USA > Colorado > Sketches of Colorado: being an analytical summary and biographical history of the State of Colorado as portrayed in the lives of the pioneers, the founders, the builders, the statesmen, and the prominent and progressive citizens Vol. 1 > Part 25
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40
This company, of which he is president, has opened the quarries and equipped them for a large and increasing production; has built and equipped the largest known single marble mill; built a steam railroad from Red- stone to Marble and an electric railroad from Marble to the quarries; has installed a hydro- electric power plant having 1800 horse power capacity; and has built the town of Marble, which in 1905, had a population of six, and in 1911, a population of fifteen hundred.
It is now generally admitted that these quarries will become the chief source of the world's supply of white marble.
As a commercial and industrial resource and as a source of true wealth to the whole country, the enterprise will no doubt perma- nently rank as the first of Colorado's in- dustries.
In 1885 he was appointed Lieutenant- Colonel by Governor Buren R. Sherman of Iowa. He first came to Colorado in 1886 and has been a resident of Davenport and Des Moines, Iowa, of Marble, Colorado, New York and Virginia.
Colonel Meek is a member of the Denver Club, The Denver Athletic Club, the Colorado Traffic Club, and organized in 1885 the Grant Club of Des Moines, Iowa.
His interests and ambitions are all cen- tered here in the state of his adoption.
In 1879 Colonel Meek married at Xenia, Ohio, Fannie Melbourne, daughter of Wil- liam Melbourne of that place.
They have two children, Helen and Philip.
-215-
EDWARD WYNNE WILLIAMS
-216-
EDWARD WYNNE WILLIAMS.
WILLIAMS, EDWARD WYNNE, min- ing, born in Meirionethshire, Wales, July 27, 1847, was the son of George and Elinor Wynne (Evans) Williams. His fam- ily before him had all been mining men, George Williams, his grandfather, having been engaged in diseovering and developing lead mines in Flintshire, and was prominent in that industry. George Williams, the father of the subject of this sketeh, follow- ing the family tradition, also engaged in mining, and was the first to discover gold in North Wales. He followed gold, eopper and lead mining, being superintendent of various metallurgical mines in Wales, and was a recognized authority on that industry. He was born, 1816; died, 1864; he married Elinor, daughter of Humphrey Wynne and Laura (Lloyd) Evans. The Wynnes are among the oldest Welsh families, having a written and known history extending back to about the year 1200, with its coat of arms and family crest. The Wynne family were well to do and prosperous, being Welsh free-hold farmers.
Edward W. Williams, their fourth son, received a common school education. Upon the death of his father, and while but a lad, he also engaged in mining. In 1869 he came to the United States, locating at Nevadaville, Gilpin county, Colorado. Both by experience and family tradition he understood mining as conducted in Wales, but wanted to learn the American way, as well as study condi- tions in the Rocky Mountain region. With this purpose in view he worked in the mines for about nine months, at the same time mak- ing a special study of the geological forma- tion and minerals of Gilpin county. Subse- quently he made an extensive study of miner- alogical conditions throughout the state, vis- iting all the principal mining camps for that purpose. In this practical manner was laid the foundation for the success that came to him in the mining industry.
During his long career in Colorado he has also resided in Central City, Russell Gulch and Denver. After making a start in the mines at Nevadaville, Mr. Williams removed to Russell Guleh, in the same county, where he continued to follow mining.
In the spring of 1879 he opened a general supply store for miners at Russell Gulch, which he conducted in conjunction with his mining interests until 1893. During this period he was also postmaster at Russell Gulch. Later he became president and gen- eral manager of several mining companies,
in which he was largely interested, and was known as one of the most prominent mining men in that part of the state. Beginning to mine on his own account in 1869, in a few years he worked his way up to the owner- ship and control of valuable mining prop- erties, his life and suecess well illustrating what may be accomplished by engaging in mining as a business, and sticking to it. Among the large mines owned by Mr. Wil- liams were the Topeka, Aduddel, Champion, Specie Payment, and others, he having owned in more than twenty groups of valu- able mines in Gilpin eounty. He was county commissioner of that eounty from 1890 until 1893.
