History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV, Part 58

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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BROOKS, H. C., was born in Orange, Mass .. April 12, 1836, and remained there until he was nineteen years of age. When only eighteen. he began business for himself as a manufacturer of doors and sashes. The following year he moved to Vermont, where he continued business for two years and then went to Grand Rapids, Mich., still engaged in the same pursuit. Later, he embarked in the lumber trade, and finally in the furniture business, being elected president of the com- pany, and has filled the othre ever since, and still holds an interest therein. He was a citi- zen of Michigan abont twenty-five years, and. in 1882, he came to Colorado and located in Denver. He became interested in the jewelry business in the Opera house block, the firm name being Brooks, Davidson & Co., where he remained until ISS6, when he sold ont and thereafter spent an easy quiet life nutil 1891. when he became interested in the United Coal company, of which he was vice-pres- ident, then secretary, and in 1504 was ap- pointed receiver for the same.

BROWN, Henry C., capitalist, was born in Belmont county, Ohio, near St. Clairsville. Nov. 12, 1820. Among the thousands of pioneers who came to Colorado in IS60. there are few whose names stand out more prominently in the history of Den- Ver than that of Henry C. Brown. The Brown Palace hotel, which he built and owns and which bears his name, is a monu- ment of such large dimensions and of such rare and enduring architectural beauty, that it has attracted not merely local attention, but it is now known throughout the Union as one of the most magnificent caravansaries to be found in this or any other country. Let us look at his life work: He attended the country schools of his district and finished his education with a course at Brooks' acad- emy. Losing his mother when he was two years old, and his father when he was seven, he was bound out to work on a farm until which he resumed his connection with the he was sixteen. At the expiration of his time Rio Grande along the line from Cucharas to of service, he learned the carpenter and join- Alamosa, laying ont the towns of La Veta. er's trade, went to Wheeling. W. Va .. and Garland and Alamosa. In 1879 he returned to Denver and, by Herman Silver, was appointed

engaged work at five dollars per month. In 1844 he went to St. Louis, where his brother assistant assayer of the P. S. Branch Mint. lived, and where he remained until 1852, In June, 1884, he was appointed chief clerk, steadily pursuing his trade. During that year he crossed the plains with an ox team and went to California, walking nearly all the way, and consuming on the trip 110 days.

which position he held until Ang., 1885. His first earnings in Colorado were invested in public lands in the Canon City basin, which subsequently proved to be valable coal lands, Going to San Francisco, he remained there part of which he sold in isst for a sum about 60 days, and then made a brief visit

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to Portland, Ore .; crossed the country to BROWN, James H., lawyer, eldest son of Olympia. Wash. Ter., and forming a part- Henry C. Brown, original owner and founder uership with another man, they together of the beautiful residence section of .Den- erected a large saw mill on Bellingham bay. vor known as "Capitol Hill" and donor Remaining there eight months, he sold his in- of the spacious site of ton acres where- terest in the mill for a ranch near Forbstown. on the magnificent state capitol of Colorado has been erected. was born in St. Joseph, Mo., Sept. 3, 1859. He is descended from a tine of sturdy, loyal, patriotic men, who bore honorable, some of them conspicuous, part in shaping the destiny of the American republic. Ilis great-grandfather, on the paternal side, was a soldier in George Washington's army. Cal. He disposed of his ranch for $1,400, upon which there was afterward discovered one of the richest quartz gold mines in that state. He returned to San Francisco and eu- gaged in contracting and building: did a large business for three years, and, after remaining in the mountains of California for six months, he went to Peru and Callao, South America, and later one of the founders of the state of where he lived nine months, Taking ship, he Ohio. Henry C. Brown, his father, a short sailed around Cape Horn and landed in Vir- ginia-Hampton Roads-in 1858, and returned to St. Louis, arriving there May 3, 185S. After living in that city for about two years. he became discouraged at the prospects for building, and, taking passage on a boat, as- conded the Missouri river landing at Sioux City. Soon thereafter he went to Decatur, the same state, and entered into a contract remained there eighteen months, but as real estate and property of all kinds declined in value, until there was no sale for anything.

