Portrait and biographical record of the state of Colorado, containing portraits and biographies of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 179

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 179

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In the fall of 1853 Mr. Hough joined a party en route to New Mexico. After spending some months there he arranged to return with a com- pany traveling with pack mules. He started from Fort Union, expecting to meet the party on the way, but for three days he rode without see- ing a single human being. Finally the company overtook him and they traveled together on the way to the Missouri River. It was in December, and a fierce storm arose after they had traveled for ten days. Their stock perished in the storm and they themselves suffered greatly. They had expected to secure supplies at Fort Atkinson, but found it abandoned. After some three or four hundred miles of travel on foot, through dense drifts of snow, they reached the old Council Grove trading post; they were so exhausted from cold and hunger (having been without food for three days) that it was some time before they recovered.

Remaining on the frontier until 1855 Mr. Hough engaged in trading at different posts. In that year he went to what was then Westport Landing (now Kansas City ) and there engaged in merchandising. In 1865 he again went to the frontier. In 1867, with his brother-in-law, John W. Prowers (for whom Prowers County was named), Kit Carson (the famous scout), Tom O. Boggs and Colonel Bent, he settled at the mouth of the Las Animas (or Purgatoire) River where it empties into the Arkansas. Soon afterward Fort Lyons was established four miles down the Arkansas. In company with Colonel Prowers he started a general mercantile business, also engaged in freighting to New Mexico. In 1869 he removed to Trinidad, where he carried on a store until 1873. Returning then to the vicinity of his former home (at what is now Las Animas) he resumed the business in which he had pre- viously engaged. In 1876 he sold out to his

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brother-in-law and came to Lake City, bringing with him a stock of goods. During the first year he was in this mining camp he freighted his goods from La Veta, which was then the terminus of the railroad; later the road was built to Fort Garland. He continued in the mercantile busi- ness until 1880. In that year he erected the Hough block and the store north of it; he also built the First National Bank building, and in other respects contributed to the development of the town.

Meantime Mr. Hough had become interested in mining. He was one of the locators of the Palmetto mine, which lie operated until 1880 and then sold it. He located the Frank Hongh mine, which he named for his son, and this he retained until 1883. He also owned the Aubrey mine, named for T. X. Aubrey, the pioneer pathfinder, who located many of the routes through the mountain country.

On the death of his brother-in-law, Colonel Prowers, in 1885 Mr. Hough was appointed executor of the estate and removed to Las Ani- mas, where he remained until 1896, attending to the management of affairs connected with the estate. Meantime he also served as clerk of the district court of Bent County. Since his return to Lake City in 1896 he has engaged in mining and business pursuits, also held the office of post- master, and in 1897 was elected county treasurer.

Politically Mr. Hough is a decided Democrat, strong in his party convictions. In 1869, with- out his knowledge, he was nominated as a dele- gate to congress, but when notified, instructed that his name be withdrawn. During his resi- dence in Las Animas County he was appointed (and afterward elected) treasurer of the county, which position he held until his removal from the county. After coming to Lake City he was made treasurer of Hinsdale County. In 1880 he was his party's candidate for governor of Colorado, but was defeated by Governor Pitkin. While he has never sought office, his party has recognized his fitness for public trusts and has frequently honored him with offices of responsibility. In these public positions, as in his private affairs, he has been characterized by integrity, energy and perseverance. Fraternally he is connected with the Royal Arch Masons. In his family there are two children: Anna, wife of W. H. Carnahan, a business man of Chicago; and Frank B., who is deputy in the treasurer's office at Lake City. During his long period of residence in Colorado

Mr. Hough has made many friends, especially among the early settlers, by whom he has always been held in the highest regard. The work that he did as a pioneer entitles him to distinguished mention among the citizens of the Centennial state.

DWIN R. STARK is one of the most promi- nent and influential business men of Colo- rado Springs, where he has made his home since the year 1886. A man of versatile abilities, he has successfully conducted various lines of enterprise. As a stockman, he has built up a national reputation in the breeding of horses and cattle, while his connection with mining inter- ests has been equally profitable, and he is now treasurer and a director of the Raven Gold Min- ing Company, a successful mining company, which has its headquarters in Colorado Springs. He is also president of the Ideal Refrigerating and Manufacturing Company, at No. 356 Dear- born street, Chicago, and one of the Denver man- agers of the National Refrigerator Company, at Nos. 1517-19 Eighteenth street, Denver. He manufactures a refrigerating machine for which he holds the patents in the United States and some ten foreign countries. From a health stand- point, this is an excellent invention; it keeps the air cool, but perfectly dry, and will preserve meat for a year. Another valuable quality is the fact that it is automatic and therefore cheap, paying for itself within a few months.

