Portrait and biographical record of the state of Colorado, containing portraits and biographies of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 128

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 128

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C OMMODORE PERRY NOLAND, a dealer in groceries and queensware at Grand Junc- tion, was born in Bath County, Ky., June 10, 1849, a son of Russell and Zarelda (Harper) Noland. His father, who was a Kentuckian by birth, was for years prominent in local politics in his county and served as sheriff and in other positions of trust. In 1859 he removed to In- diana, and ten years later settled in Jackson County, Mo., where he died in 1889, at sixty- one years of age.

The education of our subject was acquired principally in Kentucky and Indiana. He was a young man of twenty when the family settled in Missouri, where for two years he clerked in a general store. The year 1874 found him in La Veta and Walsenburg, Huerfano County, Colo., where for ten years he was employed as a clerk. In 1884 he was elected on the Democratic ticket to the office of treasurer of Huerfano County and the following year was re-elected. In January, 1888, he came to Grand Junction, and for two years was associated with Hon. Benton Canon in the mercantile business, the firm title being . Canon & Noland until 1890, when it was changed to Noland, Moore & Co., but since 1894 Mr. Noland has been in business alone. He has built up a large trade in groceries and queens- ware, and is the only dealer in the town who car- ries these two lines exclusively. Besides this enterprise, he is engaged in the fruit business and is also a director in the Mesa County State Bank.

Always stanch in his allegiance to the Demo- cratic party, on this ticket in the fall of 1890 Mr. Noland was elected county commissioner, and served until 1893, Three years later he was

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again elected to the office, which he now holds. For a number of years he acted as chairman of the county central committee of his party. He was nominated on the Democratic ticket in 1892 for the office of secretary of state, but with the balance of his party was defeated at that election.

In 1875 Mr. Noland married Miss Fatima Hindmarsh, who was born in Canada and reared in Illinois, her father, John Hindmarsh, being a resident of Henry, Marshall County, Il1. They have one daughter, Anna Grace, wife of George F. Venables, of Halifax, N. S. Mr. Noland is a member of Grand Junction Lodge No. 55, K. P., past chancellor and deputy grand chancellor, and is also first lieutenant of Chase Division No. 14, Uniform Rank. The local lodge of the Wood- men of the World also numbers him among its members.

Mr. Noland possesses the qualities without which true success is unattainable. His high commercial character, discriminating judgment and quickness of perception enable him to con- duct his business advantageously. His personal character is as high as his business reputation, bis honorable deportment in all the relations of life commanding the confidence of all who know him, while his generous nature shows itself in charitable deeds and his public spirit is displayed by his support of measures for the common good.

C JOSEPH H. CELL. Since purchasing his present farm in El Paso County in 1891, Mr. Cell has given his attention to its cultivation and, through the exercise of good judgment and perseverance has brought the land under cultiva- tion. The property is located two and one-half miles north of Fountain, and under his excellent management has increased in value very mate- rially. At the time of purchasing this place he also bought a half-section in Pueblo County, which he still owns.

The son of David and Sarah (Pass) Cell, our subject was born in Franklin County, Pa., November 17, 1830. He was five years of age when his parents removed to Guernsey County, Ohio, and there he acquired his early education in the public schools. The next home of the family was in Belmont County, where he spent several years. As a boy he worked out by the month on a farm and also in a foundry. He also secured employment on the suspension bridge across the Ohio at Wheeling, W. Va. About 1850 he accompanied his parents to Benton

County, Ind., settling near the city of Oxford, where they bought land. For a number of years he resided in that section of country. He en- gaged in farming for some time, but after a severe attack of typhoid fever he secured work as clerk in a book and notion store in Lafayette, Ind. Two years were spent in that position. Later he started a boot and shoe store in Oxford.

