USA > Wyoming > History of Wyoming, Volume II > Part 51
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University of Wyoming at Laramie and is editor of the college annual. Kenneth Elmer, born at Green River, August 4, 1908, is attending school.
Mr. Peters votes with the republican party, which he has supported since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. For eighteen years he was a member of the city council of Green River, continuing in that position until 1913, his long incumbency in the office proving his marked capability, his fidelity to the in- terests entrusted to his care and the confidence reposed in him by his fellow citizens. He was also county commissioner for eight years, or until 1911, and for one term he served on the Green River school board. He has attained high rank in Masonry and is a member of the Mystic Shrine. He is also connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. Mr. Peters is indeed a self-made man and as the architect of his fortunes has builded wisely and well. Left an orphan in his early boyhood days he began working for farmers for his board and for such cast- off clothing as the farmers chose to give him. He did this for a time but soon began to realize that there was something more important in life and took a forward step by learning the carpenter's trade. He now has a large and most profitable busi- ness in Green River, conducting a garage and blacksmith shop and is indeed one of the representative men of the county, controlling important interests and utilizing his opportunities in such a way that substantial results have accrued. Moreover, he has made a most creditable record in official circles and perhaps the record of no man in public office in Green River has extended over a longer period, while none has been more faultless in honor, fearless in conduct or stain- less in reputation.
ANDREW H. CORDINER.
Andrew H. Cordiner is at the head of one of the well managed and successful commercial enterprises of Laramie, where since 1898 he has engaged in the drug business, conducting his interests at the present time under the style of the A. H. Cordiner Drug Company.
He was born in Laramie, October 22, 1875, and is a son of the late William Cordiner, a native of Scotland, who came to America in 1866 and the same year took up his abode in Laramie after living for some months in Boston and for one year in Aurora, Illinois. He was a plumber by trade and was the first to engage in that business in Laramie, where he continued to make his home until his death, which occurred on the 24th of March, 1915, when he was seventy-five years of age. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Michie, is also a native of the land of hills and heather and with her husband and three children came to America. She still survives and makes her home in Laramie. Her family altogether numbered ten children, five of whom are yet living, namely: James, who was born in Scotland and is a plumber by trade, following that business in Laramie : John R., who was born in Laramie and is assistant postmaster : Andrew H., of this review : D. C. Cordiner, who is a captain of the coast artillery and in France and was graduated from the Annapolis Naval Academy in 1908; and Lucy, who is a teacher in the University of Minnesota.
Andrew H. Cordiner was educated in the public and high schools of Laramie and in the University of Wyoming and following his graduation he became connected with the drug firm known as the Eggleston & Desmond Drug Com- pany. With that firm he learned the business and passed the state examination in 1901. He continued with the Eggleston & Desmond Drug Company for four years and then purchased an interest in the business. The following year he became half owner of the business in connection with Mr. Eggleston and upon the latter's death in 1910 purchased the entire business, which has been incorporated under the style of the. A. H. Cordiner Drug Company. This is the leading drug store of the kind in Laramie and in addition to the main house he conducts a branch store under the style of the Laramie Drug Company, of which he is the
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secretary and treasurer, with Mrs. A. H. Cordiner as the president. He has indeed made for himself a most creditable position in commercial circles, working his way steadily upward until he now stands in a position of leadership in connection with the drug trade of the state, having a splendidly appointed establishment in which he carries an extensive line of drugs and druggists' sundries. His stores are most attractive in appearance because of the neat and tasteful arrangement and by reason of the equipment of the stores, and his business methods commend him to the patronage of the public.
On the 6th of September, 1900, at Salt Lake City, Utah, Mr. Cordiner was married to Miss Marion J. Brownlee, a native of Gault, Canada, and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Brownlee, who were representatives of an old Scotch family and have now passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Cordiner have become parents of four children: Hamilton, who was born in Laramie, November 4, 1901 ; Frank B .. who was born January 5, 1903; William Cranston, born March 14, 1904; and Marion Grace, born September 20, 1910.
