Portrait and biographical record of the state of Colorado, containing portraits and biographies of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 84

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 84

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EORGE HAYNES resides on Greenhorn River in Pueblo County, where he is en- gaged in ranching and stock-raising. He was born in New Orleans, La., May 1, 1840. His parents were Harvey and Elizabeth (Jones) Haynes. He was eight years of age when the family removed to Des Moines, Iowa, where he was educated in the public schools. In 1860 he came to Colorado and made his home for a time in Denver, but in 1866 became a resident of Pueblo County, his first home here being on the St. Charles River. In 1870 he settled upon his present ranch on the Greenhorn River, when the place was still in its primitive condition, but by industry, enterprise and perseverance he has transformed the wild land into highly cultivated fields, and now has one of the best ranches of the locality, it being improved with good and sub- stantial buildings, fences, etc. The ranch con- sists of three hundred and twenty acres. He also has good range facilities for his stock. In connec- tion with the cultivation of the land he has always engaged in stock-raising. He also conducted the first store on the Greenhorn River. This he carried on about two years and then sold it to a Mr. Day. For several years he was manager of the Northern Finance ranch, which was con- trolled by Hayden Brothers, and in the conduct of his affairs has ever displayed good executive ability and sound judgment.

In 1868 Mr. Haynes was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Austin, who died leaving five sons, as follows: Milton S., a resident of Flor-

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ence, Colo .; Frank, deceased; George, at home; Charles Carson and John. For his second wife Mr. Haynes married Mrs. Ella M. Gilligan, a native of Illinois, by whom he has one son and one daughter, namely: Clyde and Marjorie.

Mr. Haynes has always been an ardent sup- porter of the Republican party, casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, his last for William McKinley, and has been an active worker for his party's interests. He is a man worthy of the highest respect, and enjoys the es- teemn of the entire community, in which he has labored for every enterprise that is calculated to elevate mankind or advance the general welfare.

HOMAS S. JONES, sheriff of Mineral County, was born in the city of Peoria, Il1., December 2, 1864, a son of John D. and Rachel (Davis) Jones, who were natives of Wales, but residents of the United States from early life. When he was seven years of age he accompanied his parents to Kansas, settling thir- ty-five miles west of Atchison, where the next seven years were spent. He then joined a brother in Wyoming and became interested in the stock business in Carbon County, where he took up land on the Medicine Bow River. With his brother as partner, he finally acquired fifteen thousand acres of land, all fenced in, and devoted to the pasturage of cattle and horses.

Selling out his stock interests in Wyoming in 1888, Mr. Jones came to Colorado. For four years he was engaged in business at the Loop, North Denver. During the Creede boom of 1892, he brought his stock of shoes to this camp, where he opened the first large shoe store in the town. On the 5th of June of that year his stock of shoes and his new store adjoining the postoffice were lost by fire, but in eight days he was ready for business again. He rebuilt on San Luis avenue and continued in the shoe business until 1895, when the firm of Clay & Jones was established. The same year the firm of Clay & Jones was merged in the Famous Mercantile Company, which was organized as a stock company with Mr. Jones as manager. The company carries a general stock of merchandise.

On the organization of Mineral County in 1893 Mr. Jones was appointed sheriff, and after- ward was elected to the office. After an interval of two years following the close of his term (dur- ing which time he was under-sheriff) he was again chosen to fill the office, being elected on tlie

Democratic ticket by a fair majority. While he was living in Wyoming, and before he was twen- ty-one years of age, he was nominated for one of the county offices in Carbon County, but on ac- count of his minority was ineligible. In former years he was actively connected with a number of fraternities, among them the Odd Fellows, but at this writing he does not affiliate with any.

June 1, 1898, Mr. Jones married Edith Mc- Keown, of Creede, sister of William McKeown, the well-known passenger conductor of the Den- ver & Gulf road, and a resident of Denver. For several years she was a teacher in the Creede school, and is now a member of the school board of this district. She is a highly educated lady, with a broad knowledge of both literature and music, and possesses the qualities of mind and heart that win and retain friendship.

In the building up of Creede Mr. Jones has taken an active part. In business he has been prosperous, yet he has met with his share of re- verses, and was burned out three times, entailing a heavy loss. When he was first chosen to act as sheriff the office was a perilous one to fill, ow- ing to the fact that the then new mining camp had attracted many men of vicious habits and wicked lives. His efficient service as sheriff did much toward the transition of the camp into a town that is the home of law-abiding and peace- ful citizens.

