Portrait and biographical record of the state of Colorado, containing portraits and biographies of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 178

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 178

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LIVER BEMEN, county commissioner of Huerfano County, secretary of the board of school directors at La Veta, and owner of the sawmill in this county, was born at Arrow Rock, Saline County, Mo., May 12, 1848, a son of Alfred and Maggie (Sarpre) Bemen. His mother was a daughter of Peter A. Sarpre, who was of French birth, but long a resident of Amer- ica and one of the early members of the American Fur Company. His life was spent on the frontier, engaged in hunting, trapping and trading with the Indians, on the upper Missouri River. With him worked his son-in-law, Mr. Bemen, until the latter's death, in 1855. Previous to that time Mrs. Bemen had passed away, when her son was so young that he can scarcely recall her features. He was taken into the home of his grandfather, Mr. Sarpre, in St. Louis, but the latter died

shortly afterward, and he was then placed in the charge of the French consul in St. Louis, who, upon returning to France, placed him in the home of M. F. Schwoertz, a Hungarian merchant in Arrow Rock, Mo. The boy was taught to be useful in the store, and at the same time was given the privilege of attending school.

In 1862 Mr. Bemen enlisted in Company B, Fifth Missouri Cavalry, of which regiment le was the youngest member. He was, in fact, too young to be admitted to the army, but was so eager to enter the ranks that he fell into the temptation of prevaricating as to his age. At the expiration of three years of service he re-enlisted in Company I, Thirteenth Veterans Cavalry, and served until July 3, 1866. Among the engage- ments in which he took part were those at Pea Ridge, Independence, and Big Blue (where Major- General Marmaduke and two thousand men were captured); in that battle he was wounded in the head by a mnsket ball. Much of his service was of a nature that, while bringing great danger, does not give corresponding credit or reward. After peace was declared his company was ordered to the frontier, and stationed at Fort Garland, Colo., but in the spring of 1866 was ordered from there to Leavenworth, Kan., where he was mustered out on the 3d of July. While on the frontier he saw considerable service, in Indian fights.

On being mustered out, Mr. Bemen returned to Missouri and bought a herd of cattle. Then, in company with his former captain, William C. Bangs, and the latter's wife and children, he started for Colorado. They outfitted with an ox- team and wagon, and started on their long jour- ney. During the first night out, about one o'clock, a band of twenty or twenty-five men, under command of the James boys, attacked them. The first intimation of danger that Mr. Bemen had was when he was shot at by one of the gang, from the side of the wagon. He was not injured by the ball, but the man proceeded to relieve him of his money and gun, after which he struck him with a revolver. As he lay, stunned, he saw another one of the gang pulling a revolver, but jumped in time to avoid the shot. Mean- time the captain had shot one robber in the side, and the rest of the gang fled, after riddling the wagon with shot, but, fortunately, without hurt- ing the woman and children. An investigation was held, but the robbers were, of course, acquitted. On the following day they reached

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Kansas City, where they replenished their store of ammunition and rifles. From Kansas City, they proceeded, without any striking incident, until they approached Cow Creek, Kan., where they saw in the distance a wagon and smoke. On investigating, they found three wagons, two dead horses, and the bodies of two men and one woman, scalped. They buried the bodies, but never learned who the parties were nor how they had met so sad a fate.

At Fort Dodge, the government officials ordered them to wait for others, and finally a company of twenty-five wagons was formed, which proceeded, under cavalry escort, to Fort Lyon, and thence went to Pueblo. Mr. Bemen remained in that town ten days and then followed the old Santa Fe trail to Fort Garland, where he took up a claim and started in the stock business. He remained there until 1871, and then moved to the Apishapa River, about twenty-two miles from Trinidad, then a small village. On that ranch he made his headquarters until 1876, and afterward, until 1882, had his ranch on the Santa Clare, in the Santa Clare Valley, of which he had entire control during the time of his occupation. At that time, however, great numbers of cattle were brought in from Texas and encroached upon his pastures, which caused him to sell out. Re- moving to La Veta, he took contracts for furnish- ing lumber to the Denver & Rio Grande Rail- road, and at the same time assisted in the con- struction of the road from Pueblo to Cucharas and thence to Alamosa, furnishing his lumber used for the same. In order to secure the lumber, he bought a mill and located on the Apishapa River, twenty-five miles southeast of La Veta, where he has operated sawmills from that time to the present. He also owns a saw and shingle mill on Middle Creek, ten miles west of La Veta, on the latest survey of the Denver & Rio Grande road. Four hundred acres of land, which he owns and from which he has cleared the lumber, he now has ready for cultivation and improve- ment. In 1890 he erected a residence that is one of the best in La Veta; he still retains his former residence.

