History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV, Part 59

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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HISTORY OF COLORADO.

land, where he again attended the academy was elected mayor of Central City, and in until June, 1876. After the Centennial Ex- 1873 was again elected to the territorial coun- position, which he visited, he became the eil, rendering effective service in the session editor of the Spiceland "Reporter," a weekly of 1874. In 1876 he was made chairman of paper which he conducted one year. Leav- the democratic state central committee, and ing Indiana he went to Tipton. Cedar county, conducted the first campaign of his party lowa, and began the study of law with the under the then recently admitted state of Colorado. Feb. 13. 1872, he married Annie Duke, daughter of Ilon. John Milton Thatcher of Kentucky. In the spring of 1874 ho removed to Denver, where he has since resided and where he has attained the highest rank in the legal profession. In 1982 he was ten- dered the appointment of judge of the su- perior court of Denver, by Governor Grant. but declined it, because he could not afford to sacrifice his large practice. lle is known as a great lawyer, and a sagacious politician withal, but without ambition for political preferment. He is an ardent mason, a knight templar, and one of the charter members of the Denver club. In 1892 he accepted a chair in the law department of the state university Where he lectures on common law and code pleadings. leading law firm of that place, pursuing his studies during the summer and teaching school during the winter, and was admitted to the bar in Feb., 1981. In the autumn of 1879 he was appointed an instructor in the Jowa Industrial school at Eldora, where he remained until Aug. 1881. At this time he received the appointment of assistant super- intendent of the Colorado Industrial school at Golden, by the board of control, that in- stitution having been created by the Third General Assembly of Colorado. He organized the school, placed it in good condition, and after three months' hard work resigned, came to Denver, and entered the law-office of Markham, Patterson & Thomas. Continuing with this firm until JIan .. 1884, he formed a law partnership with J. H. Richards, opening an office in the Symes block. After prac- ticing with Mr. Richards four years he moved to San Francisco, Cal., and embarked in the banking business. This he continued until the autumn of ISS9, when he returned to Denver and resumed the practice of his profession. Recognizing his fitness for the office of district judge. the republican party of Arapahoe county nominated him for that position. Sept. 10. 1894, and elected him by a handsome majority. In June 1881 he married Miss Cora Stollsmith, and with her has passed many years of domestic happiness.

BUTLER, Hugh, lawyer, was born near Airdrie. Lanarkshire, Scotland, May 31, 1810, son of Thomas Butler, a native of county Kings, Ireland, who, when a young man, settled in Scotland. Hugh, after acquiring an academie education, came to the United States with his parents who settled in Hawes- ville, Ky .. in 1853. In the spring of 1857 their residence was changed to Lewistown. Il. During the succeeding three winters he ment of the stock growing interest. He also taught in the public schools, and at the same time studied law. In the summer of 1559 he entered an office for further study and was admitted to the bar in Feb .. 1862. Ile began the practice of his profession in Chi- cago, continuing there until the autumn of 1563, when he came to Colorado and settled in Central City, where he opened an othce and began his career. Though young he was an carnest student as well as a superior ad vocate, and soon acquired a large and mera- tive practice. In 1564 he was elected to fill an unexpired term as prosecuting attorney for Gilpin county, and a year later re-elected for a full term, but resigned in 1866. in the fall of IST he was elected to the upper branch of the territorial legislature and served in the sessions of INGS and 1870. In 1871 he 'n token of their esteem for him as a man,