OHN WARNER. Thirty-five miles south- west of Pueblo, near Rye, in Pueblo County, lies the stock ranch of Mr. Warner, where, since 1883, he has engaged in the raising of horses and cattle. He came to this county in 1867 and settled twenty-four miles south of Pueblo, on the Greenhorn River, where he took up government land and engaged in stock-raising. From there he removed to his present property near Rye. Since coming to this county he has made his home most of the time upon his ranch. How- ever, in 1874-75, while serving as marshal of Pueblo and deputy sheriff of the county, he made his home in Pueblo, and in 1896, when elected county commissioner, he again came to this city, where he now resides at No. 2440 Court street.

The first twelve years of Mr. Warner's life were spent in Madison County, Ala., where he was born April 26, 1836. His father, Sampson Warner, a native of Tennessee, learned the stone- mason's trade in youth and in 1835 removed to

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Alabama. At the age of about fifty-one he re- moved to Missouri, settling in Crawford (now Dent) County, where he engaged in farming un- til his death, at fifty-four years of age, in 1850. He was a faithful member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He was of Virginian an- cestry, and his father, William Warner, had served in the Revolutionary war. The mother of our subject was Mary Provence, a native of Tennessee, who died in Missouri at the age of forty-three years.

When a boy our subject secured employment in Missouri, receiving $6 a month. In May, 1861, he enlisted in Company B, Tenth Missouri Infantry, C. S. A., and served throughout the entire war as a private. During the greater part of his service he was on the frontier. He took part in the battles of Wilson's Creek and Prairie Grove, as well as several skirmishes, but was wounded only once. He served principally un- der General Price and General Hindman. In May, 1862, he was taken prisoner at Batesville, Ark., and removed to St. Louis, where he was held until September and then exchanged. Again, in the spring of 1863, he was captured near his home in southern Missouri, while en- gaged in recruiting service, but he had fortu- nately destroyed his papers so was not shot. He was, however, taken to St. Louis, and from there to Alton, Ill., where he remained until June 20, and was later exchanged at City Point, Va. Go- ing to Vicksburg he took part in its siege, and after the fall started to return to his own com- mand. While on his way back he met Trustan Polk with two ambulances, and one of these Mr. Warner drove for some distance, but while doing so was again captured and taken to Alton, Ill., where he was held until the close of the war.

As soon as released Mr. Warner started for Colorado with Company B, Fifth United States Volunteers, in which he had enlisted as orderly sergeant. The company went to Denver and en- gaged in provost duty for a year, when the men were discharged. He then went to El Paso County, Colo., where for eighteen months he was employed in hauling logs. From there, in 1867, he came to Pueblo County, where he has since resided. He is a genial, kind-hearted man. In physique he is unusually large, being six feet tall and weighing two hundred and seventy-five pounds. He has always been a stanch Democrat and active in local affairs. In addition to the offices already mentioned he served as justice of

the peace for ten years. Fraternally he is a mem- ber of Arkansas Lodge No. 28, I. O. O. F., of Pueblo.

November 19, 1854, Mr. Warner married Miss Lucinda Vaughan, who was born in Crawford County, Mo., July 12, 1829. She is a member of the Christian Church, while Mr. Warner is identified with the Methodist denomination. They are the parents of a son and daughter. The former, William, is engaged in ranching near Tacoma, Wash. The latter, Julia A., is the wife of Robert Caviness.

ERD MEYER, proprietor of a grocery and dry-goods store at Fort Garland, Costilla County, was born in Brunswick, Germany, April 29, 1836, a son of Karl and Frederica Meyer. His father was in boyhood a drummer in the German army and later was made a drum- major, serving as such in the battle of Waterloo in 1815, as well as in the preceding Russian campaign of 1812. Resigning from the army in 1825, he became an attache of the household of Duke Charles, the "Diamond" duke, and held a position somewhat similar to that of majordomo. He continued as such until 1866, when he was re- tired on a pension. He was born in 1796 and passed away October 3, 1870. His wife died in 1866. They were the parents of seven sons and eleven daughters, none of whom came to America excepting Ferd. He received a college educa- tion at Blankenburg, but when only fifteen left home and began as a clerk in a grocery. Two years later he accepted employment as a travel- ing salesman, continuing as such for three years. When he was twenty he was furnished a substi- tute, to permit him to leave Germany free of mili- tary duties.

