History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV, Part 64

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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entered the house of Davis, Wade & Co., manufacturers of steam-heating apparatus, in Chicago, first as clerk, where he ac- guired the training in the line of business to which his after years were devoted. The firm having taken a contract to supply fit- tings for the Windsor hotel in Denver, then building, Mr. Creswell was taken into part- nership, and at once established a small branch on Blake street, near the American honse, and on the same side of that thor- oughfare, between Sixteenth and Seven- teenth. At that time (1880) the city, under the impulse of great mining discoveries in the mountains and a tremendous immigra- tion, had entered upon the third epoch of its career. Hundreds of business blocks and dwellings were planned and constructed to accommodate the unprecedented demand. Necessarily the new house of Davis, Creswell & Co., then just established, was over- whelmed with orders for its steam heating and other supplies. This necessitated rapid enlargement, increased capital. working forces, all the power, in fact, they were cap- able of giving it. The great new building on Blake street opposite the original shops was erected and filled with men and materials, ineluding phimbers' supplies. The concern was reorganized, and, In 1888, incorporated under the title of The Davis-Creswell Man- facturing company-John Davis of Chleago of the Kansas Pacific company on the six president, Joseph Creswell, vice-president year installment plan, paying the amounts anunally accruing from his savings, This aud manager. From that time to the present

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BIOGRAPHICAL DEPARTMENT.

practice continued until 1886, during which of the firm, and the title was changed to period he had acquired 3,520 acres, all within Moore. Carlile, Orman & Co. They built 97 six miles of Denver, north. Ile bas 3,200 miles of the Afchison, Topeka and Santa Fé acres in one body, inclosed by twenty-seven R. R. In 1877 Mr. Moore withdrew and Will- miles of fence. It is watered by about fifty iam Crook was admitted, when the firm miles of lateral ditches, reinforced by twelve name was changed to Carlile, Orman & reservoirs. In 1891 he had 1,200 acres in Crook. They built the Atchison, Topeka and crops of various kinds. Upon this exten- Santa Fe from Pueblo to El Moro, and most

sive estate he planted 6,000 fruit trees and 30,000 shade and ornamental trees, suited to the climate and soil. On a part of the ranch of the Rio Grande to Alamosa; also at least one-half of the latter company's road be- tween Canon City and Malta, in Lake county; or farm, he had many fine horses and cattle. all of the branch from Leadville to Kokomo In addition to these possessions, he owned in Summit county; also between 30 and much valuable real estate in Denver. His 40 miles of the Denver and South Park business honse was one of the largest of its R. R .; the Rio Grande extension from Ala- class in the city, carrying a well-assorted mosa to Del Norte, and the extension from

stock and doing an extensive trade. From

Leadville to Red Cliff, in Eagle county. In

the foregoing it will be realized that in the later times this firm built considerable parts of the Missouri Pacitic and the Chicago & Rock Island railways; also in 1800-91 the

brief period of sixteen years, starting from a salary of $50.00 per month, Mr. Croke was

not only energetic and industrious, but de- Rio Grande Southern from Dallas to Du- veloped strong capabilities for business. His rango, 175 miles. Mr. Carlile settled in investment in wild land was a risk which Pueblo, making his home there in 1870, pur- few young men of his slender resources and chasing a large tract of land, and being an

experience would have contemplated

that time, for there was little to encourage the hope of early or large returns. Denver was a very small city, the surrounding coun- try but indifferently settled. This farm of more than 3,000 aeres, a large part now un- der cultivation, was simply desert land. As a result of his various ventures he became quite wealthy.

CARLILE, James N., railroad builder, was born in Carroll county, Ohio, Oct. 17. 1836. lle was educated in the district schools of that section, but is mainly self- educated in the school of experience. For nearly twenty years past he has been one of the principal railway contractors of the West. His experience began at the age of fourteen, as an humble employé of the Pan- Handle railroad. The succeeding ten years were without event worthy of record. Early in 1860 he came to Colorado, went to the South Park mines, remained until September when he went across to French Gulch in the Blue river country, and there engaged in placer mining until 1862; then engaged in freighting from shipping points on the Mis- pledges and contracts.

