Portrait and biographical record of the state of Colorado, containing portraits and biographies of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 196

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 196

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

1455

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

a year. Later, returning to the college, he com- pleted the course and graduated in 1876. The next two years were spent as a teacher in district schools in Owen County. In 1878 he went to Boone County, and for two years rented a farm and was engaged in the sheep and cattle busi- ness. Finding that the raising of sheep was a profitable industry, and reading of the extensive free ranges in Colorado, lie determined to come west and pursue his sheep husbandry. On the 14th of February, 1880, he arrived in Greeley, and from there, two months later, he came to Morgan County, settling across the river from his present homestead. There he engaged in the sheep business in partnership with Quincy Eaton, with whom he also had the contract to carry the mail from Buffalo to Greeley. In 1882 he sev- ered his connection with Mr. Eaton and after their sheep were divided he came across the river to his present location. Here he owns one hun- dred and sixty acres which he had purchased while in Kentucky, prior to his removal west. After six years in the sheep business, he disposed of his flock and, shipping out a supply of regis- tered Shorthorns from Iowa, he embarked in cat- tle-raising. He was engaged exclusively in this industry until 1893, when he disposed of his cat- tle and turned his attention to haying, he having some one thousand acres of hay land. Since then he has purchased numerous heads of cattle and horses and has quite a bunch of stock.

May 25, 1887, Mr. Edwards was united in mar- riage with Miss Annie B. Tetsell. They have four children: Gracie, Artie, Owen and Viola. In 1892 Mr. Edwards was the Populist candidate for county commissioner, and again in 1895, the latter time being elected by a small majority; however, the election was contested, and he and his opponent left it to a committee of three to ar- bitrate, but he resigned in favor of his opponent, although he had already taken the oath of office. Since the organization of the school district he has been a member of the school board. In re- ligious faith he is a Baptist.

EOPOLD KORF has made his home in Yuma County since 1886, during which year he came to Colorado and pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres, also homesteaded eighty acres and took up a timber claim of one hundred and sixty acres, comprising a part of section 1, township 4, range 48, and situated eighteen miles north of the village of Yuma. With him he

brought forty-five head of cattle. He embarked in the stock business and in general farm pur- suits, which he has since successfully conducted, devoting especial attention to the raising of horses and hogs.

Mr. Korf was born in Prussia, Germany, in 1849, a son of Leopold and Charlotte (Orns) Korf, of whose thirteen children he and Gusta, his sister, of Germany, alone survive. His father, a native of Prussia, born in 1817, grew to manhood there and engaged in farming. His first wife died in 1859, and afterward he married Catherine Olthoege, by whom he had five cliil- dren, four now living, viz. : Mina, Frederick, August and Henry. About 1880 he came to America and settled in Gage County, Neb., where his son, Leopold, had preceded hin eight years. From there in 1886 he came to Colorado, establishing his home in Yuma County, where he still lives.

Educated in the common schools of Germany, our subject on leaving school determined to seek a home in the new world. In the spring of 1870 he made arrangements to start for America. His capital consisted of $100. In securing his pass- ports he was obliged to pay the judge $40 to ar- range his papers so that he would be freed from compulsory military service. In April, 1870, he arrived in New York with a young friend whose intention, as his own, was to push on to the west. However, his finances were such that he told the friend to go on alone, while he remained in New York and earned some money for railroad fare. His friend had a little surplus himself, so loaned our subject $20, and they proceeded to Chicago together. After working for six months on a farm in Cook County, they went to Iowa and during the following year were employed on a farm and at railroading in Floyd County. In the fall of 1871 Mr. Korf settled in Nebraska, while his friend returned to Germany.

On arriving in Nebraska our subject settled in Lancaster County, where for two years he worked as a farm hand. Meantime he homesteaded eighty acres of land. In the spring of 1874 he removed to his new farm, and there he remained for six years. He then traded his farm for a better one of one hundred and sixty acres in Gage County, giving a money consideration for the same. He removed to his farm and, being pleased with the prospects, persuaded his father to come to America. He prospered even beyond his expectations. In1 1886 lie came to Colorado,

1456

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

believing he could be more successful in the stock business here than in Nebraska. He is a hard- working man and deserves the prosperity with which he has met. Politically he is a Repub- lican. For several years he served as a member of the school board. He is one of the substantial ranchmen of Yuma County and has many friends here.

