Portrait and biographical record of the state of Colorado, containing portraits and biographies of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 67

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 67

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Stock Company, of Engle, N. M., in which, as in his other enterprises, he has been remarkably successful.

In Middlesex County, Mass., ten miles from Boston, the subject of this sketch was born June 3, 1842. His father, William, Sr., was a native of Scotland, and was married in England, his wife, Jane, being a native of the latter country. Soon afterward he brought his wife to America and settled in Massachusetts, where he engaged in landscape gardening. When his son, William, was a child of four years, his mother dying, he was taken into the home of his paternal grand- mother, with whom he remained until he was sixteen years of age, meantime attending the pub- lic school. From her home he was taken into the home of F. T. Bush, a tea merchant, who sent him to a boys' school at Auburndale, Mass., in order that he might be taught navigation. On completing his course in the school the merchant secured for him a position as cabin boy on the "Kearsarge," and on his first trip he was gone for two years, visiting the Sandwich Islands and other foreign ports. He followed the sea for six years, being meantime promoted until he became second mate. From the foreign countries he vis- ited (Japan, China, etc.) he brought back a choice collection of curios, which he still retains. Upon leaving the sea he went to Detroit, Mich., and there made his first important start in a finan- cial sense. He remained in that city until his re- moval to Colorado in 1871.

February 24, 1878,in Middlesex County, Mass., Mr. Holmes married Miss Charlotte Seaverns, daughter of William and Elida (Lucas) Seaverns, natives respectively of Middlesex County and New Hampshire. The maternal great-grand- father of Mrs. Holmes was a colonel in the Rev- olutionary war. Mrs. Holmes was reared on the home farm and received an excellent education in the Lassell Seminary for young ladies at Au- burndale. She was from childhood delicate in health, but since removing to Colorado lias be- come strong and rugged. The three children born of this union are: Albert, who was born at the old Cotten house on Fountain Creek, El Paso County, May 27, 1881; Agnes, who was born in Colorado Springs, July 2, 1882; and William, who was born in the same city April 17, 1884. Both Mr. and Mrs. Holmes are fond of reading and keep posted concerning matters of public in- terest and importance. The multiplicity of other duties never prevents them from taking a warm

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interest in matters of local or national interest, and they possess a breadth of intelligence that makes them very genial and companionable. Since boyhood Mr. Holmes has been a stanch Re- publican, and in fraternal relations he holds membership with the lodge of Odd Fellows at Colorado Springs.

ON. H. WATSON HALLETT, who served as a member of the ninth general assembly

- in 1893, and in the extra session of 1894, representing Garfield County, was born in Hy- annis, Barnstable County, Mass., March 17, 1839, and was a descendant of an Englishi family that settled with the Plymonth colony in Massachu- setts. His grandfather, Capt. Watson Hallett, a native of Hyannis, was a seafaring man, en- gaged in the coasting trade. The father, Watson, Jr., was a builder in Hyannis, where he died at forty years of age. He married Mary Baker, who was born in Hyannis, and died there. She was a descendant of a family that came from England with the Plymouth colony. Her father, Capt. Seth Baker, was a sea-captain in the trans- Atlantic trade, and died in Hyannis. Our sub- ject was one of two children. His brother, Joseph L., now in New York City, was a lieuten- ant in the Thirty-first Massachusetts Infantry during the Civil war.

In 1845 our subject removed to Springfield, Mass., with his parents. When a boy he was employed on the Boston & Albany Railroad; later was a clerk in the office of the Springfield Gas Company, and then for five years was book- keeper for Smith & Wesson. For five years le engaged in the jewelry business, but failing health obliged him to seek a more genial clime. In 1880 he came to Colorado Springs, where he started in the undertaking business with his uncle, Charles Baker, the two forming the firm of Hal- lett & Baker. After the death of his uncle Capt. Seth Baker entered the firm, which has con- tinued, without change of name, to the present time. For three years they had a branch busi- ness in Kansas City, the firm name there being Hallett & Co. For three years Mr. Hallett was manager of the Leadville Undertaking Company at Leadville. In 1891 he went into the Cripple Creek district, where he has since had mining interests. He was interested in the cattle busi- ness in Garfield County on the Grand River, and was secretary of the Grand Valley Ranch and Cat- tle Company for six years. In 1892 he was

elected to the legislature from Garfield County, on the Republican ticket, and served in the house as member of several committees.

