Mardos Collection
HARRY ELMER CHURCHILL.
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 269
to wait and labor in the meantime with all their powers success usually comes sooner or later. In the year that Colorado became one of the states of the Union, Mr. Milheim came west, but he was not favorably impressed with this country, the contrast with his own state being so marked. Therefore he returned to Michigan, where he found that the charms of the mountain and the distinctive beauties and advantages of the Centennial state had a lasting place in his remembrance. In the autumn of 1877 he again came to Colorado and the following June he sent for his wife and children. For some time he was employed by a Mr. Force of Pittsburg to look after his cattle. Then he built a small house on Third Creek, and in 1879 he became the manager of his brother Frederick's ranch. In 1880 he purchased a claim, and this land, since greatly improved by him, is his homestead, as described above. At that time there was but one tree on the farm that is now nicely shaded and pleasant to look upon. The place is provided with ditches for irrigation, and Mr. Milheim is one of the stockholders in the Fulton ditch, which has been the salvation of this portion of the county, reclaiming it from the desert. Though nothing of a politician he votes the Democratic ticket in national elections.
ARRY ELMER CHURCHILL Colorado is distinguished for the high rank of her bench and bar. Perhaps none of the newer states can justly boast of abler jurists or attorneys. Many of them have been men of national fame, and among those whose lives have been passed on a quieter plane there is scarcely a town or city in the state but can boast of one or more lawyers capable of crossing swords in forensic combat with any of the distinguished legal lights of the United States. Among these prominent and successful attorneys is Harry E. Churchill, of Greeley, who though young in years has already won an enviable reputation at the Weld County bar.
He was born in Benton County, Iowa, July 16, 1861, and is a son of Almond M. and Anna (Lovejoy) Churchill, both representatives of good old New England families, the Churchills being early settlers of Vermont, while the Lovejoy family was founded in this country by one of the brave little band to come over in the "Mayflower." Almond M. Churchill was born in the Green Mountain state and was one of the "forty-niners" who went round the cape to California during the gold excitement. In 1854 he located near Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he engaged in agriculture and stock-raising, and became one of the largest land owners of that state. He was married in Vermont to Anna Lovejoy and they became the parents of eight children. Of those living, George R. resides on the old homestead in Iowa; Henry C. is engaged in farming in Nebraska; Frank M. is a farmer and stock-raiser of Michigan; and Virginia is the wife of Samuel F. Negley, of Wahoo, Neb.
With the view to entering the legal profession, Harry E. Churchill was educated at Cole Institute, Cedar Rapids, and Western College, Toledo, Iowa, after which he read law at Toledo and was admitted to the bar in 1885. After two years spent at Norton, Kan., he came to Greeley, Colo., and opened an office. It was not long before his ability became recognized and he soon succeeded in building up a large and lucrative practice, which he still enjoys, having probably tried more cases before the courts than any other attorney in the city. He has one of the most complete libraries in the county, in fact, in this part of the state, and is a well-posted man. His time is fully occupied in practice before the lower courts, United States district court, the United States circuit court and the supreme court of the state of Colorado and also of the United States. Although he makes a specialty of real-estate law, he is noted as exceptionally able in criminal defense, having a reputation as a trial lawyer that makes his services in demand all over the state. Special mention may be made of the Richard Barry and Schneider murder cases, in both of which he was successful, and the famous Cochran cattle stealing case and the Matthews larceny cases. He has met with success financially as well as professionally, and is now the owner of a large amount of real estate, including farm land and his fine residence at the corner of Seventh street and Thirteenth avenue, which is one of the best homes in Greeley, the culture and artistic taste of its occupants being reflected in its appointments, while a gracious hospitality adds a charm to its material comforts.
On the 6th of June, 1881, was celebrated the
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. marriage of Mr. Churchill and Miss Isabella Van Osdall, a daughter of John Van Osdall, of Geneseo, Ill., and to them have been born three children: Flossie Estelle, Harry Van and Isabella. Mr. Churchill is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He attends the Congregational Church, to the support of which he contributes. He has always been a pronounced Republican, and since boyhood has taken an active and influential part in political affairs, particularly since coming to Colorado, but has never been an office seeker. He has been a delegate to state and national conventions, and for many years has served as chairman of the Republican central committee.
