History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV, Part 91

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 91


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receiving his diploma early in the summer of the latter year. He entered the college of Sonoma in 1860, taking a special course of study. After two years of hard work he he-


passed his boyhood, received a common school education, and began his career on a farm. In 1856, however, at the age of seven- teen years, he abandoned farming and learned the printing trade. In 1858 he went to Texas, came a school teacher, and served three years The following year he returned to his old in that capacity in Napa and Sonoma coun- home in Illinois, working at the cases until ties, at the same time pursuing the study of 1861. At the first call of President Lincoln law. His father died in 1872. lle returned for volunteers, he enlisted in the 14th Ill. to Missouri, where he passed a few months. infantry, serving through the war, and upon and then came to Denver in the spring of 1873. being mustered out, once more returned to his llere he conducted a private school six months, and then entered the real estate and insurance business, which he successfully conducted until 1575, when he went to the native town. In 1868 Mr. MeNeely com- meneed the publication of a republican news- paper at Petersburg. and continued it until 1871, when he was appointed postmaster of San Juan region. Remaining there but a that town by President Grant. In the mean short time, he located at Trinidad, where he


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has since resided, except the summer of 1876, which was started in 1863 by Sessler & which he spent in El Moro, During that year Sauer, afterward conducted by Otto Sauer, he took an active part in politics. Ile was and since 1882 under the firm name mentioned elected a justice of the peace, but never above, and that has been extraordinarily suc- qualitied, and soon thereafter moved to Trini- cessful. Mr. Sauer is a man of considerable dad, as above stated. He was appointed clerk wealth, the greater part acquired by close and of the district court of the county, by Judge constant attention to this concern, and while Henry, and held the position until 1883. In his name heads the firm. Mr. McShane is the the meantime, in 1880, he had been elected chief owner and manager. Its volume of county judge. He was admitted to the bar in business is about $200,000 per annum, and 1885. He is the owner, at this time (ISS6), of its credit in commercial circles is of the first the only complete set of abstract books in Las class, He is a member and was one of the or- Animas county. lle attended the law depart- ganizers of the pioneers' association of Git- pin county. He has been interested in buik- ing up the churches and public schools of that section, and is a member of the Central board of education. He is a stockholder, director and vice-president of the First National bank of Central City. ment of the university of Virginia in 1884-85. and although he has been practicing his pro- fession but a year, he has a good business. Ile was elected county judge again in ISS5, to fill an nnexpired term. In 1879 he was elected president of the famous E. J. Rice Horse com- pany, and held the position five years, and re- fused a re-election. April 25. 1878, he married Miss Maggie Noonan of Denver. Of this union three children have been born. He and his estimable wife are active and earnest members of the Catholic church. lle is a pro- moter of every laudable enterprise, and is re- garded as a useful, upright and honorable citizen. Since the foregoing was written. Judge Moore has served a term in the state legislature of Colorado, elected from bas Ani- mas county, in 1892, to the House of Repre- sentatives.


MILLER, C. C., merchant. was born in Magdeburg, Germany, March 25, 1841. He, with his parents, emigrated to America, and in the spring of 1856 settled on a farm in Marshall county, lowa. Ile assisted in clear- ing up the land of the homestead until 1863, then came to Colorado. llero he engaged in mining for three years, first near Brecken- ridge. Summit county, and afterward for a like period in Gilpin county. His lungs being affected by foul air in the underground work- ings of the mines, in 1866 he engaged in the grocery business, which he has conducted with satisfactory results up to the present time. Having no political ambitions, though