August 25, 1856, Mr. Meyer sailed for New York, where he arrived after fifty-four days. For two weeks he endeavored to secure work, but failed, and his funds were soon about exhausted. One day he answered an advertisement for a far- mer in New Jersey, and was given work by the owner of the place, a wealthy New York gentle- man. However, when it was found that he knew nothing of farming he was about to be discharged, when he pled for an opportunity to make a trial, and was finally retained. Faithful and willing, he won the good opinion of his employer. As he gained a knowledge of farming, his services in- creased in value. He was also helpful in assist- ing the children of the family in their German

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studies. After a few months he went to St. Louis in company with a coachman who had been with the same employer as himself. Securing employment with a freighting company, in June, 1857, he went with a freight train to Santa Fe, N. M., and while unloading his freight there his effects were stolen. Next he started to Taos and at Embudo, N. M., met a gentleman who was en- gaged in business at Costilla and who offered him employment. December 1, 1857, he began his duties as confidential clerk and manager of the business, and this position he held for seven years. In March, 1864, one of the members of the firm dying, Mr. Meyer was offered an inter- est in the business. The firm then became Post- hoff & Meyer, and, as the senior member was in the east mostly, the active management fell upon Mr. Meyer. When Mr. Posthoff withdrew in 1867, those who had charge of the several stores at Del Norte, San Luis, Badito and Fort Garland, became associated together and continued the business until 1876. When the company dis- solved, Mr. Meyer continued at Costilla and Fort Garland, where he still remains. He has been in the same business, and connected with the same company, for forty-one years. When he came to the San Luis Valley, there were only eleven Americans residing here, among them being Colo- nel Francisco, John Albert, Charles B. Newton, etc. He made his headquarters at Costilla until 1891, since which time Fort Garland has been his home. Besides his mercantile interests, he is engaged in stock-raising and has cattle and sheep on the range. His store in Fort Garland was for- merly the sutler's store, and until 1862 was owned by Colonel Francisco.

November, 20, 1866, Mr. Meyer married Mary Jane Christ, who was born in Illinois, of German parentage. She died April 13, 1891, leaving two sons and two daughters: Charles A., a stockman of the San Luis Valley; Anna L., wife of E. C. van Diest, of San Luis and Denver; Freda C., who resides with Mrs. van Diest; and William F., who conducts the store at Costilla. July 7, 1892, Mr. Meyer married Miss Margaret van Diest, daughter of P. H. van Diest. Three sons bless their union, Harry, Bertram and Percival.

In 1864 Mr. Meyer was a delegate from Cos- tilla and Conejos Counties to the territorial conven- tion of the territory of Colorado held for the pur- pose of forming a state government. Politically he is a stanch Republican. For more than thirty years he has been a member of Union Lodge No.

7, A. F. & A. M., of Denver, and he is also a life member of Denver Chapter No. 2, R. A. M. In earlier days he served as county commissioner in both Taos and Costilla Counties. From 1862 to 1894 he was postmaster of Costilla. The vari- ous positions he has held have been filled by him with energy, judgment and fidelity, and he has a circle of friends as large as his list of acquain- tances.

ILLIAM J. SCHOOLFIELD, a pioneer of Custer County, where he is engaged in stock-raising and farming, was born in the year 1829, near Pocomoke City, Worcester County, Md., a son of Joseph and Nancy (Lamb- den) Schoolfield, and a descendant of Scotch- English ancestry. His mother's grandfather, Dr. Lambden, came to America at an early date and took up a large tract of land on the eastern shore of Maryland, where succeeding generations have since resided. He was one of six children, three of whom are still living, namely: William J .; Rose, wife of Samuel Carsley, who lives at the old homestead in Maryland; and Joseph, a farmer at Wilsonville, Neb.

In the fall of 1855 Mr. Schoolfield came west and settled at Waterloo, Iowa, where he fol- lowed his business as a contractor and builder; but in 1857 he removed to Nebraska, and engaged in farming. In the spring of 1862 he came to Colorado and for eight years engaged in mining at Black Hawk, Lake Gulch, and in Clear Creek County. In the spring of 1870 he came south, and a year later took up land in Wet Mountain Valley, near Westcliffe. Here he again engaged in farming and stock-raising, and here he has since remained, increasing his herds and acres from time to time, ranging his cattle in the summer and feeding them during the winter, raising on his ranches hay and grain to be used for feed. Besides his ranching interests he has been connected with the mines at Rosita and owns a patented claim in that place. He was also one of the discoverers of the noted nickel mine, "The Gem," of this vicinity.

The Democratic party receives Mr. Schoolfield's vote. While Custer County was still a part of Fremont he served as county commissioner. He is interested in educational matters, and, as treas- urer and president of the school board, has done much toward enlarging the educational possibil- ities of this section. He was united in marriage, November 14, 1858, to Mary Virden, who was

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born in Iowa in 1839, and died in Custer County September 11, 1898. Of the six children born of their union four are living: Wallace, an attorney at Salida, Colo .; Rose, Mrs. John Leary; William, who is engaged in the live stock commission busi- ness in Denver; and Leslie, at home with his father.

HARLES L. MARTIN. Few men have done more for the upbuilding of La Veta and its general advancement than the subject of this notice, who is a successful business man of this village. He is a pioneer of this section of Colorado, having come here when a boy of ten years, and he is therefore particularly well in- formed regarding local resources, environments and possibilities. His prompt and systematic business habits, good financial ability and energy have already gained for him a large degree of success, and without doubt will bring him in- creased prosperity in coming years.

For the history of the Martin family the reader is referred to the sketch of Fenton L. Martin, our subject's father, who for years has been one of the most prominent men of southern Colorado. Charles L. was born in Saline County, Mo., June 15, 1862, and was ten years of age when he ac- companied his parents to Colorado. As a boy he herded cattle for his father, and almost his entire time was spent in the saddle. In 1882 he became a partner with his father in the butcher business, which the latter had established in La Veta. After three years the son bought the busi- ness, which he continued alone until 1892. Dur- ing the seven years that he carried it on he was never away from the market, except when look- ing up cattle.

On account of his wife's delicate health, Mr. Martin gave up his business in 1892 and after- ward traveled with his wife in the east, but she was not permanently benefited. She was Bina, daughter of B. F. Palmer, of Palmyra, Mo., where she was born. October 6, 1863, she be- came the wife of Mr. Martin, and April 23, 1895, passed from earth. Three children were born of the union: Charles Lee, who died at the age of four years; Fenton L., his grandfather's namesake; and a child who died in infancy. In March, 1896, Mr. Martin was a second time mar- ried, his wife being Anna McFarland, who was born in Illinois.

Upon his return home, after his travels, Mr. Martin resumed business at the old stand in 1895

and has since conducted a profitable trade in the meat business. In connection therewith he has a large trade in the buying and selling of cattle. These he buys principally to feed, although some are shipped to eastern markets. Besides his local trade he furnishes meat for the railroad employes from Pueblo to Alamosa. A supporter of Demo- cratic principles, he has been an active worker for his party, and has frequently served as chair- man of convention committees and as a delegate to county and state conventions. Several times he has been a member of the city council. In fraternal relations he is identified with La Veta Lodge No. 59, A. F. & A. M., in which he is a past master; and Walsenburg Chapter No. 27, R. A. M .; and is a charter member of La Veta Camp No. 174, Woodmen of the World. In de- nominational connections he is identified with the Baptist Church of La Veta.

ARRY C. FRINK. Among the progressive young men of Pueblo County who are turning their attention to the breeding and raising of stock is Mr. Frink, whose ranch is near Rye. He was born in Pueblo, May 21, 1869, and is a representative of one of the honored pioneer families of the county, being a son of Alonzo and Jane (Convers) Frink. His father was a soldier of the Civil war, a member of the Second Iowa Infantry, and remained in the serv- ice until hostilities ceased. He died leaving six children, two sons and four daughters, namely: James A., a farmer and stockman of Montezuma Valley, Colo .; Jane (twin of James A.), the wife of C. W. Walters, who lives seven miles from Rye; Harry C., our subject; Hattie C. (twin of Harry C.), the wife of John Thomas, a merchant of Rye, whose sketch appears on another page of this volume; Mrs. George Haynes; and Helen C., wife of Clayton Colvin, who resides in Colorado Springs, and whose husband is a railroad man. The mother is still living and is now the wife of John G. Austin, whose sketch may also be found in this volume.

