USA > Wyoming > History of Wyoming, Volume II > Part 35
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He was born October 27, 1877, at Upper Jay, New York, a son of Henry G. and Elizabeth ( Williams) Smith. The father, now deceased, was a native of Massachusetts and represented one of the families of that state of Scotch lineage. The founder of the family in the new world was Galushia Smith, who upon coming to America settled on Cape Cod. Later representatives of the name re- moved to New York when that section of the country was yet sparsely settled. Henry G. Smith became a successful merchant of Upper Jay, New York, where he was reared, educated and spent his entire life, passing away in 1909 at the age of fifty-four years. His political endorsement was stanchly given to the democratic party and he did everything in his power to promote its success and to uphold high civic standards. He was called upon to fill various public of- fices, the duties of which he discharged with marked promptness, capability and fidelity. His religious faith was that of the Methodist church and he was a devout Christian. His wife was born in the Empire state and was descended from one of its old families of Scotch lineage. One of the great-great-grand- fathers of Clifford C. Smith was a Mohawk Indian chief. His wife had come to America in young girlhood and became the wife of the chief. Mrs. Smith, mother of Clifford C. Smith, is still living and now makes her home in Denver, Colorado. By her marriage she had a family of three children, namely : Clifford C .; H. Vernon, who is engaged in ranching in the Red River valley at Torring- ton, near Casper, Wyoming; and Caroline, who is with her mother in Denver.
Clifford C. Smith is indebted to the public schools of Plattsburg, New York, for the educational opportunities which were accorded him. He mastered the branches that constituted the curriculum, including work of the high school, and
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then started out to earn his own living when a youth of fourteen years. He was first employed at clerical work along mercantile lines in his native city and afterward engaged in business on his own account as a dealer in dry goods, groceries and other lines, devoting his attention to the business at Upper Jay, New York, from 1906 until 1908 inclusive. He then disposed of his business on account of the ill health of his wife and removed to the west, hoping that a change of climate would prove beneficial. He located in Denver, Colorado, where he entered the employ of P. J. McEnery, a dealer in men's furnishings. He continued in that position for four and a half years and then resigned pre- paratory to removing to Wyoming, where he arrived on the Ist of December, 1913, taking up his abode in Evanston. He became connected with the Golden Rule Mercantile Company as a clerk and worked his way steadily upward, being advanced from one position to another of larger responsibility until he became manager and a member of the firm. He has thus directed its interests for the past three years and is today at the head of one of the leading mercantile enterprises of the west. The Golden Rule store is the expression of the spirit of western progress which has dominated the upbuilding of the country and the establishment is one of the best in the state. It is modern in every particular and a complete line of goods is carried, while something of the volume of trade is indicated in the fact that the company employs on an average fourteen sales people and occupies store space which on one floor is one hundred and twenty- five by fifty feet and on another floor two hundred and fifty-one by one hundred and twenty-five feet. The store faces on both Main and Front streets, extend- ing from one thoroughfare to the other. The business has assumed gratifying proportions and the underlying feature of its present day success and prosperity is the enterprise, business judgment and ability of Mr. Smith.
On the 6th of June, 1902, Mr. Smith was married in Kingston, New York. to Miss Agnes Lahey, a native of the Empire state and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Lahey, now deceased. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith : Clifford, who was born January 3, 1904, in the Empire state and died in February of the same year; and Madeline E., who was born at Upper Jay, New York, December 25, 1906.
The religious faith of the parents is that of the Methodist church, to the teachings of which they loyally adhere. Mr. Smith is a democrat in his political views and is a stanch advocate of the party but has always declined to become a candidate for office. He feels that the pursuits of private life are in them- selves abundantly worthy of his best efforts and he has so concentrated his efforts and attention upon his interests that the business under his control has constantly developed and grown. He coordinates seemingly diverse interests into a harmonious and unified whole and he most readily discriminates between the essential and the nonessential in all business transactions. Today his estab- lishment has almost doubled in size and in volume of trade since he assumed control and its growing success is the direct outcome of his labors.