McSHANE, John C., merchant, was born in Fayette county, Pa., Ang. 18, 1934, and re- ceived his education in the common schools of frequently urged, he has held no publie office. that state. IJe removed with his parents, in but served for five years as a member of the 1852, to the state of lowa, and settled in Lime Central City school board, four years as president thereof. county, near the town of Cedar Rapids. llis occupation was farming. In 1858, when the MAY, David, merchant, was born in Ger- many, in 1848. In 18%; he came to the United States, and locating in Cincinnati, Ohio, re- ceived his education there, graduating at Nelson college. He started in business in Hartford City, Ind., in 1871, continuing until 1878. when he removed to Leadville, Colo., at the inception of the great mining period in that place. He established the first large store on Harrison avenue, and subsequently was for two terms treasurer of Lake county. In 1888 he settled in Denver, and there estab- lished the present May clothing house, one of the most successful in the city. great exodus to Kansas occurred, he started out to fight the battles of life on his own ac- count, joining a party of young men, and about June 1st of that year arrived in Osa- watomie, the home of old John Brown of Har- per's Ferry fame. For nearly two years he engaged in running an express between Kan- sas City, Mo., and Osawatomie, Kan,, the dis- tance being about 50 miles across a lonely prairie. Jte was identified with the free state party while a resident of that state. It was in the early spring of 1860 that he de- cided to join the emigration to Pike's Peak. HIe settled in the gold region of Gilpin county in the early days of mining there, and owned MAYO, Dudley D., express manager, was born in Newport, Ky., Sept. 24, 1845, and re- mained in that city until 1862, when he settled in Cincinnati, Ohio, entered the employ of the Adams express company, and rendered etlicient service for fifteen years. In 1877 he was promoted to the position of cashier, and took charge of the company's othee in St. Lonis, where he lived three years. In 1880 he was again promoted, and this time became the agent of the company at Denver, continu- and worked a part of the famous Gunnell mine. In 1875 he was elected to the llouse of Representatives of the 11th and last terri- torial legislature, which convened Jan. 3 and adjourned Feb. 11, 1876. He is, however, not a politician in any sense, but an energetic and reliable business mau. For the past 27 years he has been actively identified with the mer- cantile interests of Gilpin county, both as em- ployé and owner, He is now the principal of the first mercantile establishment in Central ing in that capacity until the Adams express City the old and well-founded grocery and company was absorbed by the Wells-Fargo provision house of Sauer, MeShane & Co., express company, when he identified himself


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HISTORY OF COLORADO.


with the Denver and Rio Grande company. pleting his apprenticeship he became a travel- being its cashier until 1SS5, when he accepted ing journeyman, and during that time pub- the appointment of general agent, and held lished a paper, for a short period, at Honty- it until 1893, when he was appointed mana- ger. Ile is a member of the A. F. and A. M., a K. T. and also a member of the K. of II.


MCCLURE, Charles Y. See Vol. III, page 226.


MILLS, David A., Senator, was born in Wyoming county, Pa., in 1850, and received his education in the public schools. Upon leaving school he learned the trade of a stone- entter, and became a proficient expert in that line. which business he followed in the East until 1877. when he came to Colorado and lo- cated at Leadville, where he remained until 1885, then moved to Aspen, engaging in pros- pecting and mining. In 1891 he removed to Red Cliff, his present home, where he has ex- tensive interests in several good silver mines. lle espoused the populist cause, being one of the first to advocate their doctrines and es- tablish the movement in that section, and in 1892 was elected state Senator for the 21st district, comprising the counties of Eagle and Garfield. Mr. Mills is an enthusiastic Knight Templar and Mason, and takes an active in- terest in the workings of that order: is mar- ried, has two children, and takes great delight and comfort in his family cirele.


dale, Pa. Disposing of his paper, he attended school for a few months at Sexton, in the same state, when he returned to Nebraska, taught school for one winter, and then located at Bird City, Kan. There he was elected to the office of county commissioner, serving two terms. lle was also elected to the legislature one term. He also established and published a newspaper two years in that county, and managed a large mercantile business at the same time. He came to Burlington, Colo., where he commeneed the publication of a paper, and became a justice of the peace and a police magistrate. In the spring of 1892 Mr. Murray moved to Colorado Springs, where he edited and published the Saturday "Mail." Ilis nomination by the populist party. in the fall of 1992, for the office of state superintend- ent of schools, was unsought by him. He, however, became the candidate of his party. and was elected by 42,685 votes. lle filled the office with credit, bending his energies to the more perfect building up of our already etheiont public school system.


McCONAUGHY, George M., ex-state super- intendent of insurance, was born in Rochelle. Ill., Det. 18. 1555. where he resided until twenty-one years of age. Ilis education was partly received in the public schools. He afterward attended the Chicago university, lowa state law school of Des Moines, after which he engaged in newspaper reporting for removed to Nebraska and located at Aurora. where he at once engaged in the practice of his profession, which he continued there and


