Portrait and biographical record of the state of Colorado, containing portraits and biographies of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 63

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 63

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Frederick C., son of Henry Rohde, was em- ployed on Lake Ontario from boyhood, but in early manhood removed to Michigan, where he engaged in the manufacture of hard wood at Redford.and also improved two farms. His busi- ness was of such a nature as to necessitate considerable travel, and, being a man of close observation, he gained a broad knowledge of men and customs in different localities. In poli- tics he is an ardent Republican. Now, at the age of seventy-three, he is living retired in Red- ford His wife accompanied her parents to De-

kalb County, Ill., at nine years of age, and has since resided in the west. They have two sons and three daughters living, the latter in Detroit, while one son, George C., is county attorney of Gunnison County, Colo.

Born in Wayne County, Mich., March 22, 1859, the subject of this sketch attended the Redford grammar school and Detroit high school. In 1879 he came west and settled in Leadville, where he engaged in mining for a year. He was one of the first to enter Gunnison in 1880 and there prospected and mined. In 1885 he went to Aspen, where he engaged in mining until 1890 and afterward served as justice of the peace un- til he removed to Victor, in January, 1894. In the latter town he engaged in the real-estate and insurance business, and built a number of stores and houses which he still owns. As insurance agent he represented all of the old-line companies.

On the organization of the People's party Mr. Rohde became an adherent of its platform. He has served as a delegate to all of its conventions and has been active, both in Pitkin and El Paso Counties. In 1896 he was elected to represent this county in the legislature, receiving a ma- jority of sixty-two hundred on the fusion ticket, - and serving in the session of 1897, eleventh gen- eral assembly. His work as chairman of the committee on counties and county lines and the committee on public lands was especially valu- able, and he also served as a member of the finance and appropriations committee. Of the eighty-one bills passed by the eleventh assembly and signed by the governor, two were introduced by him. One of these provided for a check weighman for coal miners. The other provided for the reorganization of the militia and the weed- ing out of superfluous officers, at the same time giving benefit to the private. His vote was cast for Senator Teller as United States senator. In September, 1897, he was nominated on the fusion silver ticket county treasurer of El Paso County and was elected by one hundred and sixteen plu- rality, receiving a certificate of election. How- ever, his election was contested by the opposite party, and the lower court cancelled his certifi- cate, but the supreme court reversed tle decision of the lower court July 18, 1898, giving himself and the other candidates on that ticket their seats, and on the 30th of July he assumed the duties of the office. While in Victor he was several times offered nomination as mayor, but declined. He is still interested in a number of

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mining claims and is president of the Boston- Colorado Consolidated Gold Mining Company, which owns six patented claims.

In Salt Lake City Mr. Rohde married Miss Mollie, daughter of James White, a native of Tennessee. Mrs. Rohde was born in Covington, Ky., and received her education principally in Cincinnati, Ohio.

W. CARMACK, who came to Colorado Springs in May, 1888, is now treasurer of the Jersey Victor Mining Company, and since December, 1889, has been agent for the East Colorado Springs Land Company, which owns eleven thousand acres of land lying east of the city. He is a Pennsylvanian by birth, and the town in Fulton County, where he was born December 24, 1857, was called Burnt Cabin in memory of its destruction by fire at the hands of the Indians in early days. His father, Simpson B., a native of Fulton County and an only son, engaged in farm- ing and the mercantile business until his death at fifty-two years. The mother, whose maiden name was Mary Henry, was born on Clear Ridge, Fulton County, Pa., and died on the old Henry "homestead at sixty-two years of age. She was a daughter of John Henry, who emigrated to Pennsylvania from Ireland and settled on Clear Ridge, where he improved a farm, making that place his home until his death at eighty-four years. The Henry estate is now owned by our subject, the grandson of the original purchaser, who was a well-known man of his county and a soldier in the war of 1812.

The subject of this sketch was sixth in a family composed of six sons and two daughters, of whom all the sons are living, while the daughters are deceased. The oldest brother, William, who is residing in Pennsylvania, was a soldier in a Pennsylvania regiment during the Civil war and was wounded at Gettysburg. The only member of the family in the west is the subject of this sketch. Soon after his father died he started out for himself. In 1876 he removed to Illinois and for one year was employed on a farm near Mount Morris, Ogle County. Next he spent a year at Freeport, Il1. In 1878 he went to the Red River of the North, and settled twelve miles west of Fargo, N. Dak., where he engaged in farming one season.