Mr. Cordiner exercises his right of franchise in support of the measures of the republican party. He has served as a member of the school board of Laramie for nine years and was director for one year. The cause of education finds in him a stalwart champion, for he does everything in his power to advance the interests of the schools and raise the standards of public instruction, recognizing that the public school system is one of the bulwarks of the nation. Fraternally he is well known, holding membership with the Masons, the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Woodmen of the World. He formerly served as state president of the Elks and is a past district deputy. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in St. Matthews Episcopal church, in which he is serving as senior warden. He belongs to the Chamber of Commerce and cooperates in all well defined plans and purposes for the upbuilding of the city. In a word, he allies his interests with the material, intellectual, social and moral progress of the community and his aid along these lines has been farreach- ing and resultant. Moreover, there is an inspirational element in his life record, for it shows what can be accomplished through individual effort and laudable ambition guided by sound judgment.
PERCY SCOTT HOYT.
Percy Scott Hoyt, the only one of his family in the state, is now living retired in Cheyenne, but for many years was actively and extensively connected with the cattle interests of Wyoming. He was born in New York city in 1860, a son of Goold and Camilla (Scott) Hoyt, the latter a daughter of Winfield Scott, the famous American general. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hoyt passed away in the early '8os in New York city.
Percy Scott Hoyt acquired his education in New York city in private schools and also spent three years in educational institutions in Germany. He came to Wyoming in 1880 and here identified himself with the cattle industry. first riding the range as a cowboy and later engaging independently in the cattle business, having a number of herds upon the ranges of this state. He had ranches in the northern part of Wyoming and also owned ranch lands seven miles west of Cheyenne. At length he disposed of his cattle and ranch interests, coming in 1892 to Cheyenne, where he has since resided. He has always been fond of horses and horseback riding and turns to this pastime for recreation. His home is a unique one, the house and the stables being intercommunicable. It was orig- inally built by George D. Rainsford, a well known citizen of Wyoming. It is comfortably and interestingly furnished and from its walls many pictures and souvenirs greet one, recalling days of the older Wyoming and reminding the owner of past years which he spent on the range.
Mr. Hoyt has been closely identified with Cheyenne and the development of
PERCY S. HOYT
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the city. He was a member of the old volunteer fire department for years and it was he who organized the paid fire department of Cheyenne in 1909 and he served as the chief for a time. He was a member of the old Cheyenne Club in 1881 and at this writing belongs to the Industrial Club. Fraternally he is a mem- ber of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and has taken the degrees in both the York and Scottish Rites of Masonry. His political allegiance is given to the republican party but he has never been an office seeker, preferring to concentrate his time and attention upon business affairs or individual interests, in the devel- opment of which the public has been many times a direct or indirect beneficiary.
OUR CASPER.
Lady of the High Hills, I salute thee !
I make obeisance to thy beauty, thy loveliness, thy youthful progressiveness.
Nestled in the bend of the sweeping river, with thy head pillowed on the breast
of the mountain, as an infant is cuddled in its mother's arms, none are like thee, nor ever will be.
Thy glory has been borne on the wings of the wind to the four corners of the earth. Thy wealth of minerals and oil is become the envy of all others.
Legion upon legion of true lovers, bringing gifts of gold and silver and precious stones, are coming to woo and wed thee, oh, fair lady of the high hills. Spurn them not, whether of low or high degree.
Be gracious ; be kindly ; hold forth thy hands in welcome; enfold them in your arms with tenderness that they may see and know thee in all thy goodness and charm, and thy wealth and glory will become ever greater and greater in the land.
Lady of the High Hills, I salute thee !
