USA > Colorado > Arapahoe County > History of the city of Denver, Arapahoe County, and Colorado > Part 72
USA > Colorado > Denver County > Denver > History of the city of Denver, Arapahoe County, and Colorado > Part 72
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GEORGE L. ORDWAY.
Prominent among the young attorneys of the Denver bar is the above-mentioned gentleman. He was born in Warner, N. H., December 10, 1853. Having prepared himself for college at Exeter Academy, in his native State, he entered Rochester College, from which institution he
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graduated in 1875. He then decided to follow the legal profession, and, with that object in view, entered the Columbia Law School at Wash- ington, D. C., where he remained one year, going from there to the Boston Law School, where he completed his legal education in 1877. In Decem- ber, 1878, he came to Denver, entering at once upon the practice of his profession in this city. Mr. Ordway is well known as a careful and able lawyer, and, by close attention to the interests of his clients, has succeeded in obtaining a fair share of the public patronage.
GEORGE S. OATMAN.
George S. Oatman was born August 16, 1848, in Pontiac, Mich. At sixteen years of age, hav- ing acquired a good common-school education, he entered the Revenue Office in the Second District of Iowa, as Clerk, remaining two years. In the fall of 1868, he came to Colorado, and was em- ployed in the North-Western Railroad ticket office for about fourteen months, when he returned to Keokuk, Iowa, where, after remaining for a short time as clerk for the General Superintendent, he was promoted to assistant paymaster and purchas- ing agent, and also paymaster of the construction department. He held these offices about three years, and then went to Clinton, Iowa, where he was cashier and bouk-keeper for the Mutual Life Insurance Company, of Chicago, until the spring of 1875. He then returned to Denver, and soon afterward became manager of the Canon City Coal Yards, of this city, which position he still occu- pies. In 1872, he married Miss Mary B. De Freest, of Lyons, Iowa.
HON. FREDERICK W. PITKIN.
The subject of this sketch is the present Gov- ernor of Colorado, having been elected to that office by the Republicans of the State, in 1878. by a majority of nearly 3,000, on a total vote of less than 30,000. His administration has thus far fully justified the high expectations of his many friends, and he is perhaps the most universally
popular man in the State. His popularity is largely due, of course, to his commanding talents, but scarcely less to his winning manner, which makes every one feel at ease in his society, and himself a welcome guest at every miner's cabin, or homely ranche in the State, as well as in the more preten- tious homes of wealth and luxury in the larger citics. Gov. Pitkin might, if he were so disposed, boast of his ancestry, but Colorado has no citizen more democratic and unpretentious. Heis, in fact, descended from the Pitkins and Griswolds, of Connecticut, where, for hundreds of years, both names have been honored in public and private life. There is in him, however, nothing of the Puritan, but an unyielding devotion to the right, a high sense of honor and fidelity to every friend, and to every trust. He was born at Manchester, Conn., August 31, 1837, where he prepared for college, and entered Wesleyan University, at Mid- dletown, "in 1854, graduating with distinguished honor in 1858. Transferring his studies to the Albany Law School, he graduated from that excel- lent institution a year later, and immediately set his steps westward, locating at Milwaukee, Wis., in 1860. The young attorney found his profession crowded, of course, in that busy, bustling North- western town, but, nothing daunted, went to work with New England pluck and perseverance, and a few years later, found himself enjoying a lucrative practice, to which each succeeding year added a little, until it became too arduous for his failing health. A change of climate was ordered by his physicians, and, in 1873, he went to Europe, where he grew worse instead of better. In Switzerland, he lay sick nearly two months, with very little prospect of recovery. Preferring to die in his na- tive land, he started home as soon as he was ableto be moved, and after his return, traveled south as far as Florida, where he remained some time, without im- proving in health.
