History of the city of Denver, Arapahoe County, and Colorado, Part 62

Author: O.L. Baskin & Co. cn; Vickers, W. B. (William B.), 1838-
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 844

USA > Colorado > Arapahoe County > History of the city of Denver, Arapahoe County, and Colorado > Part 62
USA > Colorado > Denver County > Denver > History of the city of Denver, Arapahoe County, and Colorado > Part 62

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P. B. HIRSCH.

P. B. Hirsch, manufacturer of saddles and harness, 374 Blake street, was born in Louisville, Ky., January 1, 1846. He remained there until 1860. receiving a common-school education, after which he learned the harness-maker's trade, and, in 1865, began business for himself, and, after one year, removed to Clarksville, Tenu., where he continued the same business two years ; afterward returned to Kentucky, and followed his trade about two years, and then clerked in a wholesale saddlery house two years, after which he taught

book-keeping in a commercial college until 1871, He then formed a partnership in the saddlery and harness business with J. A. Myers, continuing the same until 1873, when he sold out to his partner and came to Denver. In October, 1873, he began the manufacture of saddles and harness, in which he has continued with good success to the present time. He was married in Louisville, Ky., in February, 1871.

HON. MOSES HALLETT.

Judge Hallett is one of the most prominent and able jurists, now holding the position of District Judge of the United States for the District of Colorado to the entire satisfaction of his State and country, whose able and careful decisions upon grave and important matters have become the val- ued property of the State, and are considered as authority wherever they are known. He was born July 16, 1834, in Jo Daviess County, Ill. Re- ceiving an academic education, he began the study of law in the fall of 1854, in the office of E. S. Williams, of Chicago, and, in the fall of 1857, was admitted to the bar, and immediately began the practice of his profession in that city. In the spring of 1860, charmed by the gilded accounts of Pike's Peak, he came to Colorado, and, for a short time, engaged in mining. It did not take long to convince him that he was better adapted to the practice of his profession than to the unearthing of' mineral wealth, and, in accordance with this con- vietion, he located in Denver and resumed the practice of law, continuing until April, 1866, when he had acquired sufficient prominence in his pro- fession to warrant his appointment as Chief Justice of the Territory of Colorado. He continued in this responsible position for about ten years, being twice re-appointed. At the expiration of this time, the Territory having taken her position as a State in the American Union, Judge Hallett was called upon to accept the more responsible position of Dis- trict Judge of the United States for the District of Colorado, which position he has since held. Ilis judicial record is universally respected. Besides

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his judicial honors, he has served two sessions in the Council of the Territorial Assembly, where he rendered efficient serviee. In short, he has aided, very largely, not only in settling many of the dis- putes that have come up in the Territory and State, but he has also done a great deal toward establish- ing justice and dignity in the Colorado eonrts, without which no community can ever prosper.

JAMES M. HAMRICK.

Among the enterprising young business men who contribute by their business industry to the advancement of the commercial interests of Den- ver, is James M. Hamrick, the subject of this brief sketch. Mr. Hamrick was born in Sperryville, Rappahannock Co., Va., September 21, 1852. He enjoyed the usual advantages of a public-school education, and in the spring of 1872, came to Col- orado. He was employed until 1875, in the gro- cery house of A. J. Williams & Holliday, in Den- ver. Becoming a partner in the firm in 1875, they carried on a wholesale and retail business at 391 Blake street, until May 31, 1879, when Mr. Ham- rick disposed of his interest in the business to Mr. J. M. Strickler, still, however, remaining as mana- ger, which position he still occupies. Mr. Ham- rick was married in St. Louis on the 23d of Octo- ber, 1878.

CASPAR R. HARTMAN.

Mr. Hartman was born in Mount Vernon, Ohio, and reared on a farm until, at the age of nineteen, he went to Iowa, stopping at Iowa City, where he soon secured a good situation, overseeing the work- men then building the railroad bridge across the Iowa River at that place. Going to St. Joseph, Mo., in 1859, he engaged in the freighting busi- ness until the spring of 1860, when he came to Den- ver. Going into the mountains, he, with four others, made a Incky strike, dicovering the rich deposits of California Gulch. He and his partners sell ing out their elaims in the fall, Mr. Hartman spent the winter in St. Joseph, but returned to Denver again the following spring, engaging in the freight- ing business until, in April, 1863, he opened a

