History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV, Part 93

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

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HISTORY OF COLORADO.

eral real estate business, which has been con- same time actively engaged in mining. In ISS6 tinuously successful. Mr. Nichols was one be removed to the San Juan country, where he devoted himself to the development of mining properties in which he was person- ally interested in the vicinity of Ouray. He subsequently visited London for the purpose of enlisting capital in the promotion of large business ventures, and succeeded in enlisting of the organizers of the American District Telegraph Co. in Denver. In June, 1883. and ever since, he has been secretary, treas- urer and general manager of that company. lle has been a stockholder and director of the Denver Tramway company since its in- ception, and in this connection has been an a coterie of wealthy and influential gentlemen important factor in building up Denver. lle in several important enterprises. The Denver, Lakewood & Golden railroad company was. through his efforts, placed upon a permanent and substantial basis: the Denver Coal com- is also a large stockholder, director and vice president of the Title Loan and Guarantee company.

NANCE, Albert, ex-state treasurer, was pany dlimited. operating in the neighborhood born in Vermont. Fulton county, Ill .. Nov. of Goblen, has been developed and placed on 10, 1851, and received his education in the a profitable basis by his efforts. The New-

common schools, finishing with a course in Knox college, at Galesburg. T'pon the com- pletion of his education he learned tel- egraphy, and for three years subsequently was the agent in his native town for the Rockford, Rock Island and St. Louis railroad. In 1878 he located at Stromsburg, Neb .. where he opened the Union Pacific station. continuing there until 1850, when he resigned to engage in the lumber business. Possess- ing an enterprising spirit and much business thet, he gradually enlarged his field of oper- ations in the lumber trade until he also be- came interested in yards at Gothamburg and Ogalallah. He followed the lumber business five years, and established the Farmers and Merchants' Bank of Stromsburg, of which he culture, in 1963.

became president. Ile continued in the banking business with marked success until 1SsS, when he came to Colorado and located in Denver. Ile at once engaged in the real estate Isiness, which he followed until his election to the utlice of state treasurer, in 1802. llis nomination was tendered unani- monsly by the populist convention, and he was elected by a handsome majority. Aug. 21. 1873. he married Miss Louise L. Pugh, and they have five children.

NEWHOUSE, Samuel, mining operator, was born in New York City Oct. 14, 1853. During his childhood his parents removed to Pennsylvania. lle educated in the schools of Philadelphia and after graduating. began the study of law. When about to enter npon the practice of his chosen profes- sion, the reports of marvelous discoveries of silver at Leadville lured him to that place in 1879. No railroad was at that time extended so far as Leadville, and he at once conceived the idea of organizing and carrying on a freight and transfer company. for the trans- portation of merchandise and mining ma- chinery into that and other mining camps. JIo applied himself energetically to this pro- jeet. and under his able management the NICHOLL, Thomas, county commissioner of Arapahoe county, was born in England Feb- rnary 21. 1531. and remained at the place of his nativity until April, 1970, during which time he was educated in the public schools. business grew to such magnitude as to prac tically absorb all competition. and became one of the most important industries in the mountain region. He resided in Leadville seven years, enlarging and promoting his In the year just named he removed to the freight and transfer business, and at the United States and located in St. Louis, where

house tunnel, which commences at Idaho Springs and is designed to extend through Seaton Mountain to Central City for the pur- pose of discovering and mining the known gold veins of that locality, and for transporta- tion and drainage, was originated by him. presented to London capitalists and capital obtained for this gigantic work. He is the active manager of the Newhouse Tunnel com. pany, the Denver Coal company dimited), the largest individual owner of the Denver, Lake- wood & Golden railroad, and owner of the Prussian Mines company, all of which are efficiently and prosperously managed by him with the aid of well chosen subordinates. He married Miss Ida II. Stingley, a Jady of fine

NORRIS, George C., lawyer, was born in Jona county, Mich .. Feb. 24, 1845. His mother was a native of France. and his father of England. While he was an infant his parents removed to Newark, N. J .. and subsequently to Bloomington, 10., where he was educated in the Wesleyan university. Just before the time for graduation he left school, and for tem a years was engaged in business. In 1st1 he went to Jersey City, and studied law with the leading firm, Linn & Babbett, and subsequent- ly practiced in Jersey City and New York. In 1870 he went to Peoria. IN .. and in 1850 came to Denver, where he has followed his profes- sion over since. In 1893 he was elected presi- dent of the Denver Bar association, and has always taken great interest in the same, work ing effectively on its prominent committees. In the fall of 1591 he was nominated for dis- triet judge by the people's party, subsequent . ly indorsed by the democratic and prohibi- tion parties, but, though polling a larger vote than any other candidate, save one, on his ticket. was unsuccessful. In the spring of 1.535 he was appointed by Governor MeIntire a member of the Denver board of public Works.