time after the birth of James IL., transferred his family to Denver, then in the spring of 1860 attracting a large emigration. When at the proper age, James was put under a course of tuition in the primary branches, and in due course entered the Colorado semi- nary, from whence he was sent to the Northi- western University in llinois, with the well defined purpose of acquiring a thorough col- with the town company to build a hotel. He legiate education, including the classics, the sciences and the study of law. But when scarcely more than well entered upon these branches, financial reverses overtook his he gave up, or abandoned his enterprises, and father, and compelled his return to Denver. finally located in St. Joseph. Mo., where he in 1876 he began reading law in the office of resided a year and a half. Leaving St. Joseph, he started for Colorado and arrived in Den- ver. Jume 9, 1860. Ils worldly goods, con sisting of wagons, ox teams, money, etc., were worth about $2,500. Ilo resumed his trade. and in 1862 took upa claim of 100 acresof land. known as "Brown's addition" to the city of Denver. This land was valued at that time at $1.25 an acro. Mr. Brown offered it at one time for $500. He donated ten acres to the state for the capitol building and grounds, which are now worth half a million of dollars. The remainder of his tract, now occupied by some of the most beautiful residences of the city. with the improvements thereon, is worth perhaps $20,000,000, The Brown Palace hotel stands upon a part of this tract. It was erected in 1889-90 at a cost of nearly $1,600. 000. It was built of a beautiful brown sand- stone, is nine stories in height, and in ca pacity, the manner of its construction, mag- niticence and accommodations, it has ho su- perior anywhere. This superb structure, to say nothing of other costly and handsome buildings which have been created by Mr. Brown in Denver, will hereafter more grandly perpetuate his name, and the memory of his genius and spirit of enterprise, than any statue of bronze, or shaft of Parian marble. Mr. Brown purchased the Denver Daily "Trib- uno" in 1872, and located it in his building at the corner of Sixteenth and Holladay thow Market) streets. He continued it until Nov. 15, 1875, when he sold it to Herman Bock urts of Louisville, Ky. It was consolidated with the Denver "Republican" in 1981. G. G. Symes tafterward member of Congressi and Westbrook S. Decker date judge of the district court of Arapahoe county), where he remained two years, then was granted his certificate as the result of a very rigid ex- amination. In ISSI he was admitted to prac tice before the supreme court of the U. S .. where he conducted singly and alone, when only twenty-one years of age, the great and extremely important suit instituted by hiv father against the state of Colorado, brought to recover the capitol site. as quite fully sot forth in Volume II, Chapter IV. pages 92-03. of this history. This was the beginning of his practice in the courts, and from this intro- ductory has followed the lucrative practice he now enjoys. While opposed to the canse in which he was enlisted, the public in which he has grown from infancy to manhood nu- grudgingly yielded him ins admiration for the able manner of his management of the suit. the perfection of his briefs and the strength of his argument. It is a well understood fact that, while his father had been for many years one of the wealthiest citizens of Denver. counting his fortune by millions, the son has never called upon him for pecuniary aid from the time he left college to work ont an in dependent livelihood. What he has is wholly self-carned. his extensive library, his home. his practice, the support of himself and fam- ily, every dollar the result of his own efforts and work. While the prospective inheritor of a large fortune, he has from the first con- dueted himself without reference to that ex- pertation, resolved to make his own name by the diligence of his industry, and thus

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whatever of fame or riches he may win will be zell entered the firm, since which time it distinctively his own. In connection with his has been known as Thomas, Hartzell, Bryant law practice, he has a strong leaning toward & Lee. On Nov. 1. ISSS, Mr. Bryant married polities, a field in which his innate force has Miss Birdie May Routt, youngest daughter of already won him some renown. In 1885 he ex-Governor John L. Routt. They have two was elected attorney for the city of Denver, children. Mr. Bryant is an active member of the society of the Sons of the Revolution, an office he filled acceptably. Ile was chief counsel for the Denver Consolidated Tramway BUCHTEL, W. H., physician, was born in Akron, Ohio, Ang. 15, 1845. Hle acquired his literary and medical education in the sehools and colleges of Chicago, Ills., and after gradu- ating began practicing in the beautiful city of South Bend. Ind., where he resided until Feb. 10, 1871, then came to Colorado and opened an office in Denver, where he has resided to the present time, engaged in the extensive practice that has come to him in the passing years. March 23, 1871, he married Miss Helen M. Barnum, daughter of the late Phineas T. Barnum of Bridgeport, Conn., one of the eminent men of his time. From April, 1864, to Sept., 1865, he was acting assistant surgeon of U. S. volunteers among the battle- fields of the war. He is now president of the Denver Obstetrical and Gynecologieal society, and a member of the Denver and Arapahoe county medical societies; also Professor of obstetrics in Gross medical college. company, whose many legal contests he managed with superior skill. In 1890 he was elected to the House of Representatives of the Eighth General Assembly, and there led the division in that body which opposed the acts of the speaker elect, Mr. Hanna, which eventnated in his displacement, and the re- organization of the House under the auspices for which Mr. Brown contended. He was also the author and advocate of many import- ant measures passed at that session. Such in brief is Mr. Brown's public career to the present stage. Possessed of a fine, well-knit physique, of remarkable force, indomitable perseverance in the pursuit of his aims, con- scientiously devoted to every cause worthy of his attention, believing with all his strength in the righteousness of his cause, he has al- ready become a marked figure, far beyond the rank ordinarily assumed by men of his years.

