Portrait and biographical record of the state of Colorado, containing portraits and biographies of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 175

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 175

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from Sterling to Greeley. That position he held for eighteen months, after which he worked at the carpenter's trade for six months, and then formed a partnership with a brother-in-law in the sheep business. He ranged the sheep eight- een miles west of Sterling and for two years gave his entire time to the management of the busi- ness. Upon disposing of their stock he and his brother-in-law purchased a store in Sterling, and this property they sold to advantage a few days later. They then purchased an alfalfa ranch in Weldon Valley, where they engaged in the cattle business and met with success. In 1888 Mr. Shumate came to his present location, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres of land and engag- ing in farming and the cattle business. He has inade five trips to California, and is familiar with nearly every part of that state. In 1892 he went to the coast and remained eleven months. In 1894 he again went west, this time spending three years in Los Angeles, during which time he engaged in haying and the raising of fruits.

In 1895 and 1896 Mr. Shumate served as water commissioner of this district. He is a member of Silver Lodge No. 60, K. P., and in politics is a stanch advocate of the Populist doctrines. He is a member of the Baptist Church and a con- tributor to religious and philanthropic projects. In November, 1888, he married Miss Rosa Davidson, who died December 31, 1894; two chil- dren were born of that union, Beulalı and Samuel (deceased). The present wife of our subject, whom he married December 14, 1897, was Mrs. Mattie (McPherson) Wallace, a native of Ohio, and a lady of intelligence and refinement.

RANK S. BARNHART came to Colorado in the spring of 1888 and settled six miles east and one mile north of Akron in Wash- ington County. Here he pre-empted one hun- dred and sixty acres, homesteaded a similar acre- age and took up another quarter-section adjoin- ing as a tree claim. At once he began farm pur- suits. However, it did not take him long to dis- cover that farming in Colorado without irrigation is a failure. He then turned his attention to gar- dening and has since practically supplied the en- tire town of Akron with its vegetables. This business, together with his stock interests which he has been acquiring since 1893, place him among the substantial citizens of the county. In November, 1895, he was elected county commis- sioner on the fusion ticket and served his constit-

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uents faithfully during his term of three years. He is a Democrat in his political belief and a sup- porter of the silver cause. Fraternally he is con- nected with Akron Lodge No. 31, Star of Jupiter.

Near Bloomington, McLean County, Ill., Mr. Barnhart was born November 24, 1856, a son of David and Elizabeth (Christbaum) Barnhart, and one of nine children, all of whom are living. George N. is a farmer and fruit-grower at Stutt- gart, Ark .; Frank S. was second in order of birth; William D. is a farmer and stock-grower in Val- ley County, Neb .; Charles L. is a farmer at North Loup, Neb .; John R. and James D. are similarly engaged in that county; Benjamin makes his home with his father in Valley County; Margaret A. (Mrs. Augustus Whetzel), lives in Indiana; and Elvin resides with his father.

David Barnhart was born in Ross County, Ohio, and there grew to manhood and married. Shortly after his marriage he moved to McLean County, Ill., of which he was an early settler and with the development of which he was intimately asso- ciated. Farming and stock-raising furnished him with a competency and enabled him to surround his family with every comfort. About 1885 he moved to Nebraska, settling in Valley County, where he has since resided. His wife was a na- tive of Ross County, Ohio, and, like him, was of Pennsylvania-Dutch ancestry, the descendant of early settlers of Pennsylvania. She died in 1893.

At twenty years of age our subject left home and went to the native county of his parents, where he visited among relatives and friends, re- turning thence to McLean County and embark- ing in farm pursuits for himself. January 8, 1880, he married Miss Julia A. Smith, a native of Ross County, and a daughter of Daniel B. Smith, a farmer and cattleman of Ross, and later of Mc- Lean County, Il1. In 1883 our subject and his wife removed to Valley County, Neb., where he engaged in farming until his removal to Colorado in 1888. He has since become known as one of the enterprising residents of Washington County. He and his wife are the parents of four children, Nora X., Roy Carl, Bessie Pearl and David Adlai.

In 1893 Mr. Barnhart began to experiment in irrigation, the first ever undertaken in Washing- ton or Yuma Counties, with the exception of a very small strip in the northwestern part of the formier county. As bringing water from the mountains or adjacent streams was impossible he introduced the scheme of irrigating by means of water drawn from the earth by windmill power,

the only place in Colorado where irrigation is done by this method. He now has about ten acres well watered, a veritable garden tract. He also supplies Akron's inhabitants with ice and has built a fish pond, from which he eventu- ally will supply his customers with fresh fish the year round.

