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AMES M. SIMMS, postmaster at Fort Collins, was born near
Huntsville, Logan County, Ohio, April 2, 1845, a son of James S.
and Jane (Sides) Simms, natives respectively of Clarke County,
Ohio, and Maryland. His paternal grandfather, Jeremiah Simms,
migrated from Virginia to Ohio, and was a pioneer farmer of Clarke
County and a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church.
From there, in early manhood, James S. Simms removed to Logan
County, engaging in farming at Huntsville, where he remained until
his death, at seventy-six years. For many years he served as
justice of the peace. He was a stanch Abolitionist and denounced,
in no uncertain tones, the fugitive slave law and kindred measures
for the oppression of slaves. In religion he was identified with
the Methodist Episcopal Church. His wife, who resided in Clarke
County from childhood until her marriage, died on the homestead in
Logan County when forty-five years of age.
The eldest son of James S. Simms was William R., who served as captain of a company during the Civil war. On his return he was elected sheriff of Harrison County, Mo., and served for two terms, four years altogether. He was also ex-officio collector of the county during the same period. Afterward he became United States mail clerk on the Rock Island Railroad and met a terrible death in the wrecking of his train and the burning of the car, December 6, 1880, between Cameron, Mo., and Atchison, Kan. The second son, Jeremiah T., died in Logan County, Ohio, during the progress of the Civil war. Peyton S., the third son, is a resident of Cincinnati, Ohio. He has served as sergeant-at arms of the Ohio senate and is now a commercial traveler. Sarah P., the wife of George McElree, lives in Logan County, near the old homestead. Mary A., who married Isaac N. Boggs, died in Logan County in 1868. James M. was next in order of birth. Rev. Joseph D. Shunts, the youngest of the family, a graduate of the Ohio Wesleyan University, is a member of the Ohio Methodist Episcopal conference, and is now stationed at Rockford, Ohio.
Until eighteen years of age the subject of this sketch remained at home, assisting on the farm in the summer and attending the district school in, the winter. In June, 1863, when the Union cause was trembling in the balance, he enlisted in Company L, Second Ohio Heavy Artillery, and was mustered into service at Covington, Ky. He served in Kentucky and Tennessee until August of 1865, when he was mustered out and honorably discharged at Nashville, Tenn. A few weeks after his discharge from the army, he started west, and spent one year on his brother's farm near Bethany, Harrison County, Mo., after which, on the election of his brother as sheriff and collector for Harrison County, he became deputy sheriff, and served for four 'years. He then embarked in the mercantile business and also served as deputy county clerk until March, 1877, when President Hayes tendered him the appointment as postmaster of Bethany. By reappointment under President Arthur, he held the position for nine years, until 1886, when the Democrats gained the administration of the country and he resigned. While in Bethany he served on the school board and the town council.
Coming to Colorado in 1888, Mr. Simms spent one year in Denver, where he engaged in the real-estate business. In May, 1889, he moved to Fort Collins, and from that year until 1894 served as assistant postmaster, being four years under the Harrison administration and one year under President Cleveland. In 1895 he engaged in the building of several cottages. In 1896 he was engaged in politics, espousing the cause of the Republican party, and assisted in editing the only Republican organ in northern Colorado, said paper being the Register, published at Loveland. In September, 1897, President McKinley appointed him postmaster of Fort Collins. His first step in the position was to secure the present fine location, corner of College and Mountain avenues. Into the new building he put new fixtures and modern improvements. He also advanced the standard of the office to such an extent that in June, 1898, it was changed from third to second class, taking effect July 1, 1898.
The first wife of Mr. Simms was Clara J. Ford, daughter of Dr. J. J. Ford, of Bethany, Mo., whom he married November 11, 1869. They became the parents of two children: Blanche, wife of A. J. Starlin, of Fort Collins; and Charles S., a commercial traveler. Mrs. Clara J. Simms died February 1, 1877. Miss Ida E. Nordyke, of Bartlett, Iowa, became the wife of Mr. Simms February 17, 1878, and died March 23, 1887, leaving one daughter, Amy Ida, who is with her father. The other
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child born of this union was Don E., born June 22, 1879, and died March 23, 1882. In June, 1893, Mr. Simms was united in marriage with Caroline E. Leech, sister of M. F. Leech, of Boulder, and daughter of a lieutenant in a Pennsylvania regiment during the Civil war. She died December 27, 1897. She was a finely educated woman, and for several years was a teacher in the public schools. Possessing considerable literary ability, she was a frequent contributor to magazines, newspapers and other periodicals. She was a stanch worker in the temperance cause and her efforts were always given to the uplifting of humanity.