BRYANT, W. H., lawyer, was born in BUCHANAN, Thomas B., journalist and contractor, was born in Montgomery county, Ind., June 22, IS41. where he remained until 1861, at which time he enlisted in company G, 11th Indiana Zouaves under Col. Lew Wallace. He subsequently went to Kentucky with his regiment, where, after severing his connection with the army, he engaged in con- traeting, after which he returned home and re-entered school. Ile assisted in recruiting the 72nd Indiana regiment and during his school days commanded a company of home guards. Upon the completion of his educa- tion he engaged in the drug business and eon- tinned it for eight years, after which he beeame associate editor and business manager of the Daily "Courier" at Lafayette for two years, and then became associated with the Indianapolis "Sun" until 1879. In that year he removed to Denver and engaged in the tie and timber contracting business, to which in 1SS9 he added real estate. Mr. Buchanan has always taken an active interest in the study of financial questions, and his contributions to the press on the subject of monometallism vs. bimetallism contain some powerful argu- ments in favor of the double standard. On this subject he is one of the ablest writers in the West. In June, 1893, he was appointed a member of the board of public works of the City of Denver, and served with superior ability until June 1, 1895. Indianapolis, Ind., July 28, 1863, where he was reared and educated in the publie and high schools of that eity. llis mother having died of consumption, and the family fearing that this disease might also develop in him, at the earnest solicitation of his cousin-Mrs. Thomas M. Patterson-he came to Denver in Aug., 1877, to try the climate of Colorado, spending two years on the ranch of John S. Wheeler at Lupton. In the summer of 1879, he went to Leadville, where he remained during the greater partof thenext three years, spend- ing a portion of that time at Wheeler in Sum- mit county. The earlier years of his Colorado residence were passed in building up his eon- stitution, varied with reading and teaching sehool. In 1882 he entered the Military college established by the Grand Army of the Repub- lie at Canon City, and was graduated in IS84, with the degree of B. S. The fall of that year he entered the law class of the University of Virginia, his father having removed to that state, of which he and his mother's family were natives. At the end of two years he finished his law course as well as some other studies in the other departments, graduating in 1886, with the degree of B. L. In the fall of that year he returned to Colorado to enter the office of Patterson & Thomas and in due course was admitted to practice. In 1SS9 he was appointed by the attorney-general of the United States assistant district-attorney for the district of Colorado. In Oet., 1890, BUCKINGHAM, R. G., physician, was he formed a partnership with Harry II. Lee born in Troy, N. Y., Sept. 14, 1816; was first under the firm name of Bryant & Lee, and the following year the firm united with Mr. Chas. S. Thomas, the name changing to Thomas, medical profession, he took up the study and Bryant & Lee. In May, 1894, Mr. Chas. Hart-

educated in the high school and the Rens- selear institute of that city. Inelined to the was finally graduated from the Berkshire