The Stark family is from Virginia and descends from Gen. John and Mollie Stark, of Revolution- ary fame. Our subject's grandfather, James Stark, was born in Bourbon County, Ky., and when less than twenty-one years of age settled seven miles south of what is now Louisiana, Mo., improving a farm from the woods and starting there the Stark nursery, now probably the largest in the world. His son, John, was born near Louis- iana, Mo., and was successfully engaged in the nursery business until he died, at fifty-four years. During the Civil war he served in the Federal army and contracted disease which afterward caused his death. His wife was Elizabeth Fry, a native of Pike County, Mo., where her father had re- moved from Kentucky. She is still living on the old homestead. Of her ten children all but one are living, Susan having died in Missouri when thirty years of age. The others are: Mrs. Maggie McElroy, of Louisiana, Mo .; Mrs. Mollie Barton, of Lincoln County, Mo,; Mrs. Helen Steward, of

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Monroe County, Mo .; E. R., who was born near Louisiana, Mo., February 3, 1849; Henry, who cultivates the home farm; Mrs. Eliza Smith, of Colorado Springs; M. F., a mine owner residing in Colorado Springs; Mrs. Alice Norton, of Mis- souri; and Mrs. Lulu Smith, of Colorado Springs.

During the exciting period of the Civil war our subject was employed in hauling corn to both Federal and Confederate troops. When he was only nine years old he began to plow on shares, and from the time of attaining his majority he en- gaged in the grain and stock business. His wheat sold for $2, while his cattle also brought good prices. In 1874 he drove his herd to Colorado and established a ranch twenty miles east of Bijou Basin in Elbert County. This property he sold in 1882 and bought a ranch three miles northeast of Bijou Basin, where he had large fields of alfalfa raised by irrigation. In 1886 he sold this ranch of two thousand acres to Mary Anderson, the famous actress. He then estab- lished his home in Colorado Springs, in order that his children might have necessary educational advantages. However, he has continued in the stock business, having from fifteen hundred to four thousand head of cattle at his ranch on Horse Creek, in Lincoln County. About 1888 the firm of Calloway & Stark started in the wholesale and retail meat business. They were succeeded by Stark & Titus, and on the death of Mr. Titus, the firm became Stark & Siney, but in 1897 this business was sold.

Often Mr. Stark has shipped as much as two trainloads of cattle at one time, and some of the cattle shipped to Chicago have weighed sixteen hundred pounds, these being thoroughbred Short- horn bulls. At the head of his herd he has George Dixon, half-brother of John R. Gentry. He owns a fine herd of horses, and has colts that show a pace of 2:10; also owns "D. D.," record 2:16, and "Lenatier," a mare, record 2:16. Some of his best horses have been entered for races in different parts of the state, and have won almost invariably.

Since the opening of the Cripple Creek mining district, Mr. Stark has been interested there. He was one of the discoverers and locators of the Raven mine, adjoining the Elkton property, and incorporated the Raven Gold Mining Company, which has developed five claims. In other mines he also owns au interest. Besides his property in Colorado Springs, he has real estate in Pueblo and Denver. For years he has been a member of

the executive committee of the Colorado Cattle Growers' Association, in which capacity he assisted in hunting down cattle thieves and secur- ing their sentence to the penitentiary. He is also a member of the National Stock Growers' Association and was a delegate to their conven- tion in Denver in 1898. Politically he is a Demo- crat, but has never identified himself actively with public affairs.

The first wife of Mr. Stark was Belle Ogden, a native of Pike County, Mo., who died while visit- ing at her old home. He was again married, in the same county, his wife being Miss Belle Hos- tetter, daughter of Gabriel Hostetter, a farmer. They have five children, Mabel, Raymond, Lela, Edith and Edwin.

