History of the city of Denver, Arapahoe County, and Colorado, Part 75

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 75
USA > Colorado > Denver County > Denver > History of the city of Denver, Arapahoe County, and Colorado > Part 75

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ried in Denver in 1874. Though his life has been one of unremitting toil, he may enjoy the satisfaction of beholding his labors crowned with success.

HENRY REITZE.

Henry Reitze is one of the pioneers of Colorado, having came to Denver in 1858. Of German birth, he went to London at the age of eighteen to learn the baking business, at which he worked six years, and then came to the United States. He first settled at Bridgeport, Conn., and followed the business of a painter until 1857, when he went to Nebraska and began farming twelve miles from Omaha. In 1858, attracted by the reports of rich gold discoveries in Colorado, he traded his farm for a yoke of oxen with which he crossed the Plains to Denver. Here he sold his team and opened the first bakery in Colorado, with which he made $3,500 in eight months. He then began mining in Nevada Gulch, which he continued a few months and then returned to Nebraska, was married, and immediately returned with his wife to Denver and began painting, which business he still continues. Mr. Reitze is a member of the Board of Trustees of the German M. E. Church of Denver, a shrewd, conscientious business man, and by energy and application has accumulated a fair share of this world's goods.

CYRUS G. RICHARDSON.

Whatever success Mr. Richardson has achieved in life, and whatever educational advantages he has enjoyed, are due solely to his own exertions, com- bined with frugal and industrious habits. He was born in Phillips, Me., December 31, 1841. His active carcer opened at the age of fifteen as a school teacher in a country village in his native State, serving successfully in that capacity until he accumulated money enough to enter Waterville College, from which institution he graduated with the highest honors in 1864. Selecting the law as his profession, he commenced his studies at Augusta, Me., and, in the fall of 1865, entered the Law De- partment of the University at Albany, N. Y.,

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graduating the following spring. He began the practice of his profession in St. Louis in 1866, where, in a few years, he attained a prominent position at the bar. Close application to his studies during his collegiate course, and the severe labor he imposed upon himself after being admitted to the bar, had combined to undermine a constitution naturally weak, and, in 1869, he deemed it pru- dent to abandon his profession for a time and to recuperate his health by travel and residence in a more favorable climate. With that object in view he came to Colorado, and, after spending three years in different parts of this and adjoining States, and having sufficiently regained his strength, he resumed the practice of his profession in Denver, where he is well and honorably known for his merits as a lawyer and his worth as a citizen. In July, 1877, he was appointed Deputy County Superintendent of Schools for Arapahoe County, and has filled the responsible duties of that posi- tion in a highly creditable manner. Mr. Richard- son was married, in 1867, to Miss Julia Frances Tibbals, an accomplished lady and a graduate of the State Normal School at Albany, N. Y.

S. A. RICE.

S. A. Rice, of Denver, Colo., was born in Wayne County, N. Y., June 1, 1837. He received a good common-school education, and followed teach- ing in his native State for about two years. He then concluded to take the advice of the great journalist, and westward he came; first to Angola, Ind. There he followed teaching during the win- ter season for three years, and employed the re- mainder of his time in the study of medicine with his brother, a practical physician of that place. In 1859, he started for Pike's Peak, but abandoned the journey when he had reached Lan- caster, Kan., and practiced medicine there for one year. In the spring of 1860, he resumed his journey across the plains to the " gilded peak," and, after a tedious journey, arrived in Denver, where, for about a year, he clerked for his father-in-law, J. W. Smith, after which he went into a general mercan-

tile business for himself, in the old Fillmore Block. He lost his entire stock in the big fire of 1863, but resumed business again, continuing for about one year, when he sold out and followed freight- ing during the years 1863 and 1864, until the fall of the latter year, when he went into the lumber business, and has continued in this ever since. In this business he can boast of fifteen years' success- ful experience.

CAPT. ROBERT S. ROESCHLAUB.

Robert S. Roeschlaub was born in Munich, Ba- varia, July 6, 1843. His parents came to the United States in 1846, and settled iu Quincy, Ill., where he remained until 1862. He then entered the United States service, enlisting in the Eighty- fourth Regiment, Illinois Volunteers, and served until the close of the war, taking part in the battles of Stone River, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Frank- lin, Nashville, and the battles of the Atlanta cam- paigu. He was twice wounded, and was gradually promoted, from a private, through all the grades of office to that of Captain. He studied and prac- ticed the profession of architecture in Quincy, Ill., before and after the war. He came to Denver in February, 1873, and began the practice of his pro- fession as an architect, which he has followed suc- cessfully to the present time. He was married in Quincy, Ill., in 1863 ..