While in Springfield, Mass., Mr. Hallett was made a Mason. He is now a member of El Paso Lodge No. 13, A. F. & A. M .; Chapter No. 6, R. A. M., and Pike's Peak Commandery No. 6, K. T. He is also a member of Pike's Peak Lodge, I. O. O. F. In religion he is identified with the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Colorado Springs, in which he is a trustee. He is one of the well-known business men of Colorado Springs and has met with success in his chosen occupation. His marriage in Springfield, Mass., united him with Miss Nettie Webster, member of an old family there. They have three children: Charles J., Mrs. Mary F. More and Mrs. Emma Hayward, of Independence, Colo. Mr. Hallett has discovered an electrical process for washing, in placer mining, thus saving the flour gold, and he is now operating at Newland's Gulch, near Sedalia, this state.

JOL. JOHN H. BACON, who is well and favorably known in Colorado Springs as a man of great worth and integrity, was born in New York, June 27, 1828. In 1841 he moved to Jonesville, Mich. In 1848 he went to Wis- consin, and thence to Princeton, Ill., in 1851, being married there the following year to Miss Mary A. Weaver, a native of Pennsylvania. They removed to Washington, Iowa, in 1854. For four years he was trustee of the Iowa Agri- cultural College, and for thirty years was an active member of the Iowa State Agricultural Society. During the war he served as provost- marshal for the first district of Iowa.

In 1875 Colonel Bacon settled in Colorado Springs. He retired from business in 1887. Politically he is a strong Republican, and while in no sense of the word an office-seeker, he was prevailed upon to serve as mayor of Colorado Springs for one term. He has been tendered other offices of trust and honor, but has declined them. He has one son, William H.

Retired from active business cares, Colonel Bacon is living quietly at his comfortable home, "Glendale," one and one-half miles south of Colorado Springs, where he planned and erected a beautiful honse, surrounded by lawns that are artistically laid out. The residence is of unique and fine architecture, with a large conservatory. The grounds are laid out artistically, with trees

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promiscuously planted, their tall trunks encircled by the Virginia creeper and columbine. Cheyenne Creek flows through the grounds, and is spanned by ivy-covered rustic stone bridge and arches. An abundance of brilliant flowers and plants complete the beautiful effect of "Glendale."

IRAM A. LOWELL, a prominent stockman, came to Colorado in 1879, and has been a resident of Lincoln County since that date. In 1889 he received from Governor Cooper the appointment as county superintendent of public schools for Lincoln County, and was elected to fill the same official position three consecutive terms afterward, holding the office in all seven years. In the most efficient manner he promoted the educational interests, and greatly advanced the welfare of the schools here.

Our subject was born in Salisbury, Mass., September 13, 1845. His father, Hiram Lowell, was a native of the same place, as were also his grandfather, Benjamin W., and his great-grand- father, Simeon Lowell. The Lowells are of English origin. The first of the family to come to the United States was Walter Lowell, who settled at Newbury, Mass., in 1639, with liis wife and two sons, Richard and John. This family had left their home in Yardley, England, to brave the terrors of the deep and land on the shores of America, where the hardships to en- dure and the dangers to encounter were no less terrible than those of the sea. From John Lowell descended a line of prominent divines and poets. Among the latter was James Russell Lowell, statesman and poet, who so ably represented this country at the Court of St. James. The descend- ants of Richard Lowell became shipbuilders and seafaring men.

Hiram Lowell, a descendant of Richard, and father of our subject, was born in October, 1814. He attended the public schools of Massachusetts, and learned the business of shipbuilding in his father's shipyards. He continued in that busi- ness until his death, which occurred at his old home, April 14, 1897. His wife survived him but a short time, dying January 4, 1899. She was of Scotch descent, and bore the maiden name of Mary Jones, being a daughter of John Jones, of Salisbury, Mass. She became the wife of Hiram Lowell January 1, 1837. They were the parents of nine children, namely: Frederick E., Martha A., Mary H., Hiram A., Benjamin Frank, Clarence, Agnes, Helen and Arthur H.

