Portrait and biographical record of the state of Colorado, containing portraits and biographies of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 184

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 184

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It seems strange that, while so deep in the mire of sin and drink that he contemplated committing suicide, he still retained the confidence of busi- ness men. This was doubtless because his word could always be relied upon, even when he was under the influence of whiskey. Whenever he made a promise to merchants. they knew he would fulfill the obligation. At any time he desired the bankers gave him money without security; though other business men they required to furnish an additional signer as security. In all of these years he was never arrested, though looking back over the past he wonders how he escaped.

In the spring of 1873 the noted evangelist, Rev. E. P. Hammond, was holding a great revival in Denver, and out of curiosity he attended the meeting on the 23d of March. His sense of hon- or prevented him from desiring a rear seat, where might be others like himself, and so, thinking in this way he would not create a disturbance, he asked the usher to take him as far forward as possible. He was given a seat near the minister. The meeting was enthusiastic. Mr. Hammond preached what was called the gambler's sermon. Sinners wept and there was a great outpouring of God's spirit. He came under conviction of sin and was converted the same night. At once the desire for drink was taken from him, and during the twenty-five years that have followed he has

never had a craving for liquor. In this the grace of God was abundantly manifested. At first people said it was one of his jokes. Three days after his conversion there was an open air revival on the street and he told the listeners the story of his conversion. Those who heard him said his conversion was genuine, but he was so soaked with whiskey and rum he would never be able to carry out his reform and good intentions. As the days passed, however, the power of God began to be shown in his life, and the fruits of his conversion were evident on every hand. He united with the United Brethren Church, to which his benefactions have been continuous. With another gentleman, he also donated the building now occupied by the Salvation army, for he is a thorough believer in the good accomp- lished by this organization. At Shangay Sherbro, Africa, sixty miles from Freetown, on the west coast of Africa, he built, in 1886, a college that is known as the Rufus Clark and Wife Theological Training School. The corner stone was taken from John Newton's slave pen in Africa, which had been built a century ago. John Newton later was converted and became a noted evangelist. The building was dedicated in 1887; it is a three- story structure of granite, and at present has two hundred and thirteen students. During its first year he paid for thirteen scholarships to be pre- sented to worthy young men, and in other ways he has promoted its welfare.

The site for the University of Denver was the gift of Mr. Clark, who gave it to the institution together with $500 in cash. At that time he es- timated that he had given $16,000 to the college, figuring that the eighty acres were worth $200 per acre, but the rapid rise in the value of real estate in a very short time made his gift worth $80,000. He has since been a trustee of the University.

ON. CLARK WALKER, who has resided in Prowers County since 1891, was elected to the state legislature in 1896 by a majority of one hundred and eight. He was the nominee of the People's party, the principles of which he has supported for some years, although he was reared in the Whig faith and in early manhood voted the Republican ticket. In the legislature he ad- vocated measures for the advancement of local interests, as well as those broader measures look- ing toward the development of the state. In every respect, his representation of his constituents was

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satisfactory. He held the chairmanship of the committee on public buildings and served as a member of the committee on agriculture and ir- rigation.

Seventeen miles west of Columbus, in Frank- lin County, Ohio, the subject of this sketch was born November 8, 1844, a son of James B. and Margaret (Warren) Walker. When he was a very small boy his parents removed to Appanoose County, Iowa, where he was orphaned at sixteen years of age by his father's death. In February, 1862, he enlisted as a member of Company G, Fourth Iowa Infantry, and was assigned to the Fifteenth Army Corps, commanded by General Sherman. While at the front he cast his first presidential vote, which was in support of Abra- ham Lincoln, from the time of the organization of the corps until it was disbanded he was engaged in active duty at the front. Soon after he en- listed he was taken sick and compelled to remain in a hospital for a time, but afterward was able to report for duty almost constantly, although at Lookout Mountain he was slightly wounded. Af- ter having taken part in the grand review, he was mustered out in August, 1865.

