Portrait and biographical record of the state of Colorado, containing portraits and biographies of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 152

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 152

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Born in Sylvania, Lucas County, Ohio, in 1855, Mr. Hallett received his education in the grammar and high schools of his native town, and near that place engaged in farming until 1880. He then came to Colorado, and spent some time at Del Norte and Summitville, but in 1884 removed to Archuleta County, where he has since made his home. He is frequently referred to as the "father" of Pagosa, for it was through his instrumentality that the town was incorporated and he served as its mayor and a trustee for several terms. Politically he is a Republican and an enthusiastic supporter of McKinley's war policy and administration. I11 1890 he was elected sheriff, which position he filled for two years. He was a member of the

first board of county commissioners, and also served as deputy treasurer. In 1897 he was elected to his present office of county assessor.

As consul commander, Mr. Hallett stands at the head of Pagosa Camp No. 412, Woodmen of the World, in which he is actively interested. In 1884 he married Theresa Philips, daughter of James Philips, the founder of Del Norte. They have three children, Pearl, Gale H. and Will- iam H.

12 AVID DEGRAFF settled in El Paso County in the fall of 1871 and the next year em- barked in the stock business, which he con- ducted upon a large scale for fifteen years. Since 1887 he has made Colorado Springs his home, and owns considerable real estate in this city. On two lots that he purchased on Tejon street he built the Degraff building, a four-story structure, 55×140 feet, with stone and brick front, elevator and every modern convenience, being one of the largest and best equipped business blocks in the city.

At Esopus, Ulster County, N.Y., four miles from Kingston, the subject of this sketch was born February 28, 1825. He is a descendant of French-Huguenots, who fled to Holland at the time of the persecution in France and from Hol- land came to America, settling on the Hudson. Some of the family took part in the Revolutionary war. James, our subject's father, was a son of Solomon Degraff, a farmer and lifelong resident of Ulster County. He was born in that county and followed farming and the stone mason's trade until his death, at sixty-five years. He married Margaret Van Wagnen, danghter of David Van Wagnen, a large farmer near the Hudson and a descendant of a Holland family. She was born in New York and died at the old homestead in 1868. Of her five children, Solomon died on a voyage to California. The others are living, viz .: David; James, who resides in Highland, U1- ster County; Joseph, formerly in California, but now in Kingston, N. Y .; and Benjamin, a farmer in El Paso County, Colo. Our subject was reared on the home farm and was obliged to work from an early age. His entire schooling was limited to less than six months. After working as a farm hand he spent three years on the North River as cook and hand on a sloop, and then served an apprenticeship of five years to the carpenter's trade, at which he worked for three years in his home neighborhood.

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In the fall of 1852 Mr. Degraff sailed from New York on the "Star of the West" to Nicaragua and crossed the isthmus, afterward sailing on the propeller "S. S. Lewis" to San Francisco. While en route to the Pacific coast his brother, who was with him, died and was buried at sea. For a short time he worked at his trade, after which he worked in the mines at Greaserville. On his return to San Francisco he became interested in the carpenter's trade again, which he followed there for six years. While he was there the vigilance committee was organized and many exciting incidents occurred. Afterward he en- gaged in mining on the Trinity River in Trinity County, where he and his five partners were reasonably successful. In 1865 he returned via the Panama route to New York, reaching that city in July on the steamer "Golden Gate," and proceeding at once to Esopus. One year later he bought a small farm at Stone Ridge, which he improved and cultivated, but the venture did not bring large returns. Learning that the sheep business was proving a profitable industry in Colorado, he sold out in the east in the fall of 1871 and came to Colorado, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres eight miles southeast of Colorado Springs; also took up government land adjoining, and became in time the owner of eight thousand acres in one body. He purchased two ranches on the Fountain and introduced the raising of alfalfa into El Paso County, being the first farmer to attempt to raise it here. When he sold out he cut about four hundred tons of alfalfa on his home ranch. The place was irrigated from the Fountain. In 1872 he stocked his land with six thousand head of sheep. He began with Mexican sheep, which he graded with Span- ish merinoes, and was so successful that he secured from five to ten pounds of wool from each. His largest Spanish merino buck, which was brought from New York state and cost him $75, sheared thirty-two pounds and four ounces at a shearing match in Colorado Springs. In those days he grew the sheep for their wool and at times had as much as thirty-five or forty thou- sand pounds in a year. In 1884 he sold his sheep and turned his attention to the cattle business, buying a ranch six miles northwest of Pueblo, in San Francisco hollow, where he had six hundred head of cattle and nine thousand six hundred acres under fence. Both of his ranches he stocked with cattle, and, besides, he put some on ranges in El Paso and Pueblo Counties. His specialty

