USA > Colorado > Arapahoe County > History of the city of Denver, Arapahoe County, and Colorado > Part 86
USA > Colorado > Denver County > Denver > History of the city of Denver, Arapahoe County, and Colorado > Part 86
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Benjamin W. Wisebart was born in Louisville, Ky., September 28, 1841. After a few years' ex- perience as a salesman and book-keeper in Cincin- nati, Ohio, and Dubuque, Iowa, he came to Colorado in 1861. Locating in Central City, he opened a clothing establishment in connection with Mr. A. Jacobs, which he conducted successfully for six- teen years. In 1872, he was elected to represent his district in the Upper Branch of the Territorial Legislature. As a member of that body, he intro- duced the bill permitting criminals to testify in their own defense ; a bill to tax the capital stock of national banks, and a bill requiring judges of election to count the ballots in the presence of the voters. All of these bills were passed by the Legislature, and yet stand as a part of the statute law of Colorado. He has served several terms as a member of the City Council of Central City, and, in 1876, he was elected Mayor of the city, winning the admiration of his constituents for the able and impartial manner in which he discharged the duties of his office. As a Mason, Mr. Wise- bart has been thrice elected Illustrious Grand Master of the Council, and has filled most of the offices of the subordinate lodges. He is of Jew- ish birth, a member of the Hebrew Congregation of Denver, and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. A pronounced Republican, he has labored earnestly for the interests of the party he has represented in some of the most important offices of the State. Mr. Wisebart's long and suc- cessful business career at Central City, in this city and at Leadville, where he has valuable mining interests, has given him an extended acquaintance, among whom he is known as an honorable, con- scientious and upright citizen.
DANIEL WITTER.
While Denver was still in her infancy, Daniel Witter was filled with a desire to try his fortunes in the Far West, whither he came in 1859. His youth and early manhood were passed in Indiana, where he was born in Franklin County in 1827. When he was still quite young, his parents moved
to St. Joseph County. His business career was extensive and varied. He began as a school teacher, being connected with the Northern In- diana Teachers' Institute. Growing tired of this, he drifted into the book business, having a retail store at South Bend. He was married, in 1854, to Miss Clara V. Matthews, who was a half-sister of the Hon. Schuyler Colfax. Five years after this event, he bade adieu to wife, home and friends and started on his perilous journey across the Plains. His first venture, upon his arrival, was to purchase a piece of property in the Tarryall Mining District, South Park, where he engaged in mining for two years, with tolerable success. He had already become so popular in the Territory of his adoption that, when the first Legislature met in November, 1861, he was made a member of the House from his district, where he served two years. In 1862, he was appointed Postmaster at Hamilton, and shortly after was made United States Assessor of Internal Revenue, by President Lincoln, which office he held until it was abolished. About this time, he sent for his family, and made his home in Denver. He was admitted to the bar of Colorado in the year 1862, though he never practiced before the courts. Mr. Witter has been Receiver in the United States Land Office of Colorado, has been engaged in the real-estate and abstract business (making the first set of abstract books of the city and county), and has also en- gaged largely in cattle and sheep raising. He was the originator and Treasurer of the Denver Safe Deposit and Savings Bank, but his connec- tion with this corporation ceased in 1877. He has been Vice President of the Denver Water Works Company since its organization, and is now engaged in superintending the construction of the new water works, which will have four times the capacity of the old works, the latter having fallen far short of the demands of the rapidly growing city. Mr. Witter is still in the enjoy- ment of vigorous manhood, and many years of usefulness lie before him. Always possessed of a refined and æsthetic taste, he spends his leisure
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hours in the cultivation of plants and flowers. His family of eight children are all living in the city of Denver.
DR. EDWARD S. WILLIAMS.