In the spring of 1896 Mr. Simms was elected alderman of Fort Collins, but resigned on being appointed postmaster, after eighteen months of service. He was made a Mason in Bethany in 1885 and is now connected with Collins Lodge No. 19, A. F. & A. M. In the Methodist Episcopal Church he is a member of the official board. He is a member of George H. Thomas Post No. 7, G. A. R., and in 1898 served on the staff of General May as inspector general of the department of Colorado and Wyoming. In 1897 he was elected a delegate to the national encampment of the Grand Army at Buffalo and in 1898 served as delegate to the state encampment at Cripple Creek. Politically he has never swerved in his allegiance to Republican principles. By birth, training and inclination he is a Republican, and he has never been known to vote for men or measures antagonistic to party principles.
HARLES
F. HERTEL, the well-known proprietor of the Kiowa Hotel and livery
barn at Kiowa, Elbert County, is a man of energy and enterprise
and conducts one of the leading hotels in the county. He is a son
of George W. and Artemisia B. (Rinehart) Hertel, and was born in
Andrew County, Mo., December 9, 1856. He is of German descent, his
father having been born in Hanover, where he resided until he was
nine years of age. He was then brought to this country by his
parents, who settled in Missouri, where he lived until 1860. After
his marriage he crossed the plains with his family by means of an
ox-team and located on a farm four miles south of Elizabeth,
Elbert County, Colo., where he resided for some years. He finally
disposed of his property and purchased a sawmill at Middle Park,
the first steam sawmill in that section. This he has since
operated with much success and has become one of the leading
citizens of that community. He was married to Artemisia E.
Rinehart, a native of Missouri, in that state, before going
west.
Charles F. Hertel was four years of age when he moved to Colorado with his parents, and after becoming old enough he assisted his father in operating the sawmill. He subsequently took up a tract of land at Middle Park, upon which he resided for six years, after which he engaged in freighting. He continued in that business for a time and then bought and sold cattle until he returned to his farm at Middle Park, where he carried on general farming with much success, but was finally obliged to move owing to his wife's inability to stand the high attitude. They then moved to Kiowa, where he became proprietor of the Kiowa Hotel, which he has greatly improved and since conducted. It is a very popular house and is well patronized by both local and transient trade. The culinary department is under the supervision of Mrs. Hertel, and the excellent table set is all that could be desired to satisfy the wants of the inner man. The house is fitted out with many modern conveniences and everything possible is done by the genial landlord to add to the comfort of his guests, and that his efforts are appreciated is shown by the liberal patronage which he enjoys. Another good feature is the excellent livery barn, conducted in connection with the hotel, which is supplied with good horses and vehicles of every description.
While still a resident of Middle Park, August 15, 1886, Mr. Hertel was united in marriage with Miss Minnie Brockmann, who was born in Davenport, Iowa, and is a daughter of John Brockmann, who moved to Colorado in 1860, locating at Kiowa. Our subject has met with many thrilling adventures in his life on the frontier, and in his younger days had frequent altercations with troublesome Indians. When a lad of twelve years working on his father's farm, the neighbors assisted each other in harvesting, and for fear of an attack by Indians each man had a horse saddled and stationed near him. Upon one occasion he was driving a reaper and because of the noise of the machine he did not hear the shots fired by the Indians in their charge; his fellow-workmen
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took to their horses and soon he would have been at the mercy of the enemy, but with rare presence of mind he cut the horses from the reaper and effected his escape, being the last to leave the field.
ORNELIUS
CLARK is one of the most enterprising and successful farmers of
Weld County. His finely improved ranch is situated on sections 11
and 12, township 4, range 68, and is considered one of the best
places in the county. Mr. Clark is a stockholder in the Berthoud
Farmers' Mill and Elevator Company, and has served as one of the
board of directors of the concern. He also owns stock in the Home
Supply Ditch Company, from which source his farm secures its water
supply. He is a member of the Masonic order, being associated with
Berthoud Lodge No. 83, A. F. & A. M.; Longmont Chapter, R. A.
M., and Long's Peak Commandery No. 12, K. T.
