Portrait and biographical record of the state of Colorado, containing portraits and biographies of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 114

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 114

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ON. JAMES N. CARLISLE. The man that has bridged over space and practically an- nihilated time by the work of his inventive and enterprising spirit, deserves to be numbered among the benefactors of the race. "Tis an age of progress, when vast commercial transactions, involving millions of dollars, depend upon rapid transportation. The revolution in business that the past half century, or even less, has witnessed, has been brought about by the means of the rail- roads, and the man who has done as much as anyone to establish these highways of travel in Colorado is James N. Carlisle, a well-known and prominent citizen of Pueblo.

He was born in Carroll County, Ohio, in Octo- ber, 1836, and was reared in New Philadelphia, Tuscarawas County, Ohio, where he was edu- cated in the common schools. At the age of fourteen years he became interested in railroad- ing in his native state, and throughout life has been more or less identified with it. At the age of fifteen years he removed to Iowa, and in 1856 became a resident of Nebraska, when it was still

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a territory. In 1859, during the excitement at Pike's Peak, he came to Colorado, where he was engaged in mining for two years, and for six years followed freighting across the plains from Colorado to New Mexico, Utah and Montana. Since then his attention has been principally de- voted to railroad construction, the first road he built being the Denver Pacific from Denver to Cheyenne, when he was a member of the firm of Moore & Carlisle. Later he built the Kansas Pacific to Denver; the Colorado Central; the Denver & Rio Grande; the Oregon Short Line; the Santa Fe; and about one hundred and fifty miles of the Missouri Pacific in Nebraska. He has built more miles of railroad than any other man in the state, and has thus opened up the country to settlement. He is also extensively interested in the stock business, and owns a ranch of nearly five thousand acres near Beulah, Pueblo County, known as the Three R Ranch. In con- nection with two other gentlemen he laid out and made Carlisle Park what it is to-day, a beau- tiful park covering four hundred acres, located in the city of Pueblo. He settled at that place twenty-eight years ago, and has since been prom- inently identified with its upbuilding and pros- perity. He built the fourth house on the mesa, was the founder of the first street railway in the city, and laid out the Carlisle addition on land which he secured from the government. This addition he has greatly improved, and among the residences he has erected there is his own beauti- ful home.

In June, 1869, Mr. Carlisle married Miss Maria Bennett, a niece of H. P. Bennett, of Denver. They became the parents of four children, two sons and two daughters, namely: Charles, who is connected with the First National Bank of Pueblo; Hattie, wife of Dr. G. W. Whitefield, of Chicago; Carrie, who is attending the Armour Institute in Chicago; and Bennett, at home. The father of our subject was William Carlisle, a carpenter by trade, who was born in Ohio and died in Colorado at the ripe old age of eighty-two years. He had three sons who were in the Union army during the Civil war, namely: William K., Walter and John.

Since attaining his majority Mr. Carlisle has affiliated with the Democratic party, and has taken quite an active and prominent part in polit- ical affairs. He was an honored member of the first state legislature, which convened in 1876; served as state treasurer for two years; was coun-

ty treasurer of Pueblo County for four years; and has been alderman of the city of Pueblo. As a citizen he meets every requirement and manifests a commendable interest in everything that is cal- culated to promote the city's welfare in any line. In manner he is pleasant, genial and approach- able, and all who know him esteem him highly for his genuine worth. The success of his life is due to no inherited fortune, or to any happy suc- cession of advantageous circumstances, but to his own sturdy will, steady application, tireless in- dustry and sterling integrity.

ON. WINFIELD S. BOYNTON, sheriff of El Paso County, is one of the prominent and influential citizens of Colorado Springs. In 1892 he was elected, on the Republican ticket, to the office of commissioner, which position he held from January, 1893, to January, 1896. In the fall of 1895 he was elected county sheriff, and took the oath of office in January of the following year. In 1897 he was re-elected on his party ticket, and entered upon his duties in 1898, to serve until January, 1900. In addition to his official duties he has important mining interests and is president of the Little Frank S. Mining Company.