A. HILLS, whose ranch and cattle inter- ests are near Atwood, in Logan County, was born in Chautauqua County, N. Y., October 14, 1862, a son of Truman and Nancy (Ireland) Hills. His father, a native of the same county as himself, born May 3, 1833, was mar- ried on the last day of the year 1858 to Miss Ireland, after which he settled upon a farm and engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1872 he re- moved to York County, Neb., where he engaged in farming, and from there, in 1888, came to Colorado. He pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres and took up a timber claim of like amount, situated eleven miles northwest of Sterling. In 1895 he came to this valley and settled two miles northwest of Atwood, where for two years he rented land. Afterward he and his wife took up their home with their son, our subject, for whom his mother keeps house. Besides him they have two children: Clara, wife of James Boynton, of College View, Neb., and Roscoe T .; also an adopted daughter, Ethel I.

Reared upon a farm, upon arriving at man's estate our subject selected agriculture as his occu- pation. For two years he cultivated rented land in Nebraska. On his arrival in Colorado he set- tled on the uplands with a small bunch of cattle; but, not feeling satisfied with his location, he left the cattle in the care of his father and secured work as a ranch hand. The money thus earned was spent in the purchase of cattle, and in this way he secured a start. He pre-empted a quar- ter-section and also a timber claim of equal size, he and his father together entering a whole sec- tion. In the spring of 1894 he rented land two miles northwest of Atwood, and began farming

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independently. The following year he purchased the place where he has since engaged in stock- raising and general farming. He gives his at- tention so closely to his ranch interests that he has no time for public affairs or local politics, and, aside from voting the Populist ticket, does not participate in political matters.

LFRED J. MOREY, one of the most success- ful ranchmen of Morgan County, was born in Dane County, Wis., August 8, 1853, a son of William and Hannah (Hicks) Morey. He was one of four children, the others being Har- vey N., who is baggage master on the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad at Trinidad; Orlando E., president of the Morey Live Stock Company, and a prominent sheep-raiser of Morgan County; and Norman L., deceased. He also has a half-brother, (one of two children born of his father's first mar- riage), C. S. Morey, who is one of the most suc- cessful business men of Denver and is president of the C. S. Morey Mercantile Company of that city.

William Morey was born in Pennsylvania, and in boyhood accompanied his parents to Dane County, Wis., where he married Abigail Beard. Some years after her death he was united with Miss Hicks. In 1862 he removed from Dane to Buffalo County, Wis , and was there drafted into the Union service in 1864, becoming a member of the Twenty-fifth Wisconsin Infantry, with which he served under General Sherman until his death, at Savannah, Ga.,in February, 1865. Dur- ing the uprising of the Sioux Indians in Wiscon- sin in 1862, he was one of the leaders of the de- fense in his section and assisted in the building of block houses, in which white settlers took refuge. He was active in all public matters and successful in business ventures.

When seventeen years of age our subject began to make his own way in the world. For two years he worked, during winters, in the lumber regions of Minnesota, and in the summers rafted logs on the Mississippi River. In October, 1872, he arrived in Colorado, where he was employed on a cattle ranch, thirty-seven miles south of Pueblo, until December, 1873, when he returned to Wisconsin, and began farming there. Febru- ary 6, 1875, he married Miss Mary Mckibben, a native of Buffalo, N. Y., and daughter of Samuel Mckibben, who was a farmer in New York state and later in Wisconsin. In October after their marriage our subject and his wife-removed to Wichita, Kan., where he remained for some three

years, and during that time he opened up and im- proved three farms. In December, 1878, he came to Leadville, Colo., where he became interested in a storage and commission business, also erected and carried on the Kansas Boarding House, and . had charge of a number of large business build- ings in the city. However, the altitude proved too great, and he was obliged to move to a lower point. In June, 1879, he took his family to Lar- amie Plains, forty- five miles west of Laramie City, Wyo., where he worked for the Rock Creek Cat- tle Company. In December, 1880, he accepted a position as foreman on an extensive cattle ranchi in Uinta County, Wyo., and this position he held for two years. On resigning he returned to Kan- sas, sold his landed interests there, bought a span of mules and a wagon and started across the plains through the Indian Territory into the Panhandle of Texas and thence to Las Vegas, N. M., on the lookout for a suitable location for a sheep ranch. Not finding what he wanted, he sold his outfit at Las Vegas, and went to Green River City, Wyo., where he bought a ranch, seventy-five miles south of the river, in Brown's Park, Utah. This place he stocked with sheep. During the years he remained there he met with exceptional suc- cess. In 1889 he sold the ranch. and stock and removed to his present location, four and three- quarter miles northwest of Brush, in Morgan County, where he purchased six hundred acres of land and engaged in farming and sheep-raising. Upon the organization of the Morey Live Stock Company in 1892, he was made vice-president of the concern, and this position he has since held.

