Portrait and biographical record of the state of Colorado, containing portraits and biographies of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 186

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 186

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OHN B. FRASHER, treasurer of San Miguel County and a resident of Telluride from the time of its organization as a town, has been connected with frontier life from an early age, and has many an interesting story to tell of pio- neer days, when Indians were numerous and wild animals roamed through the trackless forests or across the plains. When he was less than twen- ty years of age he journeyed by team over the plains from Junction City, Kan., to Elizabeth- town, N. M., a distance of seven hundred miles. During the fall of the same year ( 1868) he traveled by ox-team from Elizabethtown, N. M., to Cen- tral City, Colo., covering the distance of four hundred miles in twenty- five days. He was one of the first miners at Georgetown, where he en- gaged in prospecting during its "boom" days. In the summer of 1869 he was one of the Adams party that left Breckenridge to go down the Colo- rado river by boat, but at the falls of the Blue and Grand river the boats were lost and the party

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then scattered, he returning to Georgetown. For ten years he prospected and mined at that camp, after which, in 1881, he went to Chaffee County, and the following year came to Telluride, when this place was just being started. Here he en- gaged in mining until 1886, after which, for four years, he served as postmaster under Cleveland's administration. In 1893 he was elected on an inde- pendent ticket, treasurer of San Miguel County, and in 1895 and 1897 was re-elected to the office, which he has filled with great credit to himself.

A son of Henry and Sarah (Pearsall) Frasher, our subject was born in Fayette County, Pa., in 1848, and in 1855 was taken by his parents to Ohio, where he was educated in common schools. From there in 1868 he came west, making a trip to New Mexico, where he prospected and mined for a few months. In 1868 he came to Colorado, where he spent two years in Central City, and ten years in Georgetown, carrying on the work of a miner and prospector. He is one of the old- est miners in the state, and his long experience in mining makes his opinion on the subject valu- able. Like most miners, he has had his share of both successes and reverses, of prosperity and ad- versity. His attention is now given almost wholly to his official duties, although he has other interests of an important nature. While living in Georgetown, he was married in 1877 to Miss Ida M. Lowe, who died in 1897, leaving four children.

AUL MEIER, county commissioner of Chey- enne County and the owner of a ranch situ- ated near the village of Kit Carson, was born in Rochester, N. Y., in 1869. He is a son of Simon and Magdeline (Cook) Meier, natives of Germany, but residents of the United States from an early age. His father, who first settled in Rochester, continued to reside in New York state for some years, but finally removed to Kansas, and has since carried on a stock business in that state. He is a Democrat in politics and is a well-informed men regarding current political events. He and his wife were the parents of three sons, of whom Peter is a druggist in Grin- nell, Kan .; and S. J. is a school teacher in that state.

The first thirteen years of our subject's life were passed in Rochester, where he attended the public schools. From there he accompanied his parents to Kansas, where he grew to manhood. In 1887 he came to Colorado and secured em-

ployment as manager of a ranch, remaining in that position for six years. He then removed to a ranch one mile from Kit Carson, and here he has since conducted a stock business, raising horses and cattle and selling them for shipment to eastern markets. He has given his time and at- tention closely to farming and stock-raising, and is rapidly accumulating a valuable property.

In 1897 occurred the marriage of Mr. Meier to Lena, daughter of L. F. Rhodes, a farmer and stockman of Cheyenne County. A local leader of the Republican party, on that ticket Mr. Meier was in 1896 elected commissioner of Chey- enne County, and in addition to filling this posi- tion he has for years served as secretary of the school board.

OBERT R. STERLING, who has had his business headquarters in Breckenridge since 1891 and whose prominence as a mining and civil engineer is not limited to any town or coun- ty, but extends through the state, is an Ohioan by birth. He was born in Hamilton County, March 9, 1858, a son of Samuel G. and Eliza (Smith) Sterling. He was one of nine children, five of whom are living. The eldest of these, Henry L., is purchasing agent of the Standard Oil Company of Kentucky, with his headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio. Mary F., the older daugh- ter, is living at home, and the younger daughter, Ida B., is a professional nurse. The youngest of the family is Winthrop S., vice-dean of the Col- lege of Music in Cincinnati, Ohio.

