Portrait and biographical record of the state of Colorado, containing portraits and biographies of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 147

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 147

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SAMUEL TAYLOR.

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ranchman of Eagle County; Agnes, at home; and Carrie, who married George Stewart, an engineer on the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad between Minturn and Grand Junction.

Politically Mr. Mckenzie is a Democrat. Some years ago he was appointed to fill a vacancy on the board of county commissioners, and in 1894 he was elected a member of the board, in which position he rendered able service. Fraternally he is connected with White Face Mountain Lodge of Masons, in New York.

AMUEL TAYLOR. The life of Mr. Taylor was for many years intimately associated with the ranching interests of Park County. Coming here in 1864, he afterward became an in- fluential and well-known resident, and was con- nected with various local enterprises. In July, 1881, he settled upon a ranch three miles south- east of Jefferson, where he liad previously bought two hundred and forty acres of land. Upon this place he began haying and stock-raising. As he prospered he added to his property, until the ranch numbered seven hundred and sixty acres. Since his tragic death in 1895 his widow has con- tinted the management of the place, which she conducts with business ability.

The family of which Mr. Taylor was a mem- ber consisted of ten children, of whom three sur- vive. He was born in Chilwell, Nottinghamshire, England, December 16, 1838, a son of Samuel and Ann (Hall) Taylor. His father was born in Barton, England, December 23, 1812, and there grew to manhood and married, afterward settling in Chilwell. Being familiar with the hosiery trade, he began the manufacture of hosiery and knitted garments on a small scale, and continued until the spring of 1858, when his failing health caused him to come to America. He joined a brother in Iowa City, Iowa. His health im- proved to such an extent that he decided to re- inain, and so sent for his family, who joined him there. He engaged in the dairy business and farming until his death, which occurred Decem- ber 6, 1868.

It was in 1861 that our subject accompanied his two brothers from England to the United States. He arrived in New York City on the day that Fort Sumter was attacked. Going di- rect to Iowa City he secured employment at farm work with neighboring farmers. In the spring of 1864 lie started for Colorado. While en route across the plains an accidental discharge of a gun

shot off the end of his right thumb, and this inca- pacitated him for work. He went to Central City, thence drifted into Park County and settled at Hamilton, where he purchased some mining claims in Tarryall Gulch. Soon afterward he became well known in mining circles. The latter part of his life, however, was devoted principally to ranching.

In Denver, Colo., October 29, 1873, Mr. Tay- lor married Miss Julia M. Barber, who was born in Berkshire County, Mass. For four years after lıis marriage he engaged in placer mining at Tar- ryall, after which he sold his mining interests and pre-empted a claim a short distance above Tarry- all. Soon afterward he and his wife visited Eng- land, returning to their ranch in May, 1878. In February of the following year they removed to Hamilton and opened a boarding house, which was patronized by the employes of the railroad company then building the road through here. From that place they removed, in 1881, to the ranch where Mrs. Taylor still lives.

It was while prosecuting his duties as secretary of the school board that Mr. Taylor met his death, May 6, 1895. On that day he met the president of the school board, Lincoln F. McCurdy, and the treasurer, George Douglas Wyatt, at the Michigan schoolhouse for the purpose of consult- ing with them concerning the future of the school. While they were there Benjamin Rat- cliff, a ranchman of Park County, rode up to the schoolhouse, went in and shot, fatally wounding the three men. This awful crime cast a gloom over the entire county, where the three men were well known and highly esteemed. Mr. Taylor, who was the eldest of the three and a pioneer settler of the county, was especially mourned. He was so honorable and upright that he had won many friends. He had taken an active part in measures for the benefit of his locality, and had assisted in public projects. Industry, perse- verance and determination had brought him pros- perity and an enviable reputation for nobility and true worth of character.

AMES M. LINK. In the list of the pioneers of Colorado mention belongs to the subject of this article, whose active life was largely passed in the west and amid the usual environ- ments of the frontier. During the thirty years that he made his home in Colorado he won many friends among the people of this state and was

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esteemed by all. Shortly after coming to this then territory, he settled at Hamilton Park, then a famous mining camp, near Como, Park County, and here he afterward resided, devoting his at- tention to the stock business and also to some ex- tent engaging in mining. During his last years, however, his impaired health rendered it im- possible for him to retain the active management of his business interests, although he continued a personal supervision of his property.