was full-blooded Shorthorns, and all of his cattle were high grade. His cattle were bought in Iowa and were among the finest ever brought into the state, many of them taking premiums at county and state fairs. In his ranches he had seventeen thousand six hundred and twenty acres, and was probably the largest landowner in the state at the time. All of this immense tract was fenced with four wire barbs. Prior to pur- chasing his San Francisco ranch he had twenty- three thousand acres of government land fenced in El Paso County, but this fencing was removed after President Cleveland issued the order that all government land be left unfenced. Since he came to El Paso County he has built about one hundred miles of fence. In 1887 he sold his ranch and stock to parties from Denver. He is now interested in mining in White Oak, N. M., and in the Monarch mining district in Colorado, and has been president and a director of different mining companies.

In Ulster County, N. Y., Mr. Degraff married Miss Emily V. Voorhees, who was born in Sulli- van County, N. Y., and is a member of the Re- formed Church. They have three daughters: Carrie, wife of Fred Ege, of Cripple Creek; Frances and Flora. In political views Mr. De- graff is a Republican.

AROLD W. CLARK, who has rendered able service as city attorney of Aspen and is one of the leading practitioners of Pitkin County, was born in Iowa City, Iowa, October 10, 1861, a son of J. Warren and Sophia M. (Clapp) Clark, natives of Ohio. His paternal grandfather, Hon. George Clark, was a man of far more than ordinary ability and served with efficiency as judge of one of the district courts in Ohio, winning a wide reputation for dignity, impartiality and broad intelligence; five of his sons followed in his footsteps and entered upon the practice of law, one afterward sitting upon the bench as judge of the court of appeals in Kansas, and one being judge of the district court of Rice County, Kan. The maternal grandparents of our subject were Charles and Malinda (Pomeroy) Clapp; the former, who was born at Westhamp- ton, Mass., in 1797, engaged in farm pursuits in Ohio, and died in 1871, was a lineal descendant of Roger Clapp, who came to New England, landing at Nantasket May 30, 1630.

When a young man, J. Warren Clark removed from Ohio to Iowa and there he engaged in the

AUGUST W. GRUNDEL.

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

mercantile business. During the Civil war he enlisted in the Union army and was chosen cap- tain of a company of Iowa Infantry. He served during the war and was a gallant soldier. Fra- ternally he was a prominent Mason. In 1865, while he was still in the prime of life, he passed from earth. He left two sons and two daughters. One of the sons, Charles Clapp Clark, is prose- cuting attorney in Burlington, Iowa; Elizabeth is the wife of John J. Seerley, a lawyer, also of Burlington, Iowa; and Florence, who became the wife of Shirley Gilliland, died in April, 1885. Mrs. Clark, mother of our subject, died in No- vember, 1884.

The education of Mr. Clark was acquired in common schools and in the State University of Iowa, from the classical department of which he graduated in 1885 and from the law depart- ment in 1888. During the latter year he was ad- mitted to the bar and began the practice of his profession, which he has since continued. In the year 1889 he opened an office in Aspen, where he now occupies rooms in the Bank building. He has built up a good practice, and is retained as at- torney for a number of important mining corpo- rations. At this writing (1899) he is serving his second term as city attorney. In politics he is a silver Republican.

November 20, 1889, Mr. Clark was united in marriage with Miss Marietta Vincent, daughter of Mitchell and Mary Jane Vincent, aud a native of Pennsylvania. She is a relative of Bishop Vin- cent, of the Methodist Episcopal Church and also prominent in connection with the Chautauqua literary and scientific movement; another mem- ber of the same family is Boyd Vincent, bishop of the southern Episcopal diocese of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Clark are the parents of three children: Vin- cent, Catherine and Helen.

UGUST W. GRUNDEL. The life of this Swedish-American citizen of Eagle County has been one of perseverance and integrity, and has been rewarded with the success that comes to men of energy and judgment. When he came to Colorado his entire worldly posses- sions consisted of $1. 50, with which small capital he began for himself. Though the beginning was small, he has patiently worked his way for- ward, until he is now recognized as one of the prosperous ranchmen of his county, and Grundel Brothers' ranch, near Gypsum, is one of the best for miles around.

