Portrait and biographical record of the state of Colorado, containing portraits and biographies of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 145

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 145

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She had several brothers who were prominent in politics on the island. Of her twelve children, four daughters are married and reside in Boston, and one son, Mert, is superintendent of the Ute and Ulay mines at Lake City, Colo.

On Prince Edward Island, where he was born in 1860, the subject of this article spent his boy- hood days. Starting out for himself at nineteen years of age, he went to Bay City, Mich., and there engaged in mining. In 1880 he came to Leadville, where he has since made his home. At first he was employed as a day laborer here, but he was economical and saved his earnings, which he invested in mines. He was made ship- boss of the Colonel Sellers mine, and later was promoted to be superintendent of the A. Y. and Minnie mines, where he continued for three years, resigning to accept the management of the Colonel Sellers mine. This he superintended for two years, and then commenced to lease mining property, since which time he has given his attention wholly to his private mining business.

The political affiliations of Mr. Nicholson are with the Republican party. Formerly he voted with the Populists and was active in their ranks. He served as permanent chairman of the Populist state convention in 1894 and acted as state dele- gate-at-large to the St. Louis convention. In the spring of 1893 he was elected mayor of Leadville and his service was so satisfactory that he was re-elected, serving altogether for four years. Fraternally he is connected with the Elks and Masons of Leadville.

C EORGE A. MONTAG came to Como, Park County, in June, 1880, and, erecting the first building of any importance, he became the ruling spirit in the growth of this now enter- prising village. Here he engaged in the meat business and after a short time opened a general merchandise store, since which time he has been closely identified with the business interests of the town. Besides his property here, he is the owner ofa ranch of six hundred and forty acres two miles west of town, which property is man- aged by his son, William.

In Prussia, Germany, April 24, 1840, the sub- ject of this sketch was born to George Adam and Dora (Kiessel) Montag. He was one of twelve children, five of whom are living, viz .: George Christopher, a farmer in Illinois, where Henry, the second son, also resides; Martha, wife of C. Pfirman, of Oregon; Minnie, Mrs. Andrew

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Baker, of Missouri; and George A. The father, a native of Prussia, born in 1796, learned the trade of a carpenter and builder and became one of the prosperous business men of his section. He took part in the famous battle of Waterloo under General Blucher. In 1850 he brought his family to America and settled in Quincy, III., where he continued to reside until his death, in 1884.

When the family emigrated to the United States, our subject was a boy of ten years. Six years later he began to work as a farm hand in Illinois. In 1860 he went to Louisiana, where he worked in a sugar refinery. During his em- ployment there the election of President Lincoln occurred and when the partisan feeling became too strong for him to remain longer with safety, he went to New Orleans and there took a steamer for St. Louis. From the latter city he returned home. August 21, 1861, he enlisted in Company F, Third Illinois Cavalry, and was sent to the front, where he served under Fremont and took part in the battles of Pea Ridge, Vicksburg and Arkansas Post. From Missouri the regiment pro- ceeded to Memphis and took part in a series of skirmishes near the Alabama line. He was mus- tered out of the service at Springfield, Il1., in June, 1865.

Returning home, Mr. Moutag engaged in the meat business, and also bought and sold cattle, continuing in these occupations until the spring of 1849, when he came to Colorado. He arrived in Denver on the 25th of April. For a short time he was employed in teaming, during the con- struction of the water works. In June of the same year he came to Park County, and first en- gaged in prospecting and mining on Badger Creek. Three months later he began to freight from Denver to Leadville and other mining camps. In June, 1880, he settled in Como, of which he has since been an influential resident. In 1885 he was elected mayor of the town, and in other ways the people have shown that they re- pose confidence in his ability and integrity. He is identified with the Knights of Pythias, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and Tarryall Lodge No. 64, I. O. O. F., of which he is treas- urer, and also served as district deputy.

In December, 1866, Mr. Montag married Amelia Heidenreich, a native of Quincy, Il1., and who died in February, 1886. They became the parents of nine children, of whom all but one are still living. Emma is the wife of James

Talbert, of Como; Dora married William Wolff, of Dodge City, Kan .; William is manager of his father's ranch in Park County; Edward assists in the store at Como; Ida is a graduate of the State Normal School and a teacher in the Fairplay pub- lic school; Selma, Clara and Lawrence are at home. The second marriage of Mr. Montag took place in December, 1889, and united him with Mrs. Kate (Ross) Thornton, of this village.