Dr. E. S. Williams, oldest son of Absalom and Lucy M. Williams, was born in the city of Lynch- burg, Va., October 5, 1819. At the age of twelve years, he was apprenticed to the jeweler's trade for seven years, four years of which he served in the silversmith's department and also at mann- facturing jewelry, after which he spent three years at watch and clock-making. He soon became quite proficient in repairing and designing, and made many inventions, some of which attracted the attention of Prof. Franklin G. Smith, a distin- guished teacher and lecturer on scientific subjects, who employed him at his laboratory for several hours in the evening during two lecture seasons, to assist him in the construction of instruments and appli- ances for the purpose of illustrating and explaining his lectures upon scientific subjects. These lect- ures were food to his analytical and inquiring mind. and by following ont the ideas by the aid of the illustrations, he soon attained a practical knowl- edge of many scientifie subjects. After serving his apprenticeship of seven years, he removed to Lex- ington, Mo., in September, 1839, and embarked in the jewelry business, and worked upon gold and silver plates for a dentist. In 1843, he sold out, but after making a trip East again opened business, giving more attention to dentistry, in which he con- tinned until 1852, when he started for California. After traveling over the Plains for some distance, his family were taken ill at Fort Laramie, and when they had recovered sufficiently, he returned to Council Bluffs, Iowa, where he remained a short time and then returned to Missouri, where he was engaged in the practice of dentistry, and also in the practice of medicine. The rebellion depriving him of his slaves and nearly all the comforts of life, in 1867 he left his farm and removed to Couneil Bluffs, Iowa, seeking better facilities for educating his children. In 1871, he was elected an honorary
member of the Iowa State Dental Association. In May, 1877, he removed with his family to Denver, Colo., and opened an office for the practice of his profession, and has succeeded in building up an extensive practice in his specialty, that of fine work on gold plate. He is contented and happy and in the enjoyment of perfect restoration of health since he became a resident of this beautiful City of the Plains. He was married at Lexington, Mo., to Miss Austin, daughter of Dr. William Austin, of that city. He is an honored member of the Masonic Fraternity, having joined the order when about twenty-one years of age.
ABRAM WALROD.
In the spring of 1858, when the news of rich gold discoveries at Pike's Peak was heralded through- out the States, snch a stream of immigration began to pour into the then almost unknown country, as had rarely heen witnessed even in the palmiest days of the California gold excitement. Among the first to join this throng of gold-seekers, and to unite his destiny with the Far West, was the sub- ject of this sketch. Born in Onondaga County, N. Y., on the 22d day of January, 1825, he was engaged in farming until abont eighteen years of age, assisting his father, and acquiring such educa- tion as could be derived from a few months' annual attendance at the district school. In 1843, he re- moved to Fulton County, Ill., and after farming there two years, removed to Clinton County, Iowa, where he engaged in the same pursuit until 1849, when, in company with Maj. D. C. Oakes, he started overland to California, arriving there in the fall of the same year. After two years of successful mining there, he returned to Iowa and again began farming, following that but one year, when he went to Glenwood, in the same State, and engaged in business until 1858, when the glowing reports from Pike's Peak induced him to try his fortnne in the Rocky Mountains. He arrived at the present site of Denver October 10, 1858, and after prospecting along the base of the mountains, returned to Iowa early in the winter, and the following spring
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brought his family to Colorado. The winter of 1859 was spent in Denver, and in the spring of the following year he crossed the range to California Gulch, near where Leadville now stands, and spent the summer in prospecting and mining, returning to Denver in the fall. Mr. Walrod has followed mining uninterruptedly since coming to Colorado, and is thoroughly familiar with all the mining country from New Mexico to the Black Hills. He has discovered some valuable property, among which is the "Overland " mine, in Boulder County, from the recent sale of which he has realized a hand- some fortune. He was married, in De Witt, Iowa, in 1852, to Miss Emily A. Cramblet, of Fulton County, IHl. His daughter, Mary D., born in Denver, December 20, 1859, was the first white girl born in this city.
ANDREW J. WOODSIDE.
Mr. Woodside, one of Denver's enterprising business men, was born in the city of Buffalo, N. Y., June 25, 1848. His family removed to Daven- port, Iowa, when he was four years of age. He received a common-school education and com- menced his business life at the early age of eleven years by entering a dry-goods store in Davenport as a clerk. There are few gentlemen of whom it can be said more truthfully than of the subject of this sketch, that he was brought up to business from early childhood, and in his youth acquired the habits and education necessary to a successful business career. Four years later, at the age of fifteen, he entered a boot and shoe house where he remained nine years. In the spring of 1864, he enlisted in the Forty-fourth Iowa Infantry, and was discharged five months afterward. In the winter of 1870, he married Miss Mary Smith, of Davenport, and one year afterward removed to Denver, where he at once entered into business, opening a boot and shoe house in the spring of 1871. He started with a capital of $1,600, and carrying a stock of about $60,000 in 1879, a result that cannot but be most gratifying to Mr. Woodside, and toward which his early training
and careful business habits no doubt largely con- tributed.
