Portrait and biographical record of the state of Colorado, containing portraits and biographies of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 140

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 140

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In August, 1879, Mr. Hoover settled in Den- ver, Colo., where, during the greater part of the ensuing four years, he was connected with Hon.

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G. G. Symes and Judge W. S. Decker, a promi- nent law firm of that city. During the summer months, however, he was interested mainly in mining and practicing law in the Gunnison coun- try, where he built up a large practice in mining and patent law, having an office at Scofield and one at Crystal. Finally he turned his entire at- tention to his practice in that district, where he remained until 1893. Nine years prior to this he had become interested in Garfield County prop- erty, having located near Rifle a large ranch, in which he is still interested. When he first came to Garfield County, on business connected with his property here, the county had only been re- cently organized, and Glenwood Springs con- tained nothing but a few tents. When he set- tled here permanently, in 1893, many improve- ments had been made, and both the city and county were on a substantial basis. In 1897 he was elected county clerk and recorder, which office he still holds and in which he has rendered painstaking and efficient service. He is a be- liever in the silver cause, and affiliates with the silver branch of the Republican party. Socially he is a popular man, genial and pleasant in his disposition, accommodating and helpful in spirit, and kind to those in need.

ICHOLAS W. MILLER, who is engaged in general farming and the stock business in Conejos County, his ranch lying on the road between Sanford and Manassa, was born in Tennessee in 1864, and is a son of Philip Miller, a native of Germany and by trade a tanner. In 1884, one year after his son had settled in Colo- rado, the father came to this state and settled on a ranch near La Jara, where he is still residing.

In public schools in Tennessee our subject ob- tained a fair education. In 1883 he removed to the west, establishing his home in Conejos County, Colo., and embarking in the stock busi- ness. After having had his headquarters on dif- ferent ranches for some time, in 1894 he purchased two hundred and forty acres of land, two and one-fourth miles north of Manassa, and there he established his home. Here he has since resided. On his.place he has large herds of cattle and horses. He is somewhat of a speculator, not only in lands, but also in stock, which he buys and sells, and in his various enterprises he has been more than ordinarily successful.

The marriage of Mr. Miller united him with Angie H. Evans, a native of Alabama. Nine

children were born of their union. The eldest of these, William A., was born October 4, 1883, and died January 18, 1884; the next to the youngest, Albert P., was born February 23, 1897, and died October 20 of the same year. The children now living are: Mary E., John Milton, Gertie, Wal- lace, Della, Nicholas and Asa. The family are connected with the Mormon Church, for which Mr. Miller engaged in missionary work in the south in 1892-93. Besides his ranching interests, he was formerly for a short time engaged in the mercantile business at Sanford and also owned a sawmill in the mountains.

RANCIS E. PREWITT, M. D., came to Silverton in June, 1895, and has since been engaged in the practice of medicine in this city. In 1896 he became associated with Dr. Rader, with whom, on January 15 of that year, he established the Silverton hospital. This in- stitution, which has proved a most helpful one, was established not only for the purpose of giving proper medical attention to injured miners, but also for the benefit of those suffering from chronic ailments. All the facilities for surgical operations may be found here, and in fact, the hospital is one of the most completely equipped of any in southwestern Colorado.

The son of Francis and Mary C. (Tinsley) Prewitt, of Kentucky and Virginia birth re- spectively, the subject of this sketch was born in Missouri, March 26, 1868, his father having re- moved to that state and engaged in the mercantile business at Louisville. He and his wife died in 1876. Of their five children all but one are living. Our subject was a mere child when his parents died, and he was then taken into the home of his uncle, William C. Prewitt, formerly of Clarksville, Mo., but later well known in Colorado history, being one of the pioneers of Durango, and the builder of the Inter-Ocean hotel and I street lodging house, both of which were destroyed by fire in 1890.

After spending two years in Bowling Green College, Mo., our subject entered the office of the Bowling Green Times, where he remained for two years. In 1883 he settled in Farmington, N. M., joining an older brother, Joseph, there. After eighteen months in New Mexico he re- turned to Missouri, and entered the medical de- partment of the State University of Missouri at Columbia, where he was a student for two years. He completed his course from the College of

PETER STEIN.

