USA > Colorado > Arapahoe County > History of the city of Denver, Arapahoe County, and Colorado > Part 64
USA > Colorado > Denver County > Denver > History of the city of Denver, Arapahoe County, and Colorado > Part 64
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WILLIAM H. JACKSON.
Perhaps Colorado and her sister States of the rocky range are indebted to few of the number who have, during the past decade, represented their glories of nature to the world at large, more than to the artist whose name is written above. Born in Northern New York in 1843, he passed most of his youth in Troy, where he began painting por- traits at an early age, and continued to follow the profession until the breaking-out of the rebellion, when he enlisted in a Vermont regiment, happen- ing to be painting in that State at the time. In
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1866, he came West in pursuit of adventure, and " bull-whacked " it from the Missouri River to Cal- ifornia, returning during the following year to Omaha, with a band of " bronchos, " which he sold there, and, having for a time sufficient of adven- ture, settled in that town and resumed art, this time as a photographer, eventually becoming owner of the leading business of the kind in the place. He now began to make those extensive trips into the Rocky Mountain regions that have given him his world-wide reputation, making his first venture in 1868, and following in 1869 with a long season's work on the then newly completed line of the Union Pacific Railroad. In 1870, he joined the Hayden survey as volunteer photographer, and the following year gave np business in Omaha, and be- came officially connected with the survey. During this connection, he has made photographic views over nearly all of the Rocky Mountain region, spending four full seasons in Colorado alone, and penetrating with pack-mules and apparatus for the most elaborate work, into the most hidden recesses of our mountain domain. Many thousands of the views thus secured, with infinite pains and pa- tience, were published by the United States Gov- ernment, and, in consequence of their dissemina- tion abroad and at home, Mr. Jackson has become known as the originator of work of the rarest ex- cellence. His report on the ancient ruins of Southwestern Colorado and the adjacent territory, illustrated with plans and restorations of the ruins, and representations of the remains as they exist at the present time, is the best contribution to this branch of American archeology among the many that have been made in connection with the Gov- ernment survey, and has been eagerly sought after by scientists at home and abroad. The Govern- ment collection of portraits of distinguished chiefs of the various Indian tribes, contributed by Mr. Jackson, is the finest in existence, possesses great interest, and will soon become invaluable as a his- torical reminder of a race that is fast passing away. When the Hayden survey was discontinued, or merged, in the spring of 1879, Mr. J. came to
Denver to engage in the photographing business and on the 1st of November opened at 413 Lari- mer street, one of the most completely appointed establishments in the West. In addition to finely finished portrait work, he continues his specialty of landscape photographing, his mammoth outdoor pictures being marvels of artistic excellence, and among the places the stranger should not fail to visit in Denver is this collection, the work of per- severing genius, and prosecuted under facilities such as even genius rarely has at its disposal. Mr. J. continues his study of, and interest in, high art, and his gallery, rightly so called, will be at the dis- posal of the best painters of the day, as a place of exhibition for their works, where collectors may be sure of finding only snch pictures as Mr. J., with a high reputation to sustain, can indorse as gen- nine.
EPHRAIM S. JOHNSTON.
That success in life is not wholly a creation of circumstances, or a series of circumstances, but of that inherent power and natural ability to seize upon circumstances and turn them to advantageous account, which is denominated "tact," bnt in some people amounts almost to genius, is exemplified in the history of the above-named gentleman for the past few years. Coming to Colorado but eight years ago, too poor to obtain a farm of his own, he became a tenant of John G. Lilly, on his farm near Littleton. Not contented with the ordinary profits of this method of farming, he saw in the rich cereal productions of the Platte and Bear Creek Valleys a field for enterprise which he pro- ceeded to occupy. Purchasing, with his brothers, a steam thrasher, he has for the past four years supplemented his farm labors by thrashing a large portion of the wheat raised in Jefferson and Arap- ahoe Counties. The business has been a profitable one, and Mr. Johnston is now the owner of a fine farm of 100 acres on Bear Creek, and with his habits of untiring industry and his well-known character for personal integrity, it requires but little fore- sight to predict for him a career of influence, wealth and usefulness. He was born in Greene
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Co., Ohio, June 2, 1849, being a son of Thomas P. Johnston, and a grandson of one of the early pioneers of Ohio. He is the third in age of a family of ten children, seven of whom chose Colo- rado as their home, and six of whom still reside in the State. Mr. Johnston came to Colorado in 1871, and on the 7th of October, 1873, was mar- ried to Miss Ellen A. Davis, of his native county in Ohio, and has two children.
