USA > Wyoming > History of Wyoming, Volume II > Part 57
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THOMAS OSBORNE.
Evanston has grown with notable rapidity and has been developed along the most progressive lines in keeping with the ideas of modern city building. Its business houses are substantial and attractive and its commercial enterprises would be a credit to a city of still greater size. Active in this connection is Thomas Osborne, the secretary and treasurer of the Evanston Drug Company.
He was born in New Brunswick, July 8, 1874, and in 1911 he arrived in Evanston, Wyoming, where he took charge of the business of the Evanston Drug Company. A year later he purchased an interest in the business and afterward became half owner of the Evanston Drug Company, of which he is now sec- retary and treasurer, with F. H. Harrison as the president. They have a large and well appointed store, tastefully and neatly arranged, and they carry an ex- cellent stock of drugs and druggists' sundries. Their business methods are thoroughly reliable and their enterprise has brought to them a constantly grow- ing success.
On the Ist of June, 1914, Mr. Osborne was united in marriage to Miss Julia M. Foght, of Evanston, a daughter of Emil J. Foght, of Washington, D. C.
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In his political views Mr. Osborne is independent and does not wish to be bound by party ties but exercises his right of franchise in support of men and measures that he believes are most beneficial to the community. He does not seek nor desire office, preferring to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his business interests, and the Evanston Drug Company, of which he is the man- ager, secretary and treasurer, has become one of the foremost corporations oper- ating in this line in western Wyoming. In the undertaking he is associated with Dr. F. H. Harrison. They have a splendid store-one of the cleanest and best kept pharmacies to be found anywhere in the western country. It is a credit to its manager and is a business enterprise of value to the community in which it is located.
Mr. Osborne is a thorough believer in the opportunities that Wyoming offers to young men and says that the state holds out greater possibilities for the man with determination and enterprise than can be found in any other section of the country. He believes that the work of utilizing its natural resources has scarce- ly been begun and that with their development the state will continue to grow and expand in its trade relations. With this belief he has accordingly identified his interests with those of Evanston and ranks with the valued and representative merchants of western Wyoming.
HON. ANDY NELSON.
Hon Andy Nelson, one of the well known men operating successfully in connection with the sheep industry in Wyoming, is a man of genuine worth whose high standard of citizenship has often been demonstrated and who at all times is loyal to the best interests of the community. He was born March 14, 1868, at Snorestad, Sweden, a son of a well-to-do farmer. He acquired a common school education and declined to take advantage of higher educational opportunities that his parents desired to give him. His inclination was more for business than books and he chose to take up the trade of a wagon maker, which he fol- lowed during the time he remained in his native country. When a young man of twenty-four years he had a substantial little sum of money and decided to go to America. He left Sweden in March, 1892, for the United States, landing at New York. He made Wyoming his destination and reached this state in due course of time. He was not long in securing employment as a section hand at Fort Steele in the service of the Union Pacific Railroad Company. He followed that work for two years and then went upon the ranch of Frank Stockwell on Pass creek. He worked at his trade there for about three years and in the fall of 1897 he turned his attention to the sheep business, entering into partnership with Louis Tichon with a foundation flock of about twenty-five hundred sheep. After about a year Mr. Tichon sold his interest to Harry Northup, and after con- tinuing for a while with the latter, Mr. Nelson in the fall of 1899 disposed of his interest in the business. In the spring of 1900 he became a partner in the sheep business of the Robert Jones estate and later he was made a trustee of that estate for the minor heirs and had the general management of the extensive in- terests connected therewith. He subsequently purchased the business and about 1916 he entered into partnership with Herman Peterson in the firm of Andy Nelson & Company, with headquarters at Walcott. In this connection their ex- tensive sheep interests have since been conducted.