A native of Pittsburg, Pa., born May 14, 1819, Samuel G. Sterling was nine years of age when his mother removed with her two sons to Cincin- nati, Ohio. His father, who was an iron founder, had died a short time previous to their removal. Samuel grew to manhood in Cincinnati and ac- quired a finished education in Woodward College. In 1842 he was united in marriage with Eliza Smith, a native of Cincinnati. With his young wife he settled in Clifton, a delightful suburb of Cincinnati. There he was president of Resor Academy and later superintendent of public con- struction of the board of public works in Clifton, which position he filled efficiently for forty-five years. He continued as president of the academy until 1868, after which he gave his attention en- tirely to official duties. Since the annexation of Clifton to Cincinnati he has lived retired from business duties.

In the academy of which his father was presi-

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dent, also in Woodward high school, our subject laid the foundation of his education, which was further extended by attendance at the McMicken University and the University College in London, England. On his return to the United States he spent a short time at his father's home. In 1879 he came to Colorado and for six months remained in Georgetown. From there he went to the Gunnison district, where he began mining and civil engineering. In 1895 he returned east and for a time was employed on the public works of Clifton. Since 1891 he has made his headquar- ters in Breckenridge, Colo., although his occu- pation is of such a nature as to cause consider- able travel. In 1895 and 1896 he was employed by the village of Clifton, Ohio, to assist in pub- lic works, and in 1895 he was employed by the Standard Oil Company in the construction of storage tanks in Indiana and Ohio. As an en- gineer his ability is recognized throughout Colo- rado and the contracts given him are of an im- portant nature and carefully filled under his per- sonal supervision.

July 10, 1897, Mr. Sterling married Miss Ade- laide Bunney, who was born in Pennsylvania and died in Leadville, Colo., August 28, 1898, leav- ing a daughter, Madaline.

ENRY HASLEY, president and general manager of the Leadville Live Stock Com- pany, has been connected with this firm as manager since 1891, and in 1897 was elected to the presidency. Under his efficient supervision the business has assumed immense proportions, and the company have become the owners of a large number of cattle on the range. While at times these are sold for other markets, the usual custom of the firm is to prepare the beef for sale to butchers, their business being exclusively wholesale.

Mr. Hasley was born in Allegheny, Pa., in 1857, a son of Jacob and Annie (Trimby ) Has- ley, natives respectively of Switzerland and Ger- many, both of whom came to the United States in early life. The father, who settled in Penn- sylvania, engaged in the manufacture of soap and owned a plant which is now operated by his nephews. Later he engaged in the mneat busi- ness, in which he continued until his retirement in 1893, and since then he has lived quietly in Allegheny, having no business cares other than the oversight of his property. A lifelong Repub- lican, he takes an active interest in public affairs.

In religion he is connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church. In his family there are two sons and four daughters, namely: Henry; John, who is connected with a coal business in Denver; Maggie, wife of C. F. Frazel, of Pittsburg, Pa., who has been a salesman for the Arbuckle Com- pany for twenty years; Annie, wife of Charles Cneis, who has been with the Arbuckles for six- teen years; Rosie, wife of Ernest Walters, a tailor of Allegheny, Pa .; and Katie, Mrs. Will- iam Felter, of Pittsburg.

When nineteen years of age our subject began to learn the butcher's trade under his father's instructions. After two years in Pittsburg, in 1879 he came to Leadville, where he engaged in mining and the lumber business, being with Tingley S. Wood for some time, and later with Pierce, Reef & Co. After a time he purchased an interest in the latter business, and the firm name became Hasley, Pierce & Co., the members being Messrs. Hasley, Pierce, Reef, Nichols and Adams. Upon selling his interest in the concern he went to Ogden, but soon returned to Leadville, and since 1891 has been connected with the Leadville Live Stock Company. Besides his interest in the business, he owns a large ranch in Garfield County.

While not actively interested in politics, Mr. Hasley is a loyal supporter of Republican prin- ciples and candidates. Fraternally he is con- nected with the Elks and the Woodmen of the World. In 1888 he married Zona MeCurdy, who was born in Ohio, but grew to womanhood in Iowa. He is a public-spirited and progressive citizen, in whom the best interests of the com- munity find a friend.

