USE CTRL-F TO SEARCH
Lake County, Colorado
Biographies
THOMAS R. AGNEW
Thomas R. Agnew was born in the city of New York in 1832, where he remained
until his seventeenth year. The California gold excitement of 1849 numbered
him among the many who rushed to the land of gold. Six years of his life
were spent in that country, where he was very successful in mining, and
amassed quite a fortune. In 1855, he returned to New York, and, together
with George Francis Train and Bayard Taylor, made a trip of the world, which
cost him $20,000 in gold. On his return to New York, in 1856, he engaged in.
the grocery business on the corner of Greenwich and Murray streets. It was
here that Mr. Agnew acquired wealth which, in amount, was second to few in
that city. Everything he handled turned to gold, as it were. He was known as
the shrewdest business man of that day. His integrity was unquestionable,
and he became known as "Honest Tom" throughout the city; his charitable acts
were fully equal to the favors fortune showered upon him; he gave liberally
to all who were in need, and religious edifices to-day bear witness to his
benevolence. His country residence cost $300,000, and was a place of most
elegant finish; his business houses in those days covered 5,000 people every
night. In 1877, the subject of this sketch arrived in Leadville, where he
has ever since been engaged in real estate and mining business, success
attending his undertakings; today, he is classed among Leadville's
representative men, and possessing a reputation and character which are
unblemished. A gentleman of the most exemplary habits, Leadville owes a
great portion of her success to Mr. Agnew, who, after his arrival here was
untiring in his efforts to induce Eastern capitalists to invest their money
in mines. At present, Mr. Agnew is largely interested in mining property, as
well as real estate throughout the city.
JOHN ALFRED
This active, energetic business man was born in Liverpool, England, February
11, 1843. He received a common-school education, and at the early age of
eight years commenced work for his father, heating rivets and working in a
foundry and boiler-yard. At an early age, he ran away from home and visited
the Crimea on a transport vessel, and was there fur a period of thirteen
months. He came home and worked with his father until the spring of 1861,
and then emigrated to America, secreting himself on a vessel, not having
enough money to pay his passage over, and landed in the city of New York
without a cent —a stranger in a strange land: procuring work, he remained
there for four years; he then came West to Clinton, Iowa, and went into the
foundry and machine-shop business at that point; selling out, he came to
Leadville in February, 1879, and started the foundry business with but a few
dollars' capital, but, having an indomitable will, with an abundant supply
of that pluck and energy necessary to success, Mr. Alfred has succeeded in
building up a large and lucrative business, doing a large amount of work for
the smelting works and mines. Mr. Alfred was married in. New York, in April,
1864. He is a very prominent member of the Masonic order, having attained
all the degrees but the thirty-third. He is now in comfortable
circumstances, and, having struggled manfully through his reverses of
fortune, is enjoying the fruits of his well-earned competence.
CHARLES G.
ARNOLD
The subject of this sketch was born in Norton, Bristol Co., Mass., September
19, 1824. He received a common-school education in his native town; he spent
his early life on a farm with his parents. In. his twenty-first year, he
went to Providence, R. I., and engaged as a clerk in the stove and hardware
business for eleven years; he then removed to Boston and embarked in the
foundry business, the firm name being Arnold & Butts, in which business he
remained until 1861. His failing health prompted him to seek a more
healthful clime, and, on the 26th of April, 1862, he emigrated to Colorado,
crossing the plains from St. Joseph., Mo., to Denver, in a wagon, walking
and riding, being twenty-five days on the route; from Denver, he came to
California Gulch, and engaged in placer mining; he worked all summer as a
tender-foot, and came out without a dollar. In April, 1863, he went to
Frying Pan Gulch and worked the tailings, and made $50 a day for two months,
and in the fall of 1863 he returned to California Gulch and commenced
prospecting and mining, in which business he has been quite successful, and
now owns some valuable mining property.
ALEXANDER
BENGLEY
Mr. Bengley was born in Canada in 1828; when fourteen years of age, he moved
to Troy, N. Y., where he lived until 1850; he was engaged there as an
architect and builder, removing to Chicago, Ill., where he engaged in the
same business until 1875, part of the time being in the mercantile business.
Although Chicago was then his home, he gave a portion of his time and
attention to mining in the Lake Superior region, where he still owns mining
property. He came to Colorado in the spring of 1878 and located at
Leadville, where he has since resided, engaged in mining and architectural
works. Mr. Bengley was elected a Commissioner of Lake County in 1880; he is
an active member of that board, and works diligently for the best interests
of the tax payers of the county he represents.
ISAAC H.
BATCHELLOR
Mr. Batchellor is a native of Maine; he was born in the town of Bowdoin,
near the Atlantic coast, where he resided only a few years before removing
to Worcester Co., Mass., to make his home with an uncle; while he resided
with his relative, he worked on a farm and attended school, a portion of the
time at an academy located in Winchendon, in Worcester County. At the age of
seventeen, Mr. Batchellor had a desire to see other parts of the world than
New England; he enlisted for three years in a man-of-war; during eighteen
months of his enlistment, he was off the coast of Africa, watching parties
who were engaged in the slave trade; the remainder of the time, his vessel
was in the Mediterranean Sea; it was lying off Toulon at the time Louis
Phillippe abdicated his throne in favor of his grandson, February 24, 1848,
and it was near the coast of Italy when Charles Albert went out to fight the
Austrian s. Mr. Batchellor witnessed much of the exciting period in the
history of Europe the three years he was absent from America. After his
return, he resided in several of the New England States, engaged in various
occupations, before he came West; for six years, he lived in Chicago, where
he filled the position of hotel clerk at the Foster House, which was
destroyed in the great fire of 1871. For more than twenty years prior to
1881, Mr. Batchellor has been a resident of Colorado; a greater portion of
that time, Arapahoe County has been his home, where he bought a farm four
miles distant from the city of Denver, and was engaged in stock-raising in
connection with his ranch In 1872, he was a member of the Territorial
Legislature, and in 1876 served his county as one of its Commissioners. In
1879 he sold out his farming and stock-raising interests and moved to
Leadville, where he is engaged in the livery business; is a member of the
firm of Chatfield & Batchellor, livery, feed and sale stable, 126 East Sixth
street. Mr. Batchellor was married in 1872 and has two children.
ROBERT BERRY
Mr. Berry has been intimately connected with the history of Lake County
since 1860, when he made California Gulch his home. Mr. Berry was born in
Wyandot Co., Ohio, September 25, 1830; he was raised on a farm, and, during
his boyhood. attended the common schools; he assisted in constructing the
Pittsburgh & Fort Wayne Railroad, and afterward kept the station at Forest,
in Hardin Co., Ohio; the year of 1856 he spent in Rock Island, Ill., and the
two following years he resided in Glenwood, Mills Co., Iowa. At this time.
Pike's Peak excitement broke out, and the gold fever caught Mr. Berry, with
thousands of other young men, and, in March, 1859, he came to the Rocky
Mountains. He made his first stop on Plumb Creek, twenty miles above Denver,
where he put up the second steam saw-mill ever constructed in Colorado, for
Maj. D. C. Oakes & Co. From this point he went to the Gold Dirt Diggings, on
South Boulder Creek, but remained only a short time before proceeding to
Russell Gulch, where he spent the winter of 1859-60. In May of 1860, he went
to California Gulch; during the same year, gold was discovered at the base
of Mt. Massive, in Frying Pan Gulch; this place takes its name from the fact
that parties who found the gold had no regular pan with which to wash it,
and so brought into requisition one of their cooking utensils, and hence the
name. It was not until July 4, 1863, that the precious metal was found in
paying quantities at this point, when the name of the gulch was changed to
Colorado Gulch, and the district was called Independence Mining District, in
honor of the day. The discovery was made by Mr C. F. Wilson, who gave the
locality its name. It is in this gulch that Mr. Berry has been engaged in
placer mining for eighteen years, where, in company with his partner, Mr.
Walters, they own 140 acres in placer .riggings, having purchased several
claims adjoining his original location. During a portion of the decade
between 1860 and 1`, 70, Mr. Berry was intimately connected 'nth the history
of the Territory, having been appointed United States Marshal and Internal
Revenue Collector, which offices he resigned when elected to the Territorial
Council in 1863; the Council (Legislature) met in Golden City, but
immediately adjourned to Denver; he served during two sessions. In 1865, Mr.
Berry was elected Seer Mary of the Council—the highest office in the gift of
that body. He held the office of County Clerk and Recorder in 1862, which he
resigned to serve in the Legislature. At an early period, he was appointed
County Judge, to fill an unexpired term, but would not allow his name to be
used at the following election. Mr. Berry is well acquainted with the
prominent men who have made the history of Colorado, and takes a, lively
interest in all State questions.
CHARLES BRUCKMAN
The proprietor of the Franklin Printing House is the subject of this sketch.
He was born in New York City in 1852, where he received a collegiate
education, graduating at the New York College in 1871. He was engaged in the
banking business in that city until September, 1879, when he came to
Colorado and located at Leadville, where he engaged in his present business,
which is that of general advertising and job printing. The house has
established a reputation that is fully commensurate with its efforts.
CHARLES C. BALDWIN
This gentleman was born in Ann Arbor, Mich., March 10, 1858; he received a
collegiate education, graduating in 1875 from the Michigan University; in
1877, he came West and settled in California Gulch, engaging in the business
of civil mining engineering; was employed as engineer by the Iron Silver,
Robert E. Lee, Little Giant, and other mines; he made the first map of
Leadville and vicinity, showing about eight hundred of the mines, and also
made the first survey and laid out many of the principal streets in
Leadville. He was married in 1878, and. has one child. Mr. Baldwin is well
known as a competent civil and mining engineer.
WILLIAM H.
BRIGHT
The above-named gentleman has been conspicuously identified with Leadville
and its police department ever since his advent here. He was born in Fairfax
County, Va., in 1820. When sixteen years old, he went to Washington, D. C.,
where he lived for six years; he is a brick-layer by trade; he built the
Government armories at Harper's Ferry and also erected some of the
Government buildings at Washington; he afterward lived at Memphis, Tenn.,
and then at Louisville, Hy., where he superintended the erection of the
Custom House; at Cincinnati, he erected the court house; he then went to
Louisiana; he built the State Seminary of Learning at Alexandria; he was
afterward employed by the United States Treasury Department as a detective,
and then as a Lieutenant on the police force of the city of Washington. When
the war broke out, he enlisted in the First Regiment District of Columbia
Volunteer Infantry, and was afterward in the Quartermaster's Department of
the Army of the Potomac. After the war, he held the position, under the
United States Government of United Sates Mail Agent for Utah and Montana and
adjoining Territories; he established a number of mail routes in Washington
Territory; he lived three years in the Sweet Water country of Wyoming; he
then moved to Denver, where he lived five years, and erected some of the
most elegant buildings in that city; he was City Jailer of Denver for three
years. On the 1st of April, 1878, he came to Leadville: was appointed
successively Under Sheriff and County Jailer: he now devotes all his time to
mining, and has interests in valuable mining property.
WILSON WATSON BREDIN, M. D.
Dr. Bredin was born in 1844, county of Lanark, Canada: attended grammar
school until the age of seventeen: he removed to Toronto, Canada, and took a
course of study for four years at the Normal University, after which he
began the study of medicine at Trinity University, Toronto and graduated in
1873. He came to Bay City, Mich., and practiced medicine until the fall of
1880, at which time he removed to Leadville, and in a very short time was
appointed County Physician for Lake County Hospital which position he still
holds.
WILLIE T. BROCKMAN
Among the pioneer business men of Leadville, and. one who has, by fair
dealing and close attention to business, established himself as one of the
prominent merchants, is W. T. Brockman. He was born in Virginia July 8,
1851, and at an early age removed with his parents to Springfield, Ill.,
where he received an academic education, and studied pharmacy at Rutledge
College. In 1865, he engaged in the drug business in Springfield, where he
remained for about six years. In 1871, he moved to St. Louis, where he was
employed as foreman in a large wholesale drug store for a period of two
years; from St. Louis -he went to Joplin, Mo. where he located and started
in the drug business for himself, and was also interested in mining. In
1877, he emigrated to Leadville and engaged in the drug business, and also
was interested in burning charcoal; had a large corral for stabling stock,
also had an interest in a wood-yard. During these years, he has been
variously associated in business, and owns some valuable claims in the Black
Range, New Mexico. His ancestry is of French and German extraction. Mr.
Brockman is a pleasant and courteous gentleman, and commands the patronage
of the public. He was married at Joplin, Mo., in 1873.
ROBERT. H.
BUCK
Capt. Robert H. Back, United States Commissioner was born in Bangor, Me.,
August 21, 1835, and removed to Boston, Mass., while very young; was
educated. at Amherst College and Harvard University of class of 1856, and
was admitted to the bar in Boston in 1857, and was engaged in practicing law
until 1859, when he removed to St. Louis, and, upon the breaking-out of the
rebellion, recruited two companies, forming the nucleus of the Sixth
Missouri Volunteer Infantry: was elected Captain, and participated in the
battles of Chickasaw Bayou and Arkansas Post, and left the service in
consequence of physical disability, renewing the practice of law in Boston
in 1864; was sent to Gilpin City, Colo., in 1870, to take charge of
important mining interests, and came to Leadville in March, 1879; was
appointed United States Commissioner for District of Colorado in 1876, and
still holds that appointment.
WILLIAM NELSON BURDICK, M. D.
Dr. William Nelson Burdick was born April 26, 1850, in Coldwater, Mich.: he
received a collegiate education, graduating, in the spring of 1873, from the
University of Michigan, and engaged in the practice of his profession in his
native place. He 'came to Colorado in 1874, and, returning to Michigan, he
remained there for a brief period: afterward came to Leadville, in July,
1878, and resumed the practice of his profession, and can now be classed as
one of the most successful of practitioners in Leadville, having a large and
lucrative practice. Dr. Burdick is married,
and is recognized as a most skillful physician, and devotes his entire time
to his profession.
WILLIAM K. BURCHINELL
Mr. Burchinell, the present Receiver of the United States Land Office at
Leadville, was born October 12, 1846, and received an academic education in
his native town. Upon the breaking-out of the war, though but a mere lad in
years, he entered the army and served with distinction until the close of
the war, participating in many of the hard-fought battles. He was elected to
the Pennsylvania Legislature in the winter of 1872, and reelected in 1873;
in 1875, he was appointed to the office he now holds by President Grant, and
was re-appointed in 1879 by President Hayes; he owns some valuable mining
property in the vicinity of Leadville, which is being developed. He has
filled the office he holds with ability and honor, and, being a gentleman of
fine and prepossessing appearance, at once impresses one as a man of unusual
character. Mr. Burchinell was married in 1872, and has one child.
CHARLES BOETTCHER
Mr. Boettcher is one of Leadville's most successful merchants, which is due
to his energy and strict attention to business, together with his upright
dealings with all classes of customers. He was born in Coelleda, Germany, on
the 8th of April, 1852, and attended school until the age of sixteen years.