ILLIAM B. PULLIN, who was among the first to embark in business at the now famous camp of Cripple Creek, is one of the most extensive real-estate owners here and has also identified himself with various import- ant mining interests. His property holdings are very valuable, and include the Pullin block, cor- ner of Bennett avenue and Second street, which was erected in 1896 at a cost of $20,000, and has since been recognized as one of the most sub- stantial business buildings in the city; besides this he owns a number of dwellings here.

In Augusta County, Va., where he was born August 8, 1858, the boyhood days of our sub- ject were passed upon a farm. His education was received principally in a private school at Staun- ton, Va., after which he gave his attention to farming and the stock business in his home coun- ty. In 1886 he came west, settling in Helena, Mont., where he engaged in contracting, carpen- tering and building for three years. Coming to Florissant, El Paso County, Colo., in 1889, he engaged in the feed business, meeting with fair success in his enterprise. When the camp of Cripple Creek was started, in February, 1891, he came to this district and began to mine, but shortly afterward opened a grocery and hardware store. He erected, on the corner of Bennett avenue and Second street, one of the very earliest buildings put up at the camp, and some years later replaced it with his present substantial office block. In 1893 he disposed of his interest in the store, and turned his attention to mining and the management of his real-estate holdings. He 110w owns considerable undeveloped mining property and a large interest in thirty acres on Battle Mountain, besides many other claims throughout the district.

The marriage of Mr. Pullin united him with Nannie V. Clark, of West Virginia. In political views he is a Democrat and always supports this party with his vote. In 1897 and 1898 lie held the office of alderman, which position he filled

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with efficiency and fidelity. Fraternally he is con- nected with Mount Pisgah Lodge No. 96, A. F. & A. M., and Cripple Creek Chapter No. 33, R. A. M. He is also a Knight Templar, being a member of the Cripple Creek Commandery No. 26.

RS. CATHERINE NOLAN, who is one of the most efficient business women of El Paso County, owns valnable placer mine interests at Breckenridge and also the ranch where she resides, two miles northwest of Floris- sant, besides one hundred and sixty acres of land on Four-Mile Creek in this county. Not only did she assist in the acquirement of this property, but since it came under her immediate manage- ment, her untiring industry and persistent effort have enabled her to superintend it successfully.

Mrs. Nolan was born in Blair County, Pa., June 27, 1843, a daughter of Christian and Eme- line (Mouse) Rhodes, and was one of eleven chil- dren, four of whom are living. Of these, Eliza- beth is the wife of Joseph Kennedy, of Blair County, Pa .; Abraham makes his home in Al- toona, Pa .; and William lives at East Freedom, that state. Mr. Rhodes was born in Lancaster County, Pa., in 1806, and in early manhood re- moved with his parents to Blair County, where he married and engaged in farming. He con- tinued to reside there until his death, which occurred in 1874. Mrs. Rhodes was born near Paris, France, in 1813, and is still living near Altoona, Pa.

Reared to womanhood under her mother's care- ful supervision, Mrs. Nolan was fitted for the duties that awaited her as wife. February 19, 1865, she was united in marriage with John Sis- ler, who was born in Center County, Pa., No- vember 8, 1819, the son of Michael and Mary (Butts) Sisler, the former the owner of extensive mercantile interests at Alexandria, Pa., also the owner of a line of packet boats on the canal, and the builder of the first canal over the Allegheny Mountains, where he ran his first line of packet boats. In 1852 he removed to Iowa, where he lived, quietly but busily following the farmer's occupation, until his death, in 1879. For many years his son, John, was identified with him in business, but when the father removed to Iowa, the son, with his brother-in-law, George Pank- hurst, settled in Illinois, engaging there in the manufacture of plows. After two years the busi- ness was removed to Iowa and continued in Jack-

son County for two years. Later the partners engaged in the sawmill business. In the spring of 1859 Mr. Sisler came to Colorado and engaged in mining in Breckenridge, where he continued to operate valuable placer property until his death, November 8, 1883. Since then our subject has continued to operate the mines with the assistance of her son.

