History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV, Part 98

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 98

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RICE, James, ex-secretary of state, was ROGERS, Andrews N., a noted railway and mining engineer, was born May 15, 1827, in the town of Canaan, Wayne county, Pa., sit- uated on the line of the Delaware & IIndson Canal company's railroad, then in process of construction, with which his father was per- manently connected. After receiving a lib- eral education, in the spring of 1849 young Andrews also entered upon similar work, first as chainman on the survey and construction of the Pennsylvania Canal company's rail- road, but soon afterward was promoted to the charge of a division 13 miles in length. which he completed in the winter of 1850. In the fall of 1852 he completed an important division of the Lackawanna and Western rail- road. The next winter he was engaged on born in Hartford, Vt., Dec. 29, 1830. Given a limited education in the public schools, he afterward entered the State university at Norwich, whence he graduated. Subse- quently he learned the machinist's trade, and followed it for some years. July 9, 1861, he married Miss Carrie E. Stevens of Greens- boro, Vt. At the outbreak of the civil war he enlisted in the 5th regiment Vermont volun- teers, first as a musician, but later on was promoted to a captaincy in the 11th Vermont, with which he served until the close of the war in 1865. In 18GS he came to Colorado and settled in Pueblo, where he first engaged in the tobacco trade. In 1870 he opened a book and stationery store, and subsequently erected a building of his own. the first brick other preliminary surveys, and in the spring

HISTORY OF COLORADO.

of 1×53 took charge of the survey of the manager of the Consolidated Bobtail Mining Memphis and Clarksville railroad, making the final location of the southern division of that line from Bowling Green to Nashville. While thus engaged, in the summer of 1854. he was tendered and accepted the appoint- ment of resident engineer of the Warren rail- road in New Jersey. A short time later he was promoted to chief engineer, continuing as such until 1856. Prior to this, however, in Nov., 1855. he was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Seymour, daughter of James Seymour, a prominent engineer aud a pioneer, also, in railway construction, having been as- sociated with Mr. James Archibald on the Delaware and Hudson railroad. the first built in the United States. While building the Warren railroad in the fall of 1856 Mr. Rogers was tendered the position of superin- tendent and chief engineer of the Lack- awanna and Bloomsburg railroad in Pennsyl- vania, which he accepted, serving one year. He then engaged with others in the foundry and machinery business at Corning, N. Y., to which he gave personal supervision until the spring of 1859, when he accepted the appoint- ment of resident engineer of the Macon and Brunswick railroad in the state of Georgia. and shortly after was made chief engineer. Ile was thus employed until Sept., 1861, when, by virtue of the proclamation of Jeffer- son Davis, president of the Southern Confed- eracy, he, with others, was required to take oath of allegiance to that government. He

ehose rather to resign, and did so, returning to his family in Pennsylvania. In the spring of 1862 he became connected with the oper- ations of the Fall Brook Coal company, at Corning, N. Y., and while there designed and constructed very extensive works for the storage and transshipment of coal. This was a work of great magnitude and importance, novel in general arrangement and detail. This completed, he resigned to make certain sur- veys for Colonel Wells, president of the North Branch canal at Athens. Pa., where he spent the winter of 1863-64. In the spring of 1864 Mr. Charles Minot, general superinten- dent of the Erie railroad, engaged bis serv- ices to design and construct a system of coal works at important stations along the line of the New York and Erie railroad. While prosecuting this work he was tendered the position of agent and manager of the Bobtail Gold Mining company in Gilpin county, Colo. Ile accepted and assumed charge of that property in Oct., 1861. Thenceforward to the close of his life, his splendid abilities and vast experience were devoted to the de- velopment of that mining enterprise, which, in process of years, by the addition of other interests, he made the chief factor of that re- glon. In 1870, after effecting, with the as- sistance of Hon. Jerome B. Chaffee, a consol- idation of all the separate interests and claims upon that famous lode, he was elected president of the Bobtail Tunnel company, and