In 1891 Mr. Morey began to raise fruit, in which industry he was a pioneer. He was the first to demonstrate that fruit can be successfully grown in this section of the state. Old-timers attempted to discourage him, asserting that his time was being thrown away, but he persisted and as a result of his judgment and perseverance he to-day has one of the finest orchards in the state. In 1898 he went to Michigan, where he spent five weeks in selecting and purchasing stock, and returned to Colorado with two hundred head of registered thoroughbred Shropshire ewes for breeding purposes. It is his intention to de- vote himself largely to the improvement of the quality of the sheep herds of this county, an effort in which he has already met with encour- agement.

During 1892 Mr. Morey was elected county commissioner and in this office he served for three

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years. He was again solicited to accept the po- sition, but his business interests were such that he deemed it best to refuse further nomination. From 1891 to 1895 he served as county sheep in- spector. For many years he has been a member of the school board of this district. His political affiliations are with the silver wing of the Repub- lican party. He is a member of Brush Lodge No. 69, K. P., in which he has filled all of the chairs. As a representative citizen, he favors all measures for the benefit of the people and the ad- vancement of the county. He and his wife are the parents of two children: Anna, who acquired an excellent education in Wolfe Hall, Denver, and is now teaching in Morgan County; and Fred- erick, who is a student in the school near his father's home.

AMES L. KERBY, who is engaged in ranch- ing in Logan County, was born in Orange County, Ind., October 4, 1826, a son of Giles H. and Mary (DePew) Kerby. His sister, Eliza- beth, wife of T. J. Crute, of Sutphen, Kan., and his brother, Samuel D., of Clay County, Kan., are, besides himself, the only survivors of the seven children comprising the family. His par- ents were born in 1801, the father in Kentucky, the mother in Virginia. The former, at the age of twenty-one, accompanied his parents to Or- ange County, Ind., where he married and en- gaged in farming. In 1832 he removed to Parke County, where he resided until his death, in 1841. His parents, Edward and Priscilla (Butler) Kerby, were natives of Kentucky; the former, a miller from early manhood, owned a large mill in Orange County and in it was accidentally killed.

At the time of his father's death, the subject of this sketch was fifteen years of age. Being the eldest of the children, the management of the home farm devolved largely upon him. His education was obtained in common schools and the Bloomingdale high school, a Quaker institu- tion in Parke County. March 4, 1857, he mar- ried Lucy J., daughter of John Oldshue, a promi- nent farmer of Parke County, having come there from Pennsylvania in 1838, and being a descend- ant of Pennsylvania-Dutch stock. After his mar- riage, Mr. Kerby engaged in cultivating a rented farm. He also served for two terms as county assessor. In 1865 he removed to Dickinson County, Kan., and bought a farm, upon which he remained for twenty years. During that time the postoffice of New Chillicothe was established

and he served as postmaster for ten years. He was also twice elected to the office of county com- missioner.

In the spring of 1886 Mr. Kerby came to Colo- rado, and purchased land in Atwood; Logan County, where he settled. However, there being a lack of water for irrigation purposes, he gave up his place five years later atid crossed the river to his present property. Here he has since re- sided. In politics he is independent. Since coming to Colorado he has taken but little part in political matters and has not cared to accept office, although he consented to fill the office of deputy water commissioner for three years. Since 1852 he has been connected with the blue lodge of Masonry. He and his wife are the parents of four children, namely: Joseph D., who is an equal partner with his father in their farming in- terests; Mollie B., wife of Joseph C. Peyton, of Sterling; Edward, deceased; and Sarah P., wife of David Beatty, of Sterling.

SCAR L. HAMSHER is general manager at Yuma of the hotel, mercantile establish- ment, farmers' exchange and real-estate in- . terests owned by Dr. R. Von Horrum-Schramm, of New York City. He was born in Dansville, Living- ston County, N. Y., June 12, 1848, a son of John W. and Harriet (Johns) Hamisher. He was one of four children, of whom besides himself two are living: Byrou R., a farmer of Livingston County; and Emma E., wife of L. W. Chasey, also of Livingston County. His father, a native of that county, born in 1824, learned the trade of blacksmith, which he followed during the ac- tive years of his life, afterward retiring to a farm where he resided until his death, in March, 1896. He was a faithful member of the Lutheran Church and a man who stood high among his acquain- tances. His wife was born in Sunbury, North- umberland County, Pa., in 1826, and is now liv- ing at Dansville, N. Y., with her daughter.

