Portrait and biographical record of the state of Colorado, containing portraits and biographies of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 177

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 177

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The eldest of the family, our subject received a common school education, among his class- mates being Alva Adams, afterward governor of Colorado. At the age of nineteen years he went to Des Moines, Iowa, where he followed any occu- pation that offered a livelihood. In 1870 he en- tered the Agricultural College at Ames, Iowa, where he carried on his studies for two years. Later he was employed in a store and printing office at Jefferson, Iowa, for two years. Com- ing to Colorado in 1874, he remained a few months in Colorado Springs, and in 1875 removed to Del Norte, where he published the Prospector for two years. In 1877 he returned to Colorado Springs, where he engaged in freighting and the stock business. In 1880 he purchased the Moun- taineer, in Colorado Springs, in which he had previously been interested, and this he conducted for two years. The year 1882 found him in Mont- rose, where he established the Messenger, the first paper published in the Ute reservation. After conducting it for three years he sold out, and moved to land three miles from town, which he had previously taken up and on which he en- gaged in stock-raising. In 1888 he returned to Montrose, and purchased the Register, the name of which he changed to the Enterprise, and as such continued it for two years, when he sold out. President Arthur appointed him postmaster of Montrose in 1883, and in 1889 he was tendered the same position by President Harrison. In the fall of 1893 he embarked in the mercantile busi- ness, to which he has since given his attention.

Both through the medium of the various papers he has conducted and through his personal influ- ence, Mr. Roberts has supported the Republican party. In 1890 he served as a delegate to the state convention, of which he was chosen secre- tary. He is a member of the Woodmeu of the World, Ancient Order of United Workmen and Knight Templar Masons, of which latter com- mandery he officiates as recorder. In religion he is a member of the Congregational Church, of which he has been trustee and in which he has served as Sunday-school superintendent. He was secretary of the school board at the time the schoolhouse was erected.

September 19, 1876, at Colorado Springs, Mr. Roberts married Kate K., daughter of J. R. and Mary E. Kennedy, who established the Deaf Mute and Blind Institute at Colorado Springs in 1874 and have devoted almost their entire lives to charitable and philanthropic work. While

they were connected with a similar work in Law- rence, Kan., their daughter, Kate, was born, and there she was educated. By her marriage the following children have been born: Pauline; Daisy, a student in the Colorado College; Lloyd; and Leslie and Hazel (twins).

For a time, while connected with the Prospector, Mr. Roberts spent an entire season in 1876 in writing up the San Juan district, its resources, products, opportunities, etc., and he did much to draw the attention of eastern people to the advan- tages offered by this then unknown section of country.

EROY A. HOLLENBECK, attorney-at-law, and a leading citizen of Salida, was born in Potter County, Pa., in 1856, descending from an old family of New York state. His pa- ternal grandfather, Conrad Hollenbeck, moved from New York to Pennsylvania about 1850 and there died when one hundred and four years of age. The father, John Hollenbeck, a native of New York, followed farm pursuits in Pennsylva- nia during his entire active life and cleared a large tract of timber land, improving a farm of three hundred acres. He is now eighty-three years of age, and his wife, Emily (Parker) Hollenbeck, is eighty-two. Of their sixteen children ten are liv- ing, four brothers being in Colorado; one of these, A. F. Hollenbeck, is practicing law in Trinidad; another, G. M. Hollenbeck, a business man of Victor, represented Chaffee County in the tenth general assembly; the third brother, J. G., now editor of the Salida Record, was formerly county superintendent of schools and afterward for two terms treasurer of Chaffee County.

The boyhood years of our subject were passed on the home farm. He attended public schools, an academy, and Central State Normal, from the latter of which he graduated. The study of law he commenced under Isaac Benson, of Couders- port, one of the ablest lawyers of northern Penn- sylvania. The year of his admission to the bar, 1883, found him in Colorado, and he has since resided in Chaffee County. For three years he taught school, after which he was deputy treas- urer of the county and in 1888 commenced pro- fessional practice at Salida. He has taken an ac- tive part in the development of the mining indus- try in this section of the state, devoting consider- able time to this work.