company, which position he retained until his death. in Feb .. IS90. Mr. Rogers was un- doubtedly the first engineer of the state, ex- perienced beyond all contemporaries, as the foregoing epitome of his life indicates; care- fnl, but always accurate, safe and reliable. In the estimation of Judge Hallet of the U. S. district court, he stood supreme, hence, in July, 1879. he was appointed by that court as commissioner in the celebrated controversy between the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fé and the Denver and Rio Grande railways to adjust the differences which have been more fully set forth in the first, second and third volumes of our general history. It was a mission of the first importance, and upon his report the matter was brought to an amicable conclusion. Mr. Rogers was a studions and very quiet man, who talked little, but thought deeply. While his utterance was slow, his brain was clear and broadly comprehensive. He was an earnest and incessant student of the sciences, a master of engineering prob- lems, with superb executive power. Ilis name was an embodiment of truthfulness and integrity. His life was spotlessly pure. Ile was admired for his great learning, the perfect uprightness of his dealing and his wonderful skill. It is unquestionable that he did more than any other living man toward solving the intricate problems associated with mining and the milling and amalgama- tion of our gold-bearing ores. His quartz mill at Black Hawk was the most perfect that has ever been erected in Colorado. A member of the American institute of mining engineers, he prepared and read several pa- pers before that body of scientific men which excited the liveliest attention, and were pro- nounced unanswerable. He stood at the very front of his great profession in Colorado. and we have shown, by the synopsis of his career in Pennsylvania, New York and some of the Southern states, something of the high distinctions conferred upon him there. That he was a grand infinence for good in all the material affairs of Gilpin county, universally esteemed and beloved, is attested by the mourning manifested at his death. He was the first citizen of that county. He died at his residence in Central City Feb. 23, 1890.

RISLEY, Hanson A., was born in Fre- donia, N. Y., June 16, 1814. of noble pioneer stock. His grandfather, Elijah Risley, Sr., came to Fredonia (then Canadaway) in 1807. when the whole country was a township of Genessee county, and the county seat was at Batavia. fle was a soldier of the rovom- tionary war, and a pensioner till the close of his life. General Elijah Risley, Jr., the fa- ther, came to Fredonia when about twenty years of age and commenced in mercantile business in 1508, perhaps the earliest mer- chant in the county. He was sheriff three years, from 1824 to 1827, and in 1848 was elected representative In Congress, and was

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also major-general of the state militia. In office one term. In ISGI he was active in war the early history of the New York and Erie work and went to Washington with Captain railroad General Risley was a director. He Wm. O. Stevens, whom he introduced to Mr. died Jan. 10, 1870, aged 83 years. Hanson A. was the second of a family of six children, and survived them all, except the youngest. They were, Florilla, who became the wife of Chauncey Tueker; Hanson A .; Sophronia, wife of C. F. Matteson; Laurens G .; Delia, wife of Hon. T. P. Grosvener, and Minerva, Seward and Secretary Cameron, and was in- strumental in getting the Dunkirk companies into the Excelsior brigade. In 1862 he was appointed United States consul to Jamaica, an unsolicited honor. Later in that year, he was called to Washington by Governor Chase, secretary of the treasury, and made widow of Frank Cushing. Esq. Ilis death removes the last of the sons in this once lead- special agent of the treasury, a very import- ant and confidential position, which brought him into daily and close association with Mr. Lincoln, from whom he received many cards and notes asking him to come at once to the White House for consultation. lle was an invited guest of Mr. Seward to the consulta- tion held at Hampton Roads, between Lin- coln. Seward and Grant, with the Confeder- ate commissioners, Alex II. Stephens, Hunter and Campbell. They sailed down the Poto-

ing family of that county. Hanson A. Risley was in the highest type a perfect gentleman. His polite and genial manners, scholarly at- tainments, honorable bearing and kindness of heart won the esteem of all with whom he became associated. IIe was educated in the Fredonia academy and Hamilton college. IIe studied law in the office of Judge Mullett, and while in that office married Miss Harriet, daughter of Dr. Orris Crosby. The young couple went to board at Parson Smith's. The parson eame from Auburn, and while there had officiated at the marriage of Wm. H.

Seward to Miss Miller. When Governor Seward came from Auburn to Westtich to take charge of the land office he stopped to visit his old friend, Parson Smith, and there formed Mr. Risley's acquaintance, and there began a friendship that lasted through life. Mr. Risley shortly afterward commenced the practice of law in the village of Dunkirk, and was appointed master in chaneery.

