USA > Colorado > Arapahoe County > History of the city of Denver, Arapahoe County, and Colorado > Part 77
USA > Colorado > Denver County > Denver > History of the city of Denver, Arapahoe County, and Colorado > Part 77
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panion pieces, called " The Discouraged Prospec- tor," and "Struck it Rich," illustrative of two opposite phases of life in the mining regions, while his " Sunset in the Sangre de Christo Moun- tains," with old Sierra Blanc in the distance, is an example of chaste yet gorgeous coloring, sel- dom met with even in this city, the home of so many masters of the brush and pencil. Prof. Streight's studio is at his residence in North Den- ver, where artists and art-lovers find a hearty welcome, an abundance of trees and flowers in summer, and at all times much to interest the lovers of the beautiful in art.
GEN. ARCHIBALD J. SAMPSON.
Gen. Sampson was born near Cadiz, Ohio, June 21, 1839. His early life was devoted to farming, a pursuit which his parents, who were of Irish- Welsh descent, followed for a livelihood. He graduated at Mount Union College, in 1861, and soon afterward entered the Union army, as a volunteer in an Ohio regiment. He was promoted, through the regular grades, to the captaincy, but in 1864, at Hatcher's Run, Virginia, he became disabled for life, and was discharged from the serv- ice. He returned to Cadiz and resumed his studies in the law, and was admitted to the bar the same year ; he then entered the Cleveland Law School, and graduated with the degree of LL. B., in 1865. In 1866, he went to Sedalia, Mo., and began the practice of his profession. In the fall of the same year, he returned to Ohio, and married Miss Kate I. Turner, daughter of Judge Allen C. Turner, of Cadiz, his native town. In 1872, Gen. Sampson was unanimously nominated in Pettis County, Mo., for the Legislature, but declined the honor, preferring to continue the practice of his profession without interruption. In February, 1873, he was nominated by President Grant, and confirmed by the Senate, United States Consul to Palestine, but declined this position also. In 1872, he was one of the Republican Presidential Electors for Missouri. In the spring of 1874, Gen. Simpson came to Colorado, located in Cañon
City, and at once began the active practice of his profession, continuing until the fall of 1876, when he was elected Attorney General of Colorado, and removed to the State capital, where that officer is required to reside. He continued to discharge the duties of that office up to January, 1878, when his term expired. His record as Attorney General reflects great credit on himself and the State. Al- ways at his post, he was honest and efficient. As a campaign speaker, he has few equals in the State, and is one of the prominent Republicans of Colo- rado. At the close of his official duties, he re- turned to the active practice of his profession, opening an office at Silver Cliff, in Custer County. By the force of circumstances, he has become more or less interested in mining property in that dis- trict, but has invariably made this a secondary matter, giving the careful practice of his profession the preference over everything else, and through devotion, and close application to the law, he has acquired the reputation of being a safe counselor, a careful pleader, and a good advocate. Possessed of a genial nature, a liberal heart, an energetic will, and an irreproachable character, Gen. Sampson occupies an enviable position in the estimation of the people of the entire State.
WILLIAM SMEDLEY, D. D. S.
Dr. Smedley is a man whose amiable disposition and sterling honesty commend him to the respect of all who know him, and render him one of Den- ver's best citizens. He was born of Quaker par- entage, in Chester County, Penn., May 4, 1836. He was educated in the Quaker schools, and this was supplemented by a brief attendance in a New England academy, after which, for about five years, he followed teaching. In the mean time, his health was so poor that he went from State to State in search of a more suitable climate, teaching in four different States. Among others, he went to Ore- gon to try the climate of the Pacific Coast, but, finding that it did not benefit him, he returned to his home in Pennsylvania, and, in the spring of 1864, determined to study dentistry, and entered
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an office in West Chester, Penn., for that purpose. The following autumn, he entered the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery, and graduated with the degree of D. D. S. in the spring of 1866. He then took a course in a medical college, having in view only a thorough preparation in dentistry, after which he began the practice of his profession at West Chester, Penn., where he remained until the fall of 1870, and had built up for himself a large practice, but was compelled to leave it on account of poor health. Believing from the descriptions of the climate of Colorado, as given by Albert D. Richardson in his work " Beyond the Mississippi," that it would benefit him. he came here at this time and located in Denver, where he has since remained in the active practice of his profession, and where his health has steadily improved. In the summer of 1872, he returned to his native county for "the girl he left behind him," and on the 4th of July, 1872, was united in marriage with Miss M. E. Vickers, daughter of the Hon. Paxson Vickers, of Chester County, Penn., almost within the sound of the old State House bell, the marriage ceremony being per- formed according to the good old Quaker custom. Dr. Smedley ranks high in his profession, and is considered one of the best operators in the State. He is a man of easy address, and is a perfect and polished gentleman in every respect. In his home, he is kind and domestic, and there finds his great- est enjoyment.
