USA > Wyoming > History of Wyoming, Volume II > Part 64
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Samuel Blackham, the eldest of the family, was educated in the public schools of Evanston and in night schools. His opportunities, however, for
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attending school were somewhat limited and it has been by reason of study, observation and experience that he has become the well informed man that he is. At the age of fifteen he started to work in the shops of the Union Pacific Railroad Company with a view of becoming a machinist and boiler- maker. He served for two and a half years and then took up firing on the railroad, spending three and a half years in that connection, after which he was promoted to the position of locomotive engineer and was thus in the em -. ploy of the Union Pacific Railroad Company for nineteen years save one month. Ambitious, however, to engage in business on his own account, he severed his connection with the railroad company and established a livery and garage in 1907. This was before he left the railroad service and for a time the business was conducted by his brother-in-law, Mr. Judd. At first only a livery business was carried on, but after several years the scope of the business was extended to include the sale of the Maxwell and Carter cars and automobile supplies, gas and oil. Mr. Blackham now conducts the leading garage and livery barn in this section of the state. His building is seventy-five by seventy-five feet, two stories in height. It is a solid concrete structure and was erected in 1908 at a cost of fifteen thousand dollars, being built especially for the purpose for which it is used. Mr. Blackham now devotes his entire time and attention to this busi- ness and his concentration of purpose and indefatigable energy have been salient features in his growing success.
On the Ist of March, 1886, Mr. Blackham was married in Granger, Wyo- ming, to Miss Lottie Walton, a native of Utah and a daughter of the late Darwin Walton, who passed away in August, 1917, at the age of eighty-seven years. He was a pioneer in the states of Utah and of Idaho and for forty years was a resident of Cleveland, Idaho, there remaining until called to the home beyond. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Lottie O'Neal, is still living. To Mr. and Mrs. Blackham have been born three daughters and a son : Lydia ; Alfred Samuel, who is now a sergeant in Company E of the Wyoming National Guard; Bessie, who is a teacher in the public schools of Evanston; and Olive, who is attending school. The three eldest children were born in Utah and the last named in Evanston.
Mr. Blackham is a stalwart republican in his political views. He served as deputy assessor for three terms and as assessor for one term. He has also been a member of the city council of Evanston for twelve years and has ever been active in public affairs and civic matters, his influence always being on the side of progress and improvement. As a public official he has exercised his pre- rogatives in support of many plans that have been of great benefit to the city. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, belonging to the lodge, chapter, the Knights Templar and to the Mystic Shrine. He is also an honorary mem- ber of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. His religious faith is that of the Episcopal church and its teachings have guided him in all of his life's relations, making him a man whom to know is to esteem and honor.
GILEY RICHARD McCONNELL.
Actively identified with a profession which has ever been regarded as having marked bearing upon the progress and stable prosperity of any community. Giley Richard McConnell is now numbered among the capable attorneys at law of Laramie, where he is accorded a large and distinctively representative clien- tage, to the interests of which he is most loyal.
He was born in Goodman, Kansas, January 29, 1889, a son of the late Allen McConnell, a native of Ireland, who in young manhood came to America when twenty years of age. This was about 1875. He settled in Minneapolis, Minne- sota, where he resided until the latter part of the 'Sos and then removed to Kansas. In the early 'gos he became a resident of Colorado Springs, Colorado,
GILEY R. MCCONNELL
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where he engaged in the plastering business, there residing until his death, which occurred in 1910, when he was fifty-five years of age. He wedded Mary Green, a native of Kansas and a representative of one of the pioneer families of that state. She is now living in Houston, Texas, and she, too, is of Irish lineage.