On his return to Iowa, Mr. Walker engaged in the grocery business. March 7, 1867, he was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Clark, of Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa. Mrs. Walker was born in Kentucky and in childhood accompanied her parents to Indiana, from which state her father went to the front in the Union army, serving until he lost his life in the service. Afterward she removed to Iowa, where she re- mained until the year following her marriage. In 1868 Mr. Walker removed to Jackson County, Kan., and there remained for two years. After- ward he homesteaded a tract in Chautauqua County, that state, and engaged in clearing and cultivating the land for ten years. In addition to farm work he manufactured grindstones and at the same time became familiar with the black- smith's trade, which he has since followed, in connection with agricultural pursuits. The ad- vent of the railroad made it possible for grind- stones to be brought from other points cheaper than he could manufacture them, so he closed out the business. In 1891 he removed from Kansas to Prowers County, Colo., and has since identi- fied himself with the interests of this section of the state. He is an energetic, persevering man, and the competence which he possesses repre- sents years of toil and unwearied industry.

ILLIAM H. GOSHEN, who is a well- known business man of Colorado Springs, came to this state in December, 1878, and some months later settled in the city where he has since resided. The family which he repre- sents is of remote German descent. His great- grandfather Goshen was a soldier, under General Lafayette, in the Revolutionary war. Grandfather Goshen, died in Juniata County, Pa. The father, George Goshen, who was born near Marietta, Lancanster County, Pa., was a plasterer by trade and followed the occupation until the opening of the Civil war. He then enlisted as sergeant in a Pennsylvania regiment, and continued at the front until the close of the war. Since then he has engaged in the mercantile business near Miff- lin, Juniata County, Pa., where he still lives, at seventy-three years of age. His wife, who is seventy years of age, was Anna D. Souders, a native of Perry County, Pa. They became the parents of eleven children, nine of whom are now living. The three daughters remain in the east; Milton is a farmer in El Paso County, Colo .; William H. is the subject of this sketch; Howard is a printer in California; Samuel and David are interested with our subject in business; and Frank resides in Pennsylvania.

Near Mifflin, Pa., where he was born January 20, 1854, the subject of this article remained un- til sixteen years of age, when, in 1870, he was apprenticed to the plasterer's trade, completing the same at Altoona, Pa. Afterward he worked as a journeyman in different parts of Pennsylvania. In 1877 he went to Iowa, where he worked in Shenandoah and Council Bluffs for one year. In1 the latter part of 1878 he came to Colorado, and after working at his trade in Canon City until the fall of 1879, he came to Colorado Springs. The following year he embarked in contracting and the manufacture of brick, in which he has since continued, having built, in the eastern part of the city, brick yards with a capacity of three mil- lion bricks. Among his contracts have been those for the Robertson, Oriole, El Paso, Durkee and Gazette blocks, the Garfield and Lowell schoolhouses, many of the finest brick residences here, as well as a number of the college buildings. Ever since he came to Colorado he has been in- terested in inining, his first experience along the line having been in Cripple Creek. He is now president of the Marguerite Consolidated Gold Mining Company and vice-president of the Rickway-Savage Gold Mining Company, besides

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which he is interested in numerous other mining by Indians. During the depredations of 1864 companies.

Aside from his other large and important inter- ests, Mr. Goshen has found time for considerable work in the development and improvement of real estate. He laid out Goshen's addition, some twelve acres lying in the eastern part of Colorado City. Upon this property he built a number of houses, which he afterward sold. He is 110W laying out what is termed Goshen's second sub- division, an addition that will contain about one hundred lots. Politically he votes the Republi- can ticket and takes an interest in public affairs, keeping posted concerning the great questions before the nation to-day. Fraternally he is iden- tified with the Knights of Honor.

M AJOR JACOB DOWNING was engaged in the practice of law in Denver when the Civil war began. On hearing of the attack on Fort Sumter in 1861, he organized Company D, First Colorado Cavalry, of which he was commissioned captain by Governor Gilpin. He marched with it to New Mexico and was e11- gaged in all the battles of that campaign, being promoted from captain to major for gallantry in these actions.

