USA > Colorado > History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV > Part 94
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OSNER, J. A., stock grower, was born in Toledo, Ohio, Oct. 23, 1856. After attending school he engaged in the grocery business in which he continued until his removal to Col- orado, which occurred in 1877. Arriving in Denver he embarked in freighting to the Black Hills and also to Leadville; subsequently be- came a railroad contractor and ditch builder, and is now connected with the English Ditch company and also with the Citizens' Water company. He owns a tine ranch of 320 acres on the outskirts of South Denver, where he is at present making a specialty of raising fine horses and mules.
OAKS, J. L., farmer, was born in New York, July 13. 18IS, and lived seven years in Massa- chusetts, where he engaged in the live stock. ment and provision business, Jan. 21. 1880, he came to Denver and continued in the same line until 1853, when he purchased his present farm of 275 acres near the city. In connection with his farming interests he deals in cattle and horses, fe laid out the town of Oakdale in 1890 and sold the American Water Works com- pany the ground upon which their plant is located.
ORROCK, David, carriage manufacturer. was born in Forfarshire, Scotland, March 24. 1559. ITo crossed the Atlantic, destined for Colorado, and arrived in Denver in IS80, Ilis wealth consisted of $250 in money and a trunk containing his wearing apparel. Fortunately for him he had learned the blacksmith's trade at home, and soon after coming here opened a shop and prospered in business from the
OSWALD, Daniel C., was born in Buffalo, N. Y .. in IS14, and was left an orphan at the age of eight years, His education was ac- quired in the public schools of that city. In 1859, at the age of fifteen, he went to St. Joseph, Mich., and entered a grocery store. In 1861, at the breaking out of the war. he en- listed in the 3rd Mich. cavalry at the first call for volunteers, but before his company reached headquarters the regiment was filled. there- foro it disbanded, when Mr. Oswald went to Fayette, Iowa, and entered the lowa Univer- sity. but at President Lincoln's next call for troops he again enlisted in the 1st lowa cav- alry, which was ordered to St. Louis, Mo., and assigned to General Steele's corps, serving in Missouri, Tennessee and Louisiana. Their time of service expiring three years and seven months later, were mustered out of service at Davenport, Iowa. He then purchased a "prai- rie schooner" and started for Colorado. The trip was a perilous and eventful one on ae- count of numerous encounters with Indians while crossing the plains, but he arrived safely in Denver in the spring of 1865 and engaged as book-keeper for M. M. Chase, a prominent contractor of that day, where he remained a year and a half, when he resigned and em- barked in the packing business on his own account, which he continued for twenty-four years, building up the largest business in that line in the city. In 1SS6 he was elected alder. man from the 1st ward. serving one term: then was elected chairman of the republican central committee, and served two county
terms. In 1891 he was appointed meat in- spector by the county commissioners and served two years, when the office was abol- ished. He also served the city of Denver as license inspector two years, He married Miss Louisa M. Duncan, daughter of Capt. Duncan. with whom he had served in the army, and built the first house in what was Evans' addi- tion to Denver at the corner of Colfax avenue and Broadway, where the Denver Tramway's power house now stands, which was then con- sidered out in the country.