Five children were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Sisler. Of these four survive, viz .: Mary A., wife of Harry W. Unsworth, a mine operator in Big Horn, Mont., but a resident of Canon City, Colo .; Ada E., whose husband, Christ Olsen, is engaged in mining at La Belle, N. M .; Charles H., at home; and Henrietta E., wife of Robert C. Duncan, a mine operator at Breckenridge.

November 9, 1886, our subject became the wife of John Nolan, who was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1836, and came to America with his parents at thirteen years of age, settling in Michigan. When he attained his majority he went to St. Louis. From there, in 1859, he crossed the plains to Colorado and began mining in Clear Creek County. A short time afterward he went to Summit County, where he engaged in mining until his death in 1888.

J. MAYNE, M. D. The professional and private life of Dr. Mayne furnishes an ex- ample of what may be accomplished by a young man who possesses energy and a deter- mination to win in the great struggle for success. He is recognized as one of the rising physicians of Park County, and is especially prominent in Como, where he has engaged in a general prac- tice since 1891. The position that he holds as a physician and surgeon has been won by hard study and great energy, and his ability is such that future success of an increased character may be safely predicted of him.

The doctor's father, John R. Mayne, was a prominent civil engineer and contractor of Keo- kuk, Iowa, and was one of the principal con- tractors in the building of the government canal. By his marriage to Julia G. Kremer he had three children, of whom the doctor and his sister, Eu- genia, survive, the latter being the wife of W. T. Love, a member of the bar of Buffalo, N. Y. After the death of Mr. Mayne his widow became the wife of Dr. W. S. Grimes, a leading physician of Des Moines, Iowa. To this marriage three children were born, namely: William S., a grad-

ADOLPH GUIRAUD.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1083

uate of medicine in Buffalo, N. Y .; Albert K., leans had disposed of his business there and had who lives in Denver, Colo .; and Bessie J., wife of Alva Leach.

In Keokuk, Iowa, the subject of this article was born July 24, 1863. He acquired his edu- cation in the public schools of Keokuk and Des Moines, and also attended the college at Grin- nell, Iowa, for a term. His medical studies were carried on in the University of Denver, from which he graduated with the class of 1890. Af- ter his graduation he spent some weeks in the Arapahoe County hospital, and then began in practice in Denver, from which city he came to Como a year later. He is a member of Silver State Lodge No. 65, K. P.

A DOLPH GUIRAUD. In this gentleman South Park had one of its pioneers, a man who passed much of his life within its bor- ders, who witnessed its development and bore an influential part in promoting its welfare. By a course of industry and prudence he accumulated valuable property, and had his life been spared to advanced years he undoubtedly would have become wealthy. He was a very useful citizen, and one whose place, when made vacant by death, could not easily be filled.

The Guiraud family is of French origin. The subject of this memoir was born in France in 1823, and during his boyhood he assisted his father in the mercantile business. March 28, 1848, he was married to Miss Marie Chabreat. Directly afterward he embarked in business for himself. At the suggestion of his brother, a prosperous merchant in New Orleans, he decided to come to America. In December, 1849, he took passage

« on a merchant vessel, "Adair," accompanied by his family. After a voyage of eight weeks, dur- ing which time he passed through the strait of Gibraltar and touched on the shores of the Canary Islands, he landed in New Orleans, in January of 1850. He spent thirty days in that city with his brother, through whose advice he went to Cin- cinnati, Ohio, and established himself in business as a dealer in imported wines. After building up a fine trade he was burned out in 1853. With what money he had he went to Clermont County and purchased a farm, but the surroundings and life were not congenial. Eighteen months later he sold the property and returned to Cincinnati, where for two years he conducted a bakery on Front street. Meantime his brother in New Or-

removed to Cincinnati, where he became an im- porter of fine woolens and silks.

With a determination to come west, our subject and his brother closed ont their business in Cin- cinnati and settled in Leavenworth, Kan. Adolph being a poor man and his brother being wealthy, they could not agree in business, and the former purchased a public scales, while his wife, desir- ing to assist, opened a coffee house opposite the public market. However, on account of poor health, she was soon obliged to give up the busi- ness. While her husband was earning a good living from the public scales, he formed the ac- quaintance of Frank Mayhall, a wealthy man and one who possessed a scholarly mind and broad education. It was Mr. Mayhall's proposal that the two go to Pike's Peak, he to defray all ex- penses. Mr. Guiraud consenting to the proposi- tion, they started for Colorado in 1860. From Denver they went to Hamilton and engaged in the mercantile business.