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Physicians and Surgeons at St. Louis. After a journeyman for the same length of time. He graduating he came at once to Colorado and then entered the regular army, and for three years lived the life of a German soldier. practiced with Dr. W. R. Winters, of Durango, with whom he remained for a year. He then located at Farmington, N. M., and continued there until June, 1895, when he removed to Sil- verton. In the winter of 1897-98 he took a post- graduate course at Gross Medical College, Den- ver. He is a member of the Colorado State Medical Society and takes an interest in every movement or organization connected with his profession.

In politics a Democrat, Dr. Prewitt was active in local affairs while residing in New Mexico. In January, 1898, he was elected county physi- cian of San Juan County, which position lie now holds. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias, of which lodge he has been physician; the Knights of the Maccabees, U. M. and A. O. P. At Farmington, N. M., in July, 1896, he married Anna Arrington, of that place, a daughter of T. J. Arrington, a prominent stockman and contractor, and also a well-known figure in public affairs.

ETER STEIN is the owner of a ranch in the fertile valley near Gypsum, Eagle Coun- ty, and besides owns at Eagle, the best equipped blacksmith's shop and wagon works in the entire county. When he came here in 1886 he purchased a ranch one mile from Gypsum and, in connection with its cultivation, carried on the blacksmith's trade in the same neighborhood. In 1897 he built a substantial blacksmith's shop, and has since carried on business at Eagle.

The birth of Mr. Stein occurred in 1856 near Bezirka, Coblentz, on the Rhine, about twenty- five miles from the famous old town of Bingen. He is a son of John Stein, a farmer in the old country, and Marie (Fey) Stein, who was born in the town of Schneppenbach. The family of which he is a member consists of five sons and one daughter. Jacob, Joseph, John and Henry live at the old home place in Germany, and Catherine is the wife of Jacob Getz, who lives in the same neighborhood as her brothers. The only one who came to America was the subject of this sketch. He was reared on the home farm and educated in German schools. Following the time-honored German custom, he began to learn a trade when fourteen years of age. He served an apprenticeship to the blacksmith's trade for three years, after which he followed the trade as

Coming to America in 1882, Mr. Stein settled in Breckenridge, Summit County, Colo., but after one year removed to Alma, this state, where he opened a shop. For four years he engaged in business there. In 1886 he settled in Eagle County, where he has since resided. Besides his business and ranch interests, he was one of the promoters of the Eagle Valley Creamery, in which for some time he owned an interest. His political views bring him into affiliation with the People's party. Fraternally he is connected with the Woodmen of the World.

In 1883 Mr. Stein married Miss Louisa Barth, a native of Krebsweiler, Germany, a town that is situated near our subject's native place. They are the parents of five children, William, Harman, Pauline, Louisa and Minnie.

A® LBERT T. MOSELEY has resided upou a ranch in the southern part of Lincoln Coun- ty since 1886, and has carried on an in- creasing and profitable business as a dealer in horses and cattle. He was born in Jessamine County, Ky., in 1852, being a son of Jamies L. and Elizabeth (Rice) Moseley, also natives of Kentucky. The latter was a daughter of David Rice, who married Elizabeth Lincoln, a first cousin of President Abraham Lincoln. The Moseley family was identified with the early history of Virginia, from which state our sub- ject's grandfather removed to Kentucky in an early day.

The entire life of James L. Moseley was spent upon a farm in Kentucky, and there he died at seventy years of age. Of his family of five sons and two daughters, David, the eldest, was a mer- chant and farmer in Missouri; Joseph is engaged in the lumber business in Kentucky; Alonzo car- ries on an insurance business in Kentucky; James is engaged in farming in Missouri; Annie E. is the wife of J. T. Truman, a farmer in Kentucky; Maggie, the widow of Charles Truman, lives in Kentucky. Our subject was educated in local schools and grew to manhood upon the home farm. In 1879 he came to Colorado and em- barked in the stock business, in which he has since been interested. He began life without any capital or assistance, and what he has ac- cumulated is the result of his individual efforts, hard work and good judgment. He is an in-

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dustrious and intelligent stockman, belonging to that class of men who form a country's best citizens.