OLD. Robert O., mine operator, was born in Somersetshire, England, Oct. 29, 1829. After a few years at school he began an ap- prenticeship in a printing and book-binding establishment. ten miles from home, where
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he found opportunities for gratifying his nat- gomery to the memory of Abraham Lincoln. ural taste for reading and writing. In the (See history of Park county, this volume.) In early fall of 1847 he emigrated to America, the fall of 1863 he went to Summit county. and for temporary occupation took a clerk- and there engaged in placer mining all the ship in a drug store in New York City. In ensuing winter, but the next spring returned the fall of 1848 he went to Michigan and to Montgomery, closed out his business there, lived with an uncle, by marriage, on a farm and in the fall moved to Denver, where he re- until the following spring. From Michigan engaged in merchandizing. In the spring of 1865 he went into the wholesale grocery trade, continuing until Feb., 1866, when he went to England, being absent a year. Oct. 31. 1866 he went to Illinois, and was in Chicago when the great flood of 1849 occurred, that piled bridges, shipping and canal boats in confusion. and obstructing masses in its river. Leaving (having lost his first wife in 1863), he married Chicago he visited Milwaukee. When travel- Miss Ellen Harvey, in Bath, England. In the spring of 1867 he returned to Colorado, and located in Gilpin county, where he began shipping ores to smelting firms in Swansea, South Wales. In the fall of that year he be- came a resident of Georgetown, and from there, in the spring of 1868, commenced ship- ping silver ores to Liverpool and Swansea. During the next three years he made several visits to England, in Dec., 1868, establishing a bureau of mines in London. In the winter of 1869-70 he negotiated the sale of the Terri- ble mines, in England, for £100,000 sterling, which yielded him a large profit. In April, following, he returned to Georgetown, bring- ing his wife, and for nearly two years was agent for the Terrible mining company. In 1871 he purchased the Dunderberg mine, se- cured a patent to the property and worked it quite extensively. Under his management it yielded over $700.000. In 1879 he sold the Dunderberg, together with the Sub-Treasury and the Silver Chain, to a New York syndi- cate, for $600,000, stocked at $1,500,000. In 1869 he published, and gratuitously distri- buted, 20,000 copies of his mining pamphlet, entitled "Colorado; Its History, Geography and Mining." In 1872 he published a revised and greatly improved edition of the same, and distributed 30,000 copies. Although born and bred in England, Mr. Old is one of the most patriotic and devoted of American citi- zens, intensely loyal to its flag and govern- ment. He has been extremely active in pro- moting the best interest of Colorado, never losing an opportunity to advance its welfare. In Dee., 1879, he purchased and still conducts the Mendota mine, in Griffith mining distriet, situated on Sherman mountain. two and a half miles above Georgetown. This mine has yielded, in silver, gold and lead, about $600,000 since its discovery. It is developed by shafts and levels to a depth of over 500 feet. From extreme poverty, Mr. Old has risen to afflu- ence. Although not a millionaire, he possesses an ample fortune. He is as energetic and ac- tive to-day as when he arrived on the scene thirty-four years ago. ing from there into the interior of Wisconsin, with a view of securing land for a farm, he, near the close of that year, reached the home of another unele, living at Ottawa, with whom he remained for the most part during the win- ter of 1849 and early spring of 1850, From Wisconsin Mr. Old returned again to New York City, where he once more clerked in a drug store, remaining sixteen months. But having a liking for the West, and its newer and fresher life. he traveled (via the Hudson river. Erie canal and the lakes) back to Chi- eago, reaching that city during the summer of 1852. where for the next three years he was engaged in the sale of all the current periodi- cal literature of that period, a part of the time as local editor of the "Daily Courant," which afterward was merged into the noted Chi- cago "Times." During the period named he had charge of the larger part of the daily circulation of all the city papers. In the spring of 1855 he opened a book and stationery store in Elgin, and the summer following sold out his store in Chicago, continuing the one in Elgin. He was married in the latter place. May 18, 1855. In the fall of 1857 he visited Nebraska, and in the following spring moved to that territory, settling on a farm near Ne- braska City. While there he corresponded for the Elgin "Gazette." In the spring of 1860, having entirely failed of success in Ne- braska, mainly on account of a prairie fire, losing nearly everything. he came to Colo- rado, arriving in Denver July 9. almost penni- less, having walked the entire distance across the plains. After a short time in Denver he made his way to Canon City, where he he- rame a member of the town company, and by the exercise of his best energies and abilities was enabled to build a store and stock it with goods for the general trade. This proved the beginning of his fortune. Ile was very active in public affairs, and was elected a member of the "committee of safety." Some further account of his experiences there will be found in the llistory of Fremont county, Volume 111. In the winter of 1861, taking his goods with him. he removed to Montgomery, in the South Park. He was the second man to reach that OSBISTON, Francis Frederic, mine oper- ator, was born Jan. 23, 1843, in Hindring- ham, county of Norfolk, England, and edu- camp, and afterward built the first frame honse there. The district soon became a brisk center of mining. Mr. Old asserts his right to cated at Snettesham grammar school, in Nor- the distinction of being the first todedicate the folk. At eighteen years of age, after the lofty promontory that overshadows Mont- death of his father, three years previous, he
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was employed in the London and Westminster near Camborne, Cornwall, England, June 29, Bank, London, where he remained until 1864, 1837. The place of his nativity and early then was sent to the United States by a Lon- training lies in the center of the tin-mining don mining company to a property owned by region. For fifty years his father was con- nected with the most celebrated tin minein the old workl-the Doleoath- and for many years them near Reno, Nev. There he remained until 1867, when he was appointed secretary of the Yellow Jacket mine, Comstock lode, was one of its managers. The son inherited on Gold hill, near Virginia City, continuing until 1870, at which time he was chosen con- fidential examiner of mines for Senator Sharon, W. C. Ralston and D. O. Mills, the principal owners of the Bank of California. He resigned this position to accept the super- intendency of the Savage, Gould & Curry and Best and Belcher mines, at that time con- trolled by the great bonanza firm of Mackay, Flood. O'Brien and Senator Fair. In 1879 he resigned this position and came to Colorado. Proceeding to Clear Creek county, he pur- chased the Freeland mine from John M. Du- mont for $235,000 cash, and afterward the Whale and llukill mines, on Spanish Bar.
