Portrait and biographical record of the state of Colorado, containing portraits and biographies of many well known citizens of the past and present, Part 92

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 92

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Mr. Hitchings was made a Mason in East Haddam, Conn., in 1858, by Hon. Cheever Brainerd, who was then over ninety years of age. Afterward he became a charter member of Union Lodge No. 7, A. F. & A. M., of Denver, and was grand chaplain of the grand lodge, also one of the first Masons to take the Knight Temp- lar degree in Colorado.

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In reviewing the life of Mr. Hitchings it would seem that his greatest pleasure has been in doing good to others, or in doing something that would redound to the advantage of the peo- ple or the benefit of individuals. In his hands money has been simply the means of enabling him to do good, he even economizing in his per- sonal expenses for this purpose. No object of charity has ever appealed to him for help and been refused; yet, while his charities have been large, they have been given quietly and unosten- tatiously. He will long be remembered and loved by the early settlers of Colorado for the work he has done in the development of the state. The influence of his gifted mind, in giv- ing direction to the young life of the territory, will not soon be forgotten, and, although he no longer makes Colorado his home, he frequently visits here, and holds a position as high in the regard of the people of the city and state as any of their own citizens.

AMES E. OVERTON is a member of the firm of Overton Brothers, who have a fine dairy ranch on section 31, township 15, range 65 west, near the village of Fountain, El Paso County. He and his brothers, who have suc- ceeded their father in the management of the ranch, are continuing the work in the systematic and energetic manner in which it was projected. They have a large number of cattle on their place, to which they feed in the winter season ensilage, fodder that has been preserved in its green state by being put in a silo. They have the latest and best machinery for the conduct of their business, including a process for the separa- tion of cream from milk. The products of their dairy are sold throughout the county and com- mand a high price, by reason of acknowledged superiority.

In Lake County, Ill., November 23, 1858, the subject of this sketch was born to the union of Gildon and Margaret (Jackson) Overton. His father, who was a native of England, came to America in early manhood and settled in McHenry County, Ill., where he married. A short time afterward he removed to Lake County, and there carried on a farm until 1872, the year of his removal to Colorado. With him came his wife and six children. He bought the place now owned by his sons. At first he had only one hundred and eighty acres, but later he took up a homestead twelve miles east, and carried on a

ranching business and made valuable improve- ments. He died in 1888 and his wife in 1894; both are buried in the Fountain cemetery. In politics he was a Republican, to which party all of his sons adhere.

There were eight children in the family of Gildon and Margaret Overton. The first-born,. Gildon, died in infancy. Jacob L., who is en- gaged in the dairy business, makes his home in Colorado Springs; he is married and has three children. The third, Sarah, died at twenty-one years and is buried at Fountain. The fourth in the family was the subject of this sketch. Eliza- beth, who was born in McHenry County, Ill., makes her home with her brothers. Don Will- iam, who was born in Lake County, Ill., is un- married and belongs to the firm of Overton Brothers. Peet Wilson, who was born in Lake County, Ill., is also a member of the firm. The youngest of the family is Henry Jackson, who was born on the farm where he now resides. The sons are known as intelligent, self-reliant men, who from earliest youth have been familiar with agricultural pursuits and have engaged in their chosen work with energy and determination. While, with their work in clearing the land, erecting necessary buildings and making im- provements, they had little leisure for attending school, they have nevertheless become men of intelligence, who have constantly improved theni- selves by the reading of papers and books and by association with others.

WILLIM HOWELL. In the life of this gentleman we find an excellent example of what may be accomplished by a man begin- ning without means, but honest, prudent and in- dustrious. In early life Mr. Howell enjoyed few advantages, nor had he wealth and influence to aid him in starting, for his parents, though highly respected and honorable, were the pos- sessors of but limited means. He relied solely upon his own efforts to gain success, and the fact that he is now a prosperous farmer shows him to be a man of business ability. When he emi- grated to America from Wales in 1878 he came at once to Colorado, joining his cousins, the Gwillim family, in El Paso County. Here he rented land and began as a farmer. He is now the owner of a farm seven miles east of Monu- ment, on township 27, range 66 west.