AMUEL COHEN, one of the leading mer- chants of Park County, owning stores at Fairplay and Leavick, was born in the city of Wloclawek, state of Warsaw, Poland, in 1845, and was the only child of his parents. The fam- ily being poor, it was impossible for him to attend school. At eleven years of age he became an errand boy in a mercantile house, where he laid the foundation of his subsequent successful busi- ness life. Having determined to come to Amer- ica, where a poor man would have better oppor- tunities than in his native land, in August, 1866, he arrived in New York City. For some time he met with varying success. Acting upon the ad- vice of a mercantile friend, he decided to come west. He arrived in Denver, Colo., in the fall of

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1873 and from that city went to Pueblo, where he had friends. However, he found a small town, with little prospect of success, and, as his means were limited, he thought best not to re- main there. Strapping his blankets on his back, he started out to look for a suitable business lo- cation. He walked the entire distance from Pueblo to Fairplay. On his arrival here, believing he had at last found a favorable opening, he be- gan in business on a small scale. Possessing an abundance of that indomitable will and self-reli- ance, given to those who are early in life thrown upon their own resources, he prospered from the first. Soon he became recognized as a leading merchant of his town. He invested heavily in mining property and devoted his earnings to the development of the mining industry of the coun- ty. In the early 'Sos, when there was a lull in mining activities and labor was clamoring for employment, unlike others who thought only of their own business safety and suspended opera- tions, he considered the welfare of the miners and spent his money even more freely than usual, continuing the active development of his prop- erty. He has done as much as anyone toward the development of Park County's mineral re- sources and deserves much of the credit for the present prosperity of the county.

Mr. Cohen is the father of seven children, of whom the oldest son has charge of the mercantile establishment at Leavick. For twelve years he held office as treasurer of Doric Lodge of Masons, and for a similar period he served as a member of the town council. He has also rendered ef- ficient service upon the school board of Fairplay.

2 ZEKIEL WESLEY ST. JOHN. This geu- tleman, who spent his early manhood in active business, is now living retired on his ranch in Pueblo County, between Buelah and Rye. A man of great energy and more than ordinary business capacity, his success has been largely due to his own efforts and sound judg- ment, which have enabled him to secure a com- fortable competence.

Mr. St. John was born in Hubbardton, Rut- land County, Vt., in 1822, a son of Ezekiel and Amy (Needham) St. John. His father, who was a school teacher in the Green Mountain state, was born on Christmas day, 1800, and died on Christ- mas day, 1840. He was a soldier of the war of 1812, as was also the maternal grandfather of our subject. When only four years old, our subject

was taken by his parents to St. Lawrence Coun- ty, N. Y., and there his early life was passed, his education being obtained in its district schools. In 1849 he removed from that state to Davis County, Ill., where the following three or four years were spent. He worked as a machinist and engineer throughout the greater part of his act- ive life, being thus employed for some years along the Mississippi River, both in Illinois and Iowa. In 1881 he came to Colorado and settled at Pu- eblo, where he did carpenter work and contract- ing with George Lannon for some years, but for the past ten years has lived retired upon his rauch in Pueblo County.

In 1856 Mr. St. John married Miss Rhoda Clarissa Mitchell, a native of Pennsylvania. Her people were of English extraction and early set- tlers of the Keystone state. She had four broth- ers, all of whom were in the Union army during the Civil war. The children born to our subject and his wife are as follows: Thomas, Josiah M. S., who enlisted in the Fifteenth Infantry, U. S. A., and went to Cuba during the war with Spain; Clara May, wife of William Fox; Pearl, wife of Charles Miller; Louis R., who died in Pueblo in 1896; and Hattie Miller, who died in the same city. Mr. St. John has given to each of his daughters one hundred and sixty acres of land, and owns a good home in Pueblo. Since the organization of the Republican party he has been one of its stanch supporters. He is widely and favorably known, and is held in high regard by the entire community in which he lives.

ON E. FOOTE, former receiver of the United States land office at Hugo, Lincoln County, and now proprietor of the King ranch, ten miles north of Hugo, was born in Lycoming County, Pa., February 28, 1856, a son of Myron and Amy (Wilson) Foote. His paternal grand- father, Capt. William Foote, was an officer in the Union army during the Civil war. He spent the greater part of his life in Pennsylvania, where he was a dealer in horses and proprietor of a hotel. His death occurred in Pennsylvania in 1872. The maternal grandfather of our subject, Ira Wilson, was a farmer in Pennsylvania, and had several sons, all of whom took part in the Civil war.