Removing to Missouri in 1854, Mr. Cell settled in Edina, Knox County, where he clerked in a general store owned by P. B. Linville. When that gentleman disposed of his business Mr. Cell secured a clerkship with another firm. At the beginning of the Civil war he enlisted as first lieutenant of the Missouri Home Guard. After a time he was placed in a company of militia and assigned to the Eleventh Missouri State Militia Cavalry. Upon their consolidation with the Second Missouri Cavalry he was elected second lieutenant, and served until the close of the war, acting as adjutant during the latter part of his service. At Jackson he bore a flag of truce to General Price, giving as the reason a desire to exchange a prisoner, but the real object being to obtain information. At one time, while doing duty as a scout, he was shot from a house full of Confederates, the ball landing in his left leg. At other times he had narrow escapes. From the commencement of the Rebellion until its close he was in the Union service. He was the first man in his town to offer to enlist, and the war was practically ended when he was mustered out, April 15, 1865. One of his brothers served in the Confederate army and the two came nearly meeting on the battlefield, as our subject's com- mand captured the command to which his brother belonged. Among the battles in which he took part was that at Cape Girardeau.

July 3, 1856, Mr. Cell married Miss Elizabeth Coony, of Knox County, Mo., a daughter of Patrick and Mary (Bradfield) Coony. He is the father of two living children. The daughter, Lillie F., married Charles Taylor and lives in Knox County, Mo .; she has two sons, Joseph and William. The only son of Mr. Cell is Joseph O., who was born in Edina, Knox County, Mo., and married Miss Ola Sitlington, of El Paso County, by whom he has one child, Elizabeth.

After the war Mr. Cell formed a partnership .with Mr. Linville, his former employer, and they carried on a mercantile business in Edina. After coming to Colorado, in 1885, he clerked in a clothing and furnishing establishment, and later

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started a store in Elbert, Elbert County, but after a few months disposed of it, and in 1891 bought the ranch where he has since resided. He has never been active in politics and has not cared for official honors. However, he has held a number of positions, among them that of rev- enne collector in Missouri, member of the town council of Edina and deputy United States mar- shal for the eastern district of Missouri.

ILLIAM B. VATES. The law profession in Pueblo has a well-known representative in the subject of this sketch, who has charge of a large private practice, and is also local attorney for the Union Pacific Railroad, the Western National Bank of Pueblo, and other corporations. Since coming to Pueblo he has taken an active interest in all matters pertaining to the welfare of the people and the development of the local resources. In politics he is a Re- publican, a steadfast, earnest defender and sup- porter of Republican principles.

In Allegheny City, Pa., Mr. Vates was born November 4, 1853, being a son of John Jacob and Catherine M. (Fraas) Vates, who were natives of Bavaria, Germany. His father, who was a weaver by trade, came to the United States in 1847 and settled in Pennsylvania. During the early part of the Civil war he enlisted in the Union army, in which he continued to serve until the close of the four years' struggle. He and his wife are still residing in Pittsburg, Pa. In their family are four sons and two daughters. George is engaged in the grocery business in Pittsburg, where John carries on a bakery, and T. S. is foreman of the H. K. Porter Locomotive Works; Anna B. is the widow of C. W. Roberts; and Kate, the youngest child, is with her parents.

The public and high schools of Pittsburg gave Mr. Vates such educational advantages as he had in youth. He was a diligent student and by application and self-culture acquired a broad knowledge, which has since proven most helpful to him. Having decided to enter the profession of law, he entered an office in Pittsburg, and with the leading law firm in that city, Miller & Mc- Bride, carried on his studies. He was admitted to the bar February 20, 1880, after which he at once opened an office in Pittsburg. During the nine and one-half years that he remained a prac- titioner of Pittsburg, he had an increasing practice and became known as a man of broad information, especially within the realm of the

law. July 19, 1889, witnessed his arrival in Pueblo, where he established himself in practice and has since remained.

The first marriage of Mr. Vates took place September 21, 1870, and united him with Emily L. Seavy, of Etna, Pa. After her death he mar- ried her sister, Maude, January 23, 1893, and they have three children, Robert William, Edna May and Maude Estella. Mr. Vates and his family are members of the Presbyterian Church. Fraternally he is identified with the Woodmen of the World, Ancient Order of United Workmen, Royal Arcanum, Junior Order United American Mechanics and Independent Order of Foresters. He is a progressive man, favoring and liberally aiding public improvements, and giving gener- ously to charitable enterprises. A man of strong convictions, he is always unflinching in his sup- port of the cause of truth and justice, and, both as citizen and as attorney, he has wielded an influence that has tended toward the advance- ment of the city's best interests.