The marriage of Mr. Korf to Miss Caroline Schlak occurred in 1878 and was blessed by one child, Gusta, now the wife of William Smalley, a stockman of Washington County. Mrs. Caro- line Korf died less than two years after her mar- riage. In Hancock County, Il1., Mr. Korf mar- ried Miss Sarah Schwerre, whom he brought with him to Nebraska and later to Colorado. Of the eight children born to this union, four are living, all of whom are at home.

ETER J. BAUGTSON. The ranch and cat- tle industries of Logan County have a repre- sentative in the subject of this sketch, who has resided here since 1885 and has been closely identified with local enterprises. Immediately after his arrival he took up a homestead nine and a-half miles northeast of Crook, also a tree claim of one hundred and sixty acres, making his ranch one of three hundred and twenty acres. The property lying at the foot of the free range is con- veniently situated for the cattle industry. In 1898 he assisted in the building of the Settlers' ditch, and is one of the stockholders of the company, having valuable interests in the land under the ditch controlled by the company.

A native of Sweden, Mr. Baugtson was born December 14, 1847. He was one of six children, of whom four, including himself, are living. The father of the family, Baugt Peterson, was born in Sweden in 1822, and in youth learned the tailor's trade. Afterward he divided his time between tailoring and farming. Accompanied by his wife, Maria (Nelson) Peterson, and their children, in 1868 he emigrated to the United States and set- tled in Omaha, Neb., where he secured work as a section hand on the railroad. As soon as he was in a position to do so, he went to Polk County, that state, where he took up land and began the improvement of a farnı. On the same place he now resides. His son, our subject, accompanied him to America and settled in Nebraska, where he was employed at bridge-building and construc- tion work on the Union Pacific Railroad. In the employ of this company he went to Montana and

Utah, where he remained for some time. In 1878 he came to Colorado and, repairing to the mountains, he engaged in prospecting for five years. His mining ventures prospered and extended over Lake and Eagle Counties. Dur- ing this time he located many properties, among them the valuable Black Iron mine in Eagle County, a silver and lead property. However, the failure of the Leadville National Bank in 1883 swept away his fortune and left him without means of any kind. He continued to mine as be- fore, but in 1885 abandoned that occupation and came to Logan County, where he turned his at- tention to the stock business. Since then he has become known as one of the prosperous men of the county. He possesses all of the thrift and honesty for which the Swedes are noted the world over. He is upright, conscientious and faithful to every duty. Since coming to this country he has allied himself with the Republican party, for whose candidates he votes, both in local and na- tional elections. In religion he is a believer in the doctrines of the Lutheran Church.

D. AYRES, sheriff of Logan County and one of the well-known citizens of Sterling, was born in Mississippi, February 8, 1859, . being the only son of Felix G. and Mary E. (Davis) Ayres. He has an only sister, Carrie, who is the wife of Dr. J. N. Hall, of Denver. His father, a native of Mississippi, was there reared and married, and gained prominence among the cotton planters of his state, but his life was a short one; had it been prolonged to age, doubtless he would have been one of the distin- guished men of the south. He was always solici- tous to secure good government and served for one term in the legislature, where his influence was given to the advancement of progressive enterprises and the maintenance of justice and the law. He died when his son was only three years of age and the latter was reared by his mother, whom he accompanied to Colorado at thirteen years of age. They settled in Greeley, of which colony they were among the pioneers. After two years they removed to Sterling.

About 1884 Mr. Ayres established himself in the drug business in Sterling, and he continued in this business for six years. Meantime, he was united in marriage with Miss Kate Davis, a na- tive of Iowa, but at the time of their marriage a resident of Sterling. After disposing of his drug store in 1890, Mr. Ayres was appointed deputy

1457

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

sheriff, which office he held under Sheriff Buchanan for two years. Afterward he was postmaster of Sterling for two years. In1 1895, on the Democratic ticket, he was elected sheriff of Logan County, and his service was so satis- factory to the people that at the expiration of the term he was re-elected. He is a man of great force of will and strength of character, and is admirably qualified to fill his office acceptably. In additon to the offices already named, he served one term as member of the town board and a similar period as treasurer of the board. Frater- nally he is connected with Sterling Lodge, I. O. O. F. He and his wife have four children, Felix G., Margaret, Carrie and Morris.