McCLEES, Nelson O., late secretary of state. was born in North Carolina, near Co- lumbia. Nov. 8, 1860, and remained there until 1872. when he removed with his parents to and subsequently took the law course at the Wichita. Kan. Here he lived two years. then returned to his native state and entered Bingham's military academy, at Mebansville, one year. At the expiration of that time he Which he attended two years. Coming back to Kansas he entered the state university at Lawrence, and continued his studies there until 1879. Desiring to locate in some state at Osceola until his removal to Stromshurg. further west. he concluded to try Colorado, and accordingly became a citizen of the state latter place, and subsequently was elected to in the year last mentioned. After engaging in mining for one season he returned to Kan- sas, and followed the sheep raising business three years. He was subsequently employed in Wichita in the retail and wholesale hand- ling of typewriters. One year later he went to Chicago and established himself in the same business, but after a residence there of twelve months, his health became so greatly


in 1884. He was elected city attorney of the the state legislature for the term of two years. In 1856 he removed to Colorado and made Julesburg his home until Isss, when he re- moved to Denver and engaged in the insurance business, which he followed until Jan., 1993. when he was appointed superintendent of in- surance. In 1891 he was the nominee of the people's party for county superintendent of schools for Arapahoe county, and in 1893 was impaired that he settled in Pueblo, and em- elected chairman of the Arapahoe county barked in the real estate business, which he people's party central committee. operated with success until 1892, when his friends brought his name before the populist convention as a candidate for secretary of state, resulting in his nomination for that office, to which he was elected by a handsome majority.


McNEIL, John, ex-state inspector of coal mines, was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, March 2. 1553. He began his practical experi- once in mining when only ten years of age. and obtained his education by attending night schools. In this manner, being a dili- gent student, he acquired a very fair knowl-


MURRAY. John F., ex-state superintendent of public instruction, was born in Maryland, edge of the essential English branches. He Feb. 7. 1555. His parents moved to Pennsyl- continued in the coal mines until 1876, when he emigrated to America. In September of vania, where he resided thirteen years. le then moved to Illinois and spent two years on that year he went to Ohio, and thence, a few a farm. In 1873 he went to Seward, Neb .. weeks later. to Illinois, where he worked in where he learned the printer's trade. Com- the mines for eighteen months as a sinker and


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timberman. Ile came to Colorado in Ang., time. He came to Colorado in the spring of 1878, and entered the employ of the Colorado 1879, settled in Leadville, and at onee began prospecting, in company with several associ- ates. Purchasing from the original owner the "llorseshoe" claim, situated on Iron hill. and in close proximity to some of the great mines, they pushed development work with


Coal and Iron company, in the coal mines at Coal Creek. In 1880 he was made foreman for the Canon City Coal company, in the same county. In the winter of 1882-83, to finish his education, he attended the collegiate insti- tute at Cañon City, and in 1884 graduated as all possible speed, and as the various forma- a mining engineer. Prior to that, however, tions were reached, indicating the near prox- imity of mineral, they were buoyed up with hope and visions of unlimited wealth await- the legislature had created the office of in- spector of coal mines, and Mr. MeNeil was appointed to that offiee by Governor James B. ing them. They delved to the depth of 600 Grant. As a test of fitness for the place, he, feet, expending more than $70,000, then, be- with six others, passed a competitive exam-


coming discouraged, suspended operations. ination before a board appointed for that pur- The "Horseshoe" is still "famous" as being pose, and having received the highest grade in this contest captured the prize. He en- tered upon the duties of his office July 1, 1883. By constant study during his leisure hours he kept up with his class, and returning to the


located near some of the richest silver mines in the world, and that is all. In 1SS6 he was unanimously nominated by the republican party to represent Lake county in the state legislature, but was defeated. In 1SS9 he t'añon City institute. on commencement day, moved to Denver and engaged in the broker- stood the examination and graduated with age and commission business. Ile is one of the largest owners of the Golden Eagle, com- posed of a group of several fine and valuable mines, situated in the marvelously riel "gold belt," in the Leadville district. honors. From that date to the present his record has been exceptionally good. Up to this time the general public knew but little, statistieally, of the coal mining industry, al- most nothing, save by crudely formed esti- McLISTER, Frank A., was born in Scot- land in 1848. When he was nine years of age his family emigrated to America, settling in Ohio, where he received a public school edu- cation. In 1865 he enlisted in company H. 105th Ohio infantry, serving until the close of the war, and when mustered out of service returned to Ohio, where he engaged in min- ing and railroading until 1879, when he re- moved to Colorado and located at Leadville, entering actively into mining operations. He began his publie career in 1SS1, and thence- forward, to 1885, filled, at different times. the offices of city treasurer, alderman and un- der sheriff, at the same time pursuing his various mining interests, in which he has been very successful. April 4. 1893, he was ap- pointed warden of the state penitentiary at Cafion City. The year following, Governor Waite attempted to have him removed for personal reasons, but was unsuccessful. An examination of his administration was of- dered, but no just grounds for his removal ap- pearing, he held control of his trust until the expiration of his term, all efforts of the gov- ernor to oust him proving fruitless. mates, of the annual output, the number of men employed, the cost of extraction and in- trinsie value of the product. By virtue of his office and the duties involved. Mr. McNeil virtually became the general superintendent ex-officio of all such mines in the state. His annual reports exhibited both the wisdom and the importance of his supervision. They were thoroughly well prepared, terse and compre- hensive, setting forth in detail, which any one who reads may readily understand, the exact status of the coal mines of the state. Through them the press and the people were well ad- vised upon the subject. Next to gold and sil- ver mining it is the most important industry of the state, and is each year becoming more and more a source of wealth-produeing power. His report upon the awful disaster that of- curred some years ago in the Crested Butte mines, and mentioned elsewhere in the history of Gunnison county, was full and complete. courageously placed the blame where it prop- erly belonged, and clearly outlined the remedy for the prevention of like accidents in the fu- ture. The orders he issued and enforced for the protection of both mines and miners, and the suggestions advanced for the better op- eration of all developments, were of great value. Ile held the office, continuously from its inception to 1893, when he was displaced by the populist governor then in power.


