Portrait and biographical record of the state of Colorado, containing portraits and biographies of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 195

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 195

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William D. Buchanan was born in Clermont County in 1818, and there grew to manhood, married and engaged in farming throughout his entire active life. His death occurred in 1871. His wife, also a native of Clermont County, born in 1819, continued to reside on the old home- stead after his death, but in 1886 left Ohio and joined her three sons who had preceded her to Colorado. She pre-empted land eight miles north of Sterling and there she and her daughter reside. Our subject was educated in common schools. In 1876 he came to Colorado and set- tled near what is now Iliff, Logan County, en- tering the employ of Hon. J. L. Brush. He soon gained the confidence of his employer, by whom he was made foreman of a large cattle ranch. He continued with the same gentleman for twelve years. When, in 1887, his name was mentioned as candidate for sheriff of Logan County, Mr. Brush pressed him to remain as foreman and, as an inducement, offered him an increase in salary, although he was already receiving large wages.

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However, his name was placed on the Democratic ticket as candidate and he was elected by a hand- some majority. On the last day of December, 1887, he severed his connection with his former employer and began the duties of his new office. For two terms he served as sheriff of the county, and during that time (four years) proved a most capable official. The stealing of cattle had be- come so common that cattlemen were constantly losing their stock, and he set about to break up this gang of pilferers. The result was the arrest of a number of notorious characters, who had sworn never to be taken alive. It is said of him by his acquaintances that he has never known the meaning of the word "fear." The difficult duties devolving upon the sheriff of a county whose principal industry is the cattle business were discharged with fidelity.

Upon the expiration of his second term in 1892, Mr. Buchanan resumed the cattle business. Two years later he received from President Cleveland an appointment as receiver of the land office at Sterling, which office he filled for three years. Afterward he engaged in contracting and during 1897 constructed an irrigation ditch for Brown Brothers, also the Harmony ditch for McPhee & Mullen. In the fall of 1897 he was employed by McPhee & Mullen to take charge of Harmony ranch near Crook and to superintend their exten- sive cattle interests at this place, where they range four thousand head of cattle. To this work he has since given his attention. In 1892 he was the nominee of the Democratic party for state senator, but the fusion ticket that year being a strong one, defeated the "white wing" Demo- crats, as his ticket was designated. He is con- nected with Logan Lodge No. 69, I. O. O. F.

October 22, 1882, Mr. Buchanan married Jen- nie, daughter of Lorenzo Page, a large farmer of Clermont County, Ohio. Three children were born of their union, Louise D., Mary C. and Ruth.

HOMAS J. JACKSON, city attorney of Durango, is known throughout La Plata County as an able and enterprising lawyer. Such has been the energy with which he has pros- ecuted his professional affairs that he has achieved a large degree of success. Possessing a bright mind and a genuine love for the best in literature, he has endeavored to foster among others (and especially among the young) a desire to acquire knowledge. Through his efforts a library was

started in Durango in 1885 and for some time he served as president of the literary association leaving charge of this work. He is a citizen of whom any community might well be proud, and the people of Durango, appreciating his ability, accord him a place in the foremost ranks of pro- fessional men.

A son of William and Nancy A. Jackson, the subject of this sketch was born near Nashville, Tenn., July 27, 1851. After completing common school studies he entered the state university in 1871 and graduated three years later. He had already obtained a fair knowledge of law, and this study he continued while teaching school. In 1877 he was admitted to practice before the su- preme bench of Tennessee, and afterward prac- ticed at Nashville and Gallatin, Tenn., but from there in 1883 he came to Colorado, settling in Durango, where he has since carried on an ex- tensive practice. At the same time he has been interested in mining in the San Juan country and owns a claim on Bear Creek.

A pioneer of the Democratic party in La Plata County, Mr. Jackson came here when the party was greatly in the minority and had but few rep- resentatives. He has since continued to be one of the local leaders. In 1887 he was elected county superintendent of schools, in which posi- tion he served for two years. In 1893 he was county attorney and since 1897 has served as city attorney. In 1894 he married Mrs. Henrietta Metcalfe, widow of Dr. Tom Metcalfe, of Lead- ville. Fraternally he is connected with the Woodmen of the World and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. His attention is given almost wholly to his practice in the various courts, which requires his close thought and much of his time, and in which he has met with a success that justifies the effort.

