Portrait and biographical record of the state of Colorado, containing portraits and biographies of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 176

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 176

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The marriage of H. H. Slaughter united him with Mary Denny, whose ancestors crossed the ocean from Ireland in the "Mayflower," and some of the name in after years became large slave holders, but she was a strong believer in the Union cause. One of her brothers was killed in the Civil war. She is still living and makes her home in Keokuk, Iowa. Of her children, Charles Henry is a wealthy man and resides in Iowa, where for years he has been connected with a hardware business; Mrs. C. L. Becker, of Keokuk, is the wife of a wholsale dealer in hard- ware; Mrs. E. V. Nixon is the wife of a wealthy stockman of Arcata, Cal .; Mrs. W. F. Dwight lives in Kansas City; Mrs. William Coombs is a resident of Lynn, Mass .; and Mrs. H. A. Becker is the wife of a hardware merchant of Keokuk.

Upon completing her education, the subject of this sketch taught for five years; after which she

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traveled in California and the west for two years, and then taught in the schools of Topeka, Kan., for two years. About 1885 she came to Colorado, where she began to teach in Chaffee County, and for a time was employed at Poncho Springs. She came to Minturn to accept a position in the school here, and in this town met Mr. Booco, who was a member of the school board. They were mar- ried in 1891, and are the parents of a daughter, Florence Irene. Mrs. Booco is identified with the People's party and it was upon that ticket she was elected superintendent of schools of Eagle County in 1897, a position that her previ- ous experience in teaching admirably qualifies her to fill. She has given educational work con- siderable thought and attention and is not only gifted intellectually, but is also a logical reasoner and acute observer, and labors constantly to im- prove the conditions of the schools under her charge. She is a sincere Christian and in religi- ous belief is a Congregationalist.

ILLIAM F. MILLER, a successful stock- raiser residing in Sedgwick County, was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, Septem- ber 9, 1855, a son of George and Caroline (Achauer) Miller. He is of German lineage. His parents were natives of Wurtemberg, the father born April 27, 1822, the mother April 5, 1828 .. When a boy of six years, the former was brought to America by his parents, who settled in Maryland, but afterward removed to the vicinity of Zanes- ville, Muskingum County, Ohio, where he grew to manhood, married, and afterward settled upon a portion of the old homestead. There he has since made his home. Nine children were born of his marriage, and of these the following sur- vive: George J., a farmer of Neola, Iowa; Will- iam F .; Louisa M., widow of John J. Kassell, of Philo, Ohio; Anna S., who is with her father; Clara Emma, wife of John W. Waxler, of Duncan Falls, Ohio; and Charles A., who is still with his father, whom he assists in the management of the home farm.

After serving an apprenticeship of four years to the carpenter's trade, the subject of this sketch in the spring of 1882 went to Iowa and for two years engaged in farming near Walnut, Potta- wattamie County, after which he carried on a farm at Neola. Two years later he came to Colo- rado, settling in Sedgwick County in the spring of 1886. He took up a homestead two miles northwest of Sedgwick and during 1886 and 1887

lived on his claim, meantime working at his trade in and around Sedgwick. In the spring of 1888 he engaged with the Union Pacific Railway Company in the bridge and building department. He worked for them until the spring of 1891, when he returned to his ranch. During the years that have since elapsed he has engaged in the stock business and has been so successful that he now ranks among the substantial men of the county.

October 6, 1892, Mr. Miller married Miss Jessie M. Welch, who was born in Marshall County, Iowa, a daughter of Rezin and Martha J. (Crouch) Welch. She is one of four children now living, the others being: Dwight D., a prominent farmer of Grinnell, Iowa; Enola B., wife of D. H. Mc- Coy, of Fremont, Neb .; and William F., a stock- man of Leslie, S. Dak. Mr. Welch was born in Ohio in 1830 and in 1864 settled in Iowa, where he engaged in farming in Marshall and Powe- shiek Counties. From Iowa, in 1887, he came to Colorado, and settled one and one-half miles north of Sedgwick, where he continued to reside until his death, in 1889. The place is now the home of his daughter, Mrs. Miller. In religious belief Mr. Miller is a Presbyterian, and fraternally holds membership in Julesburg Camp No. 26, Woodmen of the World. He has never cared to take an active part in politics, but he is a stalwart Democrat and believes firmly in the principles for which the party stands.