In 1862 Mr. Guirand returned to Leavenworth for his family, and with them he again came to Colorado. In the spring of 1863 he and Mr. Mayhall dissolved partnership, and he came to Park County, where he located one hundred and sixty acres. With a yoke of oxen, one cow and two horses he began the life of a ranchman. He gave special attention to raising hay, and as it sold for $80 per ton in Leadville, he prospered. In 1864, having lost a son through an accident, and his wife feeling the need of a change, he took his family to Denver and opened a meat market there. One year later they returned to the ranch, but soon moved to Fairplay, where he engaged in the grocery business. However, as the trade was a credit business and money difficult to col- lect, he closed the store and returned to the ranch, where he gave his attention to his cattle interests and haying. He increased his ranch to six hun- dred and forty acres and was on the road to suc- cess when he died, in 1875.

After the death of her husband, Mrs. Guiraud was appointed administratrix of the estate. Hav- ing the property appraised (at which time the value was estimated at $9,559), she purchased the interest of her children in the estate and took upon herself the management of the ranch. Dur- ing the years that followed she proved herself a woman capable of overcoming the many obstacles that obstructed her path. Through her business ability and wise judgment she is to-day the owner

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of about five thousand acres, all of which is fine hay land, producing one thousand tons of hay annually. She is one of the extensive cattle- raisers of Park County, and is also the owner of valuable mining property. She is well known among the people of the county, where for so many years she has been active in business af- fairs. The village of Garo, near her ranch, was named in honor of her husband, with, however, a change of spelling from the French to the Eng- lish form.

Of the ten children of Mr. and Mrs. Guiraud six are now living. They are named as follows: Marie Mathilde, wife of P. F. Reinhardt, of Steamboat Springs, Colo .; Joseph A., who is manager of a ranch owned by his mother; Eu- genie, who married O. P. Spurlock, of Garo; Henry L., who manages land owned by his mother; Antoinette, Mrs. James Milligan, of Vic- tor, this state; and Ernest C., who is engaged in the cattle business in this county.

AMES DILTS, former superintendent of schools of Eagle County, and now engaged in mining and also in the practice of law at Eagle, was born in Perry County, Ohio, in 1848, a son of William and Sarah (Miller) Dilts, na- tives of New Jersey. His father, who left New Jersey in childhood, spent almost his entire life in Ohio, where he cultivated farm land. He was a strong supporter of the government during the Civil war and gave two sons to fight for the Union. In religion he was connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church. His death occurred in 1864, when he was fifty-six years of age. His wife died in Ohio at fifty-two years of age. Of their children, Nathan enlisted in the Thirty-sec- ond Ohio Infantry and died during his service in the Civil war; Elizabeth is married and lives in the east; Sarah, the widow of Judge Webb, lives in Topeka, Kan .; Harriet died in girlhood; Fla- vius owns a large ranch near Newton, Kan .; Edith is living in Montana; and Austin is en- gaged in the stock business in Montana.

Upon the home farm in Ohio our subject was trained to habits of usefulness and industry. He received an academic, normal school, business and college education. He took a business course at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., attended the Ohio Wes- leyan University at Delaware, Ohio, and studied .law in the Boston University. In 1880 he came to Colorado and opened an office in Denver, where he built up a growing practice. While

Eagle County was still new, he settled here in 1883 and began professional practice, also became interested in mining. Five years after coming to Eagle County he was elected to the office of county superintendent of schools, which office he filled efficiently for eight years. He was county attorney for two years and represented Eagle County in the twelfth general assembly of the state. From boyhood he has been a believer in Republican principles, and has never voted any other ticket than that of the regular party. Fraternally he is connected with the Masonic order.

% ALMON E. FUNK, M. D. At the begin- ning of the year 1896 Dr. Funk removed from Trinidad to Cripple Creek, where he has since engaged in practice. He had been here but a very short time when the great fire of 1896 occurred, and he was among those who suf- fered considerable loss in the conflagration, but the disaster did not discourage him, and he has since more than retrieved his losses at that time. In the Cripple Creek District Medical Society he is an active worker, and also holds member- ship in the American Medical Association.

