Portrait and biographical record of the state of Colorado, containing portraits and biographies of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 118

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 118

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1887 the yard was removed to No. 109 West Huerfano street, extending through from Huer- fano to Cucharras, and with a siding from the Gulf Railroad that renders transportation easy, also with piling room, sheds and necessary build- ings. He has continued as president and general manager of the Crissey-Fowler Lumber Company.

The Crissey family originated in England and was represented in Connecticut and Massachu- setts in colonial days, as early as the founding of the Salem colony. Abraham Crissey, the cap- tain's father, was born in Connecticut, and in 1847 removed with his family to Warren County, Ill., where he engaged in farming near Mon- mouth. His last days were spent at Avon, Ful- ton County, that state, where he died in 1893, at the age of ninety-four years. His wife was Ellice Bets, a descendant of Revolutionary stock and a native of Connecticut. She died in Illinois in 1863. Of her eight children all but one attained maturity and three sons and one daughter are now living. One of the sons, Henry, served for a short time in an Illinois regiment during the Civil war.

Born in Norwalk, Conn., April 9, 1840, the subject of this sketch was a child of seven years when his parents settled in Illinois. He well re- members the building in which he gained his pri- mary education. It was built of logs, with an unattractive exterior that reflected the crude workmanship visible in the interior. Heat was furnished by a fireplace that extended six feet along the wall, while the pupils sat on puncheon benches that were both ugly and uncomfortable. In 1856-57 he attended Lombard University, after which he clerked in a store at Greenbush, Il1. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, Eighty- third Illinois Infantry, and was mustered into service at Monmouth, August 1I, as orderly ser- geant. Ordered south, he went from Fort Henry to Fort Donelson, and participated in the battle at the latter place, February 3, 1863. Later he was at Clarksville, Nashville and other points in Tennessee, his last service being under General Thomas. In 1863 he was commissioned captain of Company H by Governor Richard Yates and served as such until the war closed.

With his brother Oliver, as Crissey Brothers, Captain Crissey embarked in the lumber business at Avon in 1865. In 1873 he sold to his brother and came west in order that he might recuperate his health. In the fall of that year he brought his family to Colorado Springs, and, as he liked

the place, he decided to locate here permanently. He has taken a warm interest in the progress of the community and the welfare of the people. In 1878 he was elected alderman, and during his term of office the water works were started. In 1883 he was elected county commissioner of El Paso County, which position he filled for three years, and was chairman of the board during two years of the time. He is a member of the Cham- ber of Commerce. Few men in this part of the state are better informed than he regarding the lumber trade and its various interests. He is ac- tively connected with the Colorado, New Mexico & Wyoming Lumber Dealers' Association. The Grand Army occupies a warm place in his heart, and often, at reunions and at camp fires, he re- views the events of the Civil war with others of the veterans who fought for the Union. His mem- bership is in Post No. 22, of this city. In religious connections he is identified with the First Con - gregational Church.

At Avon, Ill., in 1867, Captain Crissey married Miss Mary Ellen Mings, who was born in Warren County, Ill., a daughter of Joseph Mings, of Ken- tucky. They are the parents of four children, namely: Frederick L., who is secretary of the Crissey-Fowler Lumber Company; Arthur Glenn, a member of the firm and director in the company; Ellice Gertrude and Harriet B.

HOMAS R. WILLIAMS, who is engaged in the clothing and men's furnishing busi- ness at Rico, was born in South Wales in 1844, and received his education in private and national schools of his native land. At fourteen years of age he was apprenticed to the grocery business, in which he was employed in Wales until 1872, and then crossed the Atlantic to America, settling in Pittston, Pa., and remaining in that city and Wilkes-Barre for five years, en- gaging in mercantile pursuits. On leaving Pennsylvania he spent six months in Texas, and then went to Emporia, Kan., where he was en- gaged in the dry-goods business.

In the spring of 1880 Mr. Williams came to Colorado and settled at Freeland, Clear Creek County, where he engaged in the mercantile busi- ness and was also for four years connected with the Freeland Mining and Smelting Company. Going to Glenwood Springs in 1887, he opened a men's furnishing store, and continued there until March, 1892, when he settled at Rico. Here he pur- chased a business block on Main street and opened

JOHN JOSEPH BENDER.