G. R. McConnell of this review was the eldest in a family of three children. His sister, May McConnell, died in June, 1915, and the other sister, Abbie, is the wife of Earl White, a resident of Laramie. Mr. McConnell obtained his education in the public schools of Fort Lupton, Colorado. He was twelve years of age when he was placed in the home of Van B. Kelsey, a Colorado pioneer of 1858, who was a highly honored and respected citizen and an influential factor in civic and political affairs of the state. Mr. McConnell remained as a ward of Mr. Kelsey until he reached the age of twenty years and during that period pursued his education in the schools of Fort Lupton. He then started out to provide for his own support and to further his education. With a cash capital of but eighty-five dollars he entered the University of Colorado at Boulder and immediately deposited seventy-five dollars of that amount toward his tuition. He scorned no honest work that would add to his income, earning the balance of his money needed for his tuition and other expenses by working as a bell boy, in a pantatorium, also by washing dishes and doing other such tasks as came to hand. He never faltered in his purpose to prepare for a profes- sional career, and in 1914 was graduated with the LL. B. degree. Of such stuff are made our most successful men and prominent lawyers. It is a well known fact that under the pressure of adversity and the stimulus of opposition the best and strongest in man is brought out and developed, and Mr. McConnell proved the strength of his character in the manner in which he provided for his education. Immediately after his graduation he removed to Laramie, where he arrived on the 23d of June, 1914. He at once entered upon active practice and on the 15th of April, 1915, received a state certificate allowing him to practice in all the courts. He has since continued a very active and progres- sive member of the Wyoming bar, giving his attention to the general practice of law, while his ability has brought him into close connection with much impor- tant litigation tried in the courts of the southern part of the state. He belongs to the Albany County Bar Association, of which he has served as secretary and treasurer, and also to the State Bar Association of Wyoming. Aside from his profession he has business interests as secretary of the Hutton Lake Oil & Gas Company.
On the 20th of September, 1914, Mr. McConnell was married by the Rev. S. A. Houston, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, in St. Mark's Episcopal church, to Miss Hazel O. Pritchard, a native of Colorado and a daughter of the late John and Elizabeth (Gale) Pritchard. Her father was one of the pioneer farmers of Colorado and died in 1912, but her mother is still living and now makes her home in Gilchrist, Colorado. She was born in England, of which country the father was also a native. From her mother Mrs. McConnell has received a rare collection of gifts which have been presented to her by a brother who served Queen Victoria as chief electrician at Windsor Castle and who had received these gifts from the Queen. The collection is one which Mrs. McCon- nell naturally values very highly. By her marriage she has become the mother of a daughter, Maxine Elizabeth, who was born in Laramie, March 4, 1917.
In his political views Mr. McConnell is a democrat and has been quite active in local and state politics. In November, 1916, he was elected to the office of county prosecuting attorney of Albany county and is occupying that position at the present time. Fraternally he is identified with the Woodmen of the World and he has membership with the Rangers and the Alpha Sigma Phi. His religious faith is indicated through his membership in St. Matthew's cathedral. of which he is now serving for the second term as one of the vestrymen. His chief diver- sion comes through hunting and fishing. He is a trained athlete and played on two Rocky Mountain football teams while in college and has established quite i reputation in the field of sports in the west. He is also known as a scientific
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boxer and has taken part in many noted bouts with those who are skilled in the use of the padded glove. In 1914 he served as assistant coach in the University of Wyoming and in 1915 as coach for the Laramie high school football team and was instrumental in placing the team in the first rank in the state. He recog- nizes the fact that to play well is next in importance to working well, yet he allows nothing to interfere with the faithful performance of his professional duties and his devotion to his clients' interests has become proverbial. He is today one of the able lawyers of Laramie, with wide and comprehensive knowl- edge of the principles of jurisprudence.
GEORGE R. BRINGHURST.
George R. Bringhurst, postmaster of Lovell, Wyoming, is a native of Utah, his birth having occurred in Toquerville, Washington county, on the 3d of March, 1876, his parents being Judge William A. and Selinda Palmer Bringhurst, who were natives of Pennsylvania. They became residents of Utah in 1847, casting in their lot with the pioneer settlers of the state. In 1857 William A. Bringhurst served in the Echo Canyon campaign under Captain D. D. McArthur, and in 1862 he enlisted in the famous Lot Smith's company to guard the United States mails from the depredations of the Indians. He drew a pension from the govern- ment for the latter service. The father removed to southern Utah with his family in 1866 arriving at Toquerville in May of that year, and became one of the first settlers of Washington county. In 1874 he was appointed bishop of the Toquer- ville ward in the Mormon church which position he still held at the time of his death, having filled the position with honor and having become well known throughout the entire southern part of Utah as an honest, earnest man, seeking only the right and aiding others at every opportunity. Following the establishment of his home in Washington county, he there resided until his death, which occurred on March 8. 1912. He had long survived his wife who passed away in 1891. In their family were ten children, eight of whom are yet living.