Joining a party of eight, under Captain Back, Mr. Carmack went to the Yellowstone country in Montana in the fall of 1878, and for seven years

he engaged in hunting and trapping. During the first year, while hunting on Buffalo Range, one of the party was shot by the Indians in a fight with the Cheyennes. During the second year the men were attacked by Crow Indians, while trapping on the Mussel Shell River, and two whites and four Indians were killed. At . other times there were skirmishes with Indians. Mr. Carmack was at Fort Beaufort when Sitting Bull was captured. He was among the Indians so much, and especially the Sioux, that he be- came familiar with their language and was able to converse with them with readiness. Much of his time was given to trapping beaver and hunting buffaloes, and at one time, from Fort Keokah, (now Miles City, Mont. ) he saw a shipment made of eighty-six thousand buffalo hides by steam- boat.

About 188r, late in November, with three others, Mr. Carmack outfitted at Glendive and started for Cedar Creek to hunt and trap during the winter. He built a dugout, which was warm and comfortable, no matter how cold the weather might be. One morning he started out for the usual hunt. It was the custom for the men to walk about two or three hundred yards apart, within shooting distance. As he was pushing his way forward a companion excitedly exclaimed that a bear was in sight. With the answer "Good news," Mr. Carmack started after the bear with his companion. When he reached a knoll, he saw that the bear had been digging under the snow. He jumped on a large root of a tree, not knowing that the bear had burrowed under it. Bruin at once grappled him, and the two rolled down a twenty-foot embankment, the tumble giving him severe bruises, the marks of which still remain on his body. As they reached the bottom, the bear stood on his breast, like a fierce mad dog. He called to his friend, "For God's sake, Frank, shoot quick." His friend at once fired, which frightened the bear and caused him to take to the woods. Mr. Carmack, deter- mined not to lose him, followed with his friend, the two climbing into trees, from which he shot the bear through the shoulder. After. twelve balls had penetrated his body the bear fell dead. When dressed, he was found to weigh eight hun- dred pounds. In this instance, without doubt, the quick action of the friend saved the life of Mr. Carmack.

Returning to his old Pennsylvania home in 1885, Mr. Carmack engaged in farming for one

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

season. In May, 1886, he came to Colorado, remaining in Fort Collins until October, when he went to Buffalo Creek, Jefferson County. In May of the year 1888 he came to Colorado Springs, where he engaged in the transfer busi- ness until December, 1889, and has since then acted as agent for the East Colorado Springs Land Company.

J. W. Carmack was married in Chicago, Ill., in 1886. He has two sons, Norman and Verba.

A BRAHAM VAN VECHTEN, member of the Colorado Springs Transfer Company, is a descendant of one of the oldest families of America and traces his lineage to Holland. In ancient days they abode in fortresses on the banks of the River Vecht (meaning "battle,") in Holland. Their name was indicative of their chief characteristic. They were a fighting race, and from the time of the Roman camps on the Vecht, they participated in all the wars in which their native land was concerned. They took part in the siege of Haarlem, 1572-73, and the siege of Leyden, 1574. In the latter battle, when called upon to surrender, they replied: " We are short of provisions, but we will eat our left arms and fight with the right, but surrender, never."

The founder of the family in America was Teu- nis Dircksen Van Vechten, who, accompanied by his wife, one son, Teunis, and two black slaves, crossed the ocean from Holland in 1638, in the ship "Annes," on which they had taken passage in Norway. For his home he selected land at Greenbush, opposite Albany, on the Hudson. The early histories of that region mention him as a man of prominence and integrity, and a mem- ber of the council of safety. From his four chil- dren a large number of descendants have sprung.

Teunis VanVechten (2d) went to the Catskill Valley, where he bought land of Pewasock, squaw of the chief of the Catskill Indians, and from her son, Schupchof, and from Stephanus Van Cort- landt, the deed for which bears date of October 2, 1681. However, the deed was not recognized by the colonial government until March 21, 1686. In 1690 he built a stone house on the land, back of the present site of Catskill village, and on Catskill Creek, two miles above the Hudson. In that house several generations passed their lives.