Crosby, the young bride who shared with him the struggles and trinmphs of his early man- hood, and was the beloved companion of his

maturer years, was a woman of remarkable which befell Secretary Seward by the hand

talent and lovely character. She died in Washington Sept. 28, 1868.

lle was prom-

inently engaged in the Erie railroad enter-

prise from its beginning, and when the road was opened through to Dunkirk, in May, 1852, he had charge of the ceremonies and entertained Daniel Webster and other distin- guished guests on that occasion. It was a great day for Dunkirk. Prominent among the visitors were President Fillmore and many of his cabinet, Benjamin Loder, pres- ident of the road, Win. II. Seward, Thurlow Weed, Stephen . Douglas and other prom- inent men from all parts of the country. Mr. Risley was also the first secretary and treas- urer of the Lake Shore railroad when it was established through Dunkirk. In 1848 his father was nominated for Congress. Ifis son went to Washington with him and gave him important assistance in the discharge of his duties, his father being in poor health at the time. While there, on motion of Mr. Seward, Mr. Risley was admitted to practice in the United States supreme court. In 1855 he was nominated for county clerk, and such was his popularity that he was elected, hay- ing by several hundred the highest number of votes on the ticket. In 1860 he was elected clerk of the Assembly at Albany and held the

others, including his early friend, Wm. P. Mellen. Though not officially associated with his early friend, Governor Seward, their warm friendship seemed to grow with the closer association in their years of anxiety Miss concerning the affairs of the nation during

the war.

The terrible atlfiction which the

nation suffered in the assassination of Mr.

Lincoln and the mutilation and suffering

of a would-be assassin, seemed to bind them

closer together. Though ill, Mr. Risley was among the first to fly to the side of the wounded secretary, the night of the assassin- ation. Mr. Seward was doubly stricken by the death of his wife and only daughter, and Mr. Risley's house became to the bereaved statesman a second home, where affection and kindly sympathy did all that could be done to heal his wounds and assuage the grief of his sad afflictions. The death of Mr. Risley's father and his wife shortly after the sad events attending the assassination of the

president made the long friendship between him and Mr. Seward still closer. The sym-

pathy of such a friend in such a time of trial was most welcome. Later on Mr. Seward's life seemed to depend on a change of scenes, and absence from the place where he had ex- perieneed so much sorrow. An extended

route of foreign travel was planned, and for his companions on his long journey around the world he urgently requested the daugh- ters of Mr. Risley, who was highly gratified to have them go as a solace to such a kind friend. As a result of these long years of close friendship, the elder daughter assumed the name of Olive Risley Seward. She was his faithful friend, took the place of his lost

mae and Chesapeake and up the James to where the memorable consultation was held.

During this interesting period of the eoun- try's history Mr. Risley formed many pleas- ant associations with the leading men of the times: Chase, Fessenden, Boutwell, Fenton, Grant, Porter, Andrew, Colfax and many

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HISTORY OF COLORADO.

daughter, and during the visit to foreign fieer in command followed in a northerly lands kept the record of the journey which direction. While in camp the Indians sud- was subsequently published with the revision denly swooped down upon him and ran off 80 of Mr. Seward as his trip around the world. of his horses, which prevented further pur- Mr. Risley's publie life in Washington con- suit. Aug. 1, 1865, General P. E. Conner arrived from Salt Lake, and, taking command of the expedition at Fort Laramie, started northward toward Powder river, which he reached on the 20th following. In this expe- dition Mr. Rice was employed as master of the supply train, consisting of 150 wagons es- corted by 600 troops. The right wing of 400 Walker, of the 16th Kansas. Marching eluded in 1875. when he came to Colorado with General Win. J. Palmer and engaged in various enterprises here. In 1876 he was for one year the editor of the Colorado Springs "Gazette," prior to Mr. Steele's coming. In 1878 he was appointed solicitor of the Denver and Rio Grande railroad, and in June. 1879, when the road was in difficulty with the men was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Santa Fe, he was appointed receiver of the company. Soon thereafter he was succeeded through the " bad lands" to the banks of Pow- in the receivership by L. C. Ellsworth. He continued his connection with the corpora- tion. however, as general solicitor of the land department after the railroad began to make numerous extensions. In 1884 he resigned this position and afterward lived quietly in Colorado Springs, retaining a connection with various corporations, having an office in that city. Ile died at West Newton, Mass., Aug. 23, 1893.