ILLIAM J. MC DONALD, M. D., who has been engaged in the practice of medicine for some years at Rocky Ford, Otero County, was born in Pocahontas, Va., June 30, 1853. When quite small he was taken by his parents to Chillicothe, Mo., and there he was reared ou the farm near the town. Primarily edu- cated in the public schools, at nineteen years of age he entered the Missouri State University at Columbia, Mo., and there remained until he had completed the studies of the sophomore year. Afterward he taught school for two years in Missouri.

While teaching he gained his first knowledge of the medical science by studying under Dr. Samuel Day. In 1876 he entered the Eclectic Medical College of Cincinnati, where he took the regular course of lectures, graduating in 1878. After graduating, he continued in the college as an instructor for about two years. In 1878 he opened an office in Lafayette County, Mo., and there commenced to practice, at the same time carrying on a drug business. In 1886 he was elected county coroner and county physician, and then moved to Lexington, the county-seat. While there he also acted as local surgeon for the Missouri Pacific Railroad.

Having suffered considerably with lung trouble, in 1892 Dr. McDonald came to Colorado, hoping that the climate might benefit him, and in this

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hope he has not been disappointed. Locating in Hugo, he spent two years there, and in 1894 came to Rocky Ford, where he has since engaged in practice. While living in Lafayette County, Mo., he married Miss Kittie Maitland, of Lexing- ton, by whom he has a daughter, Ruth. In politics he affiliates with the Democrats, and has served as delegate to, and presiding officer of, county conventions of his party. From April, 1897, until May, 1898, he held the office of mayor of Rocky Ford, a position which he filled with great credit to himself. He is a member of Rocky Ford Lodge No. 75, A. F. & A. M., and the Odd Fellows' Lodge, in this town. Charit- able and benevolent enterprises receive his cordial sympathy and aid, and he contributes to the sup- port of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which he and his wife are identified. As a citizen he is public-spirited, as a physician consci- entious and as a man honorable and upright.

OHN D. LEWIS, who has resided in Monte Vista since 1888, was born in Jackson, Ohio, May 17, 1845, a son of Rodman and Mary A. (Alderman) Lewis. His father, a son of Thomas Lewis, a native of Connecticut, was born in Pennsylvania, of Welsh extraction, and in early life engaged in farming. Afterward for several years he followed merchandising and the sawmill business in Iowa. He is now living re- tired in that state, and is about eighty-five years of age. Our subject has in his possession an old- fashioned Queen Anne musket that his great- grandfather, Ezra Lewis, carried through the Revolutionary war.

The family of Rodman Lewis consisted of five children, three of whom are living: John D., the eldest; William C., of Fairhaven, Wash .; and Lillie, who keeps house for her father at Farm- ington, Iowa. In 1846, when our subject was one year old, he was taken by his parents to Iowa, they settling near Keokuk, in Lee County, where he remained until he was ten years of age. His father then traded his farm for a stock of goods near Farmington, in a little village named Plymouth. From there, at fifteen years of age, he went to Story County, Iowa, where his uncle, Theodore E. Alderman, was a pioneer and promi- nent citizen. During his stay with his uncle, in February, 1863, before he was eighteen years of age, he enlisted in Company A, Seventh Iowa Cavalry. He was assigned to duty on the fron- tier under General Curtis, his first post of duty

being at Fort Kearney, and afterward he was stationed at Forts Laramie, Sedgwick and other points on the Platte River. He also accompanied the expedition that pursued Price in Missouri. Both on the frontier and as a scout he saw active service. While at Julesburg he was one of the command of one hundred and fifty men who were enticed from the fort and surrounded by more than one thousand Indians. Only by the most heroic effort and desperate fighting did the little band of men save themselves. They literally cut their way through the Indian ranks by means of their sabres, after having emptied their revolvers in self-defense. At Fort Laramie he assisted in the execution of three Indian chiefs, Two Face, Black Kettle and Little Thunder. On the day that he was twenty-one years of age, May 17, 1866, he was mustered out of the service at Fort Leavenworth.

