Portrait & Biographical Record

Mardos Collection

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

295

RACE ESPY PATTON COWLES. Perhaps in the entire state of Colorado there is no lady who has been more prominently before the people than Miss Patton (now Mrs. Cowles), state superintendent of public instruction and ex-officio state librarian. To some she is known chiefly by her contributions to the press, which evince a high order of literary ability; to others she is known chiefly through her prominence in the most select society circles of Denver; but to perhaps the largest class of people she is known through her connection with the educational interests of the state. Elected in 1895 to the position she now so efficiently fills, it has since been her ambition to promote the welfare of the public schools, and she has been earnest in her efforts to promote four lines of work: libraries, kindergartens, manual training in both graded and district schools, and artistic schoolroom decorations.

     The contributions of Mrs. Cowles to the Chicago Tribune and other well-known dailies have made her name a familiar one to readers of papers in other states. She is also the author of "The Chalchihuitl" (published in attractive booklet form in Denver in 1895), which tells the story of the beautiful Indian Princess of the tribe of the Yutahenne, the child of Nature, with a heart untainted by Realism, but abiding in the Ideal. The search of the Princess for the Chalchihuitl, the magic stone that was to bring her complete happiness, is vividly depicted, in the author's usual vigorous and graceful style.

     For some years Mrs. Cowles was president of the alumni association of the State Agricultural College. She is a member of the State Teachers' Association, the State Board of Land Commissioners, the Board of Trustees of the State Normal School, and the State Board of Education, of which she is now the president. In the National Educational Association and its work she is actively interested, and was present at the meeting of the department of superintendents connected with the same, at Chattanooga, Penn, in February, 1898, being president and organizer of the conference of state superintendents at that convention. Also active in the work of the State Woman's Suffrage Association, she was its auditor for some years and represented it as delegate to the national convention at Washington, D. C., in 1898, when her name was upon the program for an address on the evening of February 15.

      The Patton family was founded in America in 1630 by Col. James Patton, who was sent by the British government to Virginia as an officer and settled upon a plantation there. The grandfather of our subject, Hon. Joseph Patton, was born in Fayette County, Pa., removed thence to Crawford County, became the owner of large landed tracts and represented his district in the state legislature. He married Miss Phebe Espy, a native of Pennsylvania, to which state her ancestors had come from New Jersey. The Espy family had several representatives in the Revolution and some of its members are now well-known educators in the east.

     Two sons of Joseph Patton, David and Joseph, continued the large lumber business he had established on the old Erie and Pittsburg canal, but the introduction of the railroad terminated the business, the canal being then drained. Their next location was at Espyville, Pa., where they were manufacturers of and dealers in lumber. In 1876 David Patton came to Colorado and embarked in the cattle business at Fort Collins, then a small place, destitute of railroads or improvements. After a few years he became interested in a feed business. He was mayor of Fort Collins, commissioner of Larimer County and held other offices of trust. Since 1895 his home has been in Denver.

     In Linesville, Crawford County, Pa., occurred the birth of Mary J. Allen, daughter of Moses Allen, who owned the largest flour mill in western Pennsylvania. His father, Stephen, who was an officer in the war of 1812, was a son of Moses Allen, who was born in New Jersey and served with a regiment from that state in the Revolution until he was killed in battle. He was a son of Moses Allen, Sr., also a soldier in the Revolution, and a pioneer of Crawford County, Pa., where his descendants were successful flour manufacturers. The Allens are of English extraction. The mother of Mary J. Allen was Polly (Burwell) Allen, who was born in Pennsylvania, the daughter of Samuel Burwell, who emigrated from England to Virginia and thence removed to Crawford County, Pa. In England they were members of the nobility, but preferred to give up their titles and seek a home in America. One of the family, Maj. Lewis Burwell, settled in Virginia in 1539.

     The family of David and Mary J. (Allen) Pat-
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ton consisted of eight children, but only four are living: Knud, who is in New Mexico; Grace Espy; Jessie, a member of the class of '98, Woman's Medical College of the Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill.; Webb Allen, clerk in the office of the secretary of state of Colorado; and Polly. The subject of this sketch was born in Hartstown, Pa., and received an excellent education in the State Agricultural College at Fort Collins, graduating in 1885 with the degree of B. S. In 1897 the degree of M. S. was conferred upon her by the same institution. In 1885, immediately after graduating, she became instructor of English in the college, in 1890 was given the chair of professor of English and sociology on its establishment and remained in that department as instructor in ethics, psychology, sociology and civil government, until her election as state superintendent.

     In 1896 she was nominated for the office at the state Democratic convention in Pueblo and her name was retained on the fusion ticket with the silver Republicans. She received the largest plurality of any Democrat on the ticket. January 12, 1897, she took the oath of office and has since given her attention to the discharge of its duties, having, in addition to the regular work, issued several pamphlets on subjects pertaining to the schools. She is a member of the State Library Association. Socially she is prominent in the Woman's and Clio Clubs of Denver, and in religious belief is a Presbyterian. She was married April 9, 1898, to Warren Hayden Cowles, then a lieutenant of the Sixteenth United States Infantry, but now a captain in the Fourth United States Infantry.