RANCIS M. PHILLIPS, who was engaged in the hardware business in Sterling, and is filling the office of commissioner of Logan County, is one of the representative men of north- eastern Colorado. A native of southern Illinois, .he was born in Jefferson County May 5, 1859, being a son of Clarence A. and Sarah E. (Tate) Phillips. He was one of a family of three sons and three daughters, of whom the latter are de- ceased; one son, James E., is engaged in the drayage business in Centralia, Ill., and the young- est son, Charles A., is a plumber in that city. The father was born and reared in St. Clair County, Ill., and in youth served an apprenticeship to the trade of architect and builder. After his marriage he settled in Jefferson County, the home of his wife. He erected the first house built in Cen- tralia, where afterward, with a partner, he built nearly three hundred residences and business buildings. In 1864 or 1865 he removed to Mis- souri, where for three years he made his home in Johnson County. His next place of abode was Liberty, Montgomery County, Kan., and there he engaged in the livery business until his death, which occurred January 12, 1872, at thirty-seven years of age. After his death his wife returned to Illinois, where she has since resided.

When sixteen years of age our subject began to operate a threshing machine, in which employ- ment he continued for three years. Afterward he completed the carpenter's trade, which he had partially learned under his father. From that time he gave his attention to farm work in the summer and carpentering in the fall and winter. With John T. Eskew he went to Nebraska in 1884, and for five months he worked in Hamilton County as a farm hand, after which he built a house for his employer. March 8, 1886, he went to Bromfield to establish a lumber yard for the National Lumber Company. He was the first man in the town and remained there for a week before he was joined by anyone. There he estab- lished the yard and erected the necessary build- ings. The completion of the Burlington & Mis- souri Railroad through Bromfield caused the

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establishment and growth of the village. After a year our subject worked for C. N. Dietz in the lumber business for a year, and when Mr. Dietz bought the National Lumber Yards, he went to Phillips Station, to which place he had hauled the first load of lumber. He continued there until 1888, when he came to Colorado and in May of that year settled in Sterling. His first occupa- tion was that of contracting and building. In the fall of 1894, however, he met with an ac- cident which incapacitated him for work, and obliged him to turn his attention to other means of livelihood. In January, 1895, he engaged in the butcher business, in which he continued for two months. Upon selling out he bought the hardware store which he conducted until Febru- ary, 1899. On the Populist ticket, in the fall of 1896, he was elected county commissioner, which office he has efficiently filled. In May, 1887, he married Miss Ella Wilson, who was born in Bal- timore County, Md.

In fraternal relations Mr. Phillips is connected with Logan Lodge No. 69, I. O. O. F., and is also a member of the encampment. Prairie Camp No. 22, Woodmen of the World, numbers him among its members, and he is also identified with and treasurer of Star Jupiter Lodge.

OSEPH CAMPBELL, commissioner of Sedg- wick County and also one of its enterprising stockmen, was born in County Armagh, Ire- land, June 9, 1843, a son of Nicholas and Judith (Nichol) Campbell, both of Scotch descent. He was one of nine children, of whom five besides himself are living, viz .: George, a stockman of this county; Sarah, who married Henry Eng- land and continues to reside in County Armagh; Ann, Mrs. James Livingston, of County Armagh; Mary, widow of William Jones, of Cheyenne, Wyo .; and David, a business man of Belfast, Ire- land. The father was born in County Armagh in 1800 and received a public-school education there. After his marriage he settled upon a farm, and afterward engaged in agricultural pur- suits until his death, in 1880.

When sixteen years of age our subject secured a position with a provision and commission firm in the town of Lurgan. After five years in that place he engaged in the grocery business for himself. He was prosperous and made consider- able money. Eight years after he opened his store he turned his attention to the wholesale business, but this venture was unsuccessful. In 1880 he

closed out his business; and, while the mercan- tile trade offered to give him another start he re- fused. In 1881 he went to Canada and settled at Ingersoll, where he worked in an agricultural machine shop for five years. The year 1886 found him upon the soil of the states. Coming to Colorado, for two years he worked for the South Platte Land & Lumber Company, having charge of their milling and lumbering business in the mountains. Following this he came to Sedgwick County and settled on his present homestead, two miles north of Sedgwick, where he has since re- sided, engaging successfully in the cattle business. He is one of the influential men of the county and is highly esteemed for his energy of disposi- tion and force of character.