ABRAHAM JACOBS.
Among the pioneer business men of Denver, and one who has by fair dealing and perseverance estab- lished himself as one of the prominent merchants of the West, is Mr. Jacobs. He was born in Frens- dorf, Germany, August 18, 1834, and came to the United States when but nine years of age. He resided successively in Louisville, Ky., Cincinnati, Ohio, and Lexington, Ky .; most of the time en- gaged in clerking. In the summer of 1857, he went to Omaha, Neb., where he was engaged in bus- iness for himself, continuing until the summer of 1859, when he crossed the Plains and engaged in business in Denver; for the first year in the auc- tion and commission business. He then sold out and went to Central City, and there engaged in a general merchandise business for about five years. In 1865, in addition to his business in Central City, he opened a line of wholesale and retail clothing and gents' furnishing goods in Denver, under the firm name of A. Jacobs & Co .; continu- ing business at both points until 1876, when he disposed of his business at Central City, and has since given his entire attention to his extensive and prosperous business in this city, in which he carries the largest stock in this line of any firm in Colorado. In 1867, Mr. Jacobs bought the Den- ver & Santa Fe Stage Line, running from Denver to Trinidad, of which he was owner and pro- prietor for three years, when he sold out, owing to the press of his increasing mercantile business. Ile is one of the pioneers who has always used his influence in favor of law and order, and has done everything in his power toward developing
Colorado ; is public spirited and reliable, and a prompt and enterprising business man.
FERDINAND JENSEN.
The senior partner of the wholesale hardware house of Jensen, Bliss & Co., is Ferdinand Jen- sen, who, although now a resident of Deadwood, D. T., is well known in Denver, where, for ten years, he occupied a high position as an upright, honorable citizen and an enterprising and success- ful merchant. He was born in August, 1839, in Holstein, Germany, where he received a good education. In 1854, his parents emigrated to the United States and settled in Davenport, Iowa. A few years later, he left home for St. Louis, where he was connected with a large grocery house for a couple of years. Returning to Davenport, he entered the employ of Harper & Steele, a promi- nent wholesale hardware firm of that city. In 1867, he came to Denver, Harper & Steele having established a branch house here some two years before. He continued in their employ until 1869, when he entered the hardware establishment of Tappan & Co. In December, 1871, he and Will- iam M. Bliss purchased the business of Tappan & Co., and have since been prominently identified in the commercial interests of the Rocky Mount- ain region. In 1877, Mr. Jensen went to the Black Hills, and established a branch house in Deadwood, where the firm now enjoys an extensive and successful business.
JAMES JONES.
Mr. Jones was born in Herefordshire, England, April 14, 1836. At the age of fourteen he was employed by the Government to carry the mail to different points. In 1863, he engaged in farming, and in 1868, purchased a brick and tile manufac- tory, but heavy losses in this business, combined with three excessively dry seasons in farming, brought on financial embarrassment from which he was unable to recover. Determining to try his fortunes in America, he sailed for the United States on the 15th of October, 1872, landing in
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New York about one month later. Spending the winter in New York, he came the following spring to Colorado, and engaged in gardening in Littleton. Two years later, he put in a crop of small grain on the place known as the Shackleton farm, which he had purchased; but his crop being destroyed by the grasshoppers, he engaged in stock- raising on the Divide. Losing many of his cattle during the severe winter which followed, he re- turned to the farm where he has been successfully engaged in raising hogs, of which he has about a hundred head. Mr. Jones was married, October 8, 1867, to Mrs. Elizabeth Barton, widow of Thomas Barton, and has three children.
GEORGE W. KASSLER.
