Portrait and biographical record of the state of Colorado, containing portraits and biographies of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 79

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 79

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Politically Mr. McClure was a Democrat until President Cleveland's first election, since which time he has been a Prohibitionist. In the Ma- sonic fraternity he has taken a prominent part, and was a charter member of the lodge here. He is connected with Mount Moriah Lodge No. 15, A. F. & A. M., and was its first treasurer, which office he filled for five consecutive years; and Canon City Chapter No. 14, R. A. M. For five successive years he was treasurer of the Good Templars of Colorado. He is one of the two sur- viving charter members of the Baptist Church,

in the work of which he has been constantly act- ive. Since its organization he has served as deacon and trustee, and for years was Sunday- school superintendent. June 25, 1857, he mar- ried Elizabeth M. Cooley, of Appanoose County, Iowa. Of their nine children seven attained maturity, namely: Sarah E., Mrs. C. E. Helm, deceased; Mary L., wife of J. K. Brewster, of Cripple Creek; George B., residing in Denver; Myrtie, wife of Rev. H. B. Turner, pastor of the Emanuel Baptist Church of Portland, Ore .; Laura B., who married C. L. Southard, of Salt Lake, Utah; Helen E., Mrs. Stanley Harrington, of Cripple Creek; and William H., Jr., who has charge of the Park Center property.

r HARLES H. SWOPE, who is a partner of C Thomas Ord in the railroad and reservoir contracting business, has resided in Colorado since 1885, and for the same period has made his headquarters in Colorado Springs. He is a mem- ber of an old Pennsylvania family, which had representatives in the Revolution and the war of 1812. His father, David, who was probably a native of Pennsylvania, spent the most of his early life in Fairfield County, Ohio, where he owned a farm near Amanda. From there he re- moved to Iowa and became a pioneer in Dubuque County, purchasing, clearing and cultivating land near Cascade. There his death occurred at eighty-one years of age. His wife, who was a member of an old Virginia family, was Julia Ann Furr in her maidenhood; she died at seventy- eight years. Of their ten children all but one attained mature years. W. E., a farmer living near St. Joe, Mo., was a member of the Twenty- first Iowa Infantry during the Civil war and was sergeant of Company I; he was wounded in the left foot at the battle of Vicksburg. His service in the army continued for three years. The other children are: Mary and Jane, of Iowa; T. J., a farmer of El Paso County, Colo .; Louisa, who died in Iowa; Mrs. Julia Macomber, who died in Iowa; Charles H .; Mrs. Ella Barton, of Bellevue, Iowa; May, who lives in Iowa; and Hattie, Mrs. Thomas Ord, of Colorado Springs.

In Dubuque County, Iowa, the subject of this sketch was born, August 9, 1852. He was reared on the home farm near Cascade. In boyhood he attended the Oak Grove district school. At the age of sixteen he began to work in the lumber yards, where he remained for five years. In 1885 he came from Iowa to Colorado, and soon

Morten S. Bailey

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afterward bought some land, where he engaged in stock-raising. He finally sold the property to Mr. Ord, with whom he has since engaged in contracting. In political opinions he isa Repub- lican. He was made a Mason in Cascade, Iowa, and is now identified with El Paso Lodge No. 13, A. F. & A. M. In Pueblo he was united in mar- riage with Miss Clara Freeman, who was born in Cascade, Iowa, and is a daughter of G. W. and Jane (Hamilton) Freeman. Mr. and Mrs. Swope have three children: Lou, Mildred and Freeman.

ON. MORTON S. BAILEY, judge of the eleventh judicial district of Colorado, and an influential citizen of Canon City, was born on a farm at Dartt settlement, in Charleston Township, Tioga County, Pa., July 3, 1855, and was the seventh among twelve children born to John W. and Margaret (Lewis) Bailey. His pa- ternal ancestors, who were of Irish and English lineage, removed to Pennsylvania from Massachu- setts. His mother was born in Merthyr-Tydvil, Wales, and was of Welsh stock; she came to the United States when about eight years of age.

When Judge Bailey was a boy of fifteen years of age the family removed to Wellsboro, the county-seat of Tioga County, and there he be- came a pupil in the high school, from which he graduated in 1874. Afterward, for two years, he taught in one of the grades of the Wellsboro high school, meanwhile pursuing a preparatory course for college. In 1876 he began the studies of the classical course at Lafayette College, Easton, Pa., and in 1880 graduated from that institution with the degree of A. B. Three years later the degree of A. M. was conferred upon him by his alma mater.