GEORGE W. PATTERSON.
George W. Patterson, attorney at law and court stenographer for the second judicial district of Wyoming, has been a resident of Laramie for almost twenty years and has become most widely and favorably known during this period. He was born in Fort Collins, Colorado, July 21, 1880, an only son in the family of Arthur H. and Marion ( Watrous) Patterson. His parents were early settlers of that section of Colorado. The father was one of the three landowners who donated the site for the Colorado State Agricultural School and his old home- stead is now the site of the main building of that institution.
George W. Patterson was reared at Fort Collins and acquired his early edu- cation in the schools there. In August, 1899, he came to Laramie, where he
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concluded his literary studies by attending the University of Wyoming for five years. He had taken a course in shorthand at the Colorado State Agricultural School, supplemented by additional instruction in stenography through corre- spondence schools as well as home study, so that when appointed court stenog- rapher on the Ist of October, 1905, he was fully capable of filling the important position, in which he has since continued. He ranks today as one of the most competent and efficient men in his line in the state. He has always been a close student, possesses notable energy and laudable ambition and has thereby from time to time given his leisure to preparation for the practice of law. He pursued the course of the Blackstone Law School in Chicago and in April, 1918, was ad- mitted to the bar.
On the 3d of October, 1906, in Laramie, Mr. Patterson was united in mar- riage to Miss Dorothy Reed, a daughter of W. H. Reed, at one time paleontolo- gist of the University of Wyoming. Mrs. Patterson was graduated from the University of Wyoming in the class of 1004 and later successfully taught school, becoming principal of the schools at Meeteetse, Wyoming, while for a period she also taught in the schools of Cheyenne.
In politics Mr. Patterson is a stanch democrat and takes a keen interest in the success and growth of his party. He is a valued citizen of Laramie, with great faith in its future, and has whenever opportunity offered made investment in real estate and has built four attractive residences in this city, three of which he has sold. He has a host of friends here-friends who admire him greatly by reason of his cordial manner, his clean life, his uniform courtesy and his up- rightness of character.
DAVID NIMMO.
David Nimmo, president of the Union Mercantile Association of Cheyenne, and thus actively connected with commercial interests of the city, spent the first twenty years of his life in Scotland, the land of crag and glen, of mountain peak and mountain lake, of lowland, heath and plain, of liberty, poetry and song, whose heroes and whose sons have honored Britain's flag on every field. from Waterloo, the Crimea and Lucknow to the Marne and Ypres.
Mr. Nimmo was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on the 19th of September, 1870, his parents being David and Mary ( Baird ) Nimmo. The father was a cattle dealer, devoting his life to that business, and both have now passed away, the mother's death having occurred in 1917. Their family numbered seven chil- dren, four sons and three daughters, of whom David was the third in order of birth.
Spending his youthful days under the parental roof, David Nimmo profited by the instruction he received in the graded schools of Scotland and in the school of experience he also learned many valuable lessons. He continued in Scotland until about twenty years of age, when he bade adieu to friends and native country and crossed the Atlantic to the new world. He did not tarry on the Atlantic coast but made his way direct to Cheyenne and in connection with his brother. Alexander Nimmo, engaged in the meat business for a period of seventeen years, or until 1007. With the Hoffmans, ex-Governor Brooks and Richardson Broth- ers of Cheyenne he is interested in the Chihuahua Lumber Company of Mexico and. because of it. went to Mexico, where he remained for a short time. After- ward he returned to Cheyenne and purchased, in connection with others, the business conducted under the name of the Union Mercantile Association. He was elected president of the company, in which capacity he is still serving, and is now largely directing the interests and activities of the organization which, wisely and intelligently controlled. is bringing substantial success to the stock- holders. Mr. Nimmo is also still interested with his brother in ranching, under
DAVID NIMMO
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the name of the Nimmo Live Stock Company, and together they have stock ranches on Horse creek and on Bear creek.