It was in such words that E. Richard Shipp, widely known as the Wyoming poet, apostrophized Casper. Born in Petersburg, Illinois, May 1, 1864, he is a son of Columbus and F. Jennie (Goff ) Shipp. In the public schools of his native city he acquired his early education and afterward became a student in Illinois College at Jacksonville. Later he matriculated in the Georgetown University, where he pursued a course in law and was graduated from the Washington insti- tution with the class of 1895. Before pursuing his law course, however, and after leaving the public schools he learned the printer's trade and became a mem- ber of the Typographical Union. In this organization he has carried a member's card for the past thirty-five years, still continues as an active member and is one of the charter members of the Casper Union. He worked at the printer's trade in various cities throughout the United States, being employed on a number of the large daily papers. Following his graduation from Georgetown University at Washington, D. C., he located for practice in the capital, there remaining from 1895 until 1905, and in 1896 he was made a member of the faculty of the law school of Georgetown University and so continued until 1903. During that period he also published a number of books on legal subjects, of which he was the author. Since 1905 he has been identified with the Casper bar and has engaged in the general practice of law here. He has served as county and prosecuting attorney of Natrona county, filling the office from 1907 until 1909, and in 1912 he was the candidate of the progressive party for member of the state supreme court of Wyoming and received the largest vote cast for any candidate on the ticket.
Fraternally Mr. Shipp is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, the Knights of Pythias, the Woodmen of the World, the Improved Order of Red Men and the Loyal Order of Moose. It was through his instrumentality that the permanent education fund of the State Federation of Labor and the United Mine Workers of District 22 was created. Of this fund he is the secre-
&Richard Shift
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tary. Its object is the maintenance of a permanent loan fund to assist the daugh- ters of workingmen and women to secure a higher education by advancing them without interest a sufficient amount to meet their expenses through the school course, this money to be returned at such time as the beneficiary is able to do so. The fund is thus continued as a constantly rotating fund for higher educa- tion. At the close of the year 1917 Mr. Shipp sent greetings to his friends in the following words :
THEE AND ME.
NINETEEN Seventeen, Good Bye.
Only yesterday thee and me were at the christening of Nineteen Seventeen.
Now the tolling bells are calling thee and me to stand beside his war-torn, pain- racked and aged form as he goes away.
Father Time, swinging his scythe with ceaseless, untiring energy, draws nearer and nearer to thee and me.
Yesterday thee and me were christened and those who were at the christening have gone.
Tomorrow the tolling bells will call others to stand beside thee and me as we go. For the time gone thee and me have much to regret.
To the time yet to come thee and me can look with joyful anticipation, firm in the belief that health, and happiness, and honor, and wealth will be thine and mine if God wills it so.
Hold the door of thy heart, as the door of thy house, ever open to a friend, and increasing years will bring enduring happiness.
Nineteen Eighteen, Good Morning.
THOMAS W. SPRATT.
Thomas W. Spratt, a well known stock man of Bighorn county, was born in the British Isles, December 25, 1859, a son of Teddy and Ann (Kerron) Spratt, who were also natives of the British Isles, where they spent their entire lives. They had a family of eight children, of whom five are yet living.
Thomas W. Spratt came to America when a little lad of but ten years and lived with an uncle in the state of New York until 1879, when at the age of twenty years he left the east to become a resident of Wyoming. Here he engaged in the live stock business, in which he continued until he retired from active management, although he is still interested with his son in investments in live stock and is yet the owner of a fine ranch. In addition he and his son own another ranch, known as the Bay State ranch in Washakie county. His business affairs have always been wisely and carefully directed. He has worked hard and has never been afraid of earnest toil. He has utilized every advantage that has come to him and his persistency of purpose and indefatigable energy have been basic elements of his growing success. He was one of the organizers of the Big Horn County Bank at Basin and served as one of its directors for some time. He also became president of the Basin State Bank, in which position he continued for a number of years. He is interested in oil lands and his judicious investments have been carefully and wisely made, bringing to him excellent returns.
On the 22d of February, 1888, Mr. Spratt was united in marriage to Miss Martha C. Allen, they being the first couple married in Big Horn Basin. Mrs. Spratt was born in Colorado, a daughter of James D. and Ann ( Scoville) Allen, both of whom were natives of Wisconsin. whence they removed westward to Colorado in the latter part of the '6os and were married in that state in 1869. In 1887 they became residents of Wyoming, settling in Bighorn county, where the father passed away in 1910. The mother, however, is living and yet makes her home in Bighorn county. They had a family of ten children, all of Vol. IT-26
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whom survive. To Mr. and Mrs. Spratt has been born a son, Robert W. He married Zada Norton, a native of Nebraska, who came to this state with her parents when yet a young girl. She has been well educated and was an employe of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company at the time of her marriage. They have three children: Thomas N., Robert J. and James T.