A Republican in politics, Mr. Campbell was in 1895 elected on the party ticket to the office of county commissioner. In 1898 he was re-elected to the office, which he has filled to the entire sat- isfaction of the people. His marriage to Mrs. Sarah (Blakeley) Geddis, a native of County Down, Ireland, occurred in 1865. The only child of this union, Minnie, married Eugene B. Davis, who isconnected with his father-in-law in the cat- tle business. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have one child, Joseph Campbell Davis, born August 2, 1892. In religious belief Mr. Campbell is identified with the Presbyterians. His life has been character- ized by uprightness and integrity, and he merits the high position he holds in the esteem of the people of his county.

HRISTIAN ANDERSEN, of Sedgwick County, was born in the southwestern part of Denmark, May 30, 1857, a son of An- dreas and Karen M. Nelsen. He was one of a family comprising four daughters and two sons, viz .: Alvina, Martina, Minnie, Frederick, Gine and Christian, the daughters living in Denmark, and Frederick in Ogden, Utah. Their father was born in Denmark in 1828, and in youth learned the blacksmith's trade, which he followed up to the time of his death in January, 1892. The widowed mother is now making her home with her daughters in Denmark.

Assisting his father in the shop, our subject became familiar with blacksmithing while he was still a mere child. When fourteen years of age he went to the city of Frederick's Harbor and ap- prenticed himself to the trade, at which he worked as an apprentice for four years, becoming an expert journeyman. On his return home he

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worked with his father for one year, after which he spent four months in a large shop in Alburg. Next he opened a small shop in a little village built on an island in the north of Denmark. While in that place, November 23, 1878, he mar- ried Miss Matte M. Christensen, who accompa- nied him to America two years later, landing in New York City May 19, 1880. Thence they proceeded to Iowa, where Mrs. Andersen had relatives. Being ignorant of the language and the locality, they were carried thirty-two miles beyond their destination before the mistake was discovered, and on paying their fare back to Ca- sey, Adair County, they had but fifteen cents left. In a strange country, without money, the outlook seemed gloomy indeed. Nor was Mr. Ander- sen's first employment such as to encourage him. He secured work loading corn in an elevator, shoveling the corn back from the shute as it ran in the car. At the end of two hours he and his companion were almost dead. Drawing their salary, which was ten cents an hour, they quit work.

After this Mr. Andersen began to work at rail- road construction; but after three weeks of hard work at $1.50 a day, he had difficulty in collect- ing the money due him. For one month follow- ing he was employed by a farmer at $15 a month. Next he secured work at his trade in town, where he continued for a year. Then, going to Carbon, Wyo., he accepted a position with the Union Pa- cific Railroad as a blacksmith at their coal mines, receiving $75 a month. After two years at Car- bon, in the spring of 1884 he came to Colorado and settled at Mineral Point in San Juan County, where his wife carried on a hotel until late in the autumn. Meantime, in July, he went to Rock Springs, Wyo., and again worked for the Union Pacific Railroad Company at his trade. After three years of steady work there he came to Logan County and took up a pre-emption of one hundred and sixty acres ten miles east of Holyoke. He proved up on his claim and then sold it. After a few months in Julesburg, where he worked at his trade, he went to Rock Springs, and for one year was with the railroad company. Coming back to Julesburg, he bought a section of railroad land and homesteaded a quarter-section adjoining. Here he built a house and made other improvements, that have in- creased the value of the property. In politics he is an ardent Republican. He and his wife attend the Congregational Church and are very highly

esteemed in their locality. They have only one child, Carolyn J. M., a graduate of the Julesburg high school, and now a teacher in the public schools of this place.

ATHAN ANDREWS. There is perhaps no resident of Washington County who has met with greater success than that attained by Mr. Andrews. When he came to this county he homesteaded a quarter-section twelve miles south- west of Akron, and there engaged in the cattle business, but, after five years, the water becom- ing very scarce, he exchanged his claim for his present ranch, ten miles southwest of town. Since then he has prospered, and is now the owner of about four hundred and twenty-five head of cat- tle, besides other important possessions. He is a member of the Colorado Stockmen's Protective Association, and favors all. organizations having for their object the benefit of the stock industry of this state.