Mr. Howell was born in Glamorganshire, South Wales, July 3, 1836, a son of John and

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Jeannette (Gwillim) Howell. When seven years of age he was put to work in the coal mines, his duty being to watch doors. Afterward he was transferred to the work of driving horses that pulled out the coal. When about sixteen he be- gan to dig coal and afterward earned a man's wages. It will thus be seen that he had little op- portunity to attend school. However, between the ages of twelve and fourteen he left the mines and went to school. Until forty-two years of age he continued to work in coal mines. At the age of twenty-five, in July, 1861, he married Miss Mary Jones, who was born in Glamorganshire, and whom he had known from childhood. He and his wife were eco- nomical and industrious, so that he had saved considerable and owned some property when he came to America in 1878. He spent eleven days on the ocean, landing in New York in May. From there he came to his present home in El Paso County.

The six children of Mr. Howell were born in South Wales. Elizabeth married Thomas E. Thomas and lives at Ivywild, El Paso County; John is a miner; Mary is the wife of Edward W. Talbot and lives in El Paso County; Thomas re- sides at Ivywild; Gwillim married Maggie Gwil- lim; aud Catharine is the wife of Roy Harden, of Colorado Springs. In politics Mr. Howell votes the Republican ticket. He is a loyal citi- zen of his adopted country and is interested in all plans for the advancement of his community. In addition to his farm, he is the owner of extensive mining interests in San Miguel County, which have been developed under his supervision.

C OSEPH B. DONAVAN is the owner and oc- cupant of a well-improved farm on Fountain Creek, two miles from Colorado Springs, where he has a ranch of nine hundred and eighty acres. Upon coming here in 1882 he bought one hundred acres, and from time to time made additions until it has reached its present size. He also planted ten acres to fruits. From the time of locating here he has engaged in the dairy business, of which he has made a specialty, although he also carried on general farm pursuits.

In Pittsburg, Pa., Mr. Donavan was born July 2, 1845, a son of W. T. and Rosannah (Baker) Donavan. His father, who was born in Harris- burg, Pa., descended from the Donavans of the time of John Smith. He was reared on a farm and in boyhood learned the trade of a pattern-

maker in the Hathaway Novelty iron works. While there he studied and experimented along the line of the business, and one of his successful experiments was the designing of a stove, with an oven underneath. This invention gave him stand- ing with the firm, and he was taken into part- nership, the title being Hathaway, Lamer & Don- avan.

When nine years of age our subject started west, with an uncle, who was captain of a boat. He first went to St. Louis, from there to Upper Mis- souri, thence to Fort Benton. On the trip the boat was snagged and sank, and the men floated down the stream to Omaha, which was then a very small village. He remained there during the winter and in the spring of 1857 started with a government train across the plains to Fort Lar- amie. When near Fort Kearney the Indians attacked the train, capturing most of the provis- ions and stock. Our subject, with some others, escaped, and accompanied the Sioux Indians, spending the winter with them at the headwaters of the Yellowstone. He learned to use their lan- guage to some extent. In the meantime, in 1856, his parents had come west, stopping at Clarinda, Iowa, for a time, and then settling opposite Platts- mouth. In 1858 they removed to the present site of Lincoln, where they took up government land at Salt Springs.

Upon leaving the Sioux, our subject returned home, and remained until 1862. He then joined Sully's expedition as guide, to lead them against the Sioux, for which work he was promised large pay; but, after remaining with them an entire summer and part of a winter, he returned home, with only the pay of a common soldier. In the spring of 1863 he joined Professor Hayden's geo- logical expedition for the Yellowstone country, being employed as guide and cook. After one summer with that expedition he returned to Lin- coln, Neb. (then known as Salt Creek.) He re- mained there until 1871, when he came to Colo- rado, and settled in the then new town of Colo- rado Springs. After a year he embarked in the drug business, buying out the first drug store started in the Springs. While he was successful in the business, he did not feel contented, and turned his attention to sheep raising, but his herd were injured in a storm. Next he prospected in the San Juan country, and later went to Lead- ville, but did not make a strike. In 1882 he came to his present home.

September 2, 1874, Mr. Donavan married Miss

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Susie Hurd, of El Paso County. She was born in Oconomowoc, Waukesha County, Wis., a daughter of Homer and Rosamond B. (McCon- nell) Hurd. They are the parents of seven chil- dren, namely: Albert, who is a conductor on the motor line in Colorado Springs; Inez, Paul, Irene, Carl, Mark and Wallace. Though reared a Dem- ocrat, Mr. Donavan has always voted the Repub- lican ticket and is a stanch believer in party prin- ciples. Fraternally he is identified with the blue lodge of Masons, which he joined in Lincoln, Neb.

ILLIS S. MONTGOMERY, president of The Independence Town and Mining Com- pany, one of the successful mining organ- izations in Cripple Creek, came to Colorado Springs in February, 1898, and established his office in the Giddings building. While he is by profession an attorney and until recently engaged in active practice, the increasing demands made upon his time by his mining interests led him to retire from practice, and he now gives his entire attention to the management of the Independence properties and other mining interests. The Inde- pendence Town and Mining Company was organ- ized under his supervision in 1895, and he has since been its president and manager. The com- pany owns forty acres, known as the Hull City placer, upon which, through his personal energy, a town was platted and built which now has a population of sixteen hundred. There are about fifty different shafts upon the property, and the company is now sinking a three-compartment shaft and putting in a surface plant to be con- structed almost entirely of steel; this, when com- pleted, will make the Hull City placer one of the best-equipped properties in the state.

Mr. Montgomery was the elder of two sons and was born in New London, Ohio, November 17, 1858. His grandfather, Abel Montgomery, a na- tive of Virginia, settled in Ohio in 1801, and was a pioneer farmer and miller at Mansfield. His last days were spent with a son in Nebraska, where he died. He was a member of an old fam- ily of Virginia that descended from Scotch and Irish ancestors. Benjamin F., father of our sub- ject, was born in Ohio and for some years engaged in the practice of law at New London, but in 1859 removed to Wisconsin and settled in La Crosse, practicing there for eight years. In 1867 he moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa, where he car- ried on a private practice and also held the posi- tion of general attorney for the Chicago, Burling-

ton & Quincy Railroad. While there he was the Democratic candidate for congress, but, the dis- trict being largely Republican, he was defeated. In 1878 he settled in Silver Cliff, Colo., where he carried on the practice of law and also became interested in mining, being one of the owners of the Bull-Domingo, a celebrated mine. In 1893 he opened an office in Cripple Creek, where he has since carried on a general practice in the Bi- metallic building. He is a member of the legis- lative assembly of Colorado. He is also largely interested in mining at Cripple Creek. He mar- ried Editha Riddle, who was born in New Lon- don, Ohio, and died in La Crosse, Wis., in 1865, leaving two sons, Willis S. and Milton H.

In Tabor College, Iowa, our subject acquired his education, graduating from that institution in 1878. He carried on his law studies under his father's preceptorship and at Fremont, Neb., and was admitted to the bar in Iowa in the fall of 1878. In the spring of 1879 he embarked in pro- fessional practice with his father in Silver Cliff, Colo., and after a year founded and began to edit the Silver Cliff Daily Prospect. Two years later he sold the paper and went to South Dakota, where he was proprietor of the Aberdeen Repub- lican for three years. On his return to Colorado he settled in Leadville and for two years publish- ed the Leadville Daily Journal, after which he engaged in law practice at Red Cliff, Colo. In the latter town, in 1888, he married Miss Marga- ret Case, who was born in Iowa and died at Red Cliff in June, 1890. After two years in Red Cliff he removed to Seattle, Wash., where he carried on a general law practice, returning to Colorado in April, 1892, and opening an office' in Cripple Creek. In January, 1893, he located the Hull City placer, for which, after much litigation, he received the patent in February, 1898. He is interested in about sixteen other mining proper- ties, some of which are quite valuable. In 1892 he was elected the first city attorney of Cripple Creek, and held the office for two years, during which time the town was incorporated. In 1897 and 1898 he was again chosen to act as city attor- ney. Until recently he was a member of the State Bar Association.

In Denver, in 1892, Mr. Montgomery married Mrs. Julia L. Terry, who was born in Omaha, Neb. They have two children, Henry Franklin and Marcelle. While in Silver Cliff, in 1880, he was made a Mason. He became a charter member of Mount Pisgah Lodge No. 96, A. F. & A. M.,

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at Cripple Creek, of which he was the first master and held the same office for three terms. He is also a Royal Arch Mason, a Knight Templar and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. In political views he has always given his allegiance to the Demo- cratic party. Socially he is connected with El Paso and Pike's Peak Clubs of Colorado Springs and the Cripple Creek Club of Cripple Creek.