The above-named gentleman, cashier of the First National Bank of Denver, and well known in commercial and banking circles throughout the country, has been a resident of this city since 1860. He was born in Canajoharie, Montgomery Co., N. Y., September 12, 1836. His early edn- cational advantages were limited, as at the age of eleven he entered a store, where he was employed during the summers, the winter months only being spent in school, with the exception of one year. At fifteen, he went to Cooperstown and, after clerking in a store one year, he was engaged as a clerk in the post office until 1857, when he came west as far as Omaha, Neb. While there, he was employed by L. R. Tuttle and A. U. Wyman in the banking business. Both these gentleman afterward held the office of Treasurer of the United States. It was under the instruc- tion of these eminent financiers that he acquired the principles and laid the foundation of his accu- rate and intimate knowledge of banking. Early in 1860, he left Omaha for this city, the journey between the two places occupying twenty-four days. From that time to the building of the railroad, Mr. Kassler made no less than a dozen trips across the Plains by stage and once by wagon train. He arrived here in April, and at once entered the banking-house of Turner & Hobbs, with whom he
continued until, on the breaking-out of the rebell- ion, they closed their business here and returned to the East to look after their affairs in that part of the country. He was then appointed assistant to Maj. J. S. Fillmore, Paymaster of the United States Army, and in that capacity was dispatched to New Mexico to pay off the troops in that Ter- ritory. Returning at the end of nine months, he made a short visit East, and, while there, received the appointment of cashier in the United States Mint, then established in this city. In January, 1864, he resigned his position in the mint and engaged in merchandising and insurance business in Denver, in which he continued eleven years. He is a practical insurance man, and was for several years President of the Denver Board of Underwriters. While engaged in merchandising, he became connected with the First National Bank, of which he was a Director for several years. In 1874, he closed his mercantile business and became actively connected with the manage- ment of the bank as assistant cashier. For the past year, almost the entire responsibility and con- trol of the business has devolved on Mr. Kassler, and how well he has discharged the duties of the position is evident to all having business relations with the bank. It is safe to say that no man occupies a higher position in the public estimation as a financier, a business man, a citizen and a genial, affable, whole-sonled and high-toned gentle- man, than George W. Kassler. He has recently been appointed cashier of this bank. Among the official positions which he has held are those of Deputy Territorial Treasurer in 1876 and City Treasurer a year or two before. He has dealt quite extensively in real estate, and has recently crected, with David H. Moffat, Jr., a very fine business block on Lawrence street. For a number of years, he has been more or less interested in mining operations, and is at present a stockholder in the Little Pittsburgh Consolidated Mining Company. He has been Secretary of the Denver & South Park Railroad Company since its organi- zation, and has been Treasurer of the Denver
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Board of Trade. Mr. Kassler was married, in 1865, to Miss Maria T. Stebbins, of Clinton, N. Y., and has two sons.
HON. STEPHEN W. KEENE.
Among the many men who have sought homes and fortunes in Colorado, but few, if any, have hetter kept pace with the general forward move- ment of Denver, or been more closely allied to the business interests of the State, than has Stephen W. Keene. Born in Luzerne County, Penn., December 27, 1840, he started at the age of four years to Illinois. His father dying soon after, his mother returned to Pennsylvania, where, until he was twenty-five years old, he was variously employed, receiving the greater part of his educa- tion through his business transactions. When Jay Gould started his extensive tannery at Goulds- boro, Penn., Mr. Keene was one of the first men employed, remaining with him fifteen months, and taking part in the famous Gouldsboro war. We next find him employed by the Delaware & Lackawanna Railroad Company, with whom he served over seven years in nearly every capacity from sub-station agent at Gouldsboro, to con- ductor of a fast train on the same road. At the breaking-out of the war in 1861, he enlisted in the Second New York Light Cavalry, and was detailed to take charge of all the transportation wagons of the regiment, which duty he performed so faith- fully and well that his commanding officers were greatly pleased with his soldierly deportment. From here he was appointed Quartermaster of the Department of the Potomac, and accompanied Gen. Banks on his disastrous Texas expedition. He was with the Seventeenth Army Corps, under Gen. Frank P. Blair, on Sherman's famous march to the sea, and, at the close of the campaign, was mustered out at Savannah, Ga. He then returned to New York and published the book ealled " Kilpatrick and Our Cavalry," losing heavily in the enterprise. After an extended trip throughont the West, he returned to Pennsylvania and engaged largely in manufacturing all kinds of wooden
implements, and in the wholesale grocery business. He served two terms in the Pennsylvania Legis- lature, from 1869 to 1871, as the representative from Luzerne County, containing a population of over two hundred thousand people, being elected over a Republican majority of 3,000. In 1873, he came West, and for a time assisted in constructing the Texas Pacific Railroad, and in developing the coal mines of Kansas, Texas and Indian Territory. Desiring a more permanent occupation, he came to Denver in November, 1877, and opened the Planters' Hotel on Sixteenth and Wazee streets, which he controlled a little more than one year, and then bought the Lindell Hotel in West Den- ver, which he is still running. Aside from super- intending the management of the hotel, he has engaged extensively in contracting and building, and also in mining enterprises, having developed some of the richest mines of Colorado.
