USA > Wyoming > History of Wyoming, Volume II > Part 50
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Fred Anderson, the youngest of the family, acquired his education in Boden, where he attended the public schools. His early life was spent upon the home farm and he early became familiar with the duties and labors incident to the development of the fields and the care of the crops. At the age of eighteen he started out to provide for his own support. He had been living with his father up to this time and was employed by him upon the home farm for four years. After leaving the farm he secured a position with the Union Pacific Railroad Company at section work between Cheyenne and Denver. He followed railroading for a period of several years, first as a section hand, then as shop man, and later becoming a fireman. He remained altogether in the employ of the Union Pacific for twelve years. In March, 1895, he permanently took up his abode in Rawlins and through the intervening years has been connected with its business interests. In 1898 he established a wholesale beer and retail liquor house which he conducted successfully until 1915, being during that period in partnership with Peter Larsen, under the firm name of Anderson & Larsen. On the 23d of September, 1916, he established his present store, dealing in men's furnishings and haberdashery, and today he carries a large and well selected stock, handling various lines of clothing and a full line of shoes and such articles of merchandise as are usually found in a first class establishment of this character.
On the Ist of June, 1901, Mr. Anderson was united in marriage in Rawlins to Miss Lena Berglund, a native of Sweden and a daughter of Nels and Carrie (Oleson) Berglund, who were likewise natives of Sweden, where they still make their home, residing at Sunne. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have become the parents of four children: Fredolf, born in Rawlins, June 28, 1902; Edna; Alice and Frank.
FRED ANDERSON
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Mr. Anderson is a member of North Star Lodge of the Vasa Order at Rawlins and was exalted ruler of the local organization. He was a lad of four- teen years when he came to the new world with his father and from the age of eighteen he has been dependent entirely upon his own resources. He has worked industriously and diligently to acquire success and his close application and per- sistency of purpose have been salient features in his growing prosperity.
PROFESSOR ALBERTUS Z. WINGER.
Professor Albertus Z. Winger, a well known educator of Wyoming, now super- intendent of the schools of District No. 5 at Cokeville, in Lincoln county, was born in Crawford county. Kansas, March 9, 1877, and is a son of the late Martin B. Winger, who was a native of Pennsylvania and a representative of one of the old families of that state, descended from Scotch Irish ancestry, the family being founded in America prior to the Revolutionary war. Martin B. Winger was a successful farmer and stock raiser and was one of the pioneer settlers of Craw- ford county. Kansas, where he took up his abode in 1874. He there secured a tract of land and devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in 1895, when he had reached the age of forty-five years. He had married Maria Zimmerman, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1850 and is of German lineage. She is still surviving and occupies the old homestead farm in Kansas. By her marriage she became the mother of nine children, all of whom are yet living.
Professor Winger of this review was the second in order of birth. He pur- sued his education in the district schools of Crawford county, Kansas, and in the Baker Academy at Baldwin, Kansas, while later he became a student in the State Teachers' College at Greeley, Colorado, where he was graduated in June, 1917, with the degree of Master of Pedagogy. He entered upon his work as an educator in connection with the district schools of Crawford county, Kansas, and later he spent two years as an instructor in the State School for the Blind at Colorado Springs. In September, 1917, he assumed charge of District No. 5. at Cokeville. He has made an excellent record as an educator, imparting clearly and readily to others the knowledge that he has acquired and inspiring teachers and pupils with much of his own zeal and interest in the work. He is constantly seeking out new methods that will promote his efficiency and add to the value of the school work done under his direction. He makes a study of the individual pupil and adapts his work to particular needs, realizing that the real purpose of education is to develop individual capacity.
In his political views Professor Winger is a republican and though not an office seeker keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day and stands loyally for the support of all those well devised plans and measures which he recognizes as factors for the public good. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church and its teachings have guided him in his life's cela- tions, making him a man whom to know is to esteem and honor.
CHARLES F. MAURER.