OHN H. LAWRENCE, whose home was in Brighton, was born in Pennsylvania, but was only four years of age when his parents, John and Sarah E. (Evans) Lawrence, removed to Ohio, settling in Wakeman, Huron County. His father, a native of England, emigrated to America and learned the trade of a shoemaker in Connecticut, with his future wife's father, who carried on an extensive business. After his marriage he moved to Pennsylvania and later went to Ohio, where his remaining years were spent.
In the town of Wakeman there lived a little girl, Martha A. Ransom, daughter of Henry G. and Mary (French) Ransom, natives respectively of Connecticut and Huron County, Ohio. Her father was about two years old when his parents, Russell and Lucretia (Gates) Ransom, drove with an ox-team through from Connecticut to Ohio and settled in the woods of Huron County, of which they were pioneers. The maternal grandparents, Burton and Augusta (Dayton) French, also drove through from Connecticut in an early day. When Henry G. Ransom was still comparatively a young man he passed away, leaving his widow and three children in comfortable circumstances. Afterward the widowed mother brought her children into town, leaving the farm where she had previously resided and removing to Wakeman.
Living near each other, in the same town, John H. Lawrence and Martha A. Ransom were acquainted from childhood. He had entered Oberlin College some months before the Civil war broke out, but at the first call for volunteers for three months he left his books and entered the service. At the expiration of his time he again enlisted and served until the close of the war. From the ranks he was promoted to be second, and then first lieutenant. Though taking an active part in many battles, he was never wounded nor taken prisoner, but the exposure injured his health to such an extent that he was confined to his bed for two years after the war and was not expected to live from hour to hour. Just across the road lived Miss Ransom with her mother. It was but natural that she should take a deep interest in the welfare of the sick soldier, and the attachment then formed was consummated in their marriage, December 27, 1868. In the mean time the Soldiers' Home had been started at Columbus, Ohio, and Mr. Lawrence was appointed to go there and take charge of the farm. After the home was transferred to Dayton, they went there and took charge of the farm.
In the summer of 1870 Mr. Lawrence and his wife moved to Nebraska and settled on a farm in Platte County, where he pre-empted and also bought land, securing seven hundred and sixty acres in one body. There he raised cattle and hogs. After the grasshoppers had destroyed their crops for three successive years, he rented his farm and went to the Black Hills, his wife going to Fremont, Neb. After two years he sold his farm and with his wife came to Colorado, settling four miles from Denver, but after a year removed near Brighton. A year later he bought one hundred and sixty acres, upon which he made his home for a few years, and then went to Baton Rouge, La., where he owned a plantation. However, the climate not agreeing with the family, he sold his place and went to Cheyenne, Wyo., and from there returned to Brighton in 1892. Here he served one term as mayor. For many years he was a justice of the peace, and in politics voted the Republican ticket. He would have made a fine lawyer had his studies been in that direction. In religion a Presbyterian, he was a prime mover in raising the money for building the church in Brighton. He was also instrumental in the erection of the first schoolhouse here and served for four years as president of the school board.
Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence and five of these are now living. Martha B., who lives in Weld County, married
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 271 Benjamin Shearston and has two children, Harvey and Ada. John R., who attended business college in Denver and Salina, Kan., was engaged in farming until May, 1898, since which time he has been proprietor of a livery stable in Brighton. Agnes married Charles Shearston and resides near Hudson, Weld County. Olive M. began to teach at a very early age and is very successful in the profession. Sara B. was born near Brighton and resides with her mother in this place.
The parents of the above-named young man were Calvin S. and Anne (Lincoln) Locke, natives of Massachusetts. The father, a man of good education, has followed the profession of a teacher, and under his painstaking instruction and guidance the son, Henry L., received unusual advantages. At the age of seventeen years the youth was sufficiently advanced in his studies to be allowed to enter Cornell University, within whose classic halls he passed the following two years. Later he took a course in agriculture, chemistry and assaying in Lehigh University with a view to being better fitted to assume charge of some Colorado property which his father had purchased and desired him to look after. This land was located near Longmont, and was a part of the tract on which the Chicago colony settled.