The father of the above-named gentleman was John Clark, a native of County Galway, Ireland. The mother, whose maiden name was Nellie McDonald, was born in Ireland. The parents resided in Whitehall, N. Y., for a few years after their marriage, and then removed to Beloit, Wis. Cornelius Clark was born November 9, 1855, prior to the removal of the family to the west, Whitehall being his birthplace. He was educated in the common schools of Beloit and when he was about seventeen years of age he went to Howard County, Iowa. There he engaged in farming, his whole experience up to this time being in the line of agriculture. The year that saw Colorado admitted to the Union was the year that he attained his majority, and he decided to cast in his fortunes with those of the infant state. Coming to this county he took a position with a farmer in the vicinity of Erie and worked at a stated salary until the mining excitement of 1879-80, in Leadville. At that time he followed the hosts of prospectors and mined for a year or so, with indifferent success. He then took up a tract of land in Thompson Valley, it being situated on section 8, township 4, range 67. This property came into his possession in November, 1880, and after cultivating it for a few years he sold it and removed to the place he now occupies. This land he had purchased in 1889, and here he has dwelt ever since. The ranch comprises two hundred and forty acres, eighty acres of this having been a government claim, which he bought of another party, and eighty acres railroad land. Abundantly watered by the fine system of irrigating ditches which he has made, the place is exceptionally fertile and productive, large crops being harvested every year. In 1891 the proprietor erected a substantial barn, one of the best and most commodious in the county. Everything about the place shows the constant care and watchful supervision of the thrifty owner, who, within a few years, has transformed almost wild prairie land into a model farm. He has met with special success in the raising of cattle and horses, and has done much to elevate the standard of live stock in this community. He bought and owned the first thoroughbred Percheron stallion in this section of the county. At present he has a herd of about two hundred head of cattle and keeps some forty head of horses. His stock always commands the highest price on the markets, and justifies the extra care he takes of his animals.
July 7, 1892, Mr. Clark married Miss Nannie Graham, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Graham, of this county. Mrs. Clark is a native of Missouri, but has been a citizen of Colorado for many years. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Clark two children have been born, a son and daughter, named respectively, John Thomas and Cornelia E.
S.
CHENOWETH, M. D., a representative of the medical profession of
Elbert County, has attained prominence as a practitioner by
carefully diagnosing his cases, bringing that skill to bear in
their treatment which he is enabled to do by years of careful
study and constant practice. His undisputed and profound knowledge
of his profession, and the large success which he has won by his
persevering industry and attention to business have given to him
the standing and prestige he so richly merits. He is a son of
Isaac and May J. (Goben) Chenoweth, and was born in Grundy County,
Mo., November 30, 1861.
Isaac Chenoweth, the father of our subject, was a native of Ohio, and at an early day accompanied his father to Missouri, locating in Livingston County, where he followed his trade, that ,of a cabinet-maker, architect and builder. Upon the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted in the
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cause of the Union and fought valiantly until the close, receiving a number of serious wounds, one of which, a bullet in his right hand, developed a cancerous growth, which necessitated the amputation of that member. He also received a bad bullet wound in the hip, from which he has suffered at times. The war left him in financial straits, and only by dint of untiring energy and unceasing toil did he regain his former standing. In 1886 he moved to Denver, Colo., where he invested heavily in real estate and built two residences. At the present time he lives at Chenoweth, Elbert County, where he owns a ranch of about four hundred and forty acres. Politically he has always been a Republican, while in religious fellowship he was formerly a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. While in Missouri he was a member of the Masonic order. He married May J. Goben, a native of Livingston County, Mo., when a resident of Spring Hill, that county.