After having voted the Democratic ticket from his early manhood, in 1892 Mr. Hollenbeck be-

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came a supporter of the People's party. In 1892 he was elected county judge of Chaffee County, being the only one elected among the Populist candidates. The judge's office he filled credita- bly for three years, but declined further nomina- tion. Asa member of the state legislature he ably represented his constituents. He has always taken an active part in political matters and at- tends many of the county and state conventions. In 1883 he was united in marriage with Lena Jackson, of Pennsylvania, and they have two children, Nellie and Guy.

OHN W. LOFTISS, who is well known throughout Washington County as one of its reliable and enterprising ranchmen, was born in Adair County, Mo., January 17, 1852, a son of William M. and Patience (Bowley) Lof- tiss. He was the eldest of three sons, the others being: Gideon M., a farmer at Kirksville, Mo., and Albert M., of Wadena, Ind. The father, a native of Ohio, engaged in farm pursuits, also became interested in real-estate transactions and various other business enterprises. After some years he removed to Missouri, settling in Adair County. In 1859 he started on a trip through the west and spent two years in Nebraska and Kansas. At the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted in the Union service and shortly after- ward lost his life in fighting for his country. Afterward his wife was married to Joseph Baer, by whom she had one son, George K. Baer, D. D. S., who resides at Watseka, Il1.

When nine years of age our subject made a contract with a farmer in Fulton County, Il1., for whom he agreed to work until he was twenty- one; but after a time the farmer became much ad- dicted to drink and while under its influence abused our subject repeatedly, so that the latter left him. He made a contract with another farmer, William Wooding, to work for him until attaining manhood. This contract was carried out, and for one year after attaining his majority he continued with the same man, working by the month. Afterward he and a brother cultivated a farm together. He then learned the trade of a blacksmith in Pontiac, Ill., where he was em- ployed at the trade for ten years.

In 1887 Mr. Loftiss came to Colorado and on the 18th of October he arrived in Akron. He pre-empted a tract of one hundred and sixty acres eight miles southwest of town, but after three years he re-leased the ranch and came five miles

nearer town, where he homesteaded a tract of land and embarked in the cattle business. He is now the owner of about two hundred and forty head of cattle. In 1892 he opened a blacksmith shop in Akron, and this he carried on for three years, but his stock interests became such that they demanded his entire attention. He gave up the town shop and since then has had a shop at his ranch, where he does his own blacksmith- ing and such work for his neighbors as his busy life permits.

The marriage of Mr. Loftiss to Miss Elizabeth Ellen Umphenour, a native of Livingston Coun- ty, Ill., occurred September 6, 1876. Four chil- dren blessed their union : Gideon, deceased; Frank W., Leona Pearl and Arthur.

Fraternally Mr. Loftiss is connected with Ak- ron Tent No. 2, K. O. T. M. He is a strong Republican in political belief. In November, 1897, he was the nominee of the Republican party for sheriff of Washington County; and while his opponent was also a Republican, the nominee of the silver Republican ticket, Mr. Loftiss came within nineteen votes of being elected. He is not identified with any denomination, but attends the Presbyterian Church and has acted efficiently as its chorister. He is a highly respected man and has a host of personal friends in his county.

ILLIAM HILL, of Park County, a man who has done much toward the develop- ment of the mining interests of the state of Colorado, was born in Ireland, June 21, 1858, a son of John and Anna (Taylor) Hill, and is the only survivor of two children. His father, who was born, reared and married in Ireland, engaged in farming there until 1858, when he emigrated to the United States, and "in this country he re- mained for five years, most of which time was spent in Milwaukee, Wis. He then returned to his native land, where he passed the remainder of his life.

The boyhood years of our subject, from five years of age, were spent in Ireland. In Septem- ber, 1874, he arrived in Philadelphia. Shortly afterward he went to the Pennsylvania coal re- gions, where some two years were spent in the mines. Later he was for two years employed in Maryland, after which he came west, stopping for three months in Kansas, and arriving in Den- ver in the spring of 1878. For a short time he was employed in the construction of the water works at Golden. Thence he came to Park

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County, settling in Alma, where he began pros- pecting and mining. He worked with varying success until 1888, when he removed to Fairplay. In this town he has been a moving spirit in all affairs that appertain to the people's welfare. For years he has been one of the extensive mine opera- tors of Park County, and has furnished employ- ment to many of the laboring men here. Among his many mining enterprises is a heavy interest in the Hale Mining and Milling Company, of which he is vice-president, and which is recog- nized as one of the valuable mining properties in the state.