ORACE SIMPSON HARP. It is to one of the most prosperous stockmen of Rio Blanco County that we call the attention of our readers in this sketch. Not only has Mr. Harp gained a reputation for success in the raising of stock, but he has also built up a reputation as a business man. He is proprietor of the Meeker and Rifle livery barus and also proprietor of the stage line running between those two points, as well as the line running north from Meeker. The success he has gained reflects especial credit upon him, for he started in business without capital and has worked his way unaided by the gift of money or the influence of friends.

Years ago William C. Harp, a native of Ten- nessee, removed to Iowa and settled in Marion County, where lie was a drover and stockmat for thirty-five years. He married Hannah Brouse, who was born in Ohio and had several brothers who participated in the Civil war. Of the family born to this union, Charles is a farmer, and J. F. a physician in Iowa; Thaddeus is interested with his brother in the management of the stable at Rifle, Colo .; Sherman is employed by Swift & Co .; Isaac is a farmer in Iowa; Sarah married A. E. Reece and resides in Kansas; Maggie is unmarried and lives in Iowa.

In Marion County, where he was born in 1860, the subject of this sketch spent his early years and received his education. At twenty years of age he came to Colorado and after a short time in Denver started in the cattle and livery busi- ness in Pitkin County. In 1884 he came to Rio Blanco County, and in 1887 started a stage line from Meeker to Rifle, a distance of forty-two miles; this he has since operated. For a time he carried on a hotel in connection with the

livery business. In 1896 he opened a stable in Rifle, where he has since conducted a livery, in conjunction with that in Meeker. On the White River, near Meeker, he owns a ranch of several hundred acres. He also owns another farm and considerable stock, besides the horses used on the stage line and in the stables. His business consumes his entire time and he has been unable to identify himself with politics, even if he had the inclination. Politically he votes the Repub- lican ticket. Fraternally he is a member of Val- entine Lodge of Odd Fellows and the Woodmeu of the World.

The marriage of Mr. Harp, iu 1893, united him with Charlotte Beamer, of Mesa County, Colo., daughter of George Beamer, formerly a farmer in Missouri. They are the parents of two children, Horace and Margaret.

EROME H. BOYD, M. D., surgeon for the Florence & Cripple Creek Railroad at Vic- tor, was born in St. Louis, Mo., August 22, 1857. He is a descendant of a family that came to America with the first expedition following the "Mayflower." They finally settled in Wheel- ing, W. Va., and at one time owned one hundred and sixty acres where the city now stands. His father, George Austin Boyd, now residing in Denver, was born in Virginia, and shortly after attaining his majority removed to Missouri, set- tling in Franklin County. At the time of the great gold excitement of 1849, he started for California, overland, with three wagon loads of saddles. He remained in the far west until 1853, returning the year of the total eclipse. At the time of the Pike's Peak excitement of 1859 he again crossed the plains. Opening a store at California Gulch, he remained there for two years, and then returned to St. Louis, where he acted as live stock agent for the Wabash Rail- road and conducted a hotel as well. From there he went to Texas, where he carried on a stock business until 1887; but, the climate not proving healthful, he returned to Colorado and settled in Denver. He has been especially interested in the development of barren lands and in fruit growing. Politically he is a Republican. He had two brothers, Jolin and Harmon, who served in the Mexican war, and another brother, Elias, who was captain of a Missouri company called into service during Price's raid in the Civil war.

In a family of ten children, our subject is the oldest of the seven survivors. He was educated

1458

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

in public schools and the St. Louis University. For a short time he was employed as bookkeeper for the Bank of North America, but resigned in order to turn his attention to the study of medi- cine. In 1878 he graduated from the American Medical College of St. Louis, and began to prac- tice at Waxahatchie, Tex., but in 1880 settled in Fort Worth and while there acted as city physi- cian. In 1883 he came to Colorado, hoping that the climate would benefit his health. Open- ing an office at Louisville, Boulder County, he not only engaged in general practice, but also acted as mayor, postmaster, proprietor of a livery business and owner of the only drug store in the town. In January, 1895, he came to Cripple Creek and Victor, and seeing the opportunity offered him, he decided to settle in Victor. Here he has since made his home. He is the oldest surgeon connected with the Florence & Cripple Creek Railroad, and has also acted as surgeon for several of the largest mining companies.