EWIS M. PIPER, sheriff of Morgan County, was elected to this office in the fall of 1897, on the Republican ticket, and has since effi- 6 ciently discharged the duties of the position. In 1896 he purchased a ranch of one hundred and sixty acres two miles south of Fort Morgan and 'has since engaged in the stock business, his prin- cipal attention being given to the breeding of fine hogs.

In Johnson County, Kan., the subject of this sketch was born November 20, 1865, one of nine children, of whom seven are living, viz .: Phoebe E., Lewis M., Abraham K., George D., Mary L., Harold T. and Jennie. His father, A. M. Piper, was born in Pennsylvania March 29, 1828, and grew up on a farm. In 1856 he went to Kansas, where he engaged in freighting, and for three years he was one of the well-known freighters across the plains. About 1860 he returned to Pennsylvania, where he married Elizabeth J. Kay. In 1864, accompanied by his family, he

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removed to Kansas and settled in Johnson Coun- ty, where he has since engaged in farming and the cattle business.

The subject of this sketch acquired his educa- tion principally in the Agricultural College of Kansas. In youth he learned the trade of a plasterer. Deciding to come west, early in 1888 he came to Colorado and arrived in Fort Morgan on the Ist of March. At first he engaged in the lumber business, but after a year sold his inter- ests to advantage and turned his attention to his trade. In 1894 he bought a one-half interest in the lumber yard of John T. Ross, and, while his partner attended to the business of the firm, he worked at his trade. One year later he disposed of his interest in the business, after which he gave his attention exclusively to his trade. He is an enterprising young man, capable and persevering, and alike in his official capacity, at his trade, and in ranching, he has proved himself trustworthy and honorable, a citizen of whom any county might well be proud.

OWE RIDENOUR, clerk and recorder of Ouray County, was born near Kirkersville,

- Ohio, August 2, 1853, a son of Samuel and Louisa (Shull) Ridenour, both natives of Ohio. When he was ten years of age he accompanied the family to Iowa, where for a number of years his father held office as superintendent of schools of Marion County. There were in the family eight children, of whom five are living, namely: Mary, widow of Melvin Marshall; Howe; Martha, wife of Charles Livingston, of Iowa; Charles A., who is engaged in mining at Ouray; and May, wife of J. M. Jordan, a farmer of Monroe County, Iowa.

Reared on the home farm and educated in local schools, the first experience our subject had of life in the west was in 1879, when he came to Silverton, Colo., and engaged in mining. In the fall of 1884 the accidental discharge of a stick of giant powder caused the loss of his right hand and permanently stopped his active work in mines. Returning to Iowa, he remained on the old homestead for two years, but in 1886 came back to Colorado, and for three years was em- ployed in the Beaumont hotel in Ouray, after which he assumed the management of the Dun- barton bath house in Ouray.

On the Republican ticket in 1892, Mr. Ridenour was elected to the position of county clerk for two years. Meanwhile he also acted as foreman

of the Slide mine. His first election as clerk was on the Republican ticket, his second on the Demo- cratic ticket (to serve from 1897 to 1900), with the endorsement of the silver Republicans, and the second time his majority was exceedingly gratifying. Those who have examined his books state that his penmanship is a marvel of beauty and neatness, resembling steel engraving rather than pen and ink work; this is especially remark- able when it is remembered that after the loss of his right hand, he was compelled to learn to use his left hand, a very difficult task, but one in which he has been remarkably successful.

October 27, 1888, Mr. Ridenour married Anna McGregor, of New York City, who for two years had been employed in the advertising department of the Texas Siftings, in New York, and from 1892 to 1894 served as deputy clerk of Ouray County. Her penmanship, like that of her hus- band, is noted for its beauty, symmetry and neat- ness, while in other lines of business work she· gave evidence of unusual ability. They were the parents of two children, Earl Stuart, who died in infancy, and Carlisle Howe, while they have an adopted daughter, Stella M.

- ON. WILLIAM F. FORMAN, mayor of Breckenridge and county clerk and ex-offi- cio recorder of deeds of Summit County, has been identified with public affairs in his section of Colorado for some years. His first election as county clerk and ex-officio recorder was in 1885, when he received a fair majority on the Demo- cratic ticket. From that time to this by re-elec- tion he has held the office, and is now serving his seventh consecutive term. Prior to his election to this office he was one of the councilmen of Breckenridge, and at this writing is serving his third term as mayor of the city. In 1890 he was the Democratic nominee for the office of secretary of state of Colorado, but was defeated.