JEROME S. RICHE.

However alluring to the weary plodder in the treadmill of human existence may be the prospect of travel, either in our own or in foreign lands, it is the universal experience of tourists, that the topic which soon becomes the all-absorbing one, constantly recurring with every change of locality, and beside which the most stupendous works of nature, and the most beautiful creations of art dwindle, for the time being, into insignificance, is that of obtaining a square meal, or comfortable night's rest. The "best hotel" is the Mecca, toward which their pilgrim feet are always turned. If this be true in general, it is more especially

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the case with the new arrival in Denver, after the long journey aeross the dreary Plains. Among Colorado tourists, " Charpiot's," with its cheerful, home-like rooms, its table laden with the deliea- cies of every clime, its polite attendants and its genial host, has long been held in the highest regard, and has for years been the rendezvous of foreign tourists in Colorado ; especially of wealthy and cultivated Englishmen, in whom the heart and the stomach are supposed to be nearer together than physiologists would have us believe. It has become the headquarters of many of the " bonanza kings," and the character of its accom- modation is such as to justly entitle it to its name of " the Delmonico of the West." Jerome S. Riche, the proprietor, was born near Belfort, France, June 12, 1849, and is, therefore, but thirty years of age. He accompanied his parents, in infaney, to Ameriea, and lived successively in Buffalo, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Mad- ison, Wis., and Chicago, removing at the age of ten years to Dubuque, Iowa. In 1866, after the death of his father, he came with his mother and the other members of the family to Colorado, and up to 1873 was engaged with Mr. Fred. Char- piot in running Charpiot's Hotel and Restaurant. He acquired an intimate knowledge of the hotel business. In 1873, he leased Charpiot's Hotel, then having but twelve rooms for guests, and has since increased its capacity to seventy-five rooms, while in every other respect the house has main- tained its previous high character and reputation.

ADOLPH RAUH.

Mr. Rauh established the first Steam Marble Works in the city of Denver. He was born in the Palatinate of Bavaria, Germany, April 26, 1837. When seventeen years of age, he came to the United States, and served an apprenticeship to the marble business in New York City. After spend- ing six years in the marble business in New York, he emigrated to California, where he remained about a year. Removing to Arizona, he spent one year in mining. He then removed to Virginia

City, Nev., and established the first marble works in the Territory. He resided there until 1868, when he returned to St. Louis, Mo., where he spent two years in the study of designing. In 1870, he came to Denver, and embarked in the marble business, in company with F. R. Frotzscher, establishing the first steam marble works in the city. One year afterward, he built a steam stone saw-mill, in West Denver, on an extensive plan, and expended a large sum of money in exploring the Boulder Valley for stone quarries. He also discovered quarries at Cañon City, and at Pueblo, and the famous Castle Rock quarry, from which many of the finest blocks in this city are built. He located the first stone quarries then known in the State, and expended large sums of money in connecting them with the railroads. He operated his mill from 1872 to 1875, but, owing to ill health the last year, he left the management of the business to his partner, who did a losing business. In the spring of 1875, he bought out his partner and settled up the business, and has since that time continued the marble business successfully at his present location. He was married in November, 1874.

GEORGE RUBLE.

George Ruble, wholesale dealer in saddlery, hardware, leather, findings, hides and wool, was born in Lancaster, Fairfield Co., Ohio, September 10, 1836. When sixteen years of age, he went to Sugar Grove, in the same county, and engaged in the mercantile business, after which he returned to Lancaster and qualified himself for a teacher. After teaching two years, he engaged in the mercantile business in Lancaster. At the open- ing of the war, he took charge of the Sutler Department of the Thirty-eighth Ohio Volun- teer Infantry, and, in the fall of 1863, returned to Lancaster and elerked in a store for two years. He then went to Topeka, Kan., and engaged in the saddlery and hardware business with his brother until 1867, when he accepted the propo- sition of Mr. W. C. Lowenstein, of Denver, Colo., to take charge of his business, on a salary

W. A.Williams Mag.

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of $2,500 per year. One year after coming to Denver, he became a partner in the profits of the firm; and, in 1871, in consideration for his services of three years, was made full partner, and continued the same until 1876, when he bought his partner's interest, and has carried on the business successfully up to the present time. He is also proprietor of the Denver Morocco Works. He was married June 3, 1874.

