Portrait and biographical record of the state of Colorado, containing portraits and biographies of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 115

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 115

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

his parents to Winnipeg, where he attended St. John's College, a school for boys. Later he matriculated in the University of Manitoba, from which he graduated in 1888, with the degree of A. B. The degree of A. M. was afterward con- ferred upon him. In 1888 he began the study of medicine in the McGill University at Montreal, from which he was graduated in 1892, with the degree of M. D., C. M.

After Dr. Girdlestone had practiced but a few months, ill health obliged him to seek a more congenial climate. In January, 1893, he came to the States, spending six months in California, after which he engaged in practice in Detroit, Mich. However, it was not long before his health again gave way and he was obliged to relinquish his work. Going back to California he settled at Riverside, where he practiced for three years, but again his health became impaired. In 1896 he came to Colorado Springs, where, with strength restored, he is carrying on a general practice. He is a member of the El Paso Coun- ty Medical Society, and the Alpha Psi Chapter of the Zeta Psi fraternity, of McGill University. Heis also a member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of the province of Quebec, Canada. In religion he is an Episcopalian. His marriage took place in Monmouth, Warren County, Il1., and united him with Miss May B. Perley, who was born in New Hampshire and is a graduate of St. Mary's Academy at Knoxville, Ill. They are the parents of a daughter, Constance.

ILLIAM E. ANDERSON, an extensive land holder and stock owner, residing in Rocky Ford, Otero County, was born in St. Louis, Mo., July 16, 1850. He was only one year old when his parents went to Council Bluffs, Iowa, and outfitting with the necessary equip- ments, started on the long journey across the mountains to California. There, for five years, the father engaged in mining, and afterward car- ried on a cattle business in Fresno County, where he was drowned, while still in middle life. Later the mother married a second time.

In 1873, after having spent several years in San Francisco and Stockton, our subject started for Texas with three thousand head of horses. Going via the northern route, he stopped at Pueblo, Colo., and spent the winter, selling out the entire herd. During his trip he had been three times attacked by Indians. On returning to California he resumed the stock business. In

1877 he took ten thousand head of sheep to the Panhandle, Texas, and there he engaged in the sheep and cattle business for four years. Finally he sold his stock to the Prairie Cattle Company.

In 1882 Mr. Anderson went on the Rio Hondo in New Mexico and purchased a large ranch from George Taylor, paying $53,000 for the place. In the fall of that year he took his wife there. It was a pioneer life upon which he entered. The nearest neighbor was twenty miles away, while the railroad (Las Vegas) was two hundred miles distant. A few months after he purchased the ranch he formed a partnership with Thatcher Brothers, with whom he continued for six years. During that time he organized the Cattle Men's Protective Association, of which he was presi- dent, and which succeeded in effectually ridding Lincoln County and the entire country of all thieves. The company of which he was presi- dent was known as the Anderson Cattle Com- pany, and the ranch was called the Diamond A cattle ranch.

In the fall of 1888 the ranch was sold to the Bloom Cattle Company, owning about nine thou- sand head of cattle. After spending some months in Missouri, Mr. Anderson came to Otero Coun- ty, Colo., in the summer of 1889, and bought from J. W. Potter the Tempis Creek ranch of eight hundred and eighty acres and the Fowler ranch of eight hundred and ninety acres, and for four years he engaged in the hay, grain and seed business, shipping seed to Europe and other countries. On selling out the seed business in 1894 he contracted for seven thousand head of cattle, but the panic came on, with all its dis- astrous consequences, and, not being able to take the cattle, he was obliged to pay a forfeit of $10,000.

Besides his other property, Mr. Anderson owns two thousand acres of timber land in the White Mountains in New Mexico, which will be val- uable at no distant day. He also owns one-third interest in a mining property in Routt County, Colo., that is worth $80,000. During his long life on the plains he has made many friends among prominent cattlemen in all of the western states and territories. He holds the record for expertness in handling the lariat, and no cattle- man on the plains can surpass him in roping cattle and horses. Having been brought into frequent contact with the Mexicans, he has be- come proficient in the Spanish language, which he speaks fluently.