His parents emigrated to America in 1868, and located in Chicago, and after
a short time removed to Cheyenne, W. T., where Charley, then but a youth,
engaged in the hardware trade, commencing business for himself; after two
years, sold out and went to Greeley, Cola, and from there to Fort Collins,
where he started again in the hardware business, and, after a short period
of one and a half years, sold out and removed to Boulder and commenced
business again. In 1879, he came to Leadville, and is now engaged in the
same business, having one of the largest stocks in that line in the State;
his place of business is on Harrison avenue, opposite the Clarendon Hotel;
he also is a very large dealer in mining supplies, and has a stock estimated
at $100,000. Mr. Boettcher devotes his entire time to his large and growing
business, and, although he takes great interest in all public affairs in
which Leadville is interested, has no time to spare from his business to
give to outside matters. Mr. Boettcher has an abundance of that energy and
pluck necessary to success, and has made his business what it is by his
personal efforts. He was married in 1873, and has one child.
ALFRED
BRISBOIS
The subject of this sketch is the leading artist of Leadville in
photography, and the work done in his gallery will compare favorably with
that done by any other artist in Colorado or the East. Many of the portraits
in this work were taken from pictures made in his gallery, and work is also
done in India ink and water colors. Born in Chicago September 6, 1853, he
moved with his parents, at an early age, to Detroit, Mich., and attended the
public schools until nine years of age; his parents then removed to Canada,
and, after one year's sojourn, returned to Mount Clemens, Mich.;
subsequently returned to Canada, where young Brisbois finished his education
at L'Assumptien College, Sandwich, Canada; he then commenced his mercantile
life by engaging as clerk in a grocery store, where he continued for a short
period; the following winter, he went to Detroit and embarked in the
manufacture of mineral waters, but, it not proving as lucrative as he
wished, he in a short time abandoned it, and served an apprenticeship at the
harness trade at the town of Windsor, Canada, for a period of three and a
half years; he then visited nearly all the principal towns in Michigan,
among which were Romeo, Saginaw, Pontiac and Ann Arbor, in search of
employment, and, not meeting with much success, he served' an apprenticeship
of two years at the barber's trade, learning it at night, and worked at
harness-making during the day, to accumulate sufficient funds to start in
business for himself, and experienced, during this time, many reverses, but
struggled manfully through them all. He returned to Canada and commenced the
study of photography, studying at such times as he could get when not
working at his trade; after a period of about four months, he moved to
Saginaw, Mich., and opened a gallery; in a very short time, he went to Ann
Arbor, and continued the business for two months, then sold out and went to
Detroit where he remained for four months; the following spring, he came to
St. Joseph. Mo., and worked at his profession for nearly two years; he then
spent several months traveling, visiting the towns of Omaha, Cheyenne,
Denver, and, on the 2d day of March, 1880. arrived in Leadville and started
the business in which he is now engaged. Mr. Brisbois' life has of course
been variegated with many of the shifting scenes which mark the career of
the early Coloradoan; he is regarded as a man of superior nerve and business
tact, and is held in high esteem by all those who have business dealings
with him, and is receiving the patronage of the best citizens of Leadville;
he is one of the proprietors of the Boston drug store, owning a half
interest, and is also interested in some valuable mining propert and may be
accepted as the leading artist of Leadville. He was married at Ann Arbor,
Mich. September 6, 1881.
JAMES BRUCKMAN
This gentleman was born in New York City in 1844, where he resided until
thirteen years of age, when he came West with an older brother. He has
resided in Nevada and California some four or five years, where he was
engaged in mining. His business afterward was such that it kept him
traveling throughout the Eastern and Western States a great deal. In
February, 1878 he came to Leadville and engaged in the furniture business.
He soon afterward gave up that business to devote all of his time to mining.
He is largely interested in mining, and does a general broker's business in
that line.
PETER BECKER
This gentleman was born July 28, 1848, in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany; he came
with his parents to this country when six years of age, and moved to Iowa
City in 1856; it was there that he learned the trade of harness-maker; he
afterward followed his trade at Chicago. His parents died at Iowa City. Mr.
Becker came to Colorado in 1871, living a short time at Denver, then
removing to Colorado Springs; he resided there nine years, during which time
he was engaged in the harness business. He was elected Sheriff of El Paso
County, and held the office for two terms of two years each He came to
Leadville in February, 1879, and engaged in the harness business on West
Chestnut street, where his stand still remains, with his main house located
on East Fifth street; he has been interested in mining throughout the
different mining districts of this State; he has made his business a
success. Personally, Mr. Becker is an affable gentleman, and a general
favorite among his acquaintances.
HON. GEORGE C. BATES
Foremost among those who were first to locate at Leadville, may be classed
the supject of this sketch. Mr. Bates is justly entitled to the credit of
having done more, perhaps, to promote the interests of Leadville and aid in
creating the large influx of people to the new mining camp in the spring of
1879 than any other citizen. His pen portraitures furnished to and published
in the Detroit Free Press during the winter of 1878-79, were so generally
read, copied in other Eastern papers, and relied upon as truthful, that they
were the means of causing many to seek their fortunes here and thereby build
up Leadville. Mr. Bates' nature is the very embodiment of affability, and as
one of the profession of which he is a member, he is known as a gentleman of
the old school of courtesy and politeness. In legal attainments he has no
superior at the bar, and for force of expression and fine oratorical
ability, we need no better evidence than that which has constantly followed
him throughout his past life as a successful practitioner. Mr. Bates was
born in Canandaigua, New York, a son of Phineas P. Bates, who was then a
noted cattle raiser in that section of the country. Mr. Bates received a
common school education up to the time he was twelve years of age. He
afterward attended Middlebury Academy in his State. He prepared for a more
thorough collegiate course by attending Canandaigua Academy. In September,
1828, he entered Hobart College at Geneva, New York, from which institution
he graduated in 1831. He afterward read law in the office of John C.
Spencer. In May, 1833, he left for Cleveland, where he remained but a short
time, in the practice of his profession as a partner of the late Hon.
Stephan A. Douglas. Removing to Detroit and afterward to Monroe. Michigan,
he became a pupil of Jefferson G. Thurber, one of his tutors at Canandaigua.
In May, 1834, he was admitted to the bar of Michigan after passing a
flattering examination and acquitting himself with great credit. After some
time spent in Chicago, he returned to Detroit, where he began to practice.
In 1841, he was appointed United States District Attorney for the district
of Michigan by President Harrison. He held the office for a term of four
years and prosecuted with great success hundreds, who as Federal officers.
had become defaulters under Van Buren's administration. In the fall of 1848
he was nominated for Congress in the First District of Michigan, by the Whig
party. but was defeated. In 1849, he was again appointed District Attorney,
having resigned the same in 1845. In June, 1852, while in California,
whither he had gone the month previous, he resigned his attorneyship of
Michigan and remained some four years in California, and through his
successful practice was in independent circumstances. He then returned to
Detroit, where he was elected several successive years as Alderman of the
First Ward of that city. In 1849, he was a delegate to the Whig Convention
at Harrisburg, being the youngest member of that body. Mr. Bates always took
an active part in politics, being originally a Whig and since a Republican.
In 1861, he removed to Chicago and commenced the practice of law in that
city where he was eminently successful until the fire of 1871, when, in
common with thousands of others, he lost everything. In November, 1871,
President Grant appointed him .United States District Attorney of Utah. E
October, 1873, Mr. Bates became the Attorney of the Church of Jesus Christ
of the Latter-Day Saints of Utah, by appointment of George A. Smith, which
position he held until November, 1875. In 1877, on account of the bitter
feuds existing between the Mormons and Gentiles, he removed his large
library to Detroit, where he again resumed practice. For over forty years,
he, has been a successful practitioner of law in nearly all the courts of
Michigan and California.
KOSSUTH R. CASPER
Among the promising young attorneys of Leadville is the subject of this
sketch. He is the associate of William J. Sharman in the practice of his
profession. He was born in Sullivan County, New York, where he received an
ordinary education until he was fifteen years of age. He afterward attended
various schools away from his native home, and in 1872, graduated from the
Albany Law School. He then practiced in New York City. Came to Leadville in
September, 1879, where he has since been engaged in a successful law
practice. He devotes a great portion of his time to mining and is the owner
of several promising properties.
FRANK H. COLE
Among the successful mine superintendents who have operated in Leadville,
the name of Frank H. Cole appears. He was born in Westport, Essex Co., State
of New York. He worked on a farm and attended school until he was twenty
years of age. During his school days he attended the Westport Academy, under
Prof. L. B. Newell. In 1867, Mr. Cole went to Troy, N. Y., where he accepted
a clerkship in the post office department in the city. He held various
positions up to that of Assistant Postmaster. Mr..Cole was connected with
the office for eight years. Gen. Alonzo Alden was Postmaster --he, who was
the hero of Fort Fisher. It is true of him that at the time of the attack,
he was leading his command when his horse was shot under him, and at the
same time his color bearer was killed. The General caught up the standard
and dashed forward to the fort, calling upon his men to follow him. The
General is a relative of Mr. Cole. In January, 1874, Mr. C. went to Boulder
Co., Colo., locating at Nederland in connection with the old Caribou Mill
and Mining Company. He took charge of the chlorination department, and soon
afterward the amalgamation and smelting department,- and _ subsequently took
charge of all the assaying for the company. He was with the firm four years.
At the expiration of this time Mr. Cole went to Rosita, under Prof. P. H.
Van Diest, and started the Penn. Reduction Works, where he remained one
year. Here his health failed, and he was obliged to abandon his occupation.
Mr. Cole returned to Boulder, where he regained his health. During this time
he was engaged with the Caribou Lixiviation. Works in connection with the
Native Silver Mining Company, located in Caribou. Boulder Co. In 1879 he
went to Leadville where he accepted the position of Assayer of the Highland
Chief Consolidated Mining Company. with whom he remained until the great
strike among the miners in June, 1880. Soon afterward he was engaged by the
Glass-Pendery Consolidated. Mining Company as Assayer and bookkeeper. He had
hardly entered upon his duties when he was appointed to and accepted the
position of Superintendent of the company. Mr. C. has filled the office of
Superintendent to the entire satisfaction of his employers. The mine has
greatly improved under his management. Mr. Cole was married. August 30,
1878, to Miss R Marcella Ladd. of Central City. Colo.
JOHN CURRAN
John Curran. was born in Center Co., Penn., in 1846; when quite young he
removed with his parents to Iowa, where he lived until 1862, engaged while
there in farming. In 1862 he removed to St. Joseph, Mo., living there until
1866, when he came to Denver. Colo., and worked for George Tritch. He also
worked on the Union Pacific Railroad, and spent several seasons in the San
Juan country mining. In July, 1878, he came to Leadville and engaged in
mining and speculations. In the spring of 1880 he was elected an Alderman of
the city of Leadville from the Fourth Ward.
J. N. CHIPLEY
Dr. J. N. Chipley is a Dentist by profession; he was born in Shelbyville,
Mo., in 1855. receiving a common school education. In 1873, he came to
Colorado and settled in Denver, where he entered the dental office of Dr.
Smedley, remaining with him three years. He afterward attended the Dental
College of Philadelphia, where he graduated in 1877. Returning to this State
he practiced in Denver and Fairplay, coming to Leadville in January, 1878.
Since then he has practiced dentistry here. He was the first Coroner of
Leadville, and at the spring election of 1881' he was elected Alderman from
the Third Ward. He has dealt largely in mines and in most instances with
success.
MEREDITH B.
CAMPLIN
Mr. Camplin is the youngest attorney of the Leadville bar, he is a gentleman
of rare talent and much promise. At present he is devoting all his time to
mining. He is the Manager of the Liverpool and Globe Mines in the Cottonwood
District. Chaffee County, out of which mines daily shipments of rich ore are
being made. He has vast and valuable mining interests in different portions
of Colorado, all of which bid fair to make him one of our rich men. He was
born at Chillicothe, Daviess Co., Mo., in 1858. When thirteen years old he
accompanied his parents to Abilene, Kan., and one year later he moved to the
Solomon Valley, where his father was a large cattle raiser and wheat grower.
Young Camplin here kept a grocery store. He here devoted his spare moments
to the study of law. After five years, he moved with an older brother to
Nederland, Boulder Co., Colo., and acted as Assistant Postmaster. He soon
afterward assumed the management and editorship of the Coluivdo Banner at
Boulder, and afterward ran a wholesale and retail grocery business in.
partership with his brothers. afterward branching out in the same business
'for himself at Ward, Boulder Co. That place was then a thriving mining
camp. After selling out his business he applied himself strictly to reading
law, and was afterward admitted to the bar in Denver. At Leadville, he was a
member of the law firm of Berkly, Shackleford Aranaplin. After eight months,
the partnership was dissolved and he commenced practice for himself. During
the winter of 1880-81 he was Assistant Prosecuting Attorney. He married a
daughter of Col. E. H. Gruber on the 28th of July, 1880. The Democratic
State Convention of 1880 nominated Mr. Camplin for Regent of the University,
but he declined.
JOSEPH C.
CRAMER
Mr. Cramer is General Manager and Superintendent of Chloride Plumbing
Company; also Vice President, Superintendent and Manager of the Leadville
Water Company, and is one of the most public spirited and wide awake young
men of Leadville, and to his foresight is mainly due the splendid system of
water works now in use. He came to Leadville when there were scarcely fill
houses in the camp. Was present when initiatory steps were taken to
incorporate the town, and was at the meeting when the name was proposed. He
was elected to the Town Board; held the office of Town Clerk and Recorder,
and resigned that position to become one of the owners of the Water Works.
He was born February 14, 1844, in Westmoreland Co., Penn. and ran away from
home when not quite eighteen years of age, enlisting as a private soldier in
the 139th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, and participated in all the
battles of the Army of the Potomac until May, 1864. During the hard fought
battles of the Wilderness was severely wounded in the right shoulder, the
ball still remaining under the shoulder blade. Was then consigned to the
Veteran Reserve Corps at Washington, D. C., and the remainder of his term he
served on the staff of Gen. Augur; was appointed by the Smithsonian
Institute one of the Corps of Naturalists and Taxidermists, and visited
South America twice in the interests of science. After this honorable
service Mr. Cramer emigrated to the Black Hills, being one of the early
pioneers from there to California, where he spent several years engaged in
mining. While in the Black Hills country he was wounded by a poisoned arrow
shot by a hostile Indian, the scar of which can yet be plainly seen. Mr.
Cramer takes an active interest in public affairs. He is a prominent officer
of Chloride Lodge. No. 31, and of Lake Encampment IOOF. The exclusive water
privilege for twenty years is a bonanza itself, and his one-third interest
affords a handsome revenue, almost equal to that of a carbonate mine. He is
yet a young man—unmarried and is well known as a genial, pleasant gentleman,
emphatically a self-made man with an abundant supply of that energy,
enterprise and business sagacity necessary for success in this wide-awake
Western country.
THOMAS T. CORNFORTH
Among the number of pioneers who still reside in Colorado and who have
passed through the hardships of pioneer life, is T. T. Cornforth, who was
born in Macclesfield, England, in June, 1843. At the age of fifteen years he
came with his parents to America and settled in Sumner, Kan., where he
embarked in mercantile pursuits. In 1861, he engaged in freighting
merchandise across the plains from Atchison, Leavenworth and other points on
the Missouri River to Denver, which business he continued until the spring
of 1867. He then moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming Territory, and started a general
store, which he soon sold out and opened successively stores on the Union
Pacific Railroad, at Benton, Bryan and Wasatch, and continued them until the
completion of that road. He then engaged in merchandising and mining at
Sweetwater, Wyoming Territory, and continued there until 1872, meeting with
varied success, finally sold out and returned to Cheyenne, and became
interested in Government contracts for furnishing supplies to Fort Russell.