In 1888 Mr. Hill married Miss Minnie Rad- ford, by whom he has two children, Mary and Bernice. He is a member of Alma Lodge No. 75, K. P. Active in affairs for the benefit of the town, he is now rendering able service as an al- derman.

ON. N. WALTER DIXON was born in the town of Princess Anne, Somerset County, Md., September 22, 1858. His father was George C. Dixon, M. D .; his mother's maiden name was Virginia White. On his mother's side he is descended from Col. William Stevens, one of Lord Baltimore's council and deputy governor of the province of Maryland, Colonel Stevens being his maternal great-great-great-great-grand- father; he was born in 1630 and died in 1687. His tomb is yet to be seen at Rehobeth, Somerset County, Md. The maternal great-grandfather of Judge Dixon, Capt. William White, during the Revolutionary war, at the age of eighteen, raised, equipped and maintained at his own expense, a company of the Virginia line which he com- manded during the war. By virtue of descent from him, Judge Dixon is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution.

The Dixons were among the first settlers of Somerset County. The ancient records of that county disclose that in 1665 Ambrose Dixon was an attorney-at-law and practiced in the court over which Colonel Stevens presided as commissioner. The subject of this sketch received his early education in Washington Academy, in Princess Anne, and in 1872 entered St. John's College, Annapolis, Md. He was graduated in 1877. For several years he taught school, during which time he read law and was admitted to the bar. In 1887 he was elected state's attorney of his na- tive county. This position he held until March, 1891, when he resigned and moved to Colorado.

Opening an office in Pueblo, he formed a law partnership with his brother, John R. Dixon, their connection continuing until the fall of 1894, when he was elected judge of the tenth judicial district of Colorado.

ETER J. READY, who makes his home in Lake City and is an engineer on the Lake City branch of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, was born in Lexington, Mo., August 21, 1858. His father, Patrick Ready, was a na- tive of Ireland and in early years came to Amer- ica, where he afterward followed farm pursuits in Missouri. There he died in 1871. He was the father of four children, viz .: Peter J .; Philip, an engineer on the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, running between Salida and Leadville; Bridget C. and Mary A. (twins), the former residing with our subject, the latter with her brother Philip.

Shortly after the death of his father, our sub- ject came to Colorado with his uncle, Thomas Holleran. He remained in Denver, engaged in various occupations, until 1878, when he secured employment in the round house of the Union Pacific Railroad at Wallace, Kan. After two years in that place he went on the road as fire- man between Wallace and Denver. In a short time he became a fireman on the Denver & Rio Grande from Denver to Pueblo. In 1883 he was given an engine on the run between Gunnison and Grand Junction, and continued in that capac- ity until 1889, when the Lake City branch was built, and on the 15th of August he began on this run. He has the only engine on the branch road, which is said to be the slowest and the most obliging road on earth. In 1892 the train stopped one day in the canon, where a marriage cere- mony was performed, the bride meeting the groom and the minister at the track, and all the train employes witnessing the ceremony. One morning, while making the usual run, Mr. Ready noticed something on the track. He stopped the train and sent the fireman ahead to make an ex- amination. He proved to be a fox, that had evidently stepped on the rails with wet feet, and as he stood, taking a survey of the situation, his feet were frozen to the rails. The fireman killed the fox and its skin was dressed and made into a rug.

During Mr. Ready's eutire period of service on the road he has had but one casualty. Concer11- ing this, the Denver Republican of June 5, 1895, says: "Freight train No. 352 coming east and

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the Lake City accommodation going west had a cago, from which he graduated in 1891, and after- collision at Lake Junction, one mile west, to-day. Seven freight cars were demolished, one engine wrecked and the other badly damaged. Engineer Thomas Layden, of Gunnison, was thrown from his engine down the bank almost into the Gun- nison River, one car rolling completely over him. When found, he lay beneath two large rocks which protected him so that he escaped with a few bruises. Engineer Ready saw the freight when within a few rails length of it, reversed his engine and jumped. After the collision the Lake City train started backwards off an open switch and had it not been for the presence of mind of Engineer Ready, who jumped on the engine and shut off the steam, both of the coaches would have been thrown into the Gunnison River and doubtless many lives lost."

