Mardos Collection
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 575
Woodmen of the World, and a fine singer, frequently singing in church choirs. In Lima, Ohio, he married Ella Bastable, whose father was a merchant there and at one time sheriff of the county. They are the parents of four children: Charles Kenneth, who is a mechanical engineer, employed in the shop with his father; Claudius F.; Nellie N. and Thomas L.
ILLIAM D. NASH, president of the Farmer & Hale Undertaking Company at No. 1625 Tremont street, Denver, is a descendant of an English family whose history in American can be traced back to 1637. During that year Thomas Nash came from London and settled in Stockbridge, Mass., where his remaining years were spent. He had a son, Timothy (born in England, 1626. died in Massachusetts, March 13, 1699), who married Rebecca, daughter of Rev. Samuel Stone, of Hartford, Conn. Their son, John, born August 21, 1667, was a resident of Hadley, Mass. Stephen, next in line of descent, was born September 20, 1704, and engaged in business at Stockbridge, where much of his active life was passed. His son, Moses, who was born in Westfield, Mass., settled in Stockbridge and from there enlisted as a lieutenant in the Revolution, doing excellent service as a member of a company of minute-men. He married Miss Anna Bliss, daughter of a minister in Boston, and both passed away in Stockbridge, he in 1792.
The next generation was represented by Peltiah Nash, our subject's grandfather, who was born in Stockbridge August 2, 1770, and in early manhood moved to Dorset, Vt., where he conducted a furniture business. From there he went to New York City and engaged in business, but later retired and moved west to Marshall, Mich., where he died in 1847. During his residence in Dorset, Vt., a son, Harvey B. Nash, was born. The latter engaged in the furniture and undertaking business in New York for more than fifty years, and was the patentee of the first bed-fastener and mitre box, both of which he manufactured for the trade. He married Mary J. Dunham, who was born at Sandy Hill on the Hudson, N. Y., the daughter of Samuel Dunham, who was of Scotch descent and engaged in farming there. She died at Sandy Hill in 1881. Of her four children, one son died at twenty-three years; the two daughters are Mrs. J. D. Sherrill, of Sandy Hill, and Estella, of Denver. The youngest of the family is the subject of this sketch. He was born and reared in Sandy Hill, N. Y., and attended the grammar and high schools, from which latter he graduated in 1879. He afterward embarked in business with his father, the firm title being H. B. Nash & Son until the death of the senior member. The soil then succeeded to the business, which he carried on until 1888, and then sold out, locating in Denver the following year.
Here Mr. Nash became interested in the firm of Farmer & Hale, of which he was manager until 1894. The business was then incorporated as the Farmer & Hale Undertaking Company, with himself as president, F. C. Farmer, vice-president, and C. Hale, secretary, until March, 1698, when William D. Nash bought the entire stock. Through his energy and good judgment a large business has been built up, and the reputation of the firm established for integrity and fair business transactions. He is a graduate of the United States College of Embalming in New York City. In the organization of the Colorado State Funeral Directors' Association he took all active part, and is now serving his second term as its president. He is also identified with the National Funeral Directors' Association.
In New York City Mr. Nash married Miss Susie DeMaugh, whose father, John DeMaugh, was born in that city, of French descent. By this union two children have been born, Chauncey and William D. During his residence in the east Mr. Nash was made a Mason, and is now a member of Oriental Lodge No. 87, A. F. & A. M., also of Denver Chapter No. 2. Denver Lodge No. 41, K. of P., and the Royal Arcanum, number him among their members. He became connected with the Modern Woodmen in New York and took an active part in organizing the Woodmen of the World in Denver. He has been an officer in the lodge, and its delegate to the district convention at Pueblo, the conventions at Portland, Ore., and Helena, Mont., and at one time representative of the Sovereign Camp at Omaha. In the organization of local societies in different parts of Colorado he has been actively interested. He is a member of the Society of Sons of the Revolution, and politically is of the Republican faith.