JOHN I. KLOCK.
The foreman of the car-repairing shops of the Kansas Pacific Railroad, in Denver, is John I. Klock, who holds an enviable position in the com- munity, both as a mechanic and an ex-soldier of the Union army. He was born in Montgomery County, N. Y., in 1836, and passed his early life on his father's farm, working when he was old enough to assist his father during the summer months, and attending public school in winter. He served an apprenticeship of three years in St. Lawrence County, learning the carpenter's trade, and afterward moved to Wisconsin, where he worked on a farm two years, and then procured employment from the Chicago & North-Western Railway, as bridge-builder, and subsequently, as mechanic in the car-shops of the same Company. When the country called for volunteers to protect the Union and suppress the rebellion, John Klock abandoned the workshop and enlisted as a private in Company A, Thirty-second Wisconsin Volun- teers. Until the close of the war, when peace was declared and the cause of the Union had triumphed, he remained in the field, participating in the cam-
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paigns of Sherman's army, receiving promotion as First Sergeant of Company A, Thirty-second Wisconsin, and in April, 1865, advanced to the post of Captain of Company D, One Hundred and Thirty-fifth United States Colored Infantry. Mr. Klock came to Colorado in 1870, and has resided with his family in Denver since that time. He is at present foreman in charge of car-repairing in the shops of the Kansas Pacific Railroad, enjoying the confidence and esteem of his superiors and fellow- workmen. He was married in Wisconsin in the year 1860. By hard work and prudent manage- ment, he has earned for himself and family a good home in the city of Denver. He belongs to the Masonic and Good Templars organizations, and is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
FRANCIS G. KING.
Mr. King is one of the active business men of this'State, who has been the architect of his own fortune. He has not grown rich through any sudden streak of bonanza "luck," but by industrious and careful business enterprise he has acquired ample means, which he is now largely using toward developing the interests of this city and State. He was born in Chautauqua County, N. Y., February 26, 1834, received an academic education, and for about four years followed teaching. In the spring of 1865, he had saved quite a little sum of his earnings, which he decided to invest in Western lands ; he made his purchase in Iowa, and held the land until 1872, when he disposed of it at a good profit. In 1857, he went into the hardware busi- ness at Meadville, Penn., and continned until 1861, when he formed a partnership with his brother, and they removed their business to Titusville, Penn., and remained there until the spring of 1866. He then sold out, and removed to Rochester, N. Y., where he engaged in the manufacture of cotton goods, and also carried on a large manufactory of carriage wood-work, until the spring of 1873, when his health became so impaired that he was compelled to sell out his business. In the fall of 1874, he came to Denver,
and for the first year was unable to do any busi- ness except to handle a little money. In 1875, finding the climate beneficial to him, he began making investments in real estate. In 1876, he, with others, opened the Bank of Clear Creek County, at Georgetown, of which Mr. King was Vice President for two years, and the same year he made a number of investments in San Juan mining® property. During the years 1877 and 1878, he con- tinued to invest in real estate and to handle large amounts of money, both for himself and Eastern parties. In 1879, he began investing largely in Denver real estate, and is now erecting, in connection with H. H. King, one of the largest and finest busi- ness blocks in this city. He was married to Miss C. M. Westgate, of Crawford County, Penn., in Octo- ber, 1861.
WILLIAM W. KNIGHT.
