Portrait and biographical record of the state of Colorado, containing portraits and biographies of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 24

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 24

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

with Pueblo Lodge No. 52, K. P. His mar- riage, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, united him with Minnie E. Lantz, who was born in Paradise, Nova Scotia, and was educated in schools at Annapolis and Kentville. The two children born of their union are Harry Fanning and Helen Aline.

RANC OGILVY WOOD, who is numbered among the prominent citizens of Colorado Springs, was born in Montreal, Canada, a son of David Russ and Almira T. (Catlin) Wood, natives of Montreal and Burlington, Vt., respect- ively. His paternal grandfather, Maj. David Wood, who was a native of Connecticut, removed to Canada, settling near Montreal; he married a Miss Snow, who descended from a family that came over in the "Mayflower," and was a daugh- ter of Capt. Stephen and Constance Snow. The founder of the Wood family in America, Captain Wood, came from England with his regiment and settled in Connecticut in colonial days. Members of the family are direct heirs of the Paisley Green estate.

For many years, under the old French laws, David Russ Wood was in charge of the bankrupt court as judge, and on the introduction of the new code of laws he became one of the commis- sioners of crown lands. He was a man of promi- nence and familiar with law in all its varied forms. When Hon. L. S. Huntington, his brother-in-law, was postmaster-general of Canada, the two had all of the copper properties of Canada opened and operated, until they were finally sold to an English syndicate. In 1880 Mr. Wood came to Colorado Springs, where he laid out D. Russ Wood's addition to the city, comprising twenty-five acres in the northern part of the town. He served as vice-president of Colo- rado College, and for years was chairman of the building committee. He married Miss Catlin, a descendant, through her paternal ancestors, of the English nobility (the Catlyns or Catlings, of Needham Hall, England). She was also a de- scendant of Capt. James Wadsworth, who hid the Connecticut charter in the hollow of the famous old charter oak tree, and through his active par- ticipation in early wars our subject was eligible to membership in the Society of Colonial Wars.

The subject of this sketch was the only son among three children. After completing his lit- erary education he studied law in the office of William W. Robertson, of Montreal, and also

took the degrees of A. B. and B. C. L. in McGill University, Montreal. For eleven years he prac- ticed law in Montreal, and from there, in 1880, removed to Colorado Springs, owing to his father's ill health. After engaging in a general practice here for a short time he joined Mr. Ris- ley in the law department of the Rio Grande Railroad. When that company moved its offices to Denver he was retained by the Denver & New Orleans Railroad to complete the title to its right of way between Denver and Colorado Springs. Subsequently he was appointed assistant attor- ney to the Colorado Midland Railroad, and fought for and obtained most of the right of way between here and Glenwood Springs. Afterward he joined with friends in the development and opening of the resources of the Crystal River Valley in Pitkin County, Colo., including the building of the Elk Mountain Railroad and the opening up of the great deposits of marble, slate and coal. He was also interested largely in sil- ver mining in Rico, Central City, Black Hawk and Aspen. After the first discovery of gold at Cripple Creek he turned his attention to that camp, and was the first to build a shaft house on the Anna Lee and Doubtful claims on Battle Mountain, now the center of the great Portland mine. He also opened up the Vindicator, and was largely interested in the early development of the Lillie property. He has recently leased the Garfield mine. Through his successful and long experience in developing the different classes of mining properties in Colorado, he has become well known as a mining expert.

Fond of athletic sports, Mr. Wood holds two world records for snowshoe racing. He is a mem- ber of the Town and Gown Golf Club, the El Paso and Country Clubs, and the Society of Colonial Wars. For seven years he held the position of secretary of Colorado College. The organization of the original mining exchange was through his instrumentality. He is the owner of "Edge- wood" at Ivywild. On his place he has a num- ber of fine horses, some of which were imported at large cost. In politics he is a Republican.