HON. DAVID K. WALL.
Mr. Wall is well known throughout the State of Colorado, not only as a pioneer, but as an ener- getic, industrious and successful business man. His success is not the result of any sudden good fortune, but of years of close and faithful applica- tion to legitimate business pursuits. He was born in Logan County, Ohio, May 26, 1826. His father, Benjamin Wall, was a farmer, and, in 1835, removed to South Bend, Ind. Mr. Wall remained at home, assisting in the support of their large family, and engaged in various business pursuits until 1850, when he and his brother, John C. Wall, made their way to the gold fields of California, and after mining awhile with ordinary success, in- vested their earnings in a frontier store and pack train, packing their goods a distance of fifty miles This proving a profitable venture, at the end of eight months they opened a store in another camp, continuing trading and freighting with excellent success until 1852, when they had accumulated a snug sum. Leaving his brother in charge of their business, Mr. Wall crossed the range into Oregon, a distance of two hundred and fifty miles, and purchased a drove of two hundred hogs and set out on his return. Before he had reached the foot of the range, however, the mountain snowstorms set in, and finding it impossible to cross with the hogs, they were left behind, and afterward dis- posed of at a great loss. After a perilous journey, Mr. Wall finally reached the camp. The winter was a fearful one; the camps were blockaded and famine seemed inevitable. A few hardy miners made perilous journeys across the range on snow- shoes, returning with such necessary supplies as they could carry, for which they received whatever price they chose to demand ; for example, $16 per ounce for salt, and other articles in proportion. On the opening of spring, the Wall Brothers, in addi- tion to their mercantile business, engaged in gar- dening in the North Fork of the Trinity Valley, planting twenty-five acres of potatoes, and digging
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a ditch two miles long to obtain water with which to irrigate, and bringing their seed from San Francisco at a cost of 25 cents per pound, but they were rewarded by a bountiful crop. An inci- dent which occurred during this summer is worthy of mention. The Indians, true to their nature, became very troublesome, and were stealing every- thing they could find. One day, while Mr. Wall and his brother were irrigating their crops, the Indians undermined their cabin and carried off all their blankets and clothing, but overlooked a buck- skin bag containing about 82,000, in square slugs of gold, worth $50 each. Of course, they forgot the theft of the missing articles in their rejoicing over those left behind. Returning to their home at South Bend in 1854, well paid for the hard- ships of the few previous years, Mr. Wall was engaged in various business enterprises until 1859. Through the depression of all kinds of business he not only lost his former earnings, but became more or less involved. He, therefore, in 1859, determined to cross the Plains again, and this time came to Colorado, bringing with him a stock of garden seeds and farming implements, as his former experience had taught him that gardening was a profitable business iu a new country. He left his seeds with William N. Byers, and proceeded to a place called Arapahoe, where he found, among others, John Gregory, whom he "grub-staked " from the provisions he had brought across the Plains, thus enabling Gregory to discover the famous Gregory lode, which was one of the step- ping stones toward Colorado's present prosperity. Locating a claim where Golden now stands, Mr. Wall engaged in gardening and farming, and dur- ing the summer assisted in laying off the town of Golden. In the fall, he was joined by his brother, John C. Wall, who had assisted him during his financial difficulties at South Bend, and, in return for the brotherly act, he now made him an equal partner in all he had, consisting of a fine claim, a good crop of vegetables, and an addition to the town of Golden. In July, the following year, his brother died. This was a sad affliction to Mr. Wall,
and, in the early winter of 1860, he leased his garden and returned to Indiana. Returning in the spring to Colorado with his brother-in-law, H. B. Hine, they embarked in stock dealing, mer- chandising and express business, and the next year engaged largely in gardening. Their crop being destroyed by the grasshoppers, Mr. Wall left his brother-in-law in charge of the business and went to Oregon, where he engaged in mercantile busi- ness, both of them meeting with success. Re- turning in 1864, he found Mr. Hine had removed to Denver, and some one had " jumped " his claim at Golden. Litigation followed, which has not yet terminated. From 1865 to 1867, he was engaged in business in Nebraska City and Council Bluffs. Returning to South Bend, he began the manu- facture of wagons, and, about three years later, came again to Denver, continuing the wagon busi- ness alone for a few years, when, with John A. Witter, the present firm of Wall & Witter was formed. This firm is now one of the most enter- prising in the State. They are largely engaged in dealing in horses and mules, have a large wagon and carriage repository, and are the owners of the most extensive stage lines in the State. Mr. Wall was a member of the provisional Legislature of Colorado in 1859, and has twice been nominated by the Democratic party for Alderman, without his consent. As he made no canvass, and his party being in the minority, he was, of course, de- feated. He was married in September, 1865, to Miss Eliza Taylor, daughter of Col. L. M. Taylor, one of the pioneer merchants of South Bend, Ind. A pioneer both of California and Colorado, Mr. Wall has had an adventurous career, filled with hardship and peril, with alternate successes and reverses. He has seen a magnificent city spring up where a score of years ago was nothing but the desolate plain, with here and there a set- tler's cabin ,or the tent of the adventurous miner. Through the vicissitudes which Colorado has ex- perienced in the last two decades, he has main- tained a steady faith in her ultimate destiny and is now enjoying the success he so well deserves.