A son of Harvey W. and Susan F. (Pember- ton) Forman, the subject of this sketch was born in Monticello, Lewis County, Mo., August 13, 1853. He was one of six children, all but one of whom are still living. They are: Alice E., widow of Lewis C. McVay, of Denver; W. F .; Linnie P., who married R. A. DeForest, of Wetmore, .Kan .; Etta R., wife of Charles S. Lake, a con- ductor on the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, and a resident of Denver; George W., an attor- ney now engaged in buying ore in Black Hawk.

A native of Bourbon County, Ky., Harvey W.

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Forman was born September 24, 1823. In 1844 he accompanied his father's family to northeast- ern Missouri, but after a short time removed to northeastern Kansas, settling in the vicinity of Atchison, where he made his home for thirty years. He was a prominent man in business cir- cles, and also took an active part in political af- fairs. He founded a number of towns in his locality. When trouble arose between the set- tlers and Indians he was sent to Washington, D. C., as the delegate of the settlers, in order to intercede for their rights. In this difficult task he was successful. For a number of years he held the position of government farmer, and acted as Indian agent at Iowa Point, Kan., and Salem, Neb. The Lecompton constitutional convention, to which he was a delegate, selected him as its representative in Washington, and he went to the national capital for that purpose. The lumber business was his principal occupation in Kansas. He first crossed the plains in 1862. The next year he settled permanently in Colorado. For several years he worked the Poor Man's mine at Caribou. Afterward he went to Black Hawk, where he acted as agent of the Golden smelter. At Black Hawk he established the first public sampling works in Colorado. For twenty years he was connected with smelters in the capacity of ore purchaser. He was manager of the Miner smelter in Golden when those works were in op- eration. The last fifteen years of his life were spent in Denver, where he engaged in the real- estate business, although by no means discon- tinning his interests in mines. He was connected with the Masons, and for thirty years held mem- bership in the Baptist Church. His death oc- curred in Denver April 14, 1898.

The education of our subject was begun in common schools and completed in the Manhattan Agricultural College at Manhattan, Kan. In April, 1873, he came to Denver, to which point he had shipped a number of horses by the rail- road. On their arrival he proceeded to Boulder, where he began freighting to Caribou. After two years he became interested in the stage busi- ness and ran a stage line between Caribou and Boulder, Black Hawk and Central City. Two years later he went to Pine Grove, when the South Park road had reached that point. There he was given charge of the freight forwarding de- partment under J. D. Best & Co. In the spring of 1878 he resigned the position and turned his attention to freighting into Leadville, but he

soon disposed of his teams and outfit and resumed his former work. Early in the year 1879 he went to Como, and, in partnership with George Wilder and J. D. Best, formed the firm of Wilder, For- man & Co., which engaged in the freighting busi- ness from Como across the range to the Brecken- ridge district. In 1882 Mr. Forman bought his partners' interest and, leasing the business, he came to Breckenridge, where he began in the hay, grain and flour business. In 1882 he was made agent of the Pacific Express Company at this point, and in connection with this work he ran several express wagons, continuing until 1888, when he disposed of the business. He has since devoted himself to official duties.

February 1, 1883, Mr. Forman married Miss Rosa E. Canoll, daughter of D. B. Canoll, of New York City, by whom he had three children: De- ber D., deceased; Leona L., who was born Sep- tember 22, 1888; and William H., February 15, 1893. Mr. Forman is a member of Gold Nug- gett Lodge No. 89, K. P., in which he has filled all of the chairs and is the present master of finance. He has filled all the chairs in Kiowa Tribe No. 6, I. O. R. M., in which he is now keeper of the wampum.

OSEPH S. REEF, who came to Leadville during the "boom" days of the camp, has since made his home here and has witnessed the growth of the place and the development of its resources. In 1880 he embarked in the whole- sale live stock business, which he has continued successfully to the present time. Besides this enterprise he has been intimately associated with other projects of undoubted value. He was one of the organizers of the Carbonate National Bank of Leadville, of which he has since acted as a director.