der river, they established Fort Conner on the banks of Pamas river. While at this post the troops had a fight with the Indians, in which 30 of the latter were slain and a number of Ben Holladay's stage horses recaptured. In the Indian camp they found ladies' and men's clothing with other property they had taken from emigrants killed on the public highway. In September Mr. Rice returned to Fort Lar- amie, remaining there until October 5. when he returned with General Dodge via Denver and the Butterfield route to Fort Riley and thence to Fort Leavenworth. In 1852 he came to Colorado and located at the l'te Indian reservation on the U'ncompahgre. now a part of Ouray county. lIere he engaged in farm- ing and stock raising until June 1. 1957, then entered the mercantile business at Dallas, where he remained three years. July 27, ISSS, he was appointed postmaster of Dallas elected mayor of the town without opposition. Dec. 20, 1590, he moved to the new town of Ridgway, continuing in trade and mining to this date. April 20, 1891, he was elected treasurer of Ridgway without opposition, re- ceiving every vote cast for that office. He was also elected a member of the Western State congress which met in Aspen Dec. 15, 1891, a large and intelligent body of repre- sentative men.

RICE, Elijah S., merchant, was born in Clay county, Mo., Dec. 10, 1839, educated in William Jewell college of that place, and, prior to his emigration westward. was en- gaged in farming and stock raising. llis first trip to Colorado was made in 1862, but a few months later he returned to Missouri, remain- ing there until Feb .. 1865, when he joined a government expedition to Fort Laramie. During his stay at this fort, in the spring of by President Cleveland. In IsSO he was 1865, the troops captured a noted Indian chief named Big Crow, and also a white woman whom he had taken captive on P'him creek, Neb., and held since 1864. At the same time Crow and his band killed eleven men. Big Crow and Two Face were hanged at Laramie in May, 1865, upon a scaffoll erected in sight of the fort, and the bodies remained sus- pended all through the summer, as a terror to other evil-minded redskins. A large body of Indians that had been fed and maintained by the government at an encampment five miles ROSE, John K., photographie artist, was horn Nov. 15. INI9, in Ayr, Canada, where he was educated in the public schools. A half from the fort was ordered to be removed to a new reservation which had been provided for them. Captain Fonts, with a company of century ago family portraits were very rare, owing to the great expense involved, conse- quently few of us have faithful likenesses of our ancestors and relatives. Now, however, since the discovery and advent of the photo- graph, sketched by the son in silver and gold pigments, aided by chemicals, in most charm- ing shades and tints with absolute accuracy and pleasing results, pictures are to be found in every home, varying. of course, in their excellence by the artist producing the same. Before leaving school Mr. Rose began the study of photography, and after he was grad- uated entered into the active practice of his chosen art. In 1881 he came to Colorado and secured a position with Mr. Bohm, in Denver. troops, was detailed for this service. After the first day's journey they camped for the night on Deer creek, 35 miles east of the fort. The next morning Fonts ordered the sokliers to march. After proceeding a mile or so he discovered that the Indians had not followed. Returning to the camp with five men, he found that some of the Indians refused to go any further. In attempting to force them a fight was precipitated, and before the balance of the command could reach the scene. the captain and his five soldiers had been slain, and the Indians had made their escape across the North Platte river. The commandant of the fort, on being apprised of these events. sent another detachment after them. The of- Subsequently he became connected with Mr.

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BIOGRAPHICAL DEPARTMENT.

Bates and remained with him-here and in built a delightful home in Denver in which to Chicago-until 1885, then returned to Denver, pass his declining years. Held in high es- teem by his neighbors, he was elected county commissioner of Arapahoe county in 1886 and for a number of years has been a director on the school board for district No. 14.

and, in conjunction with Mr. Hopkins, opened to the public his present photographic gallery in the Tabor block. lle has always been an earnest student of his art, and when any new process was discovered, or any improvement in the mechanical department of his profession was offered, he would thoroughly test the same and if found worthy adopted it. On Jan. 4, 1882, Mr. Rose married Miss Nellie M. Hop- kins, of Denver, to whom three children have been born, of which two are living, a son and daughter.