Mr. Knight was born in Calhoun County, Mich., December 6, 1837. He is a son of Thomas Knight, a native of Yorkshire, England, who immigrated to America in 1831, and settled in the wilds of Michigan, being now the oldest living inhabitant of Calhoun County. He is one of the largest land-owners and most successful farmers in the county, occupies his original home- stead, is, at the age of seventy-five years, still hale and hearty, and is an example of the fine old English gentleman. William W. Knight received a common-school education, and spent one year in Olivet College. He hegan business in Marshall, Mich., as a boot and shoe dealer, and, after several years, engaged in the grocery trade in Niles. He was afterward, for eight years, the agent of the Howe Sewing Machine Company, and, for three years, had the entire control and management of their business for Western Michi- gan. His wife's health failing, he removed to Denver in December, 1873, as the Manager of the Howe Sewing Machine Company for the State of Colorado. In the spring of 1875, he formed a partnership with his brother, Frank A. Knight, and A. K. Clark. and took the State agency of the Domestic Sowing Machine. About a year later,
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they added the music business, to which they have since devoted the largest share of their attention, and in which they have met with the most gratifying success, being, by all odds, the largest musie house in Colorado, their trade extending throughont the entire State and over a considerable portion of New Mexico and Wyo- ming Territories. The firm is at present Knight Brothers & Waterbury. Besides being the exclusive agents for Colorado for the Steinway, the Chickering and the Hallett & Davis pianos and the Burdette, Mason & Hamlin and Esty organs-the best three organs in the world-they carry a full stock of cheaper instruments, while their assortment of small musical instruments and musical merchandise is still more extensive, their line of sheet music embracing no less than twenty-five thousand pieces. They still do an extensive sewing machine business, selling fully eight hundred annually, their leading machine being the Domestic. Mr. Knight was married, September 24, 1861, to Miss Marion H. Kincaid, of Calhoun County, Mich., a member of the well- known Kincaid family of Washington County, N. Y. They have one son living.
REV. MATTHEW KLAIBER.
Rev. M. Klaiber, Pastor of the German M. E. Church of Denver, was born in Wittenberg, Ger- many, August 13, 1831. He received a good edu- cation and studied medicine seven years, after which he came to this country and immediately settled in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, to engage in the practice of medicine, which he continued for one year, at the expiration of which time he went to Kentucky, where he was a railroad Superintendent two years. Returning to Cuya- hoga County, he engaged again in the practice of his profession, and also carried on quite an exten- sive stone business. While in Kentucky he was married to Miss Mary Gluntz. He continued the practice of medicine in Ohio for two years, and then began preaching the Gospel for the Evangelical Church, and was sent to Marshall, Clark Co., Ill.
He remained with the Evangelical organization until he came to Denver, in February, 1878, when he united with the M. E. Church, and was soon after called to the pastorate of the M. E. Church here. Mr. Klaiber is active and efficient in the discharge of his duties, and in the short time in which he has been in Denver, has gained for him- self a host of warm friends.
JAMES G. KILPATRICK.
Mr. Kilpatrick was born May 2, 1848, in County Armagh, Ireland, and received a good common- school education. He came to the United States in 1866, arriving in St. Louis in May, and soon afterward entered a notion house of that city as book-keeper, remaining there until November, 1868. He then purchased a farm near Pleasant Hill, Mo., and for a short time engaged in farming, after which he sold out and went to Baxter Springs, Kan., and engaged in clerking and book-keeping for about one year. He then formed a partner- ship with Guren & Hunter, and bought out his employer, continuing in business for about one year, when Hunter & Kilpatrick succeeded, this firm continuing for about one year longer. They then sold out and Mr. Kilpatrick came to Denver in July, 1872, where he again entered a dry-goods store as clerk for a short time, and then took charge of the books in the furniture store of Smith & Doll, for about a year and a half. He then formed a parnership with Robert Brown of Cincinnati, Ohio, and opened a furniture store, in which business he has since continued. By strict integrity and careful business management, Mr. Kilpatrick, who has the entire charge of the busi- ness in this city, has built up one of the best trades in Colorado.
JAMES H. KIRK.
James H. Kirk, Master Mechanic of the Den- ver, South Park & Pacific Railroad, was born in Biddulph, Canada West, in the year 1852. His boyhood and youth were passed in Chicago, Ill., whither his mother had moved when he was quite
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