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medical college at Pittsfield, Mass., in 1836. affable, courtly manners, with extreme satis- After several years' practice in New York, faction. He was always an agreeable in- Alabama and St. Louis, Mo., he was placed fluence in public and private life, pure, honest in charge of the Marine hospital in the latter and manly. He was widely admired both for eity. In 1813 he located in Lexington, Mo., his professional skill, for the many benefac- where he practiced for twenty-one years. In tions he conferred upon the needy unfortunate, 1850 himself and friends established the first and for his sterling virtues. female school in Lexington, which subsequently BURCHARD, O. R., business man, was born in Binghampton, N. Y., June 9, 1842, of ancestors who came from England and set- tled in Norwich, Conn., in 1635. 1lis four grand parents and his father were of Con- nectieut birth. After the customary course in the schools in his native city, at the age of sixteen he was sent to Groton, Mass., where in Lawrence academy he completed his preparations for college, graduating at Yale in the class of 1865. In September of that year he went to Raleigh, N. C., under the auspices of the American Union commission and opened a school for poor and neglected white children, commencing with three pupils and closing the year with 175. At the close of the year, his school was merged into schools for freedmen, under the charge of the Ameri- can Missionary association, and, as a result was entirely broken up. Returning to the North, he was in business two years, when he took a course of six months in methods of teaching at the Oswego (N. Y.) state nor- mal school, graduating as valedictorian of his class in the summer of 1869. He at once re- ceived an appointment to the chair of ancient languages in the state normal college at Fro- donia, N. Y., where he remained twelve years. In connection with his professorship, he es- tablished, edited and published the New York State "Edneational Journal" lectured many times before teachers' institutes, and con- tributed to the popular magazines and papers of the day, including "Scribner's," now the "C'entury." During this time he spent three summers in Europe, and wrote descriptive letters of travel, which were published sim- ultaneously in 150 papers of the United States and Canada, being one of the earliest series of "syndicate letters," over presented to the publie. These were afterward collected and published in a little volume called "Three Months in Europe." In Sept. 1882, he came to Denver, and at once engaged in the real estate business, in which he has con- tinued to the present time. During these latter years he has given his attention entirely to business, in which he has been moderately successful. He has at different times been the financial representative of large castern insurance companies and has loaned for them, several millions of dollars, without a single loss. became the Baptist female college. In 1863 he came to Denver and made this city his residence until his death in Los Angeles, Cal., March 18, 1889. He was one of the organizers and afterwards president of the Denver medi- cal association, which he represented at the meeting of the American medical association held in San Francisco in 1871. For years he was among the leading physicians of Denver, enjoying a large practice and universal esteem. Entering the field of polities by the earnest desire of his friends, he was elected to represent Arapahoe county in the upper House of the territorial legislature in 1874, and it was in that session, under his vigorons ad- vocacy, that the bill to establish an institute for the care and education of the deaf, mute and blind was enacted into law. When it came to be organized he was made a director and president of the board, a position which he retained many years, and through whose en- thusiastic furtherance that great work was brought to its present standing and usefulness. Hle took a lively interest in all good works. From 1SGS to 1872, inelusive, he was president of the East Denver school board. Under his presidency the first school building was ereeted, on Arapahoe street, forming the basis of the present superb high school. He was also largely instrumental in securing the en- actment of the special law under which school district No. 1 was organized and has attained its present high state of etliciency. Again he was one of the foremost organizers of the I. O. O. F. in Denver and the state, and one of its great leaders and law-givers. Ile was the first noble grand of the original lodge, the first grand master of the grand lodge of Colorado, and was twice chosen rep- resentative to the sovereign grand lodge. In 1871 he was elected grand patriarch. Mr. C. P. Elder, who was chosen to pronounce the eulogy upon him after his death, said: "He was prompt and active in the discharge of all the duties plaecd upon him; he loved his order and its membership; he was active in what he thought to be his duty as a citizen. He believed it was the duty of a citizen to assist in the affairs of the publie. For years he was in some position where his time and thought were given for the benefit of those about him." In April. 1576, he was elected mayor of Denver, the second democrat elected to that position, Wm. M. Clayton being the BURCHINELL, William K., sheriff of Arapahoe county, was born Oct. 12, 1846, In Huntingdon, Pa. where he lived until 1875. His early education was received in the pub- lie schools, which was supplemented by an frst. lle was afterward nominated for gov- ernor by the greenback party in three sneceeding state conventions. All the older residents of the city recall his genial presence. his slender, well dressed figure, and his academic course at the academy of Hollidays-

