Portrait and biographical record of the state of Colorado, containing portraits and biographies of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 160

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 160

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Mr. Brunton was born in Ayr, Canada, June 11, 1849, and is the son of James and Agnes Brunton, both of whom were born in Scotland and came to Canada about 1840. The family of James Brunton consists of one son, David W., and two daughters, Mrs. Robert J. Devlin, of

Brantford, Canada, and Mrs. W. S. Copeland, of Aspen, Colo. After graduation in 1871, the sub- ject of this sketch began engineering work on the Toronto & Nepissing Railroad. In 1873 he came to the states and settled in Buffalo, N. Y., where he was engaged as engineer in the Kellogg Bridge Works. Since June, 1875, Mr. Brunton has resided in Colorado. His first location was in Mineral City, San Juan County, where he was engaged as mining engineer to A. Taylor, the father of his present business partner, F. M. Tay- lor. In 1880 he and Mr. Taylor built the Taylor & Brunton mill in Leadville, and soon afterward the Colonel Sellers, Minnie & A. Y., Adams and Dinero concentrating mills. As mining engineer or manager, he was connected with the Robert E. Lee Company, the Duncan Mining Company, the Wolftone Mining Company, and the Colonel Sel- lers Mining Company. He is now interested in the Taylor & Brunton Sampling Works Company at Aspen, Colo .; the Taylor & Brunton Ore Samp- ling Company at Salt Lake City, Utah; the Tay- lor & Brunton Sampling Company at Victor, Colo., and various other enterprises throughout the state.

In 1885 Mr. Brunton married Katharine Kem- ble, the daughter of John G. Kemble, of New York, a descendant of a family that came to New York from Holland during the seventeenth cen- tury. They are the parents of three sons and one daughter, Frederic Kemble, John David, Harold James and Marion. While Mr. Brunton has his headquarters in Aspen, and necessarily spends part of his time there, the family residence is at No. 865 Grant avenne, Denver.

Politically Mr. Brunton has never identified himself with any party, but has remained inde- pendent. He is a life member of the Institution of Civil Engineers of London, and is a past vice- president of the American Institute of Mining Engineers. He is also a member of the Colorado Scientific Society and of the Royal Geographical Society.

Fraternally he is a thirty-second degree Mason, and a member of the Mystic Shrine, El Jebel Temple.

HARLES C. GOODALE, surveyor-general for the state of Colorado, has been identified with the history of Lamar from the early days of its settlement, and has borne an active part in all enterprises for the advancement of its

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interests. When he came west in January, 1887, he filed a claim on a tract of land in Prowers County, adjoining the village of Lamar, to which he removed with his family in April, 1887. Afterward he engaged in the practice of law and gained a large portion of the practice of south- eastern Colorado. In December, 1889, he re- ceived appointment as receiver of the United States land office at Lamar, and served for a term of four years in that capacity. In January, 1899, he was appointed surveyor-general of the state of Colorado and took charge of that office February 1, 1899.

Born in the state of Vermont December 27, 1844, the subject of this sketch was a youth of almost thirteen years when, in 1858, he removed to Iowa and settled upon a farm in Clayton Coun- ty. In the spring of 1864 he enlisted in Com- pany C, Third Iowa Infantry, and remained in the service until the close of the war, being mus- tered out in June, 1865. At the battle of Atlanta, Ga., July 22, 1864, he was taken prisoner by the Confederates and confined in Andersonville prison, Georgia, and Florence prison, South Carolina, and from the latter place was trans- ported on parole to Annapolis, Md.

After the close of the war Mr. Goodale re- moved to Madison County, Iowa, where he farmed during the summer months, and taught school in the winter time, continuing in this way until 1873, when he was elected county auditor of Madison County and removed to Winterset, the county-seat. The position of auditor he filled efficiently for three terms. In 1878 he purchased a half interest in the Winterset Madisonian, the leading Republican paper of Madison County, and continued as its editor until 1882, when he sold his interest. Soon after removing to Winterset he had commenced to read law, and in 1882 he was admitted to the bar, after which he engaged in general practice. He continued in Winterset until his removal to Colorado in the early part of 1887.

The Republican party has always received the support of Mr. Goodale, who uniformly supports its men and measures, and casts his ballot in favor of its principles. In 1896 he was a candidate for elector upon his party ticket. In 1898 he was nominated as a candidate for attorney-general of the state, but declined the nomination upon the consolidation of the two Republican tickets. Had the office fallen to his lot he would have undoubt- edly discharged its duties in the same efficient

manner and with the same sound judgment that has characterized him in every responsibility of life.

