History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV, Part 67

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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CANNON, David, dairyman, was born in Chester county, Pa., July 4, 1861, where he grew to man's estate, and where his education was received in the public schools. His life has been almost entirely devoted to the dairy business, he having engaged in the same with his father in his native state. Since coming to Colorado, in 180, he has followed that business exclusively, conducting the "Broad- way dairy" in connection with Mr. Saunders. Mr. Cannon has managed this enterprise so many years he understands every phase of it. DAILEY, John L. See Vol. III, page 137. DECKER, Westbrook S., lawyer and jurist, was born on his father's farm, in Seneca county, N. Y., April 22. 1839. He worked during the spring and summer months, and attended a district school in the winters, the ordinary and commonplace beginnings of many distinguished Americans. In 1856 he entered Broekport collegiate institute, re- maining one year. This comprised the suni total of his early mental training in the schools, sound and substantial undoubtedly. but not extensive, embracing only the ordi- nary branches of a general English education. It is a passion with most young men whose lives begin with the almost interminable drudgery of a New York farm to long for ex- perience in the West, born of romantie visions that come early, lay strong hold upon then, and finally impel a movement in that diree- tion. Once launched they sellom return, whether their dreams are realized or blasted. It is an open sea, free to all, and the oppor- tunities afforded to the penniless or but seantly furnished, depending upon their ca- pacity for reaching out and seizing them at the vital moment. Mr. Decker found none of the western trails strewn with roses, but in 1557 he went there to stay, regardless of whether roses or thorns awaited him. His first employment was in a sorghum mill. Needing the wages offered, but by no means fascinated with the duties, he remained until something better was presented. Finally a school teacher was required. He applied for the position and was accepted. This was In Coles county, Ill., where he remained until the spring of 1861, meantime taking up the study of law. The winter of 1561-62 he spent at his old home in New York, and in the spring enlisted in company 1, 126th N. Y. in- fantry. Sept. 15 of the same year, when Col. Miles surrendered Harper's Ferry to the Confederates, private Decker with the rest of the troops stationed there became prisoners of war. Prior to that. however, on the 13th. Heights. In December following, these cap-

CORBIN, George & Sons, are natives of he had taken part in the battle of Maryland Worcester, Mass. They came to Colorado In 1879, and in 1580 began the dairy business. tured troops were exchanged, and again united

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with the federal army. Thereafter, until when he resigned because he could no longer June, 1863, Mr. Decker's regiment was placed on picket and outpost duty near Washington; then joined the second army corps commanded by Gen. W. S. Hancock. pursued Gen. Lee into Pennsylvania, and took afford to serve for the compensation author- ized by law, and again resumed his practice, which was more remunerative. Upon his pub- lie and private life there is no stain. His character is pure, his associations with men part in the battle of Gettysburg, in which Mr. and with public duty honorable and con-

Decker was severely wounded, on the after- noon of July 3rd, he being with the forces against which the Confederate General l'ick- ett made his famous charge. lle was con- veyed to a hospital in Trenton, N. J., where he to the cause.

scientious: of refined and genial manners, he is widely popular. As a soklier he served his country faithfully, undergoing great hard- ships, and earned promotion by his devotion

