Portrait and biographical record of the state of Colorado, containing portraits and biographies of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 102

Author: Chapman Publishing Company, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Chicago, Chapman Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1530

USA > Colorado > Portrait and biographical record of the state of Colorado, containing portraits and biographies of many well known citizens of the past and present > Part 102

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In early days Mr. Cantril was a Whig and later became a Republican. While in Douglas County he held the office of county commissioner and was also elected county judge, but resigned that office. Since coming to Westcliffe he has served for two terms as county commissioner. His business ac- tivity and his connection with public affairs have been materially lessened since July 5, 1893, when he suffered a stroke of paralysis, from which he has never fully recovered.

The first marriage of Mr. Cantril took place in 1842, his wife being Jane Worrall. They became the parents of eight children, one of whom died in infancy. The others are named as follows: John R., who lives on Plum Creek road near Denver; Mary, deceased; Eliza; Nelson, whose home is near Elizabeth, Elbert County; Rosabel and Isabel (twins), the former deceased, the lat- ter married and living in Butte City, Mont .; and Adam Eugene, who lives near Salida. After the

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death of Mrs. Jane Cantril, in 1881, Mr. Cantril married Mrs. R. C. Hendricks, whose son, Al- mer W. Hendricks, is now interested with his stepfather in the hotel and lumber business. Mr. Cantril's life has been full of experiences, some fortunate, but many the reverse. However, un- der adverse fortune he has shown himself to be a man of perseverance and determination, who has the energy and ability to rise above his misfor- tunes and finally attain a commendable degree of success.

OHN CHETELAT started in business for himself with limited means, but has worked his way to a front rank among the business men of Custer County, and his success is made still more emphatic by the constant interest he shows in all that concerns local prosperity. He is especially devoted to the welfare of Westcliffe, his home town, a village of perhaps six hundred people, and situated at an altitude of seven thou- sand feet. While the population is comparatively small, the improvements are many, including. water works and electric lights, which go to show that the people are an enterprising and pro- gressive class.

Mr. Chetelat was born in Baltimore, Md., Sep- tember 23, 1857, a son of George C. and Chris- tain (Hein) Chetelat, natives respectively of Switzerland and Germany. His father emigrated to America in 1848 and settled in Baltimore, where he married Miss Hein and followed his trade of a shoemaker. Of his five sons and four daughters, two are deceased, the survivors being as follows: John; Elizabeth, wife of H. J. Hackenreider, of Fort Wayne, Ind .; Anna Mary, wife of Ira L. Arnold, of Medford, Ore .; Henry W., who is with our subject; Frank M. and George C., who are also engaged in business here; and Joseph Edward, who is with Chetelat Brothers.

When our subject was seven years of age his parents removed to Illinois, and his education was received in the common schools of Meta- mora. In 1867 his father settled on a farın and afterward be assisted in the cultivation of the land until 1874, when he came to Colorado. Locating at once in Wet Mountain Valley, he secured em- ployment on a farm, where he remained until March, 1883, and then began to work in the mines at Rosita. In September, 1886, he re- moved to Westcliffe and embarked in the livery business, but in May, 1887, turned his attention to another line, buying out the dry-goods stock of

Mrs. Vorreitter. One year later he formed a part- nership with M. Goldstein, in the general mercan- tile business, and the two remained together until January 20, 1890, when Mr. Chetelat bought his partner's interest in the business, and since then he has continned alone. While he started on a very small scale, he has gradually built up an excellent trade and has increased his stock of goods to supply the enlarged demand. His store room, 25x80, is stocked with a complete assort- ment of dry-goods and general merchandise, and another room, 25x50, is also used. Besides his general mercantile business he buys and ships baled hay.

As a Democrat Mr. Chetelat has been quite ac- tive in local affairs. In 1889 he was elected sheriff of Custer County and served, by re-election, until 1894, filling the position with marked efficiency. With the exception of one year he has been a member of the town board constantly since the spring of 1888. In fraternal connections he is a member of Silver Cliff Lodge No. 34, I. O. O. F .; Rosita Lodge No. 25, A. O. U. W .; and Custer Lodge No. 14, O. D. H. S. His marriage, which was solemnized February 3, 1878, united him with Jane H. Sanders, a native of Devonshire, England.