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up a full line of men's furnishings, since which time he has continued successfully prosecuting this business.

A Populist in politics, Mr. Williams is active in local affairs. For two years, 1895-97, he was a member of the town board, and afterward he served as mayor of the village for a year. In Glenwood Lodge No. 68, I. O. O. F., he is past grand, and represented his lodge in the grand lodge of the state. He served as noble grand in Ridgely Lodge No. 59, I. O. O. F., at Freedomi, Colo. He is past chancellor of Silver Glance Lodge No. 82, K. P., at Rico, and a member of the grand lodge. In both of these fraternal organizations he takes a warm interest. As a business man he is energetic and persevering, and conducts his store upon sound business principles.

OHN JOSEPH BENDER, deceased, formerly a business man of Glenwood Springs, was born at Malch amt Weislach, Baden, Ger- many, in 1843, and received a fair education in the schools of his native land. When twenty-one years of age he came to the United States and settled in St. Louis, Mo., where he followed the blacksmith's trade for a number of years. In the fall of 1878 he came to Colorado and was at first in Canon City. While there he shod the horses for B. H. Sanderson's stage line between Canon City and Leadville. In 1879 he went to Buena Vista, but soon afterward settled in Salida. He assisted in building the iron bridge across the Arkansas River on the Rio Grande Railroad in the Royal Gorge; and he and his wife stood all night to witness the laying of the rails in the race between the Santa Fe and Denver & Rio Grande Railroads, in which the latter won. He followed his trade in Salida and also engaged in the res- taurant business, erecting the Commercial res- taurant on Seventh street, fronting the river. From Salida he came to Glenwood Springs in 1886.

Mr. Bender was a very enterprising man, yet very unselfish, always working for the public good and for the welfare of others rather than for himself. He was an enthusiastic supporter of the Republican party, in the interests of which he worked night and day at election times. No one was more pleased than he when the party gained a victory, either in local or national elections. To the last he retained his interest in public affairs, and at the time of his death, which occurred very

suddenly November 3, 1888, he was reading the political news. In religion he was a Roman Catholic.

At Hermann, Mo., in 1868, Mr. Bender mar- ried Catherine Christiana Miller, who was born in Winesburg, Germany, and in girlhood came to America with her father, George C. Miller, set- tling in Hermann. In that town Mr. Miller was for years engaged in the grain business. During the Civil war he served as a member of the home guard. Mr. and Mrs. Bender had six children, (all sons), but they died in infancy. They were kind to orphan children, not a few of whom re- ceived practical help from them.

Since the death of Mr. Bender, his wife has car- ried on the Commercial restaurant, which is one of the first-class and popular restaurants of the town. A thorough business woman, she has ac- cumulated a valuable property, including her fine residence on Eighth street, also the Commercial restaurant, a number of store buildings that she rents, and several dwelling houses, four which she has recently erected. She is recognized as of the most efficient and successful business women of western Colorado. Besides her realty in Glenwood Springs, she is the owner of prop- erty in Newcastle, Aspen, Salida and other Colo- rado towns. She furnishes employment to many workmen, in her dealings with whom she is exact, just and kind.

While Mrs. Bender has been very successful in the accumulation of money, she has not been self- ish in hoarding it. No one in the city has done more than she in behalf of the poor and needy. No one has ever been turned away hungry from her door. Ever watchful to see where she can do good, the opportunities that come to her are always taken advantage of with a generous spirit. In her girlhood she was a member of an organiza- tion connected with the Lutheran Church and known as the Concealed Secret Charitable Sisters, whose duty it was to help anyone in need. In her church, too, there was kept a "poor box,"

into which each member placed an offering for the destitute. While there is no organization of this kind in Glenwood Springs, she adheres to its principles and follows its teachings. She has witnessed with interest the growth of her home town, which, at the time she settled here, had no railroad and but few houses, while the population was very small. Its present size and prosperity are a source of gratification to her, and she is deeply interested in its welfare. Her time is given

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closely to the demands of her large business in- terests, but in 1895 she took a vacation from business and visited her old home in Germany, also traveled through Great Britain, Switzerland and other European countries.