MATER, Charles. Seo Vol. II, page 435.


MORGAN, John G., mine operator, was born in New York City, and, when an infant, the family removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was roared and educated in the public schools. When fourteen years of age he left school to learn the tin and sheet iron trade, after position from messenger boy up. Subse- which he went to St. Louis, Mo., accepted a clerical position, and remained there for some master Speer, and during his thirteen months'


McGINNIS, James Stanley, lawyer, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1866. Soon after, his parents removed to Leavenworth, Kan., where his boyhood was passed, and he there received his rudimentary education in the public schools. In 1878 he came with his mother to Denver, and was entered at the Sacred Heart college, from whence he was graduated with the degree of A. M. For some years he was connected with the Western I'nion Telegraph company, in the Denver office. occupying successively nearly every quently he entered the post office under post-


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HISTORY OF COLORADO.


service there received four promotions. Later der state. Capt. MeArthur was a volunteer he became connected with the lumber firm of sollier, entering the service at the outbreak MePhee & MeGinnity. Mr. MeGinis finally of the war, and was honorably discharged in decided to adopt the legal profession for his July. 1865, as captain of "G" Co., 12th Kansas future work, and after diligent study and V. 1. When Frank C. was ten years old his proper preparation, he was admitted to the bar in 1890, and immediately entered the law


parents removed from Kansas to Colorado. llis education was acquired in the Denver firm of Pence & Pence. In 1992 he was ad- public schools, He was a member of the East mitted to partnership with Congressman


Denver high school class of 1881, but was Lafe Pence, and has been associated with him compelled to leave his studies in the autumn over since, Though young, Mr. McGinnis is of 1879, to assist in the support of the family, a thorough student, logical in argument, and


his father's health having become so impaired a clear, concise speaker. He has acquired a that he could not work at his trade. He was good practice, and is rising quite rapidly in offered a position in the office of the law firm his profession.


MAXWELL, Lucien B. See Vol. II.page 242.


of Jacobson & Decker (succeeded by Decker & Yonley,, where he remained until Oct., 1886, when he entered the service of the Den- ver & Rio Grande R. R. Co. as secretary to the manager of express, and where he has been continuously employed, in the mean-


MAYS. Daniel W., was born in Marion county, Mo., Feb. 7, 1840. After he had re- ceived such education as the common schools afforded, and had entered college, the civil war time having been advanced, by reason of his experience and merit. to the important posi-


commenced and cut short his collegiate ea reer. He came to Colorado in 1865, and en- tion of chief clerk, which he still retains.


gaged in freighting goods by wagon trains between Denver and the mining settlements in the mountains. In 1867 he opened a grocery store on the corner of Fifteenth and Lawrence streets, Finding this unsatisfactory. and having a desire to deal in stock, he closed out and went East, bringing back with him the first drove of sheep that ever crossed the plains. Having sold these to great advantage. he established himself in a flour and feeds store, which he conducted very successfully for two years, lle again went east and began trading in stock, and although it proved very profitable, his own and his family's ill health impelled him back to Denver. In April, 1876, he was appointed chief of police by Mayor R.G.Buckingham: in 1877 he was re-appointed by the same executive, and was known as a faithful and efficient officer. The follow- ing year he became connected with the busi- ness department of the Rocky Mountain "News," serving in that capacity for several years. With foresight to see that Denver would one day be a large city, he invested all his surplus funds in real estate, near the pres- ent center, and in time came to be a large holder of such property. When able to do so. he built cottages and rented them, thus adding to his income. As the years passed and the city expanded. these lots, being eligibly lo- cated. became extremely valuable, and gave Mr. Mays a moderate fortune. Hle now owns a fine residence on Grant avenue, and, in 1890. built a four-story block at the corner of Eighteenth and Stout streets, on the site of four of his earlier cottages, which is How known as the Gilsey house, one of the more elegant of the private hotels of the city.