After his return to Story County, Mr. Lewis en- gaged in the hardware and tinware business with his uncle at Nevada. In 1871 he came to Colo- rado and during the three following years was engaged in prospecting and mining at Central City. Thence he went to Boulder, where he not only mined, but also worked at the tinner's trade. Returning east in 1877, he was married in Wis- consin, in August, to Annetta, daughter of L. C. Hill, and a descendant, through her mother, of the well-known Curtis family of Pennsylvania. For three years after his marriage he worked at his trade in the east, mostly in Ames, Iowa. Re- turning to Colorado in 1880 he located the min- ing camp of Bonanza, where he remained until 1886. He then worked at his trade at Leadville. In 1888 he came to Monte Vista, where for five years he was employed by Clark, Hammond & Co., and since then has conducted business for himself. He carries a line of stoves, hardware and tinware, and manufactures stove finishings, repairs stoves and hardware, etc. He has visited almost every mining camp in the state and has spent considerable time in searching for the hid- den mineral wealth of the mountains.

During his residence in Bonanza Mr. Lewis held the office of county commissioner, to which he was elected by a large majority. He also served for a number of years as justice of the peace and police magistrate, both in Bonanza and Monte Vista. In 1893 Governor Waite appointed him a commissioner of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Home of Colorado, and since 1896 he has been secretary of the board. Upon the organization

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of the People's party he transferred his allegiance to it from the Republican party and has since given his influence toward its principles. Fra- ternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Woodmen of the World and the Fraternal Aid Association. He is past commander of Joe Hooker Post, G. A. R., of Monte Vista, and has been connected with the order since 1883. He and his wife have an only child, Leon E.

OBERT GALE, who came to Colorado in April, 1860, and is now living at Colorado Springs, is a descendant of an old English family that lived on the Isle of Man. His father, Robert, who was born on that isle, was a seafaring man and made his home at Whitehaven, on the coast of England, from which point he went on long voyages in the coasting trade. In 1845 he brought his family to the United States and set- tled in Chicago, Il1., where he was employed as master of trading vessels on the lake until his death, at fifty-five years. His wife, who was born in Whitehaven, County Cumberland, England, and died in Colorado in 1874, after four years of residence in this state, was in maidenhood Isa- bella Veary, being a daughter of Samuel Veary, a farmer. She was the mother of three sons, who attained mature years. Matthew, the oldest of these, was a soldier in an Illinois regiment dur- ing the Civil war and afterward followed the stonecutter's trade in Chicago; Samuel, who also shared with an Illinois regiment the hardships of war, is now mechanical teacher in the Colo- rado School for the Deaf and Blind, at Colorado Springs.

The subject of this sketch was born at White- haven, England, February 18, 1839. In 1845 he was brought by his parents to America, the voy- age being made in a sailer that consumed nine weeks and four days between Liverpool and New York. From New York they came up the Hud- son, across the canal to Buffalo and by lake to Chi- cago. In the latter city he attended public and private schools. At the age of eighteen he was apprenticed to the carpenter and builder's trade, which trade he completed, and at the age of twenty-one started for Colorado. He outfitted in Chicago, then traveled by railroad to St. Joseph, Mo., going from there overland, with horses and wagons, via the Platte route to Denver, where he arrived April 22, 1860, after a trip of twenty-three days, from St. Joe. Two days later he started

for Breckenridge, going up the Platte and through South Park. As soon as he arrived in Brecken- ridge he took up a claim. However, he had suffered from ague all the way from the Mis- souri River and his work at placer mining ag- gravated the disease, finally obliging him to stop work. He went to Central City, and as soon as he had recovered his health, he, with others, bought the Flock mine in Nevadaville and oper- ated it. Later he was interested in the purchase of the Price mine in Nevada, and purchased a shaft and put in needed machinery. In 1866 he sold his interest in the Price mine, but retained that in the Flock mine for many years, selling out finally in 1888. He also owned an interest in the Keystone mine in Nevadaville, but this he sold when the mine was brought into litiga- tion; this was said to be the best mine in Gilpin County. In 1864 he went back to Chicago, re- turning to Colorado the same year, having made the trip by stage both ways. Again, in the fall of 1866 he returned to Chicago, where he mar- ried in the spring of 1867, returning to Colorado by rail to Fort Kearney and by stage the re- mainder of the distance.