ILLIAM ADDISON BRONAUGH. This well-known stockman of Saguache County, is a descendant of French ancestry. His grandfather, a native of France, settled in Vir- ginia and became owner of a plantation there; at the outbreak of the Revolutionary war he enlisted in the army and served until the end of the con- flict. Of his five children, Addison, our subject's father, was born in Virginia, and although he had few advantages in youth, became a scholarly and intellectual man. For some years he con- ducted a boarding-school is Missouri, but later bought a section of land in Henry County and engaged in farming. At the opening of the Civil war, while he was not in favor of secession, yet his sympathies were with the sonth and he joined the Confederate army, serving until the close of the war, and holding the rank of captain and quartermaster. Returning home he remained on his farm until he died in 1869. By his marriage to Snsan F. Peyton, who was a member of an old English family, he had six children, of whom only two attained mature years, William Addison and Fannie, Mrs. Duncan Marshall, of Saguache County.

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When a boy our subject attended subscription schools. His tastes, however, did not run in the line of study. He was of an active, vigorous temperament and preferred outdoor work to the confinement of the schoolroom. For this reason he did not attend school regularly; but, through his application in later years he acquired a broad knowledge of history and men. Upon the death of his father he returned home from the farm where he had been employed and afterward took charge of the homestead. In the fall of 1871 his mother and sister returned to Virginia and he at- tended a commercial college. In the spring of 1872 he came to Colorado, arriving in Denver in March. He engaged with a stockman near Pueblo and later worked on the railroad. Go- ing to the Pecos Valley in 1874 he bought a herd of cattle, which he drove to Pueblo County, and there started in as a stock-raiser. In 1876 he came to Saguache, and for a time was employed as a clerk in a store, after which he freighted, buying goods in. Saguache and selling them in Lake City, which was then in its palmiest days. His next enterprise was the taking up of eighty acres of land on the Saguache Creek, where he engaged in ranching, and at the same time car- ried on a meat market in Saguache. During the four years that he served as sheriff (1879-83), he leased his ranch, and at the expiration of his term of office again took up the management of the place. Since then he has engaged in raising cat- tle and growing hay. from time to time he has added to his ranch until he now has two hundred and forty acres of fine hay land, lying on the creek. On one tract of one hundred and twenty acres he raised such a large crop of hay the first year that he was enabled to pay for the land with the money it brought, the hay being sold for $25 a ton. On his ranch he has had as many as five hundred head of cattle. He has always been fond of a good horse, and has had some good stock of that class. In 1893 he went to Salt Lake City to race some of his horses, in which he was quite successful.

In political matters Mr. Bronaugh has always affiliated with the Democratic party. Formerly he took an active part in political affairs, being in fact the leader of his party here for years. When he was elected sheriff it was the first time that a Democrat had been elected to office in this county. He filled the position so satisfactorily that he was re-elected for the next term, but, though often urged to take the position again, he

always refused to accept. The four years that he held the office were trying ones, as he had many reckless men to deal with, but in all the time he never killed a man, although he was shot at himself and still carries a bullet as a me- mento of his service as sheriff. For two years he served as county superintendent of roads, and he also held the office of town trustee, but as a rule he declined official positions. Of late years he has not been active in politics, although he still keeps posted concerning the issues before the people. Fraternally he is a member of Olive Branch Lodge No. 32, A. F. & A. M., and of Saguache Camp No. 28, Woodmen of the World. In December, 1877, he married Ammorette Gibbs, a native of Benson, Vt. They became the parents of three children, but two died in infancy, and the only survivor is Walter, who is interested in business with his father.

UDSON E. COLE, assessor of Chaffee County, was born in Streetsboro, Portage County, Ohio, December 11, 1838. From there, at a very early age, he was taken by his father to Milwaukee, Wis. When he was seven years of age his mother died and afterward he was home- less. He was taken to a farm, where he worked for his board, remaining there until thirteen, when he went to Indianapolis, Ind., and secured em- ployment in a factory. One year later he became a trainboy on the Indianapolis & Cincinnati Rail- road, and after a year began as brakeman, later being made baggageman, then fireman. He con- tinned with the same road for eight years, after which he was fireman on the Illinois Central Railroad for a year. Then he was given an engine on the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, his run being in Wisconsin, but in the fall of 1863 he was in a serious wreck and decided to abandon railroading.