BUTTERS. Alfred, stock grower, was born in Exeter, Penobscot county. Maine. May 27. 1836, educated in the common schools. in Bueksport seminary, and the Maine Wesleyan seminary at Kent's Hill. Having no patrimony, therefore compelled to earn his own livelihood. but endowed with a fair education, at the age of twenty, he be- gan teaching one of the district schools. In 1858 he settled in Kansas, near the Missouri horder, where he continued teaching until 1860, when he joined the procession of emi- grants to the Rocky Mountains, but instead of gold hunting settled on a ranch in Douglas county. some twenty miles south of Denver. In 1868 he purchased a few cattle and thus, unwittingly perhaps, but nevertheless cer- tainly. formed the nucleus of his present considerable fortune. In isal he was elected to the House of Representatives in the terri- torial legislature, giving munch consideration to measures for the protection and advance- introduced a bill to regulate the salaries and fees of public officers in Arapahoe county, a measure of great importance, to rid the tax payers of burdens that became well nigh in- tolerable in after years, but which, owing to the persistent energy of the office holders. could not be enforced until the winter of 1501, when, by the combined efforts of the people, a bill fixing salaries for county offi- cors was adopted and approved. The bill which Mr. Butters drew and earnestly advo- rated. had it been adopted. undoubtedly would have been inherited by the state. In 1876 ho was elected to the eleventh and last terri- torial legislature, and made speaker of the House. At the close, the republican mem- bers presented him a fine silver tea service,

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and appreciation of his fairness and impar- spent in prospecting at various points in the tiality as a presiding officer, while the demo- Gregory diggings, in the South Park and Cali- fornia Gulch. He was one of the locators of the town of Arapahoe, on Clear creek, just below Golden. In Sept., ISGO, he proceeded to the Arkansas valley with the intention of cratie minority, inspired by the same feeling, gave him a gold-headed cane. In Oct., 1876, he was elected to the senate of the First Gen- eral Assembly of the newly admitted state of Colorado, and served that body as chairman continuing on to Arizona, but, attracted by the beauty and fertility of the region below Pueblo, changed his original purpose and lo- cated a ranch claim on the Arkansas, about five miles southeast of Pueblo. of the committee on finance, ways and means; also of the committee on stock, and likewise of the committee on rules, He introduced and secured the passage of an act amendatory to an act providing for the branding, herding spring he sold out and Joeated another claim The next and care of live stock, in which the appoint- at the mouth of the St. Charles river, and there entered upon farming and stock grow- ment of a state board of commissioners, and round-up commissioners in each district of

the state was provided for. This law put in practice, and amended from time to time to

ineet the new phases frequently arising in the extensive development of the live stock interest, was of very great advantage as a protective measure to all engaged in the busi- ness. Ile served in four consecutive ses- sions of the state senate; also two terms (1878-70) as president of the Colorado cattle growers' association, and one term (1877) as its treasurer. This association was orgall- ized Nov. 27, 1871. As stated by its sec- retary, "it grew out of the losses sustained by the individual cattle owners from herds passing across the range, numerous thefts being committed by the herdsmen accompa- nying the passing droves:" from miscellanous thieving of stock and hides, and the neces- sity of mutual cooperation against numerous other ovils and depredations, and for uni- tied effort in securing the passage of needed laws, the official inspection of stock, its trans- portation to market, and in general protec- tive measures affecting the entire guild of stock growers. In all this work he was a zealous and effective coadjutor. As a further evidence of his standing it may be stated that after his four legislative terms the re- publican convention in Denver unanimously tendered him the nomination for mayor of that eity, but it was declined. A member of the Denver Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade, he served on several of its more important committees, including that on mer- cantile library. Having amassed a fortune from stock growing and landed estate, he some years ago retired from active business.

BAXTER, O. H. P., capitalist and busi- ness man, was born in Jefferson county, Ind., Oct. 31. 1835. After receiving a fair educa- tion in the common schools, at the age of six-

ing in company with Mr. W. II. Cresswell. They, with others, built the first irrigating

canal in that region of country, and engaged in tilling the soil. Mr. Baxter was one of the original Pueblo Town company. The site was subsequently "jumped" by parties who obtained a patent to the land, but some

years later it reverted back to the town com- pany, owing to its prior title. In 1864 Mr. Baxter raised a company of volunteers for the Brd Colorado cavalry, recruited for 100 days' service, expressly for the suppression of hos-

tile Indians. Ile was commissioned captain

of this company, was mustered into the 3rd regiment, and engaged in the battle of Sand Creek, under Col. John M. Chivington. When these troops were mustered out at the ex- piration of their term of service, Captain Bax- ter returned to his ranch and resumed the business which had been interrupted by the movement just recounted. During the same year (1864), while still in the field, he was elected to the territorial legislature, repre- senting the counties of Pueblo and EI Paso, but did not take his seat in the House until Feb. 1, 1865. In the year mentioned he was