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576
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
AMUEL HERMAN MEUER, M. D. In his work as a physician Dr. Meuer has gained a place among the able and successful specialists of Denver, where, while engaging in a general practice, he is at the same time making a specialty of the treatment of diseases of the nose, throat and lungs. He makes of his profession a never-ending source of investigation, and as new remedies are discovered and new methods of healing adopted he studies each carefully, with a view to incorporating every practicable idea in his own practice. Although a young man and still in the dawn of the success that has attended his efforts, he has already given abundant evidence of the ability that qualifies him for a high place in the medical profession. Truly ambitious, and with an ambition whose aim is high, there seems to be no reason why his ability should not find full scope in relieving the ills to which this suffering world is heir.
The son of Louis and Eva (Minski) Meuer, the subject of this article was born in the northeastern part of Russia February 21, 1866. When he was six months old his father died. In 1877, when only eleven years of age, he came to the United States alone, and afterward made his home with relatives of his father in New York City, securing a fair education in the schools of that city. From an early age he was desirous of entering the medical profession, and his studies were directed with that end in view. At the age of eighteen he entered the New York University. A year later he took up the study of medicine in Bellevue Hospital Medical College, but at the close of the first term, his money being almost exhausted, he secured employment as traveling salesman for a New York importing house, and during the three years that followed he traveled through much of the United States.
When his finances permitted him to resume professional studies he entered Gross Medical College in Denver, Colo., from which he was graduated in 1894, completing the regular course of study with credit to himself. While still a medical student, in 1891, he, in company with his uncle, Dr. A. J. Meuer, went to Berlin, Germany, to investigate Koch's discovery for the treatment of tuberculosis. He took a full course, and on their return to Denver opened the Koch Hospital Sanitarium under most favorable auspices, but after three years' work the hospital was abandoned. This experience materially aided Dr. Meuer in the treatment of diseases of the lungs. He at once took up the practice of medicine in this city, where he has carried on a practice that he is well qualified to conduct successfully. In addition to his private practice he holds the position of clinical instructor in nose and throat diseases with his alma mater, Gross Medical College. He is a member of various organizations, among them the American Medical Association, and is a valuable addition to the best society of Denver. He was married in this city, in 1894, to Miss Alice J. Killam.
RANKLIN COOK, who served honorably as a soldier in the Civil war, came to Denver in 1891 and has since followed the occupation of carpenter and builder, his location being No. 1423 Champa street. He was born near Whitehall, Washington County, N. Y., and is one of twelve children, eleven of whom attained years of maturity. His paternal grandfather, Rev. Richard Cook, was a native of Washington County and a minister in the Society of Friends; on the maternal side, Grandfather Richardson engaged in farming in Vermont.
Seth Cook, our subject's father, was born in Washington County, where for some time he carried on farm pursuits, later removing to Manchester, Vt., where he died at sixty-nine years. His wife, who was born in the mountainous district of Vermont, died when sixty-seven years of age. Their son, our subject, was reared in Washington County and attended the public schools when a boy. In July of 1862 he enlisted in the Federal service. He became a member of Company K, One Hundred and Twenty-third New York Infantry, and was mustered into service at Salem, N. Y., after which he went to the front. Among his first battles were those of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. Afterward the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps were consolidated and became the Twentieth, with Sherman as commander. Altogether he took part in thirty-six engagements, and during all these conflicts, with the exception of two slight wounds, he escaped uninjured. He remained with the company continuously until he was honorably discharged in Albany, N. Y., in June, 1863, after a service of three years lacking two months,
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 577
For two years after his return from the war Mr. Cook engaged in farming in Vermont. Afterward he engaged in carpentering in Washington County, N. Y., and later became a contractor in Granville. In 1885 he went to St. Paul, Minn., and from there, in 1887, removed to Marion, Fla., where he was interested in the building business. The year 1889 found him in Philadelphia, but from there he soon went to Marion, Ind., where he had the contract for the building of six houses. A year later, in 1891, he came to Denver, where he has business and residence property at No. 1423 Champa street. Politically he votes the Republican ticket, but has never been active in public affairs. He is connected with Lincoln Post, G. A. R., and like all old soldiers heartily enjