Portrait and biographical record of the state of Colorado, containing portraits and biographies of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 28

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 28

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Near Georgetown, Vermilion County, Ill., the subject of this sketch was born July 20, 1858. His boyhood days were spent in the cultivation of the home farm. Upon attaining manhood, and as soon as he had saved the necessary amount of money, he entered the Indiana State Normal School at Terre Haute, Ind., where he carried on the regular course. Afterward, while teaching school in Illinois, he read law with Judge Book- walter, of Danville. In 1887 he was admitted to the bar at Springfield, Ill., after which he en- gaged in practice in Danville. Coming to Colo- rado in 1889 he carried on a general practice at Delta for three and one-half years, and from there came to Pueblo in 1892. Here he has since en- gaged in continuous practice. It is probable that he has had as many criminal cases as any lawyer in the city, and his reputation in that branch of the law is very high. At first he engaged in practice alone, but since becoming attorney-general of the state he has taken in a partner to look after his interests. In 1884 he married Miss Amorita B. James, of Danville, Ill., and who, like himself, is identified with the Presbyterian Church.

Reared in the Democratic party, Mr. Campbell subsequently became identified with the Populist party. He has been active in local and state politics. For two years he served as a member of the city council, and to his efforts was, in no small measure, due the breaking up of the Re- publican control of Pueblo. In addition to his other positions he was employed as attorney of Kiowa County when it was deeply in debt, and through his business talent and good judgment the entire indebtedness was paid, In fraternal

relations he is connected with the Woodmen Val- ley Camp No. 29, of Pueblo.

The office which Mr. Campbell now holds be- came his through the election of 1898. Although for years he had been active and potent in public affairs he did not seek office, but when nominated for attorney-general threw himself with all of his energy and determination in the work of winning a victory for his ticket. The important matters . which come before him in his present office he studies thoughtfully, with the light which his wide reading and broad experience give him, and he has won much praise for his creditable record as an official.

2 AVID S. HOFFMAN, M. D., who has en- gaged in the practice of medicine and sur- gery in Lake City since 1877, and has also engaged in the drug business here, is numbered among the influential residents of Hinsdale County. Since coming to this part of the state he has taken an active interest in matters tending toward its upbuilding, and has wielded an influ- ence in its advancement. In the year 1882 he was elected to the legislature on the Republican ticket and during his term of service favored the passage of bills for the benefit of his constituency. For several terms he served as mayor of the city, and for six years held the position of president of the school board. For five years he was register of the United States land office at Lake City, before it was closed. In 1891-92 he held the office of county treasurer. These various posi- tions he filled with fidelity and in a manner most satisfactory to all concerned.

Dr. Hoffman was born in Lebanon, Pa., December 16, 1851, a son of Henry T. and Louisa (Seigrist) Hoffman, natives of Pennsylvania. He was the only son and has one sister, Ella, wife of William Medlar, of Reading, Pa. His education was obtained in public schools and Muhlenberg College at Allentown, Pa. Upon the completion of his literary studies he entered the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, from which, after three years of study, he gradu- ated in 1874. Returning to his native city, he engaged in practice there for two years. In 1876 he came to Colorado, and for a short time prac- ticed in Fort Collins, but in 1877 came to Lake City, then a town but three years old. With its subsequent growth he has been closely identified. Besides his professional and business connections he is also interested in mining. He is a member

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of the Colorado State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He has built up a valuable private practice in his city and sur- rounding country, and in addition thereto, also acts as local surgeon for the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad Company. Fraternally he is past master of Crystal Lodge No. 34, A. F. & A. M. He was married August 18, 1885, his wife being Miss Ida Youmans, an accomplished lady from the state of New York.

HEODORE G. LYSTER, cashier of the State Bank of Aspen, of which D. H. Moffat, of Denver, is president, has been connected with banks and banking since his youth and by long experience has acquired a thorough knowl- edge of every department of finances. In 1876 he came to Colorado and began his work in con- nection with the banking interests of this state. Ten years later, largely through his efforts, the First National Bank of Aspen was organized, the name of which was subsequently changed to the State Bank of Aspen, and of this institution he has acted as cashier from its inception. Con- servative and cautious in investments, prudent in management, yet enterprising and progressive, he has acquired a reputation in banking circles and is recognized as one of the most reliable bankers in the state. During the trying times of financial depression, when many banks were forced to the wall, his able and sagacious man- agement enabled him to keep his bank in first- class condition, with credit unimpaired and con- fidence maintained.