The early education of our subject was ob- tained in the common schools of Salisbury. Later he was a student in the Putnam Academy at Newburyport, Mass. After leaving school he entered the counting room of John Currier, Jr., an extensive shipbuilder at that place. From there he went to Minneapolis, Minn., and was employed in the shops of the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company for five years, also was for a time a railroad mail agent. In 1879 he came to Colorado. Since 1884 he has been en- gaged in the cattle business, and is now the owner of herds in Elbert and Lincoln Counties, finding markets for the same in Denver, Kansas City and Chicago. In addition to his stock he is the owner of several houses in Hugo, which he built in 1880. He has never married, but his life is by no means a solitary existence. His time is divided between his business in Hugo and Lincoln County and the recreation which travel affords. He has visited all parts of this nation and Canada, and annually returns to the home of his childhood, where he visits relatives and renews the associations of his youth. He is an ardent sportsman, a lover of horses and dogs, and all kinds of live stock generally. Personally he is a genial, open-hearted man, who is a friend to the needy, and of a companionable disposition that wins the regard of associates. In politics he is always Republican, but liberal withal. He attends the Methodist Church near hi's home in Hugo, and is a liberal contributor to the same.

OBERT J. GOLDACKER. During the years of his residence in Bent County Mr. Gold- acker became known as an enterprising ag- riculturist and a man of unquestioned integrity, and his death was regarded as a public loss. In 1885 he settled three miles west of Las Animas, where he had pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land, and in 1887 he increased his prop- erty by the purchase of an adjoining quarter-sec- tion. His land was irrigated by the Las Animas consolidated ditch and was one of the best-im- proved estates in the county. Since his death it has been managed by his widow, who is a lady of wise judgment and excellent business ability.

In Berlin, Germany, Mr. Goldacker was born January 21, 1851, a son of Frederic Wilhelm and Wilhelmina Caroline (Casper) Goldacker. His father, who was an expert in the weaving of camel's hair shawls and also a designer of patterns for fancy dresses, came to America in 1854, to

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seek for employment. Soon afterward the mother died. The following year the father, who had secured work in Philadelphia, sent for his chil- dren, Matilda (then twelve years old), Charles (who was nine) and Robert, who was four. They joined him in Pennsylvania, where they remained until 1860, the father meantime marrying a sec- ond time. From there they removed to New Jersey and settled on a farm, where our subject grew to manhood. After he was thirteen years of age he did not attend school, but, being fond of reading, he acquired a broad knowledge of the world. At the age of twenty he began to clerk in a store and also kept books in the store of Harris Brothers, who were manufacturers of paper and owned extensive paper mills.

July 3, 1876, Mr. Goldacker married Miss Mary E. Mathis, who was born and reared in New Gretna, Burlington County, N. J., a daughter of Phineas K. and Mary A. (Cramer) Mathis, the former of Holland-Dutch descent, the latter of English lineage. The wedding trip of Mr. and Mrs. Goldacker consisted of a journey to the Cen- tennial Exposition at Philadelphia. The follow- ing year he was made foreman of the paper mills and continued in that capacity until he resigned to accept work with another house. For two years lie was bookkeeper in the R. D. Woods & Company cotton mills, at Millville, N. J. The confining nature of his employment injuriously affected his lungs, which were weak. For that reason he decided that a change of occupation and climate was necessary. He came to Colorado and for two years clerked in the store of James Cassidy, after which he pre-empted the land on which the last decade of his life was passed.

Although he was reared in the Republican faith, Mr. Goldacker never voted that ticket, but allied himself with the Democrats. For seven years he served as a member of the school board, and during his incumbency of this office the new brick schoolhouse was erected, he donating the land on which the building was erected. At dif- ferent times he held the position of deputy county clerk and for six years he served as deputy county treasurer. He was also deputy in the assessor's office for two years, and while there his daughter, Mande, also assisted in the office. Healways in- clined to the Lutheran religion, his parents hav- ing reared him in that faith; his wife was identi- fied actively with the Methodist Episcopal Church from her girlhood. He passed from earth March 14, 1898, mourned by a large circle of friends, but

especially by his wife and children, whose wel- fare and happiness had ever been uppermost in his mind.

The three children of Mr. and Mrs. Goldacker are: Maude C., Robert Carl and Mary. The older daughter, who was born in Harrisville, N. J., graduated from the Las Animas high school in 1894, as valedictorian and with the honors of her class. Afterward she attended the Central Nor- mal College at Great Bend, Kan. From 1895 to 1897 she taught in the school near her home, but now has a position in the graded school at Clifton, Ariz. Robert Carl was born at Harris- ville, N. J., August 7, 1880; and Mary was born in Las Animas February 14, 1885; both are with their mother on the home farm.