In the spring of 1874, removed to Denver, afterward removed to Georgetown
and engaged there in merchandising, but his health failing he sold out and
traveled in the Eastern States until he had partly recovered. In December,
1876, he moved to Deadwood, Black Hills, and commenced milling, mining and
hauling- ore, engaging in several enterprises, together with running a
general store, and remained there conducting these various schemes when the
great fire of September 26, 1879, occurred, burning out his store by which
he sustained heavy. loss. He immediately rebuilt the building and re-opened
his store, selling out in October, 1880. He came to Leadville and opened a
store in which he is still engaged, and is meeting with some success, and is
also interested in mining and milling. Mr. Cornforth is an expert in mining
and has visited nearly every mining camp from the Yellowstone Valley to
Santa Fe, and has had considerable experience in the hardships and dangers
attached to an active life on the frontier. During the freighting
experiences from 1863 to 1866, he and his party of freighters were several
times attacked by the hostile Sioux Indians, but always managed to drive
them off without any severe loss of lives or property. He was married in
Pittsfield, State of Maine, July 16, 1868, to a popular and cultivated lady,
a daughter of Hon. Nelson Vickery.
ISAAC W.
CHATFIELD
That success in life is not wholly a creation of circumstances but of that
inherent power and natural ability to seize upon circumstances and turn them
to advantageous account which is denominated "tact," but in some people
amounts almost to genius, is exemplified in the history of the above-named
gentleman. Born at Dayton, Ohio, August 11, 1836, he spent his early life on
a farm in his native county, and. Mason Co., Ill., and received the
educational advantages afforded by the public schools. The years of 1861-62
he served in the late war, holding the office of First Lieutenant. He came
to Colorado in 1863 and located in Fremont County, where he engaged in
farming and stock raising for seven years. He then removed to Arapahoe
County, and settled near Littleton on a farm, where: he resided for nine
years. This farm, consisting of 720 acres, is still owned by Mr. Chatfield,
and is conceded to be one of the best in Arapahoe County, and also in the
State. He came to Leadville in the fall of 18'79, and embarked in the
mercantile business in connection with raining and railroad contracting,
having been very successful in the several branches of his business. Mr.
Chatfield owns one-fourth interest in "Smuggler Mine No. 2," an interest in
"Late Acquisition," and interests in several other valuable mining
properties. He is the owner of much valuable real estate in Leadville, of
which might be mentioned the post office building, in which he owns a one
half interest. He is a member of the present City Council and at one time
filled the office of Mayor. Mr. Chatfield is recognized by the citizens of
Leadville to be one of their most substantial business men and citizens. He
was married to Miss Eliza A. Harrington, in Havana, Ill., in 1858, May 20th,
and has six children whom he is educating at the Brinker Institute, in
Denver, Colorado.
FERDINAND E.
CANDA
Ferdinand E. Canda, Managing Director Little Pittsburg Consolidated Mining
Company, was born in New York City in 1842. Is a Civil Engineer, and for
many years followed the business of railroad construction, including the
manufacture of cars and bridges, the F. E. Canda & Co. Car Works, situated
on Blue Island Avenue, Chicago, being at the time the most extensive in the
West. Mr. Canda and associates were the contractors for building the first
640 miles of the Northern Pacific Railroad, and also the Cairo & St. Louis
Railroad, of which latter he became the President and General Manager. Since
his residence in this State his time has been devoted almost entirely to
mining.
JOHN SIMS
CARRINGTON, M. D.
The subject of this sketch was born in Virginia in 1833. A few years later
his father removed to the Red River country in Arkansas; in 1848, he was
sent to the school taught by the Quaker savant and teacher, Benjamin
Hallowell, at Alexandria, Va., from thence was transferred to the University
of Virginia, where he took his first course of medical lectures. Leaving the
University he proceeded to New York, taking his degree in medicine in 1855,
afterward holding the positions of Assistant Physician to the Charity
Hospital on Blackwell's Island, and House Surgeon to the Emigrant Hospital,
Ward's Island, New York With such abundant preparation and opportunities,
faithfully improved, the Doctor soon took high rank with the public and his
medical confreres. The eventful spring of 1861 found Dr, Carrington in
Louisiana, energetically engaged in the practice of his profession, and
supervision of his planting interests, but the fateful thunderings of
Sumter's guns, awakened the war spirit belonging to his race, and he quickly
dropped pills and plows for shot and shell. In truth, he was a rebel and a
soldier by inheritance. It is said one of his ancestry was standard-bearer
for the lion-hearted King of England, in his attempt to eject the infidel
from the Holy Land. For high treason against the Crown of England, another
of his ancestors lost his head the block, his estates were confiscated, and
his children took refuge in the wilds of America from persecution and
poverty at home. In the rebellion against George the Third, his maternal
great-grandfather, with five of his brothers, swelled the rebel ranks; while
his father's father, with three of his sons, gave their brain, blood, and
money, to the same cause. So, loyal friends, do not quarrel with the Doctor
because he was a good rebel, he really could not help it, he was in much the
same fix with the boy, who upon being reprimanded for whistling, swore he
did not, it only whistled itself; so with the Doctor, he did not rebel, the
stuff in him rebelled itself! In May, 1861, the Doctor was commanding a
battery on the Potomac, and exchanging the compliments of the season with
distinguished people on the other side; at the first Bull Run, he got
several whiffs of villainous gun-powder, and shortly after was transferred
to the General staff with the rank of Captain, and A. A. & I. G. Capt.
Carrington was stationed at Corinth for several months, where he shared in
the important actions around that post; after the evacuation of Corinth, he
was ordered to the Trans-Mississippi Department, undergoing his full share
of the hardships, dangers, and sufferings of that deplorable period. As a
staff officer he was held in the highest esteem for his promptness,
decision, energy and intelligence. On the return of peace, he went to the
wreck of his home, in Louisiana, dividing his time between bossing fifty of
the wards of the nation in the cotton field and fighting the Hydra-headed
monster on the Pale Horse. But, as time wore on, it was evident that the old
rebel, after some transient successes, was again getting the worst of it.
The thieving carpet-baggers plundered his purse, the insidious malaria
poisoned his blood. Bankrupt in purse and health, he again surrendered, this
time his patrimony to the money-lender, and fled to the wilds of Texas.
Dallas ultimately became his home, and in that enterprising and prosperous
town the Doctor soon stood upon the highest social and professional round.
In March, 1880, his dwelling with all its contents were burned, which
determined him to spend the summer at Manitou. While there, having become
deeply impressed with the solid wealth of the Leadville mines, at the
solicitations of many old friends, resident therein, he concluded to anchor
himself in this city of clouds, with its brilliant lining of silver. In a
short time he built up a large and lucrative practice, and confessedly
stands among the very foremost of its able medical Faculty.
CAPT. HOWARD C. CHAPIN
Capt. Chapin is from Massachusetts; was born in February, 1846, in
Pittsfield. He was educated at Pittsfield and Eastman's Commercial College,
at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., after which he spent one year in the lumber business
in Vermont, then enlisted in the army; he entered the Fourth Vermont
Regiment as a private, but was soon made Captain, and subsequently was on
Gen. Getty's staff. He was taken prisoner in 1864, and held nine months at
Charleston, and subsequently thirty days in Libby Prison. He was one of the
sixty officers who were placed under fire of the Union guns at Charleston,
and also one of the number who tunneled out of Libby Prison, nearly all of
whom were recaptured. He was mustered out in September, 1864, and
immediately came to Colorado. In the spring of 1865 he embarked in the
grocery business at Georgetown, in which he continued five years. He then
engaged in the hotel business at the same place, keeping the old Barton
House three years. He then moved to Denver, where he kept the Inter-Ocean
and Grand Central Hotels for five years. He then built and opened the Park
Place Hotel in West Denver, which was destroyed by fire after having been
run only one season; by this Capt. Chapin sustained a heavy loss. In 1878,
he moved to Leadville, where he engaged in mining and real estate business,
and in 1880 bought the interest of Bush in Clarendon Hotel. He was married
in May, 1868 to Miss Louisa H. Mills, of Adrian, Mich., and has one
daughter.
HON. WILLIAM M. CLARK
William M. Clark was born May 1, 1840, in Chester County, Penn., and is now
forty-one years old. His parents were farmers and Quakers. He received first
a common school education, and afterward graduated at the State Normal
School at Millersville, Penn., at the age of nineteen. For a short time he
engaged in teaching school and studying law with the Hon. James B. Everhart
until the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted as a private in the
Twenty-eighth Volunteer Infantry, commanded by Col. John W. Geary. He served
with that command until the close of the war, being mustered out as Captain
of Company E of the 147th Pennsylvania, which formed a part of the original
Twenty-eighth. He was never absent from his regiment during the entire time,
serving in the campaigns of the Army of the Potomac until after the battle
of Gettysburg, when with the Twelfth Army Corps his regiment was sent to the
relief of Thomas at Chickamauga, under the command of the gallant Hooker. He
was at the battle of Lookout Mountain, and in the campaign of the spring of
1864, to Atlanta. Went with Sherman to the sea, and from Savanna home at the
mustering-out of the army in the summer of 1865. After spending the fall and
winter of 1865-66 in his old home, Mr. Clark concluded to take the advice of
Horace Greeley and go West, leaving home on the 1st day of April of that
year he without delay landed in Colorado about the middle of May. After
roaming around a short time he located at Idaho Springs, then the Capital of
Clear Creek County, where be engaged in mining and began taking an active
part in the public, and especially the political interests of the county. At
the county election held in that county in 1868, he was elected
Superintendent of Schools, which position he held for six years: his work in
perfecting a complete organization of schools in that county is marked to
this day; in that same year he was appointed by the late Judge Gorsline to
the important position of Clerk of the District Court for that county, which
position he held until his resignation was accepted in 1874, in which year
he was elected as a member of the Territorial Senate, representing the
Counties of Clear Creek and Summit in that body. In the Tenth General
Assembly he was an active member as the records show. Afterward, when the
Enabling Act was passed, Mr. Clark was elected a member of the
Constitutional Convention, in which body he took an active part, being
Chairman of the. Committee on Mines, and an Address submitting the
Constitution to the people. In 1874, he was appointed Brigadier General of
the Northern Division of the Territory, which he held for four years. At the
election in 1876, of the first State officers, he was elected Secretary of
State, leading his ticket by several hundred. After retiring from the office
of Secretary of State, he concluded with others to try the fortunes of the
celebrated Carbonate Camp. Arriving here in the spring of 1879, he engaged
in mining. Was soon appointed to assist as Deputy Assessor, and afterward
appointed City Clerk During the celebrated strike he was the Adjutant
General on Gen. James' staff, and did important service; in the last
campaign he was Chairman of the Republican County Central Committee. He is
to be classed as a Stalwart; never makes any compromises with his political
opponents, and is probably as much feared by the Democracy as any man in the
State. He is a married man and now resides with his family in Leadville.
GEN. AMOS P.
CURRY
The wonderful mineral resources and increasing popularity have drawn men of
capital and character from all parts of the United States to Colorado to
unearth the riches of the famous Rocky Mountains, and to establish
themselves among the most progressive and energetic people on the face of
the globe. Among them can be mentioned with pride the subject of this
sketch. He was well known as a military commander in the late war, and was
repeatedly honored for his meritorious services. Born in Bangor, Me.,
July-7, 1836; his parents moved to Bath, Me., and subsequently to,
Massachusetts, where Amos Curry received his education; in 1853, he came
West, with his parents, and settled in Dixon, Lee Co., Ill. At the age of
twenty two, he was elected City Marshal of Dixon, being the first one to
hold that office; in the spring of 1860, he emigrated to Colorado, and
settled in Clear Creek, engaging in prospecting and mining: in the winter of
1860, he returned to Illinois, crossing the plains, having a perilous and
hazardous trip, but finally arrived without disaster. The following spring,
he prepared to return to Colorado, but the war breaking out, he enlisted as
a private in Company A, Thirteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and at the
battle of Rolla, Mo., for meritorious conduct, he was promoted to Lieutenant
and transferred to Company B, Bowen's Cavalry. After an active service in
the field of one year, was promoted to Captain, and served through the
Southwestern campaign, with his command, as Body Guard to Gen. Curtis, and
participated in all of the hard-fought battles of that campaign. He was
transferred to the Department of the Mississippi, under Gen. Sherman, and
was successively under the commands of Gens. Hatch, Grierson, Dodge, Logan
and Hurlbut. He received the appointment of Colonel of the First Regiment,
West Tennessee Infantry, and was assigned to Memphis, Tenn., where he
remained until the close of the war. Concluding to remain in the South, he
embarked in mercantile pursuits, at Memphis, and in 1867 was elected Sheriff
of Shelby County; was re-elected in 1869 and 1871; in the fall of 1873,
removed to Arkansas, and engaged in railroading; assisted. in building the
Memphis & Little Rock Railroad and the Little Rock & Fort Smith Railroad: in
1878. he removed to Leadville. Colo., and engaged in mining and real estate
business, in which he has been quite successful. At the last election he was
elected City Marshal; he is also serving his sixth term as President of the
Union Veteran Association, and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the
Union Veteran Hospital. Col. Curry was recently appointed, by Gov. Pitkin
Major-General Third Division of Colorado State Militia. He was married in
1858.
CAPT. Lt. G. DILL
R. G. Dill, the editor of the Leadville Herald, was born in June, 1840; his
early training and education was received at New Haven, Conn. After
graduation at Russell's Military Academy, in that city, he chose the
profession of journalism, and was, in 1858, installed as the city editor of
the Daily News, a Douglas paper, established during that year. A year spent
in a printing office prior to this time had given him a taste for the
printing business, and in 1859 he resigned his position on the News, and
going to New York, finished learning the trade of a compositor. In the fall
of 1860, he went to South Carolina, accompanied by some friends, intending
to make an extended tour through the South, but the secession of the State,
which occurred while he was in Columbia, convinced him that South Carolina
was no place for a Northern man at that time, and accordingly he went to
Tennessee, spending some time in Nashville and Memphis. In March, 1861, it
became evident that Tennessee would secede, and accordingly he left for
Pittsburgh, Penn., arriving there but a few days before the assault on Fort
Sumter. Immediately upon the receipt of the news, he placed his name upon
the roll of the Duquesne Greys, and a few days afterward was mustered, with
his company, into the three months' service, and sent to the field, the
regiment, the Twelfth Pennsylvania, having been assigned to the duty of
guarding the Northern Central Railroad, then threatened by Marshal Kane's
men. Upon the conclusion of his term, he again enlisted in the One Hundred
and Third Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, in which regiment he served
until the spring of 1864, when, having been examined by Casey's Military
Board, he was promoted to the rank of Captain, assigned to the Forty-third
United States Colored Troops, and immediately joined his command,
participating with it in Grant's campaign against Richmond from the
Wilderness to the capture of the Confederate capital. Soon after the fall of
Richmond, the division to which he was attached was sent to the Texas
frontier, where it remained until November, 1865, when it was mustered out
of service. Upon returning home, Mr. Dill engaged in business in New Castle,
Penn., as editor of the Lawrence Journal. Selling out his interest in this
paper, in the spring of 1870, he retired from business for a few months, but
in August of the same year, established the Lawrence Guardian. Close
application to business, however, ruined his health, and on the 1st of
January, 1872, he was compelled to sell out again. Failing to recover his
health permanently, in the spring of 1874 he came to Colorado. and after
several months devoted to the recuperation of his health, found employment
on the Denver Times, in 1875, remaining with that paper until 1878, when the
purchase of a Sunday paper resulted disastrously and was abandoned after a
few months' trial. In the spring of 1879, Mr. Dill came to Leadville, and
seeing an opening for a morning paper, was induced, by friends, to embark in
the enterprise, the first number of the paper appearing on October 21 of
that year. It at once took an advanced position among the leading papers of
the State. Mr. Dill is a vigorous and rapid thinker and writer, and an
indefatigable worker. The editorials of the Herald have always been noted
for their pith and vigor, while its reports on the mines in and about
Leadville are. regarded as the most complete and authentic of any published
in the State. We judge that Mr. Dill has always been an active politician.