In 1889 Mr. Moseley married Miss Mary Thompson, daughter of Israel Thompson, a farmer of Ohio, where she was born. Politically a Democrat, Mr. Moseley has been active in local affairs and has served with efficiency as justice of the peace.

OHN H. HUNT, undertaker, embalmer and dealer in furniture on the corner of Diamond and Fourth streets, Victor, was born in Potosi, Wis., October 21, 1851. His father, John, was born and reared in England, and there married Mary Ann Pain, who was also a native of England. All of his children were born in America. For years he engaged in the mercan- tile business in Wisconsin, and in 1872 moved to Burlingame, Kan., where he died in 1876; his widow now resides at Colorado City. When thirteen years of age our subject began to assist his father in business, for which he early showed an adaptability; before he was sixteen he was the buyer not only for the store in which he was employed, but for the others in the town. When twenty years of age he married and moved to Kansas, hoping there to get a start for himself. He engaged in business in Burlingame, where he built up a large trade and continued for fourteen years, taking an active part in the business and political life of the town.

Coming to Colorado in 1886, Mr. Hunt started in business at Colorado City, where he remained until May, 1894. He then came to Victor and was among the first to start in business here. At that time the town was new and contained only a few houses. He built a place on South Fourth street and began in business. During the strike of that year he was less affected than some and maintained his credit unimpaired. At the start he secured the confidence of the miners, so that he did a good business from the first. By No- vember of the same year his trade had increased to such a degree that he required larger quarters, and he built the frame store building adjoining Grove Brothers, on North Fourth street. After a year, his business outgrowing that place, he erected a two-story building on the only two full corner lots in the business portion of the city. In the corner room he has his stock of furniture, while the undertaking establishment is in the store adjoining. The latter is fully equipped for

the business, with several cabinets for the display of caskets, with a cooling room adjoining and a storage room in the rear. His long experience in the business and the care he gives to all cases have established him firmly in the esteem of his fellow-citizens, who appreciate his thoughtful care in every detail regarding the preparation of the dead for burial. Due credit should be given him for the fact that, when his services as under- taker are requested, he never stops to inquire whether the deceased were wealthy or poor, well known or friendless, it being a rule with him that the poor and friendless shall not be neglected in the last rites. In his furniture establishment he carries a large stock of furniture, and also has crockery, tiuware, carpets, lineoleum, stoves, etc., these occupying a storeroom that is not only large and airy, but also the best-lighted in the city.

Mr. Hunt has done considerable to advance the mining interests of this district. He is part owner and the manager of the Hallett and Hamburg Gold Mining Company. Politically, since 1892 he has affiliated with the People's party. As far as his business will permit, he is active in politics. At the first regular annual election he was chosen member of the council for one year, and, as mayor pro tem, had charge of most of the business of the office and signed the greater part of the war- rants. Though since urged to accept the nomi- nation for mayor he has declined to do so. · He is a member of Victor Lodge No. 99, A. F. & A. M., Victor Lodge No. 26, I. O. O. F., Im- proved Order of Red Men, and Benevolent Pro- tective Order of Elks. September 12, 1872, he married Miss A. E. Doll, by whom he had ten children. Of these four are living: Carrie, wife of David Heaton, of Goldfield; Ogilvie H., Burt and Neva. Myrtle, who married C. A. Guern- sey, of Colorado City, died April 24, 1899.

ELS H. SORENSEN, who owns a well- improved farm situated one and one-half miles southwest of Falcon, El Paso County, was born in Meldtbeck, Denmark, March 15, 1864, and is a son of Hans and Carrie Sorensen. Upon the farm which his father still owns and occupies our subject passed the years of boyhood and youth. Until fourteen he was a pupil in the local schools. At the age of seventeen he began to serve in the army and was stationed at a fort on the seashore, but after a year of service, of which he had become exceedingly weary, he re-

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solved to come to America. In the fall of 1882 he took passage on a steamer and after a voyage of twelve days landed in the United States. The voyage was a very stormy one, and at times all gave themselves up for lost.

