Portrait and biographical record of the state of Colorado, containing portraits and biographies of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 109

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 109

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Our subject has been connected with the public interests of Pueblo County, has served as deputy sheriff for sixteen years, was deputy assessor for six years, justice of the peace three terms, and when in Douglas County filled the office of county commissioner for two terms. He has ever dis- charged his duties with marked promptness and fidelity, and has won the high commendation of all concerned. In politics he was first a Whig, and on the dissolution of that party became a

Republican. He has since been identified with the latter organization, but now belongs to the free silver wing. He is a member of the Method- ist Episcopal Church, and is deeply interested in all movements and measures which tend to ele- vate mankind. His services are in frequent demand at the Fourth of July celebrations in Beulah Valley and he is an effective, earnest, entertaining and instructive speaker. His life has been well spent and in all business transac- tions his name is synonymous with honorable dealing. He enjoys the confidence and good will of his fellow-men, and his life may well serve as an ensample to the present, as well as future gen- erations.

EORGE BAUER. There is no citizen of Mancos who has been so intimately con- nected with its growth as the subject of this sketch, who is one of the leading business men of the place and one of the large real-estate own- ers of Montezuma County. When he came here, in April, 1881, he brought with him from Du- rango a stock of goods, which he placed in an old and roofless blacksmith's shop. Soon, however, he removed them to a log house, 12x18, which he had erected. The original stock carried did not exceed in value $1,500, but was gradually increased. In 1883 he built his present store building, which is the largest in the village, and he now carries a stock worth $30,000, besides which he engages in a general banking business, and also owns interests in mines on La Plata Mountain. In 1886 he erected a fine brick resi- dence, the best in the town, in addition to which he owns a large body of real estate in Mancos and a ranch of two hundred and thirty acres, on which he engages in stock-raising.

A son of Conrad and Elizabeth Bauer, the sub- ject of this sketch was born in Siegen, Prussia, in 1848. In 1865 he accompanied his parents to America and settled with them in Homer, La Salle County, Ill., but after three years he left there and secured employment on the Union Pacific Railroad in Utah. In 1869 he went to Linn County, Kan., where he followed farming. Later he was employed in a sawmill in Montgomery County, Kan. His next venture was the taking of masonry contracts, in which he continued until he came to Colorado, in June, 1872. For a short time he followed his trade in Denver, after which he was employed on the masonry work of the People's Bank building in Pueblo. In the fall

DOC FRANKLIN CLARK.

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of 1872 he went to Fairplay and engaged in min- ing in South Park, at the head of the Platte River. In the fall of 1872 he went to Manitou and there worked at his trade until May, 1873. Next, go- ing to the then new town of Del Norte he worked at his trade and also prospected in the hills. From there, in 1877, he went to Lake City and erected the First National Bank building in that place. Returning to Del Norte he remained there until the spring of 1880. He then joined a party that went out to explore the north fork of the Gunnison River and its head waters; this party was officially reported killed by Indians, but after seventy days they returned to Del Norte.

In Silverton, to which point Mr. Bauer moved his family, he built some of the first houses. In the fall of 1880 he moved to Durango and opened a small store, but in April of the next year came to Mancos, his present home. During all the years of his residence in Colorado he has been in- terested in mining. In 1875 he made a trip to the Henry Mountains, Utah, where he spent ninety days in prospecting. He now operates the Sundown gold mine in La Plata Mountain, which is proving productive. He is also owner of a part-interest in the Comstock mine, La Plata County, which was formerly owned by Captain Morse, A. L. Root and Mr. Parrott, of San Fran- cisco.

Politically Mr. Bauer is a silver Republican. When Montezuma was cut off from La Plata County, in 1888, Governor Cooper appointed him a member of the board of commissioners. In 1894 he was elected mayor of Mancos, which office he filled, by re-election, for three years. Ou the 1st of April, 1899, he was appointed colonel and aid-de-camp ou the staff of Governor Thomas. In 1876 he married Augusta E. Schulz, by whom he has two children: John F .; and Paulina, a student in the school of music connected with the University of Denver. Mrs. Bauer was born in Germany, a daughter of Carl Schulz, who emi- grated to the United States in 1872 and settled in Colorado, being a pioneer of what is now George- town, Clear Creek County. Later he moved to Del Norte, where he engaged in contracting and building. He built many houses through the entire San Juan country. His home is now in Anderson County, Kan.

