Portrait and biographical record of the state of Colorado, containing portraits and biographies of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 78

Author: Chapman Publishing Company, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Chicago, Chapman Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1530

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Cal., at the age of ninety years. The maternal grandfather of our subject was Rev. George R. Edwards, a leading minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, in Georgia, and also for some years proprietor of a mercantile store in that state. At the opening of the Civil war he enlisted as chaplain of a Georgia regiment, but died, while in the service, at sixty-one years of age.

James A. Killian, our subject's father, was born and reared in Georgia, where in early life he en- gaged in teaching, becoming well known in edu- cational circles. During the war he was a soldier in the Thirty-sixth Georgia Infantry, which was assigned to the western department, and with his regiment he took part in the memorable siege of Vicksburg, as well as many other engagements during his four years of service. Afterward he removed to Texas. Now, at the age of sixty- three years, he is enjoying a well-merited rest from his labors, and is living retired at Monrovia, Cal. By his marriage to Mary F. Edwards, of Georgia, he had five children, namely: Sarah, wife of J. J. Parris, of Lockhart, Tex .; Lutie, who married John Motheral, of Willowvale, I. T .; James R .; Elizabeth, Mrs. Eugene Gillis, of Smithville, Tex .; and Laura Olive, wife of Bruce Motheral, of San Marcos, Tex. The mother of these children died when thirty-seven years of age.

In Pickens County, Ga., May 28, 1867, the subject of this sketch was born, and in the same locality he passed the years of youth. At the age of sixteen he accompanied his father and the other members of the family to Texas, where he attended the Coronal Institute, and later taught for three years, being principal of the Long Branch public school. In 1891 he entered the Texas State University, from which he graduated in 1893 with the degree of LL. B. In the fall of the same year he located in Walsenburg, Colo., where he has since built up a valuable practice. He was admitted to the bar of Texas and passed the examination for admission to the supreme court bar in 1892, before the completion of his college course; and, after coming to Colorado, he was admitted to practice before all the courts of this state. For two years he gave much of his time to the rejudication of the water rights for water district No. 16. Both as city attorney of Walsenburg and county attorney of Huerfano County, he has rendered service that proves his ability as a lawyer and his energy as a man. In all matters relating to his profession he main-

tains a deep interest, and his opinion upon im- portant questions is formed only after thoughful, careful consideration of the subject from all sides, and is therefore valuable and bears weight with others. The Democratic party receives his sup- port, and he has acted as chairman of the county central committee.

Mr. Killian is a member of the Greek letter Kappa Sigma fraternity in the University of Texas, and was one of its official board while in college. In fraternal relations he is connected with the Woodmen of the World. For two years he was worshipful master of Huerfano Lodge No. 27, A. F. & A. M., and he is also identified with Chapter No. 27, R. A. M., Oriental Command- ery No. 18, K. T., and is grand orator of the grand lodge of the state of Colorado. In the Methodist Episcopal Church South he is serving as a trustee, steward and superintendent of the Sunday-school. As a representative of the Denver conference of his denomination, he attended the quadrennial conference of the national organiza- tion, held in Baltimore, Md., in May, 1898.

November 3, 1897, Mr. Killian married Miss Ada Werner, a native of Indiana. In early childhood she accompanied her father, John Werner, to Kansas, where she passed the years of girlhood, devoting considerable attention to artistic work. She is an active worker in the Sunday-school, and an official member of the Walsenburg Ladies' Saturday Club, which she represented in the annual meeting at Greeley, this state, in 1898. Since coming to Colorado, she has been especially interested in literary work and painting, in both of which lines she has gained an enviable reputation for skill and efficiency.

AMES B. CHAPMAN, county commissioner of Conejos County, residing at Manassa, was born in Boone County, Mo., November 15, 1856. He is a son of Thomas Chapman, who came from Yorkshire, England, at the age of fifteen, and landed in New Orleans, proceeding from there to Memphis, Tenn., and thence to Louisville, Ky. In 1839 he settled in Boone County, Mo., where he opened a wagon and car- riage factory, and soon became a man of promi- nence. For several years he served as mayor of Rocheport and also held the office of magistrate. In religion he was a faithful member of tlie Christian Church. His death occurred in Roche- port when he was seventy years of age.