OHN L. DOWELL, a stock-raiser of Archu- leta County, is in partnership with his broth- er, J. C. Dowell, the two owning four hun- dred acres of valuable land eight miles northeast of Pagosa Springs, where they have made ex- tensive improvements, including a substantial house, barns and all buildings required on a stock ranch. The nucleus of the present property was formed in 1883, when our subject homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres, and to this he and his brother have added until the ranch has reached its present proportions. Since coming here they have devoted much of their time to the

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raising of Shorthorn and Galloway cattle, of which they keep from three to four hundred head.

In addition to ranching, our subject is also in- terested in coal-mining, and owns a mine with a ten-foot vein, which he operates. In town and county affairs he has maintained a deep interest, and, closely associated with the development of local resources, he has always acted the part of a progressive citizen. Upon the formation of Ar- chuleta County in 1885, he was appointed county judge and served until the first general election. In 1889 he was elected county treasurer, which office he filled for two and one-half years, al- though elected but for two years. Besides these positions he has served as justice of the peace for precinct No. 1. The Republican nominee for county judge in 1898, he was elected by a large majority, and is now filling the office to the entire satisfaction of the people.

Judge Dowell is a son of Manley and Harriet (Lloyd) Dowell, the former of Virginian birth and descent. He was born in Monroe County, Ohio, in 1844. His education was obtained principally in an old log cabin, which answered, in a crude way, the purpose of a school. In 1859 his parents moved to Martin County, Ind., and settled on a farm. While living there, in 1862, he enlisted in Company A, Seventeenth Indiana Infantry, and was assigned to the army of the Cumberland, with which he fought in the battle of Chickamauga. During a part of his service his regiment acted as mounted infantry under Colonel Wilder. In 1862 he was captured by Confederates at Munfordville, Ky., but was soon paroled. While he was discharged from the regular service in April, 1864, he continued in the army (with the One Hundred and Fifty-sec- ond Illinois) until October of 1865.

On being honorably discharged and returning home from war, Mr. Dowell soon went to Illinois and from there to Kansas in 1869. As a manu- facturer of wagons, he continued in Kansas until 1876, when he came to Del Norte, Colo., and for two years was engaged in freighting from that point to San Juan. In 1878 he settled in what is now Archuleta (then Conejos) County, where he took up a squatter's claim and began farming and stock-raising. From there, in 1883, he moved to his present ranch. He has never mar- ried. He is a charter member of Pagosa Post, G. A. R., now in process of organization. He has many warm friends among the people of this

county who, during his long residence among them, have come to appreciate his worth of char- acter.

OL. JOHN FRANCISCO. To those ac- quainted with the early history of southern

D Colorado the name of Colonel Francisco is familiar. A pioneer of this section, no one has taken a deeper interest than he in its development and growth, and few have done more to advance its welfare. He is a typical frontiersman, familiar from youth with the wild scenes of the west, en- joying its freedom, experiencing its adventures, yet retaining, in spite of his long life far from our great cities and their refinements, the chivalrous tastes and unfailing courtesy of his Virginian ancestors.

The birth of our subject occurred in Bath County, Va., in 1820. In 1836 he went to Mis- souri and settled in Saline County. Three years later he came across the plains from Indepen- dence, Mo., with a freight train of oxen and horses, the trip taking from May to October. During his absence on the plains his father died. As soon as he learned this, he returned home and took charge of the plantation, continuing there until 1845. On account of poor health, in 1845 he went to Wisconsin, hoping that the change would benefit him. For three years he pros- pected and mined there, after which he went to Missouri, and thence across the plains to Santa Fe and Chihuahua, Mexico. About that time he established a mercantile business in Rio Riba County, N. M., where he continued for two years, and later was in business at another point in the same territory. He was also employed as government sutler at a military post above Fort Garland, and built the first house in the fort. He continued there from 1851 to 1862, and mean- time established branch stores at other points.