The birth of Mr. Link occurred in Adair Coun- ty, Ky., in 1817, his parents being Andrew and Mary Link. At an early age he became self- supporting. While still in his teens he migrated to Missouri and settled near St. Louis in the coun- ty of that name. There he bought land and en- gaged in farming and stock-raising. At the time of the discovery of gold in California he resolved to seek his fortune in that El Dorado. In 1850 he joined the great procession that moved west- ward across the plains, and on his arrival in Cali- fornia he devoted himself for a year or more to mining and the stock business. However, the hardships were so great and the returns, in pro- portion, so small that he decided he could do as well in his old home. Accordingly he returned to Missouri, where he resumed agricultural pur- suits, continuing in Lincoln County until 1862, the year of his removal to Colorado.

The first home of Mr. Link in this state was near Colorado Springs. In 1870 he returned to Missouri for his family, having decided to estab- lish his permanent home in Colorado. On his return he settled near Como. He was a man of energy and perseverance, and was a hard worker all of his life. He endured the hardships of pioneer existence, with its long journeys, never- ceasing labor and many privations; but, in return for these sacrifices, he gained a place among the honored pioneers of Park County.

In 1844 Mr. Link was married to Elizabeth W. Martin, who was born in St. Louis County, Mo., in 1817, a daughter of Robert and Mary Martin. They became the parents of eight children, six of whom are now living. They are named as fol- lows: Lewis, who is in business at Helper, Utah; Adelia, wife of D. M. Angier, of San Francisco, Cal .; James A., who is engaged in railroading, with headquarters in Florence, Colo .; Nannie L., who married E. J. Smith, of Colorado Springs; William L. and Celsus P., whose sketches are presented herewith. James M. Link died at Helper, Utah (where he had been taken for the

benefit of his health), March 28, 1899, in his eighty-second year, and was buried at Provo City, Utah, with Masonic honors.

ILLIAM L. LINK, who has been a county official and ranchman of Park County, was born in Troy, Mo., February 27, 1860, and is a son of James M. Link. When he was a boy he became familiar with ranching in Colorado, and his assistance was most helpful to his father, who owned a large ranch in Park County. Schools being few and poor, his education was principally acquired at home under private tu- tors.

When only eighteen years of age Mr. Link practically had charge of his father's ranching and cattle interests. He continued to manage these enterprises, displaying considerable ability in his business dealings, until the fall of 1891, when he was elected county assessor by a hand- some majority. He was the nominee of the Dem- ocratic party, whose principles he has always supported. For two years he ably served in the responsible position of assessor. He was then nominated and elected to the office of county treasurer, and so efficient was he in the discharge of his duties that at the expiration of his first term he was re-elected to the office, which he filled for four years. Since the expiration of his second term he has given his attention to his ranch interests at Como. He is a capable young man, and his record as a county officer is of the highest. In social circles he is popular. He is active in the work of South Park Lodge No. 10, I. O. O. F., of which he is a member.

ELSUS P. LINK, clerk of the district court of Park County, is a son of James M. and Elizabeth W. (Martin) Link, whose life history appears on a preceding page. He was born in St. Louis County, Mo., March 10, 1871, the youngest of six children comprising the parental family. His boyhood years were spent upon the home ranch in Park County and his earliest recollections are of scenes associated with this locality. At an early age he began to assist in the cultivation of the home estate. During the years 1878, 1879 and 1880, he assisted his father in the management of landed and mining interests in Chaffee County, and in this way he early gained a comprehensive knowledge of business details. The years 1881 and 1882 he spent with his parents in California, which his father then

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visited for the first time since his memorable trip across the plains during the days of the gold excitement.

On his return to Colorado, our subject, with a desire to broaden his knowledge, turned his at- tention to study. In 1884 he entered Cutler Academy at Colorado Springs, and he continued his studies in that city until his graduation. He had been a diligent and persevering student and stood high in his classes. His love of learning did not cease with the putting away of his text books. He has continued a thoughtful student of current events, and by the reading of well- known books, prominent periodicals and daily papers keeps posted concerning events of im- portance in the political and business world.