Dr. Chenoweth spent his boyhood days upon a farm and obtained a good intellectual training in the public schools. At the age of twelve years, when not in attendance at school, he worked in a drug store, continuing in that manner until he was fifteen years old. He then learned telegraphy in the freight office at Jameson, Mo., and he advanced with such rapidity that he was promoted to the position of assistant agent. Becoming an expert telegrapher, his services were ever in demand, and he served in that capacity at various points in the west until 1885, when he became superintendent's clerk on the Union Pacific system at Denver, having charge of the train department, and still later became train dispatcher, retaining that office until the spring of 1887. During these years he had been saving in his habits and accumulated some wealth, and having always evinced a fondness for the medical profession he decided to make it his vocation. As a means to that end he entered the Missouri Medical College, of St. Louis, and by close application to study took a complete course and was graduated in 1890 with the degree of M. D. He then formed a partnership with his uncle, Dr. G. A. Goben, with whom he practiced a few months at Kirksville, Mo., and then went to Sublett, Mo., where he not only practiced medicine, but also successfully conducted a drugstore for one year. Upon moving to Browning, Mo., he became a member of the firm of Smith & Co., in the drug business, and also acquired an extensive patronage in the practice of medicine. He was especially successful in surgical practice, performing a number of capital operations without losing a case. Being favorably impressed with the state of Colorado upon his first visit, he and his wife took a pleasure trip to the state in 1892 and decided to make their home there, locating in Denver during the same year. He returned, however, in a few months, as Mrs. Chenoweth preferred to live in Missouri. He again entered upon a practice and became prominently identified with the famous Meeks murder case, which attracted attention throughout the United States as one of the most horrible crimes ever perpetrated. He sewed up the gash on the head of the little girl, who was found out in a haystack, and she was placed in his charge by the sheriff. Being convinced of the guilt of the Taylors, he aided in bringing them to justice for the good of the community. Factions sprang up in the community, and, as his life was in great danger, he removed to Colorado in 1895, locating at Elbert, where he has since had charge of a large and lucrative practice. His wide experience has made him cool and practical in critical and important cases, and caused his skill as a physician to be thoroughly relied upon.
December 25, 1888, Dr. Chenoweth married Miss Minnie B. Fowler, a native of Kirksville, Mo., who graduated from the normal school of that town and later engaged as a teacher in the public schools. Their home is brightened by three children, namely: Montford I., who was born at Sublett, Mo., February 1, 1891; May Edith, born at Browning, Mo., July 30, 1893; and Lola B. Fowler, a niece, whom they have taken to rear. In political affiliations Dr. Chenoweth is a firm Republican, and cast his first vote for James G. Blame in 1834; he has been active in the workings of the party, and has frequently been a delegate to the different conventions. At one time he received the nomination for coroner of Sullivan County, Mo., but withdrew from the race. In 1897 he was the popular candidate for county clerk in Elbert County, and was loyally supported by his party and many Democrats, receiving a majority in every precinct but two, but he was defeated by fifty-four votes. Fraternally he became a member of Burnham Lodge No. 59,
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I. O. O. F., of Denver, in 1886, but now has a membership in the Elbert Lodge of that order and is passing through the chairs; he was a member of the Knights of Pythias, of Browning, Mo., which lodge surrendered its charter; is a member of Elbert Camp No. 152, W. of W., of which he is clerk; the Home Forum, of Elbert, of which he is secretary and examining physician; the Pacific Circle, of which he is examining physician; the Colorado State Medical Society, and the American Medical Society. He is also local surgeon for the Union Pacific & Gulf Railway. In religious attachment he was formerly an active worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church at Browning, Mo., and contributed liberally toward the erection of the church there.
Since this sketch was written the doctor's father died, November 19, 1898, and the doctors having no further interests in Elbert County, has since returned to No. 329 Santa Fe avenue, Denver, where he expects to practice medicine and spend the balance of his life.
ILLIAM
H. DICKENS, of Longmont, is one of the wealthiest and most
influential men of Boulder County. While thousands were investing
almost fabulous sums in more or less doubtful mining ventures, in
enterprises where great fortunes have been repeatedly sunk, he
steadily pursued old and reliable methods of gaining riches, was
conservative and wise in all his investments, and prosperity long
ago came to him as his just reward. He is now the largest payer of
taxes, individually, in the county, it is asserted, and no one has
been more deeply interested in the advancing civilization and
progress of this immediate region than he.
The paternal grandfather of the above, Charles Dickens, was a near relative of the celebrated author of the same name. He was born in Leicestershire, England, and was a maltster, as was also his son, William Henry, father of our subject. William Henry Dickens married Miss Mary Ann Harris, a native of the same shire and daughter of John Harris, a hotel-keeper and farmer. He was a member of a company of British cavalry at one time. His wife, Mary Jerome, died in England and he accompanied the family of his son when they came to this country in 1843. He was over seventy years old at the time of his death, which took place in Wisconsin. His father, John Harris, Sr., was a man of wealth and his fortune is still in chancery in England. Fifty-five years ago, William Henry Dickens, Sr., then a young man, sailed for Quebec in the ship "John Walker." His wife and little daughter Eliza were with him, and during the voyage a son, the subject of this sketch, was born, May 26, 1843. The little party traveled up the Welland Canal and the great lakes to Columbus, Wis., where they settled on a pre-emption claim. The father did not long survive the rigors of climate and hard work, but died in 1847, when but twenty-seven. His eldest child, Eliza, married a Mr. Franklin, and died in Colorado. John, the younger son, died when three years old, and the youngest of the family is Mrs. Maria Quist, of Ellis, Kan. The mother became the wife of Alonzo Nelson Allen, who had settled in Wisconsin on a farm, and whose birthplace was Oberlin, Ohio. Five children were born of this marriage and three sons and a daughter are living.