When relieved from New Mexico duty Major Downing returned to Colorado. On arriving at Fort Lyon, on the Arkansas River, he was ordered to proceed to Fort Larned, Kan., and take command of that post. For five months he was stationed there. He was compelled to protect two hundred and forty miles of the Arkansas stage and emigrant route, with only one hundred and fifty men. He wrote General Schofield for more men, but they could not be furnished. Major Downing said he would hold the post if he could, and General Schofield said "Go ahead." The major had consultatious with the northern and southern chiefs separately and managed so as to have them fighting each other, which pre- vented them from molesting the whites. When relieved from the command, he was higlily com- plimented by Major-General Curtis for the able manner in which he had performed his duties, for during his term of management not a life was lost, nor were the stages materially molested. He was appointed assistant inspector-general to inspect Camp Filmore, Fort Lyon, Camp Wy11- koop, Fort Garland, Guadaloupe, Forts Laramine and Halleck, Camps Collins, Sanborn and Weld, embracing an immense territory inhabited only

many people had been killed by the savages and supplies seized. Colonel Chivington, then com- manding the military district of Colorado, ordered Major Downing to take such troops as could be spared from Camp Sanborn and to find and pun- ish the Indians. After a long search he found them camped at Cedar Canon, and charged upon them, routing them with a loss of thirty-eight killed and many wounded. On returning to Den- ver three weeks later, he was placed under arrest for causing an Indian war and was ordered to the states; but, upon the request of the inspector- general he reported that the cause of the trouble was the action of the Indian agents, who were robbing the Indians of the supplies intended for them; the Indians knowing what they ought to have would take revenge by killing white settlers. A copy of this report reached President Lincoln, who investigated and found that matters were even worse than reported, and had his life been spared the disturbances would soon have been remedied.

In 1865 Major Downing was mustered out of service and turned his attention to the practice of law. The next year he went to New York City, but not liking the place he returned west. In 1867 he was elected probate judge on the Re- publican ticket and held the position for two years. Having become the owner of two thou- sand acres five miles west of Denver, in 1869 he began the improvement of the tract by irrigating, fencing, etc. Here he has since engaged in rais- ing cattle and horses, and in general farming. He laid out Downing's addition to North Denver, eighty acres; Downing's addition to East Den- ver, one hundred and twenty acres; and Down- ington, three hundred acres, on Colfax avenue near City Park. In land and money he gave $18,000 toward the building of the Colfax avenne street car. Some years ago he originated the bill providing six hundred and forty acres for City Park, which passed the lower house, but was re- duced to three hundred and twenty acres in the senate. With the assistance of other property owners he improved Mount View boulevard, ex- . tending from the park six miles east, running north of Downington; the street is one hundred and twenty feet wide and will eventually be the finest drive in the city.

In the introduction of improvements Major Downing has been a pioneer. In 1862 he intro- duced alfalfa into Colorado, bringing the seed

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from Old Mexico and planting it on his farm. However, he raised it for years and used it for feed before others would consent to use it; now it is considered indispensable and every farmer raises it in large quantities. He also introduced some of the first fine breeds of poultry raised in the state, and brought fourteen dozen quail to Colorado, the first ever in the state. For twenty years he has raised sugar beets, often having as much as five hundred tons annually, and he has a machine that cuts them up for feeding to the stock. In cattle-raising he makes a specialty of Short- horns. He brought the first Herefords ever in Colorado, buying them from Erastus Corning, of Albany, N. Y. This was considered the best herd in England or America. He paid $1,000 for three calves only six months old. By impor- tation from the east he brought fine Arabian stal- lions into the state, and in the recent festival of the mountain and plain his horses were the finest in the parade. He owned the celebrated horse "South Australian," sired by "West Australian," a thoroughbred horse on both sides, and the finest of its kind ever in England. His standard-bred and blooded horses are as fine as can be found in the United States.

EORGE FAHRION, judge of Elbert Coun- ty, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, April 16, 1836. He was educated in the public schools of that country. In 1853 he emi- grated to America. Landing in New York City in April, he immediately went to Buffalo, N. Y., where he secured employment in a factory. One year later he moved into the country and en- gaged in agricultural pursuits, making a spe- cialty of gardening. Subsequently he went to Detroit.

In 1859 he decided to cross the plains to Colo- rado, but upon reaching Leavenworth, Kan., he accepted a position hauling for the government to Fort Laramie, and in the summer of 1860 con- tinued to Colorado, where he engaged in mining at French Gulch, and later in Gilpin County. He continued until September, 1861, when he enlisted as a private in the First Colorado Volun- teer Infantry, and served for three years and three months.