his love for that pursuit, and with it a desire to go further and penetrato the depths of scientific inquiry in all its various branches, not only of practical mining but mineralogy, geology, metallurgy, the different forms of treating ores, etc. The first lessons were taken at a mining school opened in Truro, Cornwall, established under the patronage of Sir Charles Lemon, Bart. An apt and cager student, quick to learn and with a strong memory to retain instruction, his progress was rapid. In a short time he was advanced to the post of assistant to the principal, with whom he served three years, when for the want of sutheient attendants the school which he has managed to the present time, closed. It was subsequently re-opened un- Both have been large producers of high grade der well-devised plans for carrying the sys- ore, and are well developed. Mr. Osbiston has tem of instruction to the mines. Mr. Pearce been, and is still, one of the most extensive miners in that county, erecting superior im- was the first person to undertake this move- ment, and devoted six months of the year to provements upon all the properties named, giving lectures in the different mining dis- and exploiting the several veins to great depths. His operations have been of great importance to the lower part of the valley. In 18SI he was elected to the House of Repre- sentatives of the Fourth General Assembly of the state, by the republicans of Clear Creek; in 1SSI was chosen one of the presidential electors who cast the vote of Colorado for Blaine and Logan. In 1SSS he was again made an elector, and with his colleagues voted for Harrison and Morton. In 1871 he married Miss Frances Hinman of Beloit. Wis .. the issue being one child, a daughter. They re- side in a beautiful home at Idaho Springs. Mr. Osbiston is a member of DeWitt Clinton commandery No. 1, K. T., Virginia City, Nev. tricts of Cornwall. During the remainder he gave an advanced course at the Truro school. Such was the practical beginning of meas- ures for the proper education of the working- men. In 1859 he went to London and became a student of the higher branches in the gov- ernment school of mines, attending the regu- lar course of lectures in chemistry and metal- lurgy given by Drs. A. W. Hoffman and John Percy, two of the most distinguished in- structors in these sciences. In 1865, by recommendation of Dr. Percy, Mr. Pearce was appointed manager of the silver and copper works of Williams. Foster & Co., at Swansea, where he remained until 1872. His first visit to Colorado occurred in 1871. the result of a OLMSTED, Chancy, was born in Cayuga county, N. Y., Dec. 22, 1842, and remained there until 1859, when he started for Colo- rado, but stopped in Wisconsin until the spring of 1860, then resumed his journey, ar- riving in Denver during that year. He lo- cated in Boulder county, engaged In the dairy business and ranching until June, 1861, when he enlisted in the Ist regiment Colo. vol- unteers. He served in the war four years, four months and twelve days, and after he returned to Colorado transported freight for two years between the Missouri river and Denver; conducted a grocery for three years in that city, and finally located on a ranch six miles west of Littleton, where he remained until 1855, when he secured contracts for grading, which continued until 1889, when he settled in. Littleton. Colo. commission from certain English capitalists to investigate the silver mines near George- town, in Clear Creek county. In 1872 ho re- turned with his family and took charge of smelting works that had been erected just be- low Georgetown. In 1873 he was offered and accepted the position of metallurgist in the Boston and Colorado works, at Black Hawk; in 1887 he was made manager, which he has over since retained. lle is a fellow of the geological society of London; a member of the mineralogical society of that city. also. He was one of the originators of the Colorado scientifie society, of which he has been twice elected president. In 1800 he was made presi- flent of the American Institute of mining en- gineers, a distinguished honor. He has con- tributed many valuable papers to the scien- title literature of the day. The Bibliothea Cornubiensis, a catalogue of the writings. both manuscript and printed, of Cornishmen, published In ists, mentions the following by