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The boyhood years of our subject were spent in Missouri, where he was educated in public schools. Upon leaving home he went to Dodge City, Kan., where he engaged in the milling business. It 1888 he came to Colorado, and settled at Man- assa, Conejos County, where he carried on a flour and grain business for eight years, building up a large trade in his vicinity. He has always be- lieved in the policy of the Democratic party and has supported its principles. For two terms he served as a member of the Manassa town council. In 1893 he was elected a member of the board of county commissioners and in 1897 was re-elected to the office, which he has filled with great credit to himself and very satisfactorily to the people. In 1898 he was a delegate to the state convention of his party held at Colorado Springs.

July 8, 1885, Mr. Chapman married Sarah E. Alexander, of Chatopa, Kan., and they have three sons: James D., Archie T. and George G. Mr. Chapman is interested, as a stockholder, in the Manassa Water Company. The property which he is accumulating shows his determina- tion and unflagging industry. While he has had diverse experiences and many obstacles, unde- terred by hardships, he has worked steadily on- ward, assisted by his capable wife, and is now in independent circumstances.

ON. ANTONIO D. ARCHULETA, ex- senator from Conejos and Archuleta Coun- ties, was born in Taos, N. M., in 1855, a son - of Jose Manuel Archuleta, who settled in Cone- jos County in 1855 and is still living there. The boyhood years of our subject were passed in Conejos County, where he remained until 1887. He then moved to Archuleta County and em- barked in farming and stock-raising, becoming in time one of the most extensive agricultorists of the county. On his ranch are from one to two hundred head of fine cattle. As a stock-raiser he has been unusually successful, and through his energy and business ability has become well- to-do.

A stanch Republican, Mr. Archuleta is a friend and supporter of the Mckinley administra- tion and is one of the local leaders of his party. In 1886 he was elected a member of the first house of legislature of the newly admitted state and by re-election he served for two terms as the repre- sentative of Conejos and Costilla Counties. In 1883 he was elected to the state senate from Conejos County and served for four years. Dur-

ing the second year of his service he introduced the bill providing for the separation of Archu- leta from Conejos County; it was his intention to name the new county Pagosa, but his friends in the senate objected, and urged the adoption of Archuleta as the county name.

Fraternally Mr. Archuleta is a member of Pagosa Camp No. 412, Woodmen of the World. In 1877 he married Louriana Gallegoz, by whom he has one son, Daniel Ross.

- REDERICK O. ROOF, cashier of the Wal- senburg Banking Company, is one of the prominent men of southern Colorado, and has many friends, not only in the town where he resides, but in other localities as well. He is a leading Republican of Walsenburg, and has taken an active part in all matters pertaining to the wel- fare and progress of his town and county. For seven years he was a member of the board of aldermen and also acted as city clerk. For years he has served efficiently as clerk of the district court of Huerfano County. In 1890 he was elected county clerk aud afterward was twice re- elected, serving until January, 1896, when he retired to accept the appointment as cashier of the Walsenburg Banking Company. His name has been frequently mentioned, here and else-

where, as candidate for state offices, particularly that of state treasurer, and without doubt his fit- ness for public service will receive recognition of this nature before many years have passed away.

A descendant of a pioneer family of West- chester County, N. Y., the subject of this sketch was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., in 1860, a son of Stephen and Emeline Roof, both of New York City. His early life was spent in Crawford County, Pa., his father being one of the first producers of oil in that region. He graduated from the Titusville high school, after which he learned telegraphy, and operated for the oil com- panies throughout western Pennsylvania. In 1883 he went to North Dakota, where he acted as agent for the Northern Pacific Railroad one year. In 1884 he came to Colorado, and for three years was employed as operator and agent for the Den- ver & Rio Grande Railroad Company in Pueblo, thence going to Cucharas. While in the latter town he was elected clerk of the district court of Hnerfano County.

Besides his other interests, Mr. Roof is man- ager of the Walsenburg Electric Power Com- pany, in the organization of which in 1888 he

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took a leading part. He is also interested in the line. He built two of the highest reservoirs in real-estate business in the city, having built some the world, both of these being on Pike's Peak. business blocks here, and has invested in cattle and sheep, which he raises aud sells. In fra- ternal relations he is connected with the Wood- men of the World, and is also a Mason, belonging to Huerfano Lodge No. 27, A. F. & A. M., and Chapter No. 27, R. A. M. In 1892 he was united in marriage with Inez V. Townsend, by whom he has two daughters, Estella and Freda.