He was a member of the Republican State Convention of Pennsylvania of 1870.
Secretary of the Republican Committee of Arapahoe Co., Colo., in 1876. and
Chairman of the same committee in 1877. He was Chairman of the Republican
City Committee of Leadville in 1.881, and is now City Clerk of Leadville.
FREDERICK F.
D' AVIGNON. M. D.
Prominent among Leadville's leading physicians may properly be classed the
subject of this sketch, born in Canada in 1847: in 1859, he attended St.
Mary's College, at Rou.- vine Co., Canada. Terminating his collegiate course
in 1866; he then went to New York to study medicine with an uncle, who had
been a surgeon in the United States Army. He entered McGill University, at
Montreal, in the fall of 1867, and graduated in the spring of 1871: he then
located at North Adams, Mass., and practiced medicine and surgery for five
years. After a trip in Europe, occupying two years, he settled in St. Louis,
Mo., and cameto Leadville in February, 1879, where he has since successfully
practiced his profession. He married a daughter of the late Dr. de Grosbois,
of Chambly, Canada, who is also a niece of the Hon. Charles B. de
Boncherville, of Canada.
DAVID H.
DOUGAN, M. D.
Dr. Dougan, the present Mayor of Leadville, was born at Niles, Mich., August
17, 1845; he obtained the rudiments of an education at the public schools,
and in 1858 entered a printing office as a printer's devil. In two years, he
left the printing office and studied book-keeping, and was assistant
bookkeeper for his brother. who, at that time, was engaged in pork-packing:
in April, 1861, he entered the Branch Bank of Richmond, Ind., as an
apprentice and junior clerk: two years later. he accepted a position in the
First National Bank, where he remained until September, 1872; in 1870, he
commenced the study of medicine, in consequence of failing health; during
the winter of 1872-73, he attended the Rush Medical College at Chicago, and
the following winter the Bellevue Hospital Medical College of New York City,
at which institution he graduated March 1, 1874, and commenced practicing,
as a partner of Dr. James F. Hibberd; in October, 1875, he removed to
Colorado. settling at Alma. Park Co., where he, in addition to practicing
medicine, was Superintendent of the Russia Mine. In November, he came to
Leadville, and commenced the practice of medicine; in March, 1878, was
appointed, by Gov. Routt, a member of the State Board of Health. and in
January, 1880, was re-appointed by Gov. Pitkin; at the last annual meeting
of the Colorado State Medical Society, was elected Vice President; he was
elected Mayor of Leadville, after a spirited contest, and received the votes
of a large number of the citizens irrespective of party. Dr. Dougan has a
large and lucrative practice; he was married in 1867, and has one child, a
daughter.
CARLYLE C. DAVIS
Carlyle C. Davis, the projector. owner and managing editor of the Leadville
Chronicle. was born at Glen's Falls, N. Y., Nov. 4, 1847. He entered a
country printing office at the age of ten; at sixteen, he was the editor and
proprietor of a journal in the interior of Illinois, and subsequently owned
and conducted, for five years, the St. Charles (Mo.) Cosmos, the second
oldest and the most influential country paper in that State. In 1877, Mr.
Davis removed to Denver, and occupied the position of associate editor of
the Rocky Mountain News until the mining excitement at Leadville attracted
him to that magic city. Thither he went with a capital of $1,000. In two
years, he has built up a business worth $50,000, and owns, besides,
considerable bank stock, mining shares and mining property in Lake,
G»nnison.and Summit Counties. His alma mater was a printing office, the
educator of so many of our public men. He is a stalwart Republican, and his
paper is a power in the councils of the party in Colorado. His success
demonstrates what can be done in the West by young men having the ability,
industry and perseverance of Mr. Davis. On the 29th of January, 1879, he
issued the first number of the Evening Chronicle. The office consisted of a
single room, 20x30 feet, and into this was crowded editorial and business
departments, composing, job and press room, while at night eighteen men
found sleeping accommodations in the loft and in rude bunks arranged against
the walls. The first number of the paper was so eagerly sought after by the
populace, then numbering about 5,000, that it was not until 9 o'clock that
the demand was supplied. Before retiring that night, its proprietor mailed
an order for additional material with which to enlarge the miniature paper.
Success was thus assured from the start. In less than a year. the mountain
village grew to a cosmopolitan city of 30,000, and the " little Chronicle"
passed rapidly through the various forms of a five, six, seven, eight and
nine column paper to its present size, equaled by few afternoon journals in
the country. Until adequate telegraphic facilities could be obtained for
handling the Associated Press dispatches, the Chronicle depended for outside
news upon "specials," prepared by its agent at Denver, which was transmitted
to Leadville in cipher, over the single wire stretched across the Mosquito
range at an altitude of 13,000 feet above the level of the sea. Owing to the
difficulty at that early day of obtaining reliable assistants, the
proprietor was often compelled to divide his time between the editorial
desk, the business counter, the type rack and the feed board, a newspaper
experience of over twenty years having rendered him capable of performing
any Ask about a printing office. So soon as spring opened and material could
be obtained, a magnificent building was erected over the little one-story
shanty—issues of the paper being uninterrupted during the process of
construction—and to-day the Chronicle occupies entire one of the largest and
best equipped establishments between St. Louis and San Francisco. The
building, 40x87 feet, is a handsome structure, now in the heart of the city,
a credit to Leadville and to its enterprising owner. Three editions are
issued daily, the earlier one being sent, by private conveyance, twenty
miles over the continental divide, to the mining camps on the Pacific slope.
The Carbonate Weekly Chronicle, a mammoth fifty-six column quarto, has
obtained a marvelous circulation in all of the Eastern and Southern States,
illustrations having been a popular feature of it from the start. The
holiday number embraced twenty pages, illustrated profusely with maps,
full-page views of Leadville, street scenes, etc. —a paper that would
reflect credit upon any journal in the United States.
ADDISON
DANFORD
Mr. Danford was born in New Hampshire on the 4th day of July, 1829, and
emigrated to Illinois in 1837, and from thence to Kansas, in 1857, and
located in Linn County, where he laid out and surveyed the present county
seat, Mound City. He was elected, in the fall of 1857, a member of the House
of Representatives from Linn County, and in the spring of 1858, elected to
the Constitutional Convention, which framed what is known as the Leavenworth
Constitution, and in the fall of 1858 was re-elected to the House of
Representatives, being one of only four members who were re-elected to the
House. In the spring of 1858, he was admitted to practice law, and commenced
the practice of his profession at Mound City, and in September, 1863,
removed to Fort Scott. Kan., where he continued the practice of the law
until his removal to Colorado in March, 1875. While residing at Fort Scott,
Kan., he was elected to the State Senate in 1864, and served one year, after
which he resigned; during the session of the Senate of 1865, he filled the
position of Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and served on all the other
prominent committees. In 1868. he was elected to the office of Attorney
General of Kansas, and held that office for the term of two years. He came
to Colorado on account of the poor health of his family, and located, in
April, 1875, at Colorado Springs, after -which he removed to Lake City, in
the. San Juan country, where he spent over two years in a very lucrative
mining practice, and afterward returned to Colorado Springs, where he formed
a copartnership with Judge J. C. Helm. He afterward removed to Leadville, in
the winter of 1880, and is still actively engaged in the practice of the
law.
RICHARD
DILLON
Among the successful mining pioneers of Leadville, is the subject of this
sketch. Dick Dillon, as he was better known, was one of those who made their
big strikes early. He was born in Tipperary Co., Ireland, in 1850; when six
years old he came to America, with his parents, and settled in Luzerne Co.,
Penn., where he remained fourteen years, engaged in coal mining. He received
a common-school education; he then went to New Mexico, where he lived one
year engaged in placer mining; he then came to Pueblo, Colo., remaining a
short while, then going to Central City, spending three years in lead
mining. He was in Boulder County during the tellurium excitement in the
Sunshine district. He came to Leadville in July, 1877, and worked with the
Gallagher brothers on the Camp Bird Mine. He afterward prospected for
himself, and discovered the Robert Emmet lode, the Forest City and Result
lodes. He also discovered the famous Little Chief Mine, on the discovery of
which they sunk their shaft 100 feet in ten days. He was one of four of the
original locators of the same, selling the mine for $300,000. He now owns
large and valuable interests throughout this district, and devotes all his
time to mining.
JAMES F.
ESHELMAN
Mr. Eshelman, the Treasurer of the Leadville Lumber Company, was born in
Springfield, Lancaster 'Co., Penn., in August, 1852, and received an
academic education at Canton, Ohio. He was employed, for a period of nine
years, in the Deposit Bank, and in the spring of 1878, came to Leadville to
assist in organizing the Lake County Bank. He was appointed President, which
office he held until April, 1879, the title of the bank being then changed
to the First National Bank of Le advi 1 1 e. the capital being increased to
$60,000, he was re-appointed President, and held that position until the
fall of 1879, when he resigned on account of ill health and went into the
lumber businws, being appointed Treasurer of the Leadville Lumber Company,
which position he still holds. He was married in the fall of 1878. Mr.
Eshelman possesses great natural abilities as a business man, with an
abundant supply of that enterprise and energy necessary to success.
HON. EDWARD EDDY
This gentleman was born in Cornwall, England, June 30, 1840. He received a
liberal education in the branch of South Kensington School of Mines,
organized by the Government, for the diffusing of technical education in the
science of mining. For a period of ten years he had practical experience in
every branch of mining and milling known in England, and had, for several
years, the management of important mining properties in Cornwall and
Devonshire. In the fall of 1871, he carried out a long-cherished desire, and
emigrated to the mining, regions of America, and on the 12th of October, of
that year, he arrived in Georgetown, Colo., with but a few dollars in his
pocket, and sought employment in the mines; he obtained a situation in the
East Terrible Mine, superintended by his present partner, ex-Mayor William
H. James. From his savings, he began taking leases on mines, and was
successful in adding to his finances. He then built and operated the first
successful concentrating mill in Colorado; afterward organized a company and
built the Silver Plume Sampling and Concentrating Works, which is regarded
as one of the best in the State. Mr. Eddy came to Leadville the 5th day of
February, 1878, on a tour of inspection, and his practiced eye perceiving
the future of the Carbonate Camp, in conjunction with his present partner,
William R James, built the sampling works, and entered upon what has become
one of the largest and most remunerative businesses in the State. His
experience in milling, and being conversant with ores, and the liberal
dealing with mine owners, ably assisted in obtaining a prominence in
business circles, and laid solid the foundation for their immense business,
which is second to none in the State. The buying of bullion, in connection
with ores, was decided on after Mr. Eddy's return from Europe, in 1879,
where he paid his aged father a visit, accompanied by his estimable lady. On
the 1st of January, 1880, Eddy and James formed a copartnership with J. B.
Grant & Co., and the business is now carried on under the name of the Grant
Smelting Company, and is one of the largest, if not the largest, smelting
works in the world. Mr. Eddy is a public-spirited man, in favor of all
measures calculated to advance the best interests of the city and State.
JOHN H. ERWIN
Mr. Erwin is one of the "old timers" in Colorado. He started, May 15, 1860,
for the Centennial State, and has made it his home until the present time.
Mr. Erwin was born in Upper Canada May 20, 1838; his parents removed to
Boone Co., Ill., in 1840, where he made it his home for twenty years,
working on a farm and attending the common schools of the county. When
Pike's Peak excitement broke out, Mr. Erwin, in company with many others,
started for the Rocky Mountains. He drove an ox team the entire distance,
from Belvidere, Boone Co., Ill., to Denver. Before working in the mines, he
made three trips across the plains, from Omaha, Neb., to Denver and Mountain
City. After making his third trip, he worked in the mines for a season. In
October, 1861, Mr. Erwin enlisted in the First Colorado Infantry, Company D.
The regiment afterward became a cavalry one. His company was formed in
George Gulch, and it remained in Denver until February, 1862, when the
regiment was ordered to Fort Union, N. M.; they made a forced march the
entire distance. At the fort, the regiment received arms, clothing,
ammunition and provisions, and then started for Santa Fe; March 26 and 28.
1862, his regiment fought Confederate troops in Apache Canon, N. M. They
then started for Paralto, by the way of Albuquerque, where they had an
engagement, and took six pieces of artillery and ten mule wagons. For
several months following, the regiment was engaged in New Mexico. Afterward
they went to Fort Lyon, on the Arkansas River, and then to Fort Lamed, Kan.,
and returned to Fort Lyon. At Bent's old fort, on the Arkansas, the regiment
received horses; from that time until the close-of the war, the regiment was
a cavalry one. They were then ordered to Denver; from there the regiment
escorted seven Ute chiefs to the Missouri River, on their way to Washington.
During the time the chiefs were absent, Mr. Erwin was scouting with his
company in Missouri. When the chiefs returned, he escorted them back to
Denver. July 15, 1863, the regiment went to Middle Park, and returned
October 1 to Denver. For a short time afterward, he was scouting for
Indians, near Fort Lamed, Kan., where they had a two days' fight with them.
After this engagement, the regiment was ordered back to Denver, where they
remained the balance of the winter. May 24, 1864, Mr. Erwin went to Fort
Lyon, where he obtained a sixty days' furlough. At the expiration of this
time, he entered the services of Capt. Gorton, who was Assistant
Quartermaster. After a short time, he joined his regiment at Fort Morgan,
and went to Cache La Poudre, where his company escorted a mail coach, from
Cache La Poudre to Fort Hallock; on the old Salt Lake stage route. On this
trip they lost two men; one was killed by the Indians, and the other by a
careless emigrant, who accidentally discharged' his gun, killing the soldier
and his horse. The Indians were troublesome, and soldiers were detailed to
do escort duty. After serving in this capacity for a time, Mr. Erwin was
ordered to Denver to be mustered out of service. After the war closed, he
made a trip to Salt Lake City, and back to St. Joseph, Mo., when he returned
to Denver. In 1868, Mr. Erwin was married to Miss Victoria Reithman. He then
settled on a cattle ranch, on First Creek, where he remained for nine years,
and for three years he was on the Platte River, engaged in stock-raising and
farming. In 1819, Mr. Erwin sold out his cattle, and removed to Leadville,
where he has resided until the present, engaged in mercantile life. In 1881,
in company with a Mr. Paddock, he bought the Steam Cracker Works, at No. 300
East Sixth street, Leadville, where he is having a prosperous business, not
only largely supplying the city with their goods, but also a large extent of
territory surrounding Leadville.
J. WARREN FAXON
J. Warren Faxon, a native of Massachusetts, was born in December, 1836; at
the age of sixteen years, he engaged in the grocery business with his
brothers, and subsequently, in the wholesale grocery business, in Boston. In
1868, they retired from the grocery business and invested in real estate;
they built three fine blocks in Boston, which they still own. J. W. Faxon
came to Colorado in the fall of 1869, and located in Leadville; he has given
most of his time to real estate business, though was, for a short time,
President of the City Bank; he built the Boston and Quincy Blocks, the
latter being one of the finest in the city. He was married to Miss F. L.
Worster, daughter of Asa Worster, Chicago, in June, 1880.
GILES H. FONDA
G. H. Fonda, Chief of the Leadville Fire Department and one of Leadville's
most wide-awake citizens, was born in Augusta, on the 25th day of January,
1848. He received a good common-school education, and at the age of fourteen
years was apprenticed to the drug firm of Smith & Dwyer, in Chicago, where
he remained until 1866, being put in charge of the wholesale department a
few months before leaving the firm. While yet a boy, he connected himself
with the fire department of Chicago. He came to Colorado in 1866, and
located in Central City, where he engaged in milling for one and a half
years. He then embarked in the drug business, as senior member of the firm
of Fonda & Farnald. Mr. Fonda helped organize the first fire company in
Central City. *In 1869, he moved to Caribou, and embarked in the general
mercantile business for one year. He then moved to Boulder, where he again
engaged in the drug business; in 1875, he helped organize the Boulder Fire
Department, and continued an active member for three years, working one year
on the rope, one year as foreman of the Phoenix Company and one year as
Chief of the Department. He then came to Leadville, where he started a drug
store, and at once connected himself with the Leadville Fire Department, and
was chosen Chief at the end of the first year. He has since re –organized
department, making it one of the best in the West, consisting of 160 active
members, a general history of which will appear in an- other place in this
work. Mr. Fonda was married to Miss E. Hull in 1872, and has three children.
GEN. WILLIAM H. FISHBACK
William Henry Fishback was born June 10, 1829, in Warren Co., Ind. His
father, Freeman Fishback, and his mother, Mary Jackson Fishback, were
exemplary members of the Presbyterian Church. His mother was a daughter of
Dr. Jackson, of Sandusky, Ohio, who was a soldier in the war of 1812;
participated with credit in the celebrated defense of Fort Stephenson, under
Croghan, and was in the naval battle, now known as Perry's Victory, on Lake
Erie. William H. Fishback's early education was attended by numerous
obstacles, not the least of which was poverty. His father died when the boy
was quite young, but he was ambitious to acquire an education, and all his
efforts were bent to the accomplishment of this end. He taught school, and
followed other occupations, to obtain the necessary means for his collegiate
course, and was educated, in part, at the University of Indiana, Bloomington
and Knox College, Galesburg, Ill. He then began the study of law, under Hon.
Paris C. Dunning, of Bloomington, Ind., and was admitted to the bar, at
Oxford, Benton Co., Ind. He began the practice at Williamsport, in the same
State, where he was appointed Deputy Treasurer and Collector of the county,
by Hon. B. F. Gregory, then (1855) Treasurer of Warren County, and his
salary, together with his practice, gave him a financial start. After
practicing two years, he removed to Kansas, locating at Olathe, in 1859.
While in Kansas, he secured a large practice at the bar, and secured the
confidence of the citizens of his own and adjoining counties as a lawyer of
ability and a hard worker. He was frequently elected to the Legislature, as
member of the House of Representatives, and afterward Senator, where his
abilities as a legislator were recognized by appointment to the most
important committees. He was elected Mayor of Olathe, for three successive
terms, and held other positions of trust. During the late civil war, Mr.
Fishback took an important part in the affairs of Kansas; was appointed
Aid-de-Camp to the Governor, and afterward became Lieutenant-Colonel of the
Fifteenth Kansas Volunteers. In 1864, he was appointed Brigadier General of
Kansas State Militia, being actively engaged in the affairs of the border
until the close of the war. In the spring of 1879, Gen. Fishback came to
Colorado, locating immediately at Leadville, where he has since remained. He
has been actively engaged in. the practice of his profession, and
particularly in the mining litigation of. Lake County, from which he has
acquired a handsome competency, the firm, Fishback & Fishback, being one of
the best known and most popular in Leadville. Gen. Fishback's family
consists of a wife, one son, Charles F., and one daughter, Miss Minnie, all
of whom have resided in Leadville for the past two years.
CHARLES F. FISHBACK
Charles Fremont Fishback was born in Warren County, Ind., July 9, 1856,
being now twenty-five years of age. In 1859, his parents, William H. and
Sarah Fishback, removed to Kansas, locating at Olathe, a thriving town
twenty miles southwest of Kansas City, Mo. He received a very thorough and
complete academic education, and at the early age of fourteen, was admitted
to the Freshman Class of the State University of Kansas. At the close of his
schooldays, Mr. Fishback engaged in teaching, with great success, being
Professor .of Languages in the Olathe Academy, of which institution he
afterward became part owner, having acquired a high reputation over a large
section of country as an earnest and careful instructor of the highest
ability. Mr. Fishback, however, used all his successes as a stepping-stone
to the legal profession. He was admitted as a student to the office of Hon.
John P. St. John, now Governor of Kansas, where he remained a sufficient
time to prepare himself for admission to law school. He afterward entered
the law department of Washington University, of St. Louis, Mo., took the
studies of both the junior and senior classes, passed a successful
examination in both, and graduated at the end of his first year, a thing
before unknown in the history of the institution. Mr. Fishback came to
Leadville in the early part of 1879, and determined to make Colorado his
future home. In September, of the next year, he returned to Olathe, Kan.,
and was married, to Miss Lucia Kirke Phillips, second daughter of Dr. T. H.
Phillips, of that place. He returned, with his wife, an accomplished and
estimable lady, to Leadville, where they now have a most pleasant and
comfortable home. In politics, Mr. Fishback is a stanch Republican. He is a
gentleman of known integrity and fine social qualities, and as a lawyer
possesses the ability which will undoubtedly carry him with rapid strides to
the front rank of his profession.
PETER FINERTY
Mr. Finerty is a native of Ireland; he was born December 12, 1840, and came
to the United States, with his family, when five years of age. He lived in
Pennsylvania, Vermont and Iowa until 1874; he received no education, except
what he acquired while outside of schools, and by his own exertions; in
1874, he came to Colorado, and engaged in mining in Summit County, for three
years; he then removed to Leadville; here he has been one of the most
successful mining operators in the district; he purchased the Little Chief
Mine, out of which he took about $300,000, and then sold the mine for
$350,000; he is now interested in some of the best mines in the State, and
looked upon as one of Colorado's leading mining men.
JOHN W. FRASER
Mr. Fraser was born in Inverness, Scotland, in 1842, and came to America,
with his parents, when three years of age, settling in Canada. When about
seventeen years old, he went to St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., where he lumbered
in the winter and farmed in the summer, for a period of five years; he then
went to the lumber regions of Michigan, leaving the Upper Peninsula of that
State and coming to Colorado in 1875. He first located at Greeley, then at
Breckenridge, devoting his time in the summer to mining, and in the winter
to lumbering. He came to Lake County in the fall of 1877, and engaged in
mining; he was the first policeman of Lead-vile, the first City Jailer and
the first Captain of Police; he made a good and efficient officer, and
during those necessarily turbulent times, escaped from many dangerous places
-unhurt while performing his duty as an officer. In the fall of 1879, Mr.
Fraser resigned his position as a policeman and as Captain to attend to his
duties as Constable, having been elected that same fall for a term of two
years. The first and only stage robbery on the road to Leadville occurred on
the 18th of September, 1879. Mr. Fraser very skillfully soon detected the
robbers and had them all under arrest that same day; they are now serving
their sentences at Lincoln, Neb. Mr. Fraser is one of Leadville's most
active and efficient officers.
EDWARD
FITZGERALD
Fortunate among the prospectors who arrived in Leadville during the last few
years, may be mentioned Mr. Edward Fitzgerald; his labors have been well and
fittingly rewarded. He was born in County Waterford, Ireland, in 1847, and
remained there until 1872, engaged in farming, and was known as a very
successful one. He came to America in 1872, and located at Omaha, Neb.,
where he lived four years, working for the Union Pacific Railroad. He came
to Colorado and engaged in mining at Alma, in Park County. In May, 1877, he
came to Leadville, and mined in California Gulch; soon after, he prospected
on Carbonate Hill, and, with others, located the Little Giant Mine, which
has since proved so rich, and made all of its owners independent. This
property was sold on the 20th of April, 1881, for $225,000, Mr. Fitzgerald
being the owner of three-eighths. He is now interested in promising raining
properties in Adelaide Park. He is a gentleman possessed of more than
ordinary ability, and has a host of friends. Mr Fitzgerald was also one of
the original owners of the Matchless Mine, on Fryer Hill.
HON. LUTHER M. GODDARD
Mr. Goddard was born in Wayne Co., N. Y, the 27th of October, 1837, and
resided there until he had reached his fifteenth year, when he removed, with
his parents, to Knox County, where he remained about six years. While there,
he attended Hedding Seminary. He was married in this county, in 1858, and
moved, with his family, to Leavenworth, Kan, in 1862. Mr. Goddard may be
classed with the pioneers of Colorado, for, in 1864, he crossed the plains
as a freighter from Leavenworth to Denver. He shortly afterward returned
East, and attended the Chicago Law School, having, previously to this time,
devoted a great portion of his time to the study of law. He graduated at
that institution in the class of 1865, his acquirements gaining for him the
position of valedictorian. He then returned to Leavenworth, where he engaged
in the practice of his profession, and, through his rare ability, obtained a
large and remunerative practice. In 1871; he associated himself with Hon.
John L. Pendery, between whom and himself the strongest friendly relations
exist to this day. In 1872, he was elected County Attorney, and afterward
reelected for a second term. In 1872, he was also a member of the Kansas
Legislature, a position he held with great credit to himself and perfect
satisfaction to his constituents. In August, 1878, Mr. Goddard arrived in
Leadville, where he entered into partnership with his former associate, John
L. Pendery, and soon had a lucrative law practice. He immediately interested
himself in mining, and soon laid the foundation for his present wealth. He
was one of the original locators of the since famous Pendery Mine, and it
was through his perseverance, with that of his co-owners, that all the
theories in regard to the Carbonate belt, were exploded, and tp him is due a
large share of the credit which has since made new and valuable discoveries,
where before mineral was never supposed to exist. In the fall of 1879, he
abandoned the practice of law, and devoted his whole time and attention to
mining. , He is interested in numerous mining properties, some of which are
very promising; his interests are scattered throughout different counties of
the State. He is one of the owners of the Crown Point Group, at Ten Mile,
also of the Consolidated Virginia, in Frying Pan Gulch, and of the Ypsilanti
and Portland, near Leadville. He is the President of the Gerard Mining and
Smelting Company. At the city election of Leadville, in the spring of 1880,
Mr. Goddard was elected a member of the School Board for a term of three
years. Under the regime of that Board, the large and elegant schoolhouse was
built; he is now President of the Board. Mr. Goddard's legal ability is
unquestionable; in all his undertakings while here, he has been. successful,
and is at this time one of Leadville's most enterprising and prosperous
men—a gentleman who is unpretentious in manners, but one who, on account of
his affability and geniality, makes many friends, and has no enemies.
SAMUEL P.
GUTSHALL
Mr. Gutshall was born near Blain, Perry County, State of Pennsylvania; he is
of German extraction, born in April, 1840; he lived on a farm and attended
the common schools of the county until he was twenty-one years of age. When
the war of the rebellion broke out, Mr. Gutshall enlisted in the Ninth
Pennsylvania Cavalry. At the expiration of his term of service, he
re-enlisted, and served until he was discharged in June, 1865. - When he
first entered the army, he served under Gen. Buell, in Kentucky, and
afterward under Gen. Rosecrans in Tennessee. During Gen. Sherman's march to
the sea, Mr. Gutshall was in Gen. Kilpatrick's command. He was wounded at
Wilmington, N. C., in his right arm, for which disability he is receiving a
pension. He served four years in the United States Army, and was engaged in
125 battles and skirmishes. At the close of thewar, Mr. Gutshall returned to
his old home in Pennsylvania, where he remained until the following spring,
when he came to Colorado. He started from Leavenworth, Kan., with one of Ben
Holliday's outfits of ox-teams, which consisted of fol Ly-six yokes of
ox-teams. He was sixty days crossing the plains, before reaching Denver. The
whole train was so thoroughly armed they were not molested by the Indians,
though the train that preceded them was attacked and several of the party
were killed. The train arrived in Denver in July, 1866. Mr. Gutshall lived
in the vicinity of the city a few months before he went onto the Divide
between Denver and Colorado Springs. There he lived six years, and during
that period he experienced a great deal of trouble from the Indians. The
Arapahoes and the Cheyennes were the attacking parties. They killed a number
of people, and also many cattle, besides running off all the horses they
could find. When the town of Colorado Springs was laid out, Mr. Gutshall
moved there, and engaged in the lumber business, where he remained until
1879, when he removed to Leadville and continued in the same occupation. Mr.
Gutshall was married, December 25, 1878, to Miss Essie Klinepeter; they have
one child living.
DANIEL G.
GOLDING
Mr. Golding was born at Albany, N. Y., in 1857, but from the age of four
years until his removal to Colorado, he lived in Leavenworth, Kan. In 1861,
he came to Central City, Colo., afterward going back to Kansas, where he
resided until 1873 ; he then went to Omaha and engaged in the dry goods
business for two years, removing thence to Atchison, Kan., where he engaged
in the jewelry business. In the spring of 1879, he arrived in Leadville, and
opened a branch jewelry house for Hatch, Davidson & Co. On the 1st of
January, 1881, he went into the jewelry business for himself, his place of
business being 112 Harrison Avenue. He is largely interested in mining.
E. H. GRUBER
Mr. Gruber is undoubtedly one of Leadville's best-known men, and also one of
its most industrious in developing the mineral resources of this section. He
was born in Hagerstown. Washington Co., Md., on the 25th of March, 1833, and
received a common school education up to the age of sixteen, when he
attended Wittenberg College, at Springfield, Ohio. He afterward went to St.
Louis where he was engaged by McLelland, Scruggs & Co.. as cashier, in which
capacity he served from 1851 to 1857, from whence he went to Leavenworth,
Kan., at which latter city he founded the banking house of Clark, Gruber &
Co., a branch of which was opened in Denver during the Pike's Peak
excitement of 1859, Mr. Gruber looking after its interests in that place;
the house met with great success. It was then that Mr. Gruber conceived the
idea of coining gold and stamping it with their firm name: finding no law
prohibiting the same, their house erected a mint and forthwith commenced to
coin money, at the rate of $10,000 to $15,000 per day. This coin was
circulated throughout all business portions of Colorado, and it proved of
great assistance in trade, and was recognized at par at all times. In 1863,
the mint was purchased by the United States Government for $25,000. Their
firm closed business in Denver in 1864. and Mr. Gruber returned to
Leavenworth, where he continued in banking until 1866, at the same time
being engaged in the above business in the States of New York and Louisiana.
