History of the city of Denver, Arapahoe County, and Colorado, Part 71

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 71
USA > Colorado > Denver County > Denver > History of the city of Denver, Arapahoe County, and Colorado > Part 71

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

H. H. MEYER.

H. H. Meyer, of the firm of Hendey & Meyer, machinists, and manufacturers of mining and mill- ing supplies, is a native of Northern Germany. He was born near the city of Bremen March 22, 1839. His family removed to the United States when he was but seven years of age, and settled in Milwaukee, Wis. Receiving a common-school education in Milwaukee, Mr. Meyer removed to St. Louis in 1858, and there apprenticed himself for four years in the Eagle Foundry, to learn pat- tern-making, serving his four years with credit, at the same time attending the night school of Wash- ington University and Jones' Commercial College, thus obtaining a thorough business education. In 1862, Mr. Meyer removed to Davenport, Iowa,

taking a position as book-keeper in a grain house. He was employed in that capacity four years, and while there, married Miss Lida Lercher, of Daven- port, in November, 1866. He came to Denver in the summer of 1867, and was book-keeper for Isaac Brinker for six years, at the expiration of which time he took charge of the hooks of Will- iam Holladay, remaining with him eighteen months. In the spring of 1874, Mr. Meyer obtained a position in the German National Bank, where he remained four years. On the 1st day of April, 1878, he formed a copartnership with Arthur Hendey, the new firm building and open- ing a small foundry and machine shop. They gradually added to their facilities, introducing new machinery, and, in the spring of 1879, erected a building to be used as a workshop for the foundry. This workshop was at first run in connection with their foundry without any addition to the corps of workmen employed by them; they now have a force of eighteen men employed in this branch of the business alone. Mr. Meyer is not only a prac- tical machinist, but excels as a designer and draughtsman, doing all of that work, as well as the pattern-making for the firm. He has taken out patents on an " automatic cut-off gear," for steam engines, a " balance slide-valve " for steam engines, and a drawing-board for draughtsmen and archi- tects, the two former being used at present in his business. Mr. Meyer may well be cited as an example of energy, pluck and self-reliance, the firm which he represents having an enviable posi- tion among Denver houses, and being known for its promptness, reliability and sterling integrity.

WILLIAM W. MONTELIUS.

William W. Montelius, who has been identified for the past three years with the musical interests of this city, was born July 2, 1852, in Freeport, Ill. After receiving a good common-school educa- tion, he, in 1870, engaged in the music business as traveling salesman for Ford & Wise, holding that position until 1873, when he purchased their business and continued the same until 1876. He

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Y then sold out his business, and in the fall of the same year came to Denver and engaged in a similar business here. In connection with his regular music business, he was the general manager of the Western Cottage Organ Company, for Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico. He continued in this business up to the fall of 1879, when he sold out and entered the firm of Jepson Bros. & Co., which firm is largely engaged in the manu- facture and sale of Jepson's Bitters. Mr. Mon- telius is married to Miss Eva S. Rhodes, of Freeport, Ill. He is one of the prompt and reli- able business men, who, through his own unaided efforts and by industry and perseverance, has met with well-deserved success.

M. J. MCNAMARA.

Among the enterprising and successful dry- goods merchants of this city, is M. J. McNamara, now of the firm of Drew & McNamara. He was born in County Leitrim, Ireland, May 29, 1843. In 1849, when but six years old, he came to America, and received his education in Philadel- phia. In 1855, he entered the dry-goods business in a linen-importing house in Philadelphia, remain- ing there six years. In 1861, he went to St. Louis, and was with the well-known firm of Ubsdell, Pierson & Co., now William Barr & Co., for five years. In 1867, he began business for himself in St. Louis, continuing for about two years, then went to Liberty, Mo., remaining until 1871, when he left there and came to Denver. After clerking here for some time, for the firm of Brooks, Giddings & Co., he entered into a partnership with Mr. Drew, for the purpose of carrying on the dry goods business. This firm has had a very sue- cessful career, the business steadily increasing from year to year, until they now have one of the best retail trades in the State.

CHARLES P. MOFFETT.

This popular dentist was born December 29, 1841, at Batavia, N. Y .; he received an academic education, after which, in 1858, he began the study

of his profession, remaining in the same office about six years, the latter part of the time as part- ner. In the spring of 1864, he came to Denver, and began the practice of his profession, which he has since continued. He has also been engaged in the mercantile and fancy-goods business in Den- ver, as a partner in the firm of Pierce & Moffett. He is a prominent Odd Fellow, has held all the offices in the subordinate Lodge, from Treasurer to Noble Grand, and in the Encampment, from Scribe to Chief Patriarch, and was for one year, a member of the Grand Lodge of this State.