From New York Mr. Sorensen went to Spring- field, Ohio, where he worked on a farm for a year. In the spring of 1884 he came to Colorado, where for six years he was employed in the South Park Railroad shops. In the employ of the same company he was sent to Colorado Springs, where he worked for four years. Thence he was trans- ferred to Falcon to attend to the transfer busi- ness, and later was transferred to Pueblo and worked in the car department for a year. While living at the Springs he was married, December 23, 1893, to Miss Frances Curran, of Falcon. She was born in Nicholas County, W. Va., a daugh- ter of Michael and Mary (Reynolds) Curran, and in 1888 accompanied a sister to Kansas, coming to Colorado two years later.

While Mr. Sorensen was employed in Pueblo, the great strike of 1894 occurred, and he was actively engaged in it, and his railroad work was abruptly terminated. He went to Denver, but a few months later moved to Falcon and bought his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres, where he has made improvements and built up a valuable estate. In politics he is inclined to be independent. In 1888 he voted for Benjamin Harrison, and eight years later, believing the silver cause should be supported, he voted for Bryan. He and his wife have two living children. Their daughter, Flora Hazel, who was born in Denver, died at the age of ten months and is buried in Ever- green cemetery, Colorado Springs. The surviv- ing children are: Cora Agnes, born November 3, 1895, and Harry Hubert, February 20, 1898.

AVID L. MACAFFREE, manager of the Colorado Springs Rapid Transit Company , and a resident of this city since 1890, is a member of an old family of New Jersey. His father, Capt. David L. Macaffree, who was born in Red Oak, that state, went to sea when a boy and worked his way up until he was made cap- tain, being for thirty-three years master of a ship. He continued in this capacity until his death, which occurred at his home. He was then sixty- four years of age, and his son, our subject, was a child of eight years.

The mother of our subject was Mary Hopkins, who was born in Norwich, Conn., and was a

daughter of Hezekiah Hopkins. The majority of her ancestors were seafaring people, although a number became prominent in public life. One of them, Sylvanus P. Hopkins, of Rhode Island, was a man of great prominence and was one of the signers of the declaration of independence. Another representative of the family, Stephen, was the first governor of Rhode Island, to which state, and to Connecticut, the family emigrated from England. Mrs. Macaffree died in Fall River, Mass. Of her family of three sons and six daughters one son and three daughters are now living, our subject being the youngest of all. One of the sons, William Edward, died in Fall River at thirty-nine years of age; and another, George W., who was a member of the fire de- partment in Fall River, died when twenty-seven years old.

Born in Fall River, Mass., August 27, 1866, our subject received his education in the gram- mar and high schools, graduating from the lat- ter. In 1886 he became connected with the Sprague Street Railway and Motor Company, and assisted in the equipment of the road to Salem, later helping to equip the West End Street Rail- way Company in Boston, Mass. He was then sent to Brockton, Mass., to complete the construc- tion of a road, which he did successfully, although others had failed. April 1, 1890, the Sprague Street Railway and Motor Company sent him to Colorado Springs for the purpose of completing the power house. This he did, starting the cars July 3, 1890, after which he remained for two weeks in order to perfect the mechanism and leave the cars in good running order. From this city he went to Denver. In the meantime the Sprague Company had been merged into the Edi- son General Electric Company, and he was eni- ployed in the office of the latter in Denver. Un- der the instructions of this company he rebuilt the Mount Clair electric line, which had run down and was in poor condition. Later he was in charge of construction of the new line for the West End Street Railway Company.

In April, 1891, Mr. Macaffree went to Sher- man, Tex., where he rebuilt stations and put cars in shape. After three weeks there he returned to Colorado Springs and rebuilt the power house of the rapid transit road. Then going to Butte, Mont., he rebuilt the station and doubled the ca- pacity. His next contract was the putting in shape of the equipment of the Virginius mine for the Carolina Mining Company. Returning to

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Denver he equipped twenty cars for the Denver Tramway Company, and also superintended some of the station work. Again coming to Colorado Springs he put on six new equipments here. He then went to Denver and resigned all connection with the General Electric Company. In July, 1892, he accepted his present position as superin- tendent of the Colorado Springs Rapid Transit Company. Since he assumed the management he has built a double track, enlarged the route, and now has a fine system covering twenty-three miles. He is interested in introducing the Rocky Mountain fender, which is a valuable adjunct to cars.