. In Vinton County, Ohio, December 23, 1853, the subject of this sketch was born to David and Lucy (Barker) Andrews, and was the second of ten children, all but one of whom are living. Harriet is the wife of William C. Mayhew, of Washington County, Iowa; Sadie married Hiram Tripp, of Vinton County, Ohio; Mehitable is the wife of Elmer Johnson, of Vinton County; Mo- ses A. is a cattleman of Arapahoe County; Jo- seph F. is engaged in sawmill work in Vinton County; Louis is a farmer of Vermilion County, Il1 .; Mary; and John occupies the old homestead in Vinton County.

The father of our subject was born in New Hampshire in 1822, and for years engaged in the buying and selling of horses and cattle, driving stock through to Boston market. When about twenty-eight he went to Ohio, married and en- gaged in farming, also operated a coal bank on his place. He continued to reside there until his death, in 1898. His wife, a native of New Hamp- shire, still resides on the homestead. When nineteen years of age our subject began life on his own account. He went to Osage County, Kan., and settled in Burlingame, where he was employed on a ranch for eighteen months. Mean- time he contracted chills and fever, and finding it impossible to rid himself of the disease there, he returned east. For eight or more years he was employed in Illinois, Ohio and Iowa, the greater part of the time being spent in Iowa. March 18, 1883, in that state, he married Miss Eva R.

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Sturdivan, a native of Keokuk County, and the daughter of David O. Sturdivan, who then en- gaged in farming, but now follows the trades of wheelwright and carpenter in Massena, Iowa.

In 1885 Mr. Andrews settled in Nebraska, pre- empting one hundred and sixty acres in Hitch- cock County. But the country soon became too crowded to admit of cattle-raising; for that rea- son, after six months in Nebraska, he came to Colorado, where he has since made his home in Washington County. He and his wife are the parents of five children, John Franklin, Maude B., Delbert P., Myrtle A. and Harley N. The family are highly esteemed throughout the county and have many warm friends in this part of the state.

UDGE JULIUS THOMPSON, city attorney of Cripple Creek, has been one of the promi- nent men of Colorado since coming to this state in 1880. In the various towns where he resided, engaged in the practice of law, he built up an excellent reputation as an attorney and also bore an active part in public affairs. Since 1895 he has had his headquarters in Cripple Creek, where he is engaged in a general practice and besides this, he retains some practice in Den- ver, where he formerly resided.

Near Milwaukee, Wis., Mr. Thompson was born June 5, 1839. The years of his youth were passed on the home farm, five miles from the city. His education was commenced in public schools and carried on in the Lawrence Univer- sity in Wisconsin, where he acquired a broad classical knowledge. When twenty-two years of age he began to study law in Milwaukee, but completed his course in Chicago, where he was admitted to the bar. For nine years he carried on a growing practice in Chicago, but the great fire of 1871 destroyed his office and his valuable law library; and, discouraged hy the loss, he determined to enter another line of business, in a different location. Going to Joplin, Mo., he embarked in the zinc business, building the first zinc works in that part of the state. After five years in Missouri he returned to Milwaukee in 1876. There he carried on a law practice, hav- ing, in addition to his general patronage, the position of attorney for the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company for three years.

The condition of his health demanding a change of climate, in 1880 Mr. Thompson came to Colorado and settled in the San Juan country. He remained in Durango and Rico until the year

1892, when, desiring a more central location that would give broader opportunities for professional work, he'removed to Denver. Law and politics engaged his attention there for three years, after which he came to Cripple Creek. Politically he adhered to the Republican party until the sec- ond nomination of Benjamin Harrison, when he transferred his allegiance to the People's party, and, on the adoption of the free-silver plank by the Democrats in their platform, he voted with the last-named party. For a number of years he served as county attorney of La Plata Coun- ty. In the fall of 1894 he was a candidate for governor and lacked only four votes of receiving the nomination. Fraternally he is a member of White Cloud Lodge No. 55, I. O. R. M., of Cripple Creek, and Rico Lodge, A. F. & A. M., at Rico. Like the majority of Colorado's resi- dents, he had interests in mining. In these enterprises he has both lost and made consider- able money. He is now the owner of mining property in the Cripple Creek district, which, though as yet undeveloped, promises to be quite valuable.