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Since 1889 Mr. Anderson has made Rocky Ford his home. He was married February 9, 1882, to Miss Mary Josephine Smith, who was born in Bethany, Mo., and from two years of age lived in Warrensburg, that state. She graduated with honors from the Missouri State Normal School at Warrensburg in 1879, after which she taught in the public schools of Warrensburg and Knobnoster for three years. In 1897 she was elected county superintendent of schools by a majority of about four hundred, while all the other candidates of the People's party were de- feated. A lady of education and intellectual attainments, she was well qualified to fill the position with efficiency, and as a county official has made a splendid record. She is the owner of five residences in Rocky Ford. For six years Mr. Anderson has acted as regent of the Colorado State University. He has taken an active inter- est in every measure for the benefit of the town, and was a prime mover in securing the organiza- tion of the mill and elevator company and the fair association. He and his wife are the parents of three children, William Edward, Robert S. and Margaret.

OHN PETERSON. No foreign element has become a more important part in our Ameri- can citizenship than that furnished by Swe- den. The emigrants from that country have brought with them to the new world the stability, enterprise and perseverance characteristic of their people, and have fused these qualities with the progressiveness and indomitable spirit of the west. Mr. Peterson is a representative of this class. He came to America without capital and had no friends in this country. It was his desire to benefit his financial condition, and his dreams of the future have been more than realized, for he is now one of the prosperous and substantial farmers and stockmen of Pueblo County, his ranch lying about three miles from Rye.

Mr. Peterson was born in the southwestern part of Sweden September 11, 1840, was educated in the public schools of that country and con- tinued to reside there until 1868, when he crossed the broad Atlantic and took up his residence in Galesburg, Knox County, Ill., where he carried on operations as a farmer and stock-raiser for some years. About twenty-six years ago he came to Pueblo County, Colo., and since 1881 has resided upon his present ranch, which is pleasantly located and is one of the most desir-

able places of the locality. It is all under fence, highly cultivated and well improved. He has the finest barn in the neighborhood, and as a stock-raiser he has been very successful, keeping only the best grades of horses and cattle. Here he has prospered, owes no man a dollar and has money at interest. For some time he conducted a store in the vicinity of Rye, but finding the stock business more profitable he gave up the former occupation. As a public-spirited and pro- gressive citizen he believes in helping all laud- able enterprises for the public good and has done much to advance the interests of his part of the county. He is pleasant and agreeable in man- ner and his word is considered as good as his bond. In politics he is a stanch Republican. After his arrival in the new world he had a sister come to this country; she is now the wife of Jo- seph Peterson, whose ranch adjoins that of our subject, and whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work.

HARLES P. MAC MULLAN, M. D., de- ceased, formerly one of the leading business men of Fort Garland, Costilla County, was born in Ireland September 27, 1842, a son of Daniel and Catherine (Sharkey) MacMullan. He was reared in his native land and received a classical education in a college of Dublin, from which he graduated with honors. Soon after graduating he came to the United States. He settled in St. Louis, and invested his inherited capital in a business enterprise that proved a failure, entailing on him a heavy loss. At the opening of the Civil war he enlisted in the Union army and served until the close of the war, being hospital steward most of the time. Afterward he was transferred to Fort Garland and continued in the same capacity until he resigned from the army in 1871.

September 18, 1873, Mr. MacMullan married Jennie Hutton, daughter of William and Eliza- beth (O'Kane) Hutton, and a native of Phila- delphia, Pa. When she was three years of age her father died, and she was taken into the home of an aunt, Hannah Thompson, wife of Capt. James Thompson, who came to Fort Garland in 1867. Captain Thompson had served through the Civil war as a private and had afterward re- mained with the regular army, receiving promo- tion to command of a company and continuing as such until he resigned. His wife now makes her home on her ranch southwest of Garland.

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Mrs. MacMullan was a child of eleven years when she accompanied her uncle and aunt to Fort Gar- land, and since then she has made her home here.

After his marriage Mr. MacMullan had charge of a store at Fort Garland for Fred Meyer; he had previously had charge of a branch store in Badito. In 1883 he turned his attention to the practice of medicine, which he followed for some years. In August, 1891, he established a gen- eral mercantile business, and at the same time handled all kinds of produce. This business he conducted until his death, which occurred April 4, 1895. He also for years had charge of the postoffice at this point, and served as county commissioner and county superintendent of schools. He was the Democratic nominee for the legislature and the senate. Fraternally he was a Mason. As a citizen he was held in high respect by his acquaintances. He was honored through- out the entire valley as a man of integrity and unblemished character.