ROBERTSON, William M., physician, was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, Feb. 23, 1844, and moved to Iowa with his father's family in 1858. Sept. 1, IS61, he enlisted in company II, 3rd Iowa cavalry. and served through the civil war. He was mustered out Sept. 10, 1865, when he returned home and went to work on a farm. In the spring of 1866 he entered the high school at Birming- ham. Iowa, began the study of medicine in the fall of 1867 and was graduated in the same by the College of physicians and surgeons, at Keokuk. Iowa, March 1. 1870. He practiced medicine in lowa until the spring of 1875, when he came to Colorado on account of fail- ing health. After remaining here three years he returned to lowa. where he lived a like period, practicing medicine in the town of Keosanqua, when, his health again breaking down, he decided upon making Colorado his future home. Before moving, however, he attended the College of physicians and sur- geons six months in Chicago and graduated from that institution March 1, 1873. He then located in Denver. In the fall of 1887 he was elected one of the county commissioners of Arapahoe county and served three years. In April, 1893. he was elected a member of the board of supervisors for the city and served out his term. Ile is an excellent citizen and widely esteemed.

RIETHMANN, John J. See Vol. III, page 202.

RIETHMANN, Emil J., farmer and stock grower, was born in Switzerland in 1844, and lived there until he was four years of age, when his parents emigrated to America. In the spring of ISS9 young Riethmann deter- mined to face the privations, perils and dan- gers of a trip across the plains in search of wealth, and accordingly accompanied a party which was continually harassed by the In- dians, but finally succeeded in reaching Den- ver in safety. He at first located five miles from Denver, but in a short time removed to his farm of 160 acres on Sand creek. For twenty-two years he conducted the Pioneer dairy, marketing its products in Denver, where he was well and favorably known. graduated in ISTS. Later this branch was closed, when he de- voted his time entirely to farming and stock raising principally cattle. Having improved to Colorado, and engaged in the printing busi- his ranch to a high state of cultivation, he ness, associating himself with the Denver

RICHARDS, J. W. Among the early ar- rivals at the time of the goldl excitement, in 1859, was the subject of this sketch. He was born in Rochester, Ohio, in 1839. When he was six weeks oldl the family moved to Wayne county, Ill., where Mr. Richards remained un- til about twenty years of age, then crossed the plains to Pike's Peak. He arrived a few days after the discovery of gold in Gilpin county. Leaving his companions, he went on foot alone into the mountains, arriving at Russell Guleh penniless. Hle spent the summer in vigorous labor, but his efforts proving entirely futile, he came to Denver in company with Hugh Campbell. They built a stable for liv- ery purposes on the corner of Blake and Thir- teenth streets. Here he was joined by his brother. David. and a friend (L. K. Crane) and selling his interest in the stable, the three turned their attention to mining. When the war broke out they were working claims sue- cessfully in Russell Gulch, and recognizing the fact that one of their number should re- spond to the call of their country for volun- teers, they agreed that the earnings and gains of the remaining two should be shared with the partner who enlisted in the service the same as if he were at work with them. Mr. Crane went to the war, and when he returned unseathed he found the two brothers in pos- session of one of the largest book stores in Colorado, then in Central City, and of other property of considerable value. From that time the rise of Mr. Richards in the financial world was steady and rapid, and at the time of his death, which occurred in May. 1883, he was possessed of a handsome competency.

RHODES, Clarence W., ex-member board of public works, was born in Henry county, lowa. Oct. 19, 1853, and remained in that state until five years of age, when the family re- moved to Cass county, Mo., from whence, after a residence of eight or nine months, they went to St. Joseph, in the same state, and after a short stay there located in Colorado. remaining until 1863, when they removed to Leavenworth for one year, after which, until 18GS, they resided in lowa and Missouri. From the latter state Mr. Rhodes went to Nebraska and remained there until 1876, and was graduated from its state university. He then located in New York and engaged in buy- ing goods for a western house, at the same time taking the course of two years at the Columbia law school. from which he was Returning to Lincoln in the summer of 1879, he very shortly there- after, on account of his wife's health, removed

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HISTORY OF COLORADO.

"Republican," for the first eight years as com- in this way made in the West. Mr. Reid is positor, next for two and a half years as tel- not only an accomplished engineer, but is one egraph editor, then became foreman of the of the most intelligent and highly esteemed composing room, continuing until Feb., 1894. citizens of Colorado Springs. Ilis services to that beautiful and growing city have been invaluable, and the fact that he has been so long in the harness shows that his talents are appreciated.

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History of the State of Colorado, Volume IV, Part 98

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