Enlisting in the army Mr. Cole became a private in Company B, First Wisconsin Heavy Artillery. In July, 1864, he was made a second lieutenant in the Twelfth United States Colored Heavy Artillery and served in the same until April 29, 1866. On retiring from the service he went to Burlington, Wis., and there engaged in the mer- cantile business. In 1869 he removed to Chilli- cothe, Mo., and for three years engaged in the manufacture of barrels, contracting, railroad ties, etc., being also business manager and editor of the Chillicothe Tribune, and at one time the can- didate of the Republican party for the state senate.

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On coming to Colorado, in January, 1873, Mr. Cole settled in Colorado Springs, where he car- ried on a grocery business for a few months. In the spring of 1874 he opened a small store at Helena, Chaffee County, and at the same time engaged in mining. In that early day Chaffee County had not been organized, the land being included in the limits of Lake County. Buena Vista had not been started, and the now flourish- ing city of Salida was unknown. Railroads had not yet came through the mountains, and, in fact, all the surroundings were those of primeval nature. He was postmaster at Helena, when miners came for mail from points as far distant as the Utah line.

During the Leadville excitement of 1877, Mr. Cole went to that camp, where he clerked in a store for H. A. W. Tabor for six months. In January, 1878, he became business manager of the Carbonet mine, which was sold in Philadel- phia for $175,000, he being the representative of Hallock & Cooper, who owned the mine one year only. He was then employed by Stevens & Leiter as expert in the celebrated iron mountain suits. During 1879 he erected one of the first business houses in Buena Vista and opened a drug store here. In 1882, when the town was in its first "boom," he was elected mayor, serving for two years. When the county was organized in 1879, the governor appointed him one of the county commissioners. In 1882 he was deputized by the grand master of the grand lodge of Masonry to lay the corner stone of the court house in Buena Vista. In partnership with Mr. Hallock he built the toll road from Buena Vista to Jacko Cabin on East River, fifty miles long, at a cost of $30,000, and of this he had charge, but the enterprise proved a financial failure. In 1884-85 he was deputy county clerk of Chaffee County. During the two following years he worked for the Colo- rado Midland Railroad Company, buying fifty miles right of way from South Park to Lead- ville, and was their first local traveling man in the traffic department, but resigned after two years. Again appointed deputy county clerk, he served as such from 1888 to 1892. During 1892 and 1893 he engaged in mining. In the former year he became business manager of the Aspen Daily Leader, but after three months resigned. Since the fall of 1893 he has filled the office of county assessor.

November 12, 1859, Mr. Cole married Miss Catherine Duncan, who died April 11, 1887,

leaving two children: Ida, wife of J. F. Gooding, of Buena Vista; and Orra W., also of this place. The second marriage of Mr. Cole united him with Mrs. Lottie E. Hartman, of Pueblo, Colo. In politics he has of late years transferred his alle- giance from the Republican to the People's party. He was one of the first trustees of the academy at Salida. Fraternally he is a member of Mount Princeton Lodge No. 49, A. F. & A. M., of Buena Vista; Salida Chapter No. 17, R. A. M .; and Salida Commandery No. 17, K. T. He was master and high priest in Chillicothe, Mo., and the first master of Ionic Lodge No. 35, of Lead- ville, also representative in the grand lodge of the state for seventeen years. For seven years he has been master of his home lodge. He and his wife are not identified with the church, but they take an interest in religious work.

While Mr. Cole is not a wealthy man, he is well-to-do, and stands high among the residents of his town and county. The prosperity he has obtained merits especial commendation when we consider that he never attended school a day in his life, but was left motherless, without a home, to make his own way in the world from seven years of age.

HOMAS ROBINSON, superintendent of the United Oil Company at Florence, Fremont County, was born in New York in 1837 and is of Scotch descent. His grandfather's grand- father took part in the last Scottish rebellion, which, ending disastrously, caused the confisca- tion of his estates and his exile from his native land. Later, however, his civil rights were re- stored and he was able to return, but his property was never returned to him. John Robinson, our subject's grandfather, was born in Scotland, but emigrated to America prior to the Revolutionary war. He had a daughter and one son, Daniel. The latter was born in Dutchess County, N. Y., in 1790, and took part in the war of 1812 as a first sergeant. He was a graduate of Yale College and was one of the chief engineers, appointed by Governor Clinton, to take charge of the building of Erie Canal, upon which he worked until its completion. In 1844 he removed to Pennsylvania and settled in Erie County, where he cleared land that was covered with fine, but then valueless, timber. After having cleared the land he engaged in general farm pursuits. In 1852, when sixty-two years of age, he was killed by a falling tree.