HON. GEORGE G. SYMES.
Among the prominent lawyers of Colorado is Judge Symes, who by honest, persevering indus- try has placed himself at the head of one of the leading law firms of the State, and won for him- self the reputation of being a faithful and dili- gent student of the grand principles which form the elements of his chosen profession. He is now in the prime and vigor of a useful life, was born April 28, 1840, in Ashtabula County, Ohio, but emigrated, with his parents, to La Crosse County, Wis., in 1852, and, after sufficient pre-
paration began the study of the law in the early part of 1860, in the office of Lyndes & Losey, and subsequently in the office of Senator Angus Cameron and J. W. Losey, in La Crosse, Wis. Before he had completed his studies, the rebellion broke out, and young Symes was one of the first to respond to the call for volunteers, enlisting on the evening of the historic day which witnessed the firing on Fort Sumter-April 12, 1861-as a member of the La Crosse Light Guards, which became Company B. of the Second Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. The following month, his regiment went to Washington City, and was there formed, with the Thirteenth, Sixty-ninth, and Seventy-ninth New York Regiments, into a brigade which was placed under the command of the then Col. W. T. Sherman, now General of the United States Army. Mr. Symes served as a private in the first battle of Bull Run, in which he was wounded, but recovering in a short time, he did service with the Second Wisconsin, until Decem- ber, 1861, when he was discharged from the serv- ice, because of disability resulting from a severe attack of lung fever. After sufficiently recuper- ating, he resumed his law studies, continuing until May, 1862, when he was given authority for recruiting and raising a company for the Twenty-fifth Wisconsin Infantry, of which regi- ment he was appointed Adjutant. The following October, the regiment was ordered into Minnesota, and participated in a two months' Indian campaign, against the Sioux Indians, after which they were ordered to Madison, Wis., and thence to Columbus, Ky., in February, 1863. The following summer, he was with his regiment in the famous Vicks- burg campaign, and, after the capture of that city, his regiment was ordered to Helena, Ark. In January. 1864, he was commissioned Captain of the company he had raised, and the following month was with Gen. Sherman on his famous Meridian expedition, after which his regiment, with a large portion of the Vicksburg army, joined the troops at Chattanooga for the memorable Atlanta campaign of the following summer. Capt.
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RESIDENCE OF CAPT. R .W. WOODBURY, DENVER, COL ..
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Symes did good service in this campaign until dangerously wounded, on the 22d day of July, by a ball piercing his left side, while in command of a skirmish line in front of Decatur, Ga., near where Gen. McPherson was killed. He had been placed in this command because of his known familiarity with military tactics; and after he was wounded, one of his men was instantly killed while helping him off the field. Recovering sufficiently to travel, he returned home on leave of absence, and the following August, was promoted to Colonel of the Forty-fourth Wisconsin Infantry, being the youngest Colonel from his State. As soon as his wounds would permit, he took charge of the organization of his regiment, at Madison, Wis., which was soon afterward ordered to Nashville, Tenn., and took part in the siege and battle of Nashville during the winter of 1864-65. The following March, Col. Symes received special or- ders from Gen. Thomas, to proceed with his regi- ment to Eastport, Miss., and take command of a fleet of from ten to twenty vessels, and convey 10,000 prisoners to St. Louis. But upon reaching that place, he found that the rebel raiding cav- alry had taken up the railroad track back of Corinth, and the prisoners had to be taken up the Mississippi from another point, so he returned to Nashville and resumed post duty until April, when he was ordered to Paducah, Ky. Here he met Gen. Sol Meredith, who had commanded the Iron Brigade in the Army of the Potomac, in which brigade Col. Symes had served as a private in 1861. In April, he served as President of a court martial and a military commission. In May, Col. Symes was ordered to take command of a cavalry expedition through Western Kentucky and Tennessee, to quell the guerrillas which were then the terror of that section of country, and after a three-weeks raid, he returned with over two hundred prisoners. He then took command of the post of Paducah, consisting of one brigade of troops, and .ring that summer restored the supremacy of :il law in that city, removing Provost M: «. s and installing Police Judges
and Justices. Many Confederates surrendered and took the oath of allegiance at the post. On the 1st of the following September, Col. Symes returned to Madison, Wis., and was mustered out with his regiment, after over five years of arduous and faithful service.