Our subject was only six weeks old when his parents removed to the ranch where he now re- sides, and he was educated in the schools of the district. Although he has traveled quite exten- sively over Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and other parts of the country, he has always made his home here, and since attaining to man's estate has successfully managed the farm, which com- prises three hundred and twenty acres, in which

J. PERRY ROBINSON.

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he owns an interest. As a stock-raiser he has met with most excellent success, and now has a fine lot of stock upon his place. He was married in 1896 to Miss Elizabeth Duckworth, daughter of Jonathan Duckworth, and they now have a son, Lyle Convers. Politically Mr. Frink is identified with the Democracy, and socially affili- ates with the Woodmen of the World.

OSEPH PERRY ROBINSON. In the life of this successful farmer of El Paso County are illustrated the results of energy and per- severance, coupled with judicious management and strict integrity. He is a citizen of whom any community might well be proud, and the people of this county, fully appreciating his worth, ac- cord him a place in the foremost ranks of stock- men here. About half way between Colorado Springs and Pueblo, near the village of Wigwam, on section 23, township 17, range 65 west, he owns and occupies a ranch, whose total acreage is eleven hundred, and which is beautifully situ- ated on both sides of Fountain Creek.

Born in Taylor County, Ky., August 6, 1828, the subject of this sketch is a son of Simeon H. and Pamelia (Richards, née Campbell) Robin- son. His mother by her first marriage had four children. His paternal grandfather, Harry Rob- inson, removed from Virginia to Kentucky in a very early day. Afterward he was joined by his son, Simeon H., who was born in Lynchburg, Va., and was about thirty years old at the time of his removal westward. In Kentucky he met and married a daughter of Lawrence Campbell, a Revolutionary soldier. She was born in Virginia, and was a distant relative of Commo- dore Perry, for whom our subject is named. In girlhood she accompanied her parents to Ken- tucky, where she resided until her death. Simeon H. Robinson began, when a mere lad, to follow the river, but after he settled in Taylor County, Ky., he engaged in farming and was a slave owner. He died in Kentucky when about nine- ty-oue years of age.

In boyhood our subject attended the grammar and high schools of his home locality. At twen- ty-two years of age he went to Ohio and from there to Indiana, where he taught school about thirty miles from Cincinnati, in Laurel. After about a year he was taken ill and returned to Kentucky, where he remained until 1856. He then removed to Douglas County, Kan., and en- tered a claim of one hundred and sixty acres,

spending the next few years in that state and Missouri, where he taught school in 1857. He was married in Douglas County, September 13, 1860, to Miss Mary Greene, who was born at Port Jackson, on the Mohawk River and Erie canal in New York. She was finely educated and engaged in teaching in Douglas County prior to her marriage.

In the spring of 1861, accompanied by his wife, Mr. Robinson started overland for Califor- nia, driving a horse-team, and taking with him an ox-team and some cattle. After traveling for a month or more he reached Canon City, where he stopped for a few days, and then crossed the range to Blue River. Stopping near Georgia Gulch, he started a milk ranch and sold milk to miners. In the fall he crossed again to the east- ern slope and built a cabin and wintered his stock. During that winter he sold his butter for $1 a pound. In the spring of 1862 he took his cows to Buckskin Joe mining camp, where he started a milk ranch. In the fall he returned to his former winter quarters, but in December of the same year settled upon his present place, buying government land on condition that the lines should be at certain points. As he was a surveyor, and as the government had established township lines, he soon had a survey made. For his claim of one hundred and sixty acres he paid $50 in gold dust. At one time, not long after purchasing the property, Indians became so dan- gerous that he was obliged to leave, but with that exception he has continued on the ranch to the present time. When it was dangerous to re- main here he took his family to Pueblo, which then had an adobe fort and but few inhabitants. At two other times he fled for refuge with his family to a fort in the neighborhood. He has made all the improvements on his land, and has introduced a system of irrigation which has in- creased the value of the land and its productive- ness. At times he and his sons have had as many as six hundred head of cattle. His success has been marked in this business, and through it he has become a prosperous man, with a com- petency for his declining years.

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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 84

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