The life of Mr. Bauer has been one of useful- ness and industry. His record for integrity and honor in all the relations of life has given him a hold upon the community which all might desire

to share. In everything connected with the de- velopment and prosperity of the county he takes an active interest, and as a business man he stands in the foremost ranks of Montezuma County's cit- izens. All of his property in Mancos and through- out this region has been accumulated by honest toil and good management, and shows that he is a man of fine business ability.

OC FRANKLIN CLARK, who is engaged in the stock business on the Upper Saguache and is considered one of the most extensive cattlemen of Saguache County, belongs to a family that has long been identified with Amer- can history. His grandfather, Henry, built a blockhouse at Wheeling, W. Va., where the father, Daniel, was born. The latter was for many years employed as a pilot on the river from Wheeling to Louisville, and was on the first boat that made this trip. Afterward he was engaged in various occupations, carrying on a farm in Ohio, etc., but for about sixty years his principal occupation was following the river. Though he was admitted to the bar, he gave but little atten- tion to the profession of law. He was a man who stood high among the people, which fact is evidenced by his election as a member of con- gress.

By the marriage of Daniel Clark to Mary Hen- thorn, of Ohio, eight children were born, of whom six are still living, namely: Hannibal W., a farmer in Illinois; Angeline, who married James C. Walton, and now resides at Grand View, Ohio; Amanda, wife of Mathew Atkinson, who won a record for valor in the Civil war; Nancy, who married J. M. Sheets, of Paris, Ill., a colonel in the war; Mrs. Caroline Cowen, whose husband is a physician in Ohio; and Doc Franklin, who was born in Ohio, November 11, 1834.

After having acquired his education in the college at Marietta, Ohio, our subject engaged in farming in Ohio, but soon removed to Paris, I11., and later engaged in building a plank road in Missouri, through the sunken lands; this road was known as the Point Pleasant and Dunklin County plank road. In 1872 he came to Colo- rado, and after four years in mining at George- town, he came to Saguache County, where he embarked in farming, teaming and stock-raising. In 1885 he bought his present place of sixteen hundred acres, to which he moved. The land, which is especially adapted for the raising of hay, has several creeks which furnish an abundance of

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fresh water. When he bought the property it produced only fifty tons, but through his over- sight, in 1898, twelve hundred tons were raised, all of which is used for feed for his stock. He is one of the most extensive and successful stock- men in the county and at this writing has eighteen hundred head on his place. His cattle pasture for nine miles along the Saguache and adjoining creeks. In addition to the stock busi- ness he has assisted in the development of the mining interests of the state and is now interested in mining in the Kirby.

Politically a Democrat, our subject has fre- quently been tendered offices by his party, but these he has always refused. Since 1860 he has been a member of the Masonic Order. November 25, 1858, he married Lavinia Lovey, of Ohio. They became the parents of three sons and two daughters, viz .: Zachary T. and Henry, who are partners in the ranching and stock business in this county; Clara, Mrs. Jacob Greenwalt, of Colorado Springs; Gertie, who married in this county and died here; and George L., a stock- raiser of this locality. The family reside in Saguache, but necessarily much of our subject's time is spent on his ranch and in the oversight of his large cattle interests.

A NDREW W. JOHNSSON, secretary and general manager of the Bent County Melon Growers' Association, resides on section 5, township 23, range 52 west, near Las Animas. The association with which he is intimately con- nected was organized in the fall of 1897 by H. B. Carter, George Peck, Joseph Macey, J. D. Mitchell, J. D. Rhodes and A. W. Johnsson, the object of the organization being to develop the melon industry and to superintend the marketing of the product, as well as secure the protection of the melon growers. The membership, which was originally fifteen, has increased to seventy- seven. Of this association Mr. Johnsson has been a director from the beginning and secretary and manager since 1898. During the latter year they shipped about twenty-eight car loads of melons, their products going to almost every part of the United States. That the organization has been of material benefit the result of the first year's shipments will show. During the preced- ing year all shipments were made by individuals, by express, and after the season was over the person who raised the melons and shipped them owed the express company $120 in addition to

what the melons had brought. During the first year of the association, those who raised melons cleared on an average forty cents a crate, which means that about $60 were cleared to an acre.