Since the death of Mr. MacMullan his widow, who is a lady of unusual ability, has continued to conduct the mercantile business, and also su- perintends the ranch which he owned and the stock business in which he was engaged. In ad- dition, she acts as postmistress, the office here having been in charge of her husband and herself for the past twenty-five years, with the exception of a few short intervals. In her family there are two sons now living: Charles D., who assists his mother in the store and on the ranch; and Thomas A. She has lost by death two sons and two daughters, all of whom died within five days of one another, and at the same time a cousin also died.

AMES W. SHIELDS, county judge of Cos- tilla County, and a resident of Mosca since 1896, was born in Ohio November 23, 1847, a son of Joseph A. and Guelia E. (Puckett) Shields, both natives of Ohio. His father re- moved to Indiana in 1852 and settled in Hamil- ton County, from there went to Tipton County, where he engaged in farming until 1865; he then became interested in business in Tipton, in which place he also took an active part in public affairs and wielded an influence in the Republican party. Now living in Kokomo, Ind., he is still quite active, notwithstanding his eighty-three busy years.

By the second marriage of Joseph A. Shields ten children were born, eight of whom are living.

Lydia is the wife of N. Garnstaff, of Edinburgh, Ind .; Margaret married George Cadle, a well-to- do farmer and a stockman of Kansas; Sarah is the wife of Conrad Routsaw, of Darke County, Ohio; Priscilla is the wife of John Miller, of Beloit, Kan; Mrs. Elma Ward is the wife of a merchant tailor in Beloit, Kan; Josephine mar- ried James Gould, of Crystal Springs, Mich., where she died; Robert settled in Del Norte, Colo., in 1876, and later went to Durango, where he built the court house and had other contracts for building, and he died in that city in 1895; George is a stockman near Farmington, N. M., and Moses B. is connected with the smelter works in Durango.

When five years of age our subject accompanied his parents to Indiana. January 3, 1862, he en- listed in Company F of the old Eleventh In- diana Infantry, under Gen. Lew Wallace, who was the colonel of that regiment. After twelve months in this command he was discharged for disability, but after thirty days he again volun- teered his services, enlisting in Company A, One Hundred and Thirtieth Indiana Infantry, in which he continued until the close of the war, being honorably discharged December 14, 1865. Among the engagements in which he took part were those at Pittsburg Landing, Missionary Ridge, the Atlanta campaign of 1864 and Kene- saw Mountain, where he was wounded. He was also wounded by a sabre in a skirmish at Buz- zard's Roost, Ga.

After the close of the war Mr. Shields crossed the country via the Santa Fe trail to San Fran- cisco, returning by the Horn to Ohio, where he was married, in July, 1867, to Mary, daughter of Richard Gilland, and a native of Ohio. Ten years were spent in his native county of Clinton. In 1877 he removed to Del Norte, Colo., where he engaged in freighting to different points (Ouray, Silver City, Leadville, etc.). In 1880 he was elected, on the Republican ticket, judge of Rio Grande County and served until 1884, re- signing on his removal to Costilla County. Here he settled nine miles from the present site of Mosca, in the northern part of the county. He organized the Prairie Ditch Company, the first company of the kind in the valley. The ditch built by the company is twenty-two and one- half miles long, and irrigates about thirty thou- sand acres, which is more land than any other ditch in the county irrigates. With the excep- tion of a few years, he has been retained con-

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stantly as attorney for the company, of which he has been president much of the time and has also been a large shareholder.

In 1890 he was elected judge of Costilla County and is now serving his third term. September 11, 1895, he was admitted to the bar of Colorado, and besides his work as judge, he has had considerable practice in the different courts of the state. His ranch of one hundred and sixty acres, with its substantial brick house, is one of the best in the valley and is rented to tenants. In 1896 he built a residence in town, and here he has since made his home. Fraternally he is con- nected with the Masons, also the Fraternal Union No. 5, of Denver, and Osterhouse Post, G. A. R., at Hooper.