Immediately after graduating, Mr. Bailey sought relief from asthma, a malady from which he had suffered intensely for years, by a change to the exhilirating climate of Colorado. He ar- rived in Denver July 23, 1880. Soon he took up the study of law in the office of Markham, Pat- terson & Thomas, in Denver, with whom he re- mained for one year, and afterward was with Robert D. Thompson, Esq., from whose office, in the latter part of the summer of 1882, he was ad- mitted to the practice of law in Colorado. At once he removed to Fairplay, Colo., where he formed a law partnership with Hon. Charles A. Wilkin, at that time the district attorney of the fourth judicial district of the state (comprising the counties of Chaffee, Douglas, El Paso, El-

bert and Park), over which district Hon. William Harrison then presided as judge. Mr. Bailey continued in practice in Fairplay with marked success until he was elected, in the fall of 1891, to his present position, to fill an unexpired term of three years. His marked ability for filling the responsible position was so clearly shown that in the ensning election, in the fall of 1894, he was re-elected for the full term of six years. While in Fairplay he held the office of mayor. In the fall of 1890 he was elected to represent the four- teenth senatorial district (Fremont and Park Counties) in the state senate, but after having served during one session he resigned to take his place on the bench. One of the important laws that he introduced and had passed while in the state senate was the information law, doing away with the necessity of the grand jury.

In his political belief Judge Bailey has always been a Democrat, and he has been an ardent sup- porter of the principles of that party except in the issue of 1892, when party lines were practically done away with. He has done much to aid the success of the party, always taking an active in- terest in political matters, and has wielded a large influence in the party. He was the nominee of the People's and National Silver party for gov- ernor of Colorado in the fall of 1896.

Interested in Masonry, Judge Bailey is a thirty- second degree Mason, a member of Canon Com- mandery No. 9, K. T., Scottish Rite Consistory, and El Jebel Temple, N. M. S., of Denver.

He has done much to advance the mining in- terests of the state, and, while his operations have been mainly in Park County, he is also in- terested in some undeveloped mining properties in the Cripple Creek district.

Prior to 1895 his winters only were spent in Canon City, but in the fall of that year he brought his family here and purchased a fine property, on Greenwood avenue, where he has an elegant two-story brick residence, sur- rounded by a well-kept lawn1. September 1, 1888, he married Lutie, daughter of William P. and Harriet (McCune) Wilkin, and a sister of his law partner in Fairplay. Of their five children three are living, viz .: Mildred, born March 11, 1893; Morton S., Jr., November 5, 1895; and Donald Wilkin, June 8, 1898.

As a jurist Judge Bailey stands high. He is recognized as a man of strong personality and superior ability, with the dignified bearing and courteous demeanor that are essential qualifica-

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tions in the position he occupies. In cases brought before him, he has the ability to lay aside all personal feeling, and weigh with an im- partial mind the evidence presented to him. He is thus not only clear in logic, keen in discern- ment, but also fair and impartial in decisions, and these qualities have given him a most enviable reputation.

ON. CHARLES C. HOLBROOK, judge of the twelfth judicial district of Colorado, is one of Alamosa's most influential citizens. - For many years he has enjoyed a reputation as an able attorney and successful man in public affairs. In the discharge of every duty, whether at the bar or on the bench, he has proved him- self to be a man of superior intelligence and broad information, an excellent pleader and a clear, log- ical thinker, as well as an impartial jurist.

Judge Holbrook was born in Russell County, Va., July 13, 1848. His father, Col. S. V. Hol- brook, a native of Virginia, was for several years prior to the Civil war a colonel in the Virginia state militia. About 1862 he removed to Ken- tucky and there spent the remaining years of his life. In politics he was a Whig and an Aboli- tionist, and in 1864 cast his vote for Abraham Lincoln. He died in Kentucky when sixty years of age. His wife, who was Mary M. John- son in maidenhood, is now living in North Da- kota and is eighty-one years of age.

The eldest of six children, our subject was ed- ucated in Virginia and Kentucky. For a few years he taught school and at the same time, dur- ing evenings and leisure hours, read law. In March, 1876, he was admitted to the Kentucky bar, and at once began the practice of his profes- sion in Greenup. From there, in April, 1877, he came to Colorado, locating at Castle Rock, where he opened an office. In 1881 he was elected district attorney of the fourth judicial dis- trict, but before the expiration of his term re- moved to Alamosa, where he has since made his home.