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HON. HENRY R. WOLCOTT.
Henry R. Wolcott, the acting manager of the Boston & Colorado Smelting Works, at Argo, near Denver, was born March 15, 1846, at Long Meadow, Mass., and is a son of Rev. Samuel Wolcott, a Congregational minister. He was edu- cated in Providence, R. I., and Cleveland, Ohio, and, in 1869, came to Colorado, and for a time engaged in mining. In the spring of 1870, he became assistant manager of the Boston & Colo- rado Smelting Works, of which Hon. N. P. Hill is manager, and since Prof. Hill's election to the United States Senate, has been acting manager of the works. He is a gentleman of fine business and social qualities, eminently fitted for the respon- sible position which he occupies, as the practical head of the largest smelting establishment in America. Hearty and genial in manner, he is uni- versally and deservedly popular. He is at present- a member of the State Senate, to which body he was elected from Gilpin County in 1878. He was an influential member during the session of of 1878-79. Modest and retiring in disposition, his voice was not often heard in debate, but when he did speak his words and opinions carried great weight. Mr. Wolcott is a gentleman of irreproach- able character and a high order of ability-which have combined to render his career in Colorado one of honorable success.
HON. EDWARD O. WOLCOTT.
Prominent among the younger members of the Colorado bar, is Edward O. Wolcott. Born in Long Meadow, Mass., March 26, 1848, he is a son of Rev. Samuel Wolcott, of that place, and a brother of Hon. Henry R. Wolcott, of Denver. He received his education at Yale College, and the Harvard Law School. Coming to Colorado in 1871, he located at Georgetown, where he prac- ticed law for several years. He was elected Dis- trict Attorney in 1876, and in 1878 was chosen State Senator from Clear Creek County. He is still a member, and, during the last session of the Legislature, was active in the business of legislation,
being regarded as one of the leading Republicans of that body. He was often called to the chair, and made a most excellent presiding officer. He is at present practicing law in Denver, where his professional and social standing is of the very best.
GEORGE N. WHEELER.
George N. Wheeler, of the lumber firm of Lewis, Wheeler & Co., was born in Monroe, Fairfield Co., Conn., November 1, 1832. At sixteen years of age, after receiving agood common-school education in his native town, he went to Stepney, Conn., and eu- gaged in merchandising for about one and a half years. He then sold out and went to clerking in Danbury, Conn., for one year, after which he was engaged in the dry-goods business until 1869. In the spring of 1872, he came to Denver and formed a partnership with Mr. Julius C. Lewis. Mr. Wheeler is a prompt and reliable business man, and one of Denver's best citizens.
W. H. WILLIAMS, M. D.
Prominent among the physicians of this city, is Dr. Williams. By diligent study and persever- ance, he has acquired a knowledge of his profession which has placed him high in the esteem of his brother physicians, and won for him the confidence of his fellow-men. 'He has been very successful in the treatment of lung diseases, to which he has given special study for a number of years. Dr. Williams was born in Lexington, Miss., November 3, 1840, and received a liberal education at Milton Academy and Madison College, after which, in April of 1861, soon after the breaking-out of the rebellion, he entered the Confederate army, serving until May, 1865. Soon after the close of the war, he entered the University of Louisiana, at New Orleans, and in March, 1867, graduated from this University with the degree of M. D. He then located at Lexington, Miss., and began the practice of his profession, and remained there until the spring of 1869, when, in consequence of ill health, he was compelled to remove to a more favorable climate, and came to Denver, Colo., where he has
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since resided in the active practice of medicine, meeting with marked success. In 1874, Dr. Will- iams was elected President of the Denver Medical Association, and, in 1876, was elected President of the Colorado State Medical Association. Dr. Williams is one of the most faithful of physicians, ever looking to the interest and progress of his profession, and among men he is, in the broadest sense of the term, a perfect gentleman.