livery stable at 294 Holladay street, West Denver, renting the property which he now owns, and on which his fine stables now stand. In 1866, he was married at St. Joseph to Miss Emma Kane, and, the second day after the wedding, started with his bride to make the trip to Denver by wagon. He had a train of seventeen wagons and several buggies for his livery business ; he also brought considerable stock, employing thirty-two men to drive the teams and stock. In 1871, Mr. Hartman was elected Treasurer of School District No. 2, which office he filled satisfactorily for five years. In the spring of 1872, he was elected to the City Council, where, for four successive terms, he served the citizens of Denver faithfully and well. He has been a life-long Democrat, always taking an active interest in politics, and in many closely contested campaigns, city, county and State, has his influence been felt. He is naturally adapted to the business in which he is engaged and in which he has been so successful, but it is to his affability and genial, whole-souled nature that he mainly owes his popularity.

GEORGE W. HUSELTON.

The facilities offered by Denver as a manufact- uring center for the Rocky Mountain region are drawing hither many enterprising men from the older States, and the past few years have witnessed a great increase in the products of home manufac- tories. The manufacture of soaps was begun in March, 1877, by G. D. Kinnear and G. W. Husel- ton, and has been one of steady growth to the present time. The firm at the present writing is G. W. Huselton & Co., consisting of G. W. Hu- selton and T. E. Poole. Notwithstanding active competition of Eastern manufacturers, they have established a lucrative trade, and, although turning out annually one and a half million pounds of laundry soap alone, besides large quantities of toilet soap, they find their present capacity inadequate to the demands of their rapidly increasing business. George W. Huselton was born in Luzerne County, Penn., November 22, 1847, and removed with his

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parents, at the age of eight years, to Butler County, in the same State, where he attended the public schools until he was nineteen years old. Entering Mount Union College, Ohio, he remained two years. In 1866, he removed to Virgil, Mo, and until 1872 was engaged in the real-estate busi- ness there and at Nevada, the county seat. Re- turning to the oil regions of Pennsylvania, he was extensively engaged in boring oil wells until 1877, when he removed to Denver, and formed the part- nership above alluded to.

JOHN D. HOWLAND.

Mr. Howland is undoubtedly the pioneer artist of the West, and his master pictures have placed him among the prominent artists of America. He was born in Zanesville, Ohio, May 7, 1843, and was educated at Marietta College. In 1857, while a mere boy, his ambition for adventure and new scenery led him across the broad Plains, and, before the Pike's Peak excitement was dreamed of, John D. Howland sought a home among the Sioux Indians, as there were no white settlements, and amid the wild and grand scenery of the Rocky Mountains the young artist feasted and trained that power which nature had given him until from his easel came masterpieces of art. He was one of the party who laid out the old town of Auraria, now West Denver. At the beginning of the re- bellion, he enlisted in the First Colorado Cavalry, serving for about four years, after which he spent about two years in Europe. In 1867, he rendered valuable service as one of the Secretaries of the famous Indian Peace Commission in the treaty with the Northern Sioux, and when necessity de- manded, he also acted as scout and interpreter. In 1874, accompanied by Mr. Hiester, he made a perilous journey from Santo Domingo to Messilla, down the Rio Grande River, in the sail-boat McGuffin, from which voyage the practicability of navigation on this river was demonstrated, he being the first man who ever navigated the river between these points. For a number of years, Mr. How- land was engaged as a Government scout, but of

late years he has devoted his entire time to his art studio and has produced a number of fine paintings, among which are "The Scouts," or "On the Trail ; " "The Hunter and the Hunted ; " " The Chief of the Herd ; " a beautiful " Scene in the Famous Canon du Chaille," and many others. He has traveled from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and has had the advantages of more natural and wild scenery than perhaps any other artist in America, in testimony of which a number of his paintings speak more impressively than words, for in them are portrayed feelings, a proper conception of which can only be acquired from actual experi- ence. Critics and patrons of art in the Eastern cities, have done themselves honor by doing him justice, and many of his pictures have sold for large sums. As an artist, he does great credit to his profession, and as a citizen he is universally respected.

COL. S. HURON HASTINGS.