was detained nearly five months. Finally re- covered, he rejoined his regiment at the front, DE REMER, J. R., soldier and railway en- gineer, was born in Carbon county, Pa., April 5, 1847, and remained there until 1863, when he enlisted in company 11, 47th Pa. volunteers, and served until the close of the civil war. He took part in the battles of Berryville, Winchester, and others in the Shenandoah valley. After the general sur- render of the Confederate forces he was em- ployed as a detective on the staff of General Gerry. He then went to Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and entering college there remained one year, then came West, and in Oswego, Ill., took charge of a division of the Fox River railroad, remaining until 1866, when he removed to Springfield, Mo., and became connected with the Atlantic & Pacific road, in charge of the laying out of new towns along its line. He continued in this occupation until 1867 and then engaged with the Kansas Pacific rail- way, continuing until 1870, then went to the Rio Grande road as rodman, continuing until 1882, at which time he was assistant chief engineer. It was during his connection with this road that the great contest between Gen. Wm. J. l'almer and the manager of the A. T. & S. F. road for possession of the Royal Gorge of the Arkansas river occurred, and it is but just to state that the resulting victory for the former was largely due to his efforts. The daugers, trials and hardships he endured dur- ing that memorable struggle are a part of the exciting history of that period, the principal details of which have been recounted in preceding volumes. It was mainly by his heroic attitude that the Santa Fé was pre- vented from securing possession of that im- portant highway to the mountain mining camps. At one time he was compelled with a party of engineers to swim the Arkansas river when that swift stream was filled with floating ice, in order to defeat the forces of the opposition. The manager of the Santa Fé offered a reward of $10,000 for his capture "dead or alive." He put to flight, by a shower of stones and large rocks, a deputy sheriff and twenty men sent to capture him. Upon severing his connection with the Rio Grande he traveled until 1885 for the restoration of his much impaired health. During Presi- dent Cleveland's first administration he was and there found awaiting him a commission as second lieutenant, with an assignment to duty with the 19th U. S. colored infantry, attached to the 9th army corps, Gen. Burn- side commanding, which made the memor- able campaign from the Rapidan to Peters- burg, and was a participant in many of its engagements. He was promoted to 1st lieu- tenant and appointed ordnance officer on the staff of Gen. Ferrero, and in that capacity served also on the staffs of Generals llart- ranft and Hartsuff. After the evacuation of Petersburg in April, 1865, he was ordnance officer of the district of Nottoway; subso- quently was transferred to Gen. Giles A. Smith's command, went to Brownsville, Texas, and there served as provost-marshal of that military district until Aug., 1865, when he resigned and returned to New York. Two months later he entered the law school of Michigan university at Ann Arbor, whence he was graduated in the spring of 1867 with the degree of L.L.B. This course of tuition was paid for from the savings of his soldier's pay. Well nigh impoverished, but still ener- getic and hopeful, he opened an office in Kankakee, 1Il., and by devotion to business soon made a fair beginning in practice. In the summer of 1867 he was united in marriage to Miss Kate Worden of Seneca Falls, N. Y. In the spring of 1868 he was elected city at- torney of Kankakee, and in 1869 re-elected. In the fall of the latter year he was elected county judge, which position he held until the fall of 1873. By this time his long and arduous service in the army, combined with hard study to fit himself for his profession, so seriously affected his health as to comper him to seek a change of climate. Therefore, in Jan., 18744, he came to Denver, resumed practice, and on the 12th of Jan., 1877. a few months after the admission of the state, was appointed U. S. district attorney for the dis- triet of Colorado. In political erced a repub- lican, being a forcible speaker, he has taken part in most of the state and many of the lo- cal campaigns of that party during his resi- dence here. In 1887 he was elected judge of the 2nd judicial district for Arapahoe county for an unexpired term. and in 1888 was elected appointed register of the U. S. land office at to the same for a full term of six years. He Leadville, receiving his appointment in discharged its duties ably until Jan. 1. 1891, March, 1885, but in June following he re-

J. W. BARRON

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HISTORY OF COLORADO.

signed, though the resignation was not ac- creek, Gunnison county, which pursuit he cepted until July, 1886. In 1885 he took a continued for two years, during which time contraet on the Colorado Midland railway, he married Miss Nellie M. Tilton of Denver, but before its completion he secured a larger who accompanied him to his mining camp and spent one summer there, when they re- turned to Denver and remained until his death, March 29, 180. Ilis widow with their three children still resides on South Broad- way. Mr. Dailey was one of the most esti- one with the Rio Grande, and subsequently one with the Denver, Texas & Fort Worth. He executed all the work complete from Trinidad to the line of New Mexico, and also to all the timber and tie camps and coal fields in Las Animas and Iluerfano counties, mable of men, of irreproachable character, to the Red river in New Mexico. He owns and of the highest standing in this as in every the De Remer opera house in Pueblo, a fine other community in which he lived. ranch of 1,600 acres near Elizabeth, and a

DAILY, James M., miner, was born in great amount of improved and unimproved Tyrone county, Ireland, Dec. 25, 1814 . In property in Denver and other parts of the state. Ile has a beautiful residence in Den- ver, a wife and three children. his native land he received no education whatever, yet in later years he not only ac- quired a good education, but high standing among the strong business men of this state. Apprenticed to the trade of a machinist in Ireland, his training in that and other branches of mechanics was very thorough. In 1864, having meanwhile saved from his meager earnings sufficient to pay his passage, le came to America and soon after found em- ployment under the principal owner and manager of the Gas Light company in Plain- field. N. J. Faithful, conscientious, upright

