Portrait and biographical record of the state of Colorado, containing portraits and biographies of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 45

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 45

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Politically Mr. Avery is a Republican. For three terms he served as a member of the city

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council. In New York state, February 24, 1876, he married Miss Sarah Edson, who was born near Auburn. Three children were born of their marriage: Edgar, Ethel and Mettie. The children are being given the benefits of good educations. Mrs. Avery is identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church, to the maintenance of which Mr. Avery is a regular contributor.

In reviewing the history of any community there are always a few names that stand out pre- eminent. In the history of Fort Collins the name of Mr. Avery is prominent. Doubtless few have accomplished more than he in behalf of the city's interests, the development of its resources and the enlargement of its commerce. He has aided by his means and influence those projects calculated to promote the welfare of the people and advance their prosperity. Progressive plans have been promoted by his co-operation and local interests have received his fostering aid. Justly, there- fore, he occupies a position among the most influ- ential men of the town and county.

DWARD C. PARMELEE. The record of the life of Mr. Parmelee since coming to Colorado is a record of the growth and prog- ress in Masonry during the same period. No one has been more prominent in the order than he and no one has contributed more to its ad- vancement. Upon the organization of the grand chapter of Colorado he was elected grand secretary, which position he has since held. He has also been grand recorder of the grand commandery of Colorado since its organization in 1876. He is identified with the consistory of Colorado in Denver and for a number of years has been recorder and secretary of the several bodies of the Scottish Rite.

The connection of Mr. Parmelee with human activities began in Waterbury, Vt. The family of which he is a member came from Wales to America, but originated in Holland, where the name was Van Parmelee. William Parmelee was born in Londonderry, Conn., in 1775, and re- moved from there to New Hampshire, but later became a pioneer farmer of Summit County, Ohio. His son, Lucius, was born in New Hampshire, whence in early manhood he removed to Water- bury, Vt., and embarked in the boot and shoe business, continuing the same until his retire-

ment. He died at seventy-seven years of age. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Ann Wallace, was born in New Hampshire, the descendant of an old Scotch family, and died in 1840, at the age of thirty. Her father, James Wallace, was born in Connecticut, but removed to New Hampshire, where he owned and con- ducted a boot and shoe store.

The third in order of birth, and the only sur- vivor of six children, the subject of this sketch was orphaned by his mother's death when he was quite small. He attended the public school of Waterbury, where he obtained a fair education. At the age of seventeen he went as far west as Summit County, Ohio, and there became a clerk in a mercantile store. It was not long, however, before the excitement occasioned by the discovery of gold in the mountains of Colorado brought many argonauts from the east. With them came many who have since resided in the state and have been influential factors in the development of its resources. Among them came Mr. Parmelee in 1860, making the long journey via ox team from Kansas and finally arriving at what is now Central City, in Gilpin County, where he began prospecting and mining. While still connected with mining interests there he formed a partner- ship with Mr. Sayr and opened the first abstract office in Gilpin County, later also starting the first abstract office in Clear Creek County. In 1887 he went to Pueblo County, where he also engaged in the abstract title business. In 1891 he sold out, and this time settled in Denver, where he has since given his entire attention to the duties of his position as grand secretary.

In 1857, in Monroe, Iowa, Mr. Parmelee was made a member of Monroe Lodge No. 88, A. F. & A. M. On coming to Colorado he became identified with Central Lodge No. 6, A.F. & A.M., and later was connected with Georgetown Lodge No. 48, A. F. & A. M., of which he is still a member and past master. While in Central City he joined Central City Chapter No. 1, R. A. M., and at Georgetown he became a charter member of Georgetown Chapter No. 4, of which he was the first high priest. His membership is now in Colorado Chapter No. 29. In 1866 lie was made a Knight Templar, in Cuba, N. Y., becoming a member of St. John's Commandery No. 24, later of Central City Commandery No. 2 (in which he was an officer) and afterward of Georgetown

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Commandery No. 4, in which he is past com- mander. He is now identified with Denver Commandery No. 25.

Though without political aspirations, Mr. Parmelee is not without decided opinions upon the issues of the age and has allied himself with the silver Republicans, being a stanch advocate of bimetalism.