MORGAN, J. S., deputy county clerk, was born in Maryland. Ilis father was a promi- nent physician of that state, and a member of its legislature for many years. He is a graduate of Stanmore college near Washing- ton, D. C. Soon after leaving school he lo- cated in the city of llavana, Cuba, where he started in life. He returned to the United States in 1865, and in 1869 was elected a >member of the first reconstruction legisla- ture of the state of Louisiana. In 1st0 he was elected speaker of the House of Repre- sontatives of that state, and re-elected to the legislature in the fall of that year. In Jan., IST1. he was the speaker of the House that assembled in New Orleans, but resigned the position to take that of leader of his party on the floor of that body. lle received the nomination for Congress from the 4th Loui- siana district, but declined to make the race, being speaker of the House of Representa- tives at the time. lle remained in Lonisiar until 1879, when he came to Colorado, going to Leadville during the silver excitement there and subsequently settled near what is now Red Cliff, where he engaged in mining. lle moved to Denver in 1844. and upon the incoming of the Harrison administration was appointed deputy collector of internal revenue for the Denver district, with head- quarters in that city. He served in this ea- parity four years, and is at present deputy county clerk of Arapahoe county.


MONTGOMERY, J. H., manufacturer, was born on a farm near Alton, Il .. Jan. 24. 1853. where he remained until 1575. He obtained his education partly in the public schools. and finished with a two years' course at the


McARTHUR, Frank C., was born in Gar- State Normal university. Being ambitious, and not finding agricultural pursuits to his taste. he concluded to come West, and in 1973 settled in Goklen, Colo. Here he engaged in


nett, Anderson county, Kan., Oct. 27, 1862. llc Is the oldest son of the late Captain Alexander MeArthur, a pioneer of Kansas, and an active participant in nearly all of the stirring events the confectionary and tobacco business, but connected with the early history of that bor- still not satisfied, he removed to Black Hawk


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BIOGRAPHICAL DEPARTMENT.


and Central City, where he embarked in the at his trade for Woeber Bros. In June, 1873, mining and milling business, continuing four he started in business for himself, and con- years. He went from there to Idaho Springs, tinued it until the time of his death, which occurred June 19, 1890. He had built up a large trade and had accumulated a fortune. llis business was larger than that of any where he became the agent for the Golden and Valley smelting companies. While there he invented and patented several successful machines for the concentration of ores. He other similar manufacturer in Denver, giving had been for years a student, closely study- employment to forty men. When coming to Colorado he had about $2,500 in money, and upon that as a capital he built himself up. June 14, 1876, he married Miss Jane A. Tay- lor, near Belleville, Ontario, Canada. They have a son and two daughters. Besides hay- ing the care of the children, Mrs. Melburn has had charge of her husband's estate, and has carried on his business. She has been brave and patient under misfortune, and de- serves the respect of her neighbors and friends, which she in such a large measure shares. ing this important question, and believing that ultimately the solution of the low grade ore problem will be concentration hy auto- matie machinery, designed by men who are familiar with the facts. In 1883 he became convinced that Denver would be one of the greatest mining machinery manufacturing points in the world, because it is situated at the base of the Rocky Mountains, and con- tignons to the great mining camps, and there- fore removed to that city. Among the most successful of his inventions is the "common sense steel whim." Since this machine was first placed on the market, in 1883, several thousands have been sold, and are now to be found in almost every mining camp in the civilized world. He claims that this single invention has aided more prospectors to de- velop their mines than any other invention. His whims have been shipped to almost every state in the Union, and exported to Alas1 the Argentine Republic, Brazil, Chili, Peru, Bolivia. Central America, Honduras, Mexico and British Columbia, and in fact there is a growing demand for them all over the worl TIe is eminently practical in all his undertak- ings, and has accumulated considerable prop- erty in Denver, which enables him to perfect anything he may attempt as an inventor. He has a wife and three interesting children.




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