DAILEY, William M., stock grower, was born April 22, 1836, in Seneca county, Ohio, near Tiffin, the county seat. In 1848 the family settled in Allen county, Ind., where they made their home in a wild timber see- tion, which William and his two brothers as- sisted in clearing. After passing the usual courses in the district school he attended an academy two or three terms, teaching country schools in the intervals for means to pay the and remarkably ingenious, he soon became a cost of higher tuition. He remained at home or in that vicinity until the Pike's Peak ex- citement of 1859, when he joined a party from among his neighbors and came to the Rocky Mountains. Proceeding at onee to the Gregory diggings, he worked a claim in con- nection with his brother in Russell Gulch un-

marked favorite. He had learned much of this business in Glasgow, Scotland. Ile re- mained with this company something over four years, during which he was promoted to assistant manager of the works. lle then went to Highpoint, Gilford county, N. C., as manager for a gold mining company; built a til the fall of that year, when he returned to crushing mill and took charge of its mining Denver and engaged in carpenter work, a trade he had learned in Ohio. Among the buildings he erected one still remains in West Denver, near the Market street bridge over Cherry creek. For a time it was occupied by Byers & Dailey as the office of the Rocky Mountain "News." In the spring of 1860 he took up a ranch claim on Platte river (on the ground now platted as Lake Archer subdi- vision), and continued farming until the land was washed out and practically ruined by operations. In 1869 he came to Colorado and settled at Georgetown. Clear Creek county ; was connected with various mines and mills thereabouts, until 1877, when he discovered the Joe Reynolds mine on Silver creek, near the present town of Lawson. Extracting a quantity of the surface ore and finding it extremely rich in silver, he gave this diseoy- ery the name mentioned above, and subse- quently sold it to the man whose sobriquet of "Diamond Joe Reynolds" was known the Cherry creek flood of 1861. During that throughout the nation, retaining. however,

summer he enlisted in company A, 3rd regi- ment Colorado volunteers, and with it en- one-eighth interest in the property. At the time of Mr. Reynolds' death, in 1991, Mr. gaged in the famous battle of Sand Creek. Daily was his only partner. the remainder of After being mustered out of the service he his vast possessions, valued at twelve to fif-

again engaged in mining and prospecting un- teen millions, being in his individual control, or in connection with incorporated com- panies. From 1852 to the present time Mr. Daily has been the sole manager of the Silver Creek mines. Although not large producers, like some of the great deposits at Leadville, were very rich, and by his method of working them always had abundant reserves in sight. The group is operated from a tunnel cs5 feet in length, the underground workings being 600 feet below the tunnel level. The net profits of the mine from date of discovery un- tit the spring of 1867, when he embarked in the live stock trade with ex-Governor John Evans, flrst locating on the Arkansas river Pueblo county, then moving his herd to Vance's Park on Bear creek. During the winter of the first year the snow fell to great Aspen and other noted districts, the ore veins depth, which induced him to move to the Little Thompson in Larimer county. After a few years in that locality, his herd outgrowing his limited range, he removed to the Black hills of Wyoming. During the prosperous years of the cattle business ho sold the herd, tend returned to Denver and engaged to superin- uil Jan. 1. 1591, amounted to $1.100,000. The the development of mines on Roek average value of the silver contents of the 27-iv

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BIOGRAPHICAL DEPARTMENT.

ore was about 150 onnees per ton. Several line, when Mr. Davis was placed in charge of veins adjoining the principal lode, combined the Trinidad terminal. Almost immediately under the name "Joe Reynolds Group," are afterward the latter, with Henry A. Barra- worked in the same connection, and all are clough as partner, opened a hotel in connec- in a systematic stage of development. Mr. tion with the stage office, and later added a Daily married Johanna Cavanaugh in Plain- stock of groceries to the combination for re- field, N. J., in 1867, and seven children have

tail trade. Davis & Barraclough soon sold been the issue of this very happy union. the hotel to P. B. Sherman, At that time, Having accumulated a moderate fortune from indeed until recent years, Trinidad was a primitive trontier settlement of perhaps 300 Mexican inhabitants, who dwelt in adobe houses, with less than a dozen Americans. Beginning his several ventures with a gross capital of $700. by careful management, veonomical habits and close attention to every duty, he advanced with the passing years and his share of the profits of the mines just con- sidered, and with the view of giving his chil- dren the advantages of the public schools of Denver, in May. 1886, he purchased an ele- gant residence on Capitol hill in that city. and there established a permanent home. Like most of our citizens to whom the coun- try has been kind, he is intensely loyal to the increase of population to first place among the merchants of that now quite large and flourishing city. Not content with mere lo- cal influence and a moderate trade, he pushed his traffic lines to the utmost limits of the neighboring territory and far into New