In 1859 W. H. Dickens started with a train across the plains to Colorado, and arrived here May 1. He had followed the Platte River from Omaha and had an uneventful journey. He had accompanied a party of over a score of men, each of whom rode a horse and led three others. Mr. Allen located on the homestead now owned by our subject and built a log cabin near the St. Vrain River. Young Dickens assisted his stepfather to get settled and worked with him for several years very diligently. When the stage line began running by way of Denver, instead of over the Black Hills, there was a great and steady demand for hay in this locality, as the route (the Salt Lake division) traversed it. The value of farm land rose accordingly and a good market was afforded the pioneers for all their products.
In, 1864 the troubles with the Indians proving of no slight consequence to the settlers, many of them took up arms against the red men, and in July of that year Mr. Dickens was mustered in as a private of Company D, Third Colorado Cavalry. He served about six months on the frontier and participated in the engagement of Big Sandy. In 1863 he homesteaded a quarter-section of land adjoining his-step father's property; later bought the other land and added to it from time to time.
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He now owns six hundred and forty acres in the one body. The St. Vrain affords necessary water, and for over a mile of its course runs through Mr. Dickens' land. At first he, as well as others of his fellow-pioneers, knew little about irrigation systems but years of experience have made him an expert on the subject. His land is well watered by a splendid set of ditches, etc., and improved with four good residences and numerous barns and other buildings. His home is a substantial brick structure and his best barn is a model. It is 40x100 feet in dimensions; has an eight-foot wall with seventeen-foot posts and has a capacity of two hundred and fifty tons of alfalfa and quantities of grain, etc. Sixty head of cattle are often wintered under its roof, also. Mr. Dickens has dealt extensively in stock, has made a specialty of high-grade Shorthorn cattle and blooded Percheron-Norman horses, and brought a dozen or more of brood mares here some years ago. He leases land on Crow Creek, northeast of Greeley, for cattle ranges and owns a section of land northwest of Longmont. Here he has a sheep ranch, many of the animals being of the Shropshire variety. Besides, he owns half a section of land in Weld County, three miles east of Longmont, and this place is well irrigated.
In the early years of his residence here, Mr. Dickens was engaged in freighting at certain periods of the year. He continued to transport merchandise between Cheyenne and Denver, even after the Union Pacific had been completed through the first-named town. Raising in the neighborhood of ten thousand bushels of wheat a year, he sells a portion of it, and, as he grows four thousand or more sacks of potatoes a season, he ships the product to Denver in car-load lots. He owns a thresher, self-binder, and all kinds of labor-saving machinery, and is thoroughly abreast of the times in every way.
Since the Farmers' Mill and Elevator Company was started Mr. Dickens has been president of the concern, which he was mainly instrumental in founding. The mill has a capacity of six hundred sacks per day; is equipped with improved roller machinery and "Pride of the Rockies," its finest product, commands the highest market price of any flour manufactured in the state. It is shipped all over this and adjoining states, and even to New Orleans and eastern cities. A large warehouse (the old Washington Hotel site) at Fifteenth and Wazee streets is utilized for storage purposes. Mr. Dickens is a director in, and was one of the incorporators of, the Farmers' National Bank and is now vice-president of the same. He belongs to the Cattle Growers' Association of Colorado. He is a charter member of McPherson Post No. 6, G. A. R. In politics he is a strong and loyal Republican, and has persistently declined public office and honors.
December 13, 1886, Mr. Dickens married Miss Ida Kiteley, a native of Walworth County, Wis. Her parents were John and Catherine (Flansburg) Kiteley, her father a native of England and her mother of New York state, of Holland-Dutch descent. The father settled in Colorado about 1872 and resides in Longmont. The five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Dickens are: William A., a member of the class of '98, of the Fort Collins State Agricultural College; Rienzi C., Mary, Artalissa and John, at home.