With the prosperity that came to him, he began to make investments and engage in other lines of business, beeoming a director in the Rocky Mountain National Bank at Central City, and president of the Aegis Life Insurance Company of Denver. He has led an intensely active business life, in which he has achieved well-earned success. Depend- ent upon his own resources and fighting his own way in the world, he is a fine example of the self-made man. Mr. Williams is thor- onghly American, aetive in church and char- itable work in a quiet way, taking a deep pleasure in being able to assist many a worthy but unfortunate one in distress.
Mr. Williams has traveled extensively in America and Europe, thus supplementing in a broad way his early education, adding thereto a eulture that could not otherwise have been obtained. He is prominent in Masonic eireles, being a thirty-second degree Mason and a Shriner.
Mr. Williams is now (1911) largely inter- ested in the Rollinsville-Perigo Gold Mining Company, the property of which consists of about thirty-two hundred acres of placer and lode mining claims, from which millions of gold have been produced. In addition to this company's holdings, he is interested in a number of other valuable mining prop- erties in Gilpin county. He has also made extensive real estate investments in Denver, among which is the Wynne Hotel, named for his mother's family in Wales.
Mr. Williams was married three times, his first wife dying in 1875; the second in 1903; his third wife is still living. He has had two children, Edward Owen, and Minnie Wynne Williams, the latter dying when but eight years of age, the former being asso- ciated with his father in business.
-217-
OSCAR DAVID CASS, M. D.
-- 218-
OSCAR DAVID CASS, M. D.
C ASS, OSCAR DAVID, M. D., son of Moses G. and Sophia (Thurston) Cass, was born in Lyman, New Hampshire, August 2, 1823, and died in Denver, Colorado, De- cember 15, 1894. He is descended from an English and Scotch ancestry, with a family history reaching to the thirteenth century. His people were also prominent in the colo- nial period of this country, and more espe- cially in New Hampshire and Vermont. His early education, received in the common schools of Vermont, was supplemented by a course at Fairfield Academy, New York. He began the study of medicine at Whitesboro, the latter state, and later was graduated from the Vermont Medical College in Castle- ton, June 18, 1845. After practicing his pro- fession for a time, in Lewis county, New York, he was appointed surgeon of a steam- ship plying between New Orleans and Pan- ama. After serving several trips as a sea surgeon, he engaged in the practice of his profession for several years in California, and returning east, settled in Muscatine, Iowa. He removed to Leavenworth, Kansas, in 1859, and to Colorado in 1860, arriving in Denver May 13, that year, and continuing in the regular practice until the following November. In connection with Dr. Hamilton (later surgeon of the First Colorado Volun- teers) he started a small hospital, which con- tinued for a short time. Having obtained a knowledge of mining and gold dust in Cali- fornia, he opened a broker's office in Denver, in the room occupied by Hinckley's express on Blake street. Joined by Joseph B. Cass,
his brother from Leavenworth, they con- ducted a profitable business, and erected a building on Sixteenth and Holladay, then known as G and MeGaa streets. They now engaged in a regular banking business, buy- ing gold dust, which was shipped to Carney & Stephens, a banking firm in Leavenworth, where Joseph B. Cass had been cashier. They also loaned money, the rate of interest in those frontier days being high and very prof- itable. Supplemental to their banking inter- ests, they also engaged in freighting goods across the plains. A branch office was opened by them in Central City. The rapid advance in the price of gold during the war was the source of great profit to them in dealing in gold dust. They were also the agents of Ben Holladay's stage line, and in 1865, sold their building and business to the latter. Dr. Cass was one of the builders of Denver, making heavy investments in real estate. Forming a partnership with the late Dr. J. W. Graham, they built the Cass & Graham Block, Sixteenth and Curtis streets. This location was acquired by Doctor Cass in 1860, and is still owned by the Cass family. Doctor Cass died December 15, 1894, one of the most highly respected and honored cit- izens of Denver.
Doctor Cass married Emogene M., daugh- ter of Phinneas Babcock of Brookfield, New York. To Doctor and Mrs. Cass the follow- ing children were born: Alice (deceased). Myra May (now Mrs. Louis F. Foster of Gardena, California), and Oscar David, Jr.