In his political views Mr. Spratt is a democrat and is serving as chairman of the board of county commissioners for a second term. He has also been a member of the city council of Basin for three terms, and has served as school director. His official duties have been promptly, systematically and faithfully discharged and have constituted elements in the development and growth of the region in which he lives.
Mr. Spratt is numbered among the honored pioneers of Wyoming, having come to the state when it was still under territorial rule, and throughout the intervening period he has made his home in but two counties. His first house was a log cabin covered with split poles and dirt, while the ground served as a floor. On the outside of the door hung the latchstring, indicating true western hospitality. Mr. and Mrs. Spratt are members of the Big Horn Basin Association and are num- bered among the most valued and worthy pioneers of their section of the state. There is no phase of Wyoming's development and progress that Mr. Spratt is not familiar with. His memory goes back to the time when all this region was a great unsettled and undeveloped district-an cpen range over which herds of live stock roamed at will, the owners having to claim their stock by use of the brand. His stories of the early days are most interesting and he has been a contributing factor to the work of general progress and improvement that has been carried on as the years have passed by, until Wyoming today is a great industrial and commercial as well as stock raising state and the picturesque era of the cowboy has largely passed.
J. H. CLAUSE.
J. H. Clause, who has been actively identified with business and public interests in Rawlins for more than a third of a century, is now well known as a merchant and capitalist of this city. He was born in Springfield, Illinois, September 22, 1860, and is a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (McClure) Clause, who were natives of Germany and of Ireland, respectively. They came to America in childhood and settled in Illinois, where the father afterward engaged in farming. He threshed the last crop of wheat upon the site of the present city of Springfield. He afterward bought a farm in Illinois and continued a resident of that state for many years. He died in 1888. Mrs. Clause was called to her final rest May 12, 1882. They were parents of four children.
J. H. Clause, the only living member of the family, attended the country schools, being a student in the Beaver Dam schoolhouse near Springfield, Illinois. He took up the occupation of farming upon the old homestead in that state and continued to work for his father until he attained his majority. The opportuni- ties of the west, however, attracted him and, making his way to Wyoming, he settled in Rawlins, where he arrived on the 22d of March, 1882. Here he turned his attention to the liquor business, first as an employe, while later he bought the place and eventually became owner of the property in which he conducted his business. As the years have passed he has extended his activities into various fields and is now vice president of the Rawlins National Bank and vice president of the Osborn Live Stock Company. He is also the vice president of the Rawlins Mercantile Company and these interests have profited by his sound judgment and active cooperation. In business affairs he readily discriminates between the essential and the nonessential and, discarding the latter, utilizes the former to the best possible advantage. In addition to all of his other interests he is presi-
J. H. CLAUSE
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dent of the Inter-State Gold Beach and Bar Mining Company of Idaho and Colorado, which controls one of the largest gold mining properties of the west.
On February 3, 1891, Mr. Clause was married to Miss Ella O'Melia, of Raw- lins, born in County Kildare, Ireland, in 1872, and who passed away February II, 1900, her death occurring in Los Angeles, California. She was a daughter of Robert and Julia O'Melia and by her marriage she became the mother of five children. William P., born in Rawlins in 1891, is now with the Rawlins National Bank and is a graduate of the Gem City Business College of Quincy, Illinois. Esther E., the second member of the family, was born in 1893, and was a mem- ber of the Rawlins high school of the class of '14. Veronica E. and Vincentia E., twins, born October 21, 1894, are also high school graduates, class '15. James Robert, who was born in Rawlins in 1899 is a member of the high school class of 1918.