Myron Foote was born in York state February 12, 1833, and in early life engaged in the lumber business in Pennsylvania. In 1870 he removed to Hall County, Neb., where he was a farmer and stockman. From there he went to the Black

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Hills in 1875. Later he spent a short time in Colorado, Oregon and Washington, then returned to Colorado, from there went to Idaho, and finally came back to Colorado, where he died July 25, 1896. During the war he was employed by the government as a horse inspector. His wife died in 1863, leaving three sons, one of whom is a farmer in Elbert County, Colo .; and Willis E., who wasengaged in farming and the stock business in Elbert County, died January 16, 1897.

In the schools of his native county our subject obtained a fair education. He accompanied his parents to Nebraska and from there removed to Colorado, settling near Deertrail, Elbert County, where he engaged in the stock business until 1890. During that year he came to Lincoln Coun- ty. May 25, 1890, he received from President Harrisou the appointment of receiver of the United States land office at Hugo, which position he held for four years and three months, and re- tired under the Cleveland administration. He then resumed agricultural pursuits. For three years he lived on the John Bent ranch, four miles west of Hugo, after which he was employed at the Lincoln County reservoir for a year, and then settled upon a ranch, where he now engages in raising sheep and horses.

February 27, 1881, Mr. Foote married Miss Mary A. Knight, daughter of James Knight, a farmer of Jefferson County, Kan. She died Janu- ary 19, 1883, leaving an only son, Marion L. The second marriage of Mr. Foote united him with Susanna Knight, a sister of his former wife. This union has been blessed by three children. Fraternally our subject is identified with the Ma- sonic Lodge at Burlington, Elbert Lodge No. 86, I. O. O. F., and the Woodmen of the World, No. 152. In politics he has from youth been stanch in his allegiance to the Republican party.

ACOB A. BETTS, who is engaged in farm- ing and stock-raising on Hardscrabble Creek, near Wetmore, eleven miles south of Florence, Fremont County, came to his pres- ent place in 1873 and was one of the early set- tlers of the locality. He has been successful in the cultivation of his three hundred and twenty acres and has carried on general farm pursuits extensively, besides which he has a number of cattle and horses and gives some attention to the stock business.

The Betts family has lived in America for sev- eral generations. The grandfather of our subject

removed from Lancaster County, Pa., to Boons- boro, Md., where he engaged in farming. David Betts, our subject's father, was born in Maryland, and learned the blacksmith's trade in youth, afterward carrying on a large shop at Funkstown, immediately north of Hagerstown, and on the main thoroughfare from Baltimore to Wheeling. His trade was large; he had as many as eight fires and gave employment to a number of men. In addition, he also conducted a hotel. Politi- cally he was a Democrat and upon his party ticket was elected to a number of local offices. By his marriage to Elizabeth Macsilles he had five sons and four daughters who attained ma- turity. Of these only four sons are now living, viz .: Daniel, who makes his home in Sterling, Ill .; Luther, of Chewsville, Md .; Jacob A .; and Alfred H., who resides in Columbus, Kan.

Near Hagerstown, Md., our subject was born November 12, 1830. In boyhood he learned the tailor's trade, which he followed until twenty- four years of age. Then, going west, he spent two years in Illinois and from there settled in Colorado. The gold excitement was just begin- ning when he crossed the Missouri River in 1858. He reached Denver in May, 1859, and found a small town of tents, with few people, and wholly destitute of comforts. Proceeding to the mines, he worked during the summer months as a miner. In the fall he started, with his teams, for New Mexico, but found the winter too severe for his cattle there. Returning in the spring, he resumed mining. Soon, however, he returned to New Mexico, where he prospected. At the time the Baker excitement started in the San Juan Valley he proceeded toward that sec- tion of the country, but when near Pueblo was taken ill. For some time he lay ill at the Hicklin ranch and upon recovering worked for Mr. Hicklin, caring for his stock for two years. He then went to Denver, with the intention of pur- suing his way to the Black Hills in Montana, but Indians were so numerous and hostile that he concluded it would be unwise to go. Returning to Pueblo he engaged in the grocery business there. After four years, in the spring of 1867, he sold out, and began to be interested in the stock business. He bought, from John Dawson, a large bunch of cattle, which he brought to Red Creek from the St. Charles in 1868. In 1873 he moved to the ranch where he now makes his home.