Born in Monticello, Wis., June 5, 1855, Dr. Funk was reared and educated primarily in the schools of his native city. He was a diligent student and learned readily. Upon completing the studies of the public schools he entered the State Normal School at Platteville, Wis., where he continued the higher branches and classics. At nineteen years of age he began to teach school, and after a year in that occupation in his home neighborhood, he went to Montgomery County, Kan., where he taught for three years. During the evenings and on Saturdays he read medicine with Dr. John Grass, now of Trinidad, in which way he gained a thorough rudimentary knowledge of the profession. Later he took the regular course of study in Rush Medical College, Chi- cago, from which he graduated in February, 1882.

Opening an office at Spirit Lake, Iowa, Dr. Funk remained there for four years, when the opportunities offered by Colorado induced him to change his place of residence to Trinidad. In the latter city he remained from 1886 to 1896, meantime building up a profitable private prac- tice, and at the same time acting as surgeon to different coal and mining companies, and the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company. January 1, 1896, he came to Cripple Creek, where he has

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been in continuous practice since. While in Spirit Lake, Iowa, he married Miss Mabel Nefzger, the daughter of C. T. Nefzger, of that city. They have two sons, Norman and Ilo. In politics he is a stanch Republican, but does not take an active part in local affairs. While in Trinidad he became a member of Las Animas Lodge No. 28, A. F. & A. M., at that place. He is identified with the Woodmen of the World and the Ancient Order of United Workmen at Cripple Creek, and has been medical examiner of the lat- ter in this city.

OUIS HOHL, mayor of Ouray, and a well- known business man of this city, was born in Germany in 1854, and received a fair ed- ucation in the schools of his native land. At twenty years of age he came to the United States. and settled in St. Louis, Mo., where he followed the trade of a baker with which he had become familiar prior to his emigration. In 1878 he moved to Kansas and took up a tract of land. From there, in 1880, he came to Colorado and was em- ployed at his trade by the Rio Grande Railroad Company, which was then building its road from Canon City to Leadvllle. He spent nine months in Colorado and New Mexico with the railroad company, and in 1881 settled in Conejos, in the San Luis Valley, where he carried on a restaurant and bakery business for a year. In 1882 he went to a mining camp near Silverton, and there fol- lowed his trade, at the same time becoming inter- ested in mining there and at Telluride.

The year 1883 found Mr. Hohl in Ouray. The next year found him embarking in business here. Since then he has built up a large trade as a baker, and has also purchased a stock of gro- ceries, to which he has added from time to time, until he now has a complete assortment of staple and fancy groceries. He has invested quite heav- ily in mines and has also purchased property in Ouray. His success is commendable, in view of the fact that he came to this country ignorant of our language and customs, and without any money to aid him.

For some years Mr. Hohl voted the Democratic ticket, but is now allied with the Populists. He has served as a member of the town board for some time. In 1897 he was elected mayor of Ouray, which office he has since held, filling it with efficiency and proving a trustworthy executive. In 1883 he married Martha Duke, by whom he has one child, Abby. He is a member of the

Woodmen of the World, Knights of Pythias and Ancient Order of United Workmen, and since 1888 has been treasurer of the last-named lodge.

RNEST L. DANIELS, sheriff of Lake County, and a well-known resident of Lead- ville, was born at West Union, Iowa, in 1859, a sou of O. A. and Julia A. (Bishop) Dan- iels. His father, who was born near Burlington, Vt., in early life followed the trade of a stone mason. From Vermont he removed westward to Iowa, and in 1869 settled in Olathe, Kan., where he still resides. He owns two farms which are operated by tenants. During the Civil war he traveled, with ox-teams across the plains to Colorado, joining the band of gold-seekers in the mountains. He has maintained an independent attitude in politics, voting for the man rather than the party. Fraternally he is connected with the Odd Fellows, and in religion is an active worker in the Olathe Baptist Church. He had one brother, Truman G., who served in the war, and is now editor of the Alameda Argus in Cali- fornia. His father, who was a farmer, also served in the Union army, being first lieutenant in an Iowa regiment that was known as the "Gray- beards," and remaining in the service until the close of the war. The Daniels family was among the early settlers of Vermont.

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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 145

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