In 186r Colonel Francisco was elected from Costilla County to the first territorial legislature. The next year he was nominated for congress, but was defeated. About the same time he sold out his business and removed to Pueblo, where he built the first house of any importance in the town. He also located an old Spanish grant now occupied by the village of La Veta, and there built a fort for defense from the Indians. The grant comprised seventeen hundred acres. He improved, irrigated and cultivated the land, and there he engaged in ranching, with his nearest neighbor twenty miles away. Gradually he

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brought the land under cultivation, until one years of age. His wife was a daughter of Will- thousand acres had been improved. For a number of years he kept from five hundred to one thousand head of stock on the ranch, and, as there was an abundance of range and water, the industry proved a profitable one. The village of La Veta has been built on the original tract, the most of which property he has sold. As a pioneer, he has prepared the way for those of succeeding generations. His mind is stored with reminiscences of his fellow-workers (among them Kit Carson) and his fund of information concerning pioneer days makes him an interest- ing and genial companion.

M ARY F. BARRY, M. D., who is a success- ful practicing physician of Pueblo, came to this city in 1891, being influenced in the selection of a location by the hope that the climate of Colorado might prove beneficial to her sister. She had previously met with success in LaCrosse, Wis., and had established a large practice and gained an excellent reputation among the people of that city. On coming to Pueblo and entering upon practice, she confronted, as do all women · physicians, a certain amount of opposition, but in the end her skill and ability triumphed and gained for her a good practice and a high position in the medical fraternity. Without solicitation on her part, in January, 1896, she was appointed county physician of Pueblo County, in which capacity she served for two years. In the fall of 1898 she was nominated by the fusionists of Pueblo to represent this district in the state legislature, and in the election that followed was successful in winning the victory. Since then she has devoted much of her time to the discharge of legislative duties, which require her presence in Denver a few months of each year. She is actively identified with the Pueblo County Medi- cal Society, in which she held the office of sec- retary for two years. The Colorado State Medi- cal Society also numbers her among its active members.

Dr. Barry was born in Waukegan, Ill., and is a daughter of William and Marcia (Deming) Barry, natives respectively of Lynn, Mass., and Salisbury, Vt. Her paternal grandfather, John Barry, a native of Massachusetts, was a repre- sentative of an old Puritan family of that state. Her father, when a young man, settled in Lake County, Ill., where he was engaged as a contract- ing painter, and there he died when sixty-six

iam Deming and a member of an old family of Vermont. By her marriage she had eight chil- dren, but only three of these are now living. The doctor, who was one of the youngest of the family, was educated in the public schools of Waukegan, Ill., and the normal school in Osh- kosh, Wis. In girlhood she taught school for one year, but her chosen field of labor lay in a different direction. It had been her ambition from childhood to become a physician, and, while she received little encouragement in the develop- ment of her evident talent in this direction, she persisted with the determination of one who realizes that true success can alone be found in following the bent of one's native talents. For a year she studied with Dr. Clark, of Waukegan. Later she matriculated in the Woman's Medical College of Chicago, where she took the complete course of lectures, graduating in 1887, with the degree of M. D. As a result of a successful com- petitive examination, she received the appoint- ment of interne in the Mary Thompson hospital for Women and Children in Chicago, where she remained for a year. Afterward, for two years, she practiced in LaCrosse, Wis., from which place she came to Colorado.

While her time has been devoted largely to professional work, Dr. Barry has found leisure to keep posted concerning current political events and matters affecting the welfare of the people. When the silver wing of the Republican party was organized in Colorado by Hon. H. M. Tel- ler, she at once entered its ranks, for she is a firm adherent both of protection of home industries and the raising of silver to its proper standard. She has served as a delegate to local and state conventions, and has identified herself closely with her chosen party. In religion she is con- nected with the Congregational Church.