At Boynton, Derby Line, Canada, near the Vermont line, the subject of this sketch was born January 18, 1861. His father, Wilder P., who was born in Canada, was a son of Gardner Boyn- ton, a native of New Hampshire, and the latter was a son of Maj. John Boynton, who was born in England and in the latter part of the seven- teenth century accompanied his parents to Amer- ica. During the Revolutionary war he served in the colonial army and took an active part in the battle of Bunker Hill. Later he removed to what became known as Boynton, Canada, and there he died. His son, Gardner Boynton, remained in Canada from boyhood until his death, at the age of about eighty-two. Wilder P. Boynton has made farming his life work, but is now living, retired, in Colorado Springs. He married Abigail Moulton, who was born in the same neighbor- hood as himself and is now living in Colorado Springs. She is of English descent. Her father, Elder Moulton, removed from New England to Canada and served as a minister in the Free Will Baptist Church until his death.

The family of Wilder P. Boynton consisted of seven children who attained years of maturity, namely: Carlos, who resides in the state of Wash-

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ington; Lyman, of Los Angeles, Cal .; Herbert, of Colorado Springs; Mrs. Ida Hubbard, who died in this city; Winfield Scott; Frank, who is deputy sheriff at Cripple Creek; and James, of Colorado Springs. When a boy our subject was a pupil in the academy at Cassville. In 1877 he went to Boston, Mass., where he spent two years. He then came to Colorado and for two years was em- ployed in the white stone quarry at Manitou, after which he clerked in a grocery store for five years. In 1886, in partnership with his brother, Frank, he opened a clothing store on Manitou avenue, Manitou, the firm of Boynton Brothers dealing in men's furnishing goods of a fine grade. In 1892 a branch store was opened in Cripple Creek. In the fall of the same year Mr. Boyn- ton was elected county commissioner, but he con- tinned to manage his store until the spring of 1895, when he closed the Manitou business, com- bining it with the Cripple Creek business. After a short time, however, fire destroyed his store and stock and he closed out the business. In 1892 he bought property in Cripple Creek and after the fire erected a two-story brick structure. He is a prominent worker in the Republican party, and has served efficiently as chairman of the county central committee for two terms.

In Buena Vista, Colo., Mr. Boynton married Miss Frances Davis, a native of Pennsylvania, and they have one daughter, Winifred. Frater- nally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. In religion he favors the Congrega- tional denomination and attends services at that church.

HARLES A. BEERBOHM, who is treasurer of Otero County, was born in Waterloo, Canada, February 13, 1862, and grew to maturity in the town of his birth. In youth he began to serve an apprenticeship to the machinist's trade, but received a severe injury and for that reason abandoned the work. After- ward he was employed in clerical positions. In 1885 he came as far west as Topeka, Kan., and for a year clerked in a shoe store, after which, in the fall of 1886, he began to work in the general offices of the Santa Fe Railroad.

In August, 1897, Mr. Beerbohm was trans- ferred to La Junta, Colo., as chief clerk of the mechanical department of the western division, from Denver to Dodge City. In October of the same year he was nominated for the office of

county treasurer, and upon his election resigned his connection with the railroad shops, in order to give his entire time to his official duties. His education fits him for the careful and systematic keeping of accounts, as, in addition to a high school course in Waterloo, he had the advantage of a course in the commercial college at Belle- ville, Canada. His work as treasurer is accurately and systematically discharged, in a manner that reflects credit upon his ability and faithfulness in every trust.

As an adherent of the silver branch of the Republican party, Mr. Beerbohm is active in local politics. Fraternally he is connected with the Foresters and the blue lodge of Masons in La Junta. In religion he is connected with the Presbyterian Church. In the organization of the building and loan association here he took a prominent part and has since served as a director. He is also one of the owners of the Home Place addition, adjoining La Junta. His marriage united him with Elizabeth, daughter of D. H. Mason, M. D., LL. D., who at one time was surgeon of the state penitentiary of Illinois. They have an only daughter, Florence.

ELESTINO GARCIA, the present represen- tative from Conejos County in the state legislature, has spent his entire life in this county, where he was born December 8, 1861. He is a son of Jose Victor Garcia, who removed from Taos, N. M., to Colorado, settling in Cone- jos County, where he has since made his home and taken a leading part in public affairs. He was elected a member of the territorial council of 1861 and also held a number of local and county offices, all of which he filled creditably to himself.