After having carried on a livery business in Como for some time, in the fall of 1893 Mr. Link was appointed deputy assessor, and from 1894 until 1897 he served as deputy county treasurer. While serving in the latter position, in 1897, he was appointed to the office lie now holds, that of clerk of the district court. Fraternally he is a member of Doric Lodge No. 25, A. F. & A. M., and at this writing is senior warden of the lodge. He is a young man of genuine ability, with the brightest prospects for future success and in- fluence.

ENJAMIN FRANKLIN CUMMINGS, M. D., county coroner and physician of Hinsdale County, and medical examiner for the Bank- er's Life Insurance Company of Des Moines, is one of the rising young physicians and sur- geons of Lake City. He was born in Ontario, Canada, in 1871, a son of John H. and Mary M. (Boulter) Cummings, natives of Canada, the for- mer of Scotch parentage, the latter of English descent. His father, who was in early manhood a farmer, afterward turned his attention to mer- chandising, and conducted a store in Wartwortlı, a town named by George D. Cummings in honor of his old home in Scotland. He continued in the mercantile business until his death, which occurred in 1879. His family consisted of ten children, of whom six still survive. One of the sons, George D., is a practicing physician at Florence, Colo .; another, John H., died in Los Angeles, Cal., in 1881; and Elhanan W., who was in the employ of the Wells-Fargo Express Company, died in Nogales, Ariz., in 1890.

The youngest of the sons, and the next to the youngest in the family, was the subject of this

sketch. His education was begun in a grammar school and afterward continued for two terms in a high school. At seventeen years of age he came to Colorado and visited the different parts of the state, then went to Old Mexico and was en- gaged in railroad work in the western part of that country, on the Gulf of California. From there, in May, 1890, he went to Kalispell, Mont., where he and his brother, George D., started the first drug store in Flathead County. With a desire to enter upon professional work, in 1892 he matriculated in Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York, where he remained for two years. During that time he passed the regent's examination with high honors and was given a diploma which entitled him to admission to any college in the United States. His college studies were concluded with a nine months' course in the University of Colorado, from which he graduated, with the degree of M. D., in 1895.

After practicing for a short time in Denver, Dr. Cummings went to Montague County, Tex., and there engaged in practice until he came to Lake City, Colo., in December, 1896. Since April, 1898, he has been county physician and since February ist of that year has acted as examiner for the Bankers' Life Insurance Company, while the position of coroner was tendered him in No- vember, 1897. During his residence in Texas he filled the position of examining physician for the New York Mutual Life Insurance Company, and since coming to Lake City he has been phy- sician to the New York Mutual Life and the Union Casualty and Surety Company. Politically he is a Democrat, and fraternally is connected with Silver Star Lodge No. 27, I. O. O. F., of Lake City, and is also examining physician for Neoga Tribe No. 57, I. O. R. M. He was mar- ried on the 12th of December, 1897, his wife being Ida M., daughter of T. L. Beam, of Lake City.

C AMES W. DECK, sheriff of Hinsdale Coun- ty, and since 1890 a resident of Lake City, was born in Vermilion County, Ill., July 18, 1854, a son of Hezekiah and Margaretta (Robin- so11) Deck. His father, who was a native of Kentucky, spent most of his active life in Illinois engaged in farm pursuits, and there his death oc- curred in 1887. In the family there were eight children, but four of these died in childhood. The others are: James W., who was the eldest; Zachariah, of Bismarck, Ill .; Mary A., wife of

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Grant Killbury, also of Bismarck; and Jennie, who is a teacher in the Bismarck schools. After the death of our subject's mother, his father mar- ried Mrs. Anna Johnson, by whom he had two daughters, Anna and Emma P.

Reared upon a farm and educated in common schools, at twenty-two years of age, in 1876, our subject went to Kansas, and followed the occupa- tion of a stone mason. After four years devoted to that work in Kansas, in 1880 he came to Colo- rado, settling at Silver Cliff, where he located and developed a claim and worked for four months, but unsuccessfully. Afterward he engaged in mining for others for a year. From Silver Cliff he went to Gunnison County and located several claims in Whitepine, but after mining there for three years he sold his property. His next place of work was Ouray, where for five years he en- gaged in prospecting on his own account, and at

the same time he became interested in mines at Lake City. In 1890 he took up his residence in the latter place, where he has since engaged the mining business. In partnership with John Maurer, he owns the Neoga mine, within one mile of Lake City, also the Pleasant View mines Nos. 1 and 2, situated five miles from this city.