It would be difficult to note any biographical mention of the above-named gentleman, without turning back to the days of the late war, and the early years of the Territory of Colorado. There are now living in Colorado, three brothers of this family, whose lineage is of English origin-George E., Vernon P. and S. H. Hastings. George E. Hastings, the oldest brother, was one of the first pioneers to cross the Great Plains, in search of gold at Pike's Peak. When the exciting news first came, of the fabulous wealth of the " Pike's Peak Diggings," G. E. Hastings, with an organized party of fifty or more venturesome explorers, set out for the new El Dorado, by way of the Smoky Hill Route in 1858, The little party of pioneers had great difficulty in making their way along the Solo- mon and Smoky Hill Rivers; thence, by a dim trail to the Rocky Mountains. They were nearly sixty days crossing the Plains from the Missouri River to the banks of Cherry Creek, where Denver now stands. The town of Auraria, where West Den- ver now stands, consisted of two log cabins. Times were lively, however, for the wildfire of excitement had swept the country with its flames,

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and a throng of credulous gold-hunters soon swarmed over the Plains, in search of gold. This pioneer still lives near Dallasville, Colo. Next to follow the older brother was Vernon P. Hastings, who crossed the Plains in one of the early coaches of the old Ben Holladay line. Mr. Hastings was at one time in the employ of William Graham, the pioneer druggist of Colorado. For some years afterward, he was the owner and proprietor of one of the principal hotels of Denver. He is now in business with his brother, S. H. Hastings. Ver- non P. Hastings was born in the year 1841, and is now thirty-eight years of age. S. Huron Hast- ings was born in the State of Michigan, in the year 1843.

When the first call for troops was made by President Lincoln in April, 1861, young Hastings was among the first to respond. Exchanging his books for a musket, he entered the army in Col. Ellsworth's brigade in May, 1861. Ellsworth's brigade was the first to cross the Potomac to the Virginia side, while Gen. Winfield Scott was yet commanding the United States Army. Hastings was with that command and helped to capture the first prisoners taken in the war. The first victory, however, was soon turned into sadness by the death of their gallant Col. Ellsworth, who fell from Jackson's fated ball while taking down a con- federate flag in Alexandria. Mr. Hastings served under Gens. McDowell and Heintzelman in the Army of the Potomac until Gen. McClellan was ordered to that army. We next find him with a regiment of cavalry in Gen. Custer's Michigan brigade. Gen. Custer's old brigade, with which he won his well-merited renown, was composed of the First, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Regiments of Michigan Cavalry, and Col. Hastings commanded the Fifth. During the three years of active field service of that regiment, Col. Hastings, with his command, served under Gen. Sheridan in all his campaigns with the armies of the Potomac and Shenandoah; also with Maj. Gen. Pleasanton, while that officer commanded the cavalry corps, pre- vious to Gen. Sheridan's taking that position.

He served under various division and brigade com- manders-Gens. Stahl, Buford, Kilpatrick, Custer, Torbet, Merritt, Wilson and Devin, and was seri- ously wounded in the foot and groin, with pieces of shell, in one of Sheridan's battles, and had three horses shot under him in cavalry engage- ments. Col. Hastings and command were with Gen. Dahlgren on his memorable raid through Gen Lee's lines to liberate the Union prisoners on Belle Island, Richmond, in 1863, and brought through the little remnant of that ill-fated column to Gen. Butler's lines on the Peninsula. At the battle of Fisher's Hill, where Gen. Sheridan saved the day by his famous ride, Col. Hastings was ordered to engage the enemy, when the grand charge was made, together with Gen. Lowell's regular brigade. In that charge, Gen. Lowell fell, and Col. Hastings caught him as he left the saddle, and still has the fatal ball that cansed Gen. Lowell's death. The Fifth Michigan went with Sheridan on his last march up the Shenandoah and across to the James River to join Gen. Meade again and take part in the closing battles of the the rebellion. In Gen. Merrit's Division, under Sheridan, it fought its last battles, from Five Forks to Appomattox and the surrender of Gen. Lee. The records of the casualties of that regiment, yet to be seen in the War Department, show the service it rendered, and Col. Hastings' record is a part of it. After being mustered out of the serv- ice, Col. S. H. Hastings again started for the field of action to join the Liberal army in Old Mexico. Maximilian was soon captured and exe- cuted at Queretaro, and that ended the war in Mexico. Col. Hastiogs was then engaged several years in railroad service, but returned to Denver in 1873, after an absence of seven years, to locate permanently. His life has been an active one. Taking the responsibilities of a regimental com- mander at the age of twenty, not a year of life since that time has been allowed to waste in idle- ness. Col. Hastings was married in 1870 to Miss Celia A. Witter, a lady whose acquaintance dates back to the years of classmates and school

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life. He became a resident of Denver three years later, and since that time has been engaged in business under the firm name of S. H. Hastings & Co., as commission merchants, produce and powder dealers. This house is the outgrowth of the old firm of Cory & Hastings, established in 1873 by Z. H. Cory and S. H. Hastings. For several years the old firm did one of the largest commission trades in the Territory of Colorado, and had the entire pork trade of Wyoming and Colorado. The firm has gradually changed its line of business and now has one of the largest trades in flour, grain, meats and powder in the State. They are general agents for the American Powder Company, of Boston, and the Neptune Powder Company, of New York.