JEORGE A. WILLIS. The history of every community is made up, so far as its most interesting features are concerned, of the events and transactions in the lives of prominent citizens. In any history of Colorado the biog- raphy of Mr. Willis should appear as that of a representative citizen of Alamosa. He came to this city in 1881 and has since been identified with its interests. 1888 he began in the real- estate and insurance business, and has since acted as agent for twenty-three of the best Eng- lish and American insurance companies.

Born in Oswego, N. Y., in 1835, Mr. Willis spent his boyhood years principally in Wisconsin and Minnesota. He began his business career in Milwaukee, where his first employment was that of clerk in a general store. Afterward he was employed in the freight office of the Michigan Central Railroad in Chicago. Later he was with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad in Aurora, Ill., continuing in that position until the outbreak of the Civil war. In 1861 he enlisted in Company A, Thirty-sixth Illinois Infantry, and from his first position, that of adjutant, he was promoted to be captain of the company. On the reoganization of the Fifteenth Illinois Cavalry, he was made captain of Company I, and later was commissioned major of the Tenth Illi- nois Cavalry. During a portion of his military service he was acting assistant adjutant-general of the brigade; also provost-marshal of the divi- sion and inspector-general of the division, remain- ing as such until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged.

Going to Chillicothe, Mo., in 1865, Major Willis was employed by the Hannibal & St. Joe Railroad Company, and later was transferred to Cameron, on the same road. From there, in July, 188 I, he came to Alamosa, Colo., where for seven years he was connected with the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. Since severing his connection with the railroad he has given his attention to the insurance business and to real estate. Upon the Democratic ticket he has been elected mayor of Alamosa and also a member of the board of trustees, both of which positions he filled with excellent judgment and unwavering loyalty to

the interests of the people. In 1890 he was a candidate for county clerk, but was defeated by six votes.

Fraternally Mr. Willis is connected with Ala- mosa Lodge No. 44, A. F. & A. M., in which he is past master. He is also a charter member of San Luis Chapter No. 18, R. A. M., of which he is the scribe; and is identified with Rio Grande Del Norte Commandery No. 15, K. T. By his marriage to Miss Carrie V. Hodges, of Brooklyn, N. Y., he had three sons: Albert, who is engaged in railroading on the Rio Grande Southern in Telluride, Colo .; Henry and George; both of whom are employed on the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad.

UDGE M. A. CAREY, LL. D., justice of the peace, and a well-known citizen of Pueblo, came to this city in 1880, and for two years engaged in teaching school. Afterward he car- ried on a grocery business, at the corner of Grand and Sixth streets, until 1889, when he sold out, having decided to turn his attention to the pro- fession of law. Soon he entered the law depart- ment of the University of Buffalo, from which he graduated in 1892, with the degree of LL. D. Returning to Pueblo, he was admitted to practice at the bar of Colorado and opened an office in this city. In the fall of 1893 he was nominated justice of the peace and received the election on the Republican ticket. Two years later he was re-elected, and again in 1897. He has his office and court room in the Board of Trade building. The subject of this sketch was born in Niagara County, N. Y., May 25, 1859. His father, Daniel, in early days settled upon a farm in Niagara County, where he is still living, having devoted his life to agricultural pursuits in the same locality. He married Margaret Tracy, who accompanied her parents to America in child- hood and settled in Niagara County. Eleven children were born of the union, all but two of whom are still living, and of the family two sons are in Pueblo. Our subject, who was next to the eldest of the children, was educated in the public schools of his native county, and at an early age began to teach school. Later he studied in the literary department of the University of Buffalo for a year, leaving in order to come west in 1880. In national politics he believes in the principles of the Republican party, through which it is his opinion the progress of our country can be more rapidly promoted. He is a member of the Baptist

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Church and a deacon of the congregation. Frater- nally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and, with his wife, is also con- · nected with the Rebekas.

In Wyoming County, N. Y., occurred the mar- riage of Judge Carey to Miss Coralyn Potter, who was born in Oxford, Chenango County, N. Y. She is a daughter of Rev. William Potter, who was a descendant of a prominent New England family and was a well-known and popular minis- ter in the Baptist Church in New York; he mar- ried Mary Brown, whose ancestors were early settlers of New York state. The two sons of Judge and Mrs. Carey are named William and Howard.