In Richland County, Il1., Mr. Reef was born in . 1847, a son of Jacob and Hannah (Rhodes) Reef, natives respectively of Germany and Philadel- phia, Pa. He was one of six children, the others being Rev. John R. Reef, a minister in the Illinois conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church; Catherine; Keziah, wife of Edward Hill, of Illinois; Mary, Mrs. James Kent; and Jacob, deceased. His father, who was taken to Phila- delphia when a child of seven years, learned the trade of a wagon and carriage maker, and in 1836 settled in Richland County, Il1., where he en- gaged in his chosen occupation. He was success- ful in business and surrounded his family with all

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of the comforts of life. During the existence of the Whig party he advocated its principles, and afterward became a Republican. He was an active worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church and died in the faith of a glorious resurrection, after eighty-seven useful years.

When fourteen years of age, in 1861, Mr. Reef entered the Twenty-sixth Illinois Infantry, for service in the Civil war. He took part in many important engagements, was in the siege of Vicks- burg, took part in the battles of Corinth and Lookout Mountain and accompanied Sherman on the march to the sea. At the close of the war, in July, 1865, he was honorably discharged. Returning to Richland County, he spent eighteen months in college, after which he went to Kansas and for some time herded cattle on the range. While the Kansas Pacific Railroad was building he had a contract for furnishing beef, and also had a contract with the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad Company during the building of that road from Denver to Pueblo and Colorado Springs. After his contracts had been carried out he went to San Juan, where he engaged in mining for five years, and from there he came to Leadville in 1879. The year after he came to this city he married Miss Carrie Freeman, who had resided here for some years, and they are the parents of two children, Harry and Helen. In politics Mr. Reef is a Republican. Fraternally he is a Knight Templar, Shriner and thirty-second degree Ma- son, and is also identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. A man of sterling integrity of character and excellent business ability, he and his family occupy a high place in the home com- munity, and enjoy the confidence of the people among whom they have lived for so many years.

R EUBEN OLDLAND. The development of the resources of Rio Blanco County cannot be attributed entirely to the efforts of native- born Americans, for much has been accomplished by men of foreign birth who have sought a home in America. Among this class mention belongs to Mr. Oldland, who has held the office of county treasurer since 1895, and has also officiated as mayor of the town of Meeker, and as alderman. While Rio Blanco and Garfield were one county he was elected county clerk and recorder in 1885 and filled the position with fidelity. In the va- rious offices to which he has been elected, it has been his aim to promote the progress of his town and county and advance the welfare of the people.

Mr. Oldland was born in England in 1855, a son of John and Caroline ( Rickard) Oldland, also na- tives of that country, where they lived upon a farm. In the family there were six children, of whom the daughters, Emily and Elizabeth, re- main in England. The sons came to the United States, Henry and William settling upon farms in Pennsylvania, while Reuben and Ambrose established their homes in Meeker, Colo., and became business men of this town. Our subject was eighteen years of age when, in 1873, he crossed the ocean to America. After a short so- journ in Pennsylvania he came to Colorado and began mining in the Sunshine district. During the boom in Leadville he removed there in 1879, and engaged in mining on Friar Hill. From there, in 1884, he came to Rio Blanco County and settled on a ranch, where he has since en- gaged in the cattle business. He is also inter- ested in the Oldland Mercantile Company in Meeker.

In 1882 Mr. Oldland married Miss Sara Jones, who was born in Pennsylvania, and is a refined and amiable lady. They are the parents of four children, Ernest, Gerald, Walter and Caroline. Ever since he attained his majority Mr. Oldland has voted the Democratic ticket at local and na- tional elections, and it is as the candidate of this party that he has been elected to various town and county offices. In 1895 he was first elected county treasurer, and the high estimation in which he was held by the people was shown by his re-election two years later. Fraternally, in Masonry he is a Knight Templar.

M RS. LILLIAN COLCORD, who has re- sided in Colorado since 1885 and has been successfully engaged in teaching during much of her active life, was in 1897 the nominee on the fusion ticket for superintendent of public instruction of Summit County and received a fair majority at the election. During her incumbency of the office she has ably discharged every dnty and has won the esteem, not alone of those who voted for her at election, but of members of the opposite party. Her work in the building up of the schools of the county has been important and extensive, and has been attended with commend- able success.