By his first marriage Mr. Shields had six chil- dren: Nannie, wife of Alexander McIntosh, of Denver; James E., who is engaged in mining in New Mexico; John D., of Mosca; Luella, wife Samuel Stiers, of Rocky Ford, Colo .; Arthur G., who is in Phillips, I. T .; and Alice, at home. Mrs. Mary Shields died March 8, 1885. The second marriage of Mr. Shields, September 25, 1888, united him with Nana A. Hardy, daughter of Aaron B. and Ellen C. (Miley) Hardy. She was born in Highland County, Ohio, where her father was then largely interested in woolen mills at Leesburg, but he is now engaged in farming near Mosca, Costilla County. Two daughters have been born of this union, Muriel E. and Hazel E.

OBERT B. WILLIS was one of the earliest settlers of La Veta, Huerfano County, where he has made his home since 1866. When he came to this locality there were no other set- tlers except Colonel Francisco and Judge Daidre, and he was, therefore, one of the very first to es- tablish a home here. With the history of the town and county he has since been intimately identified, and there are few in this section of country with whom he is not personally ac- quainted. He has seen improvements made, the introduction of railroad and telegraph, the estab- lishment of villages, the carrying on of large ranches, and those other improvements which in- dicate the progressive disposition of the people. During all these years he has worked energetical- ly as a stock-raiser, and by industry and enter- prise has accumulated an amount sufficient to protect his declining years from hardships or want.

The father of our subject, Willit R. Willis, spent his entire life in New York state, where he was born. Throughout active life he engaged in the manufacture of woolens in Adams, Jefferson County, and in Oswego, N. Y., and became well known in the wool market. He was one of seven who organized the Abolition party in York state about 1840. His death occurred when he was seventy-eight. In Adams, Jefferson County, N. Y., where he was born in 1834, our subject remained until 1853, and then went west as far as Chicago, Il1., but remained there a short time only. He was engaged with the United States Express Company under the supervision of J. W. Parker, and worked on their route through Iowa, Missouri and Kansas, acting as messenger until 1858.

During the latter year Mr. Willis came to Colo- rado and settled six miles above Denver, at a place then known as Montana, where he camped during the winter with a party from Kansas City. In the spring of 1859 he went to Gregory (now Central City), where he began prospecting. In the fall of the same year he went to Colorado City. It was then a new town, and Colorado Springs and Manitou had not been started. For several years he remained in the same place, meantime assisting in laying the foundations of the city and doing all within his power to pro- mote its welfare. As a merchant he established a good trade and became widely known through- out El Paso County. In 1861 he was a member of the territorial council from the Colorado City district, and through the influence of his friend, Colonel Francisco, and himself, the capital was established at Colorado City, where the legisla- ture convened in 1862. He acted as representa- tive in the first, second and fourth councils of the territorial legislature, and wielded a potent influence in all those measures originated for the benefit of the newly organized territory.

In 1866 Mr. Willis removed to Huerfano Coun-' ty, where he has since resided. In 1871 he bought a tract of land near town and began to raise sheep, in which business, as well as in cat- tle-raising, he devoted himself and continued successfully for fifteen years. Meantime, he opened up his land and made a number of valua- ble improvements. Since 1886, when he sold his sheep, he has devoted himself exclusively to the raising of cattle. Fraternally he is a Mason and a member of the blue lodge. His marriage, which took place in 1867, united him with Mary

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M. Francisco, a sister of Colonel Francisco. She died January 10, 1893, leaving an only daughter, Mary, who is the wife of Dr. A. W. Morton, of San Francisco, Cal.

OHN O'CONNELL. In all of southeastern Colorado there is no point that possesses more of historic interest than old Fort Lyon. During the early days in the history of this state it was the camping ground of emigrants from every direction, lured west by the hope of find- ing gold in the mountains. When Indians were dangerous the fort was the refuge of white set- tlers and travelers; and could the old walls speak they might tell many a tale of adventure, excite- ment, peril, carnage and even death. For those who are students of the past the fort is therefore an object of interest. While it is not at present occupied as a military post, the government em- ploys Mr. O'Connell to look after it, and he makes his home here. Besides superintending the fort he also engages in farming and the cat- tle business. Starting with a herd of two hun- dred head of cattle he now owns nearly five hun- dred. He has four hundred and eighty acres of land lying along the Arkansas River bottom, upon which he has built a ditch and in that way made irrigation possible. In addition to this land he has one hundred and sixty acres under the Fort Lyon ditch, two miles north of the fort.