In August, 1894, was celebrated the marriage of David Nimmo and Miss Helen L. Kingham, a native of England. Their living children are Mary, Ethel, Helen, Thomas Bruce, Jean and John. Two sons, William and David, are deceased. The religious faith of the parents is that of the Episcopal church.
Mr. Nimmo votes with the republican party, has served as a member of the city council and is now one of the city commissioners. Thoroughly imbued with the American spirit, he puts forth every effort to advance the interests of the city and state with which his affairs are allied. By persistent effort in business he has pushed his way to the front and his record is creditable alike to the city and to the land of his adoption.
JAMES P. ROSENBERG.
James P. Rosenberg is actively identified with public interests in Lincoln county, filling the position of deputy county assessor and that of city clerk of Kemmerer. He is also well known in business circles as a representative of insurance interests.
He was born in Westchester, New York, January 17, 1859, and is a son of John and Eliza ( Mattingly) Rosenberg, the former a native of Hamburg, Ger- many, while the latter was born in Windsor, England. They came to America as young people and settled in the state of New York, where the father en- gaged in educational work, conducting a boys' school at Westchester, New York, for some time. Later he removed to San Antonio, Texas, where he was in charge of St. Mary's College. He later became an Episcopalian minister and while acting as pastor of a church at Portland, Oregon, he was called to his final rest, his death occurring in 1889, when he was sixty-four years of age. He was a gentleman of liberal education and culture, with whom asso- ciation meant expansion and elevation. During the period of the Civil war he had responded to the call of his adopted country for military aid and enlisted in a regiment of New York Volunteers, in which he was made assistant quarter- master, serving in that connection throughout the entire war. He long survived his wife, who passed away in the Empire state in 1865. In their family were four children: George, now living in Portland, Oregon; Ernest, who is located at Seattle, Washington ; Fred, who died at Brenham, Texas; and James P., who was the second in order of birth.
Reared in an atmosphere of culture and refinement, well descended and well bred, James P. Rosenberg has made for himself a creditable position in connection with those activities which have occupied his attention during the period of his manhood. As a boy he was a pupil in his father's school in New York at Westchester and also attended the grammar school and the military school at Portland, Oregon. He then took up the study of engineering but did not complete his course in that direction. He afterward went to eastern Oregon on account of his health and while there he was employed in various lines of engineering work and at mining. He likewise engaged in teaching school for a time and afterward removed to Wyoming, where he spent a number of years as a cowboy in the employ of prominent cattlemen of the state. While thus engaged he drove cattle across the states of Idaho, Oregon and Wyoming and many times over the plains where the city of Kemmerer now stands. He took up his abode in Kemmerer to assume charge of one of the large coal mines of the place as superintendent and at length resigned his position in that connec- tion to assume the duties of editor of the Kemmerer Camera, a weekly paper, which had a wide circulation. He continued to edit this paper until it changed hands, spending three years in editorial work. He was then elected justice of the peace and in addition to performing the duties of that office he opened and
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conducted a real estate office, continuing successfully in that field for eighteen years. In 1915 he was appointed city clerk and in 1916 was elected to the of- fice, which position he is now filling in connection with his duties along other lines. He is capable and resourceful and has proven his loyalty to the general welfare in several public offices. He served for the second term as deputy sheriff of Fremont county and has been deputy assessor of Lincoln county for one term. He was also water commissioner for a number of years and he has made a most excellent record by his marked fidelity to the general good. His political allegiance has always been given to the democratic party and he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day.
On the 20th of September, 1893, Mr. Rosenberg was united in marriage to Miss Annie E. Clifford, of Soda Springs, Idaho, who passed away in August, 1914. She was of English lineage, her parents having been born in England. By that marriage there were six children. Clifford, born in Soda Springs, Idaho, in 1894, attended the public schools of Kemmerer and is now working in that city. Bert, born in Soda Springs in 1895, is now with the United States Army as a member of Company D, One Hundred and Forty-seventh Machine Gun Battalion, at Camp Mills. Jessie E., born at Soda Springs in 1897, attended high school and is now at home. LeRoy, born at Soda Springs, November 11, 1898, is also at Camp Mills as a member of Company A and is acting clerk to the major of his regiment. He was formerly deputy clerk of the court and assis- tant editor of the Kemmerer Camera. Ralph, born in 1903, is a sophomore in high school. William, born in 1908, is a pupil in the graded schools.