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Shortly after the close of the second war with England, Daniel Robinson was married in New York to Elizabeth Benedict. She descended from one of three brothers who came to America in 1660, two of the brothers settling in Connecti- cut and the third on Long Island. Her father and grandfather both took part in the Revolution- ary war and participated in the battle of Bunker Hill, besides other engagements. Daniel and Elizabeth Robinson, who settled in Onondaga County, near Syracuse, N. Y., became the parents of four children, namely: James, deceased; Daniel, who resides on the old homestead in Erie County, Pa .; John, deceased; and Thomas.

The last-named was seven years of age when the family removed to Pennsylvania. When eighteen years of age he went to Ohio, and there taught school. With the money thus earned he continued his studies in Delaware College, and for some years afterward alternated attendance at school with teaching. In 1864 he commenced to work in the oil fields at Titusville, Pa., where the oil was first discovered in August, 1858. The work was practically new when he began. The production in 1864 did not exceed ten thousand barrels per day. Having a good education as a basis, he soon picked up the information nec- essary to make his services valuable in the refin- ing of oil, and he continued experimenting and working until he had thoroughly mastered the business. He had made all arrangements to perfect a large company, but when about ready to organize, the Standard Oil Company made its appearance and he was induced to enter its service.

When the field at Florence, Colo .; opened up and several of the smaller companies consolidated, they needed a man to handle the business who thoroughly understood it and was capable of con- ducting the work successfully. To accept this position Mr. Robinson came to Florence in Feb- ruary, 1888, and has since had charge and super- vision of the works. From four small stills he has built a large business. Under his manage- ment were built the present works, with a capa- city of one thousand barrels daily, in comparison with a capacity of one hundred and fifty when he started. He gives his entire time and the benefits of his long experience to his work, in which he has been successful. From one hundred to one hundred and twenty men are given employment. So great has been the care exercised that, during his ten or more years' connection with the works,

not more than $1,000 has been lost by fire. The yards are protected by hose and hydrants, which are tested daily during the cold weather and every Saturday afternoon during warm weather. While he has been in the business for thirty-five years, he has the satisfaction of knowing that, in spite of the large quantities of oil handled, not a single man in his employ has ever been injured through carelessness on his part.

Politically Mr. Robinson is a Republican, but in 1896 he supported Bryan and the silver cause. He has twice served as mayor of Florence. To some extent he is interested in mining on Beacon Hill, in the Cripple Creek district, and is a stock- holder and vice-president of the Cripple Creek, Tunnel, Transportation and Mining Company. March 28, 1861, he married Dorcas, daughter of George Purvis, of Cardington, Ohio. Four chil- dren were born of their union: Ida, deceased; Merritt B., who is connected with the oil com- pany in Florence; Frank P., who is engaged in the oil business in California; and Harry, who acts as private secretary for his father. The family occupy a fine residence, built of pressed firebrick, in 1897.

ILLIAM KETTLE, who is engaged in farming and the stock business in Wet Mountain Valley, Custer County, was born in England, May 8, 1849, a son of Robert and Sarah (Madison) Kettle. His father, who was a landed proprietor in England, removed to Canada in 1873 and followed general farm pur- suits in that country. His ten children are named as follows: Thomas, who is in Wyoming, Can- ada; John, of Custer County; Eliza, wife of J. W. Sampson, of Custer County; William; Samuel, a fruit-raiser in Uncompahgre Valley; James, who occupies a ranch adjoining that owned by his brother; Sarah A., Mrs. Charles Luton, whose home is in Wet Mountain Valley; Henry; Har- riet, Mrs. Judge Artemus Walters, and Robert, all living in Custer County.