The first wife of Mr. Wood was Miss Susanna J. Jewett, daughter of Judge Jewett, of Steuben- ville, Ohio. They had two children: Franc Jew- ett, who died in June, 1896, at the age of twen- ty-one; and D. Russ, who is in the office of the chief engineer of the Vandalia line at Terre Haute, Ind. In Colorado Springs Mr. Wood was united in marriage with Miss Rebecca Walni

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Tutt, daughter of the late Dr. Charles Pendleton Tutt, of Locust Hill, Loudoun County, Va., a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania med- ical department, and for many years connected with the Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia. The Tutts are of Welsh descent. The mother of Mrs. Wood was Rebecca Leaming, whose ances- tors were prominent in England, and whose grandfather, Thomas Leaming, of Philadelphia, took part in the Revolutionary war and crossed the Delaware with Washington. Mrs. Wood's ancestors, the Pendletons and Masons, were prominent in Virginia, and took part in the Revolution. Her grandmother, Ann Mason Chichester, was a cousin of George Washington. Another ancestor, Nicholas Waln, her great- great-great-great-grandfather, came to this coun- try with William Penn, and was of the Quaker faith. She descends in the fifth generation from Mary Taylor, a sister of President Zachary Tay- lor. She is a member of the Daughters of the Revolution and Colonial Dames. She organized and was the first president of the first Audubon Society in Colorado, which did much to prevent cruelty to birds and insure their protection. She is also identified with the Society for the Preven- tion of Cruelty to Animals and the Red Cross Society of Colorado.

ON. JOHN L. NOONAN. During the early days in the history of Glenwood Springs, in August, 1884, Judge Noonan came to this then new town and began to practice law. Six years later he was elected judge of Garfield County, and he has continued to serve in this capacity ever since. Himself a stanch Republican, he has the stanch support, not only of the members of that party, but also has many friends among the Democrats and Populists, for all citizens, irrespective of political views, honor him as a man of integrity and ability.

Iu the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, December 17, 1848, the subject of this sketch was born to the union of Dennis and Eleanor (Lyons) Noonan, natives of Ireland, but residents of the United States from childhood. His father, who first set- tled in Ohio, removed from there to Indiana, and during his long connection with railroading, served in every department of the work. Ad- vancing years caused his retirement from active labors. He is now over seventy-five years of age, hale and robust. A resident of Indiana since 1854, he now spends much of his time on

his large farm lying near Hartford City. He voted the Democratic ticket until the Blaine cam- paign. His wife died March 15, 1893. Of their children, William was engaged in the newspaper business in Indiana for a number of years, but sold out his interests in 1897, and now owns a large stock farm in that state. Mary and Mar- garet reside with their father.

From the age of six years our subject lived on a farm in Indiana. He was educated in common schools and the college at Ridgeville, Ind., and for three years taught school near his home. For four years he served as county recorder of Black- ford County, to which position he was elected on the anti-railroad tax ticket. On retiring from office he read law in the law office of Benjamin G. Shinn, and upon his admission to the bar he formed a partnership with his former preceptor, which continued for six years. From 1881 to 1884 he served as prosecuting attorney of his county, but resigned the position on moving west. In 1883 he was called to Buena Vista, Colo., to defend a young friend of his who was to be tried for murder; he came west and carried the case through, winning a victory for his client. While here he became so favorably impressed with Colorado that he decided to settle here per- manently. Settling in Leadville, he formed a partnership with Templer & Page, and practiced for a year in that city. He then came to Glen- wood Springs, where he soon built up an exten- sive and profitable practice. From 1890 to Janu- ary, 1899 (three terms), he held the office of county judge. In 1894 he was the Republican candidate for district judge against Judge Rucker, and carried all the counties except Aspen, which gave a large Democratic majority. He has always given his support to the Republican par- ty, with the exception of a short time during his residence in Indiana, when he supported Peter Cooper and James B. Weaver, the greenback candidates for president and vice-president. Fra- ternally he is connected with the Odd Fellows. In 1894 he married Margaret M. Moore, who was born in Ireland, and has traveled extensively through her native land, also England and Scot- land, but at the time of her marriage was living in Leadville. They have three children, Will- iam Francis, John L., Jr., and Eleanor Margaret.

Soon after he came to Glenwood Springs Judge Noonan took up land near the city, and here he has since engaged in raising stock and fruit. He also has some stock on his ranch of about five

ym Dinkel

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hundred acres in Rio Blanco County, on the a third partner, is manager of the mercantile de- White River. This ranch was one of the first partment, while Mr. Dinkel gives his attention particularly to the banking department. taken up west of the mountain range and was originally settled by Duncan Blair, who married an Indian girl.