OHN L. DAILEY. Among the large number of business men now in Denver, there are comparatively few who have been identified with the growth of the city from the earliest days of its history, who have witnessed its development from one decade to another and have themselves been active factors in its progress. Such a citizen is John L. Dailey, a pioneer of and still an enterprising, successful business man of this city. In many important ways he has been connected with the welfare of the place and his own history has been intimately associated with that of Denver and Arapahoe County.

      Mr. Dailey was born in Puffin, Seneca County, Ohio, November 9, 1833. His father, William T., was born in Mauchchunk, Pa., and grew to manhood on a farm there, but later removed to Perry County, Ohio, where he married Sarah McCormick, member of a Scotch-Presbyterian family Immediately after his marriage he went to Seneca County and cleared a farm from the timber, the tract lying in what is now a suburb of Tiffin. in 1848 he sold that place, and, removing to Allen County, Ind., with the aid of his sons cleared and improved a tract of forest land. Late in life he retired to the village of Leo and there he died at the age of seventy-four. He was a Democrat in politics and while in Allen County served as county commissioner. His wife died when seventy-four years of age. Of their ten children, four sons and four daughters attained maturity, and two sons and three daughters are living. Edward T., who came to Colorado in 1863, now resides in Larimer County, Colo.; Samuel, who was a farmer, died in 1897; William M., who came to Colorado soon after his brother, John, in 1859, engaged in mining and the cattle business, and died in Denver in March, 1889.

     When about fifteen years of age our subject accompanied his parents from Ohio to Indiana. Two years later he became an apprentice to the printer's trade in Fort Wayne, where later he was made foreman of the composing room, remaining in the same office until he was twenty-one. In 1854 he started west, but spent the winter in Des Moines, then in the spring went on to Omaha, where he worked on Chapman's Chanticleer. In the spring of 1857 he went to Dakota City, Neb., where he published the Dakota Herald. In the spring of 1858, while in Sioux City, Iowa, at work at his trade, he received a request from William N. Byers to join him at Omaha in order to establish a paper in Denver, which he did as soon as he could arrange his affairs. He was made foreman of the Rocky Mountain News, the first four editions of which he assisted in printing. However, soon concluding that other interests might prove more profitable, he terminated his engagement with the paper, and in May, 1859, began prospecting in Gilpin County. He was among the first to arrive at Gregory's Gulch, and helped to cut a road from there to Central City. On the 1st of August he returned to Denver, where he became a member of the firm of Byers & Dailey. Later this firm was consolidated with the firm

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of Rounds & Bliss, under the name of the News Printing Company, which founded the Daily News in July, 1860. The firm name was again changed in 1863, Byers & Dailey having purchased the interest of the other gentlemen. The great flood of 1864 washed out the press and carried away the entire supply of type and printing material. A few days afterward the firm bought out the opposition paper, known as the Denver Commonwealth, but continued to publish only the Rocky Mountain News, not a single issue of which was missed on account of the flood.

     Afterward the paper changed from a six-day evening paper to a seven-day morning issue. Mr. Dailey continued as the general manager until November, 1870, when he sold his interest. The next year he engaged in the job printing and bookbinding business under the firm title of Dailey, Baker & Smart, this concern having the first steam printing plant in the city and printing two papers on contract, in addition to their other work. The location of the plant was on Market street, near the United States mint. His interest in this enterprise Mr. Dailey finally sold to F. J. Stanton. He is now engaged in the real-estate business, with office at No. 1725 Arapahoe street.

     At the solicitation of friends, in 1873 Mr. Dailey consented to run for county treasurer, but was defeated by the then incumbent. For a few years afterward he was secretary of the Rocky Mountain Insurance and Savings Institution, but resigned this position in 1877 to take the office of county treasurer, having been elected on the Republican ticket in the fall of 1877, after a spirited campaign with his predecessor, James M. Strick1er, as opponent. He served for two years and was then re-elected, without opposition, being the nominee of both tickets. In 1881 he was again elected, this time with but slight opposition. On the expiration of his term, in January, 1884, he turned his attention to the real-estate business. In 1887 he was chief deputy county clerk, and in 1893 was induced to run for county clerk on an independent ticket, but was defeated. Under Mayor Van Horn he was appointed a member of the board of park commissioners, of which he was the first president under the present charter. During his term he laid out two small new parks, Chaffee and James H. Platt parks, and greatly improved City Park.

      In Chicago, in 1866, Mr. Dailey married Miss Melissa B. Rounds, who was born in Wisconsin and died in Denver in November, 1866. In the same city, in 1868, he married Mrs. Helen M. Woodbury, who was born in York state, the daughter of Rev. W. E. Manley, a minister in the Universalist Church, but now deceased. They are the parents of four children: Lissie W., Mrs. W. P. Peabody, a graduate of Wolfe Hall, and a resident of Denver; Annie E., also a graduate of Wolfe Hail, and now a student in the Art Institute in Chicago; Grace, a graduate of the Denver high school and now teaching in Larimer County, Colo., and John L., Jr., a student in the high school. The family occupy the beautiful homestead on Broadway and Fourth avenue, immediately south of Cherry Creek, a place that forms a part of the original large tract purchased by Mr. Dailey, and that has been improved by the present owner with a substantial brick residence, neatly kept lawns, driveways lined with trees, and a beautiful terrace on the north of the house.