Politically our subject always voted the straight Republican tickets until the campaign of 1896. At that time the party declared in favor of the gold standard, and he, being a strong sup- porter of bimetallism, then took his stand with the silver forces. While in Douglas County, and afterward in Conejos County, he served as chair- man of the Republican county central committee, and has always been active in party matters. For

seven years he served as county attorney. In 1891 he was elected judge of the twelfth judicial district, and three years later was re-elected for a full term of six years. Aside from his profes- sional interests he is the owner of real estate in Conejos and Costilla Counties, and has mining claims in the mountains surrounding the San Luis Valley. Though not seeking political or profes- sional prominence his talents are such as to make . him a conspicuous figure among men. He is a fluent, eloquent speaker, and was one of the ora- tors at the first meetings of the silver Republican party, which he assisted in organizing.

August 15, 1882, Judge Holbrook married Lillie B., daughter of Levi Booth, of Denver. They have three children: Glenn A., Millie M. and Lillie. Fraternally the judge is connected with Alamosa Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and is past grand of Alamosa Lodge No. 63, I. O. O. F., and member of the grand lodge. He and his family are active workers in and prominent members of the Seventh Day Adventist Church and he is the first elder of the congregation, besides being one of the active helpers in the Sabbath-school.

M ANUEL A. SANCHEZ, a general mer- chant of Walsenburg, was born in Santa Fe, N. M., January 22, 1849. He is a son of Jose M. Sanchez, who was an officer in the Mexican army with the rank of first lieutenant, and was promoted on the day of the battle of Val Verde, where he officiated as marshal of the day. After the close of the war he engaged in farming in New Mexico, where he died August 4, 1894. He left one daughter and two sons: Beatrice, wife of Miguel Trujillo, of Costilla, N. M .; Manuel A .; and Jose E., a merchant in San Pablo, Costilla County, Colo.

In 1868, when nineteen years of age, Mr. San- chez went to Costilla, Taos County, N. M., and there for three years he had charge of a private school, teaching both Spanish and English. Afterward he clerked for a number of years. In the fall of 1887 he opened a store in San Pablo and ten years later started a branch store in Wal- senburg, but in August, 1898, sold his interest in the San Pablo store and turned his attention wholly to the business in Walsenburg. Mean- time he has taken an intelligent interest in public affairs. In 1880 he represented Taos County in the territorial legislature of New Mexico, and in 1888 he was elected to represent Costilla County, Colo., in the state legislature, where he was a

DAVID W. CELL.

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member of the seventh general assembly. In 1893 he was again elected to the lower house, and served in the ninth general assembly from Costilla County. From 1883 to 1887 he was em- ployed as deputy county treasurer of Costilla County. At other times he has been chosen to fill local positions of trust. During his residence in Costilla County he served as a member of the school board, in which capacity he rendered ex- cellent service.

February 13, 1868, Mr. Sanchez married Miss M. Medina. They are the parents of seven chil- dren, all living, and named as follows: Euphe- mia, wife of Pulidor Maes, who assists Mr. San- chez in his store; Charles H., Manuel A., Bea- trice, Adeline, Helena and Fidel R. Mrs. San- chez is a daughter of Faustin Medina, a pioneer of the Costilla district, where he settled about 1857; he was the first to locate in the village of that name, and in time acquired large landed and stock interests in that locality. In his polit- ical belief Mr. Sanchez has always voted the Re- publican ticket, and in 1898 he represented his town as a delegate to the state convention of the Republican party.

12 AVID W. CELL resides on section 24, township 16, range 66 west, two and one- half miles north of Fountain, El Paso Coun- ty. When he settled here the land was wholly unimproved and he took a squatter's claim, but he has since, by industry and perseverance, brought the land under excellent improvements · and now has a valuable ranch. Starting in the cattle business upon a very small scale, he grad- ually increased his herds until he had as many as five hundred head at one time, and he is still carrying on this business successfully.

Near Chambersburg, Bedford County, Pa., Mr. Cell was born January 4, 1833, a son of David and Sarah (Pass) Cell. His paternal ancestors were among the earliest settlers of Bedford Coun- ty. His grandfather, Thomas Cell, who was a farmer of that county, served in the Revolution under General Washington, also took an active part in the Whiskey Rebellion, and still later ren- dered faithful service in the war of 1812. David Cell, Sr., who spent his early life in his native county of Bedford, entered the Baptist ministry there, but about 1835 he removed to Ohio, set- tling in Guernsey County, where he made his home for several years. In addition to preaching he engaged in farming and followed the shoe-

maker's trade; in fact, he was quick to turn his hand to anything that would help him to earn a living. About 1844 he removed to Belmont County, on the Ohio River, and thence in 1850 went to Grand Prairie, Benton County, Ind. There he secured land and engaged in farming. In 1855 he made a final removal, settling in Knox County, Mo., where he died in 1862.

In these various removals made by the family our subject bore a part, and he gave his services to his father until he was grown. When he was about twenty he entered into an arrangement with a man of means, who agreed to furnish the capital if Mr. Cell would give his time. This ar- rangement, however, was terminated at the close of the first season. Until 1865 Mr. Cell continued to make his home in Missouri. In that year he drove through to Colorado with a horse-team, leaving his old home April 10 and arriving in El Paso County June 10. Soon afterward he located on his present homestead, and here he has since built up a large and profitable cattle business. He takes an interest in local affairs, but has never allied himself with any party, voting independ- ently. At one time, without his consent, he was nominated for county commissioner. He has never desired public office, preferring to devote his attention exclusively to his business. In re- ligion he is not identified with any denomination, but inclines toward the Baptist Church, in which faith he was reared.

March 7, 1889, Mr. Cell married Miss Birdie Johnson, of Ness County, Kan., whom he had met during a visit she made to a brother in Col- orado. She was born in Washington County, Iowa, and at twenty-two years of age accom- panied her sister Cynthia to Ness County, Kan. Her parents were George F. and Amanda (Grimes) Johnson. Mr. and Mrs. Cell are the par- ents of four children: Jerry, Ruth, David W. and George Greenleaf, all of whom were born on the home farm.

ALFRED SMITH, who is a well-known real-estate owner and ranchman residing in Monte Vista, Rio Grande County, was born in Yorkshire, England, and there was reared and educated. In 1884 he came to America and set- tled in Canada, but after one year went to Kan- sas, where he engaged in farming. In 1886 he came to the San Luis Valley, and at first settled in township 41, range 8, where he took up a homestead and improved four hundred and eighty

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acres. For two years there was no neighbor within six miles of him, and the nearest town, Monte Vista, was twenty miles distant. At once, after settling here, he began to improve the land, upon which he embarked in stock farming. He was interested in the building of the Farmers' Union ditch, and through the excellent system of irrigation thus afforded, his property became very valuable and productive. From time to time he added to his property until finally he ac- quired more than one thousand acres of valuable land, which he still operates; besides this prop- erty he owns other land, his aggregate possessions being more than two thousand acres. In 1896 he bought the Westfield farm, a tract of seven hundred and sixty acres, within five miles of Monte Vista, on the Rio Grande River. This is a large grain and stock ranch, and here he keeps the larger part of his stock.

For the past eight years Mr. Smith has made a specialty of standard-bred horses, and now has on his place about two hundred head; he is also interested in raising Shorthorn cattle. He has handled large amounts of state land, which he has improved, and in this way he has brought some three thousand acres under cultivation. Since the origin of the Farmers' Union Ditch Company in 1888 he has been one of its stock- holders. The ditch built by this company is, with its laterals, seventy-five miles in length, and waters about one hundred thousand acres, the choicest land in the valley. By means of his connection with this company, as well as in other ways, he has done much to promote the best interests of the valley, and especially that part of it com- prised within Rio Grande County. His atten- tion is given closely to stock-raising and general ranch pursuits, and he has little leisure for par- ticipation in public affairs. However, he keeps well posted concerning politics, and gives his al- legiance to the People's party, whose principles he supports with his ballot.

ICTOR C. MC GIRR, attorney for Archuleta County and the town of Pagosa Springs, also the owner of a stock ranch six miles north of this village, was born in Kingston, Canada, in 1865, a son of James and Lucy (Burley) McGirr, both residents of Canada. He was educated in the high schools and in the University of Toronto, from which he graduated in 1885 with the degree of A. B., and studied law at Osgoode Hall, Toronto. Three years later the Hall conferred

upon him the degree of barrister. After travel- ing over the United States, he made a tour of Europe and Mexico, spending three years in different countries. He engaged in the practice of law in New York City and Kansas City, Mo., and in 1890 settled in Pagosa Springs, at the same time practicing law in Durango. For two years he was principal of the high school at Rico and for a year held a position in the Monte Vista high school.