During the first administration of President Cleveland, Dr. Boyd was postmaster at Louis- ville. For three years he was chairman of the Boulder County Democratic central committee, and also served on the congressional committee. He is a member of the State and Cripple Creek District Medical Associations. Fraternally he is connected with the Foresters; Victor Lodge No. 367, B. P. O. E .; Camp No. 125, Woodmen of the World; Hiawatha Tribe No. 25, I. O. R. M .; and Calantha Lodge No. 66, K. P., at Louisville.

At Waxahatchie, Tex., November 27, 1878, Dr. Boyd married Emma Lee Foard, by whom he had one child, Willie Alice. January 1, 1887, he married Catherine, Etta, daughter of Anton Rosenbaum, who was born in Germany and came to America when young. Dr. and Mrs. Boyd have one child, Pearl Elizabeth.

ON. ALBERT N. TURNEY, of Yuma County, is one of the prominent public men of northeastern Colorado. After having acceptably filled positions in his county, he was chosen to represent his district in the state legislature, being elected to the assembly in the fall of 1898 as the fusion ticket candidate and re- ceiving a handsome majority. Since entering upon his duties as a legislator he has stood third in amount of work accomplished in the house, only two members having secured the passage of a greater number of bills than he. The measures which he has advocated have been of a kind that

would benefit the cattlemen whom he represented. His efficient service has given him a high place in the regard of his constituents.

Near Galesburg, Knox County, İll., the sub- ject of this sketch was born October 14, 1864, a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Nisley) Turney, being the only survivor of three children. His father was born in Somerset County, Pa., and his mother near Harrisburg, Pa. Both were ac- tive members of the Lutheran Church, in which for many years the father was an officer, being one of the mainstays of the church at Knoxville, which he attended. In 1852 he came west as far as Illinois, settling near Galesburg, where he worked as a farm hand for two years, and then purchased a tract of land. Upon the farm that he cleared and improved his entire active life was passed, and there he died in 1885. His wife had passed away six years previous to his death. She was a daughter of Daniel and Mary (Schwartz) Nisley, who were of German extraction. Our subject's paternal grandparents, William and Mary Turney, descended from English ancestry.

The education of our subject was obtained in Knox County, Il1. April 18, 1866, he arrived at Wray, Colo., where he was employed for two months. He then went forty-five miles north- west of Wray and pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land in what is now Phillips County (at that time a part of Weld County). He proved up on his claim, and in January, 1887, homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres two miles south of the other quarter-section, and, re- moving to the homestead, remained there until 1889. When Yuma was set off from Weld County, he was appointed county treasurer of the new county, and removing to Yuma, assumed the du- ties of his office. At the first regular election he was elected to the office, being the candidate of the Republican party. Twice afterward he was returned to the office, which he filled for three full terms. At the last two elections he was the candidate of the People's party. In 1897 he be- gan in the cattle business, and has since become the possessor of important interests in this in- dustry. In religious belief he adheres to the Lutheran faith, in which he was reared. Fra- ternally he is connected with Yuma Tent No. 6, K. O. T. M.

January 11, 1888, Mr. Turney married Alice, daughter of Charles Varney, who was a promi- nent manufacturer of Boston, Mass., and invented the first shoe-pegging machine ever placed on the

1459

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

market. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Turney are: Albertine, born November 11, 1888; Vera, July 6, 1890; and Edith, June 8, 1892.

HARLES JOHN, of Fort Garland, Costilla County, was born at Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany, January 11, 1835, a son of Conrad and Agnes (Trappe) John. He received a mili- tary education in Marburg, Hesse-Nassau, Prus- sia. At the age of nineteen he entered the Ger- man army and continued in the service as a lieu- tenant of hussars until 1859, when he resigned his commission. Coming to America during that year, he joined his step-brother, pastor of a church in Lawrence County, Ohio. April 15, 1861, at the first call made for volunteers in the Union service, he enlisted in the army, becoming a first lieutenant in the Ninth Ohio Infantry. Later he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel of the Second Mounted Militia, and continued to serve as such for two and one-half-years. During 1865 he was connected with the provost-marshal's office in Augusta, Ga., and in October of that year was honorably discharged from the service. He took part in a number of important engage- inents, as well as many skirmishes of lesser im- portance. While he was never wounded, he .suffered extremely from the exposure of army life and has never recovered from its effects.