elected to the council or upper branch, repre- senting the Sth district, composed of Pueblo, El Paso, Huerfano and Fremont counties, in the fifth and sixth sessions, 1866-67. In 1866 he settled in the town of Pueblo and pur- chased a half interest in the Jewett flouring mill, which he has retained to the present date. In 1870 the county commissioners ap- pointed him a member of a board of trustees

to organize the town of Pueblo under the ter- ritorial laws. This object finally accom- plished, he continued as trustee a number of years. He was also a member of the board of county commissioners during several

terms: one of the territorial penitentiary commissioners and of the state insane asy-

teen he was apprenticed to the blacksmith lum. Ile is a large stockholder in and presi- trade, serving three years. In 1855 he went dent of the American National Bank of

Pueblo, established in Oct., 1889, with a cap-

to Keokuk, Iowa, but a short time afterward settled in Moline, III., removing thence to ital and surplus of $250,000. He is a direc- Nebraska City, Neb., in 1856, working at his tor in the Pueblo and Arkansas valley branch trade at these several places. In ISSS the re- of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fé railroad; ported discovery of gold in the Rocky Moun- president of the Pueblo Gas & Electric light tains led him to this region. Reaching the company, and of the Pueblo Opera House as- Cherry creek encampment in October of the sociation, an account of which appears in year last mentioned, the next two years were Volume 111, page 483. The latter erected one of

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HISTORY OF COLORADO.

the most beautiful buildings in Colorado, and government to appraise the lands in the Fort the opera house, which forms a part thereof, Raynokls military reservation on the Ar- kansas river east of Pueblo. le has filled a number of important positions in private life with ability, and is recognized as a sagacious organizer and promoter of business enter- prises. Dec. 21, 1875, he married Catherine A. Morgan, the cultured daughter of Preston Morgan of Harmony, Clay county, lud. They have an interesting family of three daugh- ters, Anna, Catherine, and Josephine.

is not surpassed in elegance of style and ap- pointment by any in the country, Captain Baxter, as the foregoing epitome of his (a- reer indicates, has been one of the principal men in the city and country where he has re- sided for more than thirty years. His name and capital are associated with many of their important institutions and public works. He is known and esteemed of all men, essen- tially a man of the people, generons, and broadly enlightened upon the resources and needs of the country. the development of which he has fostered. Being an energetic business man. he has made a fortune. Virtually uninhabited, at least but sparsely settled, when first he visited that region and decided to make his home there. Pueblo county has become the second in the state, and its capital one of the most important centers of manufacture between the Mis- sonri river and the Pacific coast.

BARNDOLLAR, Ferd., business man, was born in Everett, Bradford county. Pa., Dec. 8, 1×17. llis boyhood was spent there and at Martinsburg, attending public schools and in Franklin seminary in the latter place. In lan. 1865, he entered Dickson seminary at Williamsport, where he remained until the summer of 1867, having attained high stand- ing in his class. The following fall he crossed the plains with a cattle train, arriving in the then small village of Pueblo on the ISth day of October of the same year, which he adopted as his new home, and for which he formed a strong attachment, and soon became promi- nent as an active and enterprising citizen. working hand in hand with the early pio- neers in building up Colorado, and especially Pueblo. His name figures conspicuously in the real estate records of that county, and in the carly enterprises that transformed the town to its present importance. The erea- tion and opening up of the Grand hotel there was largely due to his untiring zeal. In his business pursuits he has always manifestel a preference for real estate, and has been a large operator in that line. He was one of the first to lend aid and encouragement to carly mining in southern Colorado despite its re- BENSON, Martin Van Buren, real estate and insurance, was born Oct. 2, 1sło, in the town of Washington, Dutchess comity. N. Y. At the age of fourteen he moved west to Wisconsin, and there worked on a farm un- til he had saved money enough to educate himself, having had few advantages in earlier life. At the age of nineteen he was graduated at the Walmont county institute. and at once engaged in mercantile business in the southern part of the state. In 1864 he settled in Green Bay, Wis,, where he remained until ISSI. Hore he took an earnest Interest flection on financial credit at that time. lle was among the first pioneers that entered and organized the Hardscrabble mining dis- triet and the now beautiful town of Rosita. and performed the first developing work there in 1ST2. Silver mining at that time in south- ern Colorado was not viewed with favor, but regarded as n hazardons experiment. In polities he is devoted to the republican party. In 1875 he was assessor for the city of Pueblo. In Jan .. 1877. he was appointed register of the U. S. land office at Pueblo, by President Grant, which office he filled with credit. in the politics of that period. but declined all During his term as register he served as a offers of preferment in that line. In May. member of the commission appointed by the Issh, he moved to Colorado, located in Pueblo.