PEARCE, Prof. Richard, an eminent metal- lurgist, for more than twenty years superin- tendent and manager of the Boston and Colo- rado Smelting works, was born at Barrippa, Prof. Pearce: "Improvements in separation of
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copper and other metals from silver;" "Let- ters patent for an invention for Improvement in the Separation of copper and other metals from silver and gokl, the same being appli- cable to other Metallurgical operations:" " paper on the Application of Chemistry to the Dressing of Ores," contained also in the Re- port of the Miner's association of Cornwall and Devon, 1861; "A paper on some Inter- esting minerals found ina few Cornish Mines," also contained in the Report of the Royal Miners' Institute of Cornwall, 1861; "The Granite of the Metalliferous Districts, 1863:" "Mineralogy and Metallurgy," also contained in the Journal of the Royal Institutes of Corn- wall; "Recently discovered Minerals;" "Notes on the occurrence of Cobalt in connection with the Tin Ores of Cornwall, 1872;" "De- scription of the Process for the Separation of Copper, Iron and other heavy Impurities from Tin Ores:" also contained in the Report of the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society, 1868. During his connection with the Boston and Colorado Works he has made numerous dis- coveries of the existence of mineral species whose occurrence in this country was not pre- viously made known. He has been a frequent contributor of rare and interesting minerals to the cabinet of the Colorado scientific so- ciety. and its published reports contain a number of papers from his pen. In 1885 he was appointed British vice-consul for Colo- rado, and still holds that important office. But perhaps the highest distinction of which he has thus far been the recipient was the action of the trustees of Columbia college, N. Y., Dee. 1. 1890, when they conferred up- on Prof. Pearce the degree of Doctor of was four times elected to Congress, beginning with the 4Ist. and declined the tender by imanimous vote of the convention of a fifth nomination. President Grant offered him the surveyor-generalship of Colorado, and also the commissionership of the District of Columbia. both of which he declined. While in Congress he served on some of the more important committees, and was offered by Speaker Blaine a membership on the ways and means committee, a high compliment, but that also was declined. From 1870 to the close of the campaign of 1872. he was secretary of the national republican congressional excentive committee, and in 1876 was one of the com- mitee having Mr. Blaine's campaign in charge. He was a delegate to a number of republican national conventions, the last that which nom- inated Benjamin Harrison. In 1876 he moved to New York, where he was connected with several very extensive business enterprises. In 1887 he came to Colorado, settled in Den- ver, and in that year established the Equi- table Accident Insurance company, which be- came one of the most successful insurance institutions of the country. In 1890 he ro- signed the presidency to devote all his time to a searching investigation of the possibili- tention having been attracted by a statement Philosophy, in recognition of two theses. which he sent at the request of the faculty of the School of Mines. "The degree was granted for the theses sent." wrote Prof. Thos. W. Egleston, "and on account of the very distinguished position which Prof. Pearee holds, and the large number of additions which he has made to metallurgical science. it was granted without fee. This is the first time in the history of Columbia college that the degree of Doctor of Philosophy has ever been granted. under such circumstances, to any one not a graduate, and it is a well mer- ited honor to Professor Pearce, in which all the metallurgical world will rejoice, and of which Colorado ought to feel especially proud. We here regard Professor Pearce as one of the first, if not the first, gold and silver metal- lurgists of the present time, and by honoring lim we feel that we have not only done jus- tire to him, but have done honor to our- selves." It will be conceded by all who know him that the foregoing is a just recognition of his splendid talents, Of medium stature, well developed physique. a superb conversa- tionalist, he is at once one of the most inter- esting and companionable of men, reverenced for his preeminent ability and esteemed for ties of paper manufacture in Denver, his at- the brillianey of his social accomplishments.
