Portrait and biographical record of the state of Colorado, containing portraits and biographies of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 104

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 104

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Obliged to begin work when a very small boy, our subject had very few educational advantages. He was fifteen when the family settled in Iowa and afterward assisted in the clearing of the home farın. In the spring of 1861 he came to Colo- rado, being led in this step partly by ill-health and partly by the Pike's Peak excitement, which was drawing thousands of gold-seekers to the mountains. He engaged in mining near Breck- enridge during the summer and in the fall de- cided to enlist in the Union service. September 2, his name was enrolled as a member of the First Colorado Regiment, under Col. Job Chivington. After a service of more than three years he was honorably discharged, November 7, 1864. Dur- ing that time he was on frontier duty, mostly in Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming, though for a time also in Kansas and Missouri. After retiring from the army he was employed for two years on the Union Pacific Railroad, and came to Saguache County in 1869. Here he has since en- gaged in ranching. For three years he was a mem- ber of the board of commissioners of Saguache County, and for ten years rendered efficient service on the school board. Politically he was for years a firm adherent of the Republican party, but of recent years he has been rather in- dependent in his views, with a strong leaning to- ward the silver party.

June 11, 1875, Mr. Ward married, in Denver,

Julia A. Collins, of Clinton County, Iowa. They became the parents of three sons and one daugh- ter, namely: William L., who is a graduate of the Saguache high school, and assists his father on the home ranch; Robert Albion, who also works on the home ranch; Eva, who died at fifteen years of age; and Bertel N., who is a school student.

LBERT W. JONES, master mechanic of the second and third divisions of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad at Salida, Chaffee County, is a native of Indiana, born at Wabash, December 5, 1849. He is of Welsh descent, his paternal great-grandfather having emigrated to America from Wales. His father, Simpson B. Jones, was born in Ohio and has engaged in farming and merchandising throughout much of his active life; he is now a resident of Emporia, Kan. His marriage united him with Keziah K. Wiles, who was born in Indiana, of Welsh ex- traction, and they became the parents of seven children, viz .: Albert W .; Arthur E., who is at the head of the Colorado Loan and Investment Company, of Denver; Alice, widow of Charles Doster; Clarkson Davis, of Kansas; Martha Louisa, of Emporia; Luther, living in Salida; and Willis, who died in infancy.

In the academy of Spiceland, Ind., our sub- ject was educated. For a time he clerked in a mercantile store, after which he began to learn the jeweler's trade, but his health failing, in 1871 he began railroading. At first he was fireman on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad, after which he was engineer. He arrived in Denver September 20, 1874, since which time he has been a resident of Colorado. In the fall of 1875 he was made the operator at Alma, this state, for the Western Union Telegraph Company. In 1876 he again took up work on the road. From 1877 to July 25, 1881, he was an engineer, but at the latter date he received an appointment as travel- ing engineer, and August I of the same year he was appointed master mechanic of the third divis- ion. He established his headquarters at Salida, then a small town, but, the railroad company having decided to establish their division head- quarters here, the town grew rapidly. June 20, 1891, he was appointed master mechanic of the second division, in addition to the position he already held, and since that time he has filled both positions. Not only has his service been satisfactory to the company, but he has won and

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retained the respect of all of the men, who have learned that in his every act he is guided by a sense of justice and honesty. He is so just that he has won the esteem of all the men under him.

Mr. Jones is the mainstay of the excellent band of Salida. He organized a band among the boys of the public school, but, as they did not remain in the city, there was a constant effort to fill va- cant places; so he organized a band from the em- ployes of the road. Being a lover of music him- self, he successfully effected a band organization, and now has a band of thirty-three pieces that is greatly appreciated by the people of the place. He is interested in mining properties at Ouray and Cripple Creek, and has worked principally in gold and copper. Politically he is an ally of the silver wing of the Republican party. Until the past six or more years he took an active part in politics, but finding that it interfered with busi- ness duties, he withdrew from connection with public affairs. As a member of the town council and in other ways he promoted local enterprises. He was one of the organizers of the Salida Club. Fraternally he is connected with Salida Lodge No. 57, A. F. & A.M., of which he is a charter member.