enthusiastic lover of blooded stock, in com- pany with his brothers. W. K. and L. F. Carlile, entered quite extensively into the business of raising such stock and dealing in horses. In 1876 he was elected to the First General Assembly of the state, and in 1880 was elected county treasurer, which office he hekl by successive re-elections until 1886. He has taken a deep interest in and exerted himself to promote the county and state fairs held in Pueblo, and in the live stock and racing departments of those exhibitions; was one of the original directors of the Central National Bank, organized in 1881; also a director of the Pueblo Savings Bank. incorporated in 1889. In 1890 he was elected state treasurer as a result of his universal popularitywith the people and the public con- fidence in his integrity. He has a beautiful home in Pueblo. Mr. Carlile is a gentleman who, without any educational advantages whatever in early life, has made his way to fortune by the inherent sterling qualities of his nature, his indefatigable energy, the prompt and conscientious fulfillment of his

souri river to Colorado, New Mexico, Wyo- ming, tdaho, Nevada and Montana until 1866, when he returned to Denver and went into the old Elephant corral on Blake street. Two years later the firm of Moore & Carlile contractors and builders, was formed. They contracted to build the Denver Pacific R. R. from Cheyenne 40 miles south toward Den- ver. built the Colorado Central between Den- CHILCOTT, George M., ex-IT. S. Senator and one of the more noted figures in the history of Colorado during the first twenty- eight years of its existence, was born in Huntingdon county. Pa., Jan. 28. 1828; raised on a farm and educated in the public schools. In 1844 the family removed to lowa, where he was given for a time the advan- tages of a select school. As a matter of fact. ver and Golden City, and the greater part of however. he was mainly self-educated by the Kansas Pacifie between Sheridan and

close reading and study during his early Denver. They contracted to build and con- manhood; subsequently he took up the study structed nearly all of the Denver and Rio of medicine with his brother-in-law, with the Grande railroads between Denver and Pueb- view of adopting that profession. but soon lo and between Pueblo and Canon City. In abandoned it for school teaching. Preferring 1874 Messrs. Orman & Co. became members the legal practice, he studied law with the

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HISTORY OF COLORADO.

famous lawyer and statesman, Hon. James menial service on a ranch for support. But, F. Wilson. In the meantime, however, he in 1863, he located a ranch of his own twelve was elected sheriff of Jefferson county, miles east of Pueblo, and held it through- Iowa, served one term, and assisted in or- out his life. By degrees he became possessed ganizing the republican party in that section. of much property in and outside the city, In 1856 he removed to Burt county, Neb., which in the advancing years grew to be very valuable, therefore at the close of his and the same year was elected to the House of the territorial legislature. In 1859 he em- life, in 1890, he left a large estate to his fam- igrated to the Pike's Peak gold region, settled ily. Ile was married in Jefferson county, lowa, in March, 1850, to Miss Jennie Cox.

in Denver, and was elected a member of the first convention to frame a state constitu- Four children, three sons and one daughter, tion, an unauthorized and wholly abortive were born to them; the mother, two sons movement, though well intended. In 1860 he and the daughter, Kate, survived him. AS became definitely located in Pueblo, and en- we have seen by the epitome foregoing, Mr. tered upon farming and stock raising. Ilay- Chilcott was conspicuously identified with ing continued his law studies, he was ad- the political annals of the territory and the mitted to the bar at Pueblo in 1863, and to state, beginning with the first legislature of the supreme court of the U. S. in 1866. He 1861, and terminating as a Senator of the was elected to the first territorial legislature IT. S. in 1883. It is indisputable that he was. in 1861, and served though two sessions, during that long period, the one great leader 1861-62. Until his death he was the recog- of the republican party in the southern divi- nized leader of the republican party in sion, the influence that organized and hell it southern Colorado. In 1863 he was ap- together, for naturally that section adhered pointed register of the U. S. land office for stoutly to democratic principles, very many Colorado by President Lincoln, and estab- of its early inhabitants coming from south-

lished his office at Golden, then the territo- ern states. But for the high standing be rial capital, but subsequently located in Den- occupied with all classes, and in all counties

ver. Before him came for determination a of that division, the party to which he was vast number of land claims, which were sat- so ardently attached could not have main-

isfactorily adjusted. He held this office tained its supremacy. When Jerome B.

four years, and popularized himself with all Chaffee, who in 1865 became the leader of the people by his efficiency and genial man- ners, to an extent which endured throughout his life, and led to rapid preferment in high stations. In 1865, when the second move- ment for state organization under the en- abling act of 1861 resulted in the formation of a new constitution, and the selection of candidates, he was nominated for Represent- ative in Congress, and elected, but the pro- able throughout.