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burg the same state. In July, 1862, he enlisted judge of the superior court, in which capacity in the 15th Pennsylvania cavalry, which served in the army of the Cumberland and did gallant service for three years, as may be found in the annals of the war. lle was mustered out as sergeant, and later was assigned to the quartermaster's department at Nashville, Tenn. On his return to Pennsyl- vania he engaged in the planing-mill business which he followed successfully until 1875, then

he served one term. In ISST, on account of impaired health, he came to Denver. Colo., and entered the law-office of Wolcott & Vaile, where he remained eighteen months, then opened an office for himself. Although Judge Burns had been a resident of the state but a few years, his qualifications were fully recognized, and in the fall of 1891 he was elected judge of the district court for the came to Colorado. In 1873 he was elected to 2d judicial district. As a jurist he was able, the Pennsylvania legislature from Hunting- dignified and prompt. handling the business of his court with admirable precision. His decisions evinced familiarity with both the con district, and served his constituents faith- fully during his term of two years. In Feb .. 1875, he was appointed receiver of the land law and the facts pertaining to the cases be- offire at Fairplay, Colo., by President Grant. fore him. In 1879 he was reappointed to the same posi- tion for the ensuing four years by Presi- dent Hayes. In July of that year the office was removed to Leadville, where he served until the expiration of his term in April. 1853. During his residence there, he also became interested in mining and was one of the owners of the Denver City mine. but sold his interest in 1881. In Dee., 1883, he removed to Denver and engaged exclusively in mining until 1886. when he became president and manager of the Denver Machinery company. In Nov., 1591, he was elected sheriff of Arapahoe county on the republican tieket. and in 1803 he was re-elected and is now near- ing the close of his second term. He has also continued his mining operations during his incumbeney of office, being largely interested in several portions of the state. In 1872 Mr. Burchinell married Miss N. A. Cunningham of Huntingdon, Pa. They have one child, a daughter. Ile is an active member of the Masonic order and of the Grand Army of the Republic.

BUSH, William H., hotel proprietor, was born in Rose county, Ohio, Jan. 14, 1841. He remained there until eighteen years of age, during which time he attended the public schools. In 1864 he went to Leavenworth, Kan., and in 1867 to Fort Wallace: four years later he came to Colorado, locating in C'entral City, where he opened, and for seven years was proprietor and manager of, the Teller house, and also engaged in mining. In 1879 he built, and until 1881 managed, the Claren- don hotel on Harrison avenue, at Leadville. He came to Denver in 1881, where he has since resided. For several years he was con- nected with the management of the Windsor hotel, and afterward was one of the pro- prietors of the Metropole hotel and Broadway theatre, which were erected under his super- vision, and in which he is still largely inter- ested. In 1892 he, with N. M. Tabor, took charge of the Brown Palace hotel, one of the largest and most magnificent caravansaries in the country. Mr. Bush is especially quali- fied for the successful management of large hotel enterprises. To operate a hostelry, such as the Brown Palace, requires large ex- perience and great executive ability. He is aggressive and public spirited. flo evidently learned in early life the importance of the precept-"Whatever is worth doing should be done well"-for his works here have shown that he fully appreciates and thoroughly un- derstands the significance of the proverb.

BURNS, D. V., lawyer and jurist, was born near Madison, Ind., June 11. 1841. His early education was received in the common schools, during which time he learned the carpenter's trade, working in the summer and attending school in the winter. When the civil war commenced, he, like thousands of young men all over this broad land, left the workshop for the tented tield, enlisting as a private in the 26th regiment of infantry. BUTLER, Calvin P., judge of the district court, was born in Greensboro, Henry county, Ind .. Feb. 14, 1851, remaining there until five years of age, when his parents moved to Spiceland, in the same stato. Hore they re- sided until the spring of 1865, his father be- ing engaged in mercantile pursuits. lle at- tended the Spiceland academy, a Quaker school, until he was fourteen years of age, when his parents became citizens of Jasper county, lowa. From the spring of 1865, to Indiana vols. lle served almost to the end of that great struggle, being twice wounded, and once a captive in the hands of the enemy. Leaving the army he returned home and en- fored the Indiana State university. In 18GT he began the study of law. and two years later was graduated from the Indianapolis law school, and at once commenced the prac- tice of his profession in the capital city of his native state. In 1870 he was elected dis- triet attorney, and was offered the nomina- the autumn of 1869, he worked on his father's tion a second time, but declined the honor, farm, attending the district school during the preferring to resume his practice, which winter months. In December of the latter he continued until 1878. During that year year he entered the Springdale academy at he again yielded to the solicitations of Springdale, lowa, completing his academic his friends, and became a candidate for course in 1873, when he returned to Spice-

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History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV, Part 58

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