A son of Alexander and Louisa ( Johnson) Johnsson, the subject of this sketch was born at Andover, Henry County, Ill., March 7, 1859. He remained on a farm in Henry County until he was sixteen. After completing the public- school studies he entered Augustana College at Rock Island, and remained there until within four months of the time for graduation, when poor health obliged him to leave school. Afterward he began to teach, and this occupation he followed for twelve years, teaching the English, Swedish and German languages and music. While in college he was leader of the band, and afterward taught band music as a specialty.

Coming to Colorado in 1894, Mr. Johnsson de- cided to settle in Las Animas. Here he taught one term of school, and then bought his present property, comprising one hundred and seventy- two acres. August 4, 1897, he married Miss Esther C. Johnson, of Stanton, Iowa, where they were married. She is a daughter of J. A. and Christina (Swansen) Johnson. Politically Mr. Johnsson is a Republican, and cast his first presi- dential vote for James Garfield in 1880. He took an active interest in the campaign of 1896, and when the Republicans gained the victory he was made deputy county treasurer, which office he filled for two years. In the fall of 1897 he was nominated by the Republicans of the county for treasurer, but was defeated by nineteen votes. He has served his party as a delegate to various conventions, and was at one time chosen a dele- gate to the state convention, but did not attend. In the Lutheran Church, of which he has long been a member, he has long held the position of organist and has also served as Sunday-school superintendent.

URTON MOORE, deceased, was for many years identified with the early development of Pueblo County, and owned and operated the ranch near Rye where his widow still resides. He was born in South Carolina in 1818, and was reared on a farm in that state, while his studies were pursued in its public schools. When a young man he moved to Georgia and was there married in 1844 to Miss M. E. Blythe, a native of North Carolina, and a daughter of James and Martha (Nilson) Blythe, of South Carolina. Her

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father was a minister of the Baptist Church, and for many years was engaged in preaching in North Carolina. Mrs. Moore spent her early life in that state and was educated in private schools.

After their marriage our subject and his wife located in Georgia, and there continued to reside until 1871, which year witnessed their arrival in Pueblo County, Colo. Here Mr. Moore secured a tract of government land, and to its improve- ment and cultivation he devoted his energies until called from this life. The farm contains one hundred and fifty acres, which he fenced, and he built there a good residence, barns and other outbuildings. Besides this valuable property Mrs. Moore owns eighty acres recently pur- chased.

To Mr. and Mrs. Moore there were born" six children, four sons and two daughters, namely: Manning, who lives near the homestead; Lee; Julius Burton; Samuel, a resident of Florence, Colo .; Marcella, wife of Joseph Hendricks, of Texas; Missouri, wife D. Wolsey; and John. There are also about twenty grandchildren.

Politically Mr. Moore was a life-long supporter of the Democracy, and cast his first presidential vote for James K. Polk. During the Civil war he joined the Confederate army as a member of the Twenty-third Georgia Infantry, and was in the service nearly all through that struggle. He was an active and influential member of the Baptist Church, and served as its deacon for some time. He died in February, 1885, at the age of sixty-seven years, honored and respected by all who knew him.

ORMAN H. CHAPMAN, M. D. While he is a prominent and successful physician, this profession by no means represents the limit of Dr. Chapman's activities. He is manager of the drug corporation of The Weiss-Chapman Drug Company at Monte Vista, Rio Grande County, where he resides, and is a member of the same company, operating branch establishments at Del Norte and Creede. He is president of the Monte Vista Gas and Electric Light Company, in the organization of which he took a leading part; and serves as president of the Driving Park Associa- tion, with which he has been identified for a num- ber of years.

Born in Rockville, Conn., October 9, 1855, Dr. Chapman is a son of Denison and Marietta (Hyde) Chapman, both of Connecticut birth.

His father, who was an architect and builder, re- moved to Illinois in 1858 and settled at Gales- burg, where he followed his chosen occupation until his death in March, 1894. Of the two chil- dren comprising the family, the only daughter, Rosa C., is the wife of Warren M. Barker, of Chicago. The only son, our subject, received his education in Knox College, Galesburg, from which he graduated in 1876. He then entered Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, where he conducted his studies until graduating in 1879. Desiring to obtain still further professional advan- tages, he entered the Philadelphia Orthopedic Hospital and Infirmary for Nervous Diseases, where he served as interne eighteen months, covering two terms. Afterward he served one term in the Pennsylvania Hospital of Phila- delphia.