that party in Colorado in all the after cam- paigns, came to prepare his plans for a gen- oral election, his first movement was to con- sult Mr. Chilcott as to the condition of affairs politically in that part of the country, and to secure his active co-operation. Yet Mr. Chilcott was never an unscrupulous poli- tician. His ways and methods were honor- IIe was so popular with the masses, because of his integrity and ox- treme geniality, kindness of heart, benevo- lence and uprightness, he felt that, however urgent the demand for success. he must con- duet the canvasses and the elections in a straightforward manner, and though gener- my knowledge, with any meretricious pro- ceedings. In the various offices he held in

ject failed through the determined opposi- tion of President Johnson, as related in Volume 1. In 1866 he was nominated for dele- gate to Congress under the territory, elected and finally seated. (See Volume I., pages 384 to 389, and for services rendered his constit- uent's, page 451.) In 1872 he was again ally successful, he has never been charged, to

that body. In 1874 he was re-elected to the the legislature, in Congress and in the Sen- same branch. In 1978 he was elected to ate, he was universally respected for the fine the House of Representatives of the Second qualities of his nature as well as for his abll- ity. lle was not a brilliant speaker, indeed

elected to the council or Senate of the terri- torial Assembly, and was chosen president of

General Assembly of the state, and stood as second choice in the vote for U. S. Senator, seldom made publie addresses on any sub- April 11, 1882, he was appointed IT. S. Sen- ject, but he was an earnest thinker, and & ator by Governor F. W. Pitkin to serve ont conscientious worker in all the walks of life. the unexpired term of H. M. Teller, who had All who knew admired him, and he was very widely known. In the city and county of his adoption, he was universally es- teemed. While a practicing attorney, lis been made secretary of the interior by Pres- ident Arthur. He served in that capacity until about the Ist of Feb., 1883, which closed his political career. George M. Chil- time and talents were chiefly given to the ac- cott began life in Colorado poor and well quisition of a fortune and, as we have epit- nigh destitute. By the treachery of omized, to politics. When he passed away. trusted friend, who robbed him of his team. not Pueblo alone, but the state, lost one of wagon and equipment. all he possessed, and its most eminent and useful eltizens. Dur- fed the country, he was compelled to seek Ing all the later years he was tormented and

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broken down almost continually by rheuma- thither. He arrived in Denver June 22 of

tism, which inflicted inexpressible suffering. that year. The following autumn he went His hands and limbs were knotted and to Pueblo, and thence to Hnerfano county. twisted out of shape by excruciating torture, where he resolved to settle. His first occu- from which, though at times temporarily re- pation was that of a farmer and stock lieved. he was rarely free. While undergo- grower, which was profitable. When in 1867 the present county of Huerfano was segregated from its neighbors and local gov- ernment duly organized, he was appointed its treasurer, and by successive elections ing medical treatment at St. Louis, on March 6, 1891. death put an end to his agonies. The remains were brought to Pueblo, and there interred. March 12, amid general mourning. Having known and admired Mr. Chilcott for held that office six years. During a part of many years, the foregoing testimonial has that time Mr. D. J. Martin was deputy and been prepared from my personal knowledge acting of his character and virtues.

territorial treasurer. Mr. Canon, having no more speedy and direct method of conveying the taxes collected by him to Mar- tin's headquarters in Denver, mounted a mule, concealed the funds about his person,

CROWELL, Alfred N., contractor and builder. was born in Pulaski county, Va., Oct. 4, 1843, and was educated in private schools. April 1, 1861, he enlisted in the and rode all the long distance, not infre- Pulaski Guard, Fourth Va. regiment, C. S. A., quently dodging bands of hostile indians, to make his annual official settlement. Be- which formed a part of the famous "Stone- wall brigade." He was wounded in the first sides his engagement in ranching. he had a small store in Walsenburg. Owing to the sparsely settled condition of the country and the difficulty of securing joint action on the part of its scattered office holders, Mr. Canon served as undersheriff and deputy assessor as well as treasurer. His ranch comprised 1.700 acres, situated at the foot of Spanish Peaks in the Santa Clara valley, which he occupied until a recent period. The inei- dent subjoined exerted marked influence on his after life. and came dangerously near putting an untimely end to his existence. Sept. IS. 1866, while out on a hunting expe- dition with a comrade named J. D. Patter- xon, at the headwaters of Apache creek, at the base of Greenhorn mountain, as a