On Christmas day of 1874 Mr. Jones married Alta Alice Willis, who was born in Illinois, but spent her girlhood years in Kansas. In 1886 he erected a two-story brick residence, one of the most comfortable in the city, and here he and his family have a delightful home. In his family there are four children: Flora Alma, wife of W. C. Bateman, who is a hardware merchant, of Salida; Frank W., who is learning the machinist's trade in Salida; Harry, who is fireman on the Florence & Cripple Creek Railroad; and Albert W., Jr. Besides his other interests, Mr. Jones has handled real estate extensively and has sold ninety per cent of the lots on the mesa addition.

ISTER SUPERIOR MARY AGNES, of the Sisters of Mary, of the St. Joseph Sanitarium and Hotel, at Glenwood Springs, was born in Ohio and was an only child. Her mother dy- ing when she was an infant she was taken into the home of a quaker family, with whom she re- mained for six years. Meantime her father had moved to Missouri and purchased property. In 1863 he sent for her to join him. Not until then did she know that her foster parents were not her parents in reality. She was sent by her father to the Sister's school in the eastern part of Missouri,

later was a student at Carrollton, that state, and finally graduated from the Sister's College at Ot- tumwa, Iowa.

Entering upon the work of a sister of mercy, she was from the age of fifteen years connected with different hospitals and charitable institutions and spent several years in Pennsylvania. While she was busy in the east her father had accumu- lated a fortune in Oregon, and when he died, in 1889, it was his dying request that his entire property should be used by her in the estab- lishment of a charitable institution. After the funeral had been held and the estate settled she resumed her religious duties, keeping ever in mind the carrying out of her father's last wish. While en route east from Oregon in December, 1897, she stopped at Glenwood Springs, and was at once impressed with the fact that it offered the opening she desired. Further investigation con- firmed this view.

Soon after her arrival in this city she purchased a fine property on the corner of Cooper and Eighth streets. An old building stood on the ground. This she remodeled and rebuilt, and when the place was completed and equipped she named it St. Joseph Sanitarium and Hotel. The building is a four-story brick structure, with a frontage of fifty feet and a depth of one hundred feet. On the first floor are the reading and re- ception rooms and parlors, also two dining rooms, kitchen, boiler room, barber shop and a laundry room. In the rear of the building are the boiler house and engine room, from which steam is sup- plied to the entire building. A fifty-gallon tank sends hot water to all parts of the house. An elevator runs from the basement to the top floor. Broad verandas on the south and east sides over- looking the lawn run the entire length of the building, increasing its exterior appearance and adding to the comfort of the guests. On the sec- ond floor are the private office, parlor, a number of private rooms and toilet rooms, while ou the third floor are the surgical room, chemical department, laboratory, large chapel, physician's office and pri- vate rooms; and on the fourth floor are also pri- vate apartments. The building has been newly painted, and neat walks of Colorado stone lead from it to the street. The interior furnishings are elegant, and thousands of dollars have been expended to make the institution one of the most comfortable and homelike in western Colorado. The rooms facing the east afford a magnificent view of the Colorado Hotel sulphur springs, the

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mountain and the river. Hither, for treatment, come people from all parts of the United States and even from foreign lands, and no one, rich or poor, is ever barred from the doors of the sani- tarium, whose work of charity goes on constant- ly. The success of the enterprise is largely due to the judgment displayed by the Sister Superior in the selection of a location. Glenwood Springs is situated in the very heart of the mountains and is destined to become one of the greatest health resorts in the world, for it not only has the ad- vantage of a climate that is cool in summer, yet never very cold in winter, but it possesses springs that are unexcelled as remedial agencies.

EE FAIRBANKS, recorder of Saguache County, and clerk of the district court, has resided in this county since Septem- ber, 1887. From that time until January 1, 1898, he engaged in the jewelry business here, and also insurance, real estate and abstracting, but at that date he sold out in order to give his attention to the positions he now holds. A be- liever in free silver, he votes with that branch of the Republican party, in the success of which he has taken an active and prominent part. He is now serving his second term as trustee of the town board, besides which he has acted as town clerk and deputy county treasurer; was appointed clerk of the district court in 1896, and in Novem- ber, 1897, was chosen county clerk and recorder.