While in command of the post at Paducah, Col. Symes commanded such respect, because of being instrumental in restoring law and order, that, in the following January, of 1866, he was induced to return to that city, and there began the practice of law. His extensive acquaintance throughout Western Kentucky, and his known familiarity with the many cases arising out of the late war trouble, soon secured for him a large and lucrative practice, and he became so popular that, in the spring of 1867, he was prevailed upon to make the canvass for Congress, on the Republican ticket, and, although he received the full strength of his party, it was so much in the minority that he was defeated with the rest of his ticket. But the seats of Democratic mem- bers from Kentucky were contested at the next session of Congress, and Col. Symes conducted his own case and those of others before that body. Senator Dawes, of Massachusetts, was then in Congress, and was Chairman of the Committee on Elections. He became so favorably impressed with the manner in which Col. Symes conducted and argued the legal points in these contests, that he wrote a letter highly recommending him for the position of Associate Justice of Montana Ter- ritory, to which honored position President Grant appointed him in April, 1869. He would have been slow to leave his practice for this position, had it not been that his health had become more or less impaired, which created a desire to find a home in a more salubrious climate; therefore, in June, 1869, he removed to Helena, Montana, and entered upon his judicial duties. His health rapidly improved in that excellent climate, and Judge Symes, desirous of again resuming his practice, offered his resignation in December, 1870, to take effect in the following February.
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He soon obtained a large practice; but in Feb- ruary, 1874, becoming impatient waiting for a railroad to reach him, after considerable travel, he determined to locate permanently in Denver, as the most promising city in the great West, because of her advantages for both health and wealth. His residence of about six years here has shown the wisdom of his choice. From the first, he obtained a good practice in his profession, which has steadily increased, until he now has one of the largest and most remunerative practices in the State. Judge Symes has never been a candi- date for office since 1867, but is an unswerving Republican, and takes an active part in all the cam- paigns. He was married, in July, 1875, to Miss Sophy Foster, of Chicago, Ill., daughter of the late Col. John W. Foster, the scientist, and Presi- dent of the Academy of Science at the time of his death.
HON. JOSEPH C. SHATTUCK.
Mr. Shattuck, the Superintendent of Public In- struction for the State of Colorado, was born at Marlboro, Cheshire Co., N. H., February 28, 1835. He attended Westminster Seminary of Vermont, after which he entered the Class of '61, in Wesleyan University, at Middletown, Conn., but did not remain to complete the entire course. He then removed to Missouri, and en- gaged in teaching until the rebellion broke out, when he received the appointment of chief clerk in the Quartermaster's Department at Lebanon, Mo., which position he occupied until the summer of 1864, when he again engaged in teaching, which he followed until the spring of 1870; he then joined the Union Colony and came to Colo- rado. Soon after joining this colony he was elected its Vice President and general manager, which position he occupied until he resigned to enter on the duties of his present office. Ile was elected to the Territorial Legislature in 1874, and in 1876 to the office of State Superintendent of Public Instruction. It may be said of Mr. Shattuck that he is a man well qualified for the
duties of this important position, having received a good education and acquired a practical knowl- edge of what is needed in a public-school system from actual experience in teaching. He was married to Miss Hattie M. Knight, of Marl- boro, N. H., August 17, 1858.
HON. EDMOND L. SMITH.