Reared on the frontier, the subject of this sketch early became familiar with the needs of this section, its possibilities and its resources. For this reason he is especially fitted to serve in the legislature in a manner that will be helpful to his constituents. Upon completing his education in a college in Pueblo he turned his attention to public affairs. He has, indeed, been identified with legislative work since boyhood. He was appointed a page in the first state legislature and in 1885 and 1887 acted as state interpreter in the senate chamber, for which position (as well as that of interpreter for Conejos County) his thor- ough knowledge of both Spanish and English admirably fit him.

On the Democratic ticket, with the endorse-

WILLIAM A. MENEFEE.

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ment of the Republicans, Mr. Garcia was elected to the legislature in 1893. Two years later he was nominated by the Republicans and endorsed by the Democrats, having no opponent for the office. In 1897 he was nominated by the Re- publicans, and endorsed by both the Democrats and Populists. In 1898 he became the candidate of the silver Republicans, with the endorsement of the Democrats, Populists and gold Republi- cans. As a legislator he takes an active part in measures for the public good and has made an honorable record for himself. In addition to this position, in 1897 he was assessor of Conejos County. During the last legislature he was the Republican nominee for speaker of the house and received his full party vote, but owing to the party being small in numbers he was defeated.

The marriage of Mr. Garcia united him, in 1884, with Mary R., daughter of J. P. Garcia, of Conejos County. Since his election to the legis- lature it has been their custom to spend the sum- mer months on a ranch near Conejos, while dur- ing the legislative session they reside in Denver.

ILLIAM A. MENEFEE, so long identified with the stock interests of Mancos Valley, resides three miles east of the village of Mancos, in Montezuma County. The record of his life is well known among the people of his immediate vicinity, but this recital will still more firmly establish facts connected with his honor- able and successful career. Shortly after he came to Colorado, in 1876, he bought a tract of land on the Mancos River, and the following year, with one hundred head of horses he had pur- chased, he went to Utah, where he traded the horses for cattle. These he drove to his land in Montezuma County, where he began to raise stock. In time he became the owner of an im- proved ranch of six hundred and eighty acres of fine land, containing modern improvements, and on this property he engaged in stock-raising, and also raised about seven hundred tons of hay year- ly, which he used for feed. In 1886 he erected one of the finest ranch houses in the valley, and here he has since made his home, surrounded by the comforts of modern times and enjoying life to its fullest extent. His success is the more re- markable when it is considered that he began with absolutely nothing; when he came to this valley he had but twenty-five cents in money, but he possessed determination, energy and per- severance, and during the twenty-two years he

has made his home on the same ranch he has in- stituted many improvements and met with en- couraging success.

Born in Madison County, Va., June 21, 1830, the subject of this sketch is a son of Philip S. Menefee. His father, also a native of the Old Dominion, born in 1803, remained there until the spring of 1856, when he removed to Iowa. He was a miller by trade, and during his resi- dence in Virginia owned the slate, flouring and carding mills in Rappahannock County. When seventy-four years of age, in 1877, he died at the residence of his son in Wichita, Kan. He was a son of James Menefee, a captain in the war of 1812, and a lifelong resident and large farmer and miller of Virginia, where he died at an ad- vanced age. The family was of Scotch-Irish ori- gin and was represented among the pioneers of Virginia. The mother of our subject was Cath- erine B. Pendleton, an own cousin of John S. Pendleton, the missionary in Chili. Of her eleven children seven are living: William A .; Tabitha, wife of H. Weatherwax, of Nebraska; Thomas J., of Kansas; Philip R., of Illinois; Mrs. Lucy V. Hanson, of Iowa; Minnie, wife of Thomas Ayres, of California; and Catherine, widow of B. F. Denison, of Olympia, state of Washington. The mother died in Iowa, August 29, 1871.

In the log schoolhouses of Virginia our subject gained the rudiments of his education. After- ward, by observation and self-culture, he acquired a broad fund of knowledge. In 1856 he accom- panied his parents to Iowa, and there engaged in farming until 1861, when he went to Califor- nia and embarked in the livery business. Two years later he went to Washington, and from there, in 1866, proceeded to Montana, having charge of a pack train of provisions. For one year he continued freighting, after which he re- turned to Washington, where he cultivated farm land. In 1872 he took a drove of horses and mules to British Columbia, where he sold them. Returning to Washington he remained there until 1876, when he came to Colorado. The year following (1877) was the date of his arrival in the Mancos Valley of Colorado.

