History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV, Part 84

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

USA > Colorado > History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV > Part 84

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

KAPPLER, Otto, secretary of the Brown and served throughout his term with marked Palace Hotel company, was born in Germany efficiency. Although quite young, his five in 1885. in addition to the public school years' service in the regular army, and his

493

HISTORY OF COLORADO.

strong martial spirit, thorough knowledge of in a hat. At Kiowa precinct, in IST9, he drill and discipline under the latest improved tacties, rendered him a very effective officer. in some respects the most accomplished that has held the office. lle is at this time assist- ant adjutant-general C. N. G.

KAVANAGH, Frederick H., restauratenr. was born in Sharon. Peel county, Canada, July 27, 1849, and when nine years of age was taken by his parents to Lee county. Il., where he attended the common schools. When less than sixteen years old he enlisted in company C, 17th Ill. infantry, and after eighteen months' service honorably mustered out as a corporal. He was with General Sherman on his famous march through Georgia to the sea, and participated in all the engagements of that campaign. After the close of the war he located at Boone, Iowa, and entered the employ of the Chicago and Northwestern railroad com- pany, first as fireman, and from 1866 to ISSS was a locomotive engineer on other roads. He came to Denver in Sept., 1870, and pur- chased the restaurant of John Eliteh, Jr., which he refitted in magnificent style, and where he has continuously operated a restau- rant. lle is also largely interested in mines at Aspen, Creede and Silverton, and has been fairly successful. He assisted in building the first house that was erected at Aspen, when there was not even a trail leading to that point, going there as early as 1879. June 1. 1873, he married Miss Ella Turner, of Lee county, Ill.

KETTLE, William, farmer, settled in the Wet Mountain valley. Ouster county, in 1872. lle is a native of England. Since his res- idence there he has brought over a number of relatives, and all are comfortably well off. His ranch comprises 640 acres of arable land. stocked with superior breeds of cattle and horses. Much of the produce of the farm is sold in the Leadville market. He is known as an honest, prudent and thrifty citizen. At one time he was president of the Ula school district, and took profound interest in educational matters.

voted for equal suffrage, his being the only vote out of a total of 96 that was cast for the proposition. Ile is a democrat, and has been a member of the state democratie cen- tral committee and chairman of the county democratie central committee a number of times. le is the proprietor of "Big Spring ranch" at Kiowa, upon which he has resided since 1866. He was married Dec. 30, 1891, to Miss Olive A. Grigg, of Greenville, Il. He is a member of Union lodge, No. 7. A. F. and .A. M., Denver; of Chapter No. 2. R. A. M .; of Colorado commandery No. 1; of Colorado consistory, A. A. S. R., 32nd degree, and of El Jebel Temple.

KEENEY, Fred Chase, manufacturer, was born in Jamaica, Long Island. N. Y., July 21, IS65. lle is the son of the late Col. Abner C. Keeney, of Brooklyn, N. Y., who was a prominent business man, and a mem- ber of the well-known firm of contractors, Kingsley & Keeney. He was educated at the collegiate and polytechnic institute, in Brooklyn. Before completing his college course, he decided to go into business in the West, and therefore located at Big Springs, Texas, where he joined the late Col. Anthony Elmendorf in sheep raising. It proved a lucrative venture, but the sudden death of Mr. Keeney's father, in 1884, recalled him to Brooklyn, where he remained some months. Then he was obliged to visit Colorado to look after certain interests left by his father, and settled in Georgetown, where he became associated with the lon. James Il. Platt and John M. S. Egan, in the Florence Milling and Mining Co., of which Mr. Keeney was vice-president, director and a large stock- holder. The death of his partner, Colonel Elmendorf, in Big Springs, made it necessary for him to go to that pace, and while there closed up his business and concluded to make Colorado his permanent home. lle re- mained in Georgetown until the Pay Rock Co. purchased the property of the Florence Mining and Milling Co., and then became in- terested with llon. James H. Platt in build- ing the Denver paper mills, at Manchester, Colo., and took up his residence in Denver. lle is a director in the above named com- pany, and has other large interests in Colo- rado, besides being a stockholder in various enterprises and corporations in the East. among which are the Prudential Insurance Co., of Newark. N. J., the Fulton Bank and the Brooklyn Daily "Eagle" association of Brooklyn, Though comparatively a young man, he has always been successful in Imisiness.