Maj. Smith, of the well-known firm of Wells, Smith & Macon, was born in Reading, Penn., October 23, 1829, and graduated with the degree of B. A., at Georgetown College, D. C., in 1853, after which he studied law and was admitted to the bar of Reading, Penn., in 1857. In the fall of the same year, he was elected to represent his native county in the Legislature, and was re-elected in the fall of 1858, serving two successive sessions. In 1861, at the beginning of the war, he enlisted in the Reading Ringgold Artillery, one of the first companies reporting for duty in the State, and at once went on to Washington, passing through Baltimore on the day preceding the attack on Gen. Butler's troops in that city. On the 14th of May, 1861, Mr. Smith was commissioned a Captain of the Nineteenth United States Infantry, and immediately reported for duty at the head- quarters of the regiment, at Indianapolis, Ind., and, in January, 1862, he took command of a battalion of his regiment, and joined Gen. Mc- Clellan on the Peninsula, and remained with him through that campaign, which included the Seven Days' fight and other battles. At Harrison's Landing, after the battle of Malvern Hill, Maj. Smith took command of the provost guard at Gen. McClellan's headquarters, and evacnated the fort with Mcclellan. His next engagement was the second battle of Bull Run, under Gen. Pope, after which Gen. McClellan resumed command, and he was with him in the battles of South Mountain and Antietam, and then went into win- ter quarters at Falmouth, opposite Fredericksburg. During this winter, he was in the battle of Fred- ericksburg, under Gen. Burnside, and the follow- ing spring returned to his regiment, which was
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then stationed at Murfreesboro, and soon after- ward joined Gen. Rosecrans in the Chickamauga campaign. On the second day of the fight at Chickamauga, Maj. Dawson, who had command of the regiment, being slightly wounded and cap- tured by the enemy, the command devolved on Maj. Smith, who during the day had his horse shot under him and his sword completely shattered to pieces with a minie ball. He was afterward brevetted for bravery in that fight. On the even- ing of the second day he was captured, with a number of others, and confined seven months in Libby Prison, at Richmond, Va. One night, 110 of them made their escape by digging a long tun- nel, half of them succeeding in making their way through the lines; but the rest, including Maj. Smith, were recaptured after ten days of pri- vation and almost starvation, and taken back to prison. But as Gen. Grant soon after began to advance into Virginia, the prisoners were removed south from place to place, and finally taken to Ma- con, Ga. While on their way, Maj. Smith, with four others, jumped from the train, and, after six weeks of exposure and hunger, were again recaptured and taken back to their comrades. After remain - ing at Macon for some months, 600 of them were sent to Charleston, S. C., and placed under fire of the Union guns in the harbor to atone for similar treatment, as was claimed, to Confederate officers. The boys hailed the Union shells with gladness, as an occasional one burst through the walls, and would have rejoiced to see more of them. But on October 1, 1864, through the influence of Col. Edward Des Londe, a class mate at Georgetown College, Maj. Smith was paroled, after over a year of dismal prison life. Returning to New York, he received leave of absence for one month and returned to his home. On the expiration of his furlough, he resumed command of his regiment at Lookout Mountain, and after remaining there for some time, went to Augusta, Ga., and had command of that post for some months. He was then sent to Pittsburgh, Penn., on recruiting serv- ice, for a short time, after which he again joined
his regiment at Fort Gibson, Indian Territory. After remaining there a few months, he took a battalion of his regiment to Fort Arbuckle and rebuilt the post, which had been abandoned dur- ing the war. While there, he obtained a leave of absence and returned home. His business de- manding his attention, he resigned his command after more than seven years of arduous service. In July, 1868, he came to Colorado and resumed the practice of his profession with his brother, J. Brad Smith, at that time one of the most eminent lawyers of the State. He at once entered upon an active practice, in which he has since con- tinued. He has the reputation of being one of the finest advocates in Colorado. He was elected, on the Democratic ticket, to the last Territorial Legis- lature, from Arapahoe County, which was largely Republican, and his election was said to be largely due to his brilliant war record.
COL. SIDNEY A. SHEPPERD.