-219-
DAVID WILLIAM BRUNTON
-220-
DAVID WILLIAM BRUNTON.
B RUNTON, DAVID WILLIAM, mining engineer, born in Ayr, Ontario, Canada, June 11, 1849, was the son of James and Agnes (Dickie) Brunton. The Bruntons are an old Scottish border family, most of the members of which have gone either into engineering or the army. His father, James Brunton, born at Galashiels, Scotland, 1819, died in Mount Pleasant, Ontario, Canada, 1865. His mother, daughter of John and Jane Dickie, was born at Kilmarnock, Scot- land, 1824. Their son, David W. Brunton, is the eldest of four children. He was edu- cated at Toronto, Canada, and took a post- graduate course in engineering and mining at the University of Michigan. After fol- lowing his profession in engineering work for about three years in the east, he came to Colorado, June 20, 1875, and has since made this state his home. His record as a mining and consulting engineer, and manager, is pre-eminent, and he stands among the very first in his profession. During his long and successful career he has filled the following positions: 1875, mining engineer, Dakota and San Juan Mining Company; 1876, min- ing engineer, Clear Creek Reduction Works; 1877, mining engineer, Washington Avenue mine, Netherland, Coloardo; 1878, mining engineer, Silver Peak Mining Company, Esmerelda county, Nevada ; 1879, manager, Silver Peak Mine, Esmerelda county, Ne- vada ; 1880, manager, Taylor & Brunton Mill- ing Company, Leadville, Colorado; 1881- 1882, manager, Wolftone mine, and consult- ing engineer, Robert E. Lee mine; 1883, examining mines in South America; 1884, examining mines in Mexico and Montana; 1885, examining mines in Mexico, Central America and Idaho; 1886-1887-1888, man- ager, Colonel Sellers mine, Leadville, and building concentrating mill for the A. Y. and Minnie mine ; 1889-1890, consulting engi- neer with the side-line mine owners at Aspen, Colorado, and manager of the Cowenhoven Tunnel at that place; 1891-1895, manager, Cowenhoven Tunnel and Della S. Mining Company ; 1896-1897, manager of the Cowen- hoven Tunnel, Della S. and Free Silver Mines, Aspen, Colorado; 1898-1899, consult- ing engineer, Anaconda Copper Mining Com- pany, Butte Montana ; 1900-1905, consulting engineer, Amalgamated Copper Company ; 1906, consulting engineer, Mine Owners'
Association, Cripple Creek, Colorado; 1907, examining mines in New Zealand and Aus- tralia, and made trip around the world; 1908-1911, consulting engineer, with offices 730 Symes Building, Denver, Colorado. Mr. Brunton was connected with the Taylor & Brunton and Western Ore purchasing com- panies.
He is the inventor and patentee of numer- ous devices and machines for use in mining and metallurgy. His specialty is economie geology, tunneling and ore valuation. The more noteworthy achievements in his career were accomplished as manager of the Cowen- hoven Tunnel, and consulting engineer for the Roosevelt Tunnel and the Laramie Canal. He is a member of the following societies and clubs : Institution of Civil Engineers ; Royal Geographical Society; American Institute of Mining Engineers, of which he was vice- president, 1897-1898, and president, 1909- 1910; American Society for the Advance- ment of Science ; Colorado Scientific Society ; Denver Club, Denver Country Club, and Denver Chamber of Commerce. He is a thir- ty-second degree, Scottish Rite Mason, and a Shriner.
Mr. Brunton has a world-wide record as a mining engineer of high repute, and has investigated mines in the leading centers of this industry, in this and foreign countries. During his operations in Leadville as an engineer and manager, the mining proper- ties with which he was connected produced many millions of dollars in the precious metals. The Cowenhoven Tunnel at Aspen, carried on under his management, was a work of great magnitude, skilfully con- structed, being two and one fourth miles in length, with a double track. He has pro- moted and successfully conducted and com- pleted vast enterprises.