In 1874, he was advised to try Colorado. He came West and was at once benefited by the change. Without being completely restored to' health, he is so much improved as to be able to
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resume an active business life and show forth in his own case the wonderfully curative powers of Colorado's climate. That there are such things as blessings in disguise is evidenced by Gov. Pitkin's accession to the office he now holds. He undoubt- edly owes his election to his invalidism. For nearly three years, he traveled over the State, "camping out " with the miners in the summers and spending the winters in the various cities, until he became well-known and personally popular everywhere. His mining investments in the San Juan country identified him with the interests of that section, and when the southwest presented him as its candidate for the gubernatorial nomin- ation in 1878, there was no dissenting voice north, south, east or west. He was nominated by acclam- ation, and elected by a handsome majority over a strong Democratic competitor-Hon. W. A. H. Loveland. In person, Gov. Pitkin is rather tall and slightly angular, but neither his face nor figure suggests the invalid that he was a few years ago. His kindly features light up in recognition of every friend, and his fund of dry humor is con- stantly drawn upon for their entertainment. Like the martyr President, Gov. Pitkin is fond of a story, and often points a moral with a jest. Per- haps his most conspicuous quality is his unswerving loyalty to the State. Colorado is all the world to him. He has never left the State since he entered it, except for a few days' visit to New Mexico in the interest of an enterprise of benefit to both commonwealths. He has made a systematic study of the State in all its aspects, social, moral, phys- ical and industrial, and nothing delights him more than to talk by the hour of its glorious future. As a lawyer, Gov. Pitkin stood at the head of his profession before leaving Milwaukee, being a mem- ber of the well-known firm of Palmer, Hooker & Pitkin. Since coming to Colorado, he has prac- ticed his profession but little, but his counsel has often been sought in important cases, and his legal opinions have had great weight. His eminent legal attainments won for him the support of nearly the entire bar of the State for the position
of Governor, many Democratic lawyers supporting him in preference to their party candidate. Even at this early day, he is spoken of as his own suc- cessor, and, if he consents to run, he will probably be re-elected. Mr. Pitkin has an interesting family and enjoys a moderate competency apart from his salary as Governor. His home is at Ouray, in the extreme southwestern part of the State, but his family reside in Denver during his term, and his amiable wife is fully as popular in the best society of the gay capital as her husband is throughout the length and breadth of Colorado. Although aristocracy is unknown in America, there are hereditaments of character which descend from generation to generation, and constitute a leg- acy of greater value than lands and titles. A good name is not only a priceless heritage, but it is an incentive to the highest aims and the noblest pur- poses. Gov. Pitkin is a direct descendant of the first Governor of Connecticut, and although he is the last man who would boast of his lineage, it is certain that he is sufficiently proud of his ances- try, to do everything in his power to maintain the good name which he has inherited. It would seem, too, as if some administrative capacity had been handed down to him through all these generations, for most assuredly Gov. Pitkin has developed the qualities of a good governor in a remarkable degree. His commendable conduct throughout his eventful administration has challenged the ad- miration of all, and even his political opponents concede that he has been faithful and efficient in the discharge of every public duty. Especially is this true of his official actions and utterances dur- ing the Indian troubles which have come upon the State so recently, in the management of which Gov. Pitkin has achieved a very enviable rep- utation. His vigilance has been tireless, and he has caught every opportunity to " make a point," against the savages, who have so long cursed our fair State with their presence, and whose continu- ance here is a perpetual menace to our best inter- ests. His platform, "The Utes must go," has become the universal sentiment, and in his efforts
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to relieve Colorado of the Indians, he is seconded by every man, woman and child in the State. His prompt action to protect our exposed border settle- ments at the time of the late outbreak, also en- deared him to the settlers on the Indian frontier, and his warm sympathy with them, makes his name a household word in every mining camp bor- dering the reservation. And it is a high compli- ment to the nobility of his character, that no one believes he is working for praise or popularity, but all alike give him credit for sincerity, and an earnest desire to benefit the State. At this writ- ing, the Governor is in Washington, working for the removal of the Utes, and his constituents are satisfied that he will spare no effort, and hesitate at no sacrifice of personal comfort which promises to promote that purpose. Should he succeed, he will earn the lasting gratitude of Colorado; but even if he should fail, it will be understood that he has done the best he could, and the people of the State will give him full credit for good intentions and earnest efforts in that behalf.
WILLIAM J. PHILLIPS.