Judge Noonan has won many friends since coming to Colorado. In the practice of law he became favorably known, and in his position as judge his record has been equally creditable. He has proved himself a public-spirited citizen, favoring measures for the benefit of the people. Personally he is genial and companionable, with a keen sense of humor and acute mental facul- ties; while in facial appearance he greatly resem- bles James McSherry, chief justice of the court of appeals of Maryland.

ILLIAM M. DINKEL, president of the Bank of Carbondale and president of the Dinkel Mercantile Company, has been identified with the business interests of Carbon- dale ever since the village was started. Situated thirteen miles from Glenwood Springs, it was given its name by a gentleman who came from Carbondale, Pa., and is now an incorporated town with a population of four hundred. It is a prosperous and growing business town, situated in the midst of a rich valley where fruit and farm products may be raised in abundance, and where streams of mountain water reaching out in every direction furnish ample facilities for irrigation.

When Mr. Dinkel came to Garfield County, in 1881, he crossed the mountain trail from Aspen, for there were then no wagon roads and no rail- roads. Indians still lingered in the county. No attempt at improvement had been made. He had a wagon load of groceries and dry goods, and with that he started a store near the present site of Carbondale. When the latter town was started, in 1887, he moved his goods to the new town, and here he has since built up a large wholesale and retail business, supplying goods to merchants for miles in every direction. He erected a two-story brick building in the center of the town, and here he carries a full line of merchandise and groceries; in the same building is the Bank of Carbondale. Some years ago the mercantile business was in- corporated under the name of the W. M. Dinkel Mercantile Company, with himself as president. The company owns a ranch of over twelve hun- dred acres of improved land, well stocked, Will- iam L. Girdner, who is a member of the com- pany, being manager of the ranch, F, E, Sweet,

Near Staunton, Augusta County, Va., Mr. Dinkel was born October 14, 1847, a son of Rob- ert M. and Sarah A. ( Hite) Dinkel. His father, who was a native of Augusta County, was a mer- chant in early life, but later turned his attention to farming. During the last two years of the Civil war he was in the reserve force of the Con- federate army. He died in Virginia in 1894. His father, Jacob, came from Germany and set- tled in Virginia, where he founded the town of Bridgewater, in Rockingham County, and there engaged in farming and the mercantile business. Our subject's mother was born and reared in Nelson County, Va., where her parents were large land and slave owners; she is now living at the old homestead in Virginia. Of her chil- dren, James H. is a farmer and stock-dealer in Mesa County, Colo .; Robert Bruce resides upon the old homestead in Virginia; Florence is the wife of J. T. Goodwin, residing in Churchville, Va .; and Mary V. is the widow of J. L. Light- ner, of Augusta County, Va.

In a private school in his native county our subject received his education. He carried on the home farm for some years, but in 1880 canie to Colorado and settled in Fremont County, in the Arkansas Valley. A year later he came to what is now Garfield County, where he has since resided. June 4, 1892, he married Sarah A. Dun- lap, whom he had knowit from childhood, and whose refinement and education have made her a favorite in select social circles. She is a de- scendant of a Scotchman, who arrived in America on the day that the battle of Bunker Hill was fought; he settled in Virginia, where he became the owner of a large plantation and a number of slaves. Her father, George B. Dunlap, was born in Augusta County, Va., where much of his life was devoted to agriculture. During the Civil war he served as a member of the Fifth Virginia Infantry, C. S. A. He married Margaret Mish, who was also a member of an old family of Vir- ginia. Mr. and Mrs. Dinkel have one child, a beautiful little daughter, named after her two grandmothers, Anna Margaret. The family have a pleasant home in Carbondale.

The political views of Mr. Dinkel have brought him into affiliation with the Democratic party. · In 1889 he was his party's nominee for county treasurer, but the party was then weak and he

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was defeated. In 1898 he was nominated by the to his present property in Pueblo County, and Democrats and endorsed by the Populists for the has since devoted his energies to the improve- ment and cultivation of his land with some suc- cess, as he now has one of the best ranches in the locality. There is a good residence upon the place, substantial barns, outbuildings and fences, and a fine orchard. state legislature, but was defeated by a small majority. He is a member of the blue lodge of Masonry in Carbondale and the chapter and commandery in Glenwood Springs. The work he has done in the upbuilding of his town entitles him to rank among its most prominent citizens. He has displayed a public spirit that is most help- ful to the interests of his county. As a business man he has been keen, discriminating and exact; as a banker, cautious and conservative, yet en- terprising; as a citizen his position is among those whose influence has been given to the wel- fare of the people and the advancement of the county.