OL. J. L. HANDLEY, M. D., supreme secretary and vice-president of the Fraternal Union of America, was one of the original promoters of this order, for which he assisted in securing a charter in 1894. With the formation of Union Lodge No. 1, of Denver, he was actively connected; a noteworthy fact connected with the history of this lodge is that its first candidate for admission was Mayor Van Horn, and he was also the first of the members to die. From the first Colonel Handley was supreme secretary of the order, and upon the reorganization, in Septem- ber, 1896, he was made supreme vice-president, both of which offices he has since filled, having full charge of the order. The purpose of reor- ganization was to change the modus operandi, profiting by the experiences of the past and making of the order the most modern institution of its kind. Since actively commencing the work of organization in 1896, the Union has gained lodges throughout the country, as far east as Ohio, and west to the Pacific Coast. The entire time of the supreme secretary is given to the work of organization and the supervision of lodges. The supreme president is F. F. Roose, of Omaha, and the supreme treasurer S. S. Baty, of Denver. The Union is a fraternal, social and benefit order, and provides accident, total disabil- ity, old age and death benefits, creating a matu- rity or reserve fund which guarantees its perma- nency. It combines the most equitable features and guarantees cheapness in the future, when most orders will be expensive. The fact that both sexes are admitted on equal terms wins many friends for the fraternity.

Colonel Handley was born in Sheffield, Eng- land, February 9, 1834, the son of James and Martha (Ennis) Handley, the former of whom died of paralysis in Sheffield. One grandfather, Lawrence Handley, was a manufacturer in Shef- field, and the other grandfather, John Ennis, was in the English navy during the Napoleonic wars,

1812-15, and afterward was connected with the shipping interests of Dover, England. Mrs. Handley had three children, but two died in childhood, and she spent her last days in the home of her only surviving child, our subject, in Carmi, Ill., where she died at the age of sixty years.

At the age of fourteen our subject began an apprenticeship to the tanner's and currier's trade, but he did not like the work and decided to come to America. With a cousin, in 1848, he left Liverpool on the sailer "Harriet Augusta," which encountered severe storms and landed in New York after a voyage of six weeks. He se- cured employment as clerk in the store of Priest Brothers, in Albany, and while there, in 1850, sent for his mother to come to this country. In 1851, with a corps of engineers, he made surveys for the widening of Erie Canal, and after a year in that work he came as far west as Evansville, Ind., where he was assistant engineer on the Evansville & Crawfordsville Railroad. In 1854 he settled in Carmi, White County, Ill., where for two years he was bookkeeper for Stewart & Graham, and for a similar period was with Albert Shannon, dry-goods merchant. Meantime he began the study of medicine, under Dr. E. L. Stewart. In the fall of 1857 he entered Jefferson Medical College, from which he graduated in 1859, with the degree of M. D., and then engaged in practice at Carmi.

In 1862 he was commissioned assistant surgeon, with the rank of captain, of the Eighty-seventh Illinois Infantry, the surgeon being his former preceptor, Dr. Stewart, and he served with the regiment during the entire war. After the fall of Vicksburg the regiment was sent to New Or- leans, and from there accompanied Banks' expe- dition up the Red River to Sabine Cross Roads, where his command brought on a fight by at- tacking Dick Taylor's forces. From there they went to Morganzes Bend at the mouth of the White River and later scouted through the country, finally reaching Helena, Ark. He was mustered out at Springfield, Il1., July 3, 1865.

After the war Dr. Handley located in Mount Erie, Wayne County, Ill., which was quite close to his former home in Carmi. In 1868 he was nominated, on the Democratic ticket, for the po- sition of clerk of the circuit court and recorder of the county, and was elected, taking the oath of

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office immediately after his election. He removed to Fairfield, the county-seat, where he resided for some years. At the expiration of his term, in 1872, he was re-elected, this time by an overwhelm- ing majority, and served until 1876, when he refused further nomination. During that year the circuit judge appointed him master in chancery of Wayne County, and by appointment every two years he served until 1886. In 1885 President Cleveland appointed him postmaster of Fairfield, but the next year he resigned that office, as well as the position of master in chancery.