DR. AARON B. ROBBINS.

Dr. Aaron B. Robbins was born in Sardinia, Erie' Co., N. Y., November 14, 1824. He is the son of Elisha Robbins, of Wethersfield, Conn., and Hannah Bishop, of Brattleboro, Vt. December 25, 1834, his parents settled in Mead- ville, Penn., to give their children the advantages of the excellent schools of that place. Aaron, the subject of this sketch, at the early age of fourteen years, began the study of medicine with Dr. Edward Ellis, supporting himself by mechanical pursuits. His medical studies were interrupted by attendance at Allegheny College, after which he resumed them under Dr. Harlow. In 1843, he began the study of dentistry with Dr. C. F. Robbins, and early identified himself with the dental societies of the United States. He was one of the founders of the old Philadelphia (now Pennsylvania) Dental College. He organized many local societies in Pennsylvania, which resulted in the formation of the Pennsylvania State Dental Society, of which he was the first President. September 17, 1851, he was married to Mary C. Watrous, of Ashtabula, Ohio. About the same time, he became an active member of the Crawford County Medical Society. In 1849, he united with the M. E. Church, of which he has has been a member for ten years. In 1853, being prostrated by overwork, he visited Lake Superior, and resumed the study of mines and minerals. Returning, in 1856, to the head of the lake, he founded the town of Duluth. In 1857, he built a dock at that place-the first dock that withstood the shock of the waves of the great lake. From

1856 to 1859, he was identified with the mining interests, and explored, or prospected, the north shore. Becoming interested in the mines of Colorado, he came to this State in 1871, and has ever since been interested in the practical working of mines, and as a broker and mining engineer. He was the first to engage with Gov. John Evans in projecting and building the Denver, South Park & Pacific Railroad. He introduced the Morrison stone as a building material, which is adding much to the beauty of the city. In 1873, he met with three garroters on Fourteenth street, in this city, who inflicted such injuries upon him, that he has never recovered the full use of his left arm. He is now devoting most of his time to mines and mining machinery. His life has been one of very great activity, identified, as he has been, with schools, colleges, societies, churches and many mechanical and industrial pursuits. Having the first refiuery ever built expressly to refine petroleum, he personally superintended the manufacture of the "Crystal Carbon Oil," that took the first premium (a silver medal) at the World's Fair, in London, England. He is the father of nine children, four of whom now reside with him at his home, 325 Champa street. He has traveled in almost all the States, and has also practiced medicine in many of them. His cor- respondence, published in the Eastern papers, has attracted many to this State.

HON. LEWIS C. ROCKWELL.

Lewis C. Rockwell, one of Denver's successful lawyers, was born in Schoharie County, N. Y., in 1840; received his education at the high school in Beloit, Wis., and after being ad- mitted to the bar came to Colorado in 1862, and engaged in the practice of law in Central City. He was, in 1869, appointed United States District Attorney for Colorado, which position he held four years. In 1875, he represeuted the County of Gilpin in the Constitutional Convention, and in in 1876 was chosen from Gilpin County to the Senate of the first State Legislature. Mr. Rockwell

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is a man of strict integrity, and ranks high in his profession as a careful pleader and good advo- cate.

HON. BENJAMIN F. RICE.

Mr. Rice settled with his family in Denver, Colo. in June, 1879, and opened a law office at Leadville, and immediately entered upon a lucrative practice. He was born in the town of Otto, Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., May 26, 1828. He removed to Ken- tucky in 1847, taught school and at the same time studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1848. He settled at Irvine, Estill Co., Ky., and there followed his profession until 1860. He was a member of the State Legislature in 1855-56, and a Presidential Elector in 1856 upon the Democratic ticket. In 1860, he removed to Mankato, Minn., and there practiced law, until the breaking-out of the rebellion; when he joined the Third Regiment Minnesota Volunteers as a private, but shortly afterward was appointed Captain. He served through the war and was mustered out at Little Rock, Ark., where he settled and resumed the practice of law. In 1867, he was made Chairman of the Republican State Cen- tral Committee, organized the party in that State, and in the spring of 1868 was elected United States Senator. His term expired in 1873. While in the Senate, he served on the Judiciary Commit- tee, the Committees of the Pacific Railroad, Dis- trict of Columbia, Privileges and Elections and was Chairman of the Commitee on Mines and Mining. After his term as Senator expired, he resumed his practice of the law at Little Rock and resided there until he removed to Colorado. He was married, February 16, 1868, to Nannie J., daughter of J. H. Riddell, Esq., of Irvine, Ky.