Michigan at Ann Arbor; he died in October, 1894. The only daughter, Bessie, now deceased, was the wife of Walter S. Cheeseman, a banker of Denver.

Educated in the public schools and reared in his native city, the subject of this sketch was a youth of seventeen years when he became an em- ploye in the Detroit Savings Bank in Detroit. He gradually rose as his ability became apparent. After some years he was made teller of the First National Bank of Chicago, of which Lyman J. Gage was president. This position he filled until he came to Colorado, in 1876. Here he was first engaged as teller, and later as assistant cashier, of the First National Bank of Denver, and con- tinued with that bank until, in conjunction with Mr. Moffat and Mr. Cheeseman, he formed the plan of inaugurating a banking system in the new and growing town of Aspen. He has since been a resident of this place and a prominent citi- zen, whose position in the community is a high one. While in Detroit he became identified with the Masonic order, and after coming to Aspen he received the Knight Templar degree. He has never identified himself with politics or public affairs, and has maintained an independence of attitude, supporting the best men, irrespective of party ties. Having made a careful study of the currency question he gives the weight of his in- fluence to the silver cause.

November 25, 1880, Mr. Lyster married Sallie M. Jones, by whom he had one child, deceased in infancy. Mrs. Lyster is a daughter of James H. Jones, who was manager of the Wells-Fargo Express Company in Denver for years.

Mr. Lyster was born in Detroit, Mich., a son of Rev. William N. and Ellen (Cooper) Lyster, and a grandson of Col. W. John Lyster, an officer HARLES B. BALDWIN. One of the large grain and stock farms of Bent County lies three miles northwest of Caddoa, and com- prises ten hundred and forty acres in township 22, range 50 west, the residence being on section 35. This property is owned and occupied by Mr. Baldwin, who homesteaded a tract here in 1897 and added to the homestead by purchase and pre-emption. He makes a specialty of thorough- bred horses, and several of those that he owns have gained more than a local reputation by reason of their acknowledged superiority. in the British army. The father, who was an Episcopal clergyman, went to Detroit in early life and spent many years in that city. He was also for some time rector of an Episcopal Church in Cleveland, Ohio. His death occurred in 1877. His wife, who was a native of County Wexford, Ireland, died in 1861, when her children (four in number ) were small. Her son William J. served through the Civil war as colonel of the Ninth United States Infantry, and was connected with the army from 1861 until his death, in 1897. Henry F., a physician, acted as surgeon of the The Baldwin family was founded in America five generations ago by three brothers who came from England to this country, one of whom settled in Georgia, another in Massachusetts, and Fifth Michigan Infantry during the Civil war and afterward practiced his profession in Detroit until 1894, meantime also filling one of the chairs in the medical department of the University of the third in Vermont. The subject of this sketch

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is a descendant of the Vermont branch. His maternal grandmother was a member of the Hayes family and was of Irish lineage, but was born in this country. His father, Joseph Baldwin, was born and reared in New York, and at the age of eighteen removed to Belmont County, Ohio, where he married Elizabeth Wells, who was of English and Welsh descent. About 1840 he removed to Michigan and settled in Detroit when that now large city was a mere lumbering camp. Later he removed to Independence Town- ship, Oakland County, Mich., and from there moved to Ionia County, settling on a timbered tract of land that he cleared and improved. Indians were very numerous, but never gave the settlers trouble. The surroundings were those of nature in its primeval state. After some years there, he sold out and settled on a farm near Janesville, Wis., but later went west to Nebraska and settled in Richardson County; from there removed to Bates County, Mo., thence to Butler County, Iowa, and finally to Lincoln County, S. Dak., where he died in 1895.

The subject of this sketch was born in Detroit, Mich., October 25, 1842. He received a common- school education, and remained with his father until he was twenty-one years of age, when he began lumbering. After several years spent in this occupation he went from Michigan to Man- chester, Iowa, and thence to Ogle County, Ill., where he remained for two years. While there he was united in marriage, April 8, 1867, with Miss Mary R. Green, daughter of Adam and Elizabeth (Miller) Green. She was born in Allegany County, Md., and while visiting rela- tives in Illinois met the gentleman whom she afterward married.

