniel Butterfield: was honorably nmined until February, 1892, when he was discharged August 5, and re-enlisted Septem-

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ber 1, in the 1st N. Y. volunteer engineers ily. Paul was the oldest son. He spent the under Col. Edward W. Serrell; was appointed summer in work on the farm, attending school in the winter until he reached the age of fourteen, when he assumed the entire sergeant major of the regiment upon the day of his re-enlistment; was with this command at the taking of lliltou Head Island, S. C. charge of the farm and conducted it for three November, 1861; was also at the reduction of Fort Pulaski and the engagements on James Island, and for meritorious service was com- years. At the age of seventeen he went to Madison, Wis .. and entered the freshman class in the civil engineering department. He missioned a 2nd lieutenant of company F in spent two years in the university and then July, 1862. He was mustered out by special orders from the war department, and honor- ably discharged in November. 1862, and later accepted an appointment in the adjutant-gen- eral's office at Washington, where he con- tinued until the fall of 1807, when he was ap- pointed assistant assessor of internal revenue in charge of the breweries at New York City, returned home, where he remained until the fall of 1878, when he went to lowa, where he spent a year in teaching school. In the fall of 1879 he went to Worthington, Minn., where he conducted the Worthington "Jour- nal" for six months. In the spring of 1850 he entered the employ of the St. Paul & Sioux City railroad company, and spent the year in which position he held until December, 1868, locating and constructing that company's line from Sioux Falls west to the James river. The following summer he was engaged on the line of the Milwaukee & St. Paul R. R. in the construction of a line from Cedar Rap- ids to Council Bluffs. In January, 1882 he went to Socorro, N. Mex., in the service of the A. T. & S. F. R. R. Co., and was engaged in the location of that company's line from Socorro to Silver City via the Gila river. In October. 1882, he came to Colorado and immediately engaged with the Colorado rail- way company, organized in the interest of the B. & M. R. R. The next year and a half was spent in locating a line from Denver through Middle Park via South Boulder creek and the Frasier and Grand rivers. The sum- mer of 18844 was spent in exploring the val- leys of the Grand, White and Yampa rivers; the next two years in making surveys from Middle Park, through the valleys of these rivers, for the same company. In March, 1ST. ho resigned his position with the Colo- rado railway company, and took charge of the coal properties of the Colorado Fuel company in Garfield and Pitkin counties. He was elected county clerk of Garfield county in No- vember, 1891, and re-elected in 1893.

Prior to the war he was an indentured ap- prentice at bricklaying, and during the year of 1869 he resumed that occupation. From 1870 to 1873 he was inspector of the building department of New York City, and in 1874 became associated with the Metropolitanpress as the Albany correspondent of the New York "Star," with which paper he was identified, either as correspondent or upon the editorial staff, until 1882. He was also a contributor to other papers and magazines. In 1877 he was elected to the lower house of the General Assembly of New York; was re-nominated in 1878, but defeated. In 1879 he was nominated for the state senate and elected by 24 major- ity in a vote of 25,000, but by alteration of returns he was defeated by 76 votes. In 1880 he was again elected to the lower house, and in 1851 was nominated and elected to the sen- ate by a majority of 812, serving one year (1882) under Governor Alonzo B. Cornell and one year (1883) under Governor Grover Cleve- land. In politics he acted with the demo- cratie party, and, while an active member of the Tammany Hall general committee, he was always endorsed and generally supported by its opposing factions. He was regarded by the state and national committees as a valuable and effective speaker. He was a member of the state conventions from 1874 until 1881. During this period he enjoyed the confidence of the leaders of his party and the respeet of the leaders of the republican party. In 1878 he began the study of law in the law depart- inent of the New York university, graduating in 1882, in which year he was admitted to practice in the supreme court of the second department of New York. After that his of- fiee as counselor and attorney-at-law was lo- cated in Temple Court.

BREWSTER, Albert W., business man, was born in Oneco, Ill .. Feb. 2, 1842. His father, a lineal descendant of the first pastor of Plymouth colony, in 1835 had moved west from Cortland, N. Y., to Galona, Ill .; remained there until 1838, then settled in Stephenson county and opened a store near a point on the Pecatonica river called Brewster's Ferry. About 1540 he opened a general merchandise store at Oneco, continuing there until 18-18, when he removed with his family to Freeport, the capital of Stephenson county, and re-en- gaged in merchandising. In 1819, his wife, Two years later he married Emily L. Jackson,

BLOUNT, Paul, civil engineer, was born a devoted Christian woman, passed away. Dec. 25, 1858, at Rockford, Il. His father was Dr. Joseph Blount and his mother Mary a native of New Hampshire, a teacher in the Putnam Green, a grand-niece of General Is- Freeport high school. In 1857 he built the rael Putnam and General Nathaniel Green. leading hotel in the county at Freeport which Dr. Blount served three years as surgeon of still bears his name, but the financial panic the 25th III. Vols. In 1865 he purchased a of that year, one of the most disastrous in farm at Byron, fifteen miles below Rockford, the history of the country, swept away all on Rock river, and moved there with his fam- his property. At this time, Albert W. was in

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attendance at the Freeport high school, sufficient to enable him to purchase the corner where, owing to the kindness of friends, be at 17th avenue and Ogden street, Denver, and erect a block thereon. Thus, after a long ca- reer of Worthy. thoroughly conscientious and useful endeavor, a considerable part in the service of his country, Mr. Brewster has at- tained, if not fame and fortune, something higher and better-a lofty position in the re- gard of his fellow men.

was permitted to remain until fitted to sup- port himself. At the age of seventeen he was employed in the office of the county clerk, and soon afterward was appointed principal dep- nty. In 1864 he enlisted in company F. 142nd Illinois infantry; was appointed post-adjutant while in camp, and, when the regiment was mustered in, became its adjutant and served the term in western Tennessee. In the fall of 1864 his regiment with four others of II- inois went to Camp Frye at Chicago to be mustered out, their terms of enlistment having expired. At this time Gon. Sterling Price was moving from Arkansas into Missouri for the purpose of taking the city of St. Louis, and there not being sufficient federal troops in that department to successfully oppose his advance. Adjt .- General Allan C. Fuller of Illinois ran up to Camp Frye from Springfield, stated the situation to the men and requested as a special favor that they forego their dis- charge and join Gen. W. S. Rosecrans' very limited force at St. Louis and aid him in re- pelling Price. Three of the five regiments eagerly responded, the 142nd being of the number. They were

immediately rushed through in box cars and at once assigned to duty along the Merimac river. Price's ad- vance was checked and held until the arrival of Gen. Baldy Smith's veterans some weeks later, when the three regiments mentioned re- turned to Chicago and were mustered ont. receiving the thanks of President Lincoln for the gallant service rendered. Upon re- turning home, Mr. Brewster resumed his posi- tion as deputy county clerk, which he held until 1865. The next eighteen months were passed as salesman in the employ of Bid- well & Farwell, wholesale notion dealers of Freeport. Hle surrendered this position to eh- gage in the confectionery. fruit and restaurant business at Morrison, IL., where he remained nearly two years, then sold out and returned to Freeport. In 1869 he entered the office of the Illinois Central R. R. Co., at Freeport. as cashier, and served in that capacity until the fall of 1870, when he came to Denver and. Dec. 26, entered the service of the D. & R. G. R. R. (o. (before the laying of ties), in the office of ex-Gov. A. C. Hunt, where he re- mained until the summer of 1875, when he was appointed a deputy U. S. land surveyor to exeente a contract, on the completion of

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History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV, Part 57

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