Mr. Fairbanks was born in Bradford County, Pa., April 24, 1860, a son of Charles and Han- nah (Smith) Fairbanks. His father removed from Connecticut to New York state, thence to Pennsylvania, and settled upon a tract of wood- land in Bradford County, clearing and improving a farm. Among the people of the county he was honored as a man of unflinching integrity and upright life. Of his four sons and eight daugh- ters, six are now living, all of whom but Lee reside in Bradford County. When our subject was ten years of age his father died, and two years afterward his mother passed away, for which reason he did not have the opportunity he desired to attend school regularly, but was obliged to work most of the time, attending school only during the winter months. The education he ac- quired has been through his own efforts.

County in 1879. In 1886 he embarked in the jewelry business and the following year came to Colorado, where he has since resided. He has done much toward the development of the min- ing interests of Saguache County, and now has two propositions, one on Ford Creek (which is the deepest in the camp), and the other in the Iris distriet (which has the richest showing in the camp). His residence in Saguache is pleasantly located, and is one of the best in the city, its at- tractiveness being heightened by the presence of many shade and fruit trees. He also owns other property here.

Since 1895 Mr. Fairbanks has acted as sec- retary of Olive Branch Lodge No. 32, A. F. & A. M. He is serving his fourth term as noble grand of Centennial Lodge No. 23, I. O. O. F., and is consul of Saguache Camp No. 28, Wood- men of the World. In the Methodist Church he officiates as secretary and treasurer of the official board, and as a trustee and steward. His first marriage, in June, 1881, united him with Clara Rockwell, of Canton, Bradford County, Pa., who died in 1888; they had two daughters, Winifred, who died in December, 1888, and Hilda. In 1891 he was united in marriage with Mrs. Addie Wright, who was born in Bradford County, Pa.

ETER A. DELLER, junior member of the firm of Freeman & Deller, owners of a meat market at Pagosa Springs, Archuleta Coun- ty, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1850, a son of Peter A. and Elizabeth Deller, also natives of that city. He was educated in common schools there. When a young man he went to St. Louis, and for four years was connected with the Grafton Medicine Company. In 1872 he came to Colo- rado, and for a short time was employed as clerk in the old Planters' Hotel in Denver, after which he went to the Caribou district and engaged in mining and prospecting. He spent some time in and around Leadville, thence went to George- town, N. M., where for two years he was in the mining camp.

At Pitkin, in the Gunnison country, in 1879, Mr. Deller became one of the locaters of the group of mines on Ohio Creek, but in the winter of 1879-80 he sold his interest in the mines to Kansas parties. However, he continued in the same district until 1887, and in addition to pros- pecting he carried on a hotel business, being the proprietor of the Commercial Hotel, which he

Going to Kansas in 1877, Mr. Fairbanks worked on a ranch for a few months, and in the winter started to learn the printer's trade, which he followed until 1886, returning to Bradford built in 1880. Upon disposing of his interests in

DANIEL B. HARTSOE.

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that neighborhood he spent two years in the Platora mine district. In 1890 he came to Pagosa Spring, where for a short time he was proprietor of the San Juan Hotel. Later he became as- sociated with C. H. Freeman in the establish- ment of a meat market and the conduct of a stock business, both of which interests they have since managed. They are the owners of two ranches of about three hundred and twenty acres, and make a specialty of buying and selling cattle.

The silver cause has in Mr. Deller a firm sup- porter, and he favors that branch of the Republi- can party; however, he is not a politician in the usual acceptation of that term. For a number of years he has been a member of the town board. Movements for the benefit of his town and county receive his sympathy and support. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Pitkin, this state. In 1886 he was united in marriage with Martha I. Davis, of Newton, Iowa, and they have a pleasant home in Pagosa Springs.

ANIEL B. HARTSOE, a well-known coun- ty commissioner of Pueblo County, was born in Montgomery County, Ind., February 15, 1848, and on the paternal side is of German de- scent. The family was founded in Pennsylvania at a very early day in the history of this country, and finally drifted westward. When our subject was four years old he removed with his parents, Daniel and Elizabeth (Peed) Hartsoe, to McLean County, Ill., where his early life was spent and where he was educated in the district schools. At the breaking out of the Civil war he enlisted in the One Hundred and Sixteenth Illinois Infan- try, but being only fifteen and small for his age, he was rejected. His father enlisted in the same company, but was also rejected on account of be- ing too old. Three sons, however, entered the service and valiantly fought for the old flag and the cause it represented, these being Amos Dil- lon, a member of the Thirty-eighth Illinois Infan- try; and William and Jasper, both members of the Eighth Missouri Infantry. Throughout the greater part of his life the father was engaged in mercantile business. He was engaged in min- ing in California from 1849 to 1850, when he re- turned to Indiana, then removed to Illinois, and in 1853 again went to California, that time re- maining for four years and four months.