Mr. and Mrs. Rosenberg hold membership in the Episcopal church and socially are prominent in the community where they make their home. Mr. Rosenberg was formerly identified, with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and he now has membership with the Woodmen of the World. He is a self-made man who has worked his way upward entirely on his own account. He drove cattle through the states of Oregon, Idaho and Wyoming in 1877 and 1878 and saw some very exciting times. He has lived to witness remarkable changes as the work of progress and civilization has been carried forward and he stands today with those who have been most active and helpful in bringing about the changes leading to modern day progress, improvement and prosperity.
MRS. ZELA M. MURPHY.
Mrs. Zela M. Murphy, of Basin, is filling the position of county clerk in Bighorn county and her systematic work and efficiency have made her a most valuable incumbent in the office. Mrs. Murphy is a native of Sedalia, Missouri, and a daughter of Harlow A. and Maria L. (Linnabary) Longshore, both of whom were natives of Ohio, where they were reared and married. In 1876 they removed westward to Missouri, where they lived for a year and later took up their abode in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The father was a ship contractor and died at Jacksonville, Florida, in the year 1896. The mother survived him for a long period and passed away on the 14th of March, 1917. In their family were three children. Mrs. Zela M. Murphy, however, is today the only surviving men- ber of the family.
She was reared and educated in . Paris, Illinois, where she attended the com- mon schools, and later she had the benefit of instruction in a Chattanooga acad- emy in Tennessee. In 1900 she came to Bighorn county, Wyoming, where she devoted her attention to the profession of teaching for one term. In 1901 she gave her hand in marriage to William W. Murphy, a native of Harrison county, Iowa, who had removed to Wyoming in 1898 and settled on a ranch near Lovell. Later he engaged in the insurance and real estate business at Lovell and even- tually removed to Basin, where he is still engaged in the same line of business.
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It was in the year 1909 that Mrs. Murphy was elected county treasurer of Bighorn county and occupied that position for two terms. In 1914 she was elected county clerk, so that for a number of years she has been continuously in public office. Prior to her official service she acted as assistant cashier in a bank at Lovell for four years. She is a member of the Woman's Club of Wyoming. also has membership with the Royal Neighbors and Mr. Murphy is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America. They are widely and favorably known in Basin, where the hospitality of the best homes is freely accorded them. Mrs. Murphy's official record is indeed creditable and enviable, as is indicated by the fact that she has four times been chosen to public office here.
REV. JOHN F. MORETON.
Rev. John F. Moreton, pastor of St. Mary Magdalen's Roman Catholic church at Evanston, is a native of Rhode Island. He was born on the 6th of June, 1889, in Warren, that state, a son of William and Rose A. (Burke) More- ton. The father is a native of Wales and about 1880 came to America. He is now residing in Providence, Rhode Island, and has devoted his life to the busi- ness of a silversmith. His wife is a native of England and to them were born eleven children, five sons and six daughters, of whom nine are yet living.
Rev. John F. Moreton was the fourth in order of birth in that family. He acquired his early education in the public schools of Providence, Rhode Island, and afterward attended the Christian Brothers College at Providence, Rhode Island, from which he was graduated with, the class of 1908. He later spent one year in La Salle Academy, where he engaged in post-graduate work, and having qualified for the priesthood, he entered St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1909 and continued with his studies until November, 1914. His ordination services were conducted by the Rt. Rev. Bishop P. A. McGovern.
His first assignment was that of assistant pastor in the cathedral and his first pastorate was at Evanston, where he took up his duties in January, 1915. Since that time he has been in active and continuous service at Evanston and he also conducts a mission at Fort Bridger. He has done excellent work since arriving in Wyoming and the different lines of church activity are well organized. Father Moreton has a brother, Joseph Moreton, who is now studying for the priesthood, and his sister Rose has taken the vows and is known as Sister Romanus of the Order of Mercy. She is located in Providence. The parents are devout mem- bers of the Catholic church and reared their family in the faith, to which all have closely adhered.