The silver cause has a firm friend in Mr. Men- efee, and he votes the Democratic ticket. In 188 1 and 1882 he was postmaster at Mancos, be- ing the second to occupy that position prior to the organization of the village. Several times he refused the proferred nomination for county com- missioner. He is interested in educational mat-

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ters, and for several years has been a member of the school board. He firmly believes in the building up of a good system of education, upon which the destiny of our country largely depends. He is also a firm believer in having churches and religious instruction, so indispensable to good civic government and useful living. He assisted in the building of the Methodist and First Bap- tist Churches, the latter of which he is an active member. A benevolent man, he gives as his means permit, to all who are in need of assist- ance; and, remembering the days when he was poor and friendless, he is always willing to ex- tend a helping hand to young men who are simi- larly situated. He was the only man between Durango and Ridgway who gave the right of way to the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad.

June 16, 1867, Mr. Menefee married Miss Sarah Ann Demaris, who was born in Iowa, but spent her girlhood years in Washington Terri- tory, where she was married. Six children blessed the union, one of whom, John W., is de- ceased. The survivors are: George W., Edward H., William M., Charles and Lewis K., who are at home and assist in the management of the ranch and the oversight of the stock.

ILLIAM C. BALES, vice-president and general manager of the Colorado Coal and Coke Company, and manager of the North- ern Coal Company, is an enterprising and efficient business man of Pueblo. He came to this city in 1893 as manager for the Southwestern Coal Com- pany, and later organized the Colorado Coal and Coke Company, with which he has since been connected in an official capacity. Thoroughly conversant with every detail of the coal business, his information, coupled with intelligence and energy, has brought him success.

Born in Toledo, Iowa, April 3, 1866, the sub- ject of this sketch is a son of Marion T. and Helen (Culbertson) Bales, natives, respectively, of Ohio and Pennsylvania. The family, both in its direct and collateral branches, has had repre- sentatives in the various wars of our country. His father, who was a graduate of Allegheny College at Meadville, Pa., has spent the greater part of his life in Pennsylvania, where he carried on business as a life insurance agent. He mar- ried a daughter of William Culbertson, who was a promising attorney of Meadville, but died when only thirty-three years of age. Besides his sis- ter, Clara M., our subject is the only child of his

parents. The boyhood days of his life were passed in Meadville and Titusville, Pa., where he re- ceived his education in private and public schools. When he was fifteen years of age his mother died. Two years later he went to Buffalo, N. Y., where he was hookkeeper for various firms until 1887. He then went to Kansas City, Mo., where he opened a jewelry store and started in business for himself. In the same city he carried on a coal business for several years. From Kansas City he came to Pueblo in 1893 and here he has since been identified with the business interests of the place. Besides his coal business he is also interested in mining at Cripple Creek.

In 1897 Mr. Bales married Miss Ophelia Cope- land, of Denver, daughter of the late Hon. George P. Copeland, who was for many years a promi- nent mining man of Leadville. He was the son of William L. Copeland, a well-known citizen of Colorado Springs. Mr. and Mrs. Bales have one daughter.

ENRY W. ADSMOND, assessor of Otero County and a well-known citizen of La Junta, was born at Black River Falls, Jack- son County, Wis., November 1, 1857. His boy- hood days were spent on a farm, where he early gained a thorough knowledge of agricultural pur- suits. In addition to general farming he devoted considerable time to working in the lumber woods of Wisconsin. He had comparatively few educa- tional advantages, but, being quick to learn, has hecome a well-informed man.

When about twenty-one years of age Mr. Ads- mond left home and went to Kansas, where he spent one year. From there he proceeded to the mountains of Colorado, where for several consec- utive summers he engaged in mining and pros- pecting, while during the winter months he was employed in the steel works at Pueblo. In the fall of 1882 he came to what is now Otero County. Here for three years he was employed as foreman on a large stock ranch near Rocky Ford. He then took up land situated four miles west of Rocky Ford, and, in addition to general ranch pursuits, also operated a threshing machine. An unfortunate accident, in the spring of 1891, caused the loss of his right hand and obliged him to discontinue threshing and similar work. How- ever, he continued to cultivate his land and introduced a number of improvements, but after four years traded it for other property.