May 25, 1870, Mr. Goodale was united in marriage to Miss Sarah J. McManus. They are the parents of six living children, three sons and three daughters. The eldest of the family, Sarah E., is married to William W. Cooper, assistant cashier in the First National Bank of Lamar. The other children are: Samuel W., Mary E., Nellie I., Henry J. and Rollin C., who are attend- ing school in Lamar.

ETER THOBORG is one of the early set- tlers of Eagle County. When he came here, in September, 1885, little improvement had been made in the county, the town of Eagle had not yet been started and even the principal in- dustry of the state, mining, had received but little attention. He took up land adjoining the present village of Eagle and here he has carried on general ranch pursuits, working industriously and faithfully to place his property under first- class improvement.

In the province of Hanover, Germany, in 1855, the subject of this sketch was born, a son of Wilhelm Thoborg, a native of the same province, by trade a blacksmith and in religion a member of the Lutheran Church. The wife and mother bore the maiden name of Anna Stuehrke and was a native of the same province. She died in 1872, two years after the death of her husband. They were the parents of four sons and one daughter, of whom Wilhelm died in the old country; Kate is married and lives in Davenport, Iowa; August and Herman are engaged in mining at Aspen, Colo.

The boyhood years of our subject's life were passed in Germany. Under his father's instruc- tion he learned the blacksmith's trade and at sixteen years of age he started out in the world for himself. In pursuit of his occupation as blacksmith, he visited many towns in Europe. In 1873, at eighteen years of age, he crossed the ocean and settled in Davenport, Iowa, where he remained for several years. From there, in 1879, he came to Colorado, settling in Leadville, where he had charge of the sampling department of the Grant smelter for three years. Afterward he spent two years or more in South Park, coming from there to his present home in Eagle County.

The marriage of Mr. Thoborg, in 1880, united him with Carrie Kuehn, of Davenport, Iowa, and

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by her he has three daughters, Mabel, Alice and Blanche. In politics he is identified with the People's party. He is interested in educational matters and for nine years served as president of the school board of his district. He assisted in organizing a lodge of Woodmen of the World in Eagle, and was its first consul commander and is still one of its most active members. He stands high among the people of the county and has many friends among the best citizens of his lo- cality.

G EORGE P. SAMPSON, M. D., who has built up an extensive practice in the village of Eagle and the surrounding country, was born in Goderich, Ontario, November 9, 1854, a son of George and Charlotte (Finley) Sampson, natives respectively of Londonderry and Wick- low, Ireland. His paternal grandfather, Andrew Sampson, emigrated from Ireland to Canada in 1831 and died soon afterward; the maternal grand- father, John Finley, was a farmer of Ireland, and settled in Canada in 1833. George Sampson en- gaged in farming in Canada until 1871, mean- time participating in the Canadian rebellion of 1837 for the government. After he settled in Kansas in 1871 he engaged in farming. His death occurred in Ohio in 1883. Of his children, John S. resides in Ashtabula County, Ohio; Anna is the wife of Richard Finley, of Manhat- tan, Kan .; Lottie married Orville P. Jones, of Ashtabula County, Ohio; James F. resides in Florence, Colo .; Ezekiel makes his home in Ashtabula; and Lettie H. is the wife of John F. Priest, of Oregon.

The first sixteen years of our subject's life were spent in Canada. After settling in Kansas he attended the State Normal School in Leaven- worth. He was only fourteen years of age when he began to teach, and from that time on was practically self-supporting. In 1878, at Leaven- worth, Kan., he commenced to read medicine with Dr. S. F. Neely, a prominent physician of that city. At the same time he devoted himself to work that would assist in defraying his ex-" penses. His medical studies were prosecuted in Miami Medical College, Cincinnati, Ohio, from which he graduated in 1880. Afterward he re- ceived an appointment as acting assistant surgeon in the United States regular army, and for three years was engaged in Indian service in Arizona. Later he carried on a drug business at Monte Vista, Colo., until 1895, and during the same

time, for two years, he served as county superin- tendent of schools. He then came to Eagle County, where he established a general practice. With professional skill that brings him patronage he combines the ready tact that makes fast friends of the patients who seek his professional advice. He is conscientiously devoted to the duties of his profession and the people appreciate his ability and earnest efforts.