JOHN J. MAXEY.

John J. Maxey, dealer in agricultural imple- ments, and a man who has met with much success through his business ability and sterling worth, was born in New Orleans, La. His parents re- moved to St. Joseph, Mo., when he was seven years of age. At sixteen years of age, he began to learn the wagon and buggy manufacturing business, serv- ing as an apprentice two years in St. Joseph, and one in Western Missouri. After working as a journey- man five years longer, four years as foreman in the employ of the Holladay Stage Company, he came, in the fall of 1861, to Denver. He found himself possessed, on his arrival, of a $5 gold piece, with which he paid his first week's board. He was employed by the Overland Stage Company for some little time, and, in the fall of 1866, formed a partnership with W. J. Kinsey, continuing with him until the fall of 1870, since which time he has continued the business alone in the same local- ity. He is the owner of a fine farin in Larimer County, and a fruit ranche in Los Angeles, Cal., and is, therefore, enabled to test the worth and utility of his stock in trade on his own premises.

HON. THOMAS MACON.

Thomas Macon, of the well-known law firm of Wells, Smith & Macon, was born in Christian County, Ky., May 26, 1830. When he was but nine years of age, his father moved to Blooming- ton, Ill., where Mr. Macon began the study of

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law in 1853, and in 1855, was admitted to the bar. He at once located at Oskaloosa, Iowa, and began the practice of his profession, continuing until 1863, when he came to Colorado, located at Cañon City, and practiced law in that place up to 1876, when he came to Denver, and has since been actively engaged in the practice of his pro- fession. In 1867, without effort or solicitation on his part, he was elected to the Territorial Legis- lature from Fremont County, serving in the ses- sion of 1867-68. He married Miss Virginia Har- rison, of Burlington, Iowa, in 1857. Mr. Macon has the highest sense of public and professional honor, and is, in every sense of the word, a reliable gentleman. In his profession, he stands high ; is one of the most careful and diligent students of the principles of the law, and is widely known as one of the best advocates in the State.

HON. JOHN McBROOM.

John McBroom was among the first immigrants who crossed the Plains, and settled in Arapahoe County. He was born in Floyd County, Ky., July 26, 1822. When but three years of age, he was taken by his parents to Crawfordsville, Montgomery Co., Ind., where he received a common-school edu- cation. He remained at home, upon his father's farm, until 1843, and then removed to St. Joseph, Mo., and followed farming until 1846. Removing to New Mexico, he entered the Government service, serving in the Quartermaster's Department for twelve years, during which time, in March, 1855, he entered the army, and participated in the cam- paign against the Ute Indians, in Southern Colorado. They started from Fort Massachusetts, seven miles north of Fort Garland, and continued fighting the Indians until the following autumn, when peace was made. Returning to Fort Union, he remained in the Government employ as wagon and forage master until March 1, 1858, when he went with the Government troops, under Col. R. B. Marcy, now General, to Utah, to quell the Mormon outbreak. Arriving in Colorado, they encamped on the present site of Denver, building a ferry-boat to transport

the command over the Platte River. The command returned, in the fall, to New Mexico, and in the spring of 1859, Mr. McBroom removed with his family to Colorado, and settled in Arapahoe County, upon his present homestead, a few miles up the Platte River from Denver, where he has since resided, and by his thriving industry added many acres to his original homestead, and many valuable improvements, having constructed the first ditch for agricultural purposes, south of the city of Denver. In 1876, he was elected to the State Legislature, upon the Republican ticket, receiving the unanimous support of his party. He was married in Denver, in 1866, to Emma J., daughter of William Bennett, of Terre Haute, Ind., and has a family of four children.

ISAAC E. McBROOM.

Mr. McBroom is one of the pioneer farmers of Arapahoe County, being among the first to preëmpt a homestead in the beautiful valley of the Platte, where he has since resided, and by economy and industry has gathered around him the comforts of life. From time to time, he has purchased addi- tional land, to the improvement of which he has given his entire attention until he has become one of the most successful and prosperous farmers of the Platte Valley. He was born in Montgomery County, Ind., April 22, 1830. At the age of thirteen, he removed with his mother, his father having died several years before, to St. Joseph, Mo., where he remained in attendance on the pub- lic schools until 1850. Removing to Mills County, Iowa, he settled upon a farm near Glenwood, the county seat of that county. In the spring of 1860, he came to Denver, and soon afterward located upon a farm where he has since continued to reside. He was married in Mills County, Iowa, August 6, 1854, to the daughter of Joseph Bower.