PLATT, James H., soldier and manufactur- er, was born of American parents, in St. Johns, Canada, July 13, 1837. Inclined to the medical profession, he graduated from the medical department of the university of Ver- mont in 1850. At the outbreak of the civil war he enlisted, and was chosen sergeant of company F, 3rd Vt. regiment, in 1861: was mustered out honorably from said regi- ment July, 1861, and immediately raised a full company at Chelsea, Orange county, Vt .: was elected its captain, and was mustered into the 4th Vt. regiment in Sept., 1861. He commanded this company until Dec., 1862. and then was detailed on staff duty at the headquarters of the sixth army corps. He served as aid to Generals William F. Smith, John Sedgwick and H. G. Wright, and also as acting chief quartermaster of the sixth corps, with the rank of colonel. from Nov .. 1863. until captured by the enemy at Cokl Harbor, Va., May 30, 1864. After six months' imprisonment he was honorably mustered out of service in Dee., 1864; was present at Lee's Mills in May, 1862; at Williamsburg: all of the battles of the army of the Potomac, from the time of the organization of the 6th army corps until his capture as stated above. participating in every battle in which said corps was engaged. either as captain of com- pany B. 4th Vt. regiment, or as aid to the general commanding the corps. Ile was elected a member of the first class, Loyal Legion, Det. 12, 1887. At the close of the war he settled in Petersburg, Va., and in 18GT was elected to the city council, and also a member of the state constitutional convention. He
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published in the annual report of the Cham- river from St. Louis to Pilot Knob, Cape ber of Commerce, setting forth the amount of Girardeau and New Madrid, keeping General paper consumed in this city and state. Be- Pope in communication with headquarters at coming deeply interested, he spent the next. St. Louis, while General Pope was driving two years in studying the subject in all its General Pillow out of that country, which caused the evacuation of island No. 10, on the Mississippi river. During the construction of this line. Mr. Porter was captured by General Jeff Thompson, in southwest Missouri, taken south into the swamps of that region, and re- tained there for some time, when he was fo- leased, returned, and again rosumed work on the line. In 1862 he came to Denver, Colo., and established the wholesale grocery house of Stebbins & Porter; later engaged largely in the forwarding and commission business, and established banking houses at Atchison, Kan .. and Kirksville, Mo .: mercantile branch and banking houses at Santa Fé, Elizabethtown, Cimarron. Silver City, and Springer. N. M .. and Del Norte, Colo. In 1874 3ir. Por- tor married Miss Laura W. Smith, dangh- ter of J. W. and Elizabeth Smith of Denver. Colo., and lived at Cimarron, N. M .. until 1882, when he removed to Denver, since which time he has been largely identified with the Denver National bank. Denver Consolidated Electric Co., American Water Works Co., Denver Con- solidated Gas Co. Denver Steam Heating Co., the Colorado Fuel and Iron Co., Denver Steel Works Co., James Paving Co., Denver I'nion Stock Vards Co., Colorado Packing Co., Denver Paper Mills Co., the Pawnee. the Red River. the Gila, the Cimarron, the Texas, and the Frak cattle companies. Mr. Porter has confined himself strictly to business, rigorously refraining from polities; is con- servative in religions affairs, and devoted to his family, having two sons and three daugh- ters. He is accounted one of the wealthiest and most substantial business men in the western country. details, visiting nearly every large modern paper mill in the United States, and several in foreign lands. Impressed by the conviction that Denver was a favorable point for manu- factures of that class. and resolved to con- summate the enterprise, he gave to Messrs. D. Il. and A. B. Tower, of Holyoke Mass .. leading architects in that line. an order for one of the largest and most thoroughly equipped mills in the country; organized his company, himself and wife furnishing a large part of the capital, and in due course built and opened for business an establish- ment which has no superior of its class on the continent. The total cost of the plant was $357,000. It was begun Sept. 20, 1890, and completed Aug. 12, 1891. No better print stock has ever been used by the journals of the state, and it is far superior to the ma- jority of the imported material. The demand being fully equal to the supply. the enterprise was successful from the outset. Colonel Platt was a gentleman in the most exalted sense. highly cultivated. a charming converation- alist and writer, and a superior business man. As outlined in the foregoing hasty epitome of his life, he has had extensive experience as a soldier and politician, with broad training in statesmanship, and in varied lines of com- merce. While a member of Congress, from Virginia, in 1875. he rendered our delegate in that body. Hon. Jerome B. Chaffee. very effce- tive service in bringing about the admission of Colorado into the I'nion. See chapter XII. Voline I. Soon after completing the great paper mills, he took his family to Groen Lake near Georgetown. Clear Creek county. on a fishing excursion, and while out by him- self. in a boat, he accidently fell into the water and was drowned (June 13. 1590. His un- timely death was a severe shock to the entire community in which he had lived and wronght so earnestly for its advancement. His portrait may be found in volume 11, page 28-1.
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