It was not until 1897 that Mr. McGirr settled permanently in Pagosa Springs and began the general practice of law, which he has since con- ducted, at the same time acting as town and county attorney. He secured a half-section of land by pre-emption and homestead, and here he has improved a ranch, on which he raises Here- ford cattle. In 1893 he married Hattie M., daughter of E. M. Taylor, and they have one child, Lucy.

In fraternal relations Mr. McGirr is connected with Pagosa Camp No. 412, Woodmen of the World, in which he is past consul; also past consul of Rico Camp, Woodmen of the World; and a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen at Rico, of which he has been finan- cier. He is also identified with Osage Tribe of Red Men at Rico and the Independent Order of Foresters, at Harrison, Canada. He is the only attorney of Archuleta County, which, though it has a population of only three thousand, necessar- ily has considerable legal business in the adjust- ment of estates, division of lands, fixing of boundaries, and other work of a similar nature,

12 OBERT R. ROSS, district attorney of the third judicial district of Colorado, and an in- fluential citizen of Trinidad, was born in Marquette County, Mich., June 25, 1853, a son of John and Mary (McLennan) Ross, natives of Scotland. His father, who accompanied his parents to America in boyhood, settled with them near Woodstock, Canada, and in early manhood removed to Michigan, where he began his busi- ness life. For several years he was master me- chanic for the Jackson Iron Mining Company in Michigan, and was given charge of the construc- tion of machine work in different parts of the country. He was an expert mechanic, one of the best in the United States, and was well known in all of the mining districts. For some time he was chief engineer on the steamship "Chicora" on Lake Superior. In 1892 he removed from

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Michigan to Colorado and settled in Walsenburg, but soon afterward died here, aged sixty-nine years. His wife died in the same place when sixty years of age. Of their nine children only three survive: Robert R .; Alexander M., of Can- on City; and William John, who is agent for the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Rail- way Company at Luverne, Minn.

At fourteen years of age our subject com- menced to learn the blacksmith and machinist's trade under his father. After some time he be- gan to study law under M. H. Crocker in his native town, and three years later went to Iron City and practiced his profession, at the same time engaging in the mercantile business with his father-in-law, A. E. Stockwell. In 1876 he went to Manitoba, where he was employed as foreman of construction on the Canadian Pacific Railroad, and constructed the main line at the Lake of the Woods. Twenty months were spent in that work. From there, in 1878, he went to Kansas, but after a short trial as a lawyer, concluded he could do better elsewhere. He came to Trinidad, Colo., and from this point went to the Raton tunnel as foreman in the construction of the rail- road through the tunnel. Returning to El Moro, near Trinidad, he followed his trade for a few months, then went to Denver and on to Central City, where he took charge of the machinery at the Clark Gardner mine. At the time of the Leadville excitement in 1879, he went to that place and began to put up mining machinery and engines, at the same time engaging in prospect- ing and mining. From there he went to Ruby and Sheep Mountain in Gunnison County, where he prospected for some time. In 1882 he was foreman of construction of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad through the Black Canon. Dur- ing a few months of 1883 he worked in the Bull Domingo mine in Custer County. Going to Pu- eblo, he worked in a smelter there, but soon re- turned to Custer County, where he took charge of the machinery in a mine, and also had charge of the machinery owned by the Security Milling Company. Returning to the Bull Domingo mine, he had charge of the machinery there.

The year 1886 found Mr. Ross engaging in the practice of law at Walsenburg, where he remained until 1895, and then came to Trinidad. In poli- tics he has always been a Republican, and while in Walsenburg served both as county and city attorney. In 1893 he was elected to the state legislature, where he served for one term. In

1894 he was elected attorney for the third judi- cial district, and in 1897 was re-elected to the of- fice, which he has filled with efficiency. He is prominent in public affairs and active in conven- tions of his party, both local and state. July 26, 1898, he met with a very serious accident while on a pleasure trip with his family. When he was putting his rifle in a wagon it was discharged ac- cidentally, and a forty-four calibre ball passed through his right arm, inflicting injuries so seri- ous that amputation was necessary.

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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 79

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