ENRY MC ALLISTER, JR., of Colorado Springs, the well-known and efficient pros-

- ecuting attorney of his district, and a mem- ber of the law firm of Blackmer & McAllister, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., February 28, 1872, and is of Scotch descent. His father, Maj. Henry McAllister, was born in Wilmington, Del., and gained his title of major by service as a com- missioned officer in the Civil war. Afterward for some years he was secretary of the American Iron and Steel Association of Philadelphia. Coming to Colorado iu 1872, for some years he held the position of secretary of the Colorado Springs Company. Later he turned his attention to the stock business and general agricultural pursuits, in which he has since engaged, being the owner of a ranch near the city. Since the time of his removal west, he has been numbered among the prominent business men and pro- gressive citizens of Colorado Springs, where he has a host of warm personal friends. His father, Henry McAllister, was born in Pennsylvania and for years was a manufacturer and merchant of Philadelphia, where his death occurred. In religion he was identified with the Friends' Society.

The marriage of Major McAllister united him with Miss Elizabeth Cooper, who was born in Philadelphia, Pa., her father, Townsend Cooper, having been a farmer of that locality. The three children born of this marriage were Henry, Mary C. and Matilda. The only home our sub- ject has ever known is Colorado Springs, for he was brought here in infancy, and has continued to reside here up to the present time. He grad- nated from the high school in 1889 and from

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Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania in 1892, with the degree of Bachelor of Letters. After- ward he studied law in his home town and in 1894 was admitted to practice at the bar. He continued with Lunt & Armit, with whom he had conducted his studies. In January, 1895, this firm dissolved partnership, and the firm of Brooks, Armit & Blackmer was established. At the same time Mr. McAllister was appointed assistant district attorney under Mr. Blackmer. After three years in that capacity he was, in 1897, nominated district attorney on the Republican ticket, and was elected by a majority of eighteen hundred, taking his seat in office in January, 1898, to continue until January, 1901. In April, 1896, he formed a law partnership with Mr. Blackmer, which has since continued, the office of the firm being in the Giddings building.

In his political views Mr. McAllister is a pronounced Republican, and is active in the work of the party in his city and locality. He is a member of the State Bar Association and re- tains connection with the Delta Upsilon Society of his alma mater. At Jericho, Long Island, he was united in marriage with Miss Phoebe H. Ketcham, daughter of Isaac Ketcham, an old resident of that town. Mrs. McAllister was born on Long Island and received her education in Swarthmore College, from which she graduated in 1892. They have one son.

ON. JAMES K. DOUGHTY. The village of Lamar, Prowers County, was started in May, 1886, and a short time afterward Mr. Doughty settled here, opening an office for the practice of law. Since then he has been insep- arably associated with the growth of the town, and has become the owner of both city and farmi- ing property. In 1889 he was appointed county judge upon the separation of Prowers from Bent County, and at the two succeeding elections was chosen to fill that office, the duties of which he discharged with energy and efficiency. The Re- publican party in the county finds in him one of its most enterprising workers. He attends both the county and state conventions, and has fre- quently acted as chairman of the county central committee. During political campaigns he in- terests himself in the success of his party; he has made speeches in every schoolhouse in the county, and has been unwearied in his efforts to promote the party welfare.

The parents of Judge Doughty, William M.

and Martha (Guthrie) Doughty, removed from Cincinnati to Chicago, where they resided for some years, the father being agent for the Meth- odist Book Concern in that city. About 1864 they returned to Cincinnati, where he engaged in the insurance business. James K. was born February 26, 1853, during a visit of his mother to her old home in Cincinnati. The first twelve years of his life were spent in Chicago, where he attended the public schools. Afterward he at- tended school in Cincinnati, where he was pre- paring for admission to Yale College, but his health was affected by over-study, and he was unable to complete his intended course. After a rest of two years he entered the Cincinnati Law School, from which he graduated in 1878. His law education was most thorough. For three years he read with an uncle, and could easily have passed an examination for admission to the bar two years before he did, had he so desired, but thoroughness was his ain, and so he laid the foundation broad and deep. Even before open- ing an office he had been given charge of consid- erable business. A few months after graduating he went to Larned, Kan., where he built up a large practice and remained until his settlement in Lamar in 1886. Meantime, in October, 1883, he was married at Larned to Miss Minnie C. Brott, a native of Wisconsin. They have two children, Elizabeth and Charles.