Colorado. From Monday to Saturday he su- perintends the mine, spending the Sunday in- tervals with his family. He is a member of numerous important financial and social or- ganizations of Denver, and is a generous con- tributor to, and patron of. the fine mercantile Mexico. One of the essential prerequisites of library of the Denver Chamber of Commerce his success in commeree was the early mas- and Board of Trade. There are none who ex- tery of the Spanish language which he soon cel him in the higher and better qualities of learned to speak. Jan. 1, 1871, he took as a citizenship.

partner Mr. Phil. B. Sherman of Connecti- ent, who then gave up hotel keeping, and for

DAVIS, Joseph, retired merchant, was born years thereafter the firm of Davis & Sher- in Boston, Mass., Nov. 24, 1840, edneated in man, general merchants, was as familiar as the superior public schools of that city, and household phrases to all dwellers in south- graduated from the English high school in western Colorado. It was the leading house July, 1858. Thenceforth, until the spring of in all that region of country. By virtue of 1861, he was employed in the drygoods com- mission house of Almy, Patterson & Co .. Boston. A devoted student and an ardent Legion of the U. S., and is a charter member

lover of literature, he embraced every oppor- tunity for self-culture after leaving school, and with the splendid libraries of that city at his command, he made excellent use of his leisure among the books thereof. When Abraham Lincoln issued his first call for

his long and gallant service in the Union army, Mr. Davis was elected to the Loyal of the Colorado commandery of that order. While a resident of Trinidad, he was a mem- ber of its municipal government for four years, Like all members of old colonial families in New England. the record of his ancestry has been religiously preserved and

three months' volunteers, under the appre- cherished with exalted pride. He is descended hension, then widely entertained, that the from William Davis of Roxbury. Mass., by

his third wife, Jane, a family that furnished

civil war would not exceed that length of time, Mr. Davis responded by enlisting in some illustrious men to the first century of company E. 5th Mass. infantry. At the ex- American piration of this term, not yet weary of war, he enlisted as hospital steward in the East-

civilization, among them Col. Aaron Davis of the provincial Congress; Thomas Aspinwall Davis, mayor of Boston in ern Bay State regiment, New England divi- 1845. Penetrating still earlier times, we find sion, raised by Gen. B. F. Butler, afterward that he is descended, also, through two lines the 30th Mass .: was successively commis- of ancestors from Thomas Dudley, one of the sioned 2nd and 1st lieutenant, and adjutant, old colonial governors of Massachusetts; which latter position he held until his resig- trom Governor John Winthrop. also, the father of New England. Still further baek, one of the line was secretary of the commission which tried King Charles the First of Eng- grandfathers were merchants of Boston and Roxbury. His great-grandfather furnished the Continental troops under Washington with provisions at Roxbury, taking his pay in Continental currency, which at the end of the war he patriotically destroyed for the benefit of the government. The father of our subject was one of the prominent merchants of Boston, and agent for Steiglitz & Co. of nation in 1865. lle served in Louisiana and Virginia under Butler, Banks and Sheridan, taking part in the battles of Baton Rouge, Donaldsonville, the siege of Port Hudson, the land, and sent him to the scaffold. His first siege of Vicksburg, Opequan. Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek and numerous less impor- tant engagements. In July, 1865, he came to Denver and took a clerkship in the clothing house of A. Jacobs & Co., with which he re- mained eighteen months. In the meantime. however, Mr. Jacobs purchased the Denver, Pueblo and Trinidad branch of Barlow, Sanderson & company's stage and express

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HISTORY OF COLORADO.

St. Petersburg, afterwards bankers for the Russian government. Mr. Davis, who, it will be seen, inherited his patriotism as well as his fine capabilities for trade from a long line of martial and successful business men, re- tired from business in Trinidad in July, 1883. having accumulated a satisfactory fortune from his varions enterprises, and removed to Denver.