ERNARD
CHESTER KILLIN, a man of much prominence in Elbert County,
conducts a large ranch near the town of Kiowa, on section 20,
township 8 south, range 63 west, and is extensively engaged in
stock-raising. He is a son of Patrick and Sarah (Wakefield)
Killin, and was born in Washtenaw County, Mich., February 6,
1845.
Patrick Killin, the father of our subject, was born in Ireland and in his boyhood emigrated to America with his parents, locating in New York City, where he lived for a few years. In 1828 he moved to Hartford, Conn., and in 1834 to Washtenaw County, Mich., where he was one of the pioneers, and engaged in agricultural pursuits during the remainder of his life. He married Sarah Wakefield, a lineal descendant of the Wakefields who came to this country in the "Mayflower."
Bernard C. Killin is a man of superior education, having taken a course in the state normal school, of Ypsilanti, Mich., after attending the public schools for a time. He was but fifteen years old upon the demise of his mother, and shortly after began to shift in the world for himself, going to Fulton County, Ohio, where he was employed in lumbering pursuits for four or five years. In the spring of 1866 he went to Omaha, intending to go from there to Montana
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by means of a wagon train. As the Indians were very troublesome the journey was a dangerous one, and the train was not allowed to start with less than sixty wagons. They made such slow progress that our subject and a few others decided to go ahead, and soon the train was left far in the rear, but all to no purpose, for at the next post they were forcibly detained until there were the required number of wagons. Although greatly delayed he arrived safely at Denver, Colo., where he was obliged to stop and seek employment, as he was without means. He received work from M. M. Delano, Esq., who was at that time mayor of Denver. After laying by a neat little sum he pre-empted the land upon which his home is now located, and engaged in the cattle business on a small scale. He soon after homesteaded another piece of land and took up a timber claim. Honest and upright at all times, energetic and industrious, his business prospered, and now and again, as his means justified, he added to his estate, owning at the present time three thousand five hundred acres in Elbert County.
December 30, 1891, Mr. Killin married Miss Olive Adelia Grigg, of Greenville, Bond County, Ill., where she was born. She was educated principally in the public schools. She also took a course in Almira College, of that town, and taught school for a few years prior to going to Colorado in 1891. She is a daughter of Jesse Richardson Grigg and Sarah (Rhea) Grigg. Jesse R. Grigg was born in Rutherford County, N. C. He was taken to Bond County, Ill., when but two years old, by his parents, Jesse and Susanah (Taylor) Grigg. Sarah Rhea was born in Macoupin County, Ill. Her parents were Henry Dill Rhea and Elizabeth (Adams) Rhea, of Kentucky. The parents of Elizabeth Adams were James Adams and Sarah (Ingram) Adams. Two sons have blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Killin: Bernard Chester and Valmi Grigg.
Politically our subject has always unswervingly supported the principles of the Democratic party, and has frequently been called upon to serve in various official capacities. In 1873 he was elected sheriff of Douglas County, which at that time comprised Elbert and Douglas Counties, but when the division was made he resigned and was elected superintendent of schools in the former. He held that office for fourteen consecutive years, with the exception of 1884 and 1885, serving until 1892. Several times he has been elected justice of the peace, and was also appointed on the state board of stock inspectors by Governor Waite. Fraternally he is prominent, being the oldest and one of the best-informed Masons of Elbert County; he became a member of that order in February, following his twenty-first birthday, at Wauseen, Fulton County, Ohio, where he took three degrees. He has since taken the Scottish Rite, up to and including the thirty-second degree, being a member of Union Lodge No. 7, of Denver; Chapter No. 2, R. A. M.; Colorado Commandery K. T.; No. 1 El Jebel Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He is also a charter member of the Odd Fellow Lodge at Elbert, of which he has filled a number of the chairs; and a charter member of the Yeoman order, at Elizabeth, of which he is foreman. Mrs. Killin is a charter member and secretary of Lodge No. 29, W. R. C., of Elbert County, and is a member of the S. O. O. B. Society No. 1, of Denver, an auxiliary of the Knights Templar. Our subject is of genial disposition, a pleasant companion, and has many friends in the various communities in which he has lived.