On the 27th of June, 1916, Mr. Nelson was united in marriage in Aspen, Colorado, to Miss Jarda Peterson, of Leadville, that state. In politics Mr. Nelson is widely known, being regarded as one of the leading republicans in Carbon county, where his popularity and the confidence reposed in him by the people have been demonstrated by his strength on election day. Many times he declined to become a candidate for office but finally accepted the nomination for representative to the state legislature and was elected by a vote that attested the
Andy Nelson
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high regard in which he is uniformly held; and still further evidence of his per- sonal popularity, the confidence of the public and his worth as an official was given in his reelection to the general assembly.
Mr. Nelson was made a Mason in Rawlins, where he also belongs to the chap- ter and commandery, while at Cheyenne he has membership in the Mystic Shrine. He has also taken the degrees of the Scottish as well as of the York Rite and he is a member of the Eastern Star. He belongs also to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. Mr. Nelson has made three trips to Europe, crossing once on the ill-fated Lusitania. In 1916 he took up his residence at Walcott, where he erected a most attractive home supplied with modern conveniences, including an excellent water system which supplies an abundance of pure soft water-a system that is unexcelled in any private home of the state. Mr. Nelson has been a very successful business man and in the sheep industry, to which he has directed his activities for more than twenty years, he is one of the best known men of the state. He possesses great energy and, as some one has expressed it, "his large physique does not contain a lazy muscle." Progressive in every way, he became associated with others in the building of the Australian shearing pens at Walcott and he has kept abreast with modern progress in everything pertaining to his business. He is extremely modest in spirit and demeanor, is always sincere and ever courageous in the support of his honest convictions. He is kind-hearted, ready to do a favor and is a man whose judgment carries weight with the public in almost every matter.
H. D. BEEMER.
Without special advantages at the outset of his career. H. D. Beemer has worked his way steadily upward in business connections and is today one of the substantial citizens of Laramie, where he is engaged in dealing in paints and oils. He is otherwise connected with the business development of his adopted city, being one of the directors of the First National Bank. He stands at all times for progress and improvement and gives his aid and cooperation to all movements for the general good.
A native of Pennsylvania, he was born in Newton township, Luzerne county, August 29, 1849, a son of Elias and Phebe ( Albright) Beemer, the former a native of New Jersey, while the latter was born in Binghamton, New York. Removing to Pennsylvania, the father settled in Newton township, Luzerne county, near Scranton, being one of the early residents of that locality. He took up his abode upon a farm and devoted his life to general agricultural pursuits, spending his remaining days in that locality. He passed away in Newton town- ship in 1906, after reaching the venerable age of ninety years. During the period of the Civil war he served as one of the Home Guard. His wife also died on the old homestead farm, passing away in 1908, after reaching the seventy-eighth milestone on life's journey. In their family were seven children.
H. D. Beemer was the fourth in order of birth. During his boyhood days he became a pupil in the little country schoolhouse near his father's home in Newton township, Luzerne county, which he attended for several terms. He afterward concentrated his entire attention upon farm work and early became familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He was thus employed until he reached the age of sixteen years, when he decided to learn a trade and took up the business of carriage painting with William Blume & Company, under whom he served a four years' apprenticeship. In 1874 he made his way to Omaha, Nebraska, and immediately secured employ- ment in the car shops of the Union Pacific Railroad, where he remained for a year. In 1875 he was sent by the railroad company to Laramie and for a time remained in the railroad service. At length, however, he decided to embark in business on his own account. Laramie was steadily growing, new buildings and Vol. 11-29
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residences were continually being erected and he felt that he might engage in some profitable line of business having to do with the substantial growth of the city. He therefore opened a paint house and has since been engaged in deal- ing in paints, oils and kindred lines. He has now been active in this field for forty years and is regarded as one of the most reliable as well as one of the oldest merchants of the city. He entered that field when Laramie was a small town and his business has developed with its growth, making him one of the prosperous merchants of the city. He has also been identified with the First National Bank for eighteen years as one of its directors and is regarded as a man of sound judgment, keen sagacity and unfaltering enterprise.