KILLIN, Bernard C., ranchman, was born on a farm, near Ypsilanti, Mich., Feb. 6. 1515. He was educated at the State normal school at Ypsilanti. Ile came to Colorado early in the spring of ING. In July, the same year. he located at Kiowa, the seat of Elbert county, where he has lived over since. In 1873 he was elected sheriff of Douglas county, and held the office of county super- intendent of schools in Elbert county font- teen years. He was also a member of the school board at different times, and held the office of justice of the prace several years. KING, John L .. miner and merchant. was born in Burlington, lowa. in 1857. When he was four years old the family moved to Jas- per county, where he grew to manhood and worked on a farm, receiving his education at In INGS the Indians took his live stock and again in 1873. He cast his first vote in Colo- rado in Oct., 1866, in a small Jog hnt located on the preek, eight miles above Kiowa. Nine votes were east, the ballots being deposited intervals in the country and public schools.

194

BIOGRAPHICAL DEPARTMENT.

In March, 1879. he came to Denver, and was May, 1875, and. after remaining in Denver a foreman of J. II. Archer's ranch until Decem- short time, engaged with J. G. Benkleman ber, when he went to Leadville and became in the cattle business, and at the end of five connected with the Little Chief mine, remain-

years located in Denver, where he estab- ing until Sept., 1880, then began prospecting. lished a business for himself. Ile is a mem- Later he sold out his mining interests and ber of the Turners' society and also of the returned to Denver, leased the Archer ranch. Odd Fellows and Knights of Honor.

From which he managed for four years. 1886 to 1889 he was engaged in contracting, grading and ditching, with good success. In 1888 embarked in the coal trade, in which he is engaged at the present time. When the town of Colfax was organized, he was elected its first mayor. lle has been an active member of the 1. O. O. F., filling vari- ous official positions in that order.

KING, Louis, was born in Stuttgart, Ger- many, Jan. 21, 1842, and was educated there. for three terms as a commissioner. lle was In 1856 he emigrated from the fatherland, a good officer, and is a valuable citizen.

and settled in Canada, where he engaged in the carriage trade. In 1864 he moved to Il. and, after two years residence in that state, returned to Canada. In 1868 he came West, located in Cheyenne, Wyo .. but after a sea- son there revisited Canada. On the 24th of May, 1876, he came to the Rocky Mountains. spent one season at Colorado Springs, then passed on to Ouray, where he arrived in May, 1877. From that time to the present he has made that beautiful mountain town his home, and, for occupation, embarked in the livery and carriage business, and to some extent in mining. He is president of the Ouray Stage and Omnibus company, and manager of the Livery and Carriage Co., of the same place. He was also. in 1877. pres- ident of the Board of Trade.

KAUFMAN, John C., hotel proprietor, was born in Nassan, Germany. Feb. 20, 1838. Ile came with his parents to America when ten years of age, landing at New Orleans in 1848. He subsequently settled in St. Louis, where he was educated and learned the tailor's trade. In 1860, when the Pike's Peak excitement was at its height. he came to Colorado, and for a time stopped in Wekl county, near the present town of Greeley, liv- ing in a tent. Hle returned to St. Louis, but. after a brief stav, became a permanent res- ident of Colorado in 1861. and with others engaged in mining and prospecting. IIe was one of the discoverers of Washington Guk.lı. Ile continued to mine until about the year 1887, and during this time acquired. in addition to his mining properties, large interests in Denver realty. He was the first deputy assessor of Arapahoe county. In 1868 he opened the Colorado bonse, which he still owns and operates.

KOHLER, F. W., emigrated to Boulder county, Colo., from Pennsylvania, in 1862. Ile owns and cultivates of

one the largest ranches in the county, and has made valuable improvements on the same. His farm is well stocked with the best breeds of Hereford cattle, to the raising of which he devotes much of his time. Ile is one of the most popular and enterprising men of his county, which he has faithfully served

KITCHEN, C. W., came to Cañon City, Colo., and built the first house that was created in that town, designed for general merchandise. In this he placed a large stock of goods, and opened similar stores at California Gulch, Georgetown, Kelley's Bar and Buckskin Joe. The business of these stores was supplied by twenty-five of thirty eight-mule teams, that were constantly transporting goods between Kansas City, Mo., and Canon City, Colo. lle continued in this trade three years, and then went to New Mexico. In 1887 he purchased the Tabor Grand hotel, at Leadville, and con- ducted the same with great success for some years.