During the Rebellion Daniel B. Hartsoe ac- companied the family on their removal to Mem-

phis, Tenn., where they lived until the close of the war. In 1865 he returned to McLean Conn- ty, Ill., and located at Cheney's Grove, in the east- ern part of the county, where he was engaged in the grocery business for five years. He removed to Arkansas City, Cowley County, Kan., in 1870, and there became interested in agriculture and stock business, which he carried on until coming to Pueblo, in 1881. Here he has since made his home and has principally been engaged in house moving. He has watched with interest the rapid development of the city and has borne his part in promoting its advancement.

In 1869 Mr. Hartsoe married Miss Mary C. Mitchell, of Lafayette, Ind., by whom he had two children: Rosa May, who died in 1893; and James Clinton, who is with his father. The wife and mother died the year of their arrival in Pueblo, and for his second wife Mr. Hartsoe married Miss Fannie Paxton, who was born in Kentucky but was reared in Kansas. To them has been born a daughter, Pearl. The family have a comfortable home at No. 625 West Six- teenth street, and its hospitable doors are ever open for the reception of their many friends.

Mr. Hartsoe has ever been a loyal citizen, co- operating in all that is calculated to promote the interests of city, state or country. His political support has been given the Republican party since attaining his majority, and he has always kept well informed on the issues and questions of the day. In 1897 he was elected by a large ma- jority to the office of county commissioner of Pueblo County, which he is now so capably and satisfactorily filling. He has a host of warm friends throughout the county, and is an honored member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is entirely a self-made man, and his life illus- trates what can be accomplished through indns- try, perseverance, good management and a de- termination to succeed.

AMES W. ZIMMERMAN owns and occu- pies a ranch situated two miles from Car- bondale, Garfield County, and here, since 1883, he has been actively engaged in general farming and stock-raising. Of Virginian birth and a member of an old family of that state, he was born February 11, 1859, a son of David M. and Margaret (Hines) Zimmerman, and grand- son of Christopher Zimmerman and Robert Hines, all natives of the Old Dominion. His father, who

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was a lifelong farmer, lived at various times in Virginia, Ohio, Tennessee and Missouri, and dur- ing the Civil war was for two years a soldier in a Virginia company-of the Confederacy. Robert Hines, who was a large planter and slave owner, had five sons who took part in the war on the Confederate side. Of our subject's brothers and sisters, John H. is a carpenter in Virginia; Rob- ert W., who formerly resided in Colorado and was a member of the firm of Dinkel & Zimmerman, near Carbondale, is now engaged in farming in Virginia; Agnes is the wife of J. W. Caldwell, who has been sheriff of Craig County, Va., for more than twenty years; Annie is the wife of H. L. Caldwell, a farmer in Virginia; and Kate married F. B. Ohmer and lives in Virginia.

At twenty-two years of age our subject came to Colorado and settled in Leadville, where for two years he engaged in mining. From there, in 1883, he moved to Garfield County and settled on the place where he has since engaged in general ranching. In 1887 he was united in marriage with Hattie, daughter of Judge F. C. Childs, of Iowa, who came to Garfield County, Colo., in 1882 and is still living in this state. Mr. and Mrs. Zimmerman have two children, David F. and Bessie. In politics Mr. Zimmerman was for- merly a Democrat, but now .votes with the People's party, in which he takes an active interest. He is past master of Carbondale Lodge No. 82, A. F. & A. M., and is active in Masonry.

EORGE W. BECKLEY, who came to Saguache in 1891 and is now engaged in the grocery, dry-goods and packing business in this city, was born in Livermore, Oxford County, Me., April 5, 1839. His great-grandfather, John Beckley, took passage for America on a ship that was wrecked on the ocean and he was one of the few who escaped. Settling in New England, he married in Maine and from that state enlisted in the colonial army during the Revolutionary war. His son, Philip, a native of Maine, served in the war of 1812, and while absent from home, in the service, his wife and child were greatly harassed by the Indians, who were under British influ- ence, and many times they were obliged to flee to the woods. Philip entered the war as a private, but at the close of his service was discharged as captain.