The family of George and Rose Wise, of which Mrs. Colcord was a member, consisted of four daughters, all born in Belfast, Me. The eldest, Emma, is the wife of Everett Roberts, of Dor-

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chester, Mass .; Mrs. Walter Richard resides in Belfast; Ethel is unmarried and resides with her parents. The grandfather, George Wise, was the first member of the family to settle in the United States. A native of England, he crossed the Atlantic in youth and settled in Maine, where he learned and followed the trade of a shoemaker. George Wise, Jr., was a native of Freedom, Me., born in 1835, and when a boy accompanied his parents to Belfast, the same state, where he learned from his father the trade of a shoemaker. His active life has been devoted to his trade and he still makes Belfast his home.

In the grammar and high schools of Belfast, and the Normal School at Castine, Me., the sub- ject of this sketch received an excellent education. She taught in the public schools of Maine for a few years and in 1885 came to Colorado, where for three years she taught in the schools of Ko- komo, Breckenridge and Frisco. In 1890 she became the wife of Albion Colcord, who was born in Searsport, Me., August 27, 1851, and in 1879 came to Colorado, where, with the exception of a short interval, he has since resided, being for a number of years connected with a mining mill at Kokomo. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Col- cord has been blessed by two children, namely: Rex, who was born September 13, 1891; and Ella, November 29, 1894.

INFIELD MORRIS, assessor of Logan County, was born in Rice County, Minn., May 30, 1863, son of John and Louisa (Chil- strom) Morris. He was one of two children, the other being Cassius M., a ranch-owner and stock- man of Logan County. His father, a native of · Indiana, born about 1838, accompanied his parents to Minnesota in childhood and settled in Rice County, then a sparsely inhabited section, in which his mother was the first white woman. There he grew to manhood and married Miss Chilstrom, a native of Sweden. About 1863 he came to Colorado, where for a time he engaged in the cattle business, but after two years went back to Minnesota. His wife had died when our subject was only a year old, and after his return to Minnesota he again married, his second wife being Miss Mary Russell. Shortly afterward he settled in Duluth, where for eight years he was engaged in the lumber business. In 1877 he re- moved to Otoe County, Neb., where he became interested in farming. From there, in 1893, he again came to Colorado, this time settling upon a

farm near Fleming, Logan County, where he has since resided. With him resides his mother, who is now ninety-seven years of age and is the oldest woman in Logan County.

In public schools in Minnesota our subject gained a fair education. At twenty-one years of age he rented a farm, which he cultivated for two years. In 1887 he came to Colorado and settled in Logan County, taking up a homestead near Fleming and shortly afterward formed a partner- ship with J. E. Reed. The two purchased the printing plant of the county paper at that point and began the publication of the Fleming Herald. They also established a mercantile business. One year later our subject sold his interests to his partner, and shortly afterward erected a building and opened a hardware store. Two years later he disposed of his hardware business, having in the meantime received the contract from the gov- ernment to carry the mail on the Fleming and Chenoa route for four years. Upon receiving appointment as road overseer of the county in 1892, he turned his contract over to his brother and assumed the duties of his office.

In 1894 Mr. Morris was the Republican can- didate for county clerk, but was defeated. The following year, on the same ticket, he was elected county assessor. At the end of the first term, his service had been so satisfactory that he was made the candidate of the Republican, Democratic and silver Republican tickets, and was re-elected by the largest majority ever given a county officer in Logan County. While in Fleming he was ap- pointed a notary public, which office he held for four years. He is a believer in the silver eanse, and votes with that branch of the Republican party. Fraternally he is connected with Sterling Lodge No. 69, I. O. O. F. In 1888 he married Miss Anna Warren, of Antelope County, Neb., and they are the parents of six children, namely: Winifred, Charles, Leo, Glen, Louise and Dewey.

BE ROBERTS, proprietor of a leading dry- goods and millinery establishment at Mont-

L rose, was born in Dane County, Wis., in 1849, a son of John and Elizabeth (Evans) Rob- erts, of English birth. His father, who was a farmer by occupation, remained in Wisconsin until his death in 1869. Of his five children, Ar- thur O. is a farmer in Mazomanie, Wis .; Ellen is the wife of John Wilson, a farmer of Wisconsin; Maude married Frank Linley; and Edith is the wife of J. C. Nelson, of Arena, Wis.

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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 176

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