CHARLES N. HART, M. D.

Charles N. Hart, Homeopathie physician and surgeon, was born November 24, 1849, at Hart- ford, Conn. He received an academie education and entered the military service in May, 1864, remaining in the service about six months, when he was disabled by a saber stroke. He returned to his studies, but was soon compelled to abandon them in consequence of ill health resulting from his wound. In the summer of 1867, he came to Colorado for the benefit of his health, and remained until the Kansas Pacific Railroad was completed, in the intervening time making an overland trip via Salt Lake City, to California. Returning East, he resumed his studies, graduating with distin- guished honor from the Homeopathie Medical College of Missouri, at St. Louis, receiving both the surgical and materia medica prizes. After leaving the college he formed a partnership with the distinguished Dr. R. Huson, of Lawrence, Kan., where he began the practice of medicine, remain- ing there until the spring of 1878, when he re- moved to Denver. He is a skillful physician and lias secured an extensive practice. Dr. Hart is a member of the "Kansas and Missouri State Hon- orary Medical Association," and was Vice-President of the same for the year 1879.

JOSEPH HODGSON.

The subject of this sketch, Joseph Hodgson, one of the pioneers of 1859, was born in Essex County, N. Y., March 11, 1835. His father was an artisan, engaged in the dressing of iron ore, and was able to give his son but a moderate edu- eation. In the summer of 1850, Mr. Hodgson entered a machine-shop and learned the trade of a nail-cutter. Two years later, while but a lad of seventeen, he started, by way of the Isthmus, to California, and remained there till June, 1859, when he came to Pike's Peak. Instead of pros- pecting and mining, of which he had had con- siderable experience in California, he engaged in farming and stock-raising on Bear Creek, in Jefferson County, where he still owns a large ranche. In connection with his brother, William Hodgson, who came to Colorado at the same time, he has been largely engaged in dealing in horses and mules. For the past year, Mr. Hodgson has given some attention to mining, being the owner of valuable mining property on Mosquito Range, near Leadville.

OTIS L. HASKELL.

Otis L. Haskell was born at Gloucester, Mass., May 18, 1845. At the age of fifteen, he went to sea in the merchant service, continuing until 1863, when he entered the U. S. Navy with rank of En- sign, and was in many important engagements of the late war, among which were the capture of Petersburg, Richmond, etc. He was the youngest officer in the U. S. Navy, and received a letter of thanks from the Secretary of the Navy for im- portant documents captured at Richmond. At the close of the war he resigned, and engaged in mer- cantile business in Gloucester, Mass, until the fall of 1873, when, owing to ill health, he removed to Colorado. During the first three years of his resi- dence in the Territory he was unable to do much, but in the fall of 1876 went into the commission and storage business with Mr. Waters, under the firm name of Haskell & Waters, which is one of the strongest and best in the city. Mr. Haskell is

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one of Denver's prominent and prompt business men, who, by honest integrity, has established a business reputation that does honor to himself and the city.

ARTHUR HENDEY.

The senior partner of the firm of Hendey & Meyer, manufacturers of mill and mining machin- ery, is a self-made man, as truly as his associate in that business. He is of English birth, having been born in the city of London October 2, 1848, but eame to the United States at an early age, and located in Wolcottville, Conn. Here he learned the carpenter's trade, working at it for some little time, and attending a night school, where he ob- tained a good practical education. At the age of sixteen, Mr. Hendey began working at the mill- wright and pattern-making trade, and continued this employment until he was nineteen. He then went to California, where he remained two years, perfect- ing his knowledge of pattern-making. At the ex- piration of this time, Mr. Hendey, returned to Wolcottville, and, in company with his brother, started a machine shop. He was engaged in this business four years, learning the machinist's trade of his brother. They started in a small way, having one lathe and planer, and a small engine of their own make. Failing health caused him to sell out his business at a time when it was in a very pros- perous condition. The firm then employed thirty hands, and ran a large shop, which they had built and fitted with the necessary machinery. In the mean time, Mr. Hendey, in April, 1871, had married Miss Fannie Brimble, of Connecticut. Again turning his face westward, he sought recup- eration and rest on the Pacific Coast, remaining in California a year, and visiting different portions of the State, in search of a favorable spot to locate. Failing in this, he removed to Denver in the spring of 1875. For one year he worked in a repair shop as machinist, and in the spring of 1876, pro- curing a small foot-lathe and hand planer, he started a shop of his own. From this shop Mr. Hendey turned out some of the finest work ever made in Denver, but was very much crowded and ham-