Politically a Republican, Mr. Bemen has been elected on that ticket to numerous local offices. He is now serving his third year as county com- missioner, and has been chairman of the board. For fifteen years he has served on the town board. By attendance upon local and state conventions he has kept in touch with his party and its prog-

ress. For twelve years he has been secretary of the school board, and through his instrumen- tality schools have been built and maintained. In early days he was personally acquainted with Kit Carson, for whom, when commander of the post, he was accustomed to make out reports. He was one of the organizers of the La Veta Building and Loan Association and has assisted other local projects. A liberal and enterprising man, he has contributed his quota to the advance- ment of the county. Fraternally he is a member of La Veta Lodge No. 59, A. F. & A. M., of which he has served as secretary since 1888. He is also connected with La Veta Post No. 32, G. A. R., of which he was commander for six years, and also served on the department staff a number of times.

On Christmas day of 1868 Mr. Bemen married Maggie J. Collum, daughter of Dr. Robert Collum, of Costilla County. Her father was a surgeon in the regular army, during which time he was stationed at Fort Garland. Upon receiving his honorable discharge, he located in Costilla County and was the first regular practitioner in the whole county. Mr. and Mrs. Bemen are the parents of one son, Louis H., who is engaged with his father iu business and is also road commissioner of his district.

HEODORE B. MAC DONALD. Upon set- tling in Alamosa in1 1892, Mr. MacDonald formed a law partnership with Hon. A. W. McIntire, which continued uutil the latter was elected governor of Colorado in 1895. At the same time the former was chosen to serve as dis- trict attorney of the twelfth district, in whichi capacity he rendered efficient service, retiring from the office in 1898. Since 1892 he has acted as county attorney of Conejos County, and prior to his removal to Alamosa he had served as attorney of Saguache County for one year. Politically a Republican he has been a prominent factor in local politics, and has also been con- spicuous in public affairs in the state.

Born at Mystic, Conn., in 1859, our subject is a son of Alexander MacDonald, a native of Scot- land, but a resident of Prince Edward's Island from early childhood until a young man, and afterward a contractor and shipbuilder of Con- necticut. During the Civil war he served in Con- pany I, First Connecticut Cavalry, and being captured by the enemy, was confined in Libby prison for some time. About 1868 he went to

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Florida, where he was afterward employed as keeper of the St. John's lighthouse until he died, at the age of forty-seven years. His wife, who was Frances Pecor, was born in Connecticut, and is living in Boston, Mass., being now sixty years of age. Of their four children two are living, Theodore B. and Henry, of Boston.

After having been fitted for college at Barre, Vt., our subject entered Tuft's College in Mas- sachusetts, where he remained a student for some time. In 1885 he graduated from the Columbian Law School in Washington, D. C., with the degree of B. L. During the same year he opened an office in Medicine Lodge, Kan., but in 1885 came to Colorado and began to practice in Saguache, remaining there until 1892. While he devotes himself closely to his profession, he has at the same time kept thoroughly posted concerning advances made along every line of development in his state, and has maintained a special interest in all political and public matters. The various state conventions he has attended, and his ability and excellent judgment have aided their progress. He is gifted as an orator, and in that way has not only advanced his pro- fessional success, but has also wielded a power- ful influence in political circles. Besides his private practice he is now engaged as local attorney for the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. Fraternally he is a member of Saguache Lodge, A .. F. & A. M., and in 1895 was elected grand orator of the grand lodge. His marriage took place in 1886 and united him with Louisa Mc- Pherson, daughter of Simon McPherson, of Cale- donia, N. Y. They have two daughters, Fay and Don.