ROBERT MARQUIS.

Mr. Marquis was born in Elgin, Scotland, June 8, 1845. His father was an artist. In 1848, his parents emigrated from Scotland to the United

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States, and located in Milwaukee. He was educated in the public schools, and at the age of twenty-one became a clerk in a grocery store, and remained in that business five years. He was married April 25, 1870. In 1872, he removed to Denver, and immediately engaged in the grocery business in company with his brother. After four years, he sold out and bought a farm ; but after one year's experience in that business returned to Denver, and from that time to the fall of 1879 was engaged in the grocery business.

JOHN J. McGINNITY.

Mr. J. J. McGinnity was born in Mineral Point, Wis., July 9, 1852. At the age of twelve years, he was sent by his parents to school at Madison, Wis., and, after spending two years there, entered Notre Dame University, at South Bend, Ind., con- tinuing his studies four years in that institution, completing the commercial course, and nearly com- pleting the classical courses. He belonged to the Class of 1873, but his studies were interrupted by failing health in the spring of 1872, when he was advised by his physicians to try the climate of Col- orado. Coming to Denver in July, 1872, his health began to improve, aud was soon so far restored, that he accepted a position as book-keeper for C. D. McPhee, with whom he remained until January, 1879, when he purchased an interest in the business, the firm being C. D). MePhee & Co., manufacturers of building material, and wholesale dealers in lumber. They have continued to do a prosperous business, being one of the most flour- ishing establishments in that branch of industry.

IION. J. W. NESMITH.

J. W. Nesmith, the Superintendent of the Colorado Iron Works and a practical machinist, was born January 4, 1834, at Chillicothe, Ohio. Going to St. Louis, he learned the machinist's trade, which he followed there and in the vicinity until the spring of 1860, when he was employed by one of the mining mill companies just organ- ized in St. Louis to come to Denver and superin-

tend the setting-up and running of their machinery for a short time. After this, he worked for A. G. Langford & Co. for about nine years, being fore- man of the shop the greater part of the time. He then went to Black Hawk and engaged in the milling business for two years, when he sold out, having received the appointment of Master Mechanic of the Colorado Central Railroad Company, which position he held for about four years. He was then Master Mechanic of the Denver Division of the Kansas Pacific Railroad until he was appointed Superintendent of the Denver South Park & Pacific Railroad, which position he held until February, 1879, relinquishing it to take the super- intendency of the Colorado Iron Works, which position he now holds. He was a member of the Upper House of the Territorial Legislature for the sessions of 1868 and 1870.

EZRA A. NEWTON.

Mr. Newton was known as one of Colorado's leading citizens. From the time that he first became a citizen, to the close of his life, he was identified with the commercial and industrial interests, both of this city, and in other parts of the State, displaying the ability characteristic of his life of perfecting far-reaching plans, with the careful management so essential to their success. He was born in Luzerne County, Penn., March 23, 1817. His life was a varied one. At the age of fourteen, he began the real struggle of life, and prompted by ambition to obtain a collegiate education, all his efforts were directed to that one end. He began by teaching school, and studying nights in order to prepare himself for a course of study in Carlisle College, which he entered in due time with fair prospects. But his arduous work in preparing himself now began to have its effects, and his college life was thus abruptly terminated by failing health. He then began the mercantile business and continued the same for several years, but his health failing again, he was compelled to abandon it. He then turned his steps westward, and located in Ripon, Wis., then a new country,

ANTON SCHINDELHOLZ.

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which imbued him with the spirit of a pioneer. After five years, he removed to Spring Grove and made some investments in land, remaining there three years. He then removed to Monroe, and two years afterward purchased a farm in the suburbs of that town, where he engaged in the lumber business, which he carried on successfully for several years. In the fall of 1870, he removed to Denver, and became largely interested in real- estate improvements, but he was best known in Denver through his connection with the City National Bank, of which he was a Director. His operations were not confined to Denver alone, for he was largely interested in the stock business in El Paso County, and it was while on a trip to the East, for the importation of blooded stock, that he died suddenly, at Waukesha, Wis., June 24, 1878, in the sixty-first year of his age, leaving four sons, who are now engaged in business. He was married, October 10, 184I, to the daughter of J. Wilber, Esq., of Carbondale, Penn.