HON. OLIVER A WHITTEMORE.
Mr. Whittemore was born March 2, 1828, in Spencer, Mass. He received a good common-school education, and, in the spring of 1847, began clerk- ing in a dry-goods store, where he remained for about five years. In the fall of 1851, he went to Vicksburg, Miss., and entered a hardware house as a clerk, remaining till the fall of 1853. He then returned to East Brookfield, Mass., and engaged with his brother in the manufacture of carriage- wheels, remaining for about two years, after which he removed to Elizabethport, N. J., where he fol- lowed the same business for about two years more. In the fall of 1858, he removed to Kansas, where he was engaged in the land-warrant business until the spring of 1860, when he removed to Brecken- ridge, Colo., and went to trading and mining. In the fall of 1862, in company with E. T. Colton, he erected a flouring-mill at Colorado City, aud the same fall removed to Denver, and was appointed to a clerkship in the Quartermaster's office, remain- ing there for about two years. In 1865, he built a flouring-mill in Denver, which was run under the firm name of Whittemore & Co., until the spring of 1868. In the spring of 1869, he was elected City Clerk, and, in the fall of the same year, was ap- pointed Clerk of the District Court, and remained in office until the spring of 1871, when he removed to Bonlder, and, in company with Capt. Mullen, graded, bridged, and furnished ties for the Boulder Valley Railroad, from Erie to Boulder. In the fall of 1872, he returned to Denver, and, in the fall of 1873, was elected Secretary of the Colorado Industrial Association, holding that office until the
fall of 1875, when he was elected Justice of the Peace, and, in the fall of 1877, was also appointed Police Magistrate, which office he still holds. He was elected to represent Summit County in the first Territorial Legislature in the fall of 1861, serving during the first two sessions of that body. He was also President of the first Constitutional Conven- tion of Colorado, in the summer of 1864.
L. A. WILLIAMS.
L. A. Williams, one of the pioneers of Colorado, was born in Monkton, Addison Co., Vt., October 4, 1834, remained at home on the farm until 1857, and then went to Iowa, where he found employ- ment in a steam saw-mill. In February, 1859, he started across the Plains with a company of men for Pike's Peak, and bringing a steam saw-mill, the first ever brought to the Territory. They traveled with ox teams, and reached Denver on the 28th of March. On the 12th of April, they cut the first lumber in the Territory, and continued running the mill for about five years. He then purchased the farm known as the " Kirby Farm," about two miles from Denver, ou Cherry Creek, and began raising stock, in which he is still en- gaged, and in which he has met with good success. Mr. Williams was married April 9, 1872, to Miss Mary Hacker, and has two children.
LEONARD A. WATKINS.
L. A. Watkins, head of one of the oldest hide and leather houses in St. Louis, dating back to 1857, and an active, energetic business man of Den- ver, was born in Birmingham, England, October 2, 1831. After receiving a good common-school education, he entered the leather business, thus fol- lowing in the steps of his ancestors who had been in that business for two generations. In the spring of 1853, he came to the United States ; and after traveling over the country, and working in various localities, he went to St. Louis, and started in his present business, first as a workman for Mr. Dean, for two years, when he was taken into partnership. In 1870, Mr. Watkins bought Mr. Dean out, he
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retiring from business, then took his brother l'red Watkins into business, the firm thus becoming L. A. Watkins & Brother. Mr. Watkins being a suf- ferer from asthma, came to Denver in 1873, to tiy the effect of the climate, having about concluded to retire from business, but received so much bene- fit, and having always led an active life, he could not remain long idle. He therefore entered act- ively into the hide, leather, wool, fur, and sheep and wool grower's supply business, in this city, and has built up one of the largest trades of the kind in the State. He has also taken a great interest in the raising and improving of the sheep of Colo- rado, and for the past two years has been Presi- dent of the Rocky Mountain Wool Growers' Asso- ciation. He was elected Alderman of the Third Ward in 1876, and has always been a public- spirited man, taking a deep interest in the welfare and prosperity of Denver aud Colorado.
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