HARLES J. HOBSON is a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of Pueblo County, his ranch being near Swallows, on the D Arkansas River, fifteen miles from the city of Pueblo. He was born in 1839 in Yadkin Coun- ty, N. C., east of the Blue Ridge mountains, but when an infant was taken by his parents, Stephen H. and Mary L. (Clingman) Hobson, to Andrew County, Mo., settling twelve miles from St. Joseph, where he remained until twenty years of age, his education being acquired in private schools.

The Hobson family is believed to have been founded in this country by two brothers, natives of England, one of whom settled in Virginia, the other in North Carolina. They were members of the Society of Friends. Our subject's father was a native of North Carolina, where he fol- lowed the brick mason's trade in early life, but during his residence in Missouri he engaged in farming and building. To this same branch of the family is believed belongs Lieutenant Hobson, who won distinction during the war with Spain by sinking the Merrimac. Our subject's mother was a cousin of Thomas Clingman, who was a congressman for many years.

At the age of twenty years Charles J. Hobson started out in life for himself. With the famous McDonald family he went from St. Joseph, Mo., to Sacramento, Cal., remaining four years, and then returned to St. Joseph, where he purchased teams for the purpose of freighting across the plains. This business he continued until 1867, crossing the plains with freight and stock seven- teen times, and often coming in contact with the Indians. In 1870 he filed a pre-emption claim

On the 20th of December, 1868, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Hobson and Miss Nancy E. Waugh, who was born, reared and educated in Andrew County, Mo., where she made her home until her marriage. Her father, John Waugh, a farmer by occupation, was an early settler of that state, and served in the Union army for six months at the President's first call for troops. Mr. and Mrs. Hobson have three children, namely: W. Alexander, who owns and operates a farm near his father; Frederick C., who mar- ried Miss Finley, a daughter of M. J. Finley, of the Greenhorn country, and now lives in Pueblo; and Mary, who wedded M. C. Reed and has two children.

In politics Mr. Hobson is a stanch Republican, but has never cared for official honors. His record is that of a man who, by his own unaided efforts, has worked his way upward to a position of af- fluence. Twice during his residence here he has met with severe losses from water spouts burst- ing and overflowing the river. At one time he lost about $2,000 worth of property. Four years ago he built a new residence on high ground, and now has a very pleasant home. His life has been one of industry and perseverance, and the systematic and honorable business methods which he has followed have won him the support and confidence of many.

ON. EDWARD OLIVER WOLCOTT, United States Senator from Colorado, was

- born in Longmeadow, Mass., March 26, 1848. He is a lineal descendant of Roger Wol- cott and several succeeding Wolcotts, who were colonial governors of Connecticut. Among his ancestors was Oliver Wolcott, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and whose son was the second secretary of the treasury, succeeding Alexander Hamilton in Washington's cabinet.

Rev. Samuel W. Wolcott, the senator's father, was for some time a missionary in Syria, and for many years officiated as pastor of a Congrega- tional Church in Ohio. He was the author of over three hundred hymns, and was a man of marked ability and rare gifts. His son, our sub-

JUDGE EDWARD STAUFFACHER.

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ject, served for a few months in 1864 as a private in the One Hundred and Fifteenth Ohio Regi- ment, and in 1866 matriculated at Yale College, but did not complete the course in that institu- tion. In 1871 he graduated from the Harvard Law School, and came to Colorado, settling in Denver, of which city he has since been a promi- nent citizen. He was first elected to the United States senate to succeed Thomas M. Bowen (Re- publican), and took his seat March 4, 1889. In 1895 he was re-elected, his term to expire March 3, 1901. He is one of the Republican leaders of his state, and has wielded a powerful influence in public affairs.

UDGE EDWARD STAUFFACHER, coun- ty commissioner of Garfield County, came to this county in 1884 and took up a tract of land six miles from Carbondale. Here he has since built up a valuable ranch and has engaged in the raising of stock, fruit and general farm products. An energetic, persevering man, he has worked industriously and has been success- ful where another, less determined, might liave failed. He is a believer in Populist principles and always votes with the People's party, al- though in former years he was a Republican. In 1896 he was elected to his present office of com- missioner, in which capacity he has given excel- lent service.