In 1686 Teunis Van Vechten (2d) was given a commission as captain in the colony of New Neth- · erland, and in 1689, during the Indian wars, had command of a company at Lake Champlain, two

of his sons, Johannes and Teunis, being with him at the front. One of these sons, Teunis (3d), was a commissioned captain, being given a commis- sion in 1702, and served in the border wars in 1715. His son, Teunis (4th), was born in 1707, and served as a captain in the French and Indian wars in 1746 and again in 1756.

Samuel, son of Teunis (4th), was born Septem- ber 28, 1742, and was commissioned an officer in the militia September 10, 1770. During the Rev- olution, June 30, 1776, he was placed in charge of Fort Ticonderoga. During the most of the war he served under General Gates and Gen. Philip Schuyler. There are a large number of family relics now in the possession of Peter Van Vechten, of Milwaukee, Wis.

The father and great-grandfather of our sub- ject bore the name of Abraham. The grand- father was named Jacob. The great-grand- father was a prominent lawyer and jurist o New York, and was one of the first judges of the court of appeals of that state. His death occurred when he was advanced in years. His father was an attorney, as was also his son, our subject's grandfather, who died in Albany in middle age. Gen. Abraham Van Vechten, our subject's father, was born in Albany, graduated from Union College, became a successful attorney and was assistant attorney-general of New York state during the war. Politically he was a Re- publican. He was one of the influential mem- bers of the Holland Club. His death occurred in 1894, when he was seventy-eight years of age. His wife, who resides in Albany, was born in Fort Snelling, Minn., where her father, Maj. Henry Hamilton, U. S. A., was then stationed. Her mother was a daughter of Major Whistler, U. S. A. Her ancestry were prominent in the war of 1812, the Revolutionary war, and in the various wars in which England participated prior to that date. Fort Hamilton was named in honor of the family.

The subject of this sketch was one of eiglit children, four of whom are living, our subject being the oldest son and the only member of the family in Colorado. He was born in Albany, N. Y., June 3, 1854, and received his education at Wal- nut Hill school, Geneva, N. Y. On his return home he engaged with the Albany City Iron Com- pany, of which his father was president. He continued with the company as chief clerk until ill health forced him to change his occupation and climate. Coming to Colorado iu 1884 he

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

spent two years in recuperating, after which he originated and promoted the Colorado Springs and Manitou Street Railway Company and built the first lines, six miles in length, connecting Colorado Springs and Colorado City. Of this company he was general manager and secretary. " The road was first operated in 1886, and after three years he and the other stockholders sold it to the Rapid Transit Company. In October, 1890, he bought an interest in the Colorado Springs Transfer Company, of which he is the active manager, and which is the largest concern of its kind in the city and next to the largest in the state. He has large stone stables on Cascade street and every facility for the successful man- agement of the business. He owns a country place on Cheyenne Canon road.

In politics Mr. Van Vechten is a Republican and in religion an Episcopalian. He was mar- ried in Chicago, Ill., to Miss Rosemary Daven- port, who was born in Wheeling, W. Va., and is a daughter of Benjamin Davenport, formerly of Zanesville, Ohio. They are the parents of two children, Benjamin Davenport and Eleanor Dav- enport.

ALTER D. SAWIN is a member of the firm of Hutchinson & Sawin, proprietors of the El Paso livery stables, at Manitou. He is a descendant of an English family that set- tled in Cambridge, Mass., in colonial days, and was from that time forward intimately identified with the history of that locality. His grand- father, John Sawin, who was a chaise manufac- turer in the town of Wendell, on the old stage route from Boston to Albany, continued in busi- ness there until the infirmities of age compelled him to retire. Hedied in that village at eighty- three years of age.

The father of our subject, Daniel Sawin, was born in Cambridge, Mass., and became a carriage manufacturer in Wendell, later was similarly en- gaged in Amherst, Mass., and finally removed to Belchertown, where he continued in the manu- facturing business until his death, at seventy-one years. He married Elizabeth Chamberlain, who was born in New Salem, Mass., and is now living in Springfield, that state. They became the parents of six children. Andrew T., who was the eldest of these, is employed as ticket agent in Northampton, Mass. Farnum E., the second son, served for three and one-half years in the Fourth Massachusetts Cavalry during the Civil

war; he is now assistant superintendent of the street railway in Springfield, Mass. The three daughters are: Mrs. Lena French, Mary and Mrs. Lilla Gaylord, all of Springfield, Mass.