Going to Kansas City, Mo., Dr. Chapman took the chair of mental and nervous diseases in the medical department of the University of Kansas City, where he remained for two years, but was obliged then to resign on account of failing health. In the latter part of 1882 he came to Colorado, and settled at Summitville, where he engaged in practice and at the same time, in part- nership with Louis Weiss, established a drug store. While there he was appointed postmaster by President Garfield. Having established stores at Del Norte and Monte Vista, in February, 1888, he left Summitville, at which time the title of the firm was changed from Ford, Chapman & Weiss to The Weiss-Chapman Drug Company, with stores at Del Norte, Monte Vista and Creede. Under this title the business has since been con- ducted. Besides a complete supply of drugs, the firm carry stationery, books, jewelry, queensware, crockery, paints, oils, wall paper, glass, etc. They erected the store they now occupy in Monte Vista and purchased their store building in Del Norte. The first store they erected in Creede was burned down, inflicting a loss of $13,000; afterward a new building was erected.

For some years the doctor has confined his practice to town and office work, not caring to take long drives into the country. While he is a Republican, he has avoided political life and has not identified himself with public affairs. Fra- ternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias and Knight Templar Masons. He is a member of the International Association of Rail- way Surgeons and the American Academy of Medicine. Besides his private practice he acts

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as local surgeon for the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad and is president of the pension board of examining surgeons. In September, 1896, he married Julia Shreve, daughter of Mrs. Rebecca Shreve, of El Paso, Il1., and they occupy a com- fortable residence in Monte Vista, which the doc- tor bought and remodeled. He has one son, Norman S. Chapman.

ERRY M. CRITES, patrolman for the Fort Lyon Canal Company, resides on section 28, township 22, range 53 west, near Fre- donia, Bent County. About 1891 he purchased eighty acres where he now lives and this property he has improved, having a substantial residence, good farm buildings and five acres planted to trees. From time to time he has added to his holdings until his landed possessions now aggre- gate five hundred and sixty acres in one body, the larger part of which is convenient for irriga- tion purposes. He has made a specialty of rais- ing sheep, of which he handles between one thousand and fifteen hundred head.

February 3, 1861, our subject was born in Preston County, Va., a son of Leonard and Eliz- abeth Crites. The place of his birth was in the midst of the stirring events that rendered the early '6os memorable in our country's history. Some troops established headquarters on the home farm, in order that superintendence could be ex- ercised over some trestle work near by, and the soldiers burned fences and devastated the place in general. For that reason the father moved his family to Lewis County, the same state. When our subject was eight years of age they moved to Black Hawk County, Iowa, and there remained until he was nineteen, when settlement was made and a homestead entered, in Sumner County, Kan. Later the father went to Lane County, Kan., and there died in 1887. His wife died in Colorado in 1893.

At the time of removing to Kansas our subject was ready to begin life's battles for himself. He began to be interested in the sheep business, start- ing on a small scale, but increasing gradually. He came to Bent County in the spring of 1888 and homesteaded land on Adobe Creek, where he lived for eight months. In this county, in 1888, he married Mrs. Anna E. (Grant) Crites. The following year he became superintendent of the Riverside ditch. He also rented land west of Las Animas and for three years engaged in farm- ing there. In 1891 he came to his present proper-

ty, which, with its additions of land and improve- ments in the way of buildings, etc., constitutes a valuable homestead. Interested in public affairs, he has worked actively in the ranks of the Repub- lican party, which he has represented in various conventions. He is a member of the Presbyte- rian Church and a deacon of the congregation. He has won his way to prosperity by honest ef- fort and unvarying industry, and has gained a competence and a position of influence among the people of Bent County. To such men as he, shrewd, industrious and intelligent, his county is indebted for the progress it is making in the vari- ous lines of activity.

OHN W. BENT, treasurer of Prowers Coun- ty and a prominent citizen of Lamar, has been identified with the developments of southeastern Colorado for some years. He is one of that class of self-reliant men who commenced life without means, and by uniform industry, economy and sobriety secured a competency. What he has accomplished has been by persistent toil and by living a life of frugality. Both in pri- vate affairs and as a county official, he is recog- nized as an honorable man, who strives to do equal and exact justice to all. Among the local im- provements in which he has been interested was the platting of Bent's addition to Lamar, known as Cottage Place, which he owns and which was laid out January 1, 1898.