George R. Bringhurst was reared in his native county and is indebted to its public school system for the educational opportunities which he enjoyed in early youth. He also attended the branch of the State University at Cedar City and the Brigham Young University at Provo, Utah, and later held several positions of responsibility, both civil and ecclesiastical in his native state. He dates his residence in Wyoming from January, 1915. In 1917, he was appointed postmaster in Lovell, which position he is now acceptably filling, discharging his duties promptly and systematically. He is also a bishop of the Mormon church and is thus active in the material, political and moral progress of the community.
In 1902 Mr. Bringhurst was married to Miss Lulu Harrison, a native of Utah, and to them have been born three children: Carma, who was born July 25. 1912; G. Heber, born June 3. 1915 : and Max H., born September 3. 1917. The family is well and favorably known in this locality and warm regard is entertained for Mr. and Mrs. Bringhurst by their circle of friends, which is almost co-extensive with the circle of their acquaintances.
EDGAR R. ROUSE.
Edgar R. Rouse, filling the position of clerk of the district court at Douglas. was born in Jefferson, Wisconsin, on the 3d of February, 1882, and was the only child of Willard H. and Ledia B. (Rouse ) Rouse, who although of the same name were not related. It was in the year 1886 that the father brought his family to Wyoming and established his home in Douglas, where he conducted business as a
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contractor, engaging actively in that line until his death, which occurred in 1905. He is still survived by his widow, who makes her home in Douglas.
Edgar R. Rouse was only four years of age when brought by his parents to Wyoming, so that practically his entire life has been passed in this state. He acquired his education in the schools of Douglas, passing through consecutive grades to the high school, from which in due course of time he was graduated. He was afterward employed in a clerical capacity in stores of Douglas for a number of years, but in 1898 he put aside all business and personal consideration to espouse the cause of his country, which was calling for military aid in the struggle with Spain. He joined the volunteer forces and spent eighteen months in active service in the Philippines as a member of Company F of the First Wyoming Infantry. He did active duty in the Orient and then when the country no longer needed his aid returned to Wyoming. Reentering the store, he was thus connected with commercial pursuits until the Ist of November, 1916, when he was elected to his present position as clerk of the district court. He entered upon the duties of the office on the Ist of January, 1917, and in the year which has since intervened has made an excellent record by the prompt and faithful manner in which he has discharged his duties. Hc is thoroughly systematic and his work has received high endorsement from members of the court.
On the 12th of February, 1907, Mr. Kouse was united in marriage to Miss Edith Goddard and to them have been born three daughters, Dorothy, Marjorie and Isabelle. Mr. Rouse is a member of the Masonic lodge of Douglas and is also identified with the Commercial Club, being deeply interested in all of its well defined plans and purposes for the upbuilding of the city. He votes with the republican party, which has received his allegiance since he reached adult age. His fellow townsmen, appreciative of his worth, have several times called him to public office and he has served as city treasurer, while at the present time he is filling the position of city clerk as well as that of clerk of the district court. He is a public-spirited man who throughout his entire life has ever recognized the obligations as well as the privileges of citizenship.
E. A. WALLACE.
Prominent among the energetic, farsighted and successful business men of Rawlins is E. A. Wallace, who is proprietor of one of the oldest grocery estab- lishments in the city. He is also connected with real estate interests, with coal mining and with the live stock industry. In a word, he is a forceful and resourceful man who readily adapts his powers to the demands of a business situation and carefully guides it to success. He has long been a resident of Wyoming, but for a still longer period the family name has been interwoven ·with the history of the state.