pered in his small establishment. He soon, how- ever, formed a copartnership with Mr. Meyer, like himself a practical machinist, and the new firm, with their increased facilities, very soon largely extended their operations.

J. H. HOWARD.

J. H. Howard was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., May 20, 1841. When twelve years of age, he went to Dubuque, Iowa, and entered the door, sash and blind factory of J. L. Dickinson, with whom he remained eleven years. He afterward spent three years with Knapp, Stout & Co., in the same business. Removing to Chicago, he connected himself with Palmer, Fuller & Co., lumber mer- chants, acting as traveling salesman for that firm seven years. In January, 1877, he came to Den- ver, and, with his brother, formed a partnership with Hallack & Bro., in the lumber business, under the firm name of Hallack & Howard, who have since operated successfully their extensive door, sash and blind factory.

PETER HEADBURG.

The Swedish Vice Consul for Colorado, Wyoming, Arizona and New Mexico, was born in Sweden, June 29, 1838. He was educated at the Swedish common schools, and supplemented his Old World education by private tuition since his arrival in the United States. In 1857, he visited our shores merely as a tourist, with no idea of remaining in the Republic. On his voyage, he formed the acquaintance of Miss Christina Andersen, and, dur- ing the nine weeks' time which the sailing vessel occupied in the trans-Atlantic trip, he formed an attachment for his fair "comrade du voyage," whom he married in December, 1860. From December, 1857, until the winter of 1862-63, he was located at Galesburg, Ill., and supported him- self by his trade-that of sign and house painter. Removing to Attica, Ind., he took charge of the paint-shop of a carriage, wagon and corn- planter manufacturing concern, remaining in that town two years. Having contracted the asthma

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while in this country, he was compelled to abandon painting, and removed to Paxton, Ill. Engaging in the lumber trade at that point, a year after- ward, he was elected Justice of the Peace, holding that office for about four years, and then served as Tax Collector one year longer. In the mean time, he had taken a trip to Sweden for his health. In 1873, Mr. Headburg came to Denver an invalid, having been given up by bis physicians ; he stead- ily improved while here, and sending East for his family, determined to remain in this " life-giving " elime. He engaged in the real-estate business in Denver, and was appointed Vice Consul by the Swedish Government for the sister Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway. Mr. Headburg is at pres- ent in robust health, and is an enthusiastic admirer of Colorado's elimate and resources, as well as one of her most respected citizens.

NELSON HALLOCK.

Nelsou Hallock, one of the pioneers of Colorado, was born September 5, 1840, in Albany County, N. Y., and at an early age removed with his par- ents to Winnebago, Ill. He was raised on a farm until he was nineteen years old, receiving a good common-school education. He came to Colorado in June, 1859, and engaged in miniug in Russell Gulch, Gilpin County, and in Clear Creek County, until the fall of 1863, when he went to Montana and followed mining for one year. Returning to Colorado, he purchased a saw-mill in Jefferson County, which he ran for about four years. After selling out, he bought a steam-mill in the same county, which he ran three years, and then removed the mill to Park County, where he ran it for about five years longer. He also erected a mill in Lake County in 1874, on the site of the city of Leadville. He ran these two mills until 1877, when he sold the mill at Leadville, and moved the Park County mill to that point, and after running it for a short time, sold it, and started the livery and teaming business in Leadville. Iu June, 1877, he sent out some men prospecting who discovered the Carbonate mine, and after working

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History of the city of Denver, Arapahoe County, and Colorado, Part 62

Author: O.L. Baskin & Co. cn; Vickers, W. B. (William B.), 1838- Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co. Number of Pages: 844

Author: O.L. Baskin & Co. cn; Vickers, W. B. (William B.), 1838-
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 844