On the People's party ticket, in 1893, Mr. Deck was nominated for sheriff, but defeated. In 1898 he was again a candidate for the office, this time being the nominee of the Democrats, en- dorsed by the Populists. He was elected without opposition and has since filled the office in a most capable and trustworthy manner. Since 1893 he has been a member of the John Hough Hose Company of Lake City, and in 1897 he was made a member of its board of directors. He is a mem- ber of Silver Star Lodge No. 27, I. O. O. F., in which he is past noble grand; and is also iden- tified with the Deborah Order No. 18, Rebekahs.

I S. HARRIS, city clerk of Colorado Springs, is at the head of the order of Elks in Colo- rado. He is a member and past exalted ruler of Lodge No. 309, B. P. O. E., and received from John Galvin, the grand exalted ruler, ap- pointment as district deputy of Colorado, the highest office in the state. He is also identified with the Masonic fraternity, having been made a Mason in El Paso Lodge No. 13, A. F. & A. M. At one time he served as president of the Pike's Peak Club, of which he is an active mein- ber. In politics he supports Republican prin- ciples.

The parents of our subject, Jacob and Eliza- beth Harris, were natives of England and were married in New York City, where the elder Har- ris engaged in the mercantile business. With the exception of some time spent in Tarrytown, West- chester County, N. Y., he continued to reside in the metropolis until his death, which occurred in 1897, at seventy-six years of age; his wife passed away in 1893. Of their eight children two sons and five daughters are living. The daughters reside in New York City and the sons in Colorado Springs. Our subject, who was the fourth in order of birth, was born in Tarrytown, N. Y., January 23, 1861. At twelve years of age he ac- companied his parents to New York City, where lie attended the Thirteenth street school and the University of the City of New York. At the close of his sophomore year he left college and began in business, engaging first as a merchant and later in the railroad business. For two years he was chief clerk in the passenger department of the Trunk Line Association, after which for seven years he was chief clerk in the passenger department of the Erie. About 1889 he was caught in a severe blizzard and as a result had a severe cold, which left him in very delicate health. Acting upon the physician's advice, he went to St. John's, Newfoundland, but the trip did him harm, and he returned in poorer health than when he left. After a consultation with Dr. Loomis he acted upon his advice to come west, and in June, 1891, arrived in Colorado. For a year or more he was unable to engage in busi- ness. On recovering his health he engaged in mining in Cripple Creek for about four months. He was first vice-president of the Jefferson Min- ing Company, which owns a mine on Gold Hill, adjoining the Anchoria-Leland mine. On coming to Colorado Springs, Mr. Harris was appointed to examine the books of the city clerk, whose ac- count had been discovered to be short. While giving this work a thorough examination he drew up a new set of books and introduced a system that is still in vogue. He was appointed to fill the unexpired term, and afterward, in 1894 and 1895, he was employed as deputy dis- trict clerk of the district court of El Paso County. Resigning that position to accept a place with the banking house of W. P. Bon- bright & Co., he was given charge of their ac- counting department, and continued in that capacity for two years. Afterward he was em- ployed, as an expert accountant, to examine the

WILLIAM B. FOWLER.

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books of the Portland Gold Mining Company. He introduced a new system of keeping the books of mining companies, which is largely in use at present. In April, 1898, he was elected city clerk, to serve for two years, a position for which his former experience and accepted ability admirably qualify him.

ILLIAM B. FOWLER. Some lessons of genuine worth may be gleaned from the life of every man, and the history of Mr. Fowler has been marked by all that goes to make up useful and noble manhood. Since 1880 he has made his home in Como, Park County, of which thriving village he is a representative business man. At first he engaged in contract- ing and building and had charge of the erection of many of the business houses and residences of the town. In 1890 he turned his attention to the undertaking and fire insurance business. From the first he has prospered, and at this writing he is one of the best-known undertakers and insur- ance agents in the county. In addition, he has served as justice of the peace for over twenty-five years. In 1894 he located and began the build- ing of the Fowler tunnel in Silver Heels, one of the most important mining undertakings in the state.