On the 12th of October, 1867, a little cavalcade wended its way across the plains and reached the site of the present city of Rawlins. The personnel com- prised General Dodge, president of the Union Pacific Railway Company ; Gen- eral Rawlins of the Western Division of the United States Army, and Jolin Wallace, master of transportation for the United States government, together with a company of United States regulars as an escort and an army ambulance as a travel train. They journeyed westward over the proposed line of the Union Pacific and camped on the present site of Rawlins, and in close proximity to a cold, clear spring. These gentlemen, General Dodge in particular, were seeking a division point and a favorable location for railroad shops. On discovering the fresh spring of water. the first that he had seen for many days, General Dodge exclaimed to Mr. Wallace: "This is the ideal spot for a division point for our road! Now, what shall we name this point?" Mr. Wallace, glancing over at General Rawfins, who was lying in his tent, indisposed, said: "Let us name it Rawlins' Spring," which was done and by that name the district was
E. A. WALLACE
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known until the government, having trouble over mail matters on account of the fact that Rock Springs was also used as the name of a Wyoming town, dropped the name of Springs from the city of Rawlins. John Wallace, the master of transportation for the United States government, remained here for a number of years and later he, with a companion, journeyed to Mexico and on the return trip brought a large flock of sheep, which was the pioneer move- ment in the establishment of the sheep industry in this state. Mr. Wallace became a very successful sheep raiser and continued in the business until the severe winter in which the intense cold killed off his flock of fifteen thousand sheep, causing him heavy losses. He then returned to Omaha, where he resided until the time of his demise. He was an uncle of E. A. Wallace of this review, and thus the family name has been associated with the development and upbuild- ing of Rawlins from its earliest inception.
E. A. Wallace is today known as the pioneer grocer of Rawlins and is a prominent business man, connected with stock raising and with real estate interests, holding much property in Rawlins and in Carbon county. He was born in Leavenworth, Kansas, December 10, 1861, a son of Thomas and Kath- erine (Quinn) Wallace, the former a native of Tipperary, Ireland, while the latter was born in Waterford, Ireland. They came to America in early life, settling in Kansas in 1856. There the father took up government land near Leavenworth which he afterward divided up and sold to people who came to America from the Emerald isle. Later he engaged in the produce business, which he continued to follow until his demise, which occurred in 1894, when he had reached the age of sixty-two years. His wife had passed away in Kan- sas in 1872. In their family were five children: Thomas and John, twins, who died within a year of each other, one passing away in October, 1891, and the other early in October, 1892; A. P. Wallace, who is a furniture dealer of Leav- enworth, Kansas; Mrs. Thomas Grogan, whose husband is division master mechanic for the Southern Pacific Railroad Company at Oakland, California; and E. A., of this review.
The last named was the fourth in order of birth in the family. In his boyhood days he attended the parochial schools in Leavenworth, Kansas, after which he came to. Rawlins, his brothers having preceded him here in 1879. They established the Wallace Grocery and E. A. Wallace became associated with them. Following the death of his brothers he assumed entire charge of the business, which he has since carefully and successfully conducted, having one of the oldest and one of the largest business enterprises of this character in Rawlins. He also became interested in stock raising and now has a large and valuable ranch in Carbon county. He has other ownership interests in the state, consisting in considerable city property and mining property, including a valuable coal mine located three and a half miles west of Rawlins, in which he is a stockholder. Upon his land are veins of coal sufficient to supply the city of Rawlins for years and years to come and when the mines are in full operation the owners expect to sell the coal to the people of the city at a little more than the cost of production.
Mr. Wallace is a republican in his political views and fraternally is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. His religious faith is that of the Roman Catholic church and he was made a member of the building com- mittee during the erection of the church edifice, which was erected at a cost of thirty thousand dollars. He assumed personal charge of the work and saw it substantially completed. He has ever been one of the liberal contributors to anything calculated to advance the interests of his church, which was one of the first Catholic churches of the state. Mr. Wallace has never married and since his brothers' death he has been a father to the children who were left fatherless in that way. He has provided them with every advantage. educational and otherwise. The two daughters of his brothers are now residents of Los Angeles, California, and Mr. Wallace provides them liberally with everything necessary for their comfort and welfare and makes many trips to the Pacific coast to look after their interests.