BARNDOLLAR, W. J., business man, was born at Everett, Bedford county, Pa .. Sept. 11, 1850. In the spring of 1556 the family moved to Martinsburg, where W. I. remained until Feb., 1871. Until fifteen years of age he attended the public schools, then entered Dickson college Williamsport, remaining one year. But the instruction sub- sequently acquired in the commercial college at Iron City better qualified him for a sue- cessful business career. After working three and a half years at harness making. in March, IS71. he came West and settled in Pueblo. In 1875-76 he served as deputy to Sam McBride, county clerk, and in 1877 under George H. Hobson, in the same office. I 1878-79 he was deputy under George W. Morgan, county treasurer. In 1879-SO he was a member of the Pueblo board of aldermen. In April. 1890, he was elected alderman from the Ist ward, and was re-elected in the spring of 1892. In 1875 he embarked in the real ostato business, continuing until March 4. 1892. That of abstractor of titles to land was added in ISSO, in which he is still en- graged. In May. 1589, he was elected school director of district No. 1. Pueblo county, for a term of four years. During his incumbency the Centennial school building was enlarged and remodeled, making it one of the finest structures of its kind in the state. A number of other school buildings in modern style were erected in the same period. He has been a member of the finance committee in both the city and school district. The Barndollar brothers are among the best known and most highly respected citizens of Pueblo city and county.

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and soon afterward assumed the management correspondents and book writers in their time. of a republican newspaper there, continuing The present "Transcript" was the legitimate one year, during which, by the influence of successor of those primitive endeavors. In this journal, the city of South Pueblo was re. leased from the control which had long been

Aug., 1860, Richardson, Mr. Blunt and two ladies made the ascent of Pike's Peak, and exercised by the somewhat famous P. J. at that time were of the opinion that these Desmond. After severing his connection with were the first of the feminine gender to ac- complish that difficult feat, but as a matter of fact they had been preceded in July, 1858. by Mrs. Julia Archibald Holmes of Kansas. Mr. Blunt was, as already stated, one of the founders of the town of Golden, and in due the paper, Mr. Benson embarked in the real estate and insurance business in Pueblo. For several years he has had charge of two of the oldest fire insurance companies now doing business in Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico, with headquarters in Denver, to course was elected recorder, and subsequently which place he removed in 1891.

BURNELL, James M. Sce Vol. Ill, page 139.