The parents of Mr. Bent were J. M. and Bertha (Barnes) Bent, natives of the province of New Brunswick, Canada, who came to the states in 1870 and settled in Girard, Kan. They are now conducting the National hotel in Salina, Kan. Our subject was born in New Brunswick Novem- ber 23, 1864. He was left in New Brunswick when his parents removed to Kansas, and did not join them until 1873. He grew to manhood in Girard and received a common-school education. After he left school he commenced to learn the tinner's trade, which he followed for four years. Afterward he was assistant bookkeeper for a firm in Anthony, Kan., and later for five years was similarly employed in Kansas City.

Coming to Lamar in 1892, Mr. Bent was em- ployed as bookkeeper for a land and irrigation company, and was also, for almost one year, a partner with M. Strain in the seed and coal busi- ness. In the fall of 1895, on the independent fu- sion ticket, he was elected couuty treasurer. His

JOHN C. COOK.

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service in this office has been most satisfactory, and his precision in business and accuracy in ac- counts have won the respect of all.

The marriage of Mr. Bent took place in Trini- dad, Colo., December 18, 1894, and united him with Miss Grace Thompson, of that city, a na- tive of Sedalia, Mo., and daughter of M. A. and Lois A. Thompson, formerly residents of Michi- gan, but later of Missouri. To the union of Mr. add Mrs. Bent was born a daughter, Dorothy. In his fraternal relations Mr. Bent is identified with Lamar Lodge No. 90, A. F. & A. M., and, in addition to the blue lodge he has taken the chap- ter degree in Royal Arch. He is known for his sound and careful judgment as an official, and for his upright character, which has been so con- spicuous for fairness and integrity, that not a blemish rests upon his reputation.

OHN C. COOK. Upon coming to Garfield County in 1885, Mr. Cook settled four miles from Rifle, and here he has since improved a ranch. At the time he came here the county was new, towns sparsely inhabited and all the sır- roundings those of frontier life. The land that he purchased was wholly unimproved-a bare, unattractive stretch of ground, without fences or buildings of any kind. Through his industry and energy a change has been wrought in its ap- pearance; buildings have been erected, fences built, fruit trees planted and every facility for irrigation introduced.

Mr. Cook was born in Dearborn County, Ind., October 29, 1838, a son of Elisha and Charlotte (Briddle) Cook, natives of New York and Mary- land respectively. His mother, who was born near Baltimore, was a member of an old family of Maryland and was left fatherless at an early age. His father, who followed agricultural pursuits during all his active life, was prominent in local affairs, both in Indiana and Iowa. He settled in the latter state in Wapello County in 1852, and afterward resided there until his death. During the Civil war he enlisted in Company D, Fifteenth Iowa Infantry, but after nine months of service he was injured and on account of disability was honorably discharged. He voted with the Whigs until the formation of the Republican party, to whose principles he afterward adhered. In re- ligion he was a Baptist. Of his family of four sons and four daughters, two sons and two daugh- ters are now living. Andrew Nelson Cook is living retired in Council Bluffs, Iowa; Elizabeth

is the wife of Harvey Herd, of Eddysville, Iowa; and Mrs. Nancy J. Lander is a widow, living in Englewood, Ill. These, and our subject, com- prise the survivors of the family, whose other members died young.

The early childhood of our subject was passed in Indiana. In 1852 he accompanied his parents to Iowa, where he assisted in the cultivation of a tract of farm land. He remained on the same farm, assisting to care for his father and mother, until he was twenty-seven years of age, after which he moved to another farm in Iowa. On coming to Colorado in 1874 he settled about twenty-one miles from Colorado Springs, on the divide at the head of Squirrel Creek, in El Paso County, and there for eleven years he carried on general farm pursuits. On disposing of that place in 1885 he came to Garfield County, where he has since become a prosperous ranchman. During his residence in Iowa, in 1865, he married Josephine Calvin, daughter of John C. Calvin, who had been a merchant in Illinois. The chil- dren born of their union are: Thomas Elmer, who is a stockman in Garfield County; Francis M., now engaged in mining at Kokomo, this state; Harry, Grace, Ray and Roy, at home.

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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 109

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