From Ogle County Mr. Baldwin went to Butler County, Iowa, and engaged in farming near Aplington, where he remained for nine years. In 1878 he removed to Rush County, Kan., and set- tled on wild, unimproved land, where he remained for four years, but the lack of sufficient rain ruined his crops, and he removed to Abilene, the same state, where he engaged in contracting and later carried on a livery business. During the nine years that he resided in Abilene he was very successful. From there he came to Bent County in 1891 and engaged in contract work for parties in Topeka. After two years he went to Medford, Grant County, Oklo., and settled on land where his daughter located a claim. He remained there for twenty months and in 1895 returned to Bent

County, settling on Horse Creek. In 1895 he bought a part of his present ranch and has since homesteaded land here. He has faith in the future of southeastern Colorado and the success he has already gained gives assurance of future prosperity. He has always refused to become a candidate for office, and, aside from voting the Republican ticket, takes no part in political affairs. While in Kansas he served one term as deputy sheriff and in Colorado has been a member of the school board. Fraternally he identified himself with the Ancient Order of United Work- men while living in Dickinson County, Kan.

The six children of Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin are named as follows: Joseph M., born in Ogle County, Ill .; Sylvia Elizabeth, who was born in Butler County, Iowa, and owns a homestead in Grant County, Okla .; Frank, born in Butler County, Iowa; Alpha Retta, who was born in Butler County and is the wife of John W. Prowers; Vinettie Lorena, who was born in Rush County, Kan .; and Adelbert, born in Dickinson County, Kan.

EW W. ROBBINS, an enterprising ranch- man of Park County, settled upon a ranch four and one-half miles east of Como in 1894, and for two years ranched as a leaser of land. Afterward he was employed by Timothy Borden for a year, and then leased his present ranch of twelve hundred and forty acres near Bordenville. In the spring of 1898 he purchased the property and has since worked for himself, devoting his attention successfully to the haying business and to cattle-raising.

The record of the parents of our subject, Thomas H. and Elizabeth (Fisher) Robbins, of Howbert, Colo., will be found in the sketch of Thomas H. Robbins, which appears upon another page of this volume. The subject of this sketch was born in Colorado Springs, Colo., August 21, 1868, and obtained his education in the public schools. At eighteen years of age he began life for himself, his first employment being as a ranch hand. At twenty years of age he located on a ranch at Mountaindale, on Tarryall Creek, where he leased and superintended land for three years. Afterward he spent two years in herding cattle for parties in Routt County, in the northwestern part of the state.

Returning to South Park in 1894, Mr. Robbins was united in marriage with Miss Julia A. Bonis, on the 13th of June, that year. Mrs. Robbins

haly

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was a resident of Park County and a daughter of the well-known ranchman, Lawrence Bonis. Since his marriage Mr. Robbins has continued to make his home in this county, where he is be- coming known as an enterprising and capable ranchman, one who will undoubtedly gain an increasing prosperity as the years go by. He and his wife have two daughters, Dora and Mary, and are highly esteemed by the people of the county.

HARLES F. POTTER, attorney and coun- selor-at-law, of Colorado Springs, is a mem- ber of an old and honored family of the east. In 1637 two brothers of this name came from Eng- land to America and settled on the north shore of Long Island Sound, either in Rhode Island or Connecticut. His father, Hon. Oscar F., was the son of Samuel Potter, a prominent lumber mer- chant of Washington County, N. Y. He was born in that county and became a man of influence and power. Following his father's occupation, he became a lumber merchant, and established his headquarters in Troy, N. Y., but spent his time principally in New York City, and northern and central New York, where his business called him. Politically he was active in the Republican party in the early days of its history. Several times he was elected to the New York legislature and as assemblyman, during his first term he changed the vote to Roscoe Conkling for United States senator and was prominently identified with much important legislation of his party. With his com- bined duties as legislator and business man, his middle life was busily passed. He is now living retired from business cares, and makes his home in Watervliet, N. Y.