EE H. PREWITT, station agent, telegraph operator and postmaster at Merino, Logan County, and also the owner of important cattle interests in this locality, was born in Harde- man County, Tenn., November 16, 1866, being a son of Joseph H. and Mollie (Hill) Prewitt, of whose four children he alone survives. His father was born and reared in South Carolina, whence in early manhood he moved to Tennessee. Shortly afterward he married Miss Hill. At the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted in the Con- federate service, in which he continued until the close of hostilities. On his return home he began farming on land which he had acquired prior to the war and which was situated partly in Tennes- see and partly in Mississippi. There he remained

until 1873, when he migrated to Greeley, Colo., and a year later settled in Sterling, taking up land three miles north of town. During 1874 he was one of the active factors in the building of the Sterling ditch, the first irrigating ditch taken out in this section of Colorado. He continued to manage his ranch here until 1876, when his ex- tensive farming interests in Tennessee rendered desirable his return to the south. He went back, but two years later he and his wife and one son were stricken with yellow fever and died of this fearful scourge.

After the death of his parents our subject was taken into the home of an aunt, where he re- miained for two years. He then entered an office on the Illinois Central Railroad and took up the . study of telegraphy. After a period of study in various offices he was given an office at Way's Bluff, Miss., and there remained for thirteen months. Afterward he was employed for eleven months at Vaughan's, Miss., thence was trans- ferred to Hickory Valley, Tenn., where he was operator for two years. While at that station he . married Miss Pattie Lee Smith, a daughter of Edward Smith, who came to Colorado with the Prewitt family. She was reared within a mile o our subject's boyhood home, her father's ranch lying just across the line in Mississippi. When the Prewitt family returned to Tennessee the Smith family remained in Sterling, and it was during a visit to the south that Miss Smith re- newed her childhood's acquaintance with Mr. Prewitt. They were married in Bowling Green, Ky., September 4, 1884.

In the fall of 1889 Mr. Prewitt and his wife came to Sterling, where for a year he was em- ployed as salesman for the firm of R. C. Perkins & Co. (the "company" being our subject's mother- in-law). At the expiration of the year he pur- chased Mrs. Smith's interest in the business, which was continued under the same firm name for a year, and was then sold. Afterward he engaged in the grocery business for two years, and on selling that, removed to a ranch which he owned two miles south of Sterling. For one year he was engaged in improving the place and starting in the stock business. In May, 1894, he returned to Sterling, and was at the same time made station agent for the Union Pacific, Denver & Gulf Railroad at Merino. He also bought the general store which had been conducted by the former agent at this place, and this he carried on, in connection with his duties as agent. In 1896

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he became interested in the cattle business with Hugh Davis, and since then they have prospered and their cattle have multiplied. In 1898 he disposed of his store. He owns a farm of two hundred acres three miles south of Merino, be- sides his stock ranch, and is one of the prosper- ous men of Logan County. Since he came to Merino he has acted as postmaster. He is a Democrat in politics, but his business connections are so many and so important that he has never been able to participate in public affairs. He has been successful in the cattle business and has acquired a herd of cattle that represent a large amount of money. Personally, he is a very genial, pleasant man, with a hearty word for everyone, and his companionable disposition has won him many friends.

ETER HANSEN, one of the oldest and most extensive ranchmen of the San Luis Valley, residing nine miles south of Alamosa, Cone- jos County, was born in Schleswig, Germany, in 1836, a son of Claus and Mary Hansen, both of German birth. He was educated in the common schools of his native land and at an early age began to learn the carpenter's trade, which apprentice- ship he completed in a few years. In the spring of 1859 he came, alone, to the United States, landing in New York without money, excepting one gold dollar. Securing employment at his trade, he assisted in the construction of a church in Brooklyn, but his ambition was greater than his physical strength and he soon broke down in health. Leaving the city, he went ten miles into the country, where he worked on a garden-farm, receiving $8 a month.

. After two months there, Mr. Hansen went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and from there to Trenton, where he worked on a farm for a short time, and then returned to Cincinnati. Working in a factory, he was so economical that he soon saved $200. With this money he intended to pay his passage to California, but on reaching St. Louis was persuaded to come to Colorado instead. He traveled across the plains by team from St. Louis and landed in Denver, then a small town, whose houses were mostly built of logs. From there he went to Central City, where he worked by the day in mines, but soon began prospecting for himself in what is now Boulder County. The summer of 1860 was spent in this way, but, not meeting with success, he returned to Central City.