EORGE BERRY SOUTHCOTTE. In the fall of 1887 Mr. Southcotte filed a claim on one hundred and sixty acres of land lying on section 9, township 13, range 65 west, twelve miles northeast of Colorado Springs. The fol- lowing year he brought his family to this place. Later he took up a tree claim of one hundred and sixty acres, and afterward homesteaded one hun- dred and sixty acres. At this writing he is the owner of seven hundred and twenty acres, besides which he has leased seven hundred and eighty acres. Upon his ranch he engages in stock- raising and the dairy business, in both of which lines he has been successful.

November 14, 1850, Mr. Southcotte was born at Crediton, Devonshire, England, on the River Creedy. He was reared on the farm owned by his parents, John and Susan (Berry) Southcotte, and received a fair common-school education. At fourteen years he began an apprenticeship to the trade of wagon and carriage-making, and was paid a shilling a week for his work during his term of service. At the age of seventeen he set sail for America, on the "City of London," of the Inman line, and made the voyage in ten days or less, which was a fast trip for that period. He landed in New York in June, 1868, and after two weeks went to Cleveland, Ohio, where he secured work at his trade, for Younglove, Mas- sey & Co. He spent three years in or near Cleveland, after which he worked in St. Louis for several years. He suffered so extremely from chills and fever that he was unable to work. Thinking a change of climate would benefit him, he came to Colorado in the fall of 1872. For a time he worked for Jacob Becker in Colorado City. In 1873, when the county-seat was trans- ferred to the Springs, he opened a shop there and engaged in the wagon and carriage repairing business.

The marriage of Mr. Southcotte took place in Colorado Springs July 3, 1878, and united him with Miss Edith J. Shideler, of that city. She was born at Blue Earth City, Faribault County,

Minn., and when but three years of age was brought to Colorado by her parents, Josephus and Martha A. (Rutherford) Shideler. By her marriage five children were born, namely: Maude Edna, Geoffrey Berry, and John Ervin, who were born in Colorado Springs; Wesley Carl and Bertha Jane, born on the home farm.

While in St. Louis Mr. Southcotte became a member of Golden Rule Lodge, I. O. O. F., in which he filled several chairs; and he is now a member of Pike's Peak Lodge No. 38, Colorado Springs. He is also identified with El Paso Lodge No. 13, A. F. & A. M., of that city. He voted for U. S. Grant in 1872 and has always since supported the Republican ticket. Upon the or- ganization of Troop B, of the National Guard of Colorado, he became one of its charter members. This was a troop of cavalry and was the next to the oldest organization in the state. He entered as corporal and was promoted through the differ- ent grades of sergeants until he was made second and then first lieutenant. After eleven years of service he was discharged, as first lieutenant. His company was called out at the time of the trouble between the Santa Fe and Denver & Rio Grande Railroads; and again, to quell the troubles between the Utes and the settlers in Gar- field County, where they were in active service for thirty days and took part in a skirmish where several were killed, the soldiers burying three of their number on the White River.

HARLES S. LAWTON, manager of the Conejos roller mill and one of the prominent residents of this village and of Conejos County, was born in New York state in 1851, a son of Seneca Lawton, a pioneer in the milling business in New York and for years a prominent man in his locality. After having spent his boy- hood in the east, at the age of sixteen Charles went to Missouri and secured employment in a mill at Carrollton, Carroll County, where he re- mained for some years.

Coming to Colorado in 1871, Mr. Lawton set- tled in Trinidad, where, with his uncle, Andrew Lawton, he became interested in the milling busi- ness. From that city in 1875 he came to Cone- jos, and formed a business partnership with Major Head, the two carrying on a mill for a short time. Later he went to Denver and from there to Boulder, where, and in other places, he fol- lowed the trade of a miller. Returning to Cone- jos in 1878, he operated a flour mill for Major

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Head, continuing in the same position for five years. Early in the 'Sos he became financially interested in the business, and is now the man- ager of the mill. Besides his work here he has also done some prospecting and owns mining interests of prospective value.

Interested in all the questions of the day, Mr. Lawton is especially active in local affairs and al- ways votes the Republican ticket. For one term he served as county assessor. Usually, however, his time is given closely to business matters, and he has neither leisure nor inclination for public affairs. In religion he is of the Christian Sci- ence belief. Fraternally he is connected with Antonito Lodge No. 63, I. O. O. F., of which he is a charter member. In 1876 he married Emma V., daughter of Peter Smith, and a native of Ohio. They have two children: Harry E. J., and Loraine.