Mr. Brunton married, at Kingston, New York, February 11, 1885, Miss Katharine Kemble, of that city. Mrs. Brunton is a lady of graceful accomplishments, and is descended from a distinguished colonial an- cestry, one of whom was Colonel Johannis Snyder, one of the patriots of the American Revolution. Through his service, she is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. They have four children, Fred- erick K., John D., Harold J. and Marion.
-221-
JOHN SIDNEY BROWN.
BROWN, JOHN SIDNEY, merchant, son of Reuben and Betsey Horton (Hill) Brown, was born June 10, 1833, in Conneaut, Ashtabula county, Ohio. His ancestors were prominent in the early history of the American colonies, emigrating from England during the first part of the sixteenth cen- tury. His father was born at Strafford, Ver- mont, and his mother was a daughter of
of the Supreme Court of Michigan. She died in Denver in 1889, at the age of eighty-seven.
Henry Brown, who came from England about 1639, and settled in Salisbury, Massa- chusetts, was his American ancestor. His descendant in the fifth generation, Moses Brown (1750-1832), the grandfather of J. Sidney Brown, was a soldier in the American Revolution. In the maternal line, Mr.
JOHN SIDNEY BROWN
John and Laura (Bushnell) Hill, and was born at Starksboro, Vermont. She was a sister of Adjutant General Charles W. Hill of Ohio, who aided largely in raising and pushing to the front the quota of that state in the civil war. She was also a cousin of the Reverend Horace Bushnell of Hartford, Connecticut, for whom the famous Bushnell Park was named, and Judge James Campbell
Brown is descended from General Robert Sedgwick, born in England, in 1600, who in 1636 became a resident of Charleston, Massa- chusetts. In 1643, General Sedgewick, to- gethier with the younger Winthrop, estab- lished the first iron works in America. He was a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of London and on coming to the colonies organized the Ancient and
-222-
Honorable Artillery Company of Boston, be- ing made its captain in 1640. He died in Jamaica, May 24, 1656. General Sedgewick was one of the most distinguished men of his time.
To Reuben and Betsey Horton (Hill) Brown were born the following children : Junius Flagg Brown (q. v.), who died in Denver; Mrs. Adelia Dayfoot, who died in Canada; Mrs. Hannah Gillette, who died in Denver; John Sidney Brown of Denver, and Charles H. Brown, who died in Denver. John Sidney Brown received a liberal edu- cation and in 1858 joined his brother, Junius F., at Atchison, Kansas, where he was en- gaged in the manufacture of humber. In 1861, owing to the civil war and the reduced demand for lumber, their idle teams were used for freighting to Denver. J. Sidney Brown made two trips to Denver in that year with ox trains, and came in 1862 with a mule train, and remained in Denver and established himself in the grocery business. In 1864, one of their mule trains was at- tacked by Indians and destroyed.
In 1862, Mr. Brown formed a partnership with A. B. Daniels in the grocery business, on Blake street, near Fifteenth. Their entire stock was lost in the great Denver fire of 1863, and they had no insurance and saved no goods. But, starting over again, the busi- ness with Daniels was continued until 1868 and was quite prosperous, when Mr. Daniels retired. The business was continued under the name of J. S. Brown until 1870, when Mr. Brown formed a partnership with his brother, Junius F. Brown, under the firm name of J. S. Brown & Brother, and it soon became the leading grocery house of the west. In 1893 the firm was incorporated under the name of The J. S. Brown & Bro- ther Mercantile Company, of which J. S. Brown was president and Junius F. Brown, vice-president. Mr. Brown is now also vice- president of the Colorado Milling and Ele- vator Company. He was a member of the banking firm of Daniels, Brown & Company of Del Norte, Colorado, commonly known as the bank of San Juan. He was also inter- ested in founding banks at Alamosa and Durango. Mr. Brown was an original stock- holder of the Denver Pacific and the Denver and South Park, and the Denver and New Orleans Railway Companies, and was trustee for the stock of the Denver, South Park and Pacific road, and upon its sale, distributed $2,300,000 to its stockholders. He was also one of the original promoters of the Denver Tramway System. Mr. Brown assisted in organizing the City National Bank of Den-
ver, of which he was president for several years. He was an early stockholder and director in the Telephone Company, also an original stockholder in the Denver, Utah and Pacific Railroad, now owned by the Burling- ton, and an original stockholder in the Den- ver Steam Heating Plant. After having been engaged in business as partners for about forty years, on the most intimate and friendly terms, Junius F. Brown withdrew from the firm in 1900, J. Sidney still con- tinuing at the head of the old establish- ment, of which he has been president since its organization. It is now owned exclusively by J. Sidney Brown and his sons. Mr. Brown has been continuously in the same line of business longer than any other man in Denver. He is a member of the Colo- rado Commandery of Knights Templar.