and second battles of Bull Run. May 12, 1864, he was taken prisoner at Spottsylvania Court House. After his release, in July, 1865 he returned to Abingdon, Va., and took up the carpenter's trade, which he pursued in Bristol, Tenn., and in Russell county, Va., until 1867. when he engaged in the same trade in Knoxville, Tenn. July 23. 1868, he married and removed to Marysville, Tenn. He was raised to the degree of Mas- ter Mason in New Providence lodge. No. 12S. in 1870. In 1871 he settled in Bristol, same state, and there was engaged as a builder and contractor until 1872, when he came to Colorado. Arriving in Denver June 1. he worked at his trade four years, then began to contract and build, which continued until the passing amusement he began rolling rocks spring of 1881, when he changed his resi- dence to Bonanza district, in Saguache county, where he embarked in the lumber trade. When the town of Bonanza came to be organized, Mr. Crowell was elected to the first board of trustees. In the fall of 1SS1 he was elected a justice of the peace, serving until the spring of 1882, when he re- turned to Denver, and re-engaged in the business of taking contracts and building. The same year he was made a Royal Arch Mason, in Denver chapter No. 2. June 20. 1887. he located in Pueblo, and there erected some of the most prominent buildings in that city, notably the Swift and the Central blocks, the Melaughlin, Grahamand Wescott blocks, the Contennial school building and a number of fine residences. Ile is a zealous Mason, a member of the Methodist church. an active and enterprising citizen. who has left the traces of his handiwork upon two of the great cities of Colorado.

from a high cliff. Having a Colt's navy re- volver in his belt, it accidentally dropped out, fell upon a rock and, being discharged. the ball passed clear through his body, within an inch and a half of his heart. The nearest physician was at Pueblo, a vast distance in such an emergency, but he was summoned. Fortunately he was skillful, and in time the wound healed, but the cost of the medical and surgical attendance, $300 for each trip, utterly exhausted his capital. Further- more, as a result of this injury his hair and beard turned white as snow, and although only twenty-one years of age at the time. gave him the appearance of a man of fifty. In 1886, having disposed of his stock and ranch in Huerfano, he went to Mesa county and there engaged in a mercantile business. in other words, opened a supply store with a stock suited to the wants of that young and not thickly inhabited region. In Feb., ISSS. a friend from Huerfano county. Mr. C. P. Noland, became a partner, and in the spring of 1889 another friend from the same place

CANON, Benton, banker and horticultur- ist, was born in Carthage, Hancock county. Ill., Oct. 13, 1845, raised on a farm and purchased an interest. At that time Mir. educated in the common schools. in the Canon, in association with Mr. M. D. spring of 1865 favorable reports from the Thatcher of Pueblo, bought a controlling in- Rocky Mountains persuaded him to emigrate terest in the Mesa County State Bank at

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HISTORY OF COLORADO.

Grand Junction, of which Mr. Canon has Alfred W., joined him and was made a since been the president. Its capital and partner. A year later a second brother, surplus at this time is $60,000. Favorably impressed with the prospective value of lands adapted to horticulture in and about Grand Junction, he has acquired large bodies of such lands and put them under cul- I. J., came out, and he also was admitted to partnership, the firm being II. B. Cham- berlin & Bros. May 1. following, The Cham- berlin Investment company was formed, with 11. B. Chamberlin president. A. W. tivation. mostly devoted to fruit raising. Chamberlin vice-president, F. . Chamber- That section, by reason of the superior cli- lin treasurer, and F. B. Gibson secretary. mate. the peculiar qualities of soil. and the The paid up capital announced was $1,000,- abundance of water for irrigation, seems des- 000. After the subsidence of the remarka- tined to be the largest producer of standard ble epoch between 1879 and 1984. during fruits in the state. Very large tracts have been planted, and as many of them have now reached the bearing stage. the crops are very abondant and of excellent quality. The history of the settlement and progress of that beautiful and very fertile valley ap- pears elsewhere in this volume. Mr. Canon is president of the Orchard Mesa Heights Land company that owns an addition to the town of Grand Junction, which is being ex- tensively improved. For two years he was standing as a citizen, banker and a persever- ing worker for the advantage of the town, through the development of its great re- sonrees, is attested by all who know him.