HOMAS ORD, a successful business man residing in Colorado Springs, is of Scotch and German parentage, and inherits the sturdy integrity of the one nation, combined with the thrifty and progressive spirit of the other race. His father, Francis Ord, was born in Edinburgh and at the age of eighteen came to the United States, settling in what is now West Blue Mound, Iowa County, Wis., where he im- proved a large grain and stock farm and also en- gaged in lead mining. Following the example of his forefathers, he adhered to the doctrines of the Presbyterian denomination. In politics he was a Republican. His death occurred in 1864, when he was fifty-four years of age. The lady whom he married was Susan Ranestein, who was born, of German descent, in Lancaster County, Pa., and was a faithful member of the Lutheran Church. She died in 1861, at thirty-nine years of age, when her son, Thomas, was a boy of five years. Her other children are: Mrs. Jane Miller, of Oregon; Mrs. Lydia E. Kenny; Belle and William, of Colorado Springs.

In Iowa County, Wis., Thomas Ord was born, August 12, 1856. After his father's death the family became scattered and he was put out to work ou a farm, with the privilege of attending school in the winter. The estate was settled by John Adams, father of Alva Adams, ex-governor of Colorado, and the guardian of our subject. Afterward Mr. Ord went to Iowa, where he worked on a farm. Later he was employed in lumbering and rafting on Apple River iu Wis- consin, and while there had many exciting ex- periences. In the spring of 1876 he came to Colorado and engaged in mining and in lumber- ing on the divide. In 1880 he commenced con- tracting on a small scale, but gradually increased in the amount of business transacted. Among his contracts were some for the Midland, Santa Fe and Denver & Rio Grande Railroads and a power plant for the Colorado City Electric short

In addition to contracting, since 1886 Mr. Ord has engaged in the stock business. He owns sixteen hundred and fifty acres, all fenced, eight miles northeast of Colorado Springs, and gives considerable attention to the management of this place. He is the owner of considerable real es- tate in Colorado Springs. Two quarries, one at Colorado City, the other at Manitou, were opened by him, and are now operated under his super- visiou. Some of the finest buildings in this city and other Colorado towns have been built of stone from the Manitou green stone quarries or the Old Town sandstone. His mining interests in Cripple Creek are important and of increasing value. As road overseer he has been instru- mental in advancing the interests of the roads of El Paso County, and in other ways he has proved himself to be a progressive citizen, with an active interest in local matters.

The marriage. of Mr. Ord, in Dubuque, Iowa, united him with Miss Hattie Swope, who was born in that city. She is a sister of Charles H. Swope, in whose sketch the family history ap- pears. Mr. and Mrs. Ord are the parents of three children: Belle, May and Carl. In religion the family are identified with the Methodist Epis- copal Church.

ICHARD CLOUGH, who is a well-known railroad contractor and mining broker of Colorado Springs and whose residence in Colorado dates from 1879, is a member of an old English family. His father, Robert B. Clough, was for a time engaged in manufacturing, but later carried on a wool business, and held a prominent place among the business men of Yorkshire, as well as taking an active part in local political affairs. His death occurred when he was fifty-one years of age. He was a son of Rev. Robert Clough, a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church.

The mother of our subject was Matilda Blakey, who was born in Yorkshire, daughter of John Blakey, a shoe merchant there. She had a brother, John Blakey, who was a rich flour merchant, and a cousin, John Blakey, who be- came a wealthy manufacturer of shoes. Her death occurred in Yorkshire, of which her family were old and prominent residents. Of her ten children all but two attained maturity and six are now living. Three of the number are in

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England. One daughter, Grace, is the widow of P. J. Keegan, a large contractor; she lives in Durango, Colo. A son, John H., who lived in Australia for seventeen years, now makes his home in Colorado Springs. The next to the oldest of the family is Richard, who was born in Bradford, Yorkshire, England, August 12, 1847. He attended private and national schools in York- shire. When a boy he learned the manufacture of woolens, going through the work of each department until he was familiar with it as a whole.