In August of 1861, upon the declaration of war between the north and south, Mr. Hansen enlisted in Company I, First Colorado Infantry, under Major Chivington, and was sent with his regiment to New Mexico, where there was a skirmish with the Texas rangers at Pitcher's Canon. The regiment was then sent to Fort Union to be recruited, and after some time was ordered to Mexico. After a fight with the Texans, they continued down the east side of the Rio Grande River to Fort Craig, in New Mexico, and there spent the summer of 1862. Moving forty miles down the Rio Grande, they then returned as far as Fort Lyon, and from there went to Colorado Springs, where the regiment was mounted as the First Colorado Cavalry, Major Chivington commanding. They then pro- ceeded to Canon City in search of the gang of outlaws, afterward killed by Tom Tobin. They were stationed at Gaudaloupe (now Conejos City ) during the winter of 1863-64, and cut grass on the plains for their horses.

In the spring of 1864, while at Conejos, Mr. Hansen, by permission of the captain, formed a partnership with Henry Bachus and James Schultz, and bought thirteen head of cattle. Soon the company was ordered to Fort Garland, but he was left eighteen miles east of Conejos on the river to establish a military post and notifty the commander of the fort in case of any trouble. He erected an adobe house and lived there, mean- time looking after his cattle. October 31, 1864, he received an honorable discharge from the service. With his two partners he continued on the place and carried on stock-raising. They had few white visitors, but the Indians made fre- quent calls and sometimes threatened them, but the white men treated them with so much kind- ness that after a time a firm friendship was formed. After a year Mr. Schultz sold his inter- est in the business and the firm was changed to Hansen & Bachus. Not having enough cows, they rented milch cows for $4 a month and made butter, which they sold for $1 a pound. After eight years this partnership was dissolved.

Shortly afterward Mr. Hansen moved his share of the stock to La Veta, but after a year re- turned to the old headquarters. In 1873 he moved his stock up the Rio Grande River eight miles and made a location at his present home. Two years later, when the government survey of the country had been made, he filed a pre-emption on a quarter-section of land. Later, at different

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times, he bought other tracts of land, until he made his home in Rhode Island. Politically he now owns five thousand acres of range land. He was a Whig until the organization of the Repub- lican party, to which he afterward adhered. keeps from one thousand to two thousand liead of cattle and about two hundred head of horses, and in addition to stock-raising he carries on general farming and raises some of the finest pota- toes in the valley. In 1881 lie built what is still one of the finest ranch houses in this part of the state. At one time lie raised from fifteen hun- dred to two thousand head of sheep, but now gives his attention principally to cattle. Alto- gether he owns three ranches in Conejos and Costilla Counties. In 1875 he took out a private ditch from the La Jara River, by which he waters his entire property. Each year he cuts from one thousand to twelve hundred tons of liay, which he feeds to his cattle during the winter months. In 1876 he took thirteen hundred lead of cattle to the San Juan country, but lost about four hundred and twenty-five fine head from storms. In stock-raising his specialty is the Galloway cattle. He has handled more stock than any man in his section and is constantly buying and selling. His success is remarkable, when it is remembered that he started without money and has had many obstacles to overcome.

December 7, 1871, Mr. Hansen married Emelia Tessendorff, by whom he has three children: William; a stockman of Costilla County; Lizzie and Emma.

REDERICK M. ALDRICH is the owner of a ranch three miles east of Fort Morgan, where he is engaged in farming aud raising cattle, sheep and horses. A native of Rhode Island, born November 21, 1831, to Halsey and Elmira (Smith) Aldrich, he was the fourth among ten children, six of whom are living, viz .: Orrin, a resident of Carolina Mills, R. I .; Frederick M .; Halsey A., of North Scituate; Mial, whose home is in Foster; Eliza, wife of Edward Hawks, living . father, Knud Belser, was a native of Denmark in Burrilville; and Susan, Mrs. Gilbert Aldrich. All of the children, excepting our subject, still reside in Rhode Island. The father, a native of North Scituate, was born in 1801. He descended from one of four brothers who came to America in early days and settled in Rhode Island, where they located their land in such a shape that for many years it was known as the Aldrich dia- mond. During the greater part of his life Halsey Aldrich followed the butcher's trade, in addition to general farm pursuits. He attained the ad- vanced age of ninety-seven years, and always