When twenty-three years of age our subject came to Colorado and took up a ranch of one hun- dred and sixty acres, which he commenced to improve. The land was wild, and much hard work was necessary in order to get it in its pres- ent excellent condition. He fenced the property and bought a few head of stock, to which he added from time to time until he now has a large herd. In addition to his own cattle, kept on his range, he also has been in the habit of buying a

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number each fall to feed during the winter. From time to time he has increased his landed posses- sions until they now aggregate ten hundred and forty acres under fence, and besides this he has eight hundred acres of leased land. The home ranch lies about three miles northwest of West- cliffe. The land is under irrigation and very pro- ductive. The average yield of hay is five hun- dred tons per annum and grain thirty-five hun- dred bushels, the majority of which is used to feed the stock during the winter. He is one of the leading stock-raisers in the county and has met with success in the stock business.

An active participant in the political issues at stake, Mr. Kettle has given much of his time and counsel to the welfare of the silver Republican party. In 1888 he was nominated, without his knowledge, for the state legislature and was elected by a large majority. His service in that position was satisfactory to all. He is a member of the Episcopal Church and a contributor to re- ligious enterprises. May 16, 1872, he married Isabel Beckett, a native of England, and an esti- mable lady, whose death, September 14, 1895, was a great loss to the family. Four children were born of the union: Sarah Isabella, Eliza Caroline, Frances Evelyn and William Charles. In 1884 Mr. Kettle took his family to England, where he spent several months with relatives and old friends. In 1894 he removed to Denver, where he maintained a home for four years, in order that he might give his children the educa- tional advantages of that city. He has given much attention to educational matters in his home county and for many years has served on the school board, of which he is now the president. The various interests of his county have received his assistance. He is a stockholder in the Wet Mountain Creamery Company, of which he was the first treasurer. Other industries have re- ceived his encouragement and aid.

A LLEN M. LAMBRIGHT. Mr. Lambright is by profession an attorney and holds high rank among the lawyers of southeastern Colorado, where he has an extensive practice. His income from his law business has been in- vested in different business ventures, both per- sonally and through the different companies in which he is interested. He owns his office build- ing and residence in Las Animas. He also owns about four hundred acres of irrigated land and has one-half interest in a quarter-section addi-

tional, upon which he is engaged in raising cat- tle. He owns an interest in a herd of four thou- sand sheep and a herd of one thousand head of horses. His summer residence is on the old Boggsville ranch of three thousand acres, which he leased for seven years, with the privilege of buying. Upon that place he raises Hereford cattle and Shropshire sheep. He is a stockholder and director in the Bent County Milling and Commission Company, the Las Animas Con- solidated Canal Company, Town Ditch Company, and Abbott Land and Live Stock Company, in Bent County, owners of about fifteen thousand head of sheep.

A son of Simeon and Sarah (Kaiser) Lamb- right, the subject of this sketch was born in Uhrichsville, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, October 31, 1859. In boyhood he attended the Newport public school and at eighteen years entered the preparatory department of Oberlin College, where he graduated in the classical course of 1885. After he had entered the college proper, he be- came an instructor in the preparatory depart- ment, and in this way assisted in defraying his expenses. He also taught country schools in Wood County. During his five years' course in Oberlin he spent $1,500 in tuition and board, one-half of which amount he earned while study- ing. After leaving college he spent a few months on the farm and then entered the law school at Cincinnati, where he graduated in the class of 1887, ranking fifth in a class of ninety. He was admitted to the bar in Ohio, and, wishing to select a suitable location, he visited the west, lo- cating at Kansas City. But after a few months an attack of malaria caused him to come to Colo- rado. It was his intention to locate in Denver, but he stopped at Las Animas, as his funds were exhausted. Here he has since built up a good practice. His marriage, which took place in Chicago January 5, 1895, united him with Miss Fannie Moran, of that city, whose acquaintance he had formed during a visit she had made to this town. Politically a Democrat, he never dis- plays a partisan spirit in his preferences, but is liberal-minded in his views, and concedes to others the same independence of thought he de- mands for himself. He was made a Mason in King Solomon Lodge No. 30, A. F. & A. M., and has filled all of the chairs. He is a man who has made his way, unaided, in the world. Early in life he formed habits of self-reliance, as shown by his manly way of helping himself in securing

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Portrait and biographical record of the state of Colorado, containing portraits and biographies of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 102

Author: Chapman Publishing Company, Chicago, pub Publication date: 1899 Publisher: Chicago, Chapman Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1530

Author: Chapman Publishing Company, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Chicago, Chapman Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1530