Mr. Brown married in Denver, in 1868, Miss Irene Sopris, born in Indiana, danghter of Captain Richard Sopris and Elizabeth (Allen) Sopris, the latter of whom is still living in Denver, at the age of ninety-six years. Her family were leading pioneers in the history of the territory, and in the early days was one of the social leaders of Denver. She died in 1881, and left surviving her five chidlren: Frederick S., now vice- president and general manager of The J. S. Brown & Brother Mercantile Company ; Eliz- abeth (Mrs. A. B. Inglis) of Paterson, New Jersey .; Edward N .; Katherine (Mrs. N. A. Johansen) of Seattle, Washington; and Wil- liam K. Brown, Yale S. S. 1900, secretary of the Brown corporation.
Mr. Brown married, second, Miss Adele Overton, born in Wisconsin, a daughter of John Overton and Lucina Otto Overton. Mrs. Brown was graduated from the Univer- sity of Wisconsin in 1871, with the degree of B. S., coming the same year to Denver, where she became asssistant principal of the high school. She is a descendant of prominent colonial families and is a cousin of Senator Henry M. Teller (q. v.) and the late Senator Jerome B. Chaffee (q. v.) of Colorado. She is prominent in the social and patriotic life of Denver and is a Daughter of the Revohi- tion, the Association of Collegiate Alumni, and the Denver Fortnightly Club. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown have been born the follow- ing children: John Sidney, Jr., Yale 1905, treasurer of The J. S. Brown & Brother Mer- cantile Company ; Ben Overton, Yale 1906, (deceased) ; Carroll Teller, Yale 1909, con nected with the corporation; Sedgewick Bushnell (deceased) ; Alice (Mrs. Samuel Martin) of Seattle, Washington, and Irene L. Brown.
-223-
HORACE WILSON BENNETT
-- 224-
HORACE WILSON BENNETT.
BENNETT, HORACE WILSON, capital- ist, son of Horace Alderman (1841-1863) and Sarah (Wilson) Bennett, was born in Hamburg, Livingston county, Mich., Sept. 4, 1862. On his father's side his ancestors came from a fine old family of Middlesex, England, to Livingston county, New York, in 1768. His grandfather settled and named Livingston county, Mich., and was its first sheriff. Some of his relatives were members of congress. In the maternal line, he is de- scended from colonial stock, who settled in Connecticut and whose descendants removed to Indiana.
Horace W. Bennett was educated in the high school at Brighton, Mich. He first en- gaged in business at the age of 18, with New- ton, Bennett & Co., Detroit, Mich., furnish- ing railway supplies to the Pere Marquette and the Michigan Central railroads. About a year later, selling his interest, he removed to Corona, that state, continuing in the mercan- tile supply business, forming a partnership under the firm name of A. A. Bennett & Co. Again disposing of his interest at a good profit, he established a large mercantile sup- ply house under the name and title of H. W. Bennett & Co., at Milford, Mich. Closing out his interests there in 1882, Mr. Bennett started west. Arriving in Denver in 1883, he engaged in the real estate business, opening an office in the Duff Block. During a period of two years, he also conducted a boot and shoe store on Sixteenth street, later trading the same for real estate. Then, in connection with J. A. Fisher, he operated in real estate and loans.