Charles F. Maurer is closely associated with a profession which has direct bearing upon the progress and stable prosperity of any community, being senior partner of the law firm of Maurer & Walker of Douglas. At the outset of his career he recognized the fact that advancement at the bar must depend upon in- dividual merit and ability and he has so directed his labors and continued his studies that step by step he has progressed in his chosen profession.
He was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, August 10, 1861, and is a son of Henry
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F. and Henrietta ( Miller) Maurer. The mother was descended from ancestry represented in the American army during the Revolutionary war and Mr. Maurer came of German lineage, but both are now deceased. Their family numbered three sons and four daughters.
Charles F. Maurer, who was the third in order of birth, after mastering the branches of learning taught in the public schools became a student in the Collegiate Institute of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and thus with broad literary learning to serve as the foundation upon which to rear the superstructure of professional knowledge he entered the law department of the State University of Iowa City and there pursued his preparation for the bar, being graduated with the class of 1884. He engaged in practice in Cedar Rapids, but after a short time determined to try his fortune in the west and on the Ist of May, 1886, arrived in Wyoming, casting in his lot with the early settlers who were taking active part in the development and upbuilding of Douglas and the eastern section of the state. In 1887 he was in partnership with Daniel Pillott, now deceased, for several months in Douglas but during the greater part of the intervening period Mr. Maurer has practiced alone. At a recent date, however, he entered into partnership with Floyd A. Walker, forming the firm of Maurer & Walker. The success which he has at- tained is due to his own efforts and merits. The possession of advantages is no guarantee whatever of professional success. This comes not of itself, nor can it be secured without integrity, ability and industry. These qualities Mr. Maurer possesses to an eminent degree and he is faithful to every interest committed to his charge. Throughout his whole life whatsoever his hand finds to do, whether in his profession or in any other sphere, he does with his might and with a deep sense of conscientious obligation.
In 1887 Mr. Maurer was united in marriage to Miss Mabel Parsons, of Iowa City. Iowa, and they have a son, Richard C., who is a student in the State Uni- versity at Iowa City. Mr. Maurer votes with the republican party and has for two terms filled the office of county and prosecuting attorney in Converse county. He has, however, declined to become a candidate for the bench or to become a nominee for other offices, regarding the pursuits of private life as in themselves abundantly worthy of his best efforts. Fraternally he is a Mason, belonging to the Mystic Shrine, and in the Scottish Rite he has attained the thirty-second degree. He is an Odd Fellow and an Elk. He turns to motoring for recreation but his time and attention are largely concentrated upon his professional duties. He is a director of the First National Bank of Douglas and is also an investor in ranch and town properties. He is also attorney for the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad and he has been identified in a professional way with many corporations and with much of the most important law work that has been carried on in this district.
EDWIN E. FITCH.
An excellent business record is that of Edwin E. Fitch, a prominent real estate man of Laramie in which city he was born May 7, 1875, a son of Robert E. and Lyda (Eaton) Fitch, who are mentioned at length on another page of this work. At the usual age Edwin E. Fitch became a pupil in the public schools of Laramie and afterward entered the University of Wyoming, from which he won his Bachelor of Science degree as a graduate of the class of 1897. He then entered business life as an assayer in Colorado, where he remained for two years, and in September. 1915. he embarked in business in Laramie as a real estate dealer. Prior to this time he had charge of the office of The W. H. Holliday Company for a number of years, being in control of the audits and credits of the company. In 1915 he embarked in the real estate business and has developed a clientage of large proportions. He also handles insurance and allied lines, makes farm loans and handles mining and oil stocks. He is the president of the Albany County Pioneer
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Abstract Company, which is the only bonded abstract company in the county. Thoroughness has ever been one of his marked characteristics and when he entered the real estate field he brought this trait to bear in his preparation for handling property interests. He closely studied the real estate situation, gained a knowledge of valuation and learned what property was upon the market. Since that time he has negotiated many important realty transfers and has built up a business of extensive proportions, having among his clients many of the most prominent men of the city.