The third among the six children was the sub- ject of this sketch. He was born in Wendell, Franklin County, Mass., October 27, 1846. Un- til fourteen years of age he was reared principally in Amherst, after which he accompanied his parents to Belchertown, and attended the high school there. Later he graduated from Deerfield Academy. His first position was in Northamp- ton, where for four years he was employed in the bookkeeping department of a grocery store. In April, 1867, he went to Omaha, Neb., and during the same year came across the plains with a mule- train expedition, arriving in Denver in the fall. Since that time he has made Colorado his home, although for brief periods he has been interested elsewhere. During the summer of 1868 he worked in the Cimarron mines at Elizabethtown, N. M. On hisreturn to Colorado, in the fall of the same year, he settled in El Paso County, and, the Indians being very troublesome at the time, he at once joined a company and went to the divide.

After working for a short time on a horse ranch on Little Fountain, in 1871 Mr. Sawin returned to Denver, where for a year he was in the employ of H. B. Ring & Co. In June, 1872, he went to Manitou, joining Mr. Hutchinson, with whom he had previously been on the horse ranch. During the summers of 1872, 1873 and 1874 they had charge of a half-way house on the old Pike's Peak trail, packing the provisions up on horse- back and accommodating as many as four hundred a day. It was a common thing for them to send thirty-five horses in one bunch on the Pike's Peak trail, and at times they sent as many as sixty-five. Notwithstanding their large and somewhat perilous business, they never met with an accident and no one was ever injured in making the trip.

A Republican in politics, Mr. Sawin has been prominent in the public life of Manitou. For one term he was mayor of the city, for four terms served as alderman, and for six years was re- corder. For fourteen years he has been a member of the school board, which he has served continu- ously as secretary. He is the present master of Manitou Lodge No. 68, A. F. & A. M. In this city he married Viola Kelsey, who was born in Newport, N. H., and died in Manitou in 1894.

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

They were the parents of four children: Ray- mond, a graduate of the high school, and now assisting his father in business; Robert, a high- school student; Lilla, who is attending school at Wolfe Hall, Denver; and Kittie.

AURICE P. TRUMBOR, one of the lead- ing merchants of Cheyenne County, pur- chased a stock of general merchandise at Cheyenne Wells in May, 1898, and with Mr. White as a partner has since built up a large trade among the people of the village and sur- rounding country. As a business man he has proved himself to be energetic, capable and per- severing, and through the reliability of his deal- ings he has gained the confidence of the people and a position of prominence in business circles.

The degree of success which Mr. Trumbor has gained speaks well for his industry and persever- ance, for he was left at an early age to work his own way in the world, and had no one to assist him in obtaining an education or getting a start in business. His father, Noah Trumbor, a na- tive of Pennsylvania and a shoe merchant in Allentown, Lehigh County, died in 1876. During the Civil war he had served as captain of a com- pany in the Union army; in fraternal relations he was a Mason and Odd Fellow, while in religion he was identified with the United Brethren Church. He was the son of a Pennsylvanian, who worked in the mines of that state.

Born in Allentown in 1864, Maurice P. Trum- bor was one year old when his mother, Susan (Miller) Trumbor, passed from earth, leaving two sons, the elder of whom, William H., is now an engineer at Glenwood Springs, Colo. Eleven years after the death of the mother occurred the father's death, and from that time forward our subject was thrown upon his own resources to earn a livelihood. When he was sixteen he came as far west as Topeka, Kan., and there for two years he was employed in a carriage factory. Afterward, coming to Colorado, he secured work with the Weber Carriage Company in Denver. While in that city he assisted in building the Union depot, one of the finest railroad stations in the country; also the Tabor Opera House block, the St. James hotel, and many other large build- ings. Afterward he was connected with the bridge and building department of the Union Pa- cific Railroad. On coming to Cheyenne Wells he became interested in merchandising, and is now in partnership with Mr. White, the county clerk.