It was in July, 1880, that Henry L. Locke reached his future home in Colorado. In the succeeding October he began to improve his farm in earnest, and for ten years his dwelling place was there, in the vicinity of Longmont. In 1890 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, located about a mile and a-half from Brighton, on section 4, township 1 south, range 66 west. He commenced the system of irrigating ditches, connecting with Burlington ditch, that has gradually improved the farm. In 1891, wishing additional land, he rented some unimproved property, and brought this, also, under cultivation. It became his by purchase in 1897, and here he has his present home. He makes a specialty of raising grain for shipment. It is a fixed principle with him to attend strictly to his own affairs and to keep out of public office. Thus he is nothing of a politician, though he never neglects to discharge his full duty as a citizen and voter, his ballot being used in favor of the nominees of the Republican party. He was reared in the faith of the Unitarian Church, but does not hold membership with any denomination. In all his dealings with his fellow-men his course is marked by unquestionable and straightforward honesty and fairness, and the esteem and respect of all who know him are his in no unstinted measure.
Dr. Campbell received the rudiments of his education in Boulder, after which he entered the medical department of the University of Colorado, from which he graduated May 31, 1887, with the degree of M. D. On the 1st of June, that year, he located in Ward, where he has remained ever since. He was the first physician to locate in the village, and he has built up a lucrative practice, which extends over a radius of some eight miles. For several years he had to carry a line of drugs and dispense medicine himself, as there was no drug store there until within the last four years.
He was married in Altona, Colo., to Miss Inez B. Clawson, who was born in Minnesota, and is a daughter of Abraham Clawson, now of Denver. They have four children: William Ralph, Jacob Carl, Ethel June and Ernest Glenn.
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. The doctor was interested in the Newmarket mine and helped develop it until it was sold. He has been a member of the school board, serving as secretary and president, and succeeded in getting bonds for the present schoolhouse. He was elected county coroner two terms, resigning the second year of the second term. He is a member of the Boulder County Medical Society, and examiner for the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Knights of Pythias. He is also a member of the order of Rathbone Sisters. He is examiner for a number of leading life insurance companies, such as the New York Life, New York Mutual, New York Equitable, United States Life, and others. He is a Democrat, and is chairman of the committee of Ward precinct No. 10, and a member of the county central committee.
The paternal grandfather of J. M. Paulding was John W. Paulding, whose father, John Paulding, was the soldier who captured Major André in the days of the Revolution. Grandfather J. W. Paulding was a hatter by trade, and plied his calling in Pittsburg, Pa., and in St. Louis, whither he removed when our subject's father was about three years old, He also built a sawmill in Shannon County, Mo., and became well off in this world's goods. Judge George Paulding, father of J. M., was born in Pittsburg, Pa., and received a good business education in Belleville, Ill,, and in St. Louis. When he was about seventeen years old he went to Shannon County to look after his father's mill, and embarked in farming there. Later he moved into Texas County, Mo., where he bought land and passed the rest of his life. He was a prominent man there, holding the offices of justice of the peace, county surveyor, assessor, probate judge and judge of the county court. He served in the Confederate army during the Civil war. His first wife was Julia Turpin, and to them seven children were born. After the death of this wife, the judge remarried and had several children. James P., of the first family, died a short time after entering the army, of fever contracted in the service.
The birth of J. M. Paulding occurred in Shannon County, Mo., March 16, 1845. The schools in that county were very poor at that time, and the lad did not have very good opportunities for gaining an education. He enlisted in the company of which his father was a sergeant (Company B, Fifth Division, Missouri Volunteers), and about six months after was taken sick with the measles. He went home, and while there, he and his father were captured, but were soon released upon parole. After he had returned to the paths of peace he resumed his interrupted studies. He continued to dwell under the parental roof until he was twenty-two years of age, when he homesteaded a tract of one hundred and sixty acres in Texas County, Mo., and began its improvement.
To his new humble home Mr. Paulding brought a bride to share his joys and sorrows. She was formerly Miss Sarah Roberts, of Texas County, Mo., and their marriage was solemnized April 3, 1868. A native of Tennessee, she had removed to Missouri with her parents, James and Elizabeth Roberts, when she was but five years old. Six children were born to the couple in Missouri. William G. is a good business man and prospector; John M. married Maude Bachelor, and lives in De Lamar, Idaho; James F. married Rose Cline, and is engaged in running a grocery in Denver; Maggie B., a very successful teacher, supplemented her excellent education by attending Professor Dick's normal school, and has taught in her home district for four years, giving satisfaction to all. Mary B. and Ella M. are both at home, the latter attending school. The parents are members of the Christian Church.
Five years after settling on the Missouri farm
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