ENRY E. AVERY, commissioner of Wash- ington County, and the owner of important cattle interests here, came to Colorado in 1887 and took up a homestead eight miles south- west of Otis .. Here he has since made his home, giving his attention to farming and the cattle in- dustry and meeting with encouraging success in his enterprises. In the fall of 1898 he was elected commissioner on the Republican ticket, and has served in this capacity with fidelity and intelli- gence.

A native of Michigan, Mr. Avery was born in St. Joseph County, November 26, 1861, and is a son of James and Sarah (Salter) Avery. He was one of nine children and the third among eight now living. Of the others we note the following: John W. is a blacksmith at Knoxville, Iowa; Frederick J. is sheriff of St. Joseph County, Mich .; George S., who resides in Benton Har- bor, Mich., is employed as a traveling salesman; Mary A. is the widow of Joseph White, and re- sides at Three Rivers, Mich .; Charles W. is a farmer in Buffalo County, Neb .; Harvey and Herbert reside with their parents. The father of our subject was born near Bath, England, No- vember 11, 1830. At nineteen years of age he emigrated to America, settling at Three Rivers, Mich., and engaged in farming. After many

GEORGE G. BOOCO, MRS. EVA M. BOOCO

AND FLORENCE IRENE BOOCO.

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

years devoted to agricultural pursuits, in the fall of 1896 he retired from active cares and settled in town, where he is now enjoying the fruits of his former labors.

At the age of twenty years our subject left home and secured employment in the lumber woods of Michigan, where he worked for one sea- son. In the spring of 1883 he went to Dakota and worked on a farm near the town of Eden. In the fall of the same year he became employed on a farm in Buffalo County, Neb., and there he continued to make his home until he came to Colorado in 1887. He devotes his attention closely to the cattle business, and is gradually becoming the possessor of a valuable herd. At the same time he raises farm products, especially such as are suitable for feed for his cattle. He is a capable ranchman and is deservedly successful.

EORGE G. BOOCO, the owner of real-estate and ranching interests in Minturn, Eagle County, was born in Indianapolis, Ind., and reared in Anderson, that state. In early man- hood he was for a short time at West Lancaster, Ohio. At twenty-two years of age he came to Colorado and settled in Leadville, in 1879, during the boom days of that town. For several years he engaged in the mining business, leasing and bonding many well-known mines in that district, and he still owns shares in a number of mines there. Before the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad had extended its tracks to Eagle County he lo- cated a ranch at what is now Minturn, and it is upon his land that the town is built. It is situ- ated in a small valley between the mountains, with a beautiful stream, Eagle River, running through its entire extent. There are rich mines of gold and silver in the vicinity and many mines waiting for capital to develop their valuable re- sources. The prospects for the growth of the town are bright. Mr. Booco has realized a con- siderable amount from the sale of his lots and still owns other lots that are advantageously located, besides which he has a fine ranch and a comfort- able home.

The father of our subject, William Booco, came west in 1879 and is now a well-to-do ranch- man at Wolcott, Eagle County. He is the grand- son of the founder of the family in this country, a Frenchman, who accompanied Lafayette to this country and aided that famous general in liberat- ing the colonies from their bondage to England. The mother of our subject was Margaret G.

Gwinnup, who had three brothers that enlisted in the Union army during the Civil war and two died while fighting for the government. The paternal grandmother of George G. Booco was a sister of General Sherman.

In matters of politics Mr. Booco was a Demo- crat until the People's party was organized, since which time he has voted with the Populists and worked in their interests. He is deeply inter- ested in educational affairs and has rendered able service as a member of the Minturn school board.

M RS. EVA MYRA BOOCO, superintendent of the public schools of Eagle County, and wife of George G. Booco, was born in Keokuk, Iowa, a member of a southern family that owned large numbers of slaves, besides val- uable plantations. Her father, Henry Halloway Slaughter, was born in Virginia, to which con- monwealth his ancestors had emigrated with the colonists of Jamestown. He was related to Gov- ernor Slaughter, at one time chief executive of New York state. In spite of the fact that his family were mostly southerners and slave-owners, he took his stand on the side of the Union. Re- ceiving a number of slaves as his share in the family estate, he took them to Iowa and set them free. For this act he was severely censured by other members of the family. The freeing of the slaves left him a poor man, and when he started in business it was without capital. He opened a dry-goods store in Farmington, Iowa, and by industry and good management accumulated a competence.

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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 175

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