In religious faith Mr. Clause is a Catholic and in political belief a democrat. He has held the office of city treasurer for two terms and for six years was a member of the city council, while for five years he has served as mayor of Raw- lins. In these connections he has rendered efficient service as a public officer, looking ever to the welfare and upbuilding of the city and district in which he resides. He belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, is serving on its board of trustees and was a member of the building committee which erected the present Elks' building, the finest in the state. He is also identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is now the president of the state board of sheep commissioners, having been appointed for two years and now serving for his second term through appointment of Governor Kendricks. Mr. Clause may truly be called a self-made man in that he owes his success and prosperity entirely to his own labors. As the architect of his fortunes he has builded wisely and well. He is largely self-educated, the advantages of his youth having been limited, but by a ready recognition of opportunities he has worked his way upward, wisely and carefully directing his business affairs so as to produce the most desired results. His fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, have also called upon him for public service and he is justly accounted one of the representative and prominent residents of Rawlins.
REV. AUGUST F. SCHEPP.
Rev. August F. Schepp, pastor of the Holy Communion Episcopal church at Rock Springs, in which connection his labors are fruitful of excellent results, was ordained in October, 1902, and since that time has devoted his undivided attention to the holy calling which he has chosen as a life work.
He was born in Munich, Bavaria, March 3. 1867, a son of Adam Schepp, who was also a native of Bavaria and passed away in Munich, January 4, 1913, at the age of seventy-nine years. He was a teacher and followed his profession throughout his entire life through appointment of the government, being recog- nized as a prominent factor in educational circles in that country. He married Katharine von Maduska, a descendant of the Polish count von Maduska, whose grandson, the present Graf von Maduska, is a member of the Reichstag at this time. An own cousin of Mrs. Schepp is the late Rt. Rev. Baron von Senestrey, bishop of Ratisbon, Bavaria, a Roman Catholic hishop. The Rev. Schepp of this review has an uncle, Franz Schepp, who was in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870 and who received the cross of a first class knight for conspicuous military service. He is now a retired colonel in Munich. He has a son, Fern Schepp, a prominent physician, who has a private hospital in Munich and is also well known in military circles and is at present serving his country in the Red Cross Society. The mother of Rev. Schepp passed away September 7, 1903, at the age of fifty- nine years. Her family numbered two sons and two daughters, all of whom are living and are still residents of Munich save the subject of this review.
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Rev. Schepp, the third in order of birth, was educated in the Ludwig Gym- nasium and in the University of Munich, from which he was graduated in 1889 with the Ph. D. degree. Following his graduation he served in the Second Infantry, a Munich regiment, for a year as an Einjähriger. In 1890, while on a leave of absence from military service, he made his escape from the country, being opposed to militarism, and crossed the Atlantic to Canada, settling in Toronto, where he continued for seven years. He there engaged in teaching, but having determined to enter the ministry, he won a scholarship in Greek from the Virginia Seminary near Washington, D. C., for meritorious work and, on the completion of his term of study there, within two years, he received the degree of Bachelor of Divinity in.1903. While attending the seminary he acted as private tutor to the two daughters of Angus Crawford and a daughter of the late Dr. Paul Micou. In June, 1902, he was ordained as a deacon at the seminary and in October of the same year was ordained to the priesthood and assigned to St. Mary's Episcopal church at Thoma, Wisconsin, where he remained for six months. He then became pastor of the Church of The Epiphany at Detroit, Michigan, and later went to St. Charles, Missouri, where for three years he was pastor of the Trinity Episcopal church. His next westward move brought him to Wyoming, where he arrived on the 17th of March, 1909. He took charge of the Episcopal church at Lander and for the past six years has been con- nected with the Holy Communion church at Rock Springs. At the time that he took charge it was but a mission which had been established by General Coolidge, a retired brigadier general. At the time that he established the mis- sion General Coolidge adopted Sherman Coolidge, a full-blooded Arapahoe Indian, who is now president of the American Association of Indians and a resident of Sheridan, Wyoming, and an honorary canon of the cathedral at Laramie. During his pastorate Rev. Schepp has greatly developed the church at Rock Springs and it is now one of the strong forces for moral progress in the community.
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