Mr. Phillips was born in Toronto, Canada, April 30, 1845. In 1856, his parents removed to Cass County, Mich., and settled on a farm. Here he lived until after the breaking-out of the civil war, and on the 21st of August, 1861, he enlisted in Company D., Eleventh Michigan Infantry, and was constantly with his regiment participating in all its engagements. He was in eleven general bat- tles, besides skirmishes, including the battles of Stone River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, at Lookout Mountain, Dallas Woods, Kenesaw Moun- tain ; Marietta, Buzzard's Roost, and Peach Tree Creek, on the 20th, 22d and 28th of July; in fact, all the battles of the Atlanta campaign, in- cluding the capture of that city on the 2d of Sep- tember, 1864. He was mustered out of the service on the 13th of September, 1864. In the spring of 1865, he went to Venango County, Penn., and engaged in operating some oil wells. The next year, he returned to Michigan, and spent
about two years in the lumber business in Muske- gon and Menominee City. In September, 1870, he came to Denver, and followed his trade of a carpenter until the spring of 1872, when he went to California Gulch, and engaged in getting out ties, returning to Denver in the fall. In the spring of 1873, he was appointed as an officer on the police force of Denver, and served till August, 1876. In October, 1876, he was elected consta- ble for two years, and since the expiration of his term of office, he has been engaged in mining. He was married, April 8, 1875, to Mrs. Minnie E. Cort, of Denver, and has two children.
WILLIAM A. POWERS.
Mr. Powers is a son of William and Matilda (Morse) Powers, both natives of the State of Ver- mont. He was born in Orange County in that State January 15, 1841. About six years later, his parents removed to Newton County, where the subject of this sketch was raisad on a farm, until he was fifteen years old, when he accompanied his parents to Wisconsin, the family locating in Fond du Lac County. There he was married, Novem- ber 25, 1863, to Miss Jennie Barton, of Winne- bago County, Wis., a native of Cattaraugus County, N. Y., a lady of refinement, who came with him to Colorado, and was a valued addition to the social circles of Littleton, until her death, which took place on the 26th of May, 1879, leaving four children. Mr. Powers came to Colorado, and located in Littleton in 1870. The first three years, he was engaged in the dairy business, since which he has been mainly in the employ of Little, Lilley & Co., in the Rough and Ready Flouring Mill. During the summer of 1879, he was en- gaged with his brother, D. W. Powers, in business in Leadville.
HON. THOMAS M. PATTERSON.
The subject of this sketch was born November 4, 1840, in . County Carlow, Ireland. In 1849, he, with his parents, came to New York City, where he entered the public schools, continuing
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his studies until he was fourteen years of age. He then entered a business house as clerk, remain- ing there until 1855, when he removed, with his parents, to Crawfordsville, Ind. There he entered the office of the Crawfordsville Review, and learned the printing business, at which he worked until the year 1857. He then entered his father's jewelry store, to learn that trade. When the war broke out, and " ninety-days " troops were called out, he was one of the first to respond, enlisting, and was appointed Second Sergeant of the Eleventh Indiana Infantry. He remained in the service for over three months, when he was discharged on account of disability for the service. He then returned to his father's shop, and worked with him until 1863, when he determined to pre- pare himself for the profession of law, and, with this in view, he again resumed his studies, first at Asbury University, at Greencastle, and then at Wabash College, at Crawfordsville. After pursu- ing his literary studies for about two years, he entered the law office of M. D. White, where he was a student until the fall of 1867, when he was admitted to the practice of law in the Circuit and Supreme Courts of Indiana. He began the prac- tice of his profession at Crawfordsville, continuing until 1872, where he succeeded in acquiring a large and lucrative business. In December of 1872, he removed to Denver, Colo., and at once began the practice of his profession. In the spring of 1874, he was elected City Attorney by the Common Council of Denver, and in the sum- mer of the same year, was nominated by the Dem- ocratic party, in its convention at Colorado Springs, as its candidate to represent the Territory in Con- gress. The campaign proved a remarkable one. The Republican party was rent by dissensions, and a number of Democrats, dissatisfied with the nomination of so late a comer in their midst, prevailed upon Col. A. G. Boone, a distinguished pioneer, to announce himself as an independent Democratic candidate, Hon. H. P. H. Bromwell being the Republican nominee. Before the elec- tion, Col, Boone withdrew, and Mr. Patterson was