which Denver was phenomenally prosperous, there came a pause in all movements which extended to the spring of ISS6. when a new and still greater period of development be- gan, moving with rapidly increasing momen- tum until about the close of 1890 when the financial centers of the world became se- rionsly congested by a series of events that brought widespread depression. But from the beginning of 1986 onward to the period just named, the volume of real estate trans- president of the Board of Trade. Ilis actions was prodigious. Among the leading operators were the Chamberlin brothers. The scope of their transactions extended be- yond Denver to Pueblo and Trinidad, and finally still further south to Fort Worth. San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Aransas Pass and other points in Texas where large landed estates were acquired and great companies organized to handle them. A branch office was opened in Fort Worth. I. B. Chamber- lin assumed the supreme control as presi- dent and financial manager of the several great enterprises, while his brothers and agents looked after the details. le became president, also, of the Beaver Brook Water company that supplies north Denver: Vice- president of the Denver, Colorado Pañon & Pacific R. R. Co .; vice-president of the Kil- ler Stove Co .: president of the Young Men's Christian association of Denver: was for one year (ISS9) president of the Chamber of Com- merce and Board of Trade: was at the head of the Denver Savings Bank: of one or two loan and trust companies; an important in- fluence in Trinity M. E. church, to which he contributed $40,000 of the large sum ex- pended in the erection of the new and bean- tiful sanctuary on Broadway: gave to its university located in University Park. South Denver, an astronomical observatory. and donated $25,000 to the Young Men's Chris- tinn association as a nucleus for its proposed building, Making a specialty of what is known as Capitol hill property, his operations in the sections lying east and south of Broadway were very extensive. In less than three years after he began to buy and plat addi- tions there, nearly every traet became thick- ly populated, and by the combinations ho en- tered into with other owners and with the builders of rapid transit lines, was soon

CHAMBERLIN, H. B., real estate oper- ator. was born in Manchester, England, Feb. 7. 1847. In 1852 the family emigrated to New York and settled in Oswego, that state, where he attended the public schools, and also took a course in the state normal school. At the age of fifteen he entered the office of the New York, Albany & Buffalo Telegraph Co., where he learned telegraphy and be- came an experienced operator. In 1863, by appointment of General Thomas T. Eckert. he was attached to the military telegraph corps in the fieldl. serving at the headquar- ters of Generals Schofield. Howard. Palmer and Terry. At the close of the war he re- turned to Oswego and took a clerkship in a drug store. The next year he was made a partner. Some time later he opened a drug store of his own in the much larger city of Syracuse, where he remained until 1576, when he was elected general secretary of the Young Men's Christian association. with headquarters in Brooklyn. N. Y. Al- ways a hard worker, his health failed. and nervous prostration followed. Therefore, in 1880, by the advice of his medical adviser. he came to Colorado and spent the season in the mountains. In ISS1. having decided to establish his permanent home in Denver, ho accepted the presidency of "The Tuggy Boot & Shoe Company." a venture that event- nated in failure, but without entailing seri- ous losses. After settling up its affairs, in 1882. he formed a partnership with his brother-in-law, Mr. D. C. Packard. in the real estate and insurance business. In 1885 the firm dissolved. Packard retaining the insur- threaded with cable and electric roads, which ance, and Mr. Chamberlin the real estate de- with the superior class of dwellings and other partment. 1n 1886.

Jan., his brother.

Improvements following, have made the sey-

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eral divisions of Capitol hill the most desira- which he inspired his friends and co-workers in his chosen field, may be mentioned the fact that he was selected as chairman of its ble and beautiful residence parts of the city. It is not claimed that all that has been ae- complished there was due to his personal ef- state committee, and to his management of its forts, but that in the various combinations affairs was largely due its success that year, of capital and effort he was a potential fac- when its entire state ticket was elected. tor. As a consequence, tracts of land which he and those directly or indirectly associated with him bought at nominal prices in 1885-86, because of their unsettled condition and their remoteness from the then existing exterior lines of settlement in that direction, became. by reason of the strong tide of settlers upon those .elevated and incomparably beautiful uplands, immensely valuable. Mr. Cham- berlin made several trips to England where, principally in the great manufacturing eities. he delivered lectures and distributed much literature bearing upon the resources of Col- orado, its advantages for settlement and the investment of capital. lle traveled through most of the eastern, middle and southern states in the same interest. He was largely instrumental in locating some important manufactures in and about the city of Den- ver, and was sharply identified with many other progressive movements of the new era. The astronomical observatory which bears his name stands upon the most elevated promontory in University Park, its imposing dome 5.400 feet above the level of the sea. The telescope with its object glass 20 inches in diameter and its tube 26 feet in length, fitted with the most approved mod- ern appliances, is the largest between Wash- ington and San Francisco. The dome of iron weighs twelve tons. There is a fine library building in connection with the observatory.

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History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV, Part 64

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