Coming to America in 1874, Mr. Clough settled in New Jersey, and for nine months was a laborer employed on the Delaware & Bound Brook road near Trenton, but afterward, for eighteen months, was employed as manager of construction. Then, going to Philadelphia, he engaged in general con- tracting, and had contracts on the various roads leading out from that city, besides which he built a number of residences. In 1879 he came to Colorado, where he began railroad building at once. His first contract was on the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, over the Conejos range, between Chama and Durango. His next contract was on the Silverton branch of the same road. He then built a portion of the Colorado-Midland, including all of the Midland Terminal from the divide to Cripple Creek, this being the only broad gauge road that leads to Cripple Creek. Before this he had built the first wagon road leading to the Cripple Creek camp and had incorporated the Hayden Toll Road Company, with himself as president and manager. After a time the road was sold to the county of El Paso. In the Mid- land-Terminal route of thirty miles there is a tunnel six hundred feet in length, while some of the other work on the road is as heavy as any that he ever contracted for. He has built all of the sewers, ditches and reservoirs at Colorado Springs, and the flume and ditch at Aspen. Since coming to this state he has been interested in mining, principally in Cripple Creek. Some years ago he formed a partnership in the broker- age business with H. L. Fagen & Co., which con- tinued until the spring of 1898 and was then dissolved, since which time he has carried on the stock brokerage business under his individual name. In 1899 lie contracted to build a new railroad from La Veta to Wagon Creek, Colo., a distance of about twenty-seven miles; the road will be double tracked, with three tunnels; fifteen hundred men will be required to assist in the com-

pletion of the contract in six or seven months. He was one of the early members of the Colorado Springs Mining Stock Association. Besides his railroad, mining and brokerage interests, he is engaged to some extent in farming and stock- raising. A Republican in politics, he has been active on committees and in local conventions of his party. He is a member of the Order of Elks and the Pike's Peak Club.

ESSE H. LEWIS, county judge of Mineral County, was born in Greenville, Tenn., in 1843, a son of Zadock and Ann M. (Smith) Lewis, both natives of Tennessee. His father was a wagon and carriage maker and a builder of flat boats in early life, but after removing to Iowa he engaged in the mercantile business; he died in Kansas in 1863. When our subject was eight years of age he accompanied his parents in their removal from Tennessee. He assisted his father in his store until sixteen years of age, after which he engaged in teaching school. In 1861, while a student in a school at Leesville, Henry County, Mo., he enlisted in the Confederate army, and for eighteen months he continued in active service, but was finally captured by Federal soldiers. On being released he joined his regiment.

After the war ended Mr. Lewis made his home in Centropolis, Kan., for one year. Afterward he remained for a few years in Franklin County, of which he was elected assessor in 1868. He next went to Osage County and took up a tract of land, which he began to cultivate. In 1869 he was elected register of deeds of that county, which position he filled with ability and efficiency. His next enterprise was in connection with the news- paper business, his partner being Judge L. D. Bailey, a former district judge. The two published the Lyndon Signal. After two years in this busi- ness, Mr. Lewis began to teach school, continuing in that occupation for two years. In 1875 he came to Colorado, settling at Las Animas, and thence going to Laveta, finally locating at Garland City, then the terminus of the railroad; there he en- gaged in the lumber business and furnished most of the lumber used in the building up of the town. At Alamosa he established the Alamosa Sentinel, which in 1887 he moved to Antonita, and there conducted it for a number of years. In 1892 he brought the paper to Creede, changing its title to the Creede News, and for two years published the

WILLIAM H. MC CLURE.

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paper here, after which he leased it for a short time, and then sold it to Albert L. Moses, the attorney.

Besides his other interests, Mr. Lewis has en- gaged in mining to some extent. Under Gover- nor Waite, in 1894 and 1895, he held an official position in the state penitentiary at Canon City. Politically he was at one time an active Democrat, but of recent years has identified him- self with the People's party. In 1897 he was elected judge of Mineral County, which position he now fills. Fraternally he is a member of Alamosa Lodge No. 44, A. F. & A. M., of which he served as secretary for four years.

The marriage of Mr. Lewis in 1865 united him with Mary Doty, of Kansas. In his family there are six children living. Ida is the wife of Edward E. Putnam, a contractor connected with the Commodore mines at Creede; George M. is a railroad engineer on the Deuver & Rio Grande Railroad; Charles E. is an engineer on the same road; Myrtie is the wife of A. V. Skinner, a soldier of the Spanish war; Wilber and Edward Earl are at home.