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BIOGRAPHICAL DEPARTMENT.

for three years he was successfully engaged terward in the northern part of La Salle coun- in the planing mill business, then eame to ty, Ill., to which his parents removed and Colorado and selected the city of Denver as the place of his future residence and business operations. He at once connected himself with Hallack Brothers and remained with them for nineteen years, when he became in- terested in a planing mill of his own. In 1880 he engaged in mining in Gunnison eounty and has continued his interests there to the pres- ent time. in connection with a general con- tracting business which he has carried on in Denver. He was elected to the first board of supervisors of the city of Denver, and at the present time is serving his second term as county commissioner,

NEWITT, Robert Bass, was born at Thame, Oxfordshire, England, Jan. 13, 1846. lle eame with his parents to America in 1854, landing in New York. The same year they removed to De Kalb, Ill., where Robert received his education in the publie schools. After the close of his school days he spent several years in Chieago. In the spring of 1865 he eame to Colorado, locating at Oro City, California Gulch, now a part of Leadville, then a brisk gold mining eamp. In 1867 he located at the Divide, in what then was Lake county, now in- chided in Chaffee, where he engaged in the hotel business, his place being known far and wide as "Chubb's Ranch." While there he was appointed postmaster by President Grant, and also was awarded the contraet for carry- ing the U. S. mail from California Gulch to Fairplay. While thus engaged, he became acquainted with all the old timers and representative men of the state to whom he was familiarly known as "Chubb." In 1850 he moved to Fairplay, Park county, and was there engaged in business for three years; then went to Hartzel's Hot Springs, where he kept a hotel until 1SS6, when he moved to Garo in the same eounty and engaged in mer- eantile business, continuing the same to the time of his death. In 1887 he was elected county assessor, serving two years. In 1890 he was elected county commissioner, which office he held until his deeease, May 8, 1891. He was killed by the aecidental discharge of a rifle in the hands of a friend. llis widow with five children, two boys and three girls, still resides on the Garo homestead.

NICHOLAS, J. H., farmer, was born in West Virginia in 1851. When three years of age he was taken with his parents to Jackson county, Ohio, where he remained until about ISSI, when he came to Colorado. lle went immediately to Durango and worked at the carpenter's trade. le afterwards located near Denver on a traet of land containing ninety acres and improved it as a garden. Hle has a farm in Jefferson county of 160 acres, which he cultivates in small fruits and gen- oral erops.

ORAHOOD, Harper M., lawyer, was born in Columbus, Ohio, June 3, 1841. Ile attended the publie school at Mt. Vernon, Ohio, and af-

where they resided until 1851. His school advantages were meager. He received a thor- ough training in mereantile pursuits and studied medicine for a time, but gave it up on the breaking out of the Pike's Peak gold ex- citement. Ile joined a train at Rock Island and came to what is now Colorado, walking the greater part of the way. He arrived at Black Hawk June 1, 1860, and engaged in min- ing for some time, and was also extensively engaged in mercantile pursuits. For ten years he was postmaster of Black Hawk. He after- wards studied law with Hon. Alvin Marsh, and afterwards with II. M. and Willard Tel- ler, and was admitted to the bar Oet. 1, 1873. Ile soon acquired a large practice and has been actively engaged in professional duty ever since. He was a law partner of Senator llenry M. Teller for some years, and is now associated with his brother. Willard Teller. While taking an active part in polities, he has not been an office seeker, and has not been an office holder excepting one term as district attorney of the 1st judicial district, succeed- ing Hon. E. O. Woleott, now U. S. Senator. Hle has always taken a great interest in mili- tary affairs. For some years he was an of- ficer in the Colorado National Guard. During the civil war he was for some months Ist lieutenant and reg. commissary of subsist- onee, and afterwards captain of a Colorado cavalry company, U. S. volunteers; did duty guarding mails, stages and wagon trains on the plains and in Indian warfare. He was honorably discharged and mustered out with the regiment. Dec. 28, 1864. For many years he has been a member of the G. A. R. and of the Loyal legion and is now the commander in Colorado of the latter society. He is a member of Gov. MeIntire's military staff, with the rank of eolonel. Soon after becom- ing of age he joined the Masonie fraternity, in Chivington lodge No. 6; was a charter member, the first senior warden, and the see- ond master of Black Hawk lodge No. 11. lle sneceeded Senator Teller as commander of Central City commandery No. 2. lle has filled every office in lodge and commandery, and has been grand master and grand com- mander of the state of Colorado. lle took an active part, as a member of the grand encamp- ment, at Washington in 1889. in having the triennial conclave held at Denver in 1892; was the first chairman of the triennial eom- mitter and afterwards first vice-chairman. and took an active part throughout in all the work that made that conclave a success. Ile has attended all the triennial eonclaves sinee 1SS0, commencing with Chieago in that year, when he was grand commander, and now holds the office of grand warden of the grand encampment. Oct. 1. 1863, he married Miss Mary E. Hurlbut, eldest daughter of Hiram F. Ilurlbut. Five children have been born to them, three now living.