elected by a majority of 2,163, which was the largest majority that had ever been given any man in the Territory, and he being the first Den- ocrat that had ever been elected to a Territorial office up to that period. In the spring of the following year, Mr. Patterson went to Washington to be present at the close of the Forty-third Con- gress, and, although not entitled to a seat in that body, he rendered efficient and valuable aid to Mr. Chaffee, who at that time was representing the the Territory, in securing the passage of the bill for the admission of Colorado as a State into the Union, by exerting his influence with the Demo- cratic Senators and Representatives, without whose votes the bill could not have become a law. He took his seat in the Forty-fourth Congress, and during its session, introduced and had passed many meas- ures of importance to the new State. Among them was one enlarging the classes of citizens who might vote on the ratification or rejection of the new constitution ; another, securing an appropri- ation from the General Government to defray the expenses aud per diem of members of the Con- stitutional Convention ; and another, organizing the Federal Courts within the new State. For his services in securing the appropriation for the Con- stitutional Convention, that body unanimously extended to him a vote of thanks, which was engrossed and forwarded to him at Washington. When the National Democratic Committee met at Washington, in the spring of 1876, to issue a call for the National Democratic Convention, Colorado had not as yet become a State ; but Mr. Patterson appeared before that body and secured, for the Democratic party of Colorado, an equal standing in the National Democratic Convention with the States. He was selected as the first member of the National Democratic Committee for his bud- ding State, and was afterward appointed a delc- gate, and elected chairman of the delegation from Colorado, to attend the National Democratic Con- vention, which met at St. Louis.
In the summer of 1876, he was unanimously renominated for Congress by his party. There
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were two Representatives to be elected that year, one for the unexpired term of the Forty- fourth Congress, made necessary by the admission of the State before the expiration of Congress, and the other for the full term of the Forty-fifth Congress. There were, accordingly, two calls issued for the election of these officers, the one for the Forty- fourth Congress to be elected the 3d of October, and the other to be elected for the Forty-fifth Congress on the 7th of November. The contro- versy which arose over these two elections, forms part of the political history of the State, and is not properly a part of a biographical sketch. The result, however, was, that the Governor of the State gave the certificates of election for both terms to Mr. Belford, Mr. Patterson's opponent, and Mr. Patterson contested before the House of Representatives of the Forty-fifth Congress, Mr. Belford's right to a seat in that body, and after one of the severest struggles in the history of con- tested elections, Mr. Patterson was declared entitled to the seat, where he served during the term with great credit, participating largely in the discussion of all questions affecting the interest of the West, and led successfully the opposition to the measure recommended to Congress by the National Aca- demy of Science, and which, in effect, would have revolutionized the present system of disposing of the public land, and of their surveys. He also originated and secured the passage of an act authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to pur- chase bullion directly from the miners, at the Denver Mint; also, an act providing for the hold- ing of terms of the United States Court at Pueblo and Del Norte; another, donating the Govern- ment block in Denver to the city for educational purposes; and one for the building of a Govern- ment fort in Southwestern Colorado. He was also instrumental in pushing through the House the following measures which had previously passed the Senate: A law allowing timber to be cut in the mountains without charge, for mining, manu- facturing and domestic purposes; also, a law cre- ating a commission to treat with the Indians for
a cession of a part of their reservation within the State, and under which a great portion of the richest mineral and agricultural lands of the State have been thrown open to exploration and settle- ment. His entire term of service was a busy and useful one. He was unanimously renominated by his party in 1878, as its candidate for the Forty- sixth Congress, but was defeated with the rest of the Democratic ticket, though he received a larger number of votes than any other candidate on his ticket. Since that time he has continued the practice of his profession in Denver.
GEN. JOHN PIERCE.