J. H. NICHOLS.

J. H. Nichols, of the law firm of Herr & Nich- ols, real-estate and mining agents, was born in Chester, Geauga Co., Ohio, January 19, 1843. T a received a collegiate education at Denison Uni- rsity, Granville, Ohio. In 1860, he learned ¿ egraphy, and the following year, at the opening of the civil war in 1861, he went to Washington a. d joined the army telegraph corps, serving dur- ing the war in the War Department at Washing- ton, at the headquarters of the Army of the Po- tomac, and of the Army of the James. He was with Gen. John Gibbon at Appomattox Court House, Va., during the surrender of Lee's army. in September, 1867, he came to Denver, and worked as operator in the Western Union Tele- graph Office. He was afterward appointed man- ager of the office at Cheyenne, Wyoming Ter., and also agent of the Denver Pacific and Kansas Pacific Railroads at that point. During his resi- dence there, he was for four years one of the Directors of the First National Bank, and served

as County Commissi mer for four years, being elect- ed by Democrats and Republicans without opposi- tion. His popularity as a citizen and his enthusiastic support of all the political measures of his party twice secured for him the nomination for the Legislature, which he refused. In 1878, he returned to Den- ver as General Agent of the New York Life In- surance Company, and associated himself with Theodore W. Herr, in the real-estate, law and mining business. He has extensive mining inter- ests in Colorado. He was married, September 15, 1868, to Miss Isabel Robey, daughter of the late Hon. John E. Robey, of Washington, D. C.

HENRY P. NAGEL.

Mr. Nagel was born in Schleswig-Holstein, in the northern part of Germany, April 23, 1844. At the age of sixteen, he was apprenticed to the jewelry business, and, after serving four years, started out for himself as journeyman watchmaker. In 1866, he came to the United States and fol- lowed his trade in New York City until 1869. He then came to Denver, and for five years worked at his trade as journeyman watchmaker. He then began the jewelry business in company with Ber- nard Monk, but at the end of one year, he dis- solved partnership with Mr. Monk, and since that time has conducted a thriving business under his own management, at his present number, 268 Fif- teenth street.

W. H. J. NICHOLS.

This gentlemen is well known in Denver as an architect of large experence and ability. He was born in the town of Royalton, Vt., September 5, 1819. In 1824, his parents removed to Boone- ville, Oneida Co., N. Y., where he learned the carpenter's trade, and in 1840 went to Lake County, Ill., and began working at his trade. Three years later, he settled at Little Fort (now Waukegan), and engaged in contracting and building till Deeem- ber, 1855. In the spring of 1856, he entered the office of Mygatts & Schmitner, architects, at Mil- waukee, Wis. In the fall, he removed to La Trope, Wis., and opened an office as architect and

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continued the practice of that profession there, un- til April, 1872, when he came to Denver, and has since continued his practice with success.

D. C. OAKES.

The subject of this sketch was one of a party of young men, who, in 1849, crossed the Plains and journeyed through the wild mountainous regions and across the range into California in search of gold, and afterward one of the first pioneers of Colorado ; being one of the party who built the first houses and established a permanent settlement upon the site where the city of Denver now stands. He was born in Carthage, Me, April 3, 1825. His parents removed to Gallion, Richland Co., Ohio, in 1831, where his mother died in 1832. In 1835, he removed with his father to La Grange County, Ind., and after spending one year he re- moved to Black Purchase, now Clinton County, Iowa. Here he received an education in the pub- lic schools. In 1847, his father died. Two years later, he started in company with Abram Walrod to California, where he engaged in mining in the placer mines on Middle Fork of Feather River, in partnership with Hon. A. R. Colton, who was a member of Congress from his district in Iowa and Judge of the District Court there. After spending a few years in California, engaged in mining, he returned to Clinton County, Iowa, and was married in July, 1853. The same year, he removed to Glenwood, Mills Co., Iowa, where he remained until 1858, during which time he was engaged in contracting and building. The crisis of 1857 and 1858 caused him to again turn his steps westward, and September 14, 1858, together with four others, H. J. Graham, Abram Walrod, George Pancoat and Charles Miles, he started for the Rocky Mountains, arriving at the mouth of Cherry Creek on the 10th of October the same year. Here they encamped, and the next day, October 11, 1858, they established the first permanent settlement on the town site of Denver. Four miles up the Platte River they found Green Russell and party of thir- teen persons, who, after his return from California