In the spring of 1887 he came to Denver, where he became connected with the postoffice department and was appointed the first superin- tendent of carriers. On the appointment of John Cochrane as postmaster he resigned, though soli- cited to remain in his position. During his term as superintendent he organized the carrier system and perfected its management. After serving as bookkeeper for A. C. Harris for a year he was appointed a sanitary inspector in the health de- partment of Denver. While Dr. Steele was health commissioner he created the office of lieutenant of sanitary inspectors and organized the corps. On Dr. Lemen becoming health commissioner, Colonel Handley was appointed superintendent of the health department and had full charge of the sanitary affairs of the city. He was retained in the same position by Dr. Munn. In Septem- ber, 1896, he resigned to become supreme sec- retary of the Fraternal Union.

In Carmi Colonel Handley married Miss Clar- inda Hoffman, who was born in Virginia and died in Fairfield, Ill., in March, 1873. She had two children, only one of whom is living, Bessie S., wife of William Nelson, of Portland, Ore. The colonel's second marriage took place in Fairfield, Il1., April 27, 1874, and united him with Miss Sallie N. McCall, of Kentucky, by whom he has a son, Lawrence R.

While in Illinois Colonel Handley was made a Mason, and he still has his membership in the lodge at Carmi, in which he was an officer, and also held official position in the Royal Arch Chap- ter there. In the council at Fairfield he was Thrice Illustrious Master, and he also belonged to Commandery No. 14, K. T., of Olney, Ill. At one time he was connected with the Odd Fellows. He is a member of Reno Post No. 39, G. A. R., of Denver, in which he was commander for two

terms. He was quartermaster general in the department of Colorado and Wyoming for two terms, with the rank of colonel. He is also con- nected with the Union Veterans' Legion. During his residence in Illinois, he was frequently a del- egate to local and state conventions, and also served as delegate to the national convention at St. Louis, where Samuel Tilden was nominated for president. In Illinois he was a well-known man of affairs and a leading politician of his local- ity. He is a member of Trinity Methodist Episco- pal Church.

- BNER LOOMIS, president of the Poudre Valley Bank of Fort Collins, is one of the pioneers of Colorado who have achieved - financial success through attention to business and determination of will. He was born in Chautauqua County, N. Y., December 17, 1829, and was next to the youngest among twelve children, all but one of whom attained maturity and eight are still living. His father, William, a native of York state and a member of an old eastern family, settled in Ohio in 1834 and from there in 1840 went to Iowa, locating near Fair- field, Jefferson County, where he engaged in farming until his death at sixty-six years. His wife, who was Sylvia Morton, was born in New York and died in Birmingham, Iowa.

In the public schools of Iowa the subject of this article obtained a fair education. He learned gunsmithing in Iowa. In 1850, with a company from the vicinity of Birmingham, Iowa, he went to California, going via the Platte with horse- train, through South Pass, via Fort Hall, down the Humboldt, aud arriving in Sacramento after five months of travel. For four years he engaged in mining on the Trinity River, after which he turned his attention to buying and selling cattle, having his ranch on Belle Creek. In 1859 he re- turned to Iowa, via Panama and New York City. It was then the time of the Pike's Peak gold ex- citement, and he fell a victim to the prevailing fever. In April, 1860, he again started across the plains, this time going from Kansas City by stage to Denver, where he met Antoine Janise, a Frenchman from Cache la Poudre, who had been here from twelve years of age. He told Mr. Loomis that he had found gold in the sands of the Cache la Poudre and its tributaries, and in- duced him to come here. June 27, 1860, he

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arrived at the stream, where he prospected for a month, finding gold in small quantities, but not enough to pay for the expense of mining. How- ever, he decided that money might be made here in other ways than mining, and determined to engage in the stock business. With this object in view, he bought the ranch at Pleasant Valley that is now owned by Captain Post. Returning to Omaha, he bought a supply of provisions, etc., and returned via ox-train. In the spring of 1861 he dug the first ditch ever dug on the Cache la Poudre (now known as Pleasant Valley ditch) and by the aid of irrigation raised a small crop. In the fall of 1861 he planted a sack of black wal- nuts, brought from the vicinity of Omaha, and it is probable that this was the introduction of the black walnut into Colorado. The trees are still growing and have been transplanted to different parts of the county. In 1862 he raised some potatoes and a fair crop of wheat. He continued with increasing success until 1867, when he sold the place, and, settling in Spring Canon, estab- lished a cattle ranch, buying Shorthorns which he crossed with Spanish cows. In 1871 he sold that place and settled in the new town of Fort Col- lins. In the spring of 1872 he moved his cattle on Horse Creek, north of Cheyenne, where he had a ranch, and later took them to Sabile, Wyo., then above Fort Casper, on the North Platte, in Wyo- ming, where he kept them several years, finally selling to Swan Brothers. His next venture was to start a ranch further north, not far from Sun- dance, where the Indians were very troublesome. There he put in ten thousand head of cattle, with Charles Andrews as his partner in the business. After some years he sold the ranch to the 101 Cattle Company, of which Colonel Babbitt was manager. From that time he continued stock- dealing and feeding in Fort Collins, making a special feature of sheep feeding. He has owned three different farms here, and now has a place adjoining Fort Collins, from which he has plat- ted eighty acres as an addition to the city. His comfortable home stands on Remington street.