In March, 1897, Mr. Fitch was united in marriage to Miss Lois Holliday, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Holliday, honored pioneer residents of Laramie. They have become parents of three children: Clyde E., who was born in May, 1898, in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, and is a graduate of the high school of Laramie; Edwin H., who was born in Laramie in 1900 and is attending the Laramie high school; and Lois R., who was born in 1903 and is a high school pupil.
Mr. Fitch votes with the republican party, which he has supported since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, but while he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day and is able to support his position by intelligent argument, he has never been an aspirant for office nor sought political position as a reward for party fealty. Fraternally he is identified with the Elks, the Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen of the World. He is appreciative of the social amenities of life and he has many friends in Laramie, where he has always resided. In business he has made substantial progress through individual effort, close application, keen sagacity and unfaltering enterprise. His worth in this connection is widely acknowledged and his support of all progressive measures having to do with civic welfare makes him a valued citizen of Laramie, where his entire life has been passed.
EMIL LILGEROSE.
Emil Lilgerose is vice president and manager of the Lincoln Lumber Com- pany at Kemmerer, in which connection an extensive business has been built up, the efforts of Mr. Lilgerose contributing in large and substantial measure to this result. A native of Sweden, he was born at Linköping on the 21st of January, 1880, a son of Anders Gustave and Caroline (Anderson) Lilgerose, who were likewise natives of Sweden. The father was a carpenter and builder by trade and followed that pursuit with a substantial measure of success. He spent his entire life in Sweden, where he passed away in August, 1905, at the age of fifty-five years, while his wife is still living there. They had a family of four children: Emil, of this review; Anna; Dave; and Ed, who is a resident of Kemmerer.
Emil Lilgerose was fourteen years of age when he put aside his textbooks having hitherto attended the public schools, to become an apprentice at the car- penter's and builder's trade. He served for a term of five years and between the ages of nineteen and twenty-eight years followed his trade as a journeyman. He also pursued a special course of study in a night school in his native country, devoting his attention to drawing and architecture in the State College, which was an endowed school that had been established in order to provide means of education for those who had ability but had no funds with which to meet their tuition. The benefactor of this college later became prominent in military circles and was a captain and major in the Swedish army.
After devoting many years to business in his native country, Emil Lilgerose crossed the Atlantic to the new world and arrived in Rock Springs, Wyoming, on the 8th of June, 1908. He was there employed by Victor Smith, a leading builder, in whose service he remained until the following year, when he removed to Kemmerer.
EMIL LILGEROSE
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In 1911 he established the present business as a partnership affair, the partners in the undertaking being Victor Smith, Oscar Gustafson, G. S. E. Johnson, Axel Johnson, Jack Larson, T. A. James and Emil Lilgerose. In 1912 the business was incorporated under the style of the Lincoln Lumber Company, with Victor Smith as the president and Mr. Lilgerose as vice president and manager, while A. Klingman became secretary and treasurer. This company deals in lumber and manufactures all kinds of mill material. They have the first and only plant of the kind in Lincoln county and they employ on an average of from six to twenty people. The plant covers an area of three-fourths of an acre and is modern in every detail and equipment. The business covers not only Kemmerer but also extends to neighboring towns and their patronage is large and gratifying.
On the 13th of November, 1916, Mr. Lilgerose was married in Kemmerer to Miss Harriett Dense, a native of Illinois. His political endorsement is given to no party, for he prefers to follow an independent course. He was made a citizen of the United States on the 16th of September, 1913. Fraternally he is connected with the Loyal Order of Moose and his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Lutheran church. Mr. Lilgerose came to America with limited means, but he believed that he might have good business opportuni- ties on this side of the Atlantic and he has been more than satisfied with the results. He believes that Wyoming has a great future before it and is putting forth every effort in his power to advance its interests as well as to promote his individual success.
HON. GEORGE YOUNG.