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He is charitable to a fault, giving freely and generously where aid is needed, avoiding ostentation or display. He is very popular with his fellowmen, who appreciate his business ability, his public spirit and his devotion to the general good. He is a man of splendid business capacity and of power and he has wisely used his talents, so the most envious cannot grudge him his success, so worthily has it been won and so generously has it been used in rendering assistance to others.
WILLIS JENSEN.
Various business enterprises center in Laramie and contribute to the material development and progress of the city. Active as the head of one of these is Willis Jensen, who is now proprietor of the interests conducted under the name of the Laramie Furniture Company.
He was born in Viborg, Denmark, November 17, 1865, a son of Annis and Mary ( Madsen) jensen both of whom were natives of Denmark, where they spent their entire lives. The father followed the occupation of farming and passed away in his native village in 1905 at the advanced age of eighty-six years, while his wife reached an even greater age, passing away December 1, 1916, after attaining the ninety-second milestone on life's journey. She was the mother of eleven children.
Willis Jensen, who was the seventh in order of birth in that family, ac- quired his education in the public schools of Viborg and spent his early life to the age of fifteen years upon the home farm. He then started out in the world independently and was apprenticed for a term of three years to a black- and locksmith, thoroughly learning those trades. After his apprenticeship was completed he continued to work along those lines for two years and later spent one year in military service. He then determined to try his fortune in the new world and crossed the Atlantic to America, where he arrived on the 2d of June, 1889. He at once made his way westward to Grand Island, Nebraska, and a few days later removed to Chevenne, where he spent one month, being em- ployed by the Union Pacific Railroad Company. He continued in the service of that company, however, for six months at Red Butte, Albany county, after which he removed to Rock Springs and there remained for three years, fol- lowing his trade of blacksmithing in the employ of the Union Pacific Coal Com- pany. From Rock Springs he returned to Cheyenne, where he was employed for two years in the shops of the Union Pacific, working at his trade, after which he came to Laramie and accepted a position in the Laramie rolling mills, where he continued until the plant was destroyed by fire. On the Ist of Janu- ary, 1896. he established a coal business, taking orders on the street. He had only a small space for his office in the store of the Laramie Grocery Company and he drove his own wagon. He continued in the coal trade for two years and then purchased the mercantile establishment of the Davis estate-a stock of second hand furniture. This stock was purchased under the firm name of Crawford & Jensen and the partnership continued for eighteen months, when Mr. Jensen bought out his partner's interest and organized his business under the present firm style of the Laramie Furniture Company. On the IIth of January, 1905, the building which he occupied was destroyed by fire and it was covered with but little insurance, proving a most serious loss. In that year, however. MIr. Jensen purchased the site of his present building at No. 311 Second street, South, and in 1907 he purchased the adjoining lot and on the first lot erected his present building, in which he is now conducting his furni- titre store. He has built up a large trade in this connection and carries an at- tractive line of furniture of modern manufacture. His business methods are thoroughly reliable and his enterprise has brought to him a very gratifying trade.
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On the 10th of May. 1893. Mr. Jensen was married in Cheyenne, Wyoming, to Miss Gina Christensen, a native of Denmark and a daughter of James Chris- tensen. They have become the parents of four children, three of whom are living. Clarence A., Walter J. and Clarissa M.
In politics Mr. Jensen maintains an independent course, giving his support to the men whom he deems best qualified for office. Fraternally he is con- nected with the Odd Fellows, the Elks and the Woodmen of the World and he belongs to the Evangelical Trinity Lutheran church, in which he served as a member of the council for fifteen years. He is identified with the Laramie Chamber of Commerce and does everything in his power to aid in the develop- ment and progress of his city. When he arrived in America his entire cash capital was eleven dollars. His success has been due entirely to his own efforts and the assistance and encouragement of his wife, who has indeed heen a helpmate to him. He started in his present business with a cash capital of three hundred and twenty-five dollars and from that point has won pronounced success, being today one of the prosperous merchants and men of affluence in Laramie.
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