LE FEVRE, Owen E., associate justice of the district court, 1st judicial district, was born in the town of Little Fork, Montgomery county, Ohio, Ang. 6. 1848. He attended the public schools there, and in Dayton near by, until 1863, then entered the preparatory de- partment of Antioch college. remaining until his enlistment in the 184th regiment Ohio volunteers. Ile served in the army until in- capacitated by severe illness, when he was discharged, and after recovering resumed his studies in Antioch. lle was admitted to Michigan university at Ann Arbor in 1868. and graduated with high honors in June, 18TO. The succeeding two years were spent in teaching school and in the study of law. fle was admitted to practice by the supreme court of his native state in 1872. in June, 1ST1, he married Miss Eva French, of Troy, Ohio, on the day of her graduation from Del- aware college, that state. He passed one year as a student in the law office of Me- Mahon & Houek (successors to Vallandig- ham & Mediahon) in Dayton, after which he came to Colorado, locating in Denver, where

KIELKOPF, Christian, was born in Wur- temberg, Germany, Dec. 19. 1849, where he he began the practice of his chosen profes-

sion. At different times he was associated

was educated and learned the trade of a weaver, following the same until he emi- in partnership with Gen. Bela M. Hughes, grated to America. The first seven years of Col. E. P. Jacobson and Judge Amherst W. his life in the United States were spent on a Stone. all prominent lawyers; was twice farm in Michigan. le came to Colorado in elected attorney for the city of Highlands.

195

HISTORY OF COLORADO.

twice its mayor, and three times elected at- son of Silvester Lemen, a farmer and prom- torney for the county of Arapahoe by its board of commissioners. His record as legal counselor in this behalf was that of a vigor- ous, serupulously honest and signally sur- cessful officer. In 1822 he was elected judge of the county court. receiving the largest plurality given any candidate on the republican ticket in the memorable cam- paign which almost completely overturned the supremacy of his party and seated a state administration composed wholly of populists. For many years Mr. Le Fevre has taken earnest part in politics. Bred a re- publican, and possessing namral aptitude. with ardent love for political science, he be- came one of its leaders, and he was a skillful leader. When elevated to the bench of one of the more important courts of the state, one always crowded with civil and probate cases, it was expected that many needed reforms would be instituted. It is the pop- ular verdiet that his administration of that important trust was the most energetic, busi- ness-like and satisfactory ever known since it was instituted. more than thirty years ago. It was a model for all who shall come after; a standard of excellence which his suo- cessors are expected to use as their guide. The amount of business lodged in this tri- bunal is enormous and constantly increas- ing, requiring fine mental balance. sterling integrity and high-class judicial ability. com- bined with robust health to endure the incessant strain. After two years in this capacity, and one year before the expiration of his term, he was elected to the district bench. Soon after his arrival in Denver he built a pleasant home for his bride in the city of Highlands, where they have resided to the present date. The spacious grounds are adorned with grass plats, trees, shrub- bery and flowers, whence may be seen the entire sweep of the capital city. with long stretches of plains to the east and south. and to the west a large portion of the front range of the Rocky Mountains with its many snow- crowned praks. Like many another sue- cessful man, Mr. Le Fevre owes much to his wife, and freely acknowledges the debt. She has stanchly supported his honorable am- bitions by wise counsel, and by her incom- parable social graces. In recent years fortunato investments have brought wealth. but above and beyond all, that which wealth does not always bring, broader hap- piness founded upon their ability to use it for the enjoyment of others. Their home is a noted center of entertainment. a place where visitors are charmed by well-ordered hospitality, the evidences of art and culture about them, and by the easy refinement of host and hostess. They have one daughter, a remarkably bright and studious child, born in .Jan., 1SS1.