In 1884, Mr. Bennett formed a partner- ship with J. A. Myers, under the firm name of Bennett & Myers, continuing to the pres- ent, which has become the leading real estate firm of Denver, with large investments in other and profitable enterprises. They now conduct a real estate and investment broker- age business, controlling not only vast in- terests in Denver, but throughout the west. They made heavy investments on Fifteenth, Sixteenth and Seventeenth streets. With Charles Boettcher and Henry M. Porter, they invested heavily on Fifteenth street, developed and greatly enhanced the values thereon, in- corporated The Fifteenth Street Investment Company which now owns the Gas & Elec- tric Building, the Commonwealth Building, the Kittredge Building, the Quincy Building, the Iron Building, the Union Pacific Block,
the Chicago Block and other large interests.
Among the larger holdings of Bennett & Myers, is a controlling interest in the Tabor Grand Opera House, built by the late Sen- ator Tabor; the Majestic Building, the Wind- sor Hotel, the Victor Hotel, the Belvedere, and a large number of smaller office buildings. They also, in connection with Mr. Jerome S. Riche, Mr. Bennett's father-in-law, own the Empire Building, and Mr. Bennett and Mr. Riche own the St. Francis Hotel, a half in- terest in the Ernest & Cranmer Block, and have recently purchased "Wolhurst" for a country home, the former residence of the late Senator E. O. Wolcott, and still later owned by the late Thomas F. Walsh. Mr. Bennett also owns a handsome city residence at 1212 Grant street.
Bennett & Myers and their associates have been especially active in the develop- ment of Fifteenth street. Through their in- fluence, an adjustment and settlement was made, whereby the Denver Dry Goods Com- pany obtained contiguous lots and extended their building from Sixteenth to Fifteenth street. They raised a bonus of $20,000 for the site that secured the location of the Audi- torium on Fourteenth street, and in many other ways, they have been especially ener- getic in promoting the business interests of the city.
Bennett & Myers were prominent in the founding and development of Cripple Creek and the mining region immediately surround- ing that great gold camp. The site now oc- cupied by the town of Cripple Creek was first claimed as a homestead by William V. Wo- mack of Kentucky, in 1876, who sold it to the Pikes Peak Cattle & Land Company in 1884, which in turn disposed of their interests to Bennett & Myers in 1885. The Pikes Peak Cattle & Land Company owning the land that now comprises the Cripple Creek District, was capitalized for $150,000, and placed thereon about 500 head of cattle and horses. Hence, the Cripple Creek region is now his- torically considered as an old "Cow Pasture." Thompson & Anderson, who organized this company, sold an half interest to Philip Ells- worth, a wealthy glove manufacturer of Gloversville, New York. In the spring of 1885, Mr. Ellsworth came west to look over his investments. Many of the cattle and horses had perished owing to the severity of the winter. Mr. Ellsworth was dissatis- fied and contemplated bringing suit. To
-225-
avoid litigation a compromise was affected, Mr. Ellsworth inducing the others to turn over to him their holdings, and he, then, at- tempted to dispose of his entire interest to Bennett & Myers, the latter at first refusing to consider or investigate the matter. They finally accompanied him as his guests to look over the property. Starting from Colorado Springs in June they passed through North Cheyenne Canon, and coming to the foot of Mt. Pisgah, found themselves in a beautiful valley. About 300 head of stock had sur- vived the winter and were now grazing knee deep in the heavy grass. The property con- sisted of about 50,000 acres of government land enclosed with a stake and rider fence, of which the company had title to about 700 acres which secured hay and water rights along the creek. After inspecting the land, Bennett & Myers paid $7,500.00 for the same and the small herd that remained, and soon developed it into a large and paying cattle ranch. Within three or four months, Albert Pottinger, of Colorado Springs, offered them $16,000 for the ranch, without the cattle, but they refused. Later came the rich discover- ies of gold. George W. Carr, their ranch foreman, having sent them reliable infor- mation of the finding of gold, in October of that year, Bennett & Myers platted 80 acres of a townsite named Fremont, now a part of the town of Cripple Creek. In February, 1892, they platted an addition to Fremont and 200 lots were sold the first day. Some of these lots, selling for $25, afterwards brought $8,000. Parts of the original ranch, pur- chased from the cattle company by this firm,
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.