Col. Shepperd is a native of Howard County, Mo., born February 2, 1843. Up to the age of seventeen years, he was engaged in a variety of employments, carefully improving every oppor- tuuity for an education, and, at the above age, had acquired sufficient education to teach school, but at the end of a ten-months term as a teacher, the war broke out, and he at once responded to the call of the Governor of Missouri for State troops. He was commissioned Lieutenant on the staff of Gen. John B. Clark, Sr., and fought on the Con- federate side, at the battles of Booneville, Spring- field and Elkhorn, Mo., after which he entered the Confederate army and participated in the battles of Corinth and Iuka, Miss. At the end of a year and a half, he joined Gen. Van Dorn's forces, and, after his death, was attached to Gen. Forrest's army. On the close of the war, he went to Nebraska, and engaged in merchandising in Omaha and Nebraska City. While living in the latter place, he was married, on the 14th of Feb- ruary, 1867, to Miss Columbia Bennett, and has one son. In 1872, he removed to Denver, and
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took a position as money-order clerk in the post office, where he remained for a number of years, attaining the position of Assistant Postmaster, and receiving the indorsement of the citizens of Denver. During the war, he disbursed fully $37,000,000 of Government money, and while in the post office no less than $7,000,000 passed through his hands, yet his accounts were always correct, and not a hint of discrepancy was ever uttered concerning them. In May, 1879, he was selected from among a large number for the posi- tion of City Passenger Agent of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad Company in Den- ver, and still continues to act in that capacity. In 1874, he entered the militia service of the State as a private, and was successively promoted to Second and First Lieutenant and Captain of the Governor's Guard. He was appointed on Gov. Routt's staff as the first Inspector General of the State, with the rank of Colonel. He helped to mold the law governing the State militia, and was actively identified with the militia serviee until the pressure of private business required his entire attention, Since the war, Col. Shepperd has not identified himself with either political party, but gives his support to what he considers the best man, irrespective of party. In religion, he holds the same liberal views, and, while retaining his own opinions, allows every man to think for himself, so long as he does not encroach upon the rights of others ; while socially he is genial and sociable, quick to make acquaintance, and form lasting friendships, and rejoices in the possession of a large number of strong personal friends.
ANTON SCHINDELHOLZ.
Anton Schindelholz was born in Luzerne, Swit- zerland, in 1832, and reared beneath the shadows which the Alpine peaks fling over the Swiss land- scape. Ile came to Colorado in 1860, bringing with him no capital save hardy muscles, thrifty liabits, and a determination to win a fortune, that has been happily crowned by success. His father
had died when he was thirteen years old, and at that early age he was compelled to commence a rugged experience with the world, work ing steadily, and saving his earnings, until he had accumulated sufficient means to cross the ocean from the Old World to the New. Prior to his coming to Colorado, he lived three years in Leavenworth, Kan., and, like thousands of others, came hither, reveling in the golden dreams of sud- den wealth. A short experience in Cartiner Gulch, however, dispelled this illusion, and the sober judgment of the man asserted itself over the visionary hopes of the enthusiast. Purchasing a ranche, which he stocked with cattle, he there laid the foundation of his wealth, by devoting his tique and money to the increase and improvement of his stock. Dairy-farming has also claimed his atten- tion, and on his ranche, near Denver, he has pro- duced large quantities of butter and cheese, con- ducting a successful business, in these products, for two years. In Elbert County, about fifty miles east of Denver, he has carried on an extensive business in raising and selling stock, in connection with his partner, Mr. Benkelman, owning, in 1879, ten thousand head of cattle, and shipping several thousand head to Kansas City, in the same year. Though this firm has operated heavily in Texas cattle, they admit that there is more remuneration in raising native than imported stock. Mr. Schin- delholz has become a permanent resident of Den- ver, since 1878, and occupies his beautiful residence at the corner of Thirtieth and Lawrence streets. He was married in Elbert County, Colo., in 1868, to Miss Mary Dietermann, by whom he has had several children. His wife was also one of the early settlers of this Territory, and experienced all the dangers and hardships of a frontier life. A short time before her marriage to Mr. Schindelholz, her family were driven from their home by Indians, and several of her friends were killed, she herself narrowly escaping with her life. Mr. Schindel- holz is so well known throughout this county, both as an upright citizen and an enterprising business man, that any extended sketch of him is unneces-
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sary. During a twenty years' residence in Colora- do, he has accumulated a fortune sufficient to allow him to spend the remainder of his days in ease and luxury.
DAVID T. SANDERSON.
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