BLUNT, Mark L., deputy clerk U. S. courts, was born in Boston, Mass., May 23. 1832, and was educated in the public schools of that city. At the age of twelve, obliged to earn a livelihood, he found employment, first in a bookstore, but subsequently learned the trade of a printer, supplemented by that of stereotyper and electrotyper. In March, 1850, in company with George West (editor of the "Golden Transcript" and late adjutant- general Colorado National Guard) and others, comprising an association known as the "Boston Company," he left for Pike's Peak, embarking upon the plains at St. Joseph. Mo., with ox wagons. They arrived at Au- raria in the early part of June. Horace Greeley, Albert D. Richardson and Henry Villard had arrived a few days earlier and in the meantime made an examination and prepared a report upon the Gregory mines, which Mr. Byers of the Rocky Mountain "News" desired to publish in the form of an extra, but, as the excitement raised by the discoveries of gold in the mountains had stampeded his printers, he had no one to put it in type. Hence he went to the camp of the "Boston Company" in the Cherry creek bottom, and engaged George West, Mr. Blunt and Wm. Summer to assist him in publishing the Greeley report. This was the first authori- tative statement on the subject to which the people of the country accorded full credence. It was signed by Mr. Greeley and his com- panions, Richardson and Villard, and was printed on a small sheet of manilla paper, there being no white print stock in hand at the time. It is Mr. Blunt's recollection that they received $2 per 1,000 ems for setting the type. and it was the first money they earned in the Rocky Mountain region. .1 few days later the company proceeded to Golden City, en route to the mountains, and assisted in establishing the town by building one of the first cabins on its site and in or- ganizing the Golden Town company. George

a justice of the peace. In the summer of 1860, he was appointed postmaster. In March, 1863, he went to the Missonri river with the 2nd regiment, Colorado volunteers, and was "engaged in the patriotic duty of handling sutler's goods." In June, the same year, he returned to Colorado with a "bunch of rattle," and in April, 1864, moved to the Ar- kansas river, near Pueblo. From 1866 to 1872 he served as deputy collector of internal revenue. under George W. Brown, and his successor, Dr. Morrison. Feb. 18, ISSI. he was appointed register of the U. S. land office at Pueblo, and served in that capacity by re- appointment until Oct., 1885, when, being an ardent republican, he was removed by Presi- dent Cleveland, presumably for "offensive partisanship," as no other cause could be al- leged. Since then be bas practiced as an at- torney before that office in land cases. At the present writing he is deputy clerk in the U. S. circuit and district courts for the dis- triet of Colorado, and also an examiner in chancery for the circuit court. July 2, 1871, he married Linda J. Stout, of Des Moines, lowa. Six children have been born to them. all natives of Pueblo county. As will be seen by the foregoing epitome, Mr. Blunt was among the first settlers of the Pike's Peak epoch, therefore justly entitled to high rank among the fast diminishing guild of pioneers.

BRAGDON, George E., merchant, was born in Auburn, N. Y., Feb. 20, 1852, and was educated at the Northwestern Univer- sity af Evanston, Ill., whenee he was grad- uated in 1872. Prior to coming to Colorado he was connected with wholesale grocery firms in Chicago and St. Joseph, Mo. He came to Colorado in 1881 and engaged in the whole- sale grocery trade in North Pueblo with Mr. MeCord (the great wholesale merchant of St. Joseph) under the firm name of MeCord, Brag- don & Co. Since that time the business has increased in volume about 25 per cent. each succeeding year. Mr. Bragdon became treas- nrer of the MeCord-Bragdon Grocery com- pany.

BETTS, Fred., lawyer, was born on a farm Wost, James MacDonald and Mr. Blunt then in Adams township, Hillsdale county, Mich., Oct. 15. 1859, where he remained until eighteen years old. Ile was educated first in the dis-

began the publication of the "Mountaineer." afterward merged into the "Western Monn- taineer," edited by Albert D. Richardson and triet schools: next at the Hillsdale high school, Col. Tom Knox, both famous journalists, and finally, during the falls and winters from

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1876 to ISTS, attended Hillsdale college. In engaged in hazardous employments. and did the fall of 1876 he entered the university of succeed in getting such a bill through the Sen- Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he remained ate, but it failed in the House. He also made four years, taking B. A. degree in June, 1882. a strong fight against the proposed constitu- His parents being poor, all these years were