to Georgia, being convinced by the discoveries he had made that gold existed in paying quantities in the Rocky Mountains, outfitted his party with the determination of spending several years in the mountains before abandoning the search. This party came to the mountains by the Arkansas route following the Cherokee trail from the Arkansas River to Cherry Creek, arriving in July, 1858, where they discovered gold. He then started up the Platte River with his party, prospecting for float-gold along the streams. About four miles above the head of Cherry Creek, he made the first discovery of gold in paying quantities in Colorado. Here Mr. Oakes and party found him. Mr. Oakes being an old California miner, was the leader of his party, and continued prospecting for float- gold until November 12, satisfying themselves that gold existed in paying quantities in the Rocky Mountains. At that time, Capt. Smith and himself, having purchased the Pike's Peak Guide and Journal, of the Old Georgia Company, began its publication at Pacific City, Iowa. In Novem- ber, the party returned to Glenwood, Iowa, and in the spring of 1859 Mr. Oakes, having pur- chased a saw-mill, returned to Colorado and located it twenty miles south of what is now Denver, on Plum Creek. He operated the saw-mill about five years, furnishing the lumber for building the town of Denver. Having sold out his mill in May, 1865, he was appointed by President Johnson Indian Agent for the Grand River, Yumpak and Uintah Indians, and served in that capacity until October 30, 1869. Since that time he has been engaged as Deputy United States Land Surveyor, in ex- tending public surveys.

DANIEL C. OSWALD.

Mr. Oswald was born May 3, 1842, in Buffalo, N. Y. His father was a school teacher, and, had he lived, would have been able to give his son a thorough education ; but, when Danicl C. was but eight years old, the death of both his parents, within six weeks of each other, left him doubly orphaned, and he was soon bound out to a farmer

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in the vicinity of Lancaster, N. Y. At eighteen, he went to St. Joseph, Mich., where he found employment as clerk in the grocery store of Robert B. Duncan (whose daughter he afterward married), and clerked for two years, when he, with a partner, purchased the business of his employer. On the breaking-out of the rebellion, he responded to the call of the President for 75,000 men, but the regiments under this call being all filled, the company disbanded, and Mr. Oswald, going to MeGregor, Iowa, enlisted in Company K, First Iowa Cavalry, and, after three and a half years of arduous service, was mustered out at Davenport, Iowa, in the fall of 1864. Returning to St. Joseph, he engaged in the meat business, and six months later came to Colorado. After clerking about a year, he engaged in business for himself, in which he has continued successfully to the pres- ent time. In October, 1877, Mr. Oswald was chosen by the Republicans of the First Ward to represent them in the City Council, and served with credit for two years. He was married February 20, 1878, to Miss Louise M. Duncan, of St. Joseph, Mich.

HENRY ORNAUER.

Mr. Ornauer is a native of Austria, and was born in the year 1850. While his educational advantages were limited in his youth, he has sup- plied that deficiency by self-instruction and obser- vation in maturer years. He was trained at an early age to business pursuits, in which he has been engaged without intermission up to the pres- ent time. He came to Colorado in 1878, and es- tablished the business of merchant tailor at Nos. 263 and 265 Fifteenth street, Denver, and has succeeded in building up a trade in the hest qual- ity of goods, and among the best class of cus- tomers. Mr. Ornaner was married in New York City in 1878 to Miss Sallie Ornaner, of that place. His political affiliations are with the Re- publican party. Mr. Ornauer brought capital with him to Denver, which, by a successful business and judicious investments in mining interests, has swelled to a very respectable fortune.

EVAN G. OWENS.

Evan G. Owens was born in North Wales in 1836, and passed his earlier years on his father's farm. In his sixteenth year, he attended school under the auspices of the Established Church, and received a fair instruction in the elementary branches. He was apprenticed at the carriage- building trade, and served the usual term of three years in that occupation. In 1859, he went to Birmingham, England, and, discarding the trade he had learned, sought employment in a gun-shop, and was thus engaged until he had acquired a thorough knowledge of gun-making. In July, 1863, he came to the United States, and landed in New York City on the morning of the great draft riots in that city. He obtained immediate employment in the great gun-store of J. P. Moore & Sons, of New York, and afterward at Yon- kers, N. Y., and Norwich, Conn. In 1864, he worked in the Springfield Armory, and, at the close of the war opened a gun-store at No. 110 Canal street, New York City. After a brief residence in Augusta, Ga., and Henderson, Ky., he came to Denver in 1867, and superintended for ten years the gun-store of M. L. Rood, the first establishment of the kind in Denver. In 1878, he established his present business at 208} Fifteenth street, condueting a large business in ammunition, sportsmen's goods, guns and weapons of all kinds, and repair work. Mr. Owens was married, in Littleton, Colo., in 1873, to Miss Maggie Williams, of Wisconsin, who enjoys the reputation of being highly educated and an accomplished lingnist. Mr. Owens is liberal in religious views, Republican in politics, and a member of Denver Lodge, No. 4, I. O. O. F.

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History of the city of Denver, Arapahoe County, and Colorado, Part 71

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