Gen. Pierce is one of the prominent pioneers of Colorado, and one of her substantial and hon- ored citizens. He was born in Harwinton, Conn., May 10, 1829. At an early day, his father, Rev. George E. Pierce, D. D., was elected President of the Western Reserve College at Hudson, Ohio, removed there, and, for a quarter of a century, presided over that institution. Here John Pierce received his education, graduating with the degree of B. A., in the Class of 1850. He then entered the Engineering Department in Harvard College, where he not only shared the scientific advantages of that institution, but also the private tutorage of the renowned scientist, Prof. Agassiz. In the spring of 1851, he left off his studies at Harvard, and accepted a posi- tion on an engineering corps to make the first survey on the great Hoosac Tunnel, and, after remaining there for a short time, accepted a place on the survey of the Lake Shore Railroad, and continued on this survey for about two years, after which he continued on the surveys of important railways for about six years, among them the Wabash, Cleveland, Medina & Tusca- rawas, etc. In 1856, he returned to his home in Hudson, and, for about four years, was engaged in the lumber business and other enterprises; but, in the fall of 1861, he decided to cross the Plains; came to Denver, and, in a short time, was engaged to make the first public surveys in Colorado, on
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which he continued up to the spring of 1863, when, without his solicitation or knowledge, President Lincoln appointed him Surveyor Gen- eral of Colorado and Utah. Upon being notified of his appointment, he entered upon his official duties, and continued to discharge them for about four years. He then became interested in rail- road construction in Colorado, and has ever since been more or less interested in these important enterprises. He was connected with the Denver & Pacific, as its Consulting Engineer, Vice Presi- dent, President and Land Commissioner, in all, for about six years. In 1873, he was elected President of the Boulder Valley Railroad, and still continues to hold this position. In 1876, he was appointed Assistant Commissioner for the selection of lands donated by the General Gov ernment to the State, and, during the past year, has been Chief Engineer of the construction of the new Denver Water Works. Hence, we see that Gen. Pierce has been an active surveyor all his life, and his excellent habits and absolute reliability in every respect render him a most useful man. During his life, he has been instru- mental in determining the lines of many impor- tant railroads, and in fixing the boundaries of many important land surveys. He was one of the Directors of the First National Bank for several years, and has been President of the Safe Deposit Bank since 1874. He has come in contact with many of the hardships pertaining to frontier life, but speaks of them with pride rather than otherwise, and he now finds himself pleasantly situated in a prosperous city which he has seen grow up around him.
LEVI PALMER.
Levi Palmer, a farmer, first came to Colorado in 1861. He was born in Ashtabula County, Ohio, May 10, 1840. At the age of fifteen, he removed, with his father's family, to Sank County, Wis., where he remained until 1861, engaged in labor on the farm. Like many others, he came to Colorado with the intention of making his fortune and re-
turning home. He engaged in mining and pros- pecting in different parts of the mountains, and, in 1862, began freighting in the mountains and on the plains. He followed freighting and farming alternately up to 1866 ; was on the plains during the Indian disturbances in 1864. In the fall of 1866, he engaged in stock-raising on Dry Creek, continuing it extensively until 1873, when he began farming on his present place, near the village of Littleton, where he owns 160 acres of land. Mr. Palmer was married May 19, 1872, to Miss Katharine Lee, of Wayne County, Iowa. Of two children of this union, one is now living.
C. M. PARKER, M. D.
Dr. Parker was born in Jackson, Hines Co., Miss., and spent his early life there, receiving an academical education in Oxford University. At seventeen years of age, he entered the Medical University of Louisiana, remaining there two years. In 1862, he returned to Jackson, Miss., and entered the Confederate army as Surgeon in the Eighteenth Mississippi Regiment. He served in that capacity during the war, and was placed in charge of the hospital at Richmond, Va., and afterward at Rolla, N. C., Savannah, Ga., and Wilmington, N. C. He was married in Green- ville, S. C., in 1863. After the war, he located in Darlington, N. C., and engaged in the practice of his profession, remaining there until June, 1872, when he removed to Council Grove, Kan. After residing there six months, he removed to Denver, Colo., and resumed the practice of his profession. He may now be classed among the prominent physicians of this city. He is a member of the State Medical Society, and Vice President of the Den- ver Medical Society. He is also connected with the mining interests of the San Juan country.
MARION J. PARSONS.
In the early part of the year 1875, Marion J. Parsons came to Colorado, and established himself in business in the city of Denver. He brought with him a moderate capital, and little experience,
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