In July, 1878, Mr. Gruber returned to Colorado, and located in Leadville,
where he has since been engaged very heavily in mining, he being one of the
original owners of the famous Pendery Mine, out of the sale of which he
realized a handsome sum; he was also interested in the Greenwood, and at
present is the owner of some very fine property, having discovered mineral
recently in the Eudora. He has been successful in most of his mining
projects, and has considerable real estate throughout the city, the Gruber
Block, on Harrison Avenue, having been erected by him.
JAMES B. GRANT
Among the substantial business men of Leadville is the subject of this
sketch, who, for several years, has been intimately connected with the
history of ore reduction, and is a member of the firm who own the smelting
works -in California Gulch, which bear his name. The smelting works of J. B.
Grant & Co. have long since been acknowledged the largest in the country,
and as shown by the tabular statement of the annual production of smelters,
exceeds anything in the history of that branch of industry. The firm
comprises J. B. Grant, Edward Eddy and William H. James, and they do a
monthly business of over a half million of dollars, and have a capacity of
from 350 to 400 tons of ore per day. Mr. Grant was born in the State of
Alabama in January, 1848, and remained at home, with his parents, until the
breaking-out of the war, and, though but a lad of thirteen years, he joined
the Confederate army, and spent several months in the field as a soldier. In
the spring of 1861, he came North, and went to reside with his uncle, Hon.
Judge Grant, at Davenport, Iowa, and, as .his parents had lost their
property in the vicissitudes and changes brought about by the war, the Judge
bore the expense of young Grant's education, giving him an academic
education at the Agricultural College, in Iowa, which he attended for a
period of six years, afterward taking a course of studies at the Cornell
University, of Ithaca, New York State. To complete his education, he spent
two years in foreign travel, and was at Freiburg, Germany, until the year
1876, when he returned to America, and as he had devoted much of 'his time
while at the University to the study of mineralogy, he came to Colorado, and
engaged in assaying, at Mill City and Central City. for a short time, and in
the spring of 1878, came to Leadville and embarked in the smelting of ore.
Mr. Grant has been untiring and unswerving in his enterprises, and has done
a great deal in the last three years to develop the resources of Leadville
in the output of ore. He has never sought political distinction or official
record, in Colorado, rather preferring to march in the solid line of
industry, and devote his exclusive attention to the mammoth business in
which he is engaged, and having unusual foresight and business acumen, has
accumulated a fortune, and is now regarded as among the wealthiest and
prominent citizens of Leadville, He was married to a daughter of R. E.
Goodell, formerly a prominent banker of Chicago, Ill., a very lovely and
accomplished lady.
HENRY W. GAW
Mr. Gaw is not only one of Leadville's substantial business men, but he is
also one of her worthy and honored pioneers. He is descended from Irish
ancestry, born in County Down, Ireland, July 25, 1834. His parents emigrated
to Montreal, Canada, when he was but a child. He received the rudiments of
an education in the common schools, and served an apprenticeship at the
brewing business, with John H. R. Mossa & Bro., of Montreal, in whose employ
he continued for a period of twenty years. In 1875, he removed to Idaho
Springs, Colo., and purchased a brewery, and after running it for two years
was burnt out. In the spring of 1878, he came to Leadville, and started the
brewery which bears his name, and which he is running at the present time.
This is the pioneer brewery of Leadville, the ground being broken for it in
March, 1878. From a very small beginning, it has gone on, steadily
increasing in size, until it has now attained a capacity of 120 kegs per
day. The brewery has all the modern improvements, no establishment of the
kind in Leadville having greater or better facilities for making the best of
beer. The cellars have patent ice floors, and the buildings are heated by
steam. Water is obtained from a never-failing pure spring. The brewery is
very convenient and compact, lacking nothing it should have to make it
complete. The beer manufactured here has the deserved reputation of being
the best made in the mountains. Mr. Gaw has, in connection with the brewery,
a large bottling establishment on the Oro road, furnished with all modern
appliances, with facilities for turning out 100 dozen per day. The brewery
is situated on the south side of California Gulch, in a spot especially
adapted for it. Mr. Gaw was married to Miss Stuppel, of Montreal, Canada, in
June, 1860, and has a family of four children.
FRANK GAY
This enterprising young business man was born in New York City June 8, 1849;
he attended the public schools of his native city until fifteen years of
age; then served an apprenticeship at the machinist's trade; when out of his
term of service, he took a course of book-keeping, in the Mercantile College
of Bryant & Stratton; afterward worked at his trade for a period of eight
years. At this time, being desirous of seeing the world, he started out on
his travels, and spent several years visiting San Francisco, old Mexico, and
many of the cities in the West, finally settling, in 1877, in California
Gulch, Colo., where he started the foundry and machine-shop of which he is
the present owner, calling his works the Pacific Iron Works. His business is
one of the largest in the State; he manufactures steam engines, mining
machinery, and the entire success is due to his strict attention to business
and his untiring energy. Since settling in Leadville, Mr. Gay has been
Superintendent of several smelting and sampling works, together with
building and mining a number of stamp-mills, his practical knowledge of
mechanics making his services in demand in this mining country. He also
assisted in working the celebrated Printer Boy Mine, crossing the range on
foot to deliver the gold product to the banks, and bring back funds to pay
the workmen, carrying as much as 350 ounces of gold at a single trip. He
also engaged with a stock company, in Denver, to erect smelting works at
Malta, but it proving unprofitable he abandoned the enterprise. He has held
various offices of public trust, serving as a member of the School Board, at
Leadville, Justice of the Peace and was Postmaster at Malta for a brief
period, and has taken an active interest in public affairs, and been closely
identified with many of the leading industrial enterprises. He is also
interested in mines, and owns some valuable real estate in Leadville and
vicinity. Mr. Gay is a hard worker, and has conquered difficulties that
would have crushed most of men; he has achieved success almost unparalleled,
with a record for integrity and honesty that is unimpeachable. Starting
without capital, Frank Gay may be styled, emphatically, a self-made man. He
is an honored member of the Masonic fraternity, and holds membership in the
I. 0. 0. F. Previous to there being any Assayer, prospecting parties would
bring the carbonates into the blacksmith-shop of Mr. Gay and melt them in
the forge tire, by this means discovering that they contained lead and
silver, thus determining the actual value of the carbonates. Mr. Gay devotes
his entire time to his business, and is yet a young man, and with his energy
and business capacity, his future financial success would seem to be well
assured
JOHN D.
GRIFFITH
Mr. Griffith is one of the early settlers at Leadville, and one who has
accumulated a fortune through his strict attention to business. He engaged
early in the lumber business, and for awhile was the sole lumber merchant in
the city. His place of business, on the corner of Elm and Pine streets, is
the same at which he first located over tw.) years ago. Mr. Griffith is a
pattern-maker by trade, and for several years followed the same at St.
Louis, Mo. He superintended for awhile the erection of the Harrison works
here, and has worked at his trade in over fifteen States of the Union. He
has traveled extensively throughout the greater portion of America. Since
his advent in Leadville, he has been very successful, both in his business
and mining, and is the owner of much real estate in the city. May 31, 1878,
he married a daughter of Prof. John H. Tice, of St. Louis. His business
enterprises have done much to build up Leadville. He was born in St.
Lawrence County, N. Y., in 1847.
DANIEL J. HAYNES
Mr. Haynes is of the leading law firm of Haynes & Parks. Through his
untiring efforts and constant application, he has laid the foundation for a
practice which every day but adds fresh witness to his ability. His
professional success is to be attributed to his own earnest and persevering
efforts. Patient industry has always been the most prominent feature of his
character. He was born in Warren County, Ky., on the 29th day of July, 1844,
and raised as a farmer's son until the age of seventeen, in the meantime
receiving a common school education. Early in 1862, then being but a boy, he
joined the Federal army and served three years. Returning home in 1865, he
completed his education at Warren College, Kentucky. He continued to farm
until 1873, during which time he studied the first principles of law. In
December, 1871, he married a daughter of T. T. Arlington, of Florence, Ala.
In 1873, he removed to Florence, and there established and managed, as
proprietor and editor, the Florence Republican, a newspaper which did much
toward aiding the Republican party in that section. In 1875, he sold out his
paper, and came to Colorado and located at Denver, having been admitted to
the bar of Alabama in 1874. While in Denver, he acquired a successful and
flattering practice. Mr. Haynes came to Leadville early in 1879, where he
has since followed his profession. He is largely interested in Lake County
in mining; fortune has favored him in that line, and he is to-day the lucky
owner of many promising mining properties. At a convention of Republican
representative men of the Southern States, held at Chattanooga, Tenn., in
1874, Mr. Haynes was one of the eighteen delegates in attendance from
Alabama, and through his exertions a policy was adopted by that convention
which afterward proved to be a great promoter of the interests of that party
in the South. Mr. Haynes, during the war, was a member of the Twenty-sixth
Kentucky Infantry; he took part in the campaign against Atlanta, and was a
participant in all the stirring engagements in which the Twenty-third Army
Corps, under Gen. Schofield, took part, finally joining Gen. Sherman at
Goldsboro. on his way back from his march to the sea.
M. B. HAAS
The present City Jailer, of Leadville, is B. Haas; who was appointed in the
spring of 1881, by the Republican Council. He is largely interested in
mining property, and can be termed an old pioneer of this State, as he was
engaged in the tobacco business, in Denver, in 1860, his main house being in
Leavenworth, Ka1 He was born in Arnhem, Holland, in 1836, and when fourteen
years of age, came to America, settling in Detroit, Mich., where he was
employed in the tobacco house of Oliver Goldsmith, acting, soon afterward,
in the capacity of foreman. He removed to Leavenworth, Kan., in 1856, where
he embarked in the tobacco business; came to Colorado in the fall of 1858;
he afterward returned to Leavenworth, and in the spring of 1879, arrived in
Leadville, where he has since been engaged in mining, and has met with
success. Mr. Haas was the first Postmaster at Leavenworth.
DAVID HOWARD
David Howard was born in the State of Pennsylvania in 1848; while at home,
he was engaged in farming and attending the common schools. In the fall of
1867, he went to Cheyenne, W. T., and was one of the first settlers there.
He there engaged in the lumber business for about one year, when he took up
a ranch, on Running Creek, in Colorado, and engaged in raising stock, but
during the fall was driven out by the Indians, saving most of his cattle,
but losing all his horses. In January, 1879, he gave up his ranch and came
to Leadville, where he has since been engaged in mining and the livery
business.
JOHN H.
HERON, M. D.
Dr. Heron is an associate in the medical profession with Dr. F. F. D'Avignon;
he was born at Canandaigua, Ontario Co., N. Y., in 1849; when six years old,
he accompanied his parents to Ohio, where he resided until 1870, up to which
time he had received a common school education. In 1871, he was a member of
the literary department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor; he
passed but one year there, then went to Detroit, where he was employed about
one year in a steamboat line office. He afterward attended the medical class
at Ann Arbor for one year, then took a three years' course at Rush Medical
College, Chicago, where he graduated. He practiced medicine there one year,
and came to Lead-vine November 20, 1878, where he has since devoted his time
to medicine and surgery. He is one of the founders of the Leadville Medical
Society. The Doctor married Miss Minnie Foley, of Ann Arbor, Mich., April
20, 1879.
N. C. HICKMAN
Mr. Hickman is the senior member of the large and enterprising firm of
Hickman & Graff, who are engaged in a general merchandising and commission
business, on the corner of Pine and Chestnut streets, in Leadville. He was
born in Randolph County, Mo., in 1844. At the age of seven years, he,
together ' with his parents, removed to Davenport, Iowa, and attended school
at the Iowa College until 1859, in which year he accompanied his father, who
was then a leading physician in Iowa, to the State of Colorado, arriving in
Denver the same year, and shortly afterward settling in Central City, where
he engaged in mining. In the spring of 1860, the sudden and unexpected loss
of his father, necessitated the return of young Hickman to Iowa, where he
re-entered Iowa College, and completed his education. In 1864, he returned
to Central City, where he engaged in. mining and merchandising. In 1867, he
closed up his business, and departed for Cheyenne, W. T. The arrival of the
Union Pacific Railroad at that time causing quite a boom there, Mr. Hickman
there engaged in merchandising business, where, for a period of two years,
he met with great success. In 1870, he removed to Wichita, Kan., and there
again engaged in merchandising, and also did some farming. Mr. Hickman again
returned to Denver, and from 1873 to 1876, was employed by J. K. Doolittle,
as book-keeper. In. the last-named year, he went to Los Vegas, N. M.,
representing the Singer Sewing Machine Company, as their Territorial Agent.
He held the position for one year, when he again branched out in the
merchandise business for himself. Near this point, he purchased a large
ranch, which he still retains, and engaged in raising stock. This ranch is
considered one of the largest and best managed in that section. In January,
1879, Mr. Hickman arrived in Leadville, and immediately commenced devoting
his attention to mining, to which he still gives a large portion of his
attention. He purchased four lots, on the corner of Leiter Avenue and
Chestnut street, and erected a large and commodious building, in which the
firm of Hickman & Graff first commenced- business, they being the foremost
merchandising house of the day, a business in which they have met with great
success. Mr. Hickman is now Alderman of the First Ward, having been elected
in the spring of 1880, for a term of two years, by a large majority over his
opponent. His integrity and uprightness, coupled with his cordiality, have
justly won for him great popularity. In mining, he has been quite fortunate,
realizing a handsome sum out of the mines that are now owned by the Ocean &
Seneca Mining Company. He is still interested in the Little Anna, on Evans'
Gulch, also the Star of Venus and the Plata Verde: also other very promising
properties.
GEORGE L. HENDERSON
Among Colorado's pioneers Mr. Henderson may be numbered, for the Pike's Peak
excitement of 1859 caused him to seek his fortunes here; he has ever since
made Central City and California Gulch his home. He was appointed the first
Postmaster of Leadville, and claims that the camp was named Leadville at his
suggestion. He has been successful in mining and farming on a ranch which he
owns about three miles from Leadville. He is engaged in a general
merchandising business, on Lower Chestnut street, occupying a building which
he owns. Mr. Henderson was born in 1836, in Ashtabula County, Ohio; received
a common school education, and prior to his advent in Colorado, resided in
Wisconsin and Central Iowa.
CHARLES L. HALL
Among the men who have sought homes in the West, few have had a more vivid
experience in pioneer life, or have experienced more hardships on the
frontier, than Charles L. Hall. He was born in New York State, in 1836, and,
with his parents, removed to Jackson County, Iowa, in 1844. He obtained such
an education as could be had, and attended the Iowa College, at Davenport,
Iowa, until 1859. At the early age of twenty, he embarked in the
flouring-mill business for himself, but it proving unprofitable, he soon
abandoned it and came to Colorado the same year, locating on Ralston Creek;
he started a stock farm, which he sold the following year, and after a short
trip East, he came to California Gulch, in the spring of 1860, and commenced
prospecting and mining, visiting, the following winter, the San Juan
district. In the spring of 1861, while prospecting nearthe present town of
Silverton, he was lost in the mountains for fourteen and a half days, during
which time he had nothing to eat—endured the most terrible suffering, and in
his effort to prevent being starved to death, he made a fire and boiled his
old buckskin breeches and boots making a broth, which was neither highly
nutritious nor palatable. but such was his extremity that he thought this
broth gave him some strength to renew the struggle for life. When found by
his companions, he was so emaciated and weak that he had to be carried to
camp by two of his comrades, being unable to walk or stand. His weight, when
found, was forty-eight pounds, his usual weight being 135 pounds, having
lost eighty-seven pounds during his fourteen and a half days' fast. After
this experience, he returned to California Gulch, and continued prospecting.