H. RUSHMORE.

The proprictors of the well-known floral estab- lishment, " Bellevue Gardens," situated on Broad- way, were originally from New York. The senior member of the firm was born at Catskill, Greene Co., N. Y., in July, 1825. He was married in 1847, and moved with his family to Petersburg,

Va., in 1851, where he carried on an extensive floral establishment in company with his son, F. T. Rushmore. They remained there until 1872, when they came to Denver, and started their floral garden on Broadway, which, at that time, seemed on the prairie, but at the present time is situated in the midst of a fine residence district, so won- derful has been the growth of the city. For the first three years, they suffered severely from those pests of Colorado and of all the West-the grass- hoppers-but by perseverance, although sustaining heavy losses, they continued to add house after house to their garden, till at present they have four large houses and many frames, containing 6,000 feet of glass. Rapidly recovering from the devastation of the grasshoppers, they have increased their business until they number among their pat- rons many parties from the adjoining Territories. The calls for rare flowers show more and more the cultivated tastes of the people of the State, and among the pioneers of the mountain towns.

EDWARD W. ROLLINS.

E. W. Rollins, a native of New Hampshire, was born in Concord, in that State, November 25, 1850, where he remained in attendance upon the public schools, until sixteen years of age, when he entered the Massachussets Institute of Technology, in Boston, from which he graduated in 1871, as a mining engineer. He immediately came West, and spent the summer in engineering, and travel- ing in Colorado, Wyoming, California and Utah. Returning to Boston in the fall, he became an assistant in the Institute of Technology, until the spring of 1872, when he again came West, and located in Golden, Colo., where he was employed as an engineer during the construction of the Col- orado Central Railroad, having been appointed resident engineer for that road in 1873. He also held the office of cashier of the Company, in which position he remained until 1876, when he removed to Denver, and became Treasurer of the Colorado Improvement Company ; since that time, he has been dealing in investment securities, bonds,

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State and county warrants, etc. He was married in Denver February 27, 1878.

RT. REV. GEORGE MAXWELL RANDALL, D. D.

George M. Randall, the first Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Colorado, was born in War- ren, R. I., November 24, 1809. He was a son of Judge Randall, an able jurist of that State. He graduated from Brown University in 1835, and three years later, from the Theological Semi- nary of New York. He was ordained to deacon's orders the same year, to the order of priesthood in 1839, and the following Sunday entered upon his duties as Rector of the Church of the Ascen- sion, at Fall River, Mass., laboring there with good results until 1844, when he removed to Bos- ton, and became Rector of the Church of the Messiah, a recently organized parish of that city. Both in Boston and Fall River, beautiful and sub- stantial churches were erected during his ministry. In Boston, he held many important church offices, being for years a member of the Standing Committee of the diocese. In addition to his parochial and other duties, he was editor of the Christian Wit- ness and Church Advocate for a number of years. He was a member of the Primary and Grammar School Boards of Boston for many years, and was prominently identified with the educational inter- ests of the city. In 1851, he was elected Grand Master of the Grand Lodge, A., F. & A. M., of the State of Massachusetts, the oldest Masonic Grand Lodge on the continent, being organized in 1733. In 1856, the degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him by his alma ma- ter, Brown University. Having been chosen Missionary Bishop of Colorado, he was conse- crated on the 28th of December, 1865, and in the following June arrived in the Territory, making the journey across the Plains in a stage coach. There were then but two parishes in the Territory -St. John's, at Denver, and St. Mark's, at Cen- tral. The Territories of New Mexico and Wyo- ming were added to his diocese. The field was a large one, and the work to be performed a labori-