A son of Andrew and Mary (Anderson) Grun- del, the subject of this sketch was born in Sweden in 1850. He was one of six children, of whom his four sisters remain in Sweden, and his brother, A. F., is living in Leadville. He was educated in the schools of his native land, and at twenty- three years of age started for America, settling in Michigan, and for seven years engaging in mining in Marquette County. In 1879 he came to Colorado, and for four years he engaged in mining at Leadville, where he was employed in the Morning and Evening star mines. In 1883 he came to Eagle County and purchased the fine ranch which he and his brother own, situated in the beautiful and fertile valley one and one-half miles above Gypsum. At the time of purchase the land was raw, but it has since been brought under excellent cultivation, and improved with a commodious residence, substantial barns, water works and irrigating ditches.

During his residence in Michigan Mr. Grundel served as magistrate, but since coming to Colo- rado he has given his attention strictly to mining and farm pursuits. In politics he is a Republican. His marriage, in 1882, united him with Kittie Nelson, who was born in the same part of Sweden as himself. They are the parents of three chil- dren: Frederick William, Hilma Amelia and Edith Marie.

LLIOTT C. WAGER, county commissioner of Hinsdale County and lessee of the Silver Coin mine, came to Colorado in 1876 and settled at what is now known as Wager's Gulch, Hinsdale Connty, twelve miles from Lake City, the road leading from this place to Sherman. The surroundings were of a primitive character. Mining was the only industry, and comparatively little had been done even in that line. He made the first trail to Carson's camp before it was lo- cated, and assisted in much of the work of pio- neer days. In common with the few other men then in the county, he turned his attention to prospecting and mining. He assisted in locating the Black Wonder mine, also the Uncle Sam mine, in which he owned a one-third interest.

After having lived at Wager's Gulch for nearly two years, Mr. Wager removed to Lake City, and established the Lake City House, which after- ward became the Occidental and was burned in 1896. This hotel he conducted for one year, and then went to the mines of Rico, where he spent the summer of 1879. Among the mines that he

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located there was the Petsite, which he abandoned on account of poor assays, but which afterward proved to be a very valuable mine. In 1880 he located the Black Wonder and Silver Wave mines, the latter of which he still owns and operates. In 1892 he located the Lydia M., the Lime Car- bonate and the Lydia M. Extension, all of which he and ex-Governor Adams own and operate, and which are large producers of silver and lead ore. In 1897 he located the Kentucky Boy, a mine bearing silver and gold ore, and now leased to other parties. In the spring of 1898 he located a mine bearing copper; this he named the Copper Coin mine and of its future value he has the highest hopes. He has several other prospects, all of which promise to become valuable.

Born in Norristown, Pa., May 20, 1838, Mr. Wager is a son of John and Rachel (Harrison) Wager, both natives of Pennsylvania. His fa- ther, who was a miller by occupation, went from Pennsylvania to California in 1852, making the long trip via the isthmus, and there he followed mining for fifteen years, after which he settled in Kansas and there died. He had five children who lived to maturity. Of these three survive: Janett, widow of William Hunter and a resident of Clearfield County, Pa .; Elliott C .; and Rachel, widow of Thompson Wiley, of Clearfield County, Pa. The mother of Mr. Wager was first cousin to William Henry Harrison, President of the United States.

At thirteen years of age our subject shipped before the mast. From New Bedford, on board a whaler, the "Sarah Shief," he went to the Arctic regions, where he remained for three years and six months. During his absence his father had gone to California; his mother had died when he was only seven, and so he had no home ties. After his return to the United States he shipped again, this time going to Calcutta and various ports of South America. He continued a sea- faring life until 1858. The most perilous adven- ture he ever experienced was after he had been out for two years, and when the vessel was rounding the Horn en route to the United States. In a storm the ship was wrecked and sank, and the crew were in open boats on the ocean for seven days, but finally landed on the coast of Patagonia. After two weeks on that dreary coast they were rescued by a whaling vessel westward bound. They were taken on board and sailed to the Hawaiian Islands, where the crew mutinied. Mr. Wager shipped by another vessel from Hono-

lulu and proceeded through Bering Strait to the Arctic Ocean, finally returning via the Atlantic to New Bedford.