inent factor in the Baptist church. ITis grandfather, Rev. James Lemen, was the first white child born in Illinois, one of the organizers and founders of Shurtleff college. and founder also of the Bethel Baptist church, of St. Clair county, Ill. Five of his brothers were Baptist clergymen, and their father was a soldier in the war of the revo- lution, as well as a pioneer of the West. Louis E. attended the ordinary district schools of his native county and worked on the paternal farm until sixteen years of age, then entered Shurtleff college, and after a three years' course went to the medical col- lege in St. Louis, Mo., graduating therefrom in 1871 an M. D. He was then appointed assistant physician in the St. Louis city hos- pital, and a year later began the practice of medicine in that city. llis health being much impaired. in 1873 he came to Colorado and settled in Georgetown, Clear Creek county, remaining there until the spring of 1883, then removed to Denver. During that year he was appointed surgeon for the Omaha and Grant Smelting works, also of the Globe Smelting and Refining company, in 1SS7. For a number of years he was sur- gron of the U. P. railroad, and in 1855 held a like position with the Denver City Cable railway company. He is now consulting surgeon of the Denver, Texas and Gulf rail- road: president of the staff, and surgeon to St. Joseph's hospital, consulting surgeon of St. Luke's hospital and president of the staff of surgeons of the Cottage Home. For two years he lectured in the medical department of the l'niversity of Denver; during one year held a chair in Gross medical college, and for three years was professor of clinical sur- gery in the University of Colorado. Hle is a member of the American medical associa- tion, of the Colorado, Arapahoe county and Denver medical associations, the American academy of railway surgeons, and of the Amerian association of railway surgeons: was president of the Denver association, and in April. 1893, was appointed health com- missioner of the city by Mayor Van Horn. In 1859 he was made commissioner of the Colorado state insane asylum. at Pueblo, be- rame president of the board, and hekl the same until 1895. In 1887 Shurtleff college conferred upon him the honorary degree of A. M. Dr. Lemen is a member of the Ma- sonic order, having taken the 32nd degree; is a Knight Templar and a shriner. May 5. IST5. he married Lizzie, daughter of Hon. llenry T. Mudd, of St. Louis, Mo. She died in 1876. April 13. 1582, he married Elsie. daughter of Hon. William H. James, of Den- Ver. Dr. Lemen Is one of the most admir- able specimens of physical development to be found in the state: very tall, strongly ro- bust. of polished address and manners,

LEMEN, Louis E., physician and surgeon, which makes him a welcome visitor no less was born in Belleville. 11. April 1. 1849. in the sick room and hospital ward than In

496

BIOGRAPHICAL DEPARTMENT.

LOVELAND, William Austin Hamilton, pioneer and a prominent railway builder and manager, was born in Chatham, Mass., May 30, 1826, son of Rev. Leonard Loveland, who, as a sailor in the war of 1812, was taken pris- oner and for twenty months confined in Dart- mouth prison, England. Years afterward he entered the Methodist ministry and became a powerful preacher in Illinois. William A. IL. was educated in Rhode Island, where his par- ents settled in 1827. While only a mere strip- ling he took employment in a cotton factory, but in 1837 the family emigrated to Illinois, located on a farm near Brighton, built a rude log cabin and there began in this new field of action. In 1845 William was favored with a short course of instruction in McKendree col- lege at Lebanon, but the institution did not survive beyond the first year. Ile then be- came a student in Shurtleff college in Upper Alton. Soon after, however, he was again, by ill health, compelled to abandon the school room and seek outdoor employment. By this time forces were being mobilized for the Mexi- can war. He entered the army as a teamster, went to Mexico and at the battle of Chapulte- pec was severely wounded. In July. IS48, he returned to his home, and in May, 1819, crossed the plains with an ox team to Cali- fornia, and settling in Grass valley, built the first house in that camp. Having failed at mining for gold, he went to Central America, but the purpose for which he originally en- gaged having come to naught, he returned to Illinois in 1851 and engaged in mercantile

the better circles of society. As health torial capital at Golden, and held it there from commissioner he instituted many radical re- forms, elevating that office to the first rank among municipal systems. 1862 to 1867; secured a charter from the legislature for the Colorado Central & Pacific railroad from Denver to Black Hawk and Cen- tral City, and in 1870 directed the construc- tion of the first division from Denver to Golden. But all the material facts of his as- sociation with these and multifarious other important events bearing upon the advance- ment of both the territory and the state, in- dustrial, political and commercial, have been set forth so extendedly in previous volumes it is unnecessary to repeat them here. That he was, during the first fifteen years of his life, in Colorado, with the single exception of Gov. John Evans, the most conspicuous and force- full leader in the state, is well known to all his contemporaries. His usefulness as a citi- zen, the greatness of his purposes, the energy and skill with which he prosecuted them, the many and great sacrifices he made to accom- plish them, can not be fully measured in a brief biography. Ilis record, with the conse- quences involved, are matters of history, and, so far as we were able, have set them down as enduring monuments to his memory. He was, moreover, a true and steadfast friend to his followers, a tireless antagonist to his ene- mies, yet always charitable, merciful and gen- erous withal, a genial, tender, lovable man who never lacked powerful friendships nor a multitude of enlogists. He died at his home in Lakewood, Dec. 17, 1894, and thus passed from the active workers one of the grandest of the pioneer guild, who built the foundations and assisted in raising the superstructure of one of the greatest of Western common- wealths.