Anton Stauffacher, our subject's father, was born in Switzerland, and in early life emigrated to America, settling in Green County, Wis., where he devoted his life to farm pursuits. He married Anna Stauffacher, who, like himself, was a native of Switzerland and died in Wisconsin. Of their children, Jacob died in 1892; Mathias, a blacksmith by trade, is now engaged in mining in Gunnison County and above Aspen, Colo .; Anton, Jr., was for three years a member of a Wisconsin regiment that served in the Civil war; Isaiah and John also took part in the war; Anna is the wife of Henry Hoesley, and lives in Cali- fornia; Barbara married Rudolph Hoesley; and Mary, who was Mrs. Frederick Norder, died in Aspen, this state.

Near Monroe, Green County, Wis., where he was born March 6, 1851, our subject spent his early life. At the age of twenty-four he engaged in farming for himself, and the same time carried on a dairy and cheese business. In 1879 he re- moved to Iowa and from there, in the spring of the next year he came to Colorado, settling at

Aspen and there engaging in mining. However, his capital was so small that, although he located some good claims, he was unable to develop them; and, after vainly endeavoring to operate them himself, he leased them to other parties, and in this way has received nearly $20,000. In 1884 he moved to Garfield County, then unsettled and without railroads or other modern conveniences. He has seen the country develop into an agricultural section and has himself gained prosperity through his intelligent man- agement of affairs. January 1, 1875, he mar- ried Mary Geiger, a native of Switzerland, who accompanied her parents, Leonard and Mary (Stauffacher) Geiger, to America in childhood. They are the parents of eleven children, the two eldest of whom, Bennett and Arthur, are in Iowa, while the others are at home, viz .: Clyde, Ernest, Lester, Edith, Katie, Mary, Clara, Anna and Edna.

During the administration of President Harri- son, November 23, 1892, a postoffice, with daily mail service, was established at the residence of Judge Stauffacher. Of this postoffice, which is called Catherin, the judge has since been post- master. The Midland Railroad passes through his ranch a little more than two hundred yards from his residence.

AMUEL HARTSEL has the distinction of being the first ranchman to settle in South Park. It was in the fall of 1862 that he lo- cated the nucleus of his present ranch and em- barked in the stock business. In spite of the fact that he came to Colorado without a dollar, he has been remarkably successful, and is to-day the largest producer of cattle in Park County. His ranch consists of nine thousand acres of deeded land, with three thousand additional acres of leased land, and of the entire tract five thousand acres lie under the irrigation ditch. In addition to this property he is the owner of the famous hot springs and the Hartsel Springs hotel. It is a noteworthy fact that during his entire business career he has never given a mortgage on a foot of his land nor a chattel mortgage or bill of sale on even one cow or horse; he has bought only what he could pay for, and has been so economi- cal in his expenses, so persevering in his endeav- ors, and so energetic in action, that he has risen steadily to his present prosperous position.

Near Bethlehem, Bucks County, Pa., Mr. Hartsel was born November 22, 1835, a son of

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Jacob and Catherine (Hartman) Hartsel. He was one of ten children, of whom four sons sur- vive: George W., of Preston County, W. Va .; Samuel; William, a physician and surgeon of La Porte, Ind .; and Joseph, a ranchman of Park County. The father, who was born in Bucks County in 1800, there learned the blacksmith's trade, but afterward turned his attention to farm- ing, which occupation he followed until his death, December 23, 1876, in Butler County, Pa. His wife, who was born in Bucks County in 1802, and died at Hartsel December 16, 1873, was a daughter of George Hartman, a prominent farmer and distilleryman of Bucks County, Pa.

George Hartsel, our subject's grandfather, was born in Bucks County, a descendant of one of three brothers who came to America from Switz- erland in 1723. They being ardent Lutherans, religious persecution forced them to seek a refuge on foreign soil. On their arrival in America they bought extensive tracts in Bucks County from William Penn and this land has never since passed out of the possession of the family, it be- ing now owned by two cousins of our subject. Two of these emigrant refugees were named Jacob and Jonas Hartsel. The name of the third is un- known. Our subject descends directly from Jacob.

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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 24

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