The education of our subject was obtained in common schools. He remained at home, work- ing on his father's farm, until his marriage, after which he removed with his wife to Portageville, Wyoming County, N. Y., and began independent work as a farmer. After three years he removed to Ossian, Livingston County, where he culti- vated a farm for two years. Later he spent two years in Allegany County, N. Y., where he oper- ated a farm. In the fall of 1881 he came west and settled at Hastings, Neb., where he spent one

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season in farming and six months at railroad work. The spring of 1883 found him in Colorado, where for six months he held the position of assistant water commissioner in Denver. Afterward he was appointed on the police force and served as an officer for eight years, during six years of which time he was a sergeant on the force. In the spring of 1888, on account of the poor health of his wife, he came to Yuma County, where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres north- west of Yuma. In 1889 he returned to Denver and resumed his duties on the force. Finally, in January, 1893, he severed his connection with the police force and returned to Yuma County, where he has since made his home.

In the fall of 1893 Mr. Hamsher was elected sheriff of Yuma County and served for four years (two terms) in this capacity. At the expiration of these terms he began investing in cattle and has since gradually been working into the cattle business. In November, 1896, he was selected by Dr. Schramm, who was practically the builder of Yuma, to manage his extensive business interests at this place, and he has since been closely occu- pied in the management of his employer's varied interests, as well as the oversight of his own cat- tle business. Politically he always votes the Re- publican ticket. He is identified with Keshequa Lodge No. 299, A. F. & A. M., at Nunda, N. Y., and is also connected with Yuma Tent No. 6, K. O. T. M. In religion he is of the Presbyte- rian faith.

At twenty-six years of age Mr. Hamsher mar- ried Miss Rose E. Traxler, who was born in Nunda, N. Y., her father, Philip H. Traxler, At the breaking out of the war our subject's sympathies were on the side of the Union, and on the 11th of August, 1862, he enlisted in Com- pany F, One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois Infantry, which served under General Sherman and later under Gen. A. J. Smith. He took part having been a farmer and mechanic in that part of Livingston County. Two sons were born of this union. The older, Lloyd E., is his father's assistant, having the oversight of the mercantile interests of the Farmers' Exchange. The younger son, Scott T., is employed in the office of the . in the following engagements: Vicksburg, Jack- Burlington Railroad at Yuma.

AMES W. CONYERS. In the spring of 1887 Mr. Conyers came to Sedgwick Coun- ty and took np a squatter's claim to land at old Fort Sedgwick. Later, when the reservation was opened for settlement, he proved up on his claim. He has since resided on this place, where he is engaged in general ranch pursuits, giving his attention closely to the improvement of his property and the increasing of its value. He takes an interest in every movement tending to

enhance the welfare of his locality, and the progress of its schools, churches and other help- ful influences and agencies. He is a member of the Methodist Church and a man of charitable, kindly disposition. In politics he is a Republi- can. A Grand Army post in Wyoming and one in Colorado number him among their members.

A son of Bartlett and Dorcas (Williams) Conyers, the subject of this sketch was born in Menard County, Il1., September 5, 1835, being the seventh of nine children, seven of whom sur- vive. Presley R. is a retired farmer of Wilson County, Kan .; Rebecca is the widow of Lewis Matthew and resides on the old homestead in Menard County; John F. is a farmer of Wilson County, Kan., where also resides Hannah S., wife of David Matthew; Joshua is a farmer of Cass County, Ill .; and Page W., a merchant of Garden City, Kan. The father was the first white child born in Livingston County, Ky., where his birth occurred April 14, 1797. In 1805 he accompanied his parents to the present site of Cairo, Alexander County, Ill., where he grew to mauhood. Afterward he spent a short time in Kentucky and in 1828 removed, with his family, to Menard County, Ill., where he settled in the midst of the forest. There he cleared and improved a farm, and continued to reside on the same place until he died, in 1887. His par- ents were James and Mary Conyers. The ma- ternal grandfather of our subject, James Will- iams, was born in Ohio, but at an early age set- tled in Kentucky, and finally removed to Mor- gan County, III., where he died.

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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 179

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