M W. WILCOX, M. D., who has made Pueblo his home since 1878 and is en- . gaged in the practice of homeopathy, with office in the Pope block, is of New England birth and parentage. His paternal grandfather, Jesse Wilcox, who was born in England, emigrated to America during colonial days and settled in Kil- lingworth, Conn., opening a mercantile store in that place. During the entire period of the war with England he served in the army of his adopted country. Afterward, with a party of men, he followed the line of the Connecticut

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river northward to old Fort No. 12, now Charles- town, N. H., and from there to Newport, N. H., of which he was one of the first settlers. He continued in the mercantile business until he died, when two sons succeeded him. One of these sons was Albert, who was born and reared in Newport, and continued in business there for more than sixty years, dying when eighty-four. In the affairs of the town he bore an active part, and was esteemed as a man of ability and honor- able character. He married Caroline Knowles, who was born in Ipswich, N. H., of English de- scent, and died in Newport at the age of seventy- eight. Of their three daughters and one son, two daughters are deceased.

The son, who forms the subject of this notice, was born in Newport, N. H., on Christmas day 1844, and was reared in his native town. He prepared for college in the Kimball Union Acad- emy at Meriden, N. H. Choosing the profes- sion of medicine for his life work, he studied first under private instruction and then entered the medical department of the University of Michi- gan, from which he graduated in 1869, with the degree of M. D. Later he spent one year in the hospital at Detroit and at the same time took the studies of the senior class of Detroit Medical Col- lege, from which he graduated in 1870. Return- ing to his native town he engaged in the practice of the allopathic school for two years. However, his attention had been directed to homeopathy, and a careful investigation caused him to take up its study, which he carried on in Lawrence, Mass. He also attended lectures in the Boston University Medical School. On completing his studies of that department of the medical science, he formed a partnership with Dr. Langee, and continued with him for four years in Lawrence. When Dr. Lawrence went abroad he continued in the old office, but finally his health failed and a change of climate became necessary. He camne to Colorado, where he recuperated for two years, and in 1880 commenced to practice in Pueblo. He is a skillful exponent of the homeopathic school of medicine, and in point of years of prac- tice, its oldest representative in Pueblo. At one time he was active in the Knights of Pythias, but he now has no connection with fraternal organi- zatious. While he is a Republican in his ad- vocacy of national issues, he is not interested in or identified with politics, preferring to devote himself exclusively to professional work. His marriage took place in Tilton, N. H., and united

him with Miss Mary Brown, who was born and reared in the Green Mountain state, and is a re- fined and cultured lady, and an earnest member of the Episcopal Church.

IDNEY R. PROPST. With many of the importaut interests and industries of Logan County Mr. Propst has for years been in- timately identified, and few of its residents are better known than he. With two others, he bought the quarter-section on which the town of Sterling stands, and the three platted the land in lots and did much of the first building, Mr. Propst erecting what was the largest house in the town. In 1891 he removed to the suburbs of Sterling, where he has since owned and occupied a very desirable homestead. He is largely in- terested in the cattle and horse business, and has been connected with other important business en- terprises.

Born in Pickens County, Ala., February 16, . 1846, our subject was a son of Michael B. and Jane (Smith) Propst. He was one of ten chil- dren, of whom besides himself eight are living. They are: Belle, wife of S. D. Clanton, of Merino, Colo .; John, who lives in Pueblo; Mary, wife of J. J. Weir, of Sterling; Ferdinand F., of Oakland, Ala., and William C., of Merino, Colo. (twins); Thomas K., also of Merino; W. Edna, who is the widow of A. J. Weir and holds office as clerk of Logan County; and Lena E., wife of C. M. Woolman, of Sterling. The father was born in North Carolina January 8, 1821, and there grew to manhood and married. Shortly after his marriage he removed to Pickens Coun- ty, Ala., where he engaged in farming. He was atı extensive land owner and slave holder, but the war crippled him financially, as it did so many other southerners. In 1876 he disposed of his property in Alabama and came to Colorado, settling in Merino, where he purchased a tract of land and established his home. From that place, in 1882, he went to Sterling and has since made his home it town.