The education of our subject was acquired in the common schools. At eighteen years of age he entered a machine shop at Burrilville, R. I., where he served an apprenticeship of four years. From that place he went to Scituate and worked for two years in a machine shop. His next em- ployment was in a meat market, where he was employed for two years. Going to North Provi- dence, he opened a meat market, and for twenty years carried on a thriving business. While there he served as a member of the town council and was one of the local Republican leaders. His first visit to Colorado was in 1871, when he en- gaged in hunting buffalo. He was so pleased with the country that he finally determined to remove here. April, 1881, found him settled near Greeley, where he began the life of a ranch- man. Three years later he came to Morgan County and took up land one-half mile east of his present property. After five years he sold his first place and removed to the ranch he now owns. Here his life is being quietly, but busily and happily, spent. His stock interests are valuable, and he has no reason to regret his removal to the west.

August 8, 1855, Mr. Aldrich married Miss Sarah Reynolds, a native of Gloucester, R. I., and a descendant of early settlers of the state. They became the parents of an only daughter, Mabel, now deceased.

ELSER KNUDSON, the owner of a ranch of about four hundred acres in Logan County, was born in Denmark July 17, 1862, and was one of six children, four now surviving, viz .: Nels, of Logan County; Belser; Peter, also a ranchman of this county; and Keren. The and there spent his entire life, engaging in farm pursuits. In the common schools of that coun- try our subject obtained his education. When seventeen years of age, he emigrated to Amer- ica, in company with his brother Nels. They landed in Bostou and from there came directly to the west, spending a week or more with friends in Grand Island, Neb., and thence proceeding to Colorado. They settled at Weir, in what is now Sedgwick County, and worked there for a year, after which they were similarly employed at the present site of Julesburg. They then determined

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to go to Omaha, Neb., with a view to getting work at their respective trades, Belser being a blacksmith and Nels a tailor. On reaching Omaha they found no opening and so went to Grand Island, where they visited for a few days. In the spring of 1882 they returned to Colorado, and our subject spent the next five years in the employ of the railroad company, working in the round house and machine shops at Sterling.

In the fall of 1886 he took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres on Pawnee Creek, where he moved his family and remained until he had proved up on the land. He then removed to his present property, four miles north of Sterling, which he and his brother had purchased some time prior to this. For one year after settling at his present place he continued to work for the railroad, but afterward he gave his attention wholly to ranching. He makes a specialty of raising cattle and hogs and is to-day one of the prosperous ranchmen of the county. His ranch originally consisted of a quarter-section of land, but has been increased to four hundred or more acres.

The marriage of Mr. Knudson to Miss Ellen- ora Christensen occurred in 1883. Seven chil- dren were born of the union, six now living, namely: Anna, born August 22, 1884; Carrie, May 6, 1888; Nora, April 17, 1890; Christopher, Au- gust 2, 1892; Nels, March 20, 1894, and Han- nah, July 24, 1897. The family are connected with the Presbyterian Church. In political be- lief Mr. Knudson is a Populist and always votes with the People's party.

OHN S. HOUGH, county treasurer of Hins- dale County, and a pioneer of Colorado, was born in Philadelphia on Christmas day of 1833, a son of Silas and Sophia ( Formosa ) Hough. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, where his ancestors settled during the days of William Penn; he was a first cousin of Gen. U. S. Grant. The mother was born in Philadelphia, where her par- ents had emigrated from Athens, Greece. With the exception of two years spent in Maryland, our subject spent the first fifteen years of his life in Philadelphia, and his education was obtained principally in a Quaker school in that city. In the spring of 1849, at the time of the great ex- citement caused by the discovery of gold on the Pacific coast, he started, in company with his father, across the plains for the west. The two had reached as far as what is now northern Colo-

rado when the father was taken ill and died. The son then turned back and returned home via Wheeling, W. Va. His family were very anxious for him to remain at home and engage in the mercantile business, but his tastes were for the adventurous life of a pioneer, and the little he had seen of the west made him desirous to return. His mother died shortly after his return, and, feeling that it was no longer necessary for him to remain, in 1850 he started west again. He went by boat from Pittsburg to St. Louis and from there via the Missouri to Independence, where he engaged. with a fur company trading with the Indians.

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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 178

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