Mr. Ready is a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. Politically he isa Demo- crat and since 1896 has been a member of the Lake City council. Interested in mining, he is a stockholder in the Fidelia group. In addition to his residence here he owns property in Salt Lake City and Grand Junction. March 4, 1886, he married Mary E. Bates, who was born in Iowa, a daughter of Eli Bates, a native of Ohio, but for years a resident of Jasper County, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Ready have four children, Margaret Winifred, Sadie C., Norman and May E.

RANK NICHOLAS COCHEMS, M. D., surgeon of the Denver & Rio Grande Rail- road at Salida and assistant surgeon of the hospital at this place, was born in Ahnapee, Wis., June 24, 1868, a son of Mathias and Eliza (Wagener) Cochems. His father, a native of Cochem, in the province of Mosel on the Rhine, came to America when young, settling in Wis- consin, and spent the years of youth in Mani- towoc County. During the Civil war he served for three years, being in Kentucky and Tennes- see, and taking part in the siege of Vicksburg, but was finally discharged owing to illness. Upon his recovery he engaged in the grist-mill business and later turned his attention to mer- chandising and the real-estate business, in which he still continues. Politically he is a Democrat. In his family their were twelve children.

Dr. Cochems, who was one of twins, was educated in the high school of Sturgeon Bay, Wis., where his father now resides. He studied medicine in the Northwestern University of Chi-

ward he was engaged for twenty months as an interne in the Cook County hospital, where he had a large and helpful experience. April 1, 1893, he came to Colorado and opened an office in the same block in Salida where he still has his headquarters. His ability as a surgeon attracted the attention of the officials of the railroad and he was appointed local surgeon at this point, where is located the only hospital of the company. While he engages in general practice, he has so many cases of surgery, in which he is without a rival in the state, that his attention is mainly given to this branch of the profession and his reputation for success in this line is remarkable. From all parts of the state he has cases sent to him, and he has been unusually successful in his operations. His mornings are spent in the hos- pital, which is fitted up with the latest appliances for surgical operations, and here he has six pro- fessional nurses under him as assistants. The hospital is surpassed by none in the entire state for cleanliness and for painstaking care given each patient. Plans are under way for an en- largement of the building, giving three large wards, with private rooms, the total accommoda- tions providing for sixty patients.

Intensely engrossed in professional work, to which he applies himself with all the ardor and enthusiasm of his nature, Dr. Cochems has little time for participation in public affairs. How- ever, he is posted concerning the issues before our nation to-day. In political matters he is a Democrat, with an ardent sympathy for the silver cause. In fraternal relations he is a mem- ber of Iron Mountain Lodge No. 19, K. P., and the Improved Order of Red Men.

AMUEL E. HERR, general superintendent and manager of the Porter Fuel Company of Durango, came to this city in 1884 and loca- ted some coal property. The following year, in partnership with J. A. Porter, of the San Juan Smelting Company, he organized the Porter Coal Company, of which he became the principal stock- holder, as well as general manager. After a few years the concern was reorganized as the Porter Fuel Company, with Mr. Herr as superintendent. A pioneer in the coal business in La Plata County, he has done much to develop its interests, and his company now owns three thousand acres of coal lands, furnishing employment to about one hun- dred and fifty men during the entire year. He

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is interested in other property in La Plata Coun-

sociation. During the early days of his residence ty, and also owns stock in the King group of in Colorado he had many interesting pioneer ex- mines at Silverton, where is carried on a large business in mining silver and copper. periences. He was given the mail contract from Silverton into all the southwestern country, and frequently, during the winter months, made the trip on snow shoes. In the days when Indians were hostile and the San Juan country was in- fested with white men of notorious character, he took an active part in the work of raising the standard of citizenship and ridding the locality of its undesirable residents. Fraternally he is a member of Aztec Camp No. 30, Woodmen of the World. In 1888 he married Annetta Hewitt, of Pennsylvania, and they have one son, Harry H. Herr.