In politics Mr. Trumbor has been earnest and hearty in his advocacy of Republican principles. Like every true citizen, he takes an interest in all matters that have to do with local or national prosperity. Among his fellow-citizens he has wielded considerable influence. He has served efficiently as mayor and alderman, and is now town clerk. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias and Odd Fellows. His mar- riage, which took place in 1894, united him with Miss Mahaska Tinsley, who was born in Iowa, but in girlhood came to Cheyenne County with her father, an employe of the Union Pacific Rail- road. Two children bless their union: Leda and George.

While Mr. Trumbor's educational advantages were limited, owing to the fact that he was obliged to support himself from an early age, yet by observation, reading and experience he ed- ucated himself, and his fund of general knowl- edge is second to none of his neighbors.

D. HALLE, who is a popular and prom- inent teacher of voice culture in Colo- rado Springs, came to this city with the highest recommendations as to proficiency and skill, and with a high reputation as vocalist and instructor which he had gained during his resi- dence in eastern cities. He opened a studio at No. 106 North Tejon street, where he has since given instruction in every branch of vocal music. During the seventeen years that he has given attention to voice-building and tone production, he has attained an accurate knowledge of the best systems, and under his instruction voices are strengthened and their compass greatly enhanced. Through his study under two of the greatest Italian masters of Europe and America he has become thoroughly familiar with the Italian method, which he adopts in teaching, and which renders possible a purity of tone and artistic finish.

Mr. Halle is a comparatively recent acquisition to the musical circles of Colorado Springs, having come to this city in January, 1898. He was born in Nauvoo, Hancock County, III., October 19, 1855, a descendant of English ancestors who · were early settlers in New England. His grand- father, William Hall, was a soldier in the Black- hawk war and removed from New York state to. Hancock County, where he lived in retirement. O. J. Hall, our subject's fatlier, was born in New York state, and devoted his active life to farming,

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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

but is now living retired in Carthage, Ill., where he is a man of wealth and high standing. He married Ellen Cordry, who was born in Cin- cinnati, Ohio, of English descent, and whose talent for music has been inherited by her son. He was the oldest of five children, the others being Clifton Hall, D. D. S., who has his office in the Masonic Temple, Chicago; Mrs. Y. B. Haagsma, of Chicago; Melvin, who is a merchant; and Mrs. Stella Gordon, of Carthage, Ill.

Prior to the completion of his literary course in Carthage College, the subject of this sketch left that institution in order to take up the study of music in the conservatory at Jacksonville, Ill., where he spent two years, graduating in vocal music. After teaching for a short time in St. Louis, he went to New York City, in order that he might continue his studies under the best masters, and later he was a teacher of singing in the Chicago Conservatory. In 1890 he went to Europe, where he studied in different cities, principally with Signor Garcia, the most cele- brated teacher in Europe. On his return to the United States he continued his teaching for a time in Chicago, and then went to Keokuk, Iowa, where he met with remarkable success as an instructor. It is his intention to start a con- servatory of music in Colorado Springs, which he believes to be the finest place in America for an institution of this kind, and this object was the chief reason for his removal to the Springs. He has composed a number of songs. Prominent among his works is "Holly-Days," a musical charade. All of his productions evince an unusual degree of talent.

The name of Halle, by which he is usually known, is professional, the family name being Hall. In the various places where he has taught he is recognized as a fine vocal instructor. The Chicago Elite News is one among the many papers that has noticed his work in a complimentary manner, and we quote from it as follows: "W. D. Halle has been devoting himself to the musical profession for a number of years and has made for himself an enviable reputation as a soloist and vocal instructor. After graduating at school lie went to New York City, where he studied har- mony for three years under B. O. Klein, piano- forte with Goldbeck, Epstein & Poznanski; and singing with Signor Tamaro. Afterward he pursued his studies in London with the cele- brated vocal master, Signor Garcia, and while in England sang at the Alexander Palace with

leading artists of that country. He then devoted one season to singing in opera, taking lead- ing tenor parts. He first began to teach in the Temple of Music in St. Louis, in 1880, whence he came to this city to fill a position in the Chicago Conservatory when that institution was first opened. With the exception of one season given up to an operatic tour, he has continued to reside here ever since, and is generally recognized as one of the ablest of Chicago's vocal teachers."

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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 63

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