Removing to Rocky Ford Mr. Adsmond was

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employed as marshal and constable there for one and one-half years, during which time he ope- rated the farm of one hundred and sixty acres which he had taken up at the same time that he took up his ranch. In November, 1897, he was elected to his present office of county assessor, being the nominee of the Republican party, whose principles he has always supported. He and his wife, who was formerly Edna Washburn, and is a daughter of C. C. Washburn, of Rocky Ford, have established their home in La Junta, where they have won many friends among the people of the town. Fraternally he is identified with Rocky Ford Lodge No. 87, I. O. O. F. He is an industrious, persevering man, who, notwith- standing obstacles and hardships, has made his way to a position among the leading men of his town and county. This he has done without any assistance, but by the force of energy and perse- verance. He has had no one to help him in securing a start, but has been forced to work his way upward alone and unaided, overcoming ob- stacles and surmounting hardships that might have discouraged one less determined than he.

ATTHEW KENNEDY, who has resided in Colorado Springs since 1876, was born near Warren, Ohio, January 1, 1836, being a son of James and Eliza (Pew) Kennedy, natives respectively of Beaver County, Pa., and Trum- bull County, Ohio. His maternal grandfather was a soldier in the war of 1812 and a pioneer of Ohio; the paternal grandfather spent his entire life in Beaver County, Pa. When a young man James Kennedy removed to Ohio and from the forests of Trumbull County cleared and improved a farm, which place he continued to make his home until his death, at sixty-nine years. His wife passed away when sixty-two. Of their seven children four are living. One of these, David B., now living in California, was a soldier in the Civil war and marched with Sherman through Georgia to the sea.

The fourth among the children was Matthew. He was reared on a farm and received public- school advantages. After attending a college in Pennsylvania for two years he taught school for a number of terms and then entered the com- mercial college in Pittsburg, from which he graduated. Embarking in business life, his first position was that of bookkeeper for the wholesale dry-goods house of McCandless, Jameson & Co. Later he was taken into the firm as a partner

and continued with them, in Pittsburg, until his wife's failing health caused him to seek for her a change of climate. In February, 1876, he arrived in Denver and in May came to Colorado Springs. Starting in the stock business, he soon acquired valuable interests. He bought a ranch fourteen miles east of Colorado Springs, where he con- trolled about sixteen thousand acres, now sub- divided into small farms; while on his ranch is the present station of Falcon, on the Denver & Gulf road. He devoted six years to the stock business and then sold out, and bought an inter- est in the First National Bank, of which he was made the cashier. On selling out, four years later, he engaged in the real-estate business, in which he has since been interested, having laid out several additions to the city. He has also been interested in the loan and mortgage business and in fire insurance, representing a number of old-line companies. Politically he is a Repub- lican. For several years he served as an alder- man. In religion he is a member of the First Presbyterian Church.

In Pittsburg, Pa., Mr. Kennedy married Miss Mary J. Cameron, who was a daughter of Alexan- der Cameron, of Allegheny, Pa., a banker of that city. The two children of Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy are Richard Lea, who graduated from Princeton in 1895 and from the Harvard Law School in 1898 and is now an attorney in Colorado Springs; and Clara C., who was educated in this city and at Vassar College; she is now the wife of Paul F. De La Vergne, and residing in Honolulu.

W. GIRDLESTONE, M. D., of Colorado Springs, is a member of an old English fam- ily. His paternal grandfather came from Norfolk, England, and settled near Toronto, Canada, where, being a man of ample means, he lived a life of leisure. His son, George William, was born in London, Canada, and engaged in business at Windsor for some years, but in 1879 settled at Winnipeg, Manitoba, where he carried on business pursuits until his death. His wife, who was of French descent, was Louisa Rosalie Baby, a native of.Sandwich, Canada, and is now living in Vancouver. Her father, Major Baby, was for a time sheriff of Essex County, Canada. Of her ten children, seven are now living, our subject being the eldest of these. He was born in Windsor, Essex County, Canada, August 7, 1868, and remained in his native place until eleven years of age. In 1879 he accompanied

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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 114

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