DAVIS, William H., physician, was born near Vernon. Jennings county, Ind., Nov. 28. 14IS. All his tastes and inclinations turning to the medical profession, after the customary course in the public schools he entered the Northwestern Christian university (now Butler university) at Indianapolis. After a very thorough course of instruction there he attended the lectures of 1969-70-71, at the In- diana medical college, whenee he was gradu- ated in March, 1871. Immediately thereafter he commeneed practicing in Indianapolis. In 1576 he graduated from Bellevue Hospital medical college, New York. Completing his studies there he returned to Indiana, resumed practice, and in 1877 was elected superintend- ent of the Indianapolis city hospital; was re-elected in 1875 and continued in charge of that important institution until July, 1879. Looking to this new field of the West for his future, in Jan., 1880, he came to Colorado, practiced in Denver one year, then removed to Golden, where he was appointed surgeon of the Colorado Central division of the Union Pacific railway. In Oct., 1×83, he returned to Denver and opened an office at the corner of Lawrence and Seventeenth streets. He has held the professorship of dermatology in Gross medical college from its inception, an honor which attests his knowledge and skill, for Gross medical college is noted as one of the finest institutions of its class in the West. In the nine years of his residence in Denver he has acquired a large practice, to which he devotes all his time and energies.

DODGE, David C., railway manager, was born in Shirley. Mass., Nov. 17, 1837, of the eighth generation from the first American settler of that name, who left England in 1638 and on his arrival in America settled in Sa- lem. At the age of sixteen David entered the engineering department of the Fox River Valley railroad at Elgin, ill., continuing with that and the Wisconsin Central road until March, 1856, then engaged with the Chicago, Iowa and Nebraska railroad, for which he was general freight and passenger agent, and paymaster, also, from 1857 to 1862. In 1864 he served in the commissary department of the Union army at Chattanooga. Tenn., and in the quartermaster's office in Memphis. in dians. Instead of fighting he took measures Oet., 1861, he returned to lowa and became general agent of the Chicago & Northwestern railway at the Western terminus of that road. In May, 1865, he came to Denver, and for a of depredating upon our lines of communi- time was engaged in mercantile pursuits, but cation. He was compelled to protect 240 in 1867 re-entered the employ of the Chicago miles of the Arkansas stage and emigrant

& Northwestern as general agent for Colo- rado and New Mexico, continuing until 1870. when he took a like position with the Kansas Pacific railway, which was completed to Den- ver in August of that year. The first division of the Denver & Rio Grande railway was com- pleted to Colorado Springs, Oct. 21, 1871. May 1, 1872, Mr. Dodge was appointed gen- oral freight and passenger agent of that road, continuing until Dec., 1878. In March, 1879. he was made general manager, and served as such until April, 1884, when he became vice- president and general manager of the Rio Grande Western railroad from Grand June- tion, Colo., to Salt Lake City, Utah, which position ho still retains. From 1885 to 1SSS he spent much time in old Mexico in charge of the Mexican National railway. Ile is known as one of the most efficient railway managers in the service. He has a fine residence in Den- ver, but his office is in Salt Lake City. An account of the more active part of his career will be found in the history of the Rio Grande railway, Volume I to HII inclusive. His por- trait is given at page 364, Volume Il.

DENVER, Gen. J. W. See Vol. II, page 326.

DOWNING, Jacob, soldier and lawyer, was born in Albany, N. Y., April 12, 1830, and educated at the Albany academy. At the age of fourteen he entered the Albany City Bank, of which Erastus Corning was president, re- maining five years. In 1550 he, with his par- ents, moved to Cleveland, Ohio. In 1855, af- ter traveling through a number of states, he settled in Chicago, where he began the study of law, remaining until 1860, and then came to the Rocky Mountains, going first to the gold mines at Mountain City, but after a short time there located in Anraria, now West Denver. In the fall of 1860 he was elected judge of the municipal court. styled the court of common pleas. At the outbreak of the eivil war he recruited a company or volunteers, and with it joined the 1st regi- ment, afterward the 1st Colorado cavalry; marched with it to New Mexico and was en- graged in all the battles and skirmishes of that memorable campaign, the principal de- tails of which have been set forth in the first volume of our history. From captain he was promoted to major for gallantry in those ac- tions. When relieved from duty in New Mexico, he returned to Colorado. On arriv- ing ar Fort Lyon. on the Arkansas river. he was ordered to proceed to fort Larned. Kan., and take command of that important frontier post, situated in the midst of a region that had been seriously disturbed by hostile ln- to pacify the tribes. or. finding them resolved to make war, skillfully managed it so that they should fight among themselves instead

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History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV, Part 67

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