In early days a company was organized for protection from the Indians. He was a member of this organization and was considered one of the best trailers in that entire section, being able to track an Indian as fast as his horse could run. In 1864 he made one trip to Virginia City, Mont., freighting with a bull-team. In 1861 he had

made a trip with an ox-team to the Missouri River, and in the spring of the next year made his third trip to the Missouri, while in the fall he again crossed the plains, with mule-team and spring wagon. During that trip he was married, in Bethany, Mo., to Jane Isabelle Allen, who was born in Missouri and died at Excelsior Springs, that state, in October, 1893. She left five chil- dren: Leonidas, a graduate of the State Agricult- ural College and now engaged in the stock business near Fort Collins; Lelia, a graduate of the State Agricultural College, and now the wife of T. H. Robinson, of Fort Collins; Guy, a merchant in Fort Collins; Effie, wife of Charles Dwyre, of Fort Collins; and Jasper. All the children have been given excellent educational advantages in the college in this city. The present wife of Mr. Loomis was Mrs. Melinda Maxwell, who was born and reared in Independence, Mo., and came to Colorado in 1873. She is a member of the Chris- tian Church and a lady of estimable character.

Politically a Democrat, Mr. Loomis was county commissioner for twelve years and for a number of years served as chairman of the board. His nomination to this office came unsought by him, but though he did not seek the position, he filled it with the greatest efficiency. While in the office he superintended the making of bridges and roads for the county. He has frequently served as a member of the city council, and while in that position assisted in the building of the water works. While ranging in Wyoming he was identified with the Wyoming Cattle Growers' Association. Before leaving Iowa he was made a Mason, and after coming to Fort Collins he be- came a charter member of the blue lodge here.

The history of the Poudre Valley Bank shows that an institution that has at its head men of business sagacity and judgment will attain suc- cess. This bank is the outgrowth of the private banking house of Stover & Sheldon, that began in business here in November, 1878. In 1882 Abner Loomis and Charles B. Andrews purchased an interest in the concern. In 1877 the bank bought the stock owned by Mr. Andrews. In February, 1893, the bank was incorporated as a state institution, and a capital paid in of $100,000. The president is Abner Loomis; vice-president, James B. Arthur; cashier, Charles H. Sheldon; assistant cashier, Verner Wolfe. These men, to- gether with C. B. Andrews, W. C. Stover, N. C.

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Alford and James Andrews, form the board of directors. The banking rooms are located at the corner of Linden and Walnut streets, in a large three-story brick building owned by Mr. Loomis. Here they have improved fire proof and burglar proof vaults, so arranged as to afford perfect se- curity to the contents. Under its wise and con- servative managers, the bank is doing a large and safe business, and has attained a place among the solid financial institutions of the county.

ON. RICHARD H. WHITELEY, SR., was born in the north of Ireland December 22, 1830. In 1836 he was brought to America, first settling in Charleston, S. C., and thence going to Augusta, Ga., where he attended school until 1839. He was then apprenticed to learn the trade of a cotton and woolen manufact- urer at Belleville, near Augusta, where he re- mained until 1848, and from that date until 1860 was engaged in the same business at other places. His last work in that line was the erection of a cotton and woolen factory at Bainbridge, Ga.