A son of W. B. and Olive (Calkins) Fowler, the subject of this sketch was born in Steuben County, N. Y., August 16, 1831. He was one of six children, three of whom are now living, viz .: B. F., a practicing physician of Galena, Ill .; W. B. and Henry M., a physician and druggist of Scalesmound, III. The father was born in the Black River country of New York in 1804 and at an early age accompanied his parents to Steuben County, where he grew to manhood and gradu- ated in medicine. Afterward he practiced his profession in that county until 1836, when he re- moved to Livingston County and there remained until 1844. His next location was in Cass County, Mich., and there he continued to reside until his deatlı, which occurred August 16, 1861. In local affairs he wielded an influence. He was held in the highest esteem by all who knew him, and was frequently honored by election to local positions of trust. He held every local office up to and including that of county commissioner. His father, who was usually known as "Deacon" David Fowler, was a prominent Presbyterian and successful farmer of Steuben County. The sub- ject of this sketch represents the eleventh gen-

eration of the family in the United States, the first ancestor in this country having been Amos Fowler, who came to America from Warwick- shire, England, near London, in an early day, and settled in the wilds of New York, in the Black River country, where many generations of his descendants continued to reside.

At seventeen years of age our subject went from Michigan to New York, where he worked on a farm during the summer months, and attended school in the winter. For four years he remained in that state, after which he returned to Michigan, but one year later, in 1854, he started for California, going via the isthmus and landing in San Francisco on the 5th of May. Proceeding to Calaveras County, he engaged in mining. In 1858, during the Frazier River ex- citement, he went there, remaining from June of that year to January of 1859. His next location was Mariposa County, where he mined for one year. Thence he went to Stockton and began the cultivation of farm land. He continued on his farm until 1865, when he turned his face east- ward and came to Colorado, arriving in Boulder, Colo., on the Ist of May of that year. He had made the trip with a mule-team and wagon, which belonged to a train of forty wagons with some one hundred and eighty men, of whom he was chosen captain.

After his arrival in Boulder, Mr. Fowler began mining in that section, and continued there for six years. His next enterprise was the purchase of a planing mill, which he operated, using the lumber to fill his contracts for building. He did much of the early building of the thriving city of Boulder. After having engaged in that business for some years in Boulder, he came to Como, where he was similarly engaged for a time, but finally turned his attention to the fire insurance business and undertaking. He was married in 1874, his wife being Miss Cheresse Canoll, an estimable lady and his helpful assistant in all his work. Fraternally he is an active member and the present secretary of Tarryall Lodge No. 64, I. O. O. F.

DWARD J. MC CARTY is the senior mem- ber of the firm of McCarty & Moore, pro- prietors of the Excelsior Iron Works, at Nos. 124-32 West Fifth street, Leadville, and owners of a boot and shoe store at No. 504 Har- rison avenue, this city. When he came to this place, in 1883, he secured employment as foreman

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for Arthur Falkner, who was starting a machine shop, and after he had occupied the same position for eight years he purchased the large plant, in partnership with Mr. Moore. The works are ex- tensive and furnish employment to as many as thirty-five hands during busy seasons.

In Clinton County, N. Y., Mr. McCarty was born November 3, 1847, a son of Henry and Ann (Dolland) McCarty, natives respectively of Clin- ton County and Ireland. His father, who was a chair manufacturer in early life, came west in 1850 and spent several years engaged in mining in California. Returning to New York state, he went from there to Vermont with C. N. Nelson and settled in Burlington, in 1855. For twenty- five years afterward he was connected with Mr. Nelson. He continued to make his home in Burlington the most of the time until he died, in 1896. During the Civil war he enlisted for serv- ice, but was rejected. His wife, who came to the United States in girlhood and settled with her parents in New York, is now living in Burling- ton, Vt., and is about seventy-one years of age. In her family there are four sons living; three danghters are deceased. James is engaged in the hotel business in Burlington, Vt .; Henry is with our subject; and William is also in the hotel bus- iness in Burlington.

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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 147

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