G EORGE C. BATEMAN, city clerk of Trini- dad and secretary of Trinidad water works, is a member of an old Pennsylvania family, and is himself a native of that state, born in Ebensburg, Cambria County, October 31, 1849. In 1857 he went with his parents, Wesley and Jane (Thomas) Bateman, to Iowa, where his father became an extensive contractor and builder. During the Civil war the family was well repre- sented on the side of the Union, the father and three of the sons enlisting in the service. One of the sons, Wesley, contracted yellow fever, of which he died at Dry Tortugas, while guarding prisoners of war. The eldest son, John T., en- listed as first sergeant of Company F, Second Iowa Infantry, and served bravely until he was wounded at Fort Donelson; on account of injuries received in that memorable struggle he was hon- orably discharged, and is now living, retired from business, in Iowa. The father enlisted in the Gray Beard Regiment of Iowa and served as a private in the infantry, being engaged most of the time in garrison duty at Memphis, Tenn., and St. Louis, Mo. At the expiration of three years he received an honorable discharge. In politics he was always stanch in adherence to the Republi- can party. He died in 1895, at eighty-seven years of age. Of his eight children only three are living: John T., Mark W. (a commission mer- chant of Monroe, Iowa) and George C.

The early years of our subject's life were spent principally in Iowa. When the war broke out he was a boy of twelve, and therefore too young to engage in active service, a fact which he deeply regretted when he saw his father and older broth- ers start for the front. At the age of seventeen he secured employment in the office of the old

Des Moines Valley Railroad, and there remained until 1876, when he became connected with the operating department of train service for the Mis- souri, Kansas & Texas Railroad. Two years later he went to Texas, and from that time until 1885 was connected with the Texas & Pacific Railroad. Later he was with the Northern Pa- cific road in a similar capacity. Returning to Texas in 1887, he was with the construction de- partment of the Fort Worth & Denver Railroad until 1891. The loss of his foot through the ac- cidental discharge of a gun led him to abandon railroading.

Coming to Trinidad in 1891, Mr. Bateman was elected city clerk of Trinidad in 1894 and was re- elected in 1896 and 1898. In the latter year thecity council appointed him secretary of the city water works, which position he still fills. Since 1894 he has been a worker in the local Republican ranks, and since 1896 he has identified himself with the silver wing of the party. In addition to his other interests he acts as agent for three well- known fire insurance companies.

December 10, 1891, Mr. Bateman married Hen- rietta, daughter of Daniel Fetzer, of Dallas, Tex., and they have one son, Gilbert Fetzer Bateman. Fraternally our subject has been ac- tive in the Masonic order. He is a member of Las Animas Lodge No. 28, A. F. & A. M .; Trin- idad Chapter, No. 23, R. A. M .; Oriental Com- mandery, No. 18, K. T., and El Jebel Temple, Mystic Shrine, of Denver. A member of the Order of Railway Conductors, he has served as secretary of Division No. 247, of this order.

6 SCAR WILKINS. South of Alamosa, Cos- tilla County, on the Rio Grande River, lies the ranch of three thousand acres which Mr. Wilkins owns and on which he is engaged in raising hay and stock. In addition to this prop- erty he owns four hundred and eighty acres at Garland, on Ute Creek. He is one of the largest stock dealers in the valley, and has on his ranch about one thousand head of cattle and three hun- dred head of horses. Besides raising hay for the feeding of his own stock, he usually feeds and sells about two thousand tons per annum. To provide adequate irrigation for his land he built two private ditches, which he owns, and in ad- dition to these he is interested in the Hickory Jackson Ditch Company, of which he is presi- dent.

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Near Burlington, Vt., Mr. Wilkins was born in 1840, a son of Asa Wilkins, a native of " Vermont. He was only four years of age when, in 1844, the family removed to Wisconsin. At the age of almost nineteen, in 1859, he started across the plains, with Pike's Peak for his desti- nation, but, while crossing the plains, his party met several disappointed gold-seekers returning east, and the discouraging reports of these men caused the others to change their plans as to lo- cation. He went to Gregory and Russell Gulch, where he began prospecting in the mountains. In the fall, with a party of about twenty, he crossed the Arkansas and began prospecting on Uncompahgre River, but after a short time he be- gan prospecting on the Arkansas, in which sec- tion he was the first prospector. During the winter he remained in Colorado City. In the summer of 1860 he prospected and mined in Colorado Gulch, where he took out a number of claims, but these he sold in the fall. He then went to the San Juan country and spent the win- ter at Elrito, N. M., but being dissatisfied with prospects in that section, in the spring of 1860 he came to Fort Garland.