ANIEL
T. CORT, a gentleman who has been prominently identified with many
business enterprises and an owner of considerable real estate,
some of which is in the city of Denver, is a member of the
Cort-Hames Mercantile Company, dealers in general merchandise in
Elizabeth, Elbert County, of which he is a resident. He is a son
of Simon and Sophia (Harden) Cort, and was born at Greensburg,
Westmoreland County, Pa., November 20, 1849, Simon Cort was also a
native of Westmoreland County, where he attended the public
schools, and at an early age learned the trade of a tanner. After
his marriage he moved to Leavenworth, Kan., where he embarked in
the mercantile business and successfully continued for a period of
four years. He then loaded his stock in wagons and crossed the
plains to Denver, locating between Blake and McGee streets, where
he subsequently erected the first two-story brick business block
in East Denver, now occupied by Bartel's seed store. He continued
in business there with good results until he retired from active
business life, and has since been living in Denver in the
enjoyment of the fruits of an
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industrious and well spent life. He is now past eighty-seven years of age, and has been an elder in the Presbyterian Church for fifty-five years. In politics he is a stanch Democrat and cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson. He was frequently called upon to accept office, and at one time refused the nomination for governor on the Prohibition ticket. He was elected to the state legislature from Jefferson County, of which he was a resident for a few years, but was counted out by a Republican legislature upon protest. He married Sophia Harden, a native of Westmoreland County, Pa., and a daughter of Capt. Harden, a soldier of the war of 1812.
Daniel P. Cort attended the public schools of Leavenworth, Kan., until he was eleven years of age, when his parents moved to Denver. There his education was supplemented by a course in the public schools and the Methodist seminary, leaving school at eighteen years. As a boy he clerked in his father's store, later for W. B. Daniels & Co. for four years, then for Walsen & Levy three and one-half years, thereby gaining a practical experience as to the best manner in which to carry on the business. He then started in business for himself with the last-named firm as his backers financially. The business prospered and in a short time he paid off the indebtedness and established himself at Franceville, El Paso County, where he continued until 1890, and then moved to Elizabeth, in which town he and his brother established a store a few years previous. He has since resided there and has the best equipped and stocked store in that section. He is at present interested in a ranch, owns some mining stock, and also considerable property in the city of Denver. He is a man of energy and enterprise and has won his way to the front by his individual efforts. A mail of good character, honorable and upright in all transactions, he possesses the confidence and esteem of all with whom he comes in contact in both business and social relations.
Daniel T. Cort married Miss Minnie F. Cary, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, and a daughter of Freeman G. Cary, who was president of the Farmers' College of that city for twenty-two years. Among the noted scholars under his tutelage were Murat Halstead, Benjamin Harrison and Benjamin Butterworth. She was a cousin of Phoebe and Alice Cary, who attained a world-wide reputation as poets. She was called to her final rest at Franceville in 1890, and was survived by two children: Simon Levy, aged fourteen, and Lelah Isabelle, aged ten years. The second marriage of our subject took place April 3, 1892, and united him with Miss Gertrude O. Randolph, who was born in Ohio, educated in the normal school at Valparaiso, Ind., and was a teacher of Elizabeth prior to her marriage. Politically Mr. Cort is an unswerving supporter of the Democratic party, and in 1876 polled his first vote for Tilden. He has never sought public offices, but was the nominee of his party for the state legislature in 1894.
ORMAN
D'ARCY, who is engaged in farming and stock raising on section 3,
township 6, range 66 west, near the village of Parker, Douglas
County, was born in Monkstown, Ireland, September 18, 1856, and is
a son of George J. and Maria (Bingham) D'Arcy. His father, who was
a native of Ireland, was of French lineage, as the name indicates.
The earliest records of the family indicate that they accompanied
William the Conqueror to England in 1066 and from there removed to
Ireland.
When our subject was a boy of about ten years he came to America with his parents and settled at Youngstown, Ohio, where he attended school until he was fourteen. He then secured a position as a clerk in a store in the city, and for three years continued in the same place. The following three years were spent as a clerk in Chicago. In 1876 he went to Texas and began to work upon a ranch, remaining in the state until i881. He then removed to New Mexico, where he bought land and carried on a ranch until 1895. During that year he came to Colorado and purchased his present home of more than nine hundred acres, where he has since been successful in carrying on general farm work.
December 18 1895, Mr. D'Arcy married Miss Evelyn H. Woodbury, who was born in Colorado, a daughter of Samuel S. and Evelyn (Heywood) Woodbury, and at the time of her marriage was living in Douglas County. Though reared in the Republican faith, Mr. D'Arcy is a stanch advocate of Democratic principles and votes the straight ticket. While he was in New Mexico he was a candidate for county commissioner for Bernalillo County.