A son of Michael and Mary (Costello) O'Con- nell, our subject was born in County Limerick, Ireland, in March, 1851. He grew to manhood upon a farm and received a fair education. In 1869 he crossed the ocean, spending nine days on the water. After landing in New York he went to Boston, where he secured employment as hotel porter, and continued in that position for three years, after which he was engaged as night watchman for six years. Failing health obliged him to resign the position. While employed as watchman he was for four months a body guard of Rear-Admiral Taylor on board the "Franklin" at the time of the trouble with Spain caused by the Virginius affair.

A visit of six months at his old home in Ire- land restored Mr. O'Connell's health and he re- turned to America, hopeful and determined to succeed. Going to the hotel where he had pre- viously been employed he was again engaged as night watchman, in which capacity he remained for two years. Unfortunately, as before, he was afflicted with bronchitis and resigned his position.

He traveled through the east, hoping to regain his health, and as soon as he felt better he began to work in the wholesale dry-goods house of Jor- dan & Marsh, in Boston, being first in their pack- ing rooms and later holding the position of ship- ping clerk. On resigning the position after two years in the company's employ he came to Colo- rado, in 1883. Soon afterward he embarked in the cattle business, which he has since carried on successfully. He is an industrious, persevering man, and is deserving of whatever success life may hold for him. In politics he is a Democrat, but not active in local affairs. He was reared in the Roman Catholic faith and was confirmed at the age of fifteen in his native land. His ac- quaintances in Bent County hold him in high regard as a man of integrity and upright life, one who has become prosperous by the exercise of judgment and energy, and who, at the same time, has always retained his integrity and honorable character.

B ERNARDO ROMERO, member of the board of commissioners of Conejos County, was born near Santa Fe, N. M., in 1842, and spent the early years of his life upon a farm. In 1870 he came to Colorado, settling in Conejos County, about three miles from the village of Conejos. Here he owns and operates a ranch of three hun- dred acres, upon which he is engaged in raising stock and general farm products, while at the same time he also keeps a general store. He was one of the incorporators of the town of San Rorfal, of which he was chosen the first mayor and has since continued to serve in that capacity.

Politically a Republican, Mr. Romero always votes his straight party ticket. In local matters he is one of the leaders of the Mexicans of his community, and his life has been such as to win for him the respect of all the people who know him, irrespective of their nationality. In 1882 and 1883 he served as assessor of the county. His first election as county commissioner was in 1886, since which time he has been repeatedly re-elected, and is the present incumbent of the office from his district. For a number of years he has been chairman of the school board of dis- trict No. 4. Since coming to this county more than twenty-five years ago, he has been active in all matters pertaining to the welfare of the people and the development of the county. In 1863 he organized a company of federal soldiers for gov-

B. F. SPINNEY.

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ernment service against the Texas troops. Of this company he was commissioned first lieuten- ant and served for four months.

The marriage of Mr. Romero took place in 1862 and united him with Quirina Romero, who was born in New Mexico and died in Colorado, in 1886. Of the six children born of the union four are living: Nicholas R., Senaida, Felicita and Guillermo.

B ENJAMIN F. SPINNEY. In the list of the ranch-owners of Park County mention belongs to Mr. Spinney, whose prosperity has been gained by industrious application to his chosen occupation. He has been identified with the stock business in this section since 1873, when he and his brother bought a herd of cattle in Pueblo and drove them to his present location, twelve miles east of Hartsel spring. Through business tact and great perseverance in the inter- vening years, he has acquired valuable haying and cattle interests and is the owner of about six thousand acres.

The birth of Mr. Spinney occurred in Freedom, Waldo County, Me., July 19, 1838, his parents being William and Marjory (Oliver) Spinney. He and his brothers, Anson B., Joseph O'H. and Nicholas S., are the survivors of the original family of six children. In a very early day the Spinney family emigrated to America and set- tled at the mouth of the Kennebec River in Maine. In that locality Nicholas Spinney, our subject's grandfather, was the owner of exten- sive interests in ship-building and the coast trade. In the same neighborhood William Spin- ney was born and reared and from there, when in his twenty-fourth year, he removed to Freedom. For a number of years he engaged in contracting and building in that place. In 1854 he removed to Lynn, Mass., where he engaged in the mercan- tile business. Just prior to his death he pur- chased a farm in Illinois, with the intention of removing there to spend the remainder of his days, but while back in the east, disposing of his varied interests, he died in Freedom in 1857.

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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 115

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