Hon. George Young, of Rock Springs, member of the Wyoming state senate and vice president of District 22 of the United Mine Workers, is thus prom- inently associated with interests which have much to do with shaping the in- dustrial and political history of the commonwealth.
He is one of Wyoming's native sons, his birth having occurred at Rock Springs on the 7th of October, 1884, his parents being George L. and Euphemia (Chambers) Young. The father, who devoted his life to coal mining, passed away in the year 1915, while the mother survived for about two years, depart- ing this life in 1917. Mr. Young had come to the state in 1869, at which time he took up his abode in Rock Springs. The mother was also a pioneer of the west. becoming a resident of Salt Lake in 1866 and in 1870, of Rock Springs. They were married in Bryan, near Granger, and they became the parents of six daughters and two sons, of whom George was the seventh in order of birth. Three of the daughters have passed away.
George Young pursued a public school education until he had completed the work of the eighth grade at Rock Springs, after which he began working in the mines near his native city. He was thus engaged until 1914, when he became traveling auditor for organized labor and in December, 1915. he was elected vice president of District No. 22 of the United Mine Workers, his office to expire on the Ist of April. 1918, when he was reelected for another two-year term. He is now acting in that capacity and is doing excellent work as the second executive officer of the district, which has a membership of eight thou- sand in various local organizations.
Mr. Young is well known in Masonic circles, having become a Consistory Mason and also a member of the Mystic Shrine. He is likewise a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. His political allegiance has always been given to the democratic party and he has been one of the most active and earnest workers in its ranks in Wyoming. In 1913 he was elected to represent his district in the house of representatives and in 1915 was reelected. On the 9th of Jan- uary, 1917. he became a member of the senate for a four years' term, and he is connected with much important constructive legislation. He is now holding
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over from Sweetwater county. He introduced the amendment to the working men's compensation law and put forth his best efforts to secure the passage of an eight hour law for women. He also assisted in putting through the bill for a labor commission. He is the only member in the legislature to carry a union card and he was made a member of the committee on labor, where his practical knowledge of the conditions among workingmen proves a valuable element in bringing about a clear understanding of what is wanted and why the request is put forth.
Mr. Young continues to make his home in Rock Springs, but the office of the United Mine Workers is in the Journal building in Cheyenne and therefore he spends much of his time in the capital city by reason of his connection with the district organization and as a member of the state senate.
TOM C. BARRATT.
Albany county has been signally favored in the class of men who have occu- pied her public positions, for on the whole they have been loyal to her interests and progressive in the discharge of their duties, thus contributing to the growth and development of the county and to its stability. Such a one is Tom C. Bar- ratt, who is now filling the position of county assessor.
He was born in Burton-upon-Trent, England, August 3, 1875, a son of Regi- nald Blake and Mary ( Hobday) Barratt, who have spent their entire lives in England and are still residents of Burton-upon-Trent, where for many genera- tions the family has been represented. The father is well known in connection with the colliery business in that country. To him and his wife were born six children: Reginald H., who is now living in Joplin, Missouri; Alfred E., still in England ; Mrs. Mary Stanley, Mrs. Jessie Hadfield and Mrs. Elsie Nadin, all of England; and Tom C., who was the second in order of birth.
In early life Tom C. Barratt began his education in the schools of England and after attending the grammar schools continued his studies in St. Oswald's College at Ellesmere, England, where he was graduated with the class of 1890. He then turned his attention to farming, which he followed in connection with his father for a time, but in 1896 he determined to try his fortune in other lands and left England for South Africa. There he was employed at the government experiment station at Kimberley for nine months and then engaged in mining near Johannesburg, residing in that country for a number of years. In 1902 he arrived in Joplin, Missouri, where he resumed the occupation of mining, with which he was connected until June, 1906. At that date he arrived in Laramie and pursued a special course in mineralogy in the State University of Wyoming. He was afterward connected with the placer mines at Douglas Creek and even- tually he became warehouse man at the rolling mills, being thus employed until the plant was destroyed by fire on the 8th of November, 1910. He also worked at the roundhouse until called to public office, being appointed to the position of deputy county clerk in January, 1911. He served in that capacity until Jan- uary, 1917, when he assumed the duties of the office of assessor, to which he had been elected the previous fall, He is now serving in that capacity and is mak- ing an excellent record by the prompt and faithful manner in which he is dis- charging his duties. He regards a public office as a public trust and is most loyal to the interests committed to his care.