After the war was over Mr. John became a street railway conductor in Cincinnati, but in 1866 he enlisted as a private in the regular army and for years afterward he was connected with life on the frontier. He had received an appoint- ment as captain of a colored regiment, but refused to accept; later, however, he was given the rank of sergeant-major of the regulars. As a mem- ber of the Eighth Wisconsin Cavalry, in 1866 he went to California, where for three years he was stationed at different government posts. In 1869 he came to Fort Garland as chief clerk of the quartermaster's department, and here he con- tinued with the army for five years, when he re- signed from the service. Afterward for seven years he was employed in the store of Ferd Meyer. In 1877 he was elected county superintendent of schools on the Republican ticket and at the expi- ration of the term was re-elected. In 1881 he was chosen county clerk and subsequently, by re- election, was continued in the office for ten years, since which time he has been clerk of the dis- trict court. Upon retiring from the county clerk's office he was appointed right-of-way agent for

the Denver & Rio Grande and the Florence & Cripple Creek Railroads, which positions he still holds, his duties being to locate the right of way, examine titles, etc.

For years Mr. John has been interested in edu- cational matters and has served as a member of the Fort Garland school board. He is largely inter- ested in real estate in this section, and has one hundred and sixty acres three-quarters of a mile from the village. He is married and has four sons.

ILLIAM J. CHAMBERS, M. D. One of the first physicians to locate permanently at Cripple Creek was Dr. Chambers, who has since built up an extensive practice and is now recognized as one of the skillful, successful practitioners of the place. Of eastern birth, born in Albany, N. Y., November 14, 1863, he spent the years of boy hood and youth in his native city and received an excellent education in the New York State Normal. When still quite young he entered, as clerk, a drug store in Philadelphia, where he continued, a trusted employe, until twenty-four years, and then resigned in order to turn his attenion to the study of medicine. He entered the Jefferson Medical College of Phila- delphia, in which famous institution he took the regular course of study, graduating in April, 1889.

At once after completing his medical studies, Dr. Chambers came west, and for a year engaged in practice at Omaha, Neb. From there he re- moved to Denver, where he built up a good prac- tice and remained for two years. In the spring of 1892 he came to Cripple Creek, where he has been in continuous practice since. For several years he was extensively interested in mining in this district, but has sold the greater part of his mining stock, although he still retains his inter- est in certain properties. . Among the mines which he assisted in developing are the Old Calu- met, Iron Duke and Golden Age, as well as many smaller leases. In 1897 he disposed of much of his mining stock, and has since given his attention more closely to his practice. For three years he held office as county physician and for four years served as city physician. In poli- tics he is an active worker in the silver Republi- can party and a firm believer in its principles. He is a blue lodge Mason, connected with Mount Pisgah Lodge No. 96, A. F. & A. M. In every- thing pertaining to his profession he maintains a deep interest, and by thoughtful reading of medi- cal periodicals keeps abreast with all the improve-

1460

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ments in the science. For a number of years he held office as treasurer of the District Medical Society, with which he is actively identified.

HOMAS W. LAWRENCE came to Colo- rado in 1873 and settled in Denver, where he has since been engaged in contracting and building, his city address being No. 1328 Washington avenue. In 1889 he started the Lin- coln County reservoir and irrigation system, which is one of the finest in this part of the state. The reservoir is about ten miles from Hugo, the county seat of Lincoln County, and will furnish water for irrigating thousands of acres of land, besides affording a fine place for fishing.

Mr. Lawrence was born in London, England, in 1844. His father, T. S. Lawrence, was born in Kent, England, and emigrated to America in middle life. Prior to that he had for thirteen years been engaged as foreman for the Central Gas Company of London. In the United States he became interested in boats on the Mississippi River and owned the Lord Nelson trading boat. For six years he engaged in the bacon business in New Orleans, and later, was engaged in the building business in Madison, Wis., which he fol- lowed until his death at fifty-seven years. His father, Robert, was captain of the Lord Nelson trading boat.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Portrait and biographical record of the state of Colorado, containing portraits and biographies of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 196

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