Politically Mr. Betts is a Democrat. In 1864

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and 1865 he served as sheriff of Pueblo County, when the city of Pueblo was the headquarters of a lawless gang and the work of sheriff involved many dangerous duties. For almost fifteen years he has been president of the school board, and it is largely due to his efforts that eight or nine months of school are now taught, instead of four months, as in former days. He owns a half-in- terest in the Whistle mine at Querida, which, though only partly developed, shows a good assay. Besides his farm, with its handsome residence of stone, built in 1873, he is the owner of real estate in Canon City.

November 8, 1866, Mr. Betts married Sarah E., daughter of Richard Parker. Her father was a native of Tennessee, where for years he owned a plantation, but in 1833 he removed to Illinois, and in 1865*he came with his family to Canon City. Mr. and Mrs. Betts are the parents of two sons and seven daughters, viz .: William D., who was shot and killed by a drunken Mexican, when he was a lad of sixteen years; Rose E., Mrs. John A. Kelly, deceased; Emma M., who married E. R. Tucker, and resides on the home farm; Alice J., Mrs. William A. Tribble, de- ceased; Annie E., wife of Fred S. Allen, living near the old homestead; Jacob A., Mary L., Eva C. and Edith Helen, who are at home.

B A. ARBOGAST, M. D., of Breckenridge, and county physician of Summit County, . was born in Pocahontas County, Va. (now W. Va.), September 25, 1847, a son of John and Margaret (Yeager) Arbogast, being the second of three sous. His older brother, Joel, is a promi- nent farmer of Kansas and formerly served as postmaster of Fontana; the younger brother, Eld- ridge U., is engaged in farming near Florence, Ala. The father was born in Pocahontas County and in youth studied for the ministry of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. After his ordination he gave himself wholly to the preaching of the gos- pel. Undoubtedly his life would have been a most useful one and he would have attained prom- inence in his denomination, had his early death not terminated his career. The accidental falling of a tree upon him, in 1850, left his three sons fatherless before they were old enough to realize their loss. He left three thousand acres of farm land, which his wife, being a woman of courage and energy, managed with success after his death, until the outbreak of the Civil war changed their future.

The family were pronounced Abolitionists, while their neighbors were southern sympathizers. It soon became unpleasant and even dangerous for them to remain and they were finally compelled to flee from their home. They paid a man $10 a day to harness one of their teams and drive them through into the Union lines at Beverley, W. Va. They took with them nothing but the clothes that they wore. During the night the older brother, Joel, fled from the state, having been drafted into the Confederacy, with which he was not in sympathy.

At Washington Court House, Ohio, where the family settled, our subject attended the public schools. Later he took a course of study in the Holbrook Institute at Lebanon, Ohio. After com- pleting his education he taught in Fayette Coun- ty, Ohio, for thirteen years and in Iowa for one year. Having determined to enter the medical profession, he entered the Ohio Medical College in Cincinnati, where he took the first course of lectures. In order to obtain the money necessary for the continuation of his studies, he came to Colorado in the spring of 1880 and secured an appointment as "ditch tender on the Gold Run ditch near Breckenridge." In the fall he re- turned to Cincinnati, where he took his second course of lectures. In the spring of 1881 he re- turned to Breckenridge and resumed work as "ditch tender." During the winter of 1882-83 he finished his studies in the medical department of Denver University. On his return to Brecken- ridge he opened an office and began the practice of his profession. His skill as a practitioner gained him a constantly increasing number of patients and he prospered.

In 1883 Dr. Arbogast was appointed to fill an unexpired term as county superintendent of schools of Summit County, which county at that time embraced all of Garfield, Eagle and Rio Blanco Counties, and parts of Grand and Routt. After the expiration of the term he was regularly elected to the office and for the three terms fol- lowing this (covering a period of nine years) he succeeded himself in the position. His experi- ence as a teacher and his knowledge of schools was of the greatest value to him in his work as superintendent. From one small building (now a blacksmith shop) which was then the best school in the entire region, the schools have reached a position second to few counties iu the state. For two terms he served as coroner of Summit County, for a similar period of two elections was mayor of

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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 186

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