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HISTORY OF COLORADO.

O'DONNELL, Thomas J., lawyer, was born Madison county, in the same state. llis pri- near Mendham, Morris county, N. J., June 2, mary education was obtained in the public 1856, and educated first in the public schools, schools of Chicago, which he attended for until twelve years of age then entered the classical school of Wm. Rankin, at Mendham. one of the noted institutions of New Jersey at the time. Although entirely blind, Prof. Rankin taught all the classics, Latin, Greek, Ilebrew, geometry and the higher matho- maties. Mr. O'Donnell attributes much of whatever he may have accomplished in life to this remarkable man, who possessed an un- usual faculty for instilling knowledge, and an ambition to use it well at the same time. Our subject was partly prepared for Yale college, but changed his plans, and in 1873 entered the office of the Morris "Republican" as writer and business manager. This led him into con- nection with New York papers, and from 1875 until his emigration to Colorado he did much special writing for the press of that city, in- cluding nearly all of the leading dailies, and for certain periodicals. In 1876 he entered the law office of Col. Fred A. De Mott, of Morris- towu, a leading lawyer, and there fitted for the bar, remaining until the death of Col. De Mott, in ISTS, then studied with Geo. T. Werts, the present governor of New Jersey, until 1879. In October of that year he came to Den- ver with a sister whose health required the change, and finally concluded to remain, but did not open an office until 1880, the interval being employed in travel through the moun- tains. His first appearance in polities oe- eurred in Isso as secretary of the Arapahoe democratic convention, held to nominate dele- gates to the state convention at Leadville, and later as chairman of the county convention to select candidates for county and legislative otlices, since which time he has never been wholly out of politics. In ISS3 he was nomi- nated for county judge, but defeated. In 1890 he was nominated for Congress, but was un- successful. In 1892 he was a delegate at large to the Chicago convention, and took an active part in the attempt to organize the minority against Grover Cleveland; madesome speeches in the convention, and after its adjournment united with five other Colorado delegates in an address to the democrats of the state, ad- vising immediate assembly to consider the situation. Returning to Denver, he wrought persistently for such convention to induce the party in this state to declare officially against Cleveland. When it convened at Pueblo he was made chairman. The declaration to sup- port Weaver and Field was nearly unanimous, and they were nominated. The minority bolt- ed. but Mr. O'Donnell stumped the state for them. Jan. 1, 1891, he formed a law partner- ship with Hon. Westbrook S. Docker, which still continues. Oct. 21. ISSI, he married Miss Katherine Dwyer, of St. Louis, whose family is one of the oklest in that city.