On the 2d of October, 1907, Mr. Barratt was united in marriage to Miss Henrietta Johnson, of Laramie, a daughter of William and Annie Johnson, who were pioneer settlers of this section of the state. Mr. and Mrs. Barratt have become parents of two children : Tom W. H., who was born in Laramie, De- cember 8, 1908, and is now in school; and Donald H., who was born April 9, 1910, and is also attending school.
' The parents are prominent socially and they are consistent members of the
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Episcopal church. Mr. Barratt belongs to the Masonic fraternity and also to the Woodmen of the World. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party and for four years he served as a member of the central committee, taking an active part in promoting democratic interests and successes. He is one of the leading young men of this section, standing high as a public official, and is one of the valued and representative citizens of Laramie, where he has a circle of friends almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintance.
ELMER E. PETERS.
The business interests of Green River find a worthy representative in Elmer E. Peters, who is engaged in the garage and blacksmith business and who has also figured quite prominently in connection with public affairs, serving in several public offices. He has been a resident of Green River since 1887, or for a period of more than three decades, and is therefore familiar with the history of its development and upbuilding and in fact has taken an active part in advancing its general welfare.
Ohio numbers him among her native sons. He was born in Hancock county, April 4, 1861, his parents being Jacob and Jane (Taylor) Peters, the father a native of Virginia and the mother a native of Ireland. The father engaged in general merchandising in Hancock county, Virginia, and afterward in Arcadia, Ohio. Called to public office, he filled the position of postmaster for four terms, his long continuance in the office being an indication of his marked fidelity and trustworthiness. He died in 1872, having for five years survived his wife, who passed away in 1867. They were the parents of four children who are still living, namely, William T., who resides in California; Mrs. J. H. Campbell, living in Toledo, Ohio; Elmer E., of this review ; and Mrs. Prudy Van Horn, whose home is in Hancock county, Ohio.
In his boyhood days Elmer E. Peters was a pupil in the public schools of the Buckeye state, but when only eleven years of age was thrown upon his own resources owing to the death of his parents, which left him an orphan. In 1884 he arrived in Omaha, Nebraska, and was employed for three years in the Union Pacific car shops in that city. On the 31st of December, 1887, he reached Green River, Wyoming, and worked for the Union Pacific as a carpenter in the shops at that place, there remaining until 1890. On the expiration of that period he established a restaurant with Fred Rose as a partner and they successfully carried on the business for six years. Mr. Peters then sold out and turned his attention to the lumber and contracting business. In the intervening period he erected many of the attractive homes and business houses in Green River. The Peters lumberyard was the pioneer lumber establishment of Green River and from the beginning Mr. Peters enjoyed a substantial and growing trade. Three years after opening the lumberyard he also began dealing in feed and hay and in this branch of his business also won substantial profits. In 1913 he further extended the scope of his activities by the establishment of the first garage in Green River. At the same time he started a blacksmith shop and in these lines has won sub- stantial success. He is a man of indefatigable energy and persistency of purpose and works untiringly for the accomplishment of the ends to which his efforts are directed.
On the 16th of October, 1894, at Omaha, Nebraska, Mr. Peters was united in marriage to Miss Sarah J. Hutton, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Purdy Hutton, who were natives of Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Peters have become parents of three children. Ernest R., who was born at Green River, September 5, 1895, is a graduate of the high school at Oakland, California, and is now in business at Green River. Edith June, born in Green River, June 23, 1897, was graduated from the schools of Oakland, California, and is now a third year student in the
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