In 1885 Mr. Beemer was united in marriage to Miss Mamie Ensor, who was born in Baltimore, Maryland, a daughter of Columbus Ensor. Her father died soon after the Civil war from a wound sustained in battle. Mr. Beemer has been tendered various offices of public trust by his fellow townsmen who rec- ognize his worth and ability, yet many of these he has declined. He has served, however, for one term as city treasurer of Laramie and for four terms occupied the position of city councilman, exercising his official prerogatives in support of plans and measures for the general good. He has also been a director of the Carnegie Library. Fraternally he is well known as an exemplary Mason, having taken the degrees of the York Rite, and with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine he has crossed the sands of the desert. He is also a charter member of the Elks lodge of Laramie and is prominent in the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, in which he has taken various degrees and is a past grand sovereign. He belongs to the little group of distinctively representative business men who have been the pioneers in inaugurating and building up the chief interests of this section of the state.
JOHN D. CONTOS.
John D. Contos, proprietor of the Pure White Bakery of Rawlins, established business in 1910 and is today at the head of one of the leading bakeries of the city. Thorough training for the work, excellent equipment in his establishment, indefatigable enterprise in the conduct of his business and thorough reliability in his trade relations have constituted the salient points in his growing prosperity.
Mr. Contos is a native of Greece. He was born October 20, 1884, and is a son of James Contos, who lived and died in Tripolis, Greece. He was a successful farmer and passed away in 1900, at the age of forty-eight years. His wife bore the maiden name of Demtro Soteropulon and also spent her entire life in Greece.
John D. Contos was the second in order of birth in their family of seven children. He pursued his education in the schools of his native country and when a youth of fifteen made his initial step in the business world, entering upon an apprenticeship to the baker's trade, which he followed in his native country until 1902, when he determined to try his fortune in the new world. Crossing the Atlantic to America, he first made his way to Chicago but in 1904 came to Wyoming, settling in Rawlins. For a time he abandoned his trade, being employed as a section foreman on the Union Pacific Railroad, with headquarters at Rawlins. He continued in the railway service for four years and was also employed in the shops at Rawlins, serving altogether for nine years with that company. He then entered his present business, for it was his desire to con- trol his own destiny and he carefully saved his earnings until his industry and economy had brought him sufficient capital to enable him to establish a bakery. This he has since successfully conducted, covering a period of more than seven years, and through the interim his trade has steadily increased. He now employs two bakers and he has a large trade, his business having proved a satisfactory investment from the beginning. He holds to high standards in the
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excellence of his products, maintains sanitary conditions in the conduct of the bakery and well merits the big business which is accorded him.
In Ogden, Utah, in 1914, Mr. Contos was united in marriage to Miss Mary Hohman, a native of Nebraska. His political endorsement is given to the repub- lican party and he became a naturalized American citizen in 1915. He arrived in the new world a poor boy but he possessed energy and ambition and recog- mized the fact that in America labor is king. Working his way steadily upward, he has by reason of his close application and untiring energy made for himself a creditable position in commercial circles and is today one of Rawlins' respected and valued citizens.
JOSIAH PRESTON MARKLEY, M. D.
Dr. Josiah Preston Markley, actively engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in Laramie, entered upon his professional career well equipped by thorough preliminary training and throughout the intervening period he has kept in close touch with the trend of modern progress and scientific thought and investigation through wide reading and study. He is thus well qualified to perform the onerous and responsible duties which devolve upon him in his efforts to check the ravages of disease and restore health.