about four years, then returned to Winterset, and there, upon his father's farm, spent the next four years in agricultural and stock-rais- ing pursuits. In 1866 he came to Colorado, traveling by stage from the Missouri river to Julesburg, where he joined a mule train, owned by his brother. W. A. Orman, bound for Denver. Finding here a brisk demand for freighting animals, horses, inules, broncos, ote., he resolved to enter that trade, and. for several years thereafter, gathered and brought in from the western states large numbers of such stoek, that were readily disposed of at large profit. When the era of railway build- ing opened in 1869, in company with his brother. W. A., he took a contract on the Kan- sas Pacific railroad between Sheridan and Denver. From this time forward, his fame as a contractor extended over the entire field of railway construction in Colorado and other territories, and, during the greater part of that time. his association with J. N. Carlile, as partner, is almost inseparably mingled. In the several firms of W. A. Orman & Co .. Moore, Carlile, Orman & Co., Carlile, Orman & Crook. and Orman & Crook. he has been associated with the construction of nearly all the im- portant railways thus far built. In June, 1881, Orman & Crook bought Mr. Carlile's interests in all railroad contraets wherein they were jointly interested, and from that time exe- outed the work in the name of that firm. Mr. Orman has, in this manner, not only been identified with the various roads in our state, but also with the Canadian Pacific. the Oregon & Pacifie. the Texas & Santa Fé Northern and, more recently, with the Colo- rado Midland, from Colorado Springs to As- pen. lle is one of the extensive owners of, and dealers in, Pueblo real estate, having made large purchases in 1873. In 1875 and subsequent years his hollings of such prop- erty were materially increased. By the rapid development which ensued between 1856 and 1501. that brought thousands of new people. and the locating of many branches of manu- factures, causing the town to advance to a city of the first class, much of the real estate owned by him found ready market at a great advance in prices that suddenly enriched him. In ISSI he began to improve a part of his lots in the central portion of the town by ereeting a handsome business block at the corner of Union avenue and D street. Prior to this, however, in 1Ss0, in company with Win. Moore, he built the West- orn National Bank block, at a cost of $20,- 000. In 1855 he and Win. Crook erected the Orman and Crook building. The Armory Ball block on I'nion avenue was also built by the same firm in ISS5. By himself, and

ORMAN. James B., a noted railway builder, with others, he has added several other build- was born in Muscatine, lowa, Nov. 4. 1SJ9. ings of losser Importance and value. llis In isas his parents removed to Winterset, residence In one of the suburbs of the city

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was built at a cost of about $50,000. In 1884 epitome of its progress, that has effected he engaged in the business of stock growing such wondrous changes in the last five years. He has not worked selfishly alone for mere personal aggrandizement, but, combining his skill and capital with others bent upon worthy and uplifting purposes, consummated the main desire of all the people, which was to make Pueblo a substantial and steadily growing metropolis, the manufacturing cen- ter of the Rocky Mountain region, by utiliz- ing the resources with which nature has so bountifully supplied her, through the great- est attainable multiplication of industrial es- tablishments and the multiplication of rail- ways for the distribution of their products.

with W. 11. La Court, in La Plata county, where he owned a large ranch and range in the beautiful Animas valley, near Durango. In 1879 Mr. Orman began building the Pueblo horse railway, and was vice-president and manager of the corporation until 1883, when he was elected president. This company was reorganized in 1889 with $500,000 capital, J. B. Orman, president. The greater part of these lines (23 miles) were, in 1890, converted into electric lines, making an extensive and complete system of rapid transit between the center and the populous suburbs. In 1879 Mr. Orman became largely interested in min- ing at Leadville, and in 1885 in Asheroft and in 18SS in Cottonwood district. Ile is a meml- ber of the Pueblo Opera House association, a powerful company of capitalists that built the magnificent opera house building. lle is also a member of the Board of Trade, of which at the time of its reorganization, in 1SsSS, he was elected vice-president, and is now one of its directors. He is vice-presi- dent of the great Bessemer Ditch company: interests in many other public and private enterprises in the city and county; has been a member of the city conneil since its incor- poration: was elected a representative to the

OURAY, Ute chief. See Vol. II, page 506.

OWEN, William R., merchant, was born Jan. 3, 1852, at Columbus, Wis., and attended the public schools until thirteen years of age when he started out to make his way in the world, clerking in country stores at Racine. Portage and Fox Lake in his native state. In 1875 he came to Denver, Colo., and entered the employ of Daniels & Fisher, where he remained three years, then went to Leadville

also a director in the Pueblo diteh, and has in 1878 and embarked in business for himself.

which he conducted successfully for five and a half years, selling out to Daniels, Fisher & Smith. During his residence there he was elected one of the first aldermen of that camp Third General Assembly of the state in 1880, after its organization. In 1883 he returned to Denver and with Mr. Webber started in busi- ness again: later they sold out to Babcock Bros. Mr. Owen then accepted a position with the M. J. MeNamara Dry Goods com- pany, where he remained until they closed out to Sheedy & Kountze, then became general manager under the new management. In May, 1894, he assisted in organizing the Denver Dry Goods company, holding an in- terest therein, and was made general mana- ger. In 1882 he married Miss Page, daughter of a prominent attorney of Chicago. They have three children.