In the spring of 1862, he operated a salt-works about twenty miles from
Fairplay; was also engaged in stock-raising at the same locality. He was
twice elected to the Legislature from that district, and served for three
years as County Commissioner. In the winter of 18'78, he came to Leadville,
and engaged in quite a number of business enterprises, among which was
contracting for grading streets. He organized a stock company, consisting of
Messrs. Tabor, Bush, Hall and others, to light the city of Leadville with
gas. Mr. Hall gave his personal attention to the constructing of the works,
laying the main pipes, and had entire charge, and the success can be mainly
attributed to his personal efforts. Mr. Hall has spent a large amount of
money prospecting and in mining, with but little success, until the spring
of 1881, when, together with Dennis Sullivan, and two other parties; they
bought the well-known Mylo Group of mines, in the Ten Mile district, which
bids fair to be as valuable as any in the State. Mr. Hall spends his time in
looking after the many varied enterprises in which he is interested, and has
but little time for outside matters; he derives comfortable revenue from
them. He was one of the well-known firm of Bush, Tabor & Hall, who opened
the Windsor Hotel, in Denver, in June, 1880, but subsequently sold his
interest to Mr. Tabor. He owns stock in several railroads to a very
considerable amount, and has some very valuable real estate in Leadville.
Mr. Hall is a man of resolute will and strong character; the foregoing
imperfect sketch can serve but as a hint to a life full to overflowing of
shrewd and bold enterprises, with startling events—more, perhaps, than have
befallen to any other one man, and which deserve mention in the pioneer
annals of Colorado. He was married in Colorado, and has three children, all
born in the State.
GILBERT L. HAVENS
G. L. Havens is one of the early settlers of Colorado, who, by careful
business management and fair dealing, has placed himself among her honored
and prominent men. He was born in Redford, Clinton Co., N. Y. May 17, 1834,
and received a good common-school education. In 1849, he went to Ellenburg,
Clinton Co., and began his business career as clerk for his brother in a
country store, remaining in that capacity for about eight years, when,
having saved a sufficient sum from his earnings, he went to Belmont,
Franklin Co., and engaged as Superintendent of a lumber business owned by
Lawrence Brainard, of St. Albans, Vt., and, after remaining in that position
for a brief period, he bought the business and continued the lumber trade
for several years. In the fall of 1875. he sold out and came to Colorado and
engaged as Superintendent of the Fuller Placer Mining Company, in Summit
County, and remained in that capacity until the fall of 1877. In January,
1878, he came to Leadville and was engaged in prospecting and mining for
about one year. Realizing the importance and growing demand for lumber in
Leadville, he formed a copartnership in that business, under the style of
firm of Halleck, Shute & Havens, and continued in that line of industry
until the 1st of July, 1879, and since that period has been engaged in
mining and real estate, owning some very valuable property in Leadville and
Denver. Mr. Havens is married, and makes his permanent residence in Denver,
where he has a beautiful residence. Successful hitherto in many of his
operations, there would seem to be no reason why his present ventures should
not be productive. Mr. Havens is an enterprising, prompt business man; whose
integrity of character command the respect and confidence of the community
where he lives.
HORACE W.
HAVENS
The junior member of the firm of Havens & Beman is Horace W. Havens, who was
born in Franklin Co., N. Y. October 10, 1858. His father being in the lumber
trade, at fifteen young Havens engaged with him as foreman of lumber-yard
and saw-mills, remaining there for about two years; came to Colorado with
his father in 1875, and was employed by the Fuller Placer Mining Company in
Summit County, for a period of three years, as bookkeeper; also, as part of
the duties of his position, he had to visit Denver about twice every month
during the mining season and carry the gold dust to the mint. These trips
were made on horseback, and attended with great risk and personal danger, as
the entire distance had to be made in the night, to avoid the lawless
characters that infested the mining camps in those days. In 1878, Mr. Havens
came to Leadville and engaged in the prosperous lumber trade of which he is
now the junior member of the firm of Havens & Beman, being the largest
dealers in the county, and have branches in Gunnison, Eagle and Ten Mile
districts. His many sterling qualities—energy, perseverance and honesty of
purpose —united with a suavity of manner and a genial disposition--are well
calculated to give him the success he deserves. He is unmarried, and devotes
his entire time to his business.
HON. J. L. HODGES
Hon. J. L. Hodges, Deputy United States Collector of Internal Revenue, was
born in Monroe Co., N. Y., April 1, 1833, and received an academic education
at Lima College, N. Y. In 1855, he removed to Joliet, Ill., and was
Principal of the High School for two years, and in the spring of 1857 went
to the State of Minnesota and engaged in farming until the fall of 1860; was
appointed First Lieutenant of the Third Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and
afterward promoted to Captain; was taken prisoner at the battle of
Murfreesboro, Tenn., and escaped shortly after at Mc Minnville ; was in the
battle of Redwood, Minn., under Gen. Sibley, during the Indian outbreak of
1862, and remained in the army until the close of the war, and was Assistant
Provost Marshal in charge of prisoners at Little Rock, Ark., and was wounded
in a skirmish near Vicksburg while gallantly leading his command. In 1868,
he was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention of the State of
Arkansas, and, and was chairman of the committee that introduced the new
constitution, which was adopted. Mr. Hodges was admitted to the bar in 1868,
and elected twice to the Legislature from the Pulaski County District,
Arkansas, and also held the position of Postmaster at Little Rock in 1872.
He removed to Colorado in 1878, and was appointed Deputy Collector in May,
1879, which position he still holds.
GEORGE W. HUSTON
George W. Huston was born December 25, 1839, at Uniontown, Fayette Co.,
Penn. He received his education at his native town, and at Pittsburgh, in
Duff's Mercantile College. He came West to Des Moines, Iowa, in 1856, and
engaged as book-keeper to the firm of Newton & Keen. In the spring of 1857,
he went to Leavenworth, Kan., and was Deputy Recorder of Deeds. He came to
Colorado in 1859 and engaged in mining in Gilpin County. During the winter
of 1859, he, in company with four others, made a trip to Leavenworth, Kan.,
on horseback, returning to Colorado in the spring; he then went to
California Gulch and engaged in mining, being elected Sheriff the same
spring. In the fall of 1861, he went to Kansas and enlisted as a soldier,
and was appointed Clerk of the Quartermaster's Department: was soon after
commissioned by the Secretary of War as Quartermaster of the Second Cherokee
Indian Regiment; he resigned this office, and was appointed by the Governor
of Kansas Regimental Quartermaster of the Fourteenth Kansas Volunteer
Cavalry; was a prisoner of war six months. After the close of the war, he
returned to Leavenworth, Kan., and received the position of Register of
Deeds of Leavenworth County. He returned to Colorado in 1875, having since
devoted his time to mining and real estate business; he came to Leadville in
the spring of 1878, where he has been successful in his mining enterprises
and real estate speculations.
CHARLES L. HILL
Charles L. Hill, one of the leading mine managers of Colorado, was born in
Exeter, Me., in 1829. His early education was received at his native town,
and at the age of twenty-one years he went to Monroe, Mich., and engaged to
the railroad company; in 1856, he took charge of the Peoria (Ill.) office;
he was also for six years connected with the -United States Express Company.
He came to Colorado in 1860 and engaged in milling at Black Hawk for three'
years; he then engaged in mining, and at one time was largely interested in
the Gregory and Bob Tail Mines. In 1865, he went to New York, where he
engaged in the real estate business for two years, then returned to
Colorado, and for a short time was engaged in milling at Black Hawk; he then
removed to Granite, and, after prospecting a time, took charge of the Yankee
Blade Mining Company's property; he has since then had charge, at different
times, of the Printer Boy, Little Pittsburgh, Moose Mine, Agazzis, Dunkin.,
Catalpa and Crescent Mines, which mines he operated successfully; he built
the first stamp-mill in California Gulch, for Denver parties, and also built
a stamp-mill in Mosquito Gulch for Chicago parties. Mr. Hill is one of the
oldest and most successful mine managers in Colorado. He was married to Miss
Josephine A. Wait in October, 1855, and has one child, a daughter, nine
years old.
OLIVER H.
HARKER
O. H. Harker, Superintendent of the Lead-vine Mining Company, a trustworthy
and reliable gentleman, familiar with mining in all its forms; he has
contributed, in no small degree, to the development of Colorado's mining
resources. Born in January, 1838, at Dayton, Ohio, he was educated at Yates
Academy, in New York, and at the White Pigeon Branch of the Michigan
University. He came to Colorado in May, 1860, and located in Gilpin County,
where he followed mining for eight years, making one trip to San Juan in
1861, where he spent ,seven months. In 1868, he went to the White River
Mining District, in Nevada, where he spent two years, returning to Colorado
in 1870. During the fall of 1868, he took a trip to Michigan, where he was
married to Miss Mary J. Vorhees. In 1872, he went to Boulder County, where
he remained seven years in the mines of that county. During this time, Mr.
Harker had charge, as Superintendent, of a number of the large mines of
Gilpin and Boulder Counties, among which may be mentioned the Granville,
Kansas & Black, Red Cloud, Corning Tunnel, Last Chance, and others. In
March, 1879, he went to Leadville and took charge of the Henriett Mine: he
was also connected with the Little Pittsburgh, and subsequently took charge
of the Breece Iron Mine. Mr. Harker is now General Superintendent of the
Lead-vine Mining Company, having under his charge a large force of miners.
ABSALOM V.
HUNTER
The above-named gentleman, Cashier of the People's Bank of Colorado Springs,
and Acting Cashier of the Miner's Exchange Bank at Leadville, is well ',mown
in commercial and banking circles in Colorado, having been a resident of the
State since 1873. He was born in Lincoln County, State of Missouri, Nov. 24,
1846. His early educational advantages were somewhat limited, being partly
obtained in country schools of Lincoln and Pike Counties, with the addition
of a course of mercantile studies at St. Louis, in the college of Bryant &
Stratton. At the age of eighteen, he entered the commission house of his
father, J. M. Hunter, of St. Louis, and remained with him for a term of four
years. In the spring of 1868, he returned to Clarksville, Mo., and engaged
with the dry goods firm of Hicks & Terry as book-keeper, in which position
he continued for three years. In 1871, he visited Colorado on a tour of
examination, looking around the country, and returned to St. Louis. In 1872,
he accepted a position as Clerk on a steamer plying between St. Louis and
Keokuk, Iowa. in which employment he continued for one year. In the spring
of 1873, he returned to Colorado and located at Colorado Springs, and
invested in the stock business; subsequently sold out and accepted a
position as Cashier of the People's Bank, and it was here he acquired the
principles and laid the foundations of his accurate knowledge of banking.
While here, he became interested in mining operations in Leadville and other
camps, and was one of the original locators of the Winne-muck Mine, which
afterward was consolidated with the Little Pittsburgh, New Discovery and.
Dives Mines of Leadville; having sold out his interest in these mines, he
devoted his time to his banking and real estate interests; he was one of the
original founders of the Miners' Exchange Bank of Leadville, and it is safe
to say that no man occupies a higher position in the public estimation as a
financier and business man than Absalom V. Hunter. He holds the position of
Acting Cashier in the Miner's Exchange Bank, also is Cashier of the People's
Bank at Colorado Springs, and demonstrates that he is an efficient, capable
manager of the finances of both of these well-known banking institutions. He
was married, December 18, 187'7, to Miss Estelle McFerran, daughter of Judge
McFerran, of Colorado Springs.
HENRY H.
HEWETT, M. D.
The life and services of Dr. Hewett, who has practiced. medicine in Colorado
since 1860, is so well known and appreciated by the citizens of Leadville
that it is unnecessary to present, in this volume, other than a brief
allusion to the events and incidents of his career. Born in Otsego Co., N.
Y., May 9, 1834, he spent his early life at home with his parents, receiving
a liberal education at the public schools and academies of his native town;
in 1849, removed with his parents to Wisconsin; afterward, to Iowa, where he
studied his profession. In 1855, he went South for his health, and spent
three years traveling in Arkansas and Texas, the latter being then an
unbroken wilderness. In 1859, he came to Council Bluffs, Iowa, where he
remained for a short time, and, in the spring of 1860, upon the breaking-out
of the Pike's Peak excitement, crossed the Plains and settled in West
Denver, embarking in the drug business with D. Y. E. Kennedy, in which he
remained until 1863; he sold out the drug business and removed to Lake
County and engaged in mining in Colorado Gulch, five miles from Leadville;
in 1864, was appointed Deputy United States Marshal and Deputy Provost
Marshal for the southwestern portion of the Territory now known as the State
of Colorado. For a period of three years, Dr. Hewett was engaged in
practicing medicine, giving some of his time to his mining interests, and,
when occasion required his official duties, he was chasing horse-thieves,
deserters and Indians. In the fall of 1866, he removed to Georgetown, as, in
his opinion, the camp at Leadville was played out," and organized a mining
company, and for two years met with comparative success in working the
mines. In 1869, he attended a course of medical lectures at Cincinnati,
Ohio: returning, he commenced practicing medicine at Denver, where he
remained until April, 1878, and returned to his old stamping-ground. When
the Leadville boom commenced, he renewed the practice of his profession, and
at present has a large and lucrative practice. Dr. Hewett was the first
County Physician appointed for Lake County, and can relate many interesting
reminiscences of his travels and adventures with the "barnacles" of the
camp. The Doctor is prominently identified with the medical profession, and
we, feel glad to notice him in this work. He is an honored member of the
fraternity of Odd Fellows, having filled many distinguished positions in
that order. Dr. Hewett has experienced all the ups and downs of an active
business career, and is content to enjoy the fruits of his years of toil and
excitement. He was married, a few months since, to a most estimable lady.
ADDISON
HAWKINS, M. D.
Dr. Hawkins is one of Leadville's successful practitioners in medicine and
surgery. He was born April 24, 1848, in Tippecanoe Co., Lid.; he received a
collegiate education at Farmers' Institute, near La Fayette, Ind.: also
attended Normal Institute at Lebanon, Ohio, for one year; he attended three
courses of lectures at Rush Medical College, Chicago, Ill., receiving his
diploma from said college. He came to Colorado in the spring of 1877;
returning for a brief period, he then settled in Leadville in March, 1879,
and commenced the practice of his profession; he is a member of the State
and County Medical Association, and may now be classed among the prominent
physicians of Leadville; he is the resident surgeon for the D. & R. G. R. R
and South Park Railroad, at this place, being the first appointment made. He
was married, Oct. 10, 1876, to Mary I. Fisher, his wife being a sister of a
prominent railroad official.
JOHN H. HAM
Among the successful business men of Leadville may be found the name of J.