When sixteen years of age our subject en- listed in Company B, Forty-first Alabama In- fantry, C. S. A., and was sent to the front. With his regiment he took part in the following engagements: Murfreesboro, Big Black near Vicks- burg, Chickamauga, siege of Knoxville, and the many skirmishes around Petersburg. In one of these minor battles he was captured by Union soldiers and imprisoned at Point Lookout, Md.,

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where he was retained until June 25, 1865. The Iliff; Frank P. and Myron L., who are students close of the war brought him release. He re- in the Sterling school. In February, 1894, Mr. Propst was a second time married, his wife being Miss Della M. Hague, of this county. - turned home and for two years attended the Summerfield high school, after which for two years he represented the interests of a cotton-gin manufacturer as traveling salesman. He resigned the position in order to enter the Southern Uni- versity at Greensboro, where he took a course of two years. Afterward, for a year, he again traveled for the cotton-gin manufacturer.

In the fall of 1873 Mr. Propst came to Colo- rado, traveling by train to Julesburg, thence going by private conveyance to Greeley, and from there to Denver. Later he came down the river to Merino. For some time he engaged in hunting buffalo and other game, after which he joined what was known as the Buffalo colony, this colony founding what was then called Buf- falo, now Merino. Here he took up one hun- dred and sixty acres. Shortly afterward he re- turned to Alabama, and at Tuscaloosa, that state, February 10, 1874, he married Miss Missouri A. Powell. With his wife he came to his land in Logan County. In 1876 he took a government contract to carry the mail from Sidney, Neb., to Greeley, Colo., and upon taking the contract he moved to Sidney, where he remained for five years. Meantime he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land near Sterling, to which he removed in 1881. After three years upon that place he removed to town.

During the early days of Logan County Mr. Propst .did much to foster worthy enterprises. In 1885 he brought the first imported horses into the county, and it is due in no small degree to his influence that the county now produces some of the finest horses in the state. He represented the Canon City nursery in this section and did all in his power to interest people in the planting of trees, realizing that in this way the county might be given the quiet beauty of a rural dis- trict in the east or south. He is now chairman of the school board and his work in the interests of the schools has been most helpful. In politics he is a Populist. During early days he served as justice of the peace for several years, and also as notary public. In 1892 he was the Populist candidate for the legislature, but was defeated. His first wife died October 7, 1892. Of the six children born to their marriage four are living, viz .: Alice, wife of J. E. Buchanan, assistant principal of the Sterling high school; Sidney R., Jr., clerk in the general store of Pettit Brothers at

ILLIAM H. EDWARDS is one of the well-known and highly-esteemed ranch- men of Morgan County. A native of Ken- tucky, he was born in Owen County April 24, 1846, being a son of Alfred and Sarah (Beard) Edwards, whose family consisted of six children, all but one now living. John W. lives in Gree- ley, Colo .; Artamisa, also a resident of Greeley, is the widow of Richard Beatty, who was killed in the Civil war; William H. was fourth in order of birth; David L. lives at Globe, Ariz .; and James A. in Eaton, Colo. The father, who was born in Lexington, Ky., in 1815, was a child of one year when his parents removed to Shelby County. There he grew to man's estate. Going to Owen County he bought a farm and began ag- ricultural pursuits. Shortly afterward he estab- lished domestic ties. In 1854 he took his family to Greenfield, Hancock County, Ind., and pur- chased a farm there, but not feeling satisfied, re- turned one year later to his Kentucky homestead. On that place he resided until his death, in 1875.

The paternal grandfather of our subject, John Edwards, was born in Virginia, of Welsh par- entage. Upon reaching manhood he went to Kentucky, of which region he was a pioneer. The maternal grandfather of our subject, Wash- ington Beard, was a native of Virginia, to which state his parents had emigrated from Scotland. He enlisted in the war with the Indians and took part in the famous battle of Tippecanoe, under General Harrison.

The education of our subject was begun in common schools and completed in Owen College, from which he graduated in 1876. At sixteen years of age he went to Hancock County, Il1., where for four years he was employed on a farm. Afterward he went to Keokuk, Iowa, where for one year he worked as an apprentice in a wagon shop. During the following year he worked on the construction of the bridge across the Missis- sippi River between Keokuk, Iowa, and Hamil- ton, Ill. Returning to Kentucky in 1868, he was employed for one year on the Louisville & Cin- cinnati Railroad. Afterward he planted and raised a crop of tobacco. In 1872 he entered Owen College, where he studied for two consec- utive years, then engaged in teaching school for

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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 195

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