In politics Dr. Sampson is connected with the People's party. He is a member of the blue lodge of Masonry. His marriage, in 1880, nnited him with Nellie A., daughter of George B. Cof- fin, of Leavenworth, Kan. They are the parents of two sons, Ralph C. and George P., Jr., who are bright and manly boys.

Since the above was written Dr. Sampson has moved to Winslow, Ariz , and is now engaged in the practice of medicine there.

M C. KING was one of the earliest settlers in what is now Logan Connty. He came to Colorado in 1873, arriving in Greeley on the 16th of August. Leaving his family at that place he proceeded to Sterling, and by home- stead and pre-emption, secured three hundred and twenty acres of land four miles north of town. At that time there were bnt five or six families in this section of the country, and few attempts had been made at the improvement or cultivation of land. He at once set about the task of im- proving his property. He erected needed build- ings and in the winter of 1874-75 moved his fam - ily to the farm. He has since resided on the place, which has been increased to four hundred and seventy acres and upon which he engages in stock-raising.

The birth of Mr. King occurred in Obion County, Tenn., May 20, 1840, his parents being Benjamin F. and Pamelia King. He was one of eight children, five of whom are living, viz .: James M., of Sterling; Lucinda, wife of S. W. Leach, of Texas; Martha E., the widow of Isaac M. Dooley, and who makes her home with our subject; M. C .; and Mollie, who married G. H. Wilson, of Merino. The father, a native of South Carolina, born in 1801, grew to manhood in that state, where he married and engaged in farming. In 1833 he established his home in Kentucky, but five years later went to Tennessee and settled in Obion County, where he engaged in farming for seven years. His next location was in Lafayette County, Miss., and there he

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continued to reside until his death, in 1862. For a number of years he served as a justice of the peace in Mississippi, and he also held the office of county assessor.

At the outbreak of the Civil war our subject, whose sympathies were naturally with the south, enlisted in the Confederate army. August 7, 1861, his name was enrolled as a member of Company F, Nineteenth Mississippi Infantry. With his regiment he took part in the engage- ments at Fredericksburg, the Wilderness, Spott- sylvania Court House, Fair Oaks, Gettysburg and Weldon Railroad. He was mustered out at the close of the war, April 5, 1865. After the close of the war he farmed for one year in South Carolina as a renter, after which he returned home; his parents had passed away during his absence in the army, and the children had scat- tered to various places. For two years he worked at such occupations as he could find, and in 1869 he bought a farm in Lafayette County, settling down to agricultural pursuits there. In 1870 he removed to an adjoining county and engaged in the mercantile business. From there he came to Colorado in 1873 and has since made his home in Logan County. He is a member of the Cumber- land Presbyterian Church of Sterling. In poli- tics he is liberal, voting for the men whom he considers best qualified to represent the people in office. In 1869 he married Miss Mary Minter, who was born in South Carolina, her father, E. L. Minter, having been a prominent planter of that state. Five children were born of this union, namely: William E., who is engaged in the real-estate business in Sterling; Ella P., wife of J. W. Wells, of Sterling; Maud E., John C. and Alfred Alonzo, who are attending school in Logan County.

A VERY B. TUBBS. On the Blue River, fourteen miles north of Dillon, lies one of the valuable ranches of Summit County. This, since 1885, has been the property of Mr. Tubbs, who at that time rented his ranch near Colorado Springs and bought the place where he . dians, who were very troublesome and hostile. has since resided. Here he has been engaged in the raising of cattle and in a general dairy busi- ness. An industrious and energetic man, he is recognized as one of the representative ranchmen of the county.

The birth of our subject occurred in Des Moines County, Iowa, May 9, 1843. He was the eldest of three children born to the union of

Thomas M. and Elizabeth (Babb) Tubbs. His brother, Dennison, who served in the Second Iowa Cavalry during the Civil war, is now a mem- ber of the police force of Burlington, Iowa. Clement M., the youngest son, resides in Dillon, Colo. The father was a native of Ohio, born in 1818. In early manhood he migrated to Iowa and settled in Des Moines County, where he de- voted himself to carpentering. A man of great mechanical skill, he was unusually skillful in the construction of articles for household or business use. During middle life he was engaged in en- gineering and sawmill work. In 1870 he came to Colorado and in the spring of that year settled at Breckenridge, where he became interested in sawmill work and also followed the carpenter's trade. During the winter he made his head- quarters in Colorado City. In the spring of 1871 he returned to Breckenridge, where he had charge of the Gold Run ditch. Again, during the win- ter, he resided in Colorado City, returning to Breckenridge in the spring and resuming the management of the Gold Run ditch. After spend- ing the next winter in El Paso County, he re- turned to Breckenridge in the spring of 1873. From that time until 1883 he resided continu- ously in Summit County. Failing health caused him to return to Iowa in 1884, and in that state he continued to reside until his death in 1895. During the war he enlisted in Company K, Four- teenth Iowa Infantry, and went to the front with his regiment, taking part in a number of impor- tant engagements. During the second battle of Bull Run he was wounded by a shell.