C HARLES WESLEY LONG. Ten miles north of Colorado Springs, on section 7, township 13, range 65 west, El Paso County, lies a farm owned and operated by Mr. Long. In 1887 he homesteaded the land, upon which he has made a number of valuable improvements, including the erection of necessary houses. The property consists of eight hundred and eighty acres and is well improved. While he carries on general farm pursuits, since 1897 he has made a specialty of the dairy business, in which he has been very successful.

February 1, 1848, Mr. Long was born in Harrison County, Ohio, at a railroad station called Philadelphia Roads and situated on his father's farm. He was a son of James and Isabella (Mccullough) Long, natives of Jefferson County, Ohio, the former born in 1808 and the latter in 1811. His grandparents on both sides were emigrants from Ireland and settled in Jeffer- son County. James Long was a farmer and spent his entire life in Ohio. He was the father of eleven children, eight of whom attained mature years, and five are still living, Charles W. being the eighth. He and his sister, Mrs. Scott, of El Paso County, are the only members of the family who reside in Colorado. Two of his brothers served in the Civil war, David (now deceased) and Hugh M., both of whom were honorably dis- charged on account of physical disability.

Upon a farm in Harrison County our subject grew to manhood. When he was about fifteen his father died, leaving a farm of three hundred

and forty acres, and our subject and his brothers carried on the home place. When he was twenty- five, in 1873, he came to Colorado in company with his brother-in-law, Mr. Scott, the two look- ing for a suitable location for a permanent home. Returning to Ohio, he disposed of his interests there, and in 1874 settled permanently in Colo- rado. For a few years he worked on a sheep ranch, and in the meantime invested in property in Colorado Springs. In 1881 he went back to Ohio and spent the winter. April 20, 1882, in Harrison County, he was united in marriage with Miss Sophia Davis, who was born in that county. Upon his return to the west, with his young wife, he settled in Colorado Springs, where he remained for five years, removing from there to his present ranch in 1887.

A Republican in politics, Mr. Long was elected county commissioner in the fall of 1893 and served for three years. In 1896 he was re- nominated, without opposition, but that was the year of the great silver movement, and he was defeated with the remainder of his party ticket. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias at Falcon, of which lodge he was a charter member. He and his wife became the parents of five children: Mary Belle, Hugh M. (died November 16, 1898), James H., who were born in Colorado Springs, and Wesley Clair and John A., born on the home farm.

D HARLES J. MILLER resides one and one- half miles southeast of Fountain, where he owns one hundred and seventy acres of land, comprising one of the valuable farms of El Paso County. This place he bought in 1885, moving to it in December of the same year. He was born in Galena, Ill., May 13, 1850, a son of Jacob Burkart. When he was about ten years of age he was adopted by a Mr. Miller, whose name he took, and who lived in Savanna, Carroll County, Ill. In 1869 he left Illinois and came to Colorado, where for some years he engaged in mining, spending eight years in the vicinity of George- town, and later mining at Leadville and Aspen, but his mining ventures did not prove very profit- able. During a portion of this time he was an employe of General Hall. In this village, in February, 1881, he was united in marriage with Miss Maggie B. Brann, of Fountain. Two chil- dren, Jennie and Mabel, were born of their union, but Mabel died in infancy. The wife and mother passed away in August, 1888.

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The second marriage of Mr. Miller took place on Thanksgiving day, November 26, 1891, and united him with Flora Jackson. She was born near Clyde, Seneca County, Ohio, a daughter of Frank and Minerva (White) Jackson, natives of Luzerne County, Pa. After her father's death in Union County, Iowa, her mother moved to Richland County, Ohio, where her relatives lived and where her marriage had occurred. Mr. Jack- son was a soldier in the Civil war, enlisting in Company H, Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantry, and serving for two years. He died of chronic diarrhea in 1863, while in the service. He was a man of noble character and his death was deeply mourned by all who knew him.

Mr. Miller has never been an aspirant for polit- ical honors. He has, however, been elected to fill local offices, such as that of constable, etc., which he has filled with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of all. In his ballot he supports Democratic candidates. He was formerly con- nected with Acacia Lodge No. 85, A. F. & A. M., at Colorado Springs, and is now a member of Tejon Lodge. He is an upright and honor- able man, one who, by his industry and perse- verance, without help from anyone, has accumu- lated a valuable property and gained a sub- stantial position among the farmers of El Paso County.

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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 92

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