Politically Mr. Macaffree is a Republican. He is a member of the American Street Railway As- sociation, and fraternally is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His mar- riage was solemnized in Brockton, Mass., and united him with Mary E., daughter of Tyler Cobb, a druggist and large real-estate owner there. They have one son, Hector W.

C OHN W. WALTERS, M. D., the pioneer physician of Wetmore, Custer County, has engaged in continuous practice for more than forty years, and during a portion of the time he has also carried on a drug business. His life has indeed been a checkered one. Without any assistance whatever he has battled his way through poverty and ill health, and has gained both a competency and restored health. By his own efforts he obtained the education that was necessary to successfully carry on his chosen pro- fession. During his long residence in this lo- cality he has become endeared to the people, and all speak of him in the highest terms, not only as a physician, but as a man as well. The varied experiences he has had have tended to make him liberal in his views and he treats all matters with cool, deliberate judgment, not from an emotional or sentimental standpoint. Modera- tion, liberality and a broad charity are his princi- pal mental and moral attributes.

The doctor's father, Mark Walters, was a na- tive of Stafford County, Va., and when sixteen years of age began in life for himself. Going to Kentucky, he engaged in farming and raising to- bacco. In 1838 he moved to Missouri by wagon, crossing the Mississippi at Quincy. He became a pioneer of what is now Scotland County. Indi- ans were still numerous and all the surroundings were those of primeval nature. He entered a

tract of wild land, which he began to cultivate and improve. Upon it he continued to make his home, engaged in agricultural pursuits, until his death. He was twice married. By his first wife, who was Melinda Abbott, of Kentucky, he had three daughters and a son. After her death he married Sarah Yeager, of Jefferson County, Ky., and they had one child, who died young.

Born in Shelby County, Ky., in 1827, the sub- ject of this article was eleven years of age when the family moved to Missouri, and his education was mainly obtained there. From an early age he had a desire to become a physician. As soon as the way opened he began to read medicine, and in 1858 commenced to practice. At the opening of the war he was appointed assistant surgeon in Price's regiment, but before reaching his command, was captured and taken to the Gratiot street prison in St. Louis. He was at once assigned to duty in the hospital, where he remained from September, 1862, to March, 1863. He then escaped and went to Appanoose County, Iowa, where he practiced until 1867. Later he carried on practice in Kansas. In 1869-70 he took a course of lectures in Scudder's Eclectic School, at Cincinnati, Ohio, and in 1874-75 attended the American Medical College in St. Louis. In 1876 he returned to the American Medical College, but having a hemorrhage of the lungs there, he went to Texas, hoping the change might benefit him. However, although he re- mained in the state for two years, he did not re- cover his health. Finally he came to Colorado. After investigating different localities he decided to settle in Custer County. Wetmore was a small place and the county sparsely inhabited. He opened a drug store, which he has since con- ducted, in connection with his practice. Realiz- ing the need of exercise in the open air, he re- sorted to outdoor sports, and spent many hours and days in hunting and fishing. In the course of a few months after his arrival he noted a change for the better, and within three years he had overcome the tendency to consumption, which had been so marked.

In the success of the Democratic party Dr. Wal- ters has ever been interested. He has served as county coroner and has been postmaster during most of the time since the town started. Frater- nally he is connected with Petroleum Lodge, A. F. & A. M., at Florence. In 1848 he mar- ried Rhoda Ann, daughter of Edwin T. Hick- mon, a pioneer of Missouri. She died in 1872,

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John & Smith

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and of her nine children only four are living. The second son, who showed decided literary and scientific ability, was cut down in the prime of his young manhood. Edwin, the oldest son, is a civil engineer in Kansas City, Mo .; he received a splendid education and has at- tained considerable prominence as a scientist and scholar. Among the many important positions he has held are those of assistant geologist of Mis- souri and scientific editor of the Kansas City Journal. The third son is Warren, of Florence. William, the youngest son, has a ranch in the mountains and considerable interest in town prop- erty, and runs three teams hauling from Wetmore to Florence. The only daughter is Mrs. Minerva Raybell, of Eureka, Kan. The second wife of Dr. Walters, whom he married in February, 1875, was Margaret A., daughter of Dr. P. T. Mat- thews, of Kansas. One son, Frederick, blesses their union.

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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 140

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