FRED E. PLACE.
Fred E. Place was reared and educated in the Pine Tree state and when a young man he left New England for the west. He came to Wyoming when it was a territory, and worked as a cowboy on the range and later settled on Bates creek, where he took up a claim and engaged in the live stock business on his own account, devoting his attention to that pursuit until 1903, when he took up his abode in Casper. He then concentrated his attention upon surveying and in 1910 was elected to the position of clerk of the district court which office he continued to fill until 1917, when he resigned.
In his political views Mr. Place has always been a stalwart republican and has exerted considerable influence over political thought and action. He was one of the first county commissioners of Natrona county, serving in that of- fice for one term, and as clerk and as commissioner he made a most creditable record for devotion to the general good. Fraternally he is well known as a
F. Mouton
John
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Mason. belonging to Casper Lodge, No. 15. F. & A. M. He is also a member of the Royal Arch Chapter and of the Order of the Eastern Star. He likewise has membership with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and with the Woodmen of the World.
There is no phase of pioneer life in this section of Wyoming with which he is not familiar. He has lived here since this district was largely an open range and the cowboy was a picturesque figure as he rode over the country after stray herds of cattle. He has lived to see remarkable changes as the years have gone on and has borne his part in the work of general improvement and advancement.
ERNEST SUNDIN.
Ernest Sundin is one of the business men of Rawlins who has had a re- markable rise, advancing step by step from a humble environment to a place among the prosperous and prominent ranchers of the state. He is also the owner of the Depot Garage in Rawlins.
He was born in Sweden, May 1, 1863, a son of John and Josephine Sundin, who are also natives of that country and there have spent their lives, the father engaging in merchandising at Oscarheim. He is still residing there, but his wife passed away in 1902 at the age of seventy-eight years. In their family were ten children.
Ernest Sundin, who was the tenth in order of birth in that family, attended the schools of Sweden and later assisted his father in the conduct of mercantile interests, but favorable reports reached him from time to time concerning the opportunities of the new world and awakened in him a desire to try his fortune on this side of the Atlantic. Accordingly in 1881 he severed home ties and sailed from his native land for America, taking up his abode in Illinois near Chicago. He was there employed for a year at farm labor and in 1882 made his way westward to Denver, where he worked for three years, accepting any employment that would yield him an honest living and enable him to gain a start. In 1885 he arrived in Rawlins, then a western frontier city, giving little promise of what the future held in store. He opened a barber shop, which he conducted successfully for a number of years, and with his accumulated sav- ings at length purchased a sheep ranch. He then disposed of his barber shop in order to concentrate his attention upon the sheep industry. His ranch is located in Carbon county and from the start he has made a success of this venture. His flocks have increased until he is now one of the most prominent sheep men of this state and the present high price of wool makes his a most profitable business. He is also connected with a number of commercial enter- prises in Rawlins and his cooperation is eagerly welcomed because of his well known business judgment and keen sagacity. He established his garage in 1914 and. like his other ventures, this has proven very profitable. He is also a director in the Stock Growers National Bank of Rawlins and is a director and stock- holder of the Ferris Hotel Company.
In April, 1886, Mr. Sundin was married to Miss Margaret Myre, of Laramie, and they have two children : LeRoy, born in Rawlins in 1887; and Clifford, born in 1892. Both sons are high school graduates and the elder is now assistant cashier of the Stock Growers National Bank of Rawlins, while the younger son is in business with his father. The former married Miss Rena Measure, of Rawlins, and they have one child, Ralph. Clifford Sundin wedded Miss Ruth Clemmons, of Colorado Springs.
Mr. Sundin is well known as a prominent Mason and as a member of the Mystic Shrine. He is always loyal to the teachings of the craft and the pur- poses which underlie the organization. He is also connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. His political allegiance is given to the republi-
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