Upon receiving his discharge at Denver in November, 1864, our subject settled on a squat- ter's claim in Elbert County, and after the sur- vey of 1866 he secured by pre-emption a tract on section 8, township 8 south, range 63 west. Later

he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres and acquired a timber claim, having in all four hun- dred and eighty acres. He has since purchased other lands from time to time, and at present owns about one thousand two hundred and eighty acres of valuable land. In political belief he is a firm Democrat, but prior to 1872 was a supporter of the Republican party. In 1868 he was elected justice of the peace and served in that capacity for nearly four years; he was later elected judge of Elbert County, which office he has since held.

July 19, 1865, Judge Fahrion married Miss Elizabeth Swena, of Denver, who was born in Whiteside County, Ill. They have six children.

GEORGE BENKELMAN. During 1862 Mr. Benkelman came to Colorado. Like . all the early settlers, he experienced many hardships in his journey westward. He joined an ox and horse train at Omaha and from there followed the Platte to Fort Morgan, then crossed the plains to Denver. Nor did his hardships cease with the end of the journey. Colorado was then in its infancy. Comforts were few and of improvements there were none, but he had all the dauntless perseverance of his race and remained undismayed by hardships and reverses. Finally, as a result of his judicious efforts, he acquired a fortune. For several years he has been retired from the cattle business, giving his time to the supervision of his moneyed interests.

The subject of this notice was born in Wurtem- berg, Germany. In 1850, at the age of twenty, he left Antwerp and arrived in New York after a voyage of forty-six days. Locating in Lancas- ter, N. Y., he worked on a farm for four years. In 1854 he went to San Francisco, from which place he proceeded to the Yuba River, where he engaged in prospecting and mining for eight years. In the fall of 1861 he returned by Panama to New York City, then went to Michigan, and in the spring of 1862 came to Colorado with a view to mining here, but instead turned his attention to the cattle business.

After one year on Turkey Creek Mr. Benkel- man located in Black Hawk, Gilpin County, where he engaged in the meat business, and he also had a market in Central City. In 1870 he located in Denver and at the same time started a cattle ranch on the Middle Kiowa, in Elbert County, where he continued in business until 1876. His next location was on the South Fork of the Republican, in Cheyenne County, Kan.,

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where he first leased land, but subsequently bought a large tract situated along the south fork of the Republican River. The most of this he still owns and now rents. On this ranch he had from ten to twelve thousand head of cattle. Ship- ments were made each fall to Chicago, often sending two trains of thirty-three cars. In 1883 he retired from business. He has been an active member of the Colorado Cattle Growers' Asso- ciation, and is now a director in the Colorado Packing and Provision Company, in which he is financially interested. Politically he votes the Republican ticket.

EWIS H. NELSON came to Fort Morgan in the spring of 1884 during the early days of the town. For a year he worked at team- ing, after which he engaged in the stock business with Charles W. Kinkel. In 1886 he purchased the livery business which he has since success- fully conducted. Two years later he established his present business of hay, grain, farm imple- ments, wagons and vehicles of all kinds, in the building which he had erected for the purpose. As a business man he is enterprising and active, and his success is commensurate with his zeal and perseverance.

In Hamilton County, Iowa, Mr. Nelson was born November 28, 1857, a son of John and Car- rie Nelson. He was the sixth among ten chil- dren, seven of whom are living, viz .: Carrie; John G., a wealthy land owner and stockman of Hamilton County, Iowa; Jennie (2nd); Lewis H .; Espen, a farmer of Hamilton County, Iowa; Hilda and Iver (2nd), who is engaged in raising stock in Hamilton County. Three are deceased; Jennie (Ist) and Iver (ist) and the firstborn child, an infant. The father, who was born, reared and married in Norway, was a man of means, owning a one-half interest in a bank, a large farm and many head of stock. On coming to America he settled in Webster City, Iowa, and became one of the leading farmers and stock - men of his section. Later he removed to Hamil- ton County, where he died in 1869.