ILLIAM H. MC CLURE is, with one ex- ception, the oldest surviving settler of Canon City. Though there were a num- ber of houses iu the village, there were but four people living here when, with a party of twenty families, he arrived at this then frontier town. The fortunes of the place were at a very low ebb, and there was little to indicate the prosperity it would in future years enjoy. He has witnessed the growth of the shanty town, semi-annually deserted, into a fine city of modern business blocks and fine residences, twelve of which he has built himself. He has assisted greatly in local development, and is interested in every enter- prise for the general good. Besides being en- gaged in the real-estate and insurance business, he is treasurer of the Canon City Building and Loan Association, which has had a remarkably successful history, having closed out two series of seventy-three months each; and the committee who examined the accounts reported not even a nickel shortage, while it has never been necessary to take up a single piece of real estate.

Mr. McClure descends from one of three brothers who came to this country in an early day and settled in New York. His grandfather, William, served in the war of 1812, and was wounded and left for dead on the battlefield, but

recovered sufficiently to be conveyed to the hospital at Norfolk, Va., where he later died. Of his large family, David, the youngest, was born in Tennessee, and at an early age accom- panied the family to Kentucky, where he fol- lowed farming. By his marriage to Louvina Mayfield he had five children: Mrs. Arantha Carporon, deceased; William H .; J. C., de- ceased; J. E., of Montrose, Colo .; and Cyrus Logan, deceased.

The subject of this sketch was born in Pulaski County, Ky., January 16, 1837. When a boy he attended the subscription schools three months each winter. When he was twelve years of age his parents moved to Indiana, but soon went to Iowa, settling on a fine piece of prairie land in Appanoose County. When twenty-four years old, in company with twenty-two families, he started with his three yoke of oxen for the Rockies. After some three months he landed at Canon City, August 13, 1864. Most of the party were members of the Shoal Creek (Iowa) Baptist Church, and they became the founders of the pres- ent organization here. Of the number three were appointed a committee to reconnoiter thesurround- ing country, and Mr. McClure was one of the three. Not at all pleased with the outlook, he returned, loaded up the flour he had brought with him, and purchasing some vegetables, started with his load for Breckenridge, where he disposed of his goods at a fabulous price. On his return he passed the salt basin in South Park and bought one thou- sand pounds of salt, which he sold to the people in the Arkansas Valley at fifteen cents a pound. He then went to Denver and purchased some groceries, which he sold, and then returned for more goods. So brisk was business that he was frequently obliged to return to Denver for an- other load the very day after his arrival with one load. Starting with his brother, their combined capital $325, he soon had a stock worth from $15,000 to $20,000. In those days profits were large.

In March, 1865, Mr. McClure learned that there was a Baptist minister at Four Mile. The gentleman proved to be Rev. M. B. Adams, now living at South Canon. They joined forces and at once organized a congregation, which now has the finest church in the city. In the building of the first house of worship he furnished $900 of the total cost of $1200. Continuing his mercantile business for twelve years, he invested largely in real estate and other property, until, in 1876, his

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monthly rentals alone brought him in $650. He also built a house that was at the time the finest residence in Fremont County. Early in the '70s he sold his mercantile business to his brother, J. C., and turned his attention to the brokerage business. By contract with his brother J. C., he built the Grape Creek toll road, but before it could be inspected and accepted, it was completely demolished by a flood, and this, added to the panic of 1876 and 1877, swept away in a short time the accumulation of years. He went to Fort Worth and started anew, but in two years returned to Canon City with a heavy debt rest- ing upon him. First as a ticket broker, and later as a real-estate and insurance agent, he met with success. In 1887 J. J. Cone bought an in- terest in the business, and they gave their atten- tion more especially to real estate, dropping the ticket business. To show the resources of the firm, it may be stated that during the panic of 1893 and afterward they carried two thousand acres of land here, besides having $33,000 in- vested in Salt Lake realty. In connection with S. H. Atwater, in 1896-97, they ploughed and fenced six hundred acres, built thirty-six houses and constructed twelve miles of irrigating ditch and seven large storage reservoirs. Since the completion of the ditch they have sold over $70,000 worth of their own land. The property to which they are devoting especial attention is in extent more than fifteen hundred acres and is known as Park Center and Orchard Park, lying about two miles northeast of the city. It com- prises two school districts and has two school- houses. Having a slight elevation over the city, it affords a magnificent view. The system of ir- rigation is excellent and there are two sources of supply, Wilson Creek and Four Mile or Oil Creek, while the large reservoirs they have con- structed will store enough water for a season's supply.

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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 78

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