tional convention scheme. and the extrava- attended with many hardships and privations, gance of the Seventh Assembly, which brought He maintained himself at the university by so much disgrace upon that body . To quote to do as I agreed to do in politics, I regard party pledges as solemn obligations which it is the duty of every ofhcer and legislator to do his best to redeem, and that the inter- ests of the masses should be held paramount to those of the favored few." Mr. Betts is now practicing law in Denver. working nights, mornings, holidays and va- his own language: "My aim has always been cations. During the last year, in addition to his work in the literary department, he attended the law lectures of Judge Camp- bell, then of the supreme bench, and of Hon. Thomas M. Cooley, then also of that court- but later chairman of the Interstate Com- merce commission-delivered before the law department. At length, after searching the BOONE, Col. A. G. See Vol. III, page 240. field for a suitable place in which to com- BARELA, Casimiro, politician and Jegis- lator, was born in Embudo, N. M., of Span- ish parentage, who were among the ear- lier settlers there. Mr. Barela bas borne a conspicuous part in the political annals of Colorado, both as a territory and a state, and has been regarded as the leader of his party from the southern portion of the state. Ilis identification with polities, mercantile pur- plote his studies and for admission to the bar, in the fall of 1882 he came to Colorado and settled in Pueblo. Being without funds he took the first employment offered, that of a laborer. In Oct .. 1552, he began study- ing law in the office of Ely & Elwell. In No- vember following, Messrs. Patton & I'rmy (the latter then attorney-general of Colorado) gave him a situation in their office at a salary of snits, railroad affairs and the advancement of educational interests has necessarily caused him to be considered a representa- rive citizen of that quarter. lle has made his name familiar to all by his many years of service in both branches of the territo- rial and state legislatures. In the constitu- tional convention of 1875 he exhibited the same characteristics that have won for him the confidence and esteem of his colleagues in every body of which he has been a member. lle was educated at Mora, under the careful training of Bishop Salpointe, a man of great intellect, loving and affectionate as a friend and adviser, but rigid and exacting as a dis- ciplinarian. In 1867 Mr. Barela moved to Colorado, locating in the valley of the San Francisco, where he has since continuously resided, and where he has been largely in- $25 a month. He remained with them, pros- conting his legal studies, for nearly two years, and Feb. 2, 1551, was admitted to the bar. There being an objection to his admis- sion at this time on account of an irregularity in the examination. his license was revoked. but he was again examined by a special com- mittee appointed by the supreme court, con- sisting of ex-Governor F. W. Pitkin, ox-Gov- ernor Win. M. Stone and Judge T. T. Player, and as a result was again admitted in May. INSI. He remained with Patton & Urmy until the ensuing fall. In the winter of 1884-55 he served as clerk to the committee on enrollment of the House of the Fifth General Assem- bly. In April, 1885, he went to California and remained a year, then returned to Pueblo, and in March, Isso, opened a law office there. The only business then presenting itself be- terested in stock raising. merchandise and forwarding business, and also In the Trini- dad & San Luis Valley railroad, and an officer in the American Savings Bank of Trinidad. In 1870 he was appointed assessor for Las Animas county by the county commissioners. and the following year elected to the House of Representatives of the territorial legisla - ture. In 1873 he was re-elected to the same office. In ist he was made sheriff of his county. and in 1875 a delegate to the consti- tutional convention. Upon the admission of Colorado in 1876. Mr. Barela was elected to the Senate of the First General Assembly for the long term, and was re-elected in 1882- S6-90 and 1893. In 18 2 he was elected treas- urer of Las Animas county, and the following Voar was elected county judge. In ISSo he was the democratie candidate for state au- ditor, but was defeated with the balance of the ticket. He has been in office continu- ously since 1870; twice elected to the House of ing in the line of criminal practice. he en- tered upon that, achieving notable success. but since Jan., 18SS, he has devoted him- self to the civil side of the profession exelu- sively. with very satisfactory results. The firm was Betts & Vates. They were attor- neys for several of the leading institutions and business men of Pueblo, as well as local attorneys for the I'nion Pacific railroad. In Nov., 1858, Mr. Betts was elected to the state senate from the 16th senatorial district to succeed lon. George M. Chilcott. He was a member of the Seventh and Eighth General Assemblies and chairman of the revision com- mittee of the Senate in the Seventh Assembly. lle wrought strenuously for the passage of a bill regulating the railroads, agrecably to the promises made by both parties to the people in the campaigns of ISSS and 1890; also to secure the passage of a bill to protect the lives and limbs of railway men and others

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History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV, Part 59

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