When the war broke out the subject of this sketch was fired with patriotic ardor and deter- mined to enlist. His father and older brother both enlisted at an early period in the war, and he soon followed their example. He had pre- viously settled in Breckenridge, Colo., the date of his arrival here having been June 17, 1862. In August, 1864, he became a member of Com- pany K, Third Colorado Cavalry, and partici- pated in a number of skirmishes against the In-

Among his battles was the famous engagement at Sand Creek. On his return from the front he resumed mining. March 18, 1872, he estab- lished domestic ties, at which time he was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Marshall. Shortly afterward he removed to a ranch fourteen miles north of Colorado Springs, where he began to raise cattle and enough hay to supply produce

HIPPOLYTE GIRARDOT.

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for the stock. He continued there until 1885, when he rented the place and returned. to Sum- mit County. He is well liked in his locality and is now serving efficiently as secretary of the school board of his. district. He and his wife are the parents of three sons, Arthur T., Harry E. and Avery B., Jr., all of whom are at home.

IPPOLYTE GIRARDOT, a pioneer of Colo- rado, and now a resident of Fort Morgan, was born in France April 10, 1844, a son of Joseph and Mary A. (Minard) Girardot. He was the youngest of five children, of whom he and his three sisters, Maria, Annette and Hortense, survive. Marie, the youngest sister, is deceased. His father, a native of France, born in 1812, engaged in farming and freighting in his native land, whence, in 1856, he emigrated to America. With his son, their a boy of twelve, he crossed the ocean in December, arriving in New York early in January, 1857, after a voyage of thirty-five days. He remained at Hoboken, N. J., until March, when he went to Cincinnati, Ohio. While his son worked in a restaurant, he secured employment on a farm. In the fall the two took a steamer for New Orleans, where dur- ing the winter the boy was employed in a grocery, and the father followed gardening. In the spring of 1858 they started back north, with the inten- tion of going to Sioux City, Iowa, but on reach- ing St. Mary's, Mo., they landed. Dissatisfied with that section of country, they went to St. Louis, and there meeting a number of French- nien about to go to Sioux City, were induced to resume their journey to that point. However, on arriving in Nebraska City, they were per- suaded to stop by one of their countrymen. Both father and son secured employment at street work, which paid them good wages. Soon the father bought lots in the suburbs and began gardening. Meantime the son worked in a con- fectionery store until his employer failed, after which he was employed by Joel Draper, a nur- seryman, for whom he agreed to work three months at $8 a month. Before the expiration of the time, his father died. He settled np the busi- ness, disposed of the products of the garden and then returned to Mr. Draper's employ, after which he remained with him until 1863.

In the spring of 1863 Mr. Girardot was em- ployed by Alexander Major to drive a team across the plains. During the summer he made one trip from Nebraska City and two trips from

Omaha to Fort Laramie. During the winter he cared for the cattle that were wintered at the fort. In the spring of 1864 he went back to Nebraska with the outfit and there met Mr. Draper, who had purchased a freighting outfit and wished him to take charge of the train. This he did, and during the summers of 1864 and 1865 made six trips across the plains to Colorado for his em- ployer. In 1865 he purchased a team of his own, which he ran with the train. In the spring of 1866 he and his employer disposed of the cattle. and wagons, and he returned to France to visit his mother and sisters. On coming back to America, in August, 1866, he bought a piece of land and took up a homestead thirty-five miles west of Nebraska City, near what is now the town of Palmyra, Neb. In the spring of 1867 he built a house. To this place he soon brought his bride. He was married April 29, 1867, to Miss Ellen M. Miner, and a week later settled in his new home. Buying some cows, he engaged in the dairy business, continuing in the same place until the spring of 1872, when he mounted his horse and started across the plains to search for a new location. On reaching Cheyenne he hired to J. D. MeCann, a freighter, to make a trip from that town to the Spotted Tail agency. This had the advantage of permitting him to look over the country and draw a salary at the same time. In August he received a letter from his wife stating that she had an opportunity to sell their Nebraska farm. At once he returned, completed the sale, and with his family and cattle started west. When winter set in they had reached a point fifty miles west of Fort Kearney. There they found a deserted ranch and spent the winter. April 9, 1873, they started out on the range to look up their cattle, which were ranging about eight miles from their cabin. With them they had a two-horse wagon and saddle horse. After they had gone two miles they were sur- prised by a band of hostile Sioux. With rare presence of mind, Mr. Girardot wheeled his horses around and started for home. The horses being fresh outdistanced the tired ponies of the Indians and he reached his cabin in safety, but not before many shots had been fired at him. Even after within his cabin he feared a fight, but the Indians, seeing him under shelter, circled around and rode off, after stealing four of his horses. He then moved his family across the river. This was a difficult task, as the river had overflowed and quicksands rendered an attempt