A native son of Pennsylvania, he was born in Schwenksville, Montgomery county, January 13, 1879. His father, Josiah S. Markley, is also a native of the Keystone state and a representative of one of its old families of Dutch descent. The family was founded in America by three brothers, and the pro- genitor of the Pennsylvania branch was Willian Markley, who on removing to that state settled at Skippack, where he followed the occupation of farming, there taking up his abode about 1665. The family name was originally spelled Maerkel. Among his descendants were those who participated in the Revolu- tionary war, and others have been very prominent and active in connection with state and national politics and as workers in the church. From the earliest period the representatives of the name have been communicants of the Lutheran church. Josiah S. Markley devoted his life to agricultural pursuits and was very successful in the conduct of his farming interests. He is now living retired, enjoying the fruits of a well spent life. his home being in Schwenksville. His political endorsement is given to the republican party and he has taken quite an active interest in local politics and civic affairs. He married Hannah Ann Keeley, a native of Pennsylvania and of German descent. She died March 13. 1910, at the age of sixty-seven years. In the family were nine children, six of whom are living.
Dr. Josiah P. Markley, of this review, was the eighth in order of birth. Spending his youthful days in his native state, he pursued his education in the public and high schools of Schwenksville and was graduated from the Keystone State Normal School of Pennsylvania at Kutztown in the year 1902. His youth- ful days were spent upon the home farm, where he early became familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops, but he did not desire to make agriculture his life work, and following his graduation turned his attention to the educational field and began teaching in the rural schools of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. He completed his educational work as prin- cipal of the Carbon Hill school of Carbon, Illinois, where he devoted five and a half years to teaching. He regarded this, however, merely as an initial step to other professional labor and after leaving Carbon he entered the University of Pennsylvania, where he pursued his medical course, being graduated with the M. D. degree in 1908. Following his graduation he served as interne in the Howard Hospital and then entered upon the active practice of medicine at Bland- burg, Pennsylvania, where he continued for three and a half years. He then returned to the University of Pennsylvania and devoted a year to post-graduate
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study, making a specialty of the diseases of women and of abdominal work. He then removed to the west, settling in Laramie, where he arrived on the Ist of February, 1912, and since that time he has been continuously and successfully engaged in practice in this state. For the first two years he was associated with Dr. H. L. Stevens, but since that time has practiced independently, specializing largely in surgery and in diseases of women, along which lines he displays notable skill and ability. He belongs to the Albany County Medical Society, the Wyo- ming State Medical Society and the American Medical Association, and of the first named he is now secretary.
On the 3d of September, 1908, Dr. Markley was united in marriage at Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania, to Miss Ethel Louise Grimes, a native of Wilkes-Barre. Pennsylvania, and a daughter of William Alfred and Bertha ( Schmidt ) Grimes, both of whom have passed away. Her paternal grandfather was of German birth and was a clergyman of the Lutheran church. Dr. and Mrs. Markley have one child, John Marlin, who was born in Philadelphia, November 1I, 19II.
Dr. Markley is prominently known in fraternal circles. He has taken the degrees in the lodge, chapter, commandery and consistory in Masonry and is also a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. He was formerly scribe of the chapter and junior warden of the Knight Templar Commandery. He is also connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. His political endorsement is given to the republican party and his religious faith is indicated in his membership in the St. Matthews Episcopal church.
He is interested in all those forces which work for the uplift of the indi- vidual and the betterment of the community, but necessarily has to give the major part of his attention to his profession, and in a calling where advancement depends entirely upon individual merit and ability he has worked his way steadily upward. He is the author of two publications on physiology and it was the proceeds from the sale of these that provided him the means for his education. He has become thoroughly imbued with the spirit of the west, with no desire to return to the east, and Laramie finds in him a most loyal and progressive citizen, while in professional circles his high standing is indicated by the regard of his colleagues and contemporaries.
ALBERT C. BECKWITH.
Albert C. Beckwith is numbered among the successful business men of Sheri- dan, Wyoming, where for a number of years he has been the owner of a realty agency and a live stock and general commission business. The more credit is due him as he has attained to an important position in the commercial life of his city entirely through his own efforts and while thus winning prosperity for himself has also largely contributed to the upbuilding of his community and to general commercial development.