In 1858 Mr. Wager began freighting from Kansas City, but in the fall of the same year re- turned east. During the Pike's Peak excitement of 1859 he came west and engaged in prospecting on Cherry Creek, also in California Gulch (Lead- ville). He spent the winter in Kansas and in the spring of 1860 engaged in freighting from Leaven- worth to New Mexico; starting out as a driver, he was afterwards promoted to be assistant wagon boss, and then wagon boss. At this time he was known to the Indians with whom he came in contact as "The big war chief," or "Wow Haw." In July, 1861, he enlisted in the Tenthi Kansas Infantry, becoming a member of Com- pany A. His regiment was assigned to duty in Missouri, Arkansas and Texas, and he continued at the front for three years and forty days. Dur- ing that time he took part in engagements at Lone Jack, Mo., Newtonia, Mo., Prairie Grove, Ark., and Oak Hills. When his terin of service ex- pired he became a scout and followed Price in liis raid through Kansas, taking part in a battle within four miles of Kansas City. He served as a scout for twenty-one days, but never received any remuneration for his services. He was sev- eral times wounded during his term of service. After the war he was deputy sheriff of Miami County, Kan., and marshal of Paola for four years.

September 23, 1866, at Paola, Kan., Mr. Wager married Nancy J., daughter of John and Sarah A. (Gentry) Moudy, who were Kentuckians by birth. Her father moved from Kentucky to In- diana, thence to Missouri in 1856, and five years later settled in Kansas, where his daughter be- came acquainted with Mr. Wager. She is a miem- ber of the Baptist Church and is worthy matron of the Eastern Star Lodge No. 36, at Lake City, to which her husband also belongs.

After engaging in farming for a few years, in 1876 Mr. Wager came to Colorado. Since then he has made Hinsdale County his home. In politics lie was until recently a Democrat, but now votes with the People's party. During his residence at Sherman he was justice of the peace. In 1897 he was mayor of Lake City, and at this writing he is a commissioner of the county. For one term he served as town marshal. He is a master Mason, being a life member of Paola Lodge No. 37, A. F. & A. M., of Paola, Kan .;

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also a member of Paola Lodge No. 11, I. O.O. F .; and John A. Rawlins Post No. 28, at Lake City, of which he is the adjutant. In the fall of 1893 he and his wife attended the Midwinter Fair in California, going via Salt Lake and Ogden, and then proceeding to California, where they spent the winter in visiting points of interest, return- ing in the spring to their home via El Paso, Tex.

OHN W. DOLLISON, county attorney of Garfield County, and since 1885 a practicing lawyer of Glenwood Springs, was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, November 23, 1846. His father, J. M. Dollison, a native of Greene County, Pa., accompanied his parents to Ohio at an early age and settled in Muskingum County. At the opening of the Civil war he enlisted in the Sixty-second Ohio Infantry, in which he served for three years. At the expiration of his term of enlistment he became a member of the One Hun- dred and Seventy- fourth Ohio Infantry, in which he continued to serve until the close of the war. Returning to Ohio he continued to reside there until 1880, when he removed to Colorado. His death occurred in Boulder in 1882. During the existence of the Whig party he adhered to its principles and upon its disintegration became a Republican. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. His father, James Dol- lison, came to this country from Scotland and settled in Pennsylvania, where he improved a farm.

The mother of our subject was Jeanette Wiley, a native of Ohio. Her father, John Wiley, was born in Scotland and emigrated to the United States, first settling near Harrisburg, Pa., but latter removed to Ohio, where he cultivated a farm. She had one brother who served from the beginning of the Civil war until its close, as a member of the Sixty-second Ohio Infantry. Her sons are: William T. Dollison, M. D., who resides in Cambridge, Ohio; our subject, and James F., an attorney in Russell, Kan.

The subject of this sketch spent his boyhood days upon a farm in Ohio. He was educated in the high school at Marysville, that state. When twenty-three years of age he went to Kansas, but after three years returned to Ohio, where he read law and was admitted to the bar. Going to New Mexico, he remained there for a short time, and in 1879 came to Colorado, where he engaged in practice in Gunnison. In 1885 he located in Glenwood Springs, where he has built up a large

and important practice. Since 1898 he has served as county attorney. He is highly es- teemed among the professional men of his city, and this part of the state, and is respected by all who have been brought into business or social relations with him. His first presidential vote was cast for General Grant, since which time he has continued steadfastly to support Republican principles.

In 1877 Mr. Dollison was united in marriage with Miss Laura E. Sapp, who was born in Peru, Il1., but at the time of her marriage was living in Ottawa, Ill. Mrs. Dollison died August 9, 1890. The only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dollison is Maude, now the wife of W. C. Fusner, an engi- neer on the Pennsylvania Railroad and a resident of Allegheny City.