Reared in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he has since youth been an active mem- ber of that denomination, and is now chorister and a trustee of the congregation in Lamar. In 1894 he was made a Mason in Lamar Lodge No. 90, with which he is now identified. He is also connected with the Woodmen of the World.

FROST LIGGETT, receiver of the United States land office at Lamar, Prowers Coun- ty, and the proprietor of a two thousand acre ranch in Kiowa County, was born in Brown County, Ohio, April 7, 1858, being the son of Thomas H. and Mahala A. (Frost) Liggett. His father, who was engaged in the tobacco business, remained in Brown County until 1870, then mov- ing to Kansas, tributary to Kansas City, Mo., and engaging in the nursery business.

Our subject was educated in the public and commercial business schools. In 1877 he crossed the plains for Old Mexico, horse back, and stop- ped at Santa Fe. Two years were spent on the cattle ranges. Three years he lived among the

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Indians. He has established several weekly newspapers throughout the country, done work for a number of daily journals, and been engaged in editorial work for fifteen years, and is also a practical printer. At one time he lived at El Dorado, Kan., and there studied law in the offices of Judges Aikman and Hamilton and the prosecuting attorney, George Gardner. In that city he married Miss Effie Siders, an estimable young lady, teacher of that county.

Mr. Liggett at one time lived at Wichita, Kan., and was a next-door neighbor of Mrs. Mary Lease. She was employed at that time on the Beacon and was just beginning her public career. He subsequently published the Leon Quill, and later went to western Kansas, where he published the Signal. After his wife's death, he himself being in poor health, with no domestic ties, de- cided to go abroad, but instead drifted to the Rocky Mountains, and on his return east overland, selected a ranch near the historical Big Sandy Creek battle ground, where Colonel Chiving- ton's famous Indian battle was fought-one of the most bloody and terrible in history-which ended the Indian warfare east of the Rocky Mountains. The Missouri Pacific (Pueblo & State Line Di- vision) Railroad was afterwards constructed through that section, and the town of Chivington was built on this land of Mr. Liggett's. Within twelve months the town grew to be an incor- porated city of about twelve thousand souls (and thirteen saloons). Mr. Liggett was one of the first to engage in mercantile business and con- ducted the largest establishment in the city. In 1888 he puchased the Chivington Chief, which he published for eight years, and during five years of this time he was postmaster of that town. In 1890 Governor Cooper appointed him county commissioner, in which capacity he served during the term. In August, 1895, he established the Press, at Sheridan Lake, the county-seat of Kiowa, and subsequently purchased several other papers, which were all merged into the Press. Of this weekly he is still publisher. For.a num- ber of years his paper was the official organ of his county. He was enumerator of the county and made the official census in 1890.

The subject of this sketch has had an eventful career. He has been engaged in mercantile pur- suits, mining, stockgrowing and numerous enter- prises not herein mentioned. He loves blooded stock-particularly a good horse. He is very fond of reading and spends considerable time in

the persual of current literature. In the fall of 1888 he was married to Miss Emma Orcutt, of St. Joseph, Mo., the ceremony taking place at Pueblo, Dr. E. Trumbull Lee officiating. Mrs. Liggett was born in Indiana and from there moved to St. Joseph, where she was engaged as a teacher in the public schools. A lady of superior education and attainments, and conversant with current events in the educational and literary world, she is a leader in all movements for the benefit of her locality, especially such as pertain to educational work. She was county superin- tendent of schools of Kiowa County for the years 1896 and 1897.

Mr. Liggett was deputy county treasurer of Kiowa County in 1895, and for several years was official printer and purchasing agent for the coun- ty. In July, 1897, he was appointed receiver of public moneys and special district agent, at Lamar.

Politically a Republican, Mr. Liggett secured and founded the first Republican organization in Kiowa County, also the first National League, of which he was chairman. This was during the Harrison campaign in 1888. He has been a mem- ber of the Republican state central committee or chairman of the county central committee ever since. His publication was the first in the state to hoist the name of Mckinley for president, and he stood firmly by his candidate. Fraternally Mr. Liggett is a member of Lamar Lodge No. 90, A. F. & A. M.

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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 67

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