Albert C. Beckwith was born in Ohio, August 4, 1866, and is a son of Sidney and Dilda (Rose) Beckwith, natives of Ohio, in which state both passed their entire lives. Mr. Beckwith of this review was their only child and he was reared and educated in his native state, where he remained until fifteen years of age, when, following the advice of Greeley, he made for the west and in 1881 came to Wyoming. An uncle, A. C. Beckwith, had preceded him to this state and had become one of the noted men of Wyoming, and with him Albert C. Beckwith made his home, during which period he was connected with railroad work for a number of years. In 1898 he came to Sheridan with the view of engaging in the real estate business. He was successful in launching his enterprise and his business has since grown to most gratifying proportions. He not only handles land but also live stock and, moreover, does a general commission business. He
ALBERT C. BECKWITH
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is well acquainted with local realty values, which he has closely studied, and his advice is sought by many of his patrons, who respect his keen judgment.
In 1888, in Los Angeles, California, Mr. Beckwith married Miss Hertha Peterson, a native of Wisconsin. There was no issue of this marriage and after nearly twenty years of happy married life Mrs. Beckwith passed away in 1907, her remains being interred in Mount Hope cemetery, Sheridan. Mrs. Beckwith was very popular and had many friends in Sheridan, her death not only causing deep sorrow to the bereaved husband, but to the many who during her life came to appreciate her high qualities of character.
His political affiliations connect Mr. Beckwith with the republican party, but although he has fulfilled his duties as a citizen and voter he has not been desirous of public office, his private interests claiming the greater part of his time and attention. However, he has not concentrated to the exclusion of everything else upon gaining prosperity for himself alone, but in many ways has cooperated with others in measures which have proven of public benefit to his city. In fact, by means of his business he has contributed toward the growth of Sheridan and in this connection has had a stimulating influence upon business activities here. His was the first real estate and commission business in the city and he therefore has the honor of being the pioneer in his line.
HON. JACOB WAECKERLIN.
Hon. Jacob Waeckerlin, police judge of Rawlins, was born in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, September 19, 1860. His parents were also natives of the land of the Alps, where the father died during the infancy of his son Jacob, and the mother, Mrs. Hilda Waeckerlin, also passed away in that country.
In early life Jacob Waeckerlin was apprenticed to the cabinetmaker's trade and at the age of twenty years he left home to come to America. In April, 1880, he located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he learned the baker's trade, remaining in that city for about two years. He then secured a position as baker on one of the steamers plying between Cincinnati and Louisville on the Ohio river. He continued in that position for three years and later he was employed at the baker's trade in St. Louis and in Omaha. In 1887 he arrived in Rawlins and secured a position as baker in the Union Pacific Hotel, there remaining for a year, at the end of which time he started out in the restaurant business, conducting his establishment for seven years. He then sold out at a good profit and opened a bakery and confectionery store, which he still conducts, being thus actively identified with the commercial interests of the city. Since making his initial step in the business world in Switzerland his course has been marked by continuous progress, resulting from laudable ambition, close appli- cation and indefatigable energy. He holds to the highest standards in the manufacture of his product, and the excellence of the output is the basic element of his growing trade.
In 1889 Mr. Waeckerlin was married to Miss Mary Ellen Mackin, who was born in Liverpool, England, and became a resident of Rawlins in 1886. They have two children: Doris Loraine, who was born in Rawlins, March 19, 1898, and is a graduate of the high school; and Carl John, who was born March 16. 1002, and is now a high school pupil.
Fraternally Judge Waeckerlin is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. His political endorsement is given to the republican party and he served as justice of the peace from 1905 until 1909. The excellent record which he made during that period led to his reelection to the office in 1915 and he served until 1017. Since 1914 he has been police judge and has been most fair and impartial in his decisions, his record receiving the endorsement of all broad-minded citizens. He stands very high in public regard by reason of his upright life and his devotion to the general welfare.
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