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at crossing dangerous. Telling his wife to pack such things as were necessary they started on their journey. When nearly across the river one horse balked and another became stuck in the quicksand. His daughter, now Mrs. Brink, took the baby and mounted another horse, which also went down in the icy current. Mr. Girardot suc- ceeded in securing them, however, and they landed in safety. The Indians witnessed the narrow escape from the river bank, but harassed them no further. Soon after the savages re- turned to the ranch, killed over forty head of cattle and stole four of the best horses. At Plum Creek Mr. Girardot told his story to about fifteen men, who informed him they were about to sally forth to fight this marauding band of Indians, but when they found the savages were so near, they pleaded that it was dangerous to cross the, river on account of the high water, and not a man would help him punish the redskins.

Finally, after all these hardships and after having two more skirmishes with Indians, on the 25th of May, Mr. Girardot started for Colo- rado. Reaching Greeley he ranged his cattle for a short time. At the request of Captain Gifford, of Fremont's Orchard (now Orchard), Morgan County, he went to that place to look after that gentleman's sheep and take charge of his ranch. At the same time he drove his own cattle to Orchard and took up his home there. Eighteen months later he built a house on a homestead owned by his wife's mother, and there he estab- lished his family. In 1879 he bought a tract of land at Orchard, and to this he has added until his ranch property now numbers thirteen hundred acres, nearly all under ditch. He is still largely interested in the cattle business. After 1889 he divided his time between his ranch and Fort Mor- gan, but is now living in the town, in order that his children may receive educational advantages.

The first wife of Mr. Girardot was drowned in the Box Elder Creek, near Greeley, March 1, 1881, leaving three children: Mattie, wife of Frank Clifford, of Weldon, Colo .; Mabel, Mrs. M. H. Brink, of Orchard; and Frederick, at home. September 11, 1891, our subject married Miss Hattie B. Kemp, a native of Dixon, Ill., and later a resident of Bennett, Lancaster County, Neb. Her father, Benjamin C. Kemp, was a pioneer of Lancaster County, and afterward re- moved to Kansas. To this union four children were born, Louie M., Hattie B., Hippolyte J. and Josephine M,

RVILLES. GALBREATH, attorney-at-law, and former county judge of La Plata County, now actively engaged in the practice of his profession at Durango, was born in Davidson County, Tenn., in 1846, a son of John H. and Martha Galbreath, also natives of Tennessee. He was educated in common schools and Cum- berland University, from which latter he gradu- ated in 1868. Admitted to practice at the bar of the state, he opened an office in Nashville, where he remained for fourteen years, having meantime built up a large clientele.

Leaving the south in 1882, he came to Durango and associated himself in practice with William G. Bryan, Jr., with whom he continued for some months. In 1883, on the Democratic ticket, he was elected judge of La Plata County, which po- sition he filled for three years. On the expira- tion of his term he resumed his professional work, which he has since conducted successfully, being now one of the oldest members of the local bar. His political affiliations were with the Demo- cratic party until the year 1884, since which time he has been a Populist. In 1885 he established the Durango Wage Earner, a weekly publica- tion, which he continued for three years, selling out in 1888. For three years he held the office of city attorney and served as county attorney for five consecutive terms. He was a candidate for the legislature in 1896, but was defeated with others on the Populist ticket in his locality. From Governors McIntire and Adams he received appointment as a commissioner to represent Colo- rado at the Tennessee Centennial in 1896.

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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 160

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