The first work secured by Mr. Wilkins in this lo- cality was at fifty cents a day, in the employ of Colonel Francisco, when Judge Daigre was his foreman. He remained near the fort, employed on different ranches, until the fall of 1861, after which he was employed by the quartermaster of the fort for eleven months. In the spring of 1863 he commenced to buy beef cattle, which he drove into the mining districts and there sold. During the following winter he remained at Fort Garland, and in the spring of 1864 bought some wool, which he sold in Kansas. During the summer he engaged in cutting hay at the fort in the government employ. With two loads of wool he went to Kansas in the fall, and there sold the wool and bought some cattle, which, however, on account of trouble with the Indians, he never secured. Returning to Colorado after a year, in 1865 he brought three wagon loads of freight to the San Luis Valley from Leaven- worth, freighting on contract for twelve and one- half cents a pound. Afterward he freighted from the San Luis Valley to Denver and the mining districts. During the fall of 1865 he bought goods in Denver, which he sold at Conejos, and bought potatoes, which he disposed of in the min- ing districts. On returning to Fort Garland he took up land and engaged in stock-raising.

In 1877 he came down on the Rio Grande, and a little later bought his present ranch. He also owns real estate in Alamosa.

Until the currency issue sprang up, Mr. Wil -· kins was a Republican, but he now advocates free silver. In 1883 he was county commissioner, during which time the courthouse and jail were built and the Costilla County bridge was built over the Rio Grande at Alamosa, at a cost of $6,000. Roads were also established throughout the county on section lines, two miles apart in both directions. Much of the credit for these improvements was due to his energetic work as chairman of the board. By his marriage to Mary, daughter of Samuel Ashley, a pioneer of Saguache County, he has two daughters, Alice and Bertha.

ILLIAM B. CUNNINGHAM, superin- tendent of the water works of Trinidad, and a director of the Victor Coal and Coke Company of this city, was born near Pittsburg, Pa., June 7, 1852. He is a son of James and Nancy (Bradley) Cunningham, the former of whom started to cross the plains to California in 1852, but died on reaching Salt Lake City; the latter died in 1857. When our subject was six years of age, his mother having recently died, he was taken to Iowa and reared in the home of his uncle, William Bradley, a banker of Centerville. There he received such advantages as the public schools afforded.

When sixteen years of age Mr. Cunningham entered the employ of Taylor, Blake & Co., drug- gists, in Ottumwa, Iowa, and with them he re- mained for two years. However, the confining work affected his health injuriously, and he re- signed the position. Afterward he secured em- ployment as fireman on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, between Ottumwa and Cres- ton, and continued in that position for one year. From there he went to Chicago. In 1874 he met Delos A. Chappell, a contractor for water works, and in his employ assisted in constructing the water works at Litchfield, Evanston, Charleston, Lake View and Hyde Park (Chicago), Ill., also those at Muskegon, Mich. In the latter city he was employed as assistant engineer of water works until 1879.

Coming to Trinidad, Colo., in 1879, in com- pany with Mr. Chappell, our subject constructed the water works at this place. After the com- .pletion of the plant he was made superintendent and manager of the works, and secretary and

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treasurer of the company. He continued in these capacities until April, 1897, when the city pur- chased the plant, retaining him as superinten- dent. For four years he was connected with the Victor Coal and Coke Company, of which he acted as secretary and treasurer, and he still remains a director. Politically he is a Democrat, and, while not a partisan, is yet deeply interested in party affairs.

In November, 1877, Mr. Cunningham was united in marriage with Clara B., daughter of Henry H. Griffin, of Muskegon, Mich. They have four children: William H., Lucy C., Pres- ley L. and Charles L. Fraternally Mr. Cunning- ham is connected with Las Animas Lodge No. 28, A. F. & A. M .; Trinidad Chapter, R. A. M .; Oriental Commandery No. 18, K. T .; and Trini- dad Lodge No. 17, I. O. O. F., in which he has officiated as treasurer. He is an able and success- ful business man, and is recognized as one of the most skilled engineers in the state.

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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 118

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