During his last years in business Mr. Whiteley had been studying law, and in the spring of 1860 he was admitted to the bar. He continued in active practice until the opening of the Civil war. In 1861 he took an active part in the issue of secession, and both through the press and on the stump opposed secession, both as a right and as a remedy. Entering the Con- federate army when war was declared, he was with the western army and surrendered as major of infantry under Gen. Joseph E. Johnston at Durham Station, N. C., in 1865. When the question of reconstruction was brought up he fa- vored the policy of congress and opposed the action of President Johnson, maintaining that the first duty of southerners was to unconditionally accept the results of the war.

In 1867 Mr. Whiteley was elected to the state constitutional convention, and was a member of its judiciary committee. In 1868 he was nomi- nated by the Republicans of the second district of Georgia for the fortieth congress and was elected by a large majority, but was defrauded by a false count. In the fall of 1868 he was ap- pointed solicitor-general of the southwestern cir- cuit, a position resembling that of district attor- ney in the north. He served in that capacity

until elected to the forty-first congress. In Feb- ruary, 1870, he was elected United States sena- tor by the general assembly of Georgia, but on a contest before the senate the election was de- clared to be illegal. During the same year he was elected to the forty-first and forty-second congresses by the Republicans of the second dis- trict, and served during both sessions. In 1870 he established the Bainbridge Sun, a Republican newspaper, and edited it until it was destroyed by political incendiaries during the congressional canvas of 1872. He was a delegate to the na- tional Republican convention held in Philadel- phia in 1872, and during the same year was again elected to congress, and again succeeded in de- feating an attempt to count him out. In 1874 and 1876 he was elected to congress by large ma- jorities, but both times was defrauded by false counts.

In March, 1877, being fully satisfied that there was no hope of a change of policy in the south, he determined to remove to Colorado, for whose admission as a state he had voted in congress. He came to Boulder and engaged in the practice of his profession until his death, in 1886. Frater- nally he was a Knight Templar Mason. His wife was Margaret E. Devine, who was born in Ireland, and now resides in Boulder. She was a daughter of Rev. Archibald Devine, a minister in the Church of England, and for years a resi- dent of Georgia. Of her ten children two sons and two daughters are now living. One son, Montford, is a merchant in Boulder, and another, Richard H., Jr., is a prominent lawyer of this city. Charles, who was employed in the treasury department, died in Washington.

ON. RICHARD H. WHITELEY, JR. Both in public affairs and in the profession of the law Mr. Whiteley has become known - as one of the most prominent men of Boulder and this portion of the state. After graduating from the law department of Harvard College in 1885 with the degree of LL. B., he opened an office in the Holstein building, Boulder, and has since carried on a large general practice. In 1888 he was nominated and elected on the Republican . ticket as state senator from Boulder, and served in the seventh and eighth general assemblies, being the youngest member of the senate and at

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the same time one of the most active. In the seventh assembly he introduced a general rail- road bill to regulate tariff charges, but was in the minority and the bill failed to become a law. He introduced and was instrumental in securing the passage of the Australian ballot law. In the eighth assembly he was chairman of the judi- ciary committee. At the expiration of his term in 1892 he was not a candidate for re-election, but resumed the active practice of his profession. In addition to his private practice he is attorney for the National State and Boulder National Banks and is attorney for numerous other com- panies.

The youngest son of Maj. Richard Henry and Margaret E. (Devine) Whiteley, the subject of this sketch was born in Bainbridge, Ga., July 14, 1861. He received his education in private schools until coming to Boulder in 1878, when he entered the University of Colorado, graduating with the first class in 1882. The degree of A. B. was conferred upon him at graduation, and four years later he received the degree of A. M. He is a member of the Delta Tau Delta, a Greek letter society. In 1882 he entered the Harvard law department, from which he graduated three years later. He at once began the practice of his profession in Boulder. He is recognized as one of the leading and influential Republicans of the state. Fraternally he is connected with Boulder Lodge No. 45, A. F. & A. M., in which he is a past master; the chapter, commandery and consistory, and El Jebel Temple, N. M. S., of Denver.

In Boulder occurred the marriage of Mr. Whiteley to Miss Ella Tyler, who was born in Gilpin County, Colo., and received her education in the University of Colorado, graduating in 1885. One child, Richard Tyler, blesses the union. Mrs. Whiteley is the daughter of Capt. C. M. Tyler, who was a captain of troops during the Indian troubles and was one of the pioneers of Gilpin County, his life being intimately asso- ciated with the early days of that county.

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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 45

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