and again to the Senate, serving from 1881 to 1885. In the session of 1853. when a U. S. Senator was to be elected, he became the unanimous choice of the democratic minority for that position. lle was one of the original directors of the South Pueblo National Bank (now the Central National, organized in 1881. In 1889 Orman & Crook opened a stock and ag- ricultural ranchof 1.700 acres, ten miles east of Pueblo, on the south side of the Arkansas river, under the Bessemer diteh, with the design of expending sufficient capital upon improve- ments to make it one of the finest in the state. In addition to the irrigating facilities afforded by the Bessemer canal, they have a natural OSBORNE. A. W., president and general manager of the Denver Pressed Briek com- pany, owned by O. and S. M. Morrison, was born in Fitchburg. Mass. The business was established in 1882 and on the present site in Highlands, and had a capacity at the begin- ning of 5,000 briek daily, which steadily grew until in 1892 it had increased to 50,000. Hle came to Denver in May, 1860, and after engag- ing in mining in California Gulch for three years he returned to Denver, where he has since resided. He has traveled extensively. In 1853 he went to Africa, thenee to Australia. thence to South America, where he hunted gold on the Amazon river. He visited every seaport town between the mouth of the Ama- zon and Panama, came through Old Mexico and went to California, where he spent two the Southern states and finally selected Denver reservoir equal to the storage of 50.000.000 cubic feet of water, covering about 125 aeres. Mr. Orman is a stockholder in the Pueblo Pressed Brick Manufacturing company: also in the State Fair association, and in the Jen- kins Steel Drill company, and a large stock- hohler in Hotel Mesa. In the record of Mr. James B. Orman, hastily set forth in the fore- going abstract. we find a man of the highest character and standing, who has invested his means in a procession of ventures that exert great influence upon the stability and growth of the city where he has fixed his home. Measured by those standards, he he- comes the leading spirit of southern Colorado, for there is not to be found among its citizens another who has been so variously engaged in projects looking to the general welfare. Years. He then extended his journey through lle is a superb example of the young man- hood. the wealth, strength and energized as his future home.

RESIDENCE OF W. H. YANKEE, HIGHLANDS.

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HISTORY OF COLORADO.

O'BRIAN, Peter, civil engineer, was born at beginning. Ile did general work at first, then L'Orignal, Ontario, Canada. Jan. 6, 1856. Ho enlarged to the jobbing trade, and seven years ago began the manufacture of wagons and car- riages. His business has steadily increased in importance, until its annual volume now amounts to $100,000, requiring from twenty- tive to forty workmen. In Nov., 1987, he mar- ried Miss Carrie Davison of Denver. They have one child, now fifteen months old. Mr. Orrock is an Odd Fellow, past grand, past chief ranger, Court Pride of Denver, and an A. 0. 1. of A. As a result of his labors, his untiring energy and good judgment, he has accumulated considerable property. was educated first in the public schools and high school, and finally at Queen's University, All his tendencies being toward engineering as a profession, his studies were directed to that end. From 1874 to 1876 he was connected with the corps of engineers engaged in build- ing the Coorillon canal and dam of the Cana- dian board of public works. This was his first practical lesson in that branch of construction. From 1876 to 1879 he was associated with Rob- ort llamilton, C. E. & D. L. S., near Ottawa. In 1879 he came to Colorado, went to the min- ing districts of the western slope, and for a year surveyed mineral lands in Pitkin and Gunnison counties. In 1850 he was elected county surveyor of Arapahoe county, and has been continuously re-elected to that position. the last time in 1893, The office he has filled for the past thirteen years is an important one. Ile is not only a skillful engineer but an ex- tremely pleasant gentleman. Ile is a mem- ber of the Denver society of civil engineers. of the Athletic club, of the Overland Park (Inb and of Union lodge No. 7. A. F. and A. M. lle was the organizer and engineer of the Bur- lington "Irrigation Ditch and Reservoir" sys- tem, the ditch, with laterals, being abont 60 miles long. In April, 1895, he was elected city surveyor of Denver.

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History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV, Part 93

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