The mother of our subject was Condorsia An- toinette Bucklin, who was born in Saratoga County, N. Y., and died in Watervliet, N. Y., in 1883. She was a daughter of Isaac Bucklin, an inventor and stove manufacturer, who invented and made some of the first stoves ever manufac- tured in Troy, and for some time was connected with the manufacture of the Stewart stove. The present system of heating ovens by throwing the heat under and around the oven is one of his in- ventions. His wife was a Van Der Walker, of one of the old Knickerbocker families. Our sub- ject was one of seven children, six sons and one daughter, namely: Frederick O., a merchant of Watervliet, N. Y .; Isaac B., an attorney in New York City, and president of the League of Amer-

ican Wheelmen; Samuel M., who is connected with the railway mail service in New York state; Joseph W., who is with the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company at Troy; Charles F., who was born in Watervliet, Albany County, N. Y., Sep- tember 25, 1861; Jesse E., who is with the Over- man Wheel Company of New York City; and Mrs. U. G. Taylor, of San Angelo, Tex.

In the grammar and high schools of Troy our subject obtained a fair education, after which he took a course in civil engineering under private tutors. He assisted in the building of the water works system of West Troy and adjacent towns, also the building of the large bridge over the Hudson River at Lansingburg, and was an assist- ant to the city engineer at Watervliet. For two years he was connected with the department of public works, under Governor A. B. Cornell, of New York. When Cleveland became governor of the state, he resigned his position and moved to New York City, where he took up the study of law, which he had previously commenced in Troy. Upon completing his preparation for that profes- sion, he was admitted to the bar in Brooklyn, N. Y., in December, 1883, soon after forming a partnership with his brother, Isaac B., as Potter & Potter, with offices in the American Exchange Bank building, and afterward in the Potter build- ing, New York City. He built up a lucrative practice, devoting much time to corporation law.

In the spring of 1885 his health failed and upon the advice of his physician he came to the moun- tain regions of the west, hoping to regain his health. He spent some years in practice at San Angelo, Tex., and traveled extensively in Old Mexico and other interesting parts of the south and west. In 1892 he came to Colorado Springs and the next year opened an office, forming a law partnership with Gen. A. Danford, as Danford & Potter. After two years the partnership was dis- solved and since then he has been alone. His specialty has been mining and corporation law, and he is recognized as one of the leaders in this branch of his profession. He has had charge of and carried to successful conclusion many very important cases, and is known as a successful practitioner. He has incorporated many mining companies now operating in the west, and at the present time is counsel for many corporations in Colorado, New Mexico and Oregon. He has a large practice before the department of the inte- rior in Washington, D. C., relative to the matter of contested litigations in mining patents. In pol-

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itics he is a Republican, but independent enough at all times to support and favor ability and in- tegrity in all candidates.

In Mount Vernon, Iowa, Mr. Potter married Miss Clara E. Smith, who was born there and graduated from the college in that town. She is an accomplished musician and a ceramic artist of some note. They have one child, Jamie. In re- ligion the family are connected with the First Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. Potter is pres- ident of the congregation. He is a director in the Y. M. C. A. of this city, and in numerous min- ing corporations. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias.

ON. J. S. GIBSON. About the middle of the seventeenth century a colony from the - North of Ireland settled in North Carolina. In the party was John Gibson, who, some years later, was killed by the falling of a tree upon him. By his marriage to Jane Gibson he had two sons, Burwell and Isaac, the former of whom was the grandfather of the subject of this sketch.

In Virginia Burwell Gibson married Keziah Jackson, and in 1805 he moved to Kentucky, but seven years later he settled in Clark County, Ind., where he was a pioneer farmer. His son, Isaac Gibson, was born in Clark County, Decem- ber 8, 1814, grew to manhood on the home farm, then removed to Washington County, Ind., thence to Clark County, and from there, in 1851, to Fairfield, Jefferson County, Iowa, where he engaged in the hotel business for two years and carried on farming for four years. In 1857 he settled in Tekamah, Burt County, Neb., where he now resides, at eighty-six years. He is the owner of two farms which he improved. Fraternally he is a Mason.

The mother of our subject, Isabella Walker, was a native of Green (now Adair) County, Ky., and now ninety-two years of age. Her father,. James, was a descendant of a family that emigra- ted from Scotland to Pennsylvania, the first of the name, James Walker, residing in Philadel- phia, then in Lancaster County, Pa., where our subject's grandfather was born. The latter moved to Washington County, Ind. His second mar- riage united him with Editha (Boyle) Smith, and they removed to what is now Adair County, Ky., where Mrs. Gibson was born. In 1809 they moved to Clark County, Ky., and in 1828 settled in Washington County, Ind., on a farm near Salem, where Mr, Walker died in 1832. Our subject

was the oldest of ten children, of whom three sons and one daughter are living. One of the sons, George W., now living in Kansas, was a soldier in the Civil war, serving in the company to which our subject belonged. Another son, Hiram V. B., resides in California.