ENRY BACHUS, one of the pioneers of the San Luis Valley, settled on Conejos Creek after he was mustered out of service during the Civil war. For five years he engaged in the dairy business on that place, after which he took up a squatter's claim on the Rio Grande River and embarked in the stock business, in which he has since engaged, having been at one time among the most extensive stock-raisers in the valley and keeping about fifteen hundred head of cattle, besides two hundred head of horses. He continued to reside upon his ranch of one thousand acres until 1885, when, in order to secure educational advantages for his children, he removed to Alamosa, and has since resided here. However, he still owns and superintends his ranch, in addition to which he has real estate in town. Besides the management of his stock and farm, he has had important business inter- ests. From 1868 to 1883 he carried on a butcher shop in Alamosa, after which he bought and con- ducted tlie Perry hotel until it was destroyed by fire in 1893. He assisted, in 1874, in the organiza- tion of one of the first ditch companies in the valley and of this he served as treasurer for a number of years.

A native of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, born in 1838, Mr. Bachus received a good education in the German schools, and at the age of fifteen began to learn the blacksmith's trade, at which he served for three years. He then came to tlie United States, landing in New York City, and proceeding thence to Davenport, Iowa, where he worked at his trade for four years. In 1860 he came to Colorado, crossing the plains with a

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party of men who made the trip, by mule-team from Davenport to Denver in thirty days. After a few days in Denver he went to Central City and began to work in mines. In the evening he worked at his trade. He was busily engaged in this way until the fall of 1861, when he enlisted in Company I, First Colorado Cavalry, and accompanied his regiment to Mexico, driving out the Texas forces from there. On his return to Colorado he was stationed at Fort Lyon, where he remained until early in 1862, and then pro- ceeded to Denver, later going north of that city to assist in suppressing the Ute Indians. The winter of 1862-63 was spent in Denver, after which he continned to assist in quelling the Indians. From the ranks he was promoted, in 1861, to be sergeant of his company, and as such was mustered out of the service. During his entire period of service he was wounded but once.

Politically a Republican, Mr. Bachus has been devoted to the welfare of his party and the advancement of his adopted country. He main- tains connection with the Grand Army, and is now senior vice-commander of Fifer Post at Ala- mosa. He is also a member of Alamosa Lodge No. 44, A. F. & A. M. Energy and persever- ance have been his main characteristics, and through these he has become possessed of a com- petency that will enable him, in his declining years, to enjoy a well-deserved rest. His mar- riage, in 1866, united him with Mary Simpkey, by whom he has eight children, viz .: William, Henry, Jr., James, Emma, Gertrude, Mamie, Robert and Panl.

AMUEL P. DUFF, president and general manager of the Cheyenne Planing Mill Com- pany, at No. 16 West Cucharras street, Colo- rado Springs, has been connected with the planing mill business since 1881. From that year until 1884 he was foreman for Wellington Stewart in Denver, and was also interested in the firm of Reynolds, McConnell & Co. In 1884 he came to Colorado Springs and managed the firm's busi- ness as one of the partners in the concern, but in 1891 disposed of his interest. Afterward he started the Colorado Springs Planing Mill Company, which was incorporated as the Cheyenne Planing Mill Company in the fall of 1895. The mill is operated by steam power and fitted up with mod- ern appliances of all kinds, and the articles man- ufactured, doors, sash, mouldings and interior

decorations, are of the highest grade. A specialty is made of show cases and store fixtures, and the firm has had contracts for the equipment of the best buildings in the city. A large stock of lum- ber is constantly kept on hand, in order that it may be seasoned and ready for use, and the company has the principal trade of the city in hardwood.

Mr. Duff was born in Jonesville, Lee County, Va., May 9, 1844. His grandfather, Samuel Duff, a native of Scotland, emigrated to the United States in early manhood and settled in Lee County, Va., where he engaged in farming and the mercantile business. He died there at fifty-two years of age. His son, Joseph, was born and reared in Lee County, and in 1856 settled at Robinson, Ill., where he bought raw land and improved a farm. There he continued to reside until his death, which occurred in 1859, at forty- seven years of age. He married Mary Wynn, who was born in Virginia and died in Illinois in 1868, aged forty-nine years. She was a dangh- ter of Robert Wynn, a planter, who died in the Old Dominion after the Civil war, when he was one hundred and two years of age. Joseph and Mary Duff had five children, namely: Margaret, who died in Missouri in 1870; Robert, a farmer near Kansas City, Mo .; Samnel P .; Rebecca, of Iowa; and Mary J., who died in Illinois.

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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 152

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