A son of Abraham and Mary (Stutsman) Herr, the subject of this sketch was born in Mont- gomery County, Ohio, in 1851. His father, who was a leading farmer of Montgomery County, about 1858 removed to southwestern Missouri, where he owned a large plantation and farm on an extensive scale. A stanch Union man, when the first call was made for a home guard infantry, he enlisted in the service and was made a captain. For his sympathy with the north the southern people destroyed his property, took his stock, and finally, just after the battle of Wilson Creek, one of his nearest neighbors killed him. The family afterward returned to Ohio, where our subject was reared to manhood. At eighteen years of age he accompanied his mother to Lawrence, Kan., where he attended McCauley's Commer- cial Institute, graduating in 1872. His first em- ployment was on the general land survey of west- ern Kansas. Afterward he was with Wakefield & Co. of Bloomington, Ill., and J. H. McLean of St. Louis, as traveling salesman, remaining in that connection until the spring of 1876.

During the Black Hills excitement of 1876, Mr. Herr came to Colorado intending to proceed to the new gold mines, but meeting some friends he changed his plans, coming to Silverton in- stead. After prospecting and mining for some years, in 1881 he sold a claim for $27,000, and later engaged in the wholesale flour and grain and forwarding business at Silverton, also bought and sold coal, and had charge of an omnibus and freighting line. He was a member of the firm of Herr, Hodges & Herr, commission merchants. From Silverton he came to Durango in 1884.

An enthusiastic and lifelong Republican, Mr. Herr was a member of the committee at the Pueblo state convention that drafted the resolu- tion instructing the delegates to the St. Louis convention of 1896 to follow the leadership of Senator Teller. Elected to the legislature in 1892, he served during the memorable Waite administration, including the special session. He was the author of the bill giving the state its first hatchery (situated near Durango on the Animas River). He also drew up other bills that passed both houses, but were vetoed by the governor. He is president of the Durango Club or Chamber of Commerce, and a director of the Durango As-

LBERT REICHENECKER. The life of Mr. Reichenecker has been a busy one and

- his personal efforts for advancement were begun at an early age. His experience has been such as to prove that he possesses energy and untiring perseverance. His character and busi- ness equipment have made him a decided acqui- sition to the citizenship of Como, and he stands well in the financial circles of Park County. In 1878 he purchased one thousand acres of land four miles southeast of Como and embarked in the stock business, in which he continued until recently, when he sold his stock and has since used the land as a hay ranch. In 1894 he opened a drug store in Como, of which he has since been the proprietor.

In Stuttgart, Wurtemberg, Germany, the sub- ject of this sketch was born July 16, 1831, a son of Martin Reichenecker, who during the greater part of his active life occupied a responsible gov- ernment position. Albert being designed by his father for the ministry was given a four years' course in the seminary, but when he reached eighteen years of age and had thoughtfully con- sidered the future, he decided that he was not fitted for ministerial work. He entered the Poly- technic school at Stuttgart, which he attended for four years. In order to finish his education and prepare himself for a civil service examina- tion, he entered the University of Tubingen, where he took the studies of national economy, finance laws, mineralogy, etc. After he had passed a civil service examination he became an employe of the government and for some nine years was assistant superintendent of mines, smelting work and rolling mills.

Resigning his position early in 1863 Mr. Reich-

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enecker came to the United States and proceeded direct to Black Hawk, Colo., joining a consin there. He secured employment at mill work and soon was made engineer of a stamp mill. In 1865 he went to Breckenridge and opened an assay office, but in a few months went to Denver, open- ing the first assay office in that city. In the spring of 1866 he was employed as mining expert by a man in Salt Lake City, but resigned the po- sition after two months. Returning to Denver he soon went from there to Central City and opened an assay office. Shortly afterward busi- ness called him east, and while in New York City he was made manager of the properties of the Montana Mining and Smelting Company, for which he had previously made a report to the company, explaining the condition of the prop- erties. While he was in Central City many able articles from his pen appeared in the leading Ger- man papers in regard to Colorado; and the United States commissioner of mines (Raymond) in his report in 1870, frequently quotes Mr. Reichen- ecker and uses many of his drawings. In 1868 our subject became prescription clerk in a drug store at Central City. A few months later he bought the stock and engaged in the drug busi- ness for himself. In 1873 he left Central City and since that time has been engaged in the drug and assay business in Fairplay, Breckenridge and (since 1894) in Como. Fraternally lie is con- nected with the Odd Fellows. In 1866 he mar- ried Miss Mary Trefz, by whom he had four children. Three are now living: Jeanette, Lou- ise and Sophia.

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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 177

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