ous one, but it did not discourage him. He en- tered upon his duties with a firm reliance on Divine aid, and with an energy, perseverance and enthusiasm worthy of the cause to which he was ever devoted. How great his success and how much he accomplished during his seven years' service as a Missionary Bishop, is best told by a simple review of its results. Parishes were organ- ized and churches built at Golden, Georgetown, Pueblo, Canon City, Colorado Springs, Idaho, Littleton and Baldwinsville; at Cheyenne and Laramie, Wyoming Territory, and at one or two points in New Mexico. Wolfe Hall, the largest and best young ladies' seminary in the West, was opened in 1867. In 1869, Jarvis Hall, a school for boys, was opened near Golden; in 1871, a school of mines was added thereto, and in 1872, Matthews Hall, a divinity school-the three com- posing, " The Colorado University Schools"-the beginning of a large and influential educational establishment. All these institutions are under the auspices of the Church. Parish schools under competent teachers were opened at several other points in the three Territories, and a large amount of missionary work was done at remote points and in distant settlements. The Bishop's labors were increasing; he traveled annually over his entire diocese; from Silver City, 800 miles to the south- west, on the farthest borders of New Mexico, to the outposts of the Wind River Valley, 500 miles northward, he journeyed each season, endur- ing hardships, encountering dangers, suffering deprivations, preaching the Gospel of Christ, estab- lishing schools and churches, and performing the various sacred duties of his high office. Never was there a more faithful, untiring, devoted worker ; seldom has such labor been more visibly and abundantly rewarded. He died on the 28th of September, 1873, at the close of a summer of arduous labor and unusual hardship, traveling over his vast diocese, from the southern boundary of New Mexico to the northern limits of Wyoming Territory. Bishop Randall was a pioneer in the highest sense of the word. He was possessed of

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a liberal mind, trained by years of study. En- thusiastically devoted to the Church and the mis- sionary work, he was endowed with all the qualifications necessary to fit him for his high call- ing, and the great work which he was called upon to perform. The West loves to honor its pioneers in every branch of the noble work, which has fallen upon those who have settled upon its great Plains and along its mountain slopes, and among them all no name is more distinguished, no mem- ory more revered than that of George M. Randall, the first Bishop of Colorado.

WILLIAM EARL REID.

Mr. Reid was born at Port Gibson, Miss., March 6, 1838, receiving his education at the Port Gibson Academy and at Prof. Elliot's College, and, after leaving college, entered the wholesale estab- lishment of W. P. Holloway & Co., at Grand Gulf, as clerk and assistant book-keeper. About a year later, he removed to Indianapolis, Ind., where he was engaged in mercantile business as clerk and book-keeper for about two years, when, at the instance of Gen. Carey, his uncle, he removed to Marion, Ind., and engaged in the study of law with Senator Vandevanter and Congressman McDowell, of Marion, Ind. He did not remain long at this, as having, since childhood, been a student and amateur of music, he relinquished his law studies for the more genial and fascinating profession of music. Again seeking his Indianapolis home, where he was solicited to come by Prof. J. A. Baker, the composer, he associated himself with the "City Greys Band," and began the music business in earnest, teaching bands, etc. He re- mained a number of years with this society, and accompanied the band, as leader, on their concert tour to Mexico and the Southwest, taking the old "Independence and Santa Fe" route to Mexico. After a fifteen months' tour, abounding with pleas- ing and romantic incident, the band returned, via New Orleans to Indianapolis, where they were ten- dered a public reception by the citizens and mili- tary of the city. The band, after giving concerts

a few months, disbanded, and Mr. Reid accepted the leading instrument of the "National Guard Band," in which capacity he remained until the breaking-out of the rebellion, in 1861, when he organized a corps of twenty-five musicians for Gen. Sol Meredith, and proceeded immediately to Wash- ington, D. C., and engaged the following year in active campaigning with the Army of the Potomac, with the First Army Corps, under Gen. Irwin Mc- Dowell. In the fall of 1862, he was discharged by a special order of the War Department in re- gard to all volunteer musicians in the army. Ar- riving home at Indianapolis again, he organized a company of musicians for Gen. Daniel Macauley, and proceeded forthwith to the Army of the Gulf, and encamped near Vicksburg, under Gen. Grant. After the fall of Vicksburg, his regiment was or- dered to New Orleans, and joined the expedition to the Attakapas country, under Gen. Franklin. Returning to New Orleans, the regiment re- enlisted as veterans, and returned to Indianapolis on "veteran furlough." Again returning to New Orleans with the regiment, he was prostrated with sickness, and, in broken health, returned home on furlough to recuperate, but, not regaining vigorous health again, it was impossible to rejoin his regi- ment, and, after the close of the war, broken down in health and spirits, he removed to Colorado to try and build up his shattered constitution. After following out-door occupation for about two years, he regained a measure of health, when, in 1871, he accepted a position as clerk and book-keeper with Hallack & Bro., lumber merchants, which position he held up to the beginning of the pres- ent year, when he associated himself in the lumber business with M. D. Clifford, Esq., under the firm name of Clifford & Reid, in which business he is now engaged.

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History of the city of Denver, Arapahoe County, and Colorado, Part 75

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