Near Salem, Ind., where he was born April 5, 1835, our subject remained until six years of age, removing thence to Clark County with his par- ents. In 1851 he traveled by boat to Keokuk, Iowa, then by teams to Fairfield, Iowa, where he attended the university and also taught school. In 1856 he went to Omaha, then a town of less than five hundred whites, but with four times as many Indians. He engaged in the restaurant and hotel business, also in farming. In Septem- ber, 1862, he enlisted for three years, in Company B, Second Nebraska Cavalry, but instead of being sent south was ordered to fight the Indians on the frontier, and the limit of service also changed to one year. He was stationed at Fort Kearney, where he assisted in quelling Indian uprisings. In the fall of 1863 he was honorably discharged. He then entered the quartermaster's department in Omaha, as master of transportation, remaining as such until the close of the war. After the close of the conflict he embarked in the grocery business in Omaha, continuing until 1869, when he started in the clothing business. In 1880 he sold that business and entered the store de- partment of the Union Pacific Railroad at Omaha, where he remained for two years, and was then sent as assistant storekeeper to the Idaho divis- ion of the Union Pacific system, with headquar- ters at Pocatello, Idaho. In the spring of 1885 he went to Caldwell, and had charge of a restaurant for the same road. Resigning in 1886, he en- gaged in the real-estate business in Omaha, con- tinning there until 1892, when he came to Colo- rado Springs. Here he is engaged in the bro- kerage business, and since August 1, 1898, has been deputy in the county treasurer's office. For a time he was at the head of the Gold Spring Mining Company in Cripple Creek, but sold his interest. He was one of the first members of the Board of Trade in both Omaha and Colorado Springs. In politics he is a Democrat. While in Omaha he was for four years a member of the Nebraska legislature, member of the city council six years and its president four years, also mayor of Omaha for one year. He is a member of Post No. 22, G. A. R., and is an aide to the depart- ment commander, as major, with the rank of

JOHN D. PARMELEE.

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

colonel. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Honor and Masons, and was an officer in the chapter and lodge at Omaha. In religion he is identified with the First Presbyterian Church. His marriage, in Tekamah, in 1861, united him with Miss Annie E. Harney, who was born in Illinois, and descends from the general of that name.

G EORGE S. PARMELEE. The Parmelee family is said to have originated in a noble Belgian house named Parmelié. Maurice de Parmelié was a reformer of the sixteenth century, who, about 1567, fled to Holland to escape the persecutions of the Duke of Alva. In Holland he founded the house of Von Parmelee, his third son, Johannes, becoming baron of Batavia. Among the list of passengers on the "Elizabeth and Ann" in 1635, appeared the name of "Jo. Parmeley (aged) 20." On board the first vessel that entered the harbor of New Haven was John Parmelin, supposed to be a son of Johannes, and father of "Jo. Parmeley." Joel, tenth child of John (2d), had a son, Hezekiah, whose oldest son, Simeon, was born August 3, 1740, fought under the British flag against the French from 1757 to 1760, afterward assisted in organizing the town of West Stockbridge, Mass., and in 1775 became a soldier in the continental army, which he accompanied to Canada.

The fourth child of Simeon and Jemima (Hop- kins) Parmelee was Simeon, Jr. One day when he was a boy, his father hitched his ox-team to the cart, put in his household goods, his wife and children, and started for what was then the fron- tier, Vermont. Hejourneyed slowly, along roads cut just wide enough for teams to pass. Reach- ing Pittsford, Vt., the family settled on uncleared land and father and son began to frame a log cabin. There was little upon which to subsist. Day after day Simeon and his sisters were sent out into the woods to gather wintergreen berries, and on these the family lived until they raised a crop of corn. In the winter the boy went to school, held in a log house with windows of oiled paper and seats of rough slabs, where the teacher could scarcely read or "cipher." When twenty years of age he started out in the world for him- self,'and went to New York, where he selected a farm, but was without the means to pay for it. Returning home, he worked as a wagon-maker, in order that he might obtain the money with which to buy the land. While working at his trade he

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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 28

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