When eleven years of age our subject began to be self-supporting. For eight years he worked for a neighboring farmer during the summer and attended school in winter. In 1876 he went to Nebraska in company with the man to whom he had bound himself until his twenty-first year. For one year he represented the nursery business of F. W. Holderman and a publishing firm, after

which he rented a livery barn in Columbus, Neb., and carried on that business for a year. He then came to Colorado, where he engaged in railroad- ing at Julesburg for a year. Next he went to Denver, and for five years followed various occu- pations, a part of the time carrying on a fruit store on Larimer street. In 1883 he went to Greeley and worked on a ranch for one season, after which, purchasing a team, he secured em- ployment on the High Line ditch. After a short time he came to Fort Morgan, where he has since become a prominent business man. In politics he is a Populist. Fraternally he is a member of Fort Morgan Camp No. 193, Woodmen of the World. By his marriage, in 1888, to Miss Min- nie R. Hill, he has a son, George H., who was born August 10, 1889.

M ARTIN W. HOHL. The fact that Logan County furnishes an excellent location for those desiring to engage in the stock busi- ness led Mr. Hohl to embark in the cattle indus- try here. While he is still a young man, he has already met with encouraging success, and holds a place among the rising young ranchmen of this section of the state. He resides one mile west of Sterling upon a ranch that he purchased and set- tled upon in the spring of 1896. Since then he has been interested in the breeding and raising of cattle.

A son of Martin and Christina (Smith) Hohl, our subject was born in Lee County, Iowa, No- vember 10, 1864, the second of four sons, his brothers being Jacob, a merchant of New Rock- ford, N. Dak .; Johu, a farmer in Lee County; and Philip, also a farmer in that county. His father, a native of Germany, born in 1833, came to America with his parents in the year 1845, and settled with them in Lee County, Iowa. There he grew to manhood, married, and settled upon a farm. Being industrious, in time he be- came one of the substantial farmers of his neigh- borhood. He is still living in that county and is well-to do and highly respected.

At the age of twenty-one years, the subject of this sketch began for himself by renting a tract of land. In the summer of 1886 he farmed as a renter, meantime devoting his spare days to work- ing for his father. In the fall of 1886 he deter- mined to come west. After a few weeks spent in Gibbon, Neb., he came to Colorado and pre- empted one hundred and sixty acres of land in Logan County, eight miles southwest of Sterling.

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A few days later he returned to Gibbon, Neb., where he spent five months, and then again came to Colorado, this time crossing the plains with a yoke of oxen. Going to his pre-emption claim, he devoted the summer to its improvement and broke some land. The following year, in part- nership with a cousin, he rented a farm in the valley one mile north of Sterling, which place they farmed in conjunction for one season. Later he rented the same place alone, cultivating it for two years, after which he spent one year as a renter on an adjoining farm. He then returned to his pre-emption claim .. In the meantime he had added another one hundred and sixty acres to his ranch by homesteading, making the place one of three hundred and twenty acres. There he continued to reside until the spring of 1896, and he still owns both the homestead and the pre-emption claim. During the last year that he rented land he bought a small bunch of cattle and began the breeding and raising of cattle, which is now his principal business.

In 1894 Mr. Hohl married Miss Rosa B. Hague, who was born in Missouri and came to Colorado with her parents in 1889. The only child born of this union is a daughter, Doris M., born March 29, 1898. Mr. Hohl is one of the highly esteemed citizens of his county. Politic- ally he votes the Democratic ticket usually, al- though he is inclined to be liberal in politics, as, indeed, he is concerning other matters open to ar- gument and discussion.

OHN H. LUNDY, treasurer of Elbert Coun- ty, is also engaged in agricultural pursuits and stock-raising, and is proprietor of a fine farm located on section 27, township 8, range 63 west. He was born in Belfast, Ireland, Decem- ber 16, 1845.

He was about three years of age when his par- ents left their native land and emigrated to the United States, locating in Pawtucket, R. I. In the spring of 1862 he enlisted in Company A, Ninth Rhode Island Volunteer Infantry. Shortly after the second battle of Bull Run he was taken sick and was soon afterward discharged. Re- turning to his home in Rhode Island, he began to learn the trade of a blacksmith.

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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 184

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