     When the Indians were troublesome during the Civil war, Mr. Dailey enlisted, in July, 1864, in Company A, Third Colorado Cavalry, of which he was first a sergeant and later second lieutenant. He took part in the battle of Sand Creek, November 19, and was mustered out with the company in December, 1864. He is a member of Lincoln Post, G. A. R. Since the organization of Unity Church he has been a member of the board of trustees. Politically he favors protection and is a strong Silver supporter. For many years he was treasurer of the Association of Colorado Pioneers and a part of the time was director and secretary; from January, 1897, to January, 1898, he served as president of the organization. Fraternally he is connected with Denver Lodge No. 5, A. F. & A. M., Denver Chapter No. 2, R. A. M., and Colorado Commandery No. 1, K. P.

ILLIAM HARMON BUCHTEL, M. D., LL. D., of Denver, was born in Akron, Ohio, August z, 1845, and is of German descent. His father, Jonathan B. Buchtel, was born in Stuttgart, Wurtemberg, and was one of a family of twelve sons and one daughter, of whom eight sons became Protestant ministers. When about fourteen he came to America, locating in Catawissa, Pa., but five years later re

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moving to Akron, Ohio, where he studied medicine with Dr. John Weimer. Later he entered Cleveland Medical College, from which he graduated with the degree of M. D. After having practiced for a few years in Akron, he removed to Elkhart, Ind., in 1849, and four years later settled in South Bend, the same state, where he practiced until his son returned from the war. His last home was in Des Moines, Iowa, where he died in 1869.

     The opening of the Civil war found our subject young, ardent, enthusiastic, determined to enter the service. Three times he ran away from home to enlist in the army, but every time he was taken out by his father and his patriotic impulses were temporarily checked. In the spring of 1861, through the influence of his father, he was persuaded to begin the study of medicine in what is now the Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago. In June of the same year he entered Mercy Hospital as an assistant, and later was made the resident physician, winch position he held for over two years, being the senior physician of the three there. By the time he was eighteen and one-half years of age he had attended over six hundred women in confinement. He passed his final examination in the spring of 1864, and received certificates from the president, but could not take his degree until he was of age.

     As soon as he completed his course he went to Columbus, Ohio, and was, in April, 1864, examined by the United States examining board, and commissioned acting assistant surgeon of the United States Volunteers, with the rank of second lieutenant. Ordered to Louisville, he organized the Totten general hospital, and after three months was sent to Chattanooga, where he spent sixteen weeks in the Bragg general hospital. In August, 1864, he was promoted to be surgeon of a division, with the rank of major in the Department of Military Railroads, and was ordered to join Sherman's army, then at Resaca, near Kenesaw Mountain. He was with General Sherman's army at the taking of. Atlanta. On the evacuation of the city he left on the last train out and returned to Dalton, thence to Nashville, from there to Baltimore, and to Savannah, Ga. At Newbern, N. C., he was appointed chief surgeon of military railroads of the Department of North Carolina, with the brevet rank of lieutenant-colonel. This position he held at the time of his resignation from the army in September, 1865.

     Returning to Chicago he took another course in medicine, and graduated in March, 1866, with the degree of M. D. He then went to South Bend and practiced with his father for a time, remaining in that place until ill health obliged him to seek a change of climate. Coming west to Denver he engaged in active practice here until the fall of 1873. He found, however, that his health was better in a higher altitude, and he therefore purchased a ranch of twenty-one hundred acres on the divide in Douglas County, where he spent his summers, remaining in Denver during the winter. In this way he completely regained his health, and was enabled to return permanently to Denver. He made a tour of Europe in 1888, visiting medical schools in all prominent cities, and also journeying to points of historic interest on the British Isles and on the continent.

     Dr. Buchtel is professor of obstetrics in the Gross Medical College, winch is the medical department of the Rocky Mountain University, and he is a member of the board of trustees of the university. Formerly he held the positions of physician to St. Joseph's and St. Luke's hospitals. He is identified with the State Medical, Denver and Arapahoe County and American Medical Associations, and is a charter member of the Western Association of Obstetrics. He organized the Gross midwifery dispensary, where the senior students are given the practical knowledge that makes their college course a success. Since the organization of the Imperial Legion, a fraternal life insurance company, he has been its supreme medical examiner.

     The degree of LL. D. was given Dr. Buchtel by McKenzie University of Tennessee. Like all veterans, he is interested in Grand Army affairs, and he has his membership in Lincoln Post. Politically he is a Democrat. March 22, 1871, at South Bend, Ind., he married Miss Helen M. Barnum, who was born in New York City, received every educational advantage, and is a woman of unusual executive ability and force of character. She has been president of the Charity Association, and has held other positions of responsibility and honor. She has one daughter living, Lelia, who is a graduate of Miss Brown's school on Fifty-fifth street, New York City. The