LEET. John E., comes from revolutionary pursuits. In 1859 reports of great discoveries stock. He is a prominent real estate dealer, of gold in the Rocky Mountains near Pike's and one of the progressive spirits of the city. Ile was boru Jan. 4, 1817, at Steelville, Craw- ford county, Mo. His father, still living at eighty, was for many years a circuit judge in Missouri. His uncle, Hon. Isaac Leet, was a member of Congress from the Washington, Pa., district, more than half a century ago, and had a boy named James G. Blaine for his neighbor and constituent. Ilis great uncle, Major Daniel Leet, was raised in Prince William county, Va,, was an officer of the revolution, and is mentioned as a confiden- tial friend by George Washington in one of his letters to Gen. Crawford. Washington be- longed to the real estate fraternity; he specu- lated constantly in wild lands in western Vir- ginia and Pennsylvania, and Major Leet was his trusted surveyor and agent. The Hon. John T. Heard, a member of Congress from Missouri, and chairman of the House com-

Peak induced him to seek the new Eldorado, therefore he left with a train of wagons laden with goods suited to the conditions of the re- gion, and with them crossed the plains. Be- lieving the town of Goklen, situated at the gate-way of the mountains, and upon the only pass to the diggings discovered by John Greg- my, would be the most eligible point for per- manent settlement, and that it would in time develop into a great metropolis, he located there, built a store and placed his goods there- in. From the outset he became the leader of the young and rapidly growing community, inspiring all by his faith, courage and enthusi- astic example in pushing forward every enter- prise calculated to promote development and spread its fame and power. He built the first wagon road up Clear Creek to the mines, opened the first coal mine near Golden, in- spired the building of manufactories and mittee on the District of Columbia, is a brother- smelters, and, from his own means, defrayed in-law. Mr. Leet's mother was a native of lolland patent, Oneida county, N. Y .; was of Puritan stock; was educated at Emma Wil- lard's famous institute at Troy, and was at her death, in 1876, one of the most accom-

the cost of the first surveys of the mountain passes for a railway to Salt Lake City, Utah. An ardent democrat. he became the leader of his party in all political contests; procured by his great influence the location of the terri- plished and widely popular women in Mis-

197

IHISTORY OF COLORADO.

sonri. Differing from Confederate relatives moved from office for this lukewarmness by Hayes after he got in, Mr. Leet instigated the Potter investigation, which came near ousting Hayes from the presidency. This struggle broko him down physically, financially and mentally, and he came to Colorado April 15, 1879, almost a wreck, to die of consumption. In this state he rapidly regained both health and fortune. Having renounced politics and journalism as inimical to his health and tem- perament, he tried hard to get into business, but failed. lle became the first commercial in that state. Mr. Leet, as a boy of sixteen, went off into the Union army, was captured at the battle of Mark's Mills, Ark., April 25, 1864, and was marched barefooted and almost naked, as a prisoner of war, through Arkan- sas, Louisiana and Texas, being confined at Tyler and Hempstead, Texas. At the former prison he escaped and was recaptured with bloodhounds. While confined at the latter he had the yellow fever. After eight months he was paroled and put upon the blockading squadron at Galveston, and reached home be- editor of the "News" and got barely sufficient fore he was eighteen. llis name had been to pay his board. He was assigned to writ- published among those killed in the battle. ing special articles and editorials in behalf After the close of the war he served in the of the Rio Grande against the Santa Fe rail- road. Later he opposed the influx of Chinese with such vehemence in the same paper that the celebrated anti-Chinese riots were charged to his writing, although he intended no such result and did much to quiet the rioters. While doing newspaper work in Denver he began to feel his way into the real estate busi- ness. In 1879. with correct foresight, he used the first $25 which increased pay enabled him to save to buy a $1,300 property on install- ments, near the site of the present court house, for which, ten years later, he was offered $20,000. In Nov., 1880, while on a visit to New Orleans he revived, in an interview in the "Times-Democrat" of that eity, the project of connecting the Gulf and Rocky Mountains by mail, which years before, as a writer on the New Orleans press, he had originally pro- posed. Three weeks after the republication of this interview here, the Denver & New Or-

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV, Part 84

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