Settling in El Paso County in the fall of 1869, Mr. Gale bought a ranch of three hundred and twenty acres on Rock Creek, where he improved the land and engaged in the stock business. In 1882 he sold the place and came to Colorado Springs, where he has since followed the building business. He has had the contracts for some of the finest residences in the city and has also built some residences for himself on Tejon, Nevada and other streets, which he now owns. His home property was at No. 516 East Unitah street. Besides his many houses in this city he owns a number in Colorado City. Since 1893 he has been interested in mines in Cripple Creek. He is a director in the Des Moines Gold Mining Company, which he assisted in organizing and which owns a mine on Raven Hill. Besides

these, he has interests in other claims. He is a member of the El Paso County Pioneers' As- sociation, and in politics is a stanch Republican.

The wife of Mr. Gale was Miss Kate Atkin- son, who was born in Hazel Green, Wis., and was a daughter of Archibald Atkinson, a native of England and a farmer by occupation. Four children were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Gale, and of these three attained mature years. They are: Arthur, who was educated in Colo- rado College and is with the Wells-Fargo Ex-

JOHN M. RANTSCHLER.

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

press Company; Hubert, who is a graduate of the high school and is with W. N. Burgess, of . this city; and Robert Lynn, who is in school.

OHN M. RANTSCHLER, deceased, who for years was a prominent stockman of Pueblo County, was born in Germany in 1840 and at eight years of age was brought by his parents to America, settling with them in New Orleans, La., but later removing to Illinois. His educa- tion was obtained in public schools, but was quite meager. At fifteen years of age he left home and apprenticed himself to learn the trades of black- smith and wagon and carriage maker. For sev- eral years he engaged at working at his chosen occupation in Wisconsin, but removed from there to Kentucky, and in 1859, at the time of the Pike's Peak gold discovery, he came to Colorado, settling in Denver and establishing a wagon and plow business. He manufactured the first plow ever made in the state. For years he was closely identified with the growth and development of Denver and Golden, which were both small towns at that time.

In an early day Mr. Rantschler came to Pu- eblo and established the first blacksmith and wagon works in the city, having as his partner J. E. Smith. Later he turned his attention to the stock business, in which he continued until his death, having cattle in Arizona, Texas and Colorado. The nature of his occupation was such as to necessitate frequent and long trips on the plains. Often he carried with him large sums of money, received in payment for his cattle. The Indians were hostile and he had varied and ex- citing experiences with them; at one time they succeeded in capturing his hat, but after a desper- ate effort, he effected his escape.

The marriage of Mr. Rantschler, in 1874, united him with Christiana Cramer, daughter of Ludwig and Christiana (Huss) Cramer. Her father, a native of Germany, emigrated to the United States, landing in New York City about 1848. In 1859 he came to Colorado, but was not successful here and so returned to Missouri. In 1863, when his daughter Christiana was eight years of age, he again came to Colorado, this time settling twenty miles east of Pueblo and engaging in the stock business with stock that he had driven from Mis- souri. In this business he remained until his death in 1896. During the war he purchased mules and cattle for the government. Politically

he was a strong Republican, and on that ticket was twice elected county commissioner of Pueblo County.

From the age of eight years Mrs. Rantschler has been identified with life in Colorado. She has seen Pueblo grow from a small hamlet or trading point to its present size and commercial impor- tance. Her education was obtained in grammar and high schools. She is a lady of refinement and also of business ability, and manages the es- tate in a most praiseworthy manner. She owns property in the eastern part of Pueblo and is the owner of several ranches in Pueblo County, ag- gregating one thousand acres, besides which she has a large number of cattle and horses. She has three brothers engaged in the stock business in Montana, while a brother of Mr. Rantschler is a prominent stockman of Denver.

Of the children born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Rantschler, Frank F., an intelligent young man, has charge of the various ranches; John M., his father's namesake, is now thirteen years of age; Luella S. is a student in the Ames Agri- cultural College in Iowa; Carrie C. and Mary E. are with their mother. The children are un- usually bright and capable, and their mother de- votes herself entirely and affectionately to the work of rearing them for useful and honorable positions in life. One daughter, Anna E., who was a beautiful young lady, died while attending the State Normal School at Greeley.

Politically Mr. Rantschler was a Democrat and active in his party, but never sought public office. In religion he was a Lutheran. He was a genial, handsome gentleman, who met with success in all of his undertakings and won a high place among the stockmen of southern Colorado.

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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 128

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