H. Ham, born in Amsterdam, Montgomery Co., N. Y. June 7, 1830. He passed his
youth in his native town, receiving his education there; at the age of
fifteen years, he went to Rochester, and was employed in a hotel for a short
time. In 1854, he removed to Milwaukee, Wis., and engaged in mercantile
business, where he remained until the breaking-out of the rebellion in 1861:
he received a commission as First Lieutenant of the First Wisconsin
Volunteer Infantry, and subsequently was appointed Quartermaster of the same
regiment; after serving with his regiment for six months, was appointed Post
Sutler at Stevenson, Ala., in which position he continued until the close of
the war. Having concluded to remain in the South, he embarked in mercantile
pursuits and opened a general store in Stevenson, Ala., where he was quite
successful, and accumulated a competence, which subsequently was lost by an
unfortunate venture. In 1867, he returned to Milwaukee and again ventured
into the mercantile trade, where he remained until 1869: he then went to
Whitewater, Wis., and started a cheese manufactory on an extensive scale,
using the milk obtained from 600 cows. In the spring of 1872, he emigrated
to Colorado and embarked in the mercantile trade at Denver, where he
remained for five years; removing to Boulder County, he engaged in mining,
in which business he managed to again lose all of his hard earnings. In
April, 1878, he came to Leadville and located the Winnemuck Mine the same
day the Little Pittsburgh was located, but a prospective law-suit induced
him to give up his claim, and he returned to Leadville and took a position
as General Manager in the large and growing business then carried on by
George B. Robinson, doing all the buying for that extensive store for two
years; he then decided to again go into business for himself, opening a meat
and vegetable stand on Chestnut street, in which he has been successful,
and, after his many ventures, he is contented to remain. He was married,
Aug. 19, 1856, in Milwaukee, to Miss Sarah E. Wheeler, and has four
children, and will celebrate his silver wedding the 19th day of August,
1881.
HON. JOHN J. HENRY
Judge Henry, present Register of the United States Land Office at Leadville,
is a gentleman of ripe scholarship and large experience in professional
work. Patient, untiring industry has always been one of the most important
features of his character, marking not only his mature years and
professional career, but his early life as well. He was born in New Castle
Co., Del., in 1822, and received an academic education in the academies of
Wilmington, Del., and Norristown, Penn. At an early age, he took an active
part in politics, and joined himself to the old Whig party; had an intimate
acquaintance, which ripened into friendship, with the Hon. John M. Clayton,
from whom he learned much of the principles and practices of the leading
old-school Whigs of the nation; although a slaveholder in his native State,
he was among the first to adopt the principles of the Republican party, and
supported John C. Fremont for the Presidency in 1856, and has always been a
stanch supporter of the Republican party; he served with honor a long
apprenticeship in the State Legislature of his native State. in 1863, he was
appointed Minister to Liberia by President Lincoln, it being the first
appointment made; and in 1872, President Grant appointed him Consul to
Kingston, Jamaica, both of which appointments he declined. In 1875, he was
appointed by President Grant to the office he now holds. Judge Henry has
honorably filled various offices of public trust in a creditable manner, and
has attained a position of prominence and influence in the community. He was
married to the daughter of Gideon Lusby, of Cecil Co., Md.; his wife is also
the niece of the late Commodore Jacob Jones, United States Navy, who, in the
war of1812-15, commanded. the sloop-of-war Wasp, and gained such a noted
victory over the British war vessel Frolic. He has three children —two sons
and one daughter.
ROBERT A.
JOHNSTON
Mr. Johnston was born in New York City in 1846, and lived there until 1861,
when he went to Minnesota, remaining thirteen years, engaged in the horse
and cattle trade. During the time of the great Indian troubles in that
State, Mr. Johnston served in the State militia, and took an active part
throughout the war; he was several times badly wounded, and to-day shows
many scars made by Indian bullets. He was elected Sheriff of Watonwan County
in 1872, serving one term. Coming to Colorado, he located at Denver and
engaged in the horse and cattle trade until 1879, with John G. Lilly, the
well known cattle dealer. In 1879, he arrived in Leadville, and was
appointed a Deputy Sheriff—a position he has since held with great credit to
himself. He is now the officer of the County Court, and Collector of county
licenses. He is also engaged in mining. Mr. Johnston is well liked by all
who have business dealings with him. What education he has--which is far
above that usually acquired in the common schools—has been gathered by his
own personal efforts and observations in every-day life.
GEN. HORACE B. JOHNSON
H. B. Johnson was born at Marengo, Mc Henry Co., Ill., on the 14th day of
August, 1842; in 1852, he removed to Fayette Co., Iowa; here he resided
until the commencement of the war, and during- which time he received his
education and studied law at the Upper Iowa University. Upon the first call
of the President, for troops, he enlisted in the Third Iowa Volunteer
Infantry, and served in that regiment during the summer of 1861; in the fall
of 1861, he organized, at St. Joseph, Mo., a battery of artillery, known as
the First Missouri Battery of Horse Artillery, which rendered good service
during the war; he was twice slightly wounded. At the close of the war, he
located at Kansas City and engaged in the active practice of his profession.
In the spring of 1865, he was appointed Circuit Attorney of the circuit
composed of Jackson, Cass, Bates, Johnson, Pettis, Saline and La Fayette
Counties; he held this position until the fall of 1868, when he was elected
Attorney General of the State; in 1870, he was re-nominatied by acclamation
by the Republican Convention, but, this being the year of the well-known
bolt from the Republican party, he was defeated, together with his whole
ticket, at the election. Although he was always a Republican of the most
pronounced order, and although living in a Senatorial district which had
about one thousand Democratic majority, he was elected, in 1875, as a member
of the Constitutional Convention which framed the new constitution of that
year. With the exceptions above noted, he has kept out of office and
politics and devoted his attention studiously to his profession. During the
last ten years of his residence in Missouri he found it necessary to limit
his practice almost exclusively to the Federal Courts and the Supreme Court
of the State. In 1877, he determined to remove from that State, and.
accordingly located at Topeka, Kan., and practiced his profession there, in
partnership with Willard Davis, then the Attorney General of Kansas, until,
in the spring of 1879, he came to Leadville on professional business; here
he was so impressed concerning the future of this city and the State that he
immediately returned to Topeka and prepared to close his office there and
remove to Leadville. He opened an office here in July, 1879, and has enjoyed
a fair share of the legal business of the city up to the present time. He is
married, and has one daughter, eleven years of age. He married, in 1868, the
daughter of E. J. Mariner, who now resides at Olathe, Kan. He has, during
the past ten years, been a contributor to the American Law Register,
published at Philadelphia.
HON. WILLIAM
H. JAMES.
William H. James, the first Mayor of the city of Leadville, is in all
respects a representative Western man. His twenty years' residence in the
mining districts of Colorado have familiarized him with the elements and
necessities of such communities. His administration has deepened the high
estimation in which he has been held by his friends, as a straightforward,
incorruptible and public-spirited citizen. He gave his whole time and
energies to the affairs of the City Government and the advancement of the
city interests, in-trusting his private business affairs to the management
of others, so that his personal supervision of public enterprises might
hasten their completion. He was born in Monmouthshire, -Wales, in 1838, and
came to America when eight years of age, with his parents, they settling in
Brooklyn, N. Y.; he acquired the rudiments there of a common-school
education. and also learned the watchmaker's trade. In 1855, we find him in
Iowa City, Iowa, in the employ of G. W. Marquardt & Co., jewelers, until the
gold excitement allured him in the direction of Pike's Peak. In June, 1860,
with his young wife, he pitched his tent in Nevada Gulch, Gilpin Co., Colo.,
and has never but once since been east of the Missouri River: he was one of
the owners of the fourth stamp-mill brought into Gilpin County, and
immediately doubled its capacity to eight stamps; with this mill, for the
first winter, he cleared, after paying all expenses, exactly $13.85; his
second venture, in removing that mill to Empire, in Clear Creek County, was
more disastrous, but he was lucky enough to sell the fine white shirts sent
out to him by his mother for enough to move his family back to Nevada; with
the loan of $20 from a friend, he began the watch-making and repairing
business, and was doing handsomely until the fire came and swept away his
entire possessions. In relating his experience, he remarked: " I gathered
greens upon the hillside, not because my wife and I were particularly_ fond
of greens, but we wanted something to eat." Mr. James afterward became
Superintendent for the Terrible Mine for Clark & Crow until its sale to
European parties; he then became Superintendent of the Burleigh and
Baltimore Tunnels, operating the first Burleigh steam drill that was
introduced in the mines of Colorado. In 1873, he superintended the gulch
mines of Fred A. Clark at Fairplay, Park Co.. using the first hydraulics and
Little Giant nozzles brought into the State. Coming to Lake County in 1875,
he had charge of the Printer Boy Mine until elected a member of the
Constitutional Convention from the counties of Park and Lake. Mr. James was
the prime mover and chief advocate of that clause in the constitution which
provides that mines should not be taxed for the period of ten years, as
mining at that time was in its infancy, and needed emphatic encouragement;
after other faithful services as a legislator, he returned here and assumed
charge of the Oro Mining, Ditch and Flume Company's operations. In February,
1878, he formed a partnership with Edward Eddy, and entered upon the
business of buying and handling ores. In April, he was the choice of the
solid business men for Mayor of the city of Leadville. Mr. James is truly a
self-made man, and is ever ready to impart to the stranger reliable
information regarding the ores, mines, and general business of this great
carbonate camp. On December 13, 1879, just before his departure to New York,
he was presented with a handsome gold watch and chain by the members of the
City Council, and regaled with an elegant banquet. During the great strike
of the miners, in the summer of 1880, the city of Leadville for a time was
in the hands of a mob, and the State troops were called out to protect the
lives and property of her citizens, and the city was placed under martial
law. Mr. James was appointed Brigadier General, and rendered efficient and
valuable service in quelling the riot. As a citizen, Mr. James is held in
the highest esteem; possessed of a genial nature, a liberal heart and an
energetic will, with an irreproachable character, he occupies an enviable
position in the estimation of the people of Leadville.
JOHN P. KELLY
Among Leadville's early officials was Mr. J. P. Kelly, who was elected an
Alderman in the spring of 1879; he served as Mayor pro tem. for a long term
during the Mayor's absence; he is to-day a Justice of the Peace. Mr. Kelly
has seen a great deal of the mining countries of the world. He was born in
Ireland the 12th of June. A. D. 1840; when twelve years old, he followed his
parents to Australia. afterward going to New Zealand, in which two places he
spent fourteen years, engaged in mining; he afterward came to San Francisco
and remained two years, removing to Omaha in 1867, where for eight years he
was Chief of Police; he then came to Colorado and located in Lake City,
where he now owns considerable mining and city property. He arrived in
Leadville in 1878, and commenced to mine: he also engaged in business on
Chestnut street. Mr. Kelly located the Australia Mine and others on the Big
Evans. Ever since his arrival here, he has been successful, and is one of
Leadville's foremost citizens.
P. S. KEEFER
Mr. Keefer is Deputy County Treasurer. a position he holds under Richard H.
Stanley. Mr. Keefer was born in Frederick Co., Md., in 1852, where he
remained until 1868; he then removed to Baltimore, where be remained until
the spring of 1879. He came to Leadville, Colo., in 1879. Since his arrival
here, he has been engaged in mining, outside of the time that he is
necessarily engaged in the Treasurer's office.
JOHN L. LOOMIS
Mr. Loomis was born in New 'Woodstock, Madison Co., N. Y., April 26, 1838.
He attended the common schools until the age of fifteen years; from there,
went to the Madison University at Hamilton, Madison, Co., for a period of
three years. In 1856, he removed to Independence, Iowa, and learned the
printing trade, and worked at that business until the breaking-out of the
war; he enlisted in the Forty-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and
participated in nearly all the battles of the Army of the Cumberland, and
was severely wounded at the battle of Mission Ridge; he was promoted to
First Lieutenant for meritorious conduct, and commanded his company for one
and a half years. At the close of the war, he returned to Independence,
Iowa, and started the Buchanan County Bulletin newspaper, and published the
same for four years; in 1869, was elected County Auditor, and served in that
capacity for four years; also held the position of Postmaster of
Independence, Iowa, for two years; in 1877, resigned these positions and
removed to Colorado Springs, and spent the winter studying assaying and
mineralogy; in April, 1878, came to Leadville and opened an assay office,
and was employed by Eddy & James as their assayer for a period of one year;
in November, 1878, was appointed Superintendent of the Robert E. Lee Mine,
being the first Superintendent of that celebrated and valuable mine, and
resigned that position in August, 1880, and accepted the position of General
Manager of the Hibernian Consolidated Mining Company; also was General
Manager of the Yankee and Breece Hill and the Chippewa Consolidated Mining
Companies. Mr. Loomis is still engaged in the mining business, and is
well-known as a mining expert, and has a thorough and practical knowledge of
mining. He was married at Independence, Iowa, in 1860, and has a family of
two children.
JOHN LIENINGER
Among the successful news-dealers of Lead-vine may be mentioned the subject
of this sketch.. He was born in Russia in 1852, and came to this country
when a child, his parents locating in Chicago, and afterward removing to St.
Joseph, Mo.; he received a common-school education, and for a number of
years was a news agent on various railroads in Kansas. In 1871, he came to
Colorado, and for awhile remained in Golden and Georgetown and prospected
throughout the mountains; he left Colorado for a short time, and was engaged
in the cabinet business at Omaha. He came to Leadville in December, 1877,
and started in business in February, 1878; his place of business is now at
No. 324 Harrison Avenue; he has met with financial success, and is fully
deserving of the large business which he conducts.
HON. H. W. LIKE
This gentleman was born in the town of Tully, Onondaga Co., N. Y., Sept. 25,
1832, and remained on a farm with his parents until he attained the age of
nineteen years; he was the eldest of four children, and attended the
district school in the winter and worked on the farm during the summer, and
finished his education at Homer Academy, afterward teaching at that
institution for a brief period. In the fall of 1855, he came to Omaha, Neb.,
with a younger brother, when there were but a few houses in that town, and
removed, in a short time, to the present town of Brownville, Neb., and
engaged in the real estate and lumber business; purchased one-fourth of the
town site and assisted in laying out the town, and erected a saw-mill and
ran it for six years; afterward came to Gilpin Co., Colo , in 1860, crossing
the plains in a private conveyance with his family, stopping at Black Hawk,
and engaged in mining and milling for a period of sixteen years; was elected
to the first State Legislature of Colorado. In the fall of 1868, he sold out
his interest at Black Hawk and removed to Leadville, purchasing one-fourth
interest in the Water Company ; subsequently became one-third owner, and is
Secretary and Treasurer of that corporation. Mr. Lake gives his entire
attention to that business, and performs an amount of labor that would break
down a man of less hardy constitution. Mr. Lake is married, and has two
children—a son, grown, who assists his father in the arduous duties
pertaining to the Water Company. Mr. Lake attends quietly to his own
business affairs, never seeking for notoriety nor caring for official
honors, and his success in life demonstrates the wisdom of his course.
History of the Arkansas Valley, Colorado
O L Baskin & Co., Chicago, 1881 - Pages 309-350
Transcribed 24 January 2006 by Martha A Crosley Graham
Site Created: 24 January 2006