By the marriage of Philip Beckley to Susan Weeks three sons were born: Philip C. and John

(twins) and Frank. Philip C. received his edu- cation in public schools and followed farming as his vocation. In his community he stood high. For many years he served as justice of the peace. He was a very strict member of the Free Will Baptist Church. In politics he adhered to the Whig party and later identified himself with the Free Soil party, which was merged into the Re- publican organization; he was a strong Abolition- ist and Union man. By his marriage to Cynthia Otis, of Maine, he had ten children, of whom eight lived to be at least forty years of age. Five are now living: Charles, who has been en- gaged in the transfer business in Boston for more than forty years; Cynthia; George W .; Frank, who entered the army at eighteen years and later engaged in the lumber business in Boston; and William, a hardware merchant of Boston.

At seventeen years of age our subject began in the world for himself. Going to Billarica, Mass., he learned the trade of a cabinet-maker. After three years he moved to Winnebago County, Wis., where he engaged at his trade for two years. On his return to Boston he began in the building business. He erected a residence for himself, but when it was completed at a cost of $3,000 he was offered $3,800 for it, so sold and started another house. On the erection of the second building he sold it at a profit of $1,500, after which he started two others. From that he increased until he had on hands the erection of as many as twenty-five at the same time. He put up five hundred and sixty buildings in Bos- ton, and during ten of the fifteen years he en- gaged in the business he had from fifty to one hundred men at work for him. At the time of the panic of 1877 the bank through which he did business failed, causing him to lose $200,000, and the man failed from whom he bought his lumber, and as he had endorsed the latter's notes, he lost $149,000. These two failures completely broke him up, and left him with little money.

For several years after his failure Mr. Beck- ley was ill. Finally, he was told by his physi- cian that he must go west or he would not live six months. In 1884 he went to Hot Springs, Ark., and for a time was interested in a hotel, but after two years, thinking he had recovered, he sold out and returned to Boston. Three years later he was again 'stricken down. In 1889 he came to Colorado and engaged in building in Denver. The first house he erected was a resi- dence for Henry C. Brown, costing $20,000. He

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built twenty-seven houses there, besides the St. Cloud hotel. In 1891 he came to Saguache and engaged in ranching just south of town, opera- ting six hundred and fifteen acres, but after three years he sold out and engaged in the packing business, to which he later added a stock of gro- ceries and dry goods.

A Republican in politics, while in Boston Mr. Beckley served as a member of the council, but has never accepted office since. In that city he was identified with the Unitarian Church, but since coming west has not connected himself with any denomination, although he contributes liber- ally to the support of the various congregations in this locality. He is a man of unblemished reputation, and is justly proud of the fact that, from his great-grandfather down, no member of his family has ever been accused of any misdemeanor or drunkenness, and none has ever been arrested; the reputation of the family is above reproach. In 1859 he married Julia A. Judkins, who died April 19, 1888, leaving one daughter, Flora L. October 22, 1892, he mar- ried Isabella, daughter of John H. Williams and a native of Ohio; she was a successful school- teacher, which occupation she followed for thirty years, mostly in Iowa, although for two years prior to her marriage she was a teacher in the Saguache school.

RANCIS W. ADAMS, sheriff of Garfield County, was born in Bloomington, Ill., September 18, 1855, a son of Seth Allen and Agnes Louise (Coles) Adams, natives respect- ively of Ohio and Rising Sun, Ind. His father, who was the son of a pioneer of Ohio, removed from there to Illinois in early life and engaged in farming and stock-raising until his death, in 1878. During the Civil war he served as quarterinaster in the army. He was a member of the orders of Odd Fellows and Masons, and in politics affiliated with the Democrats. His wife is now living in Missouri. Of their family, William Porter Adams, who followed mining pursuits, although he had been a law student, died in the year 1891; Charles W. is engaged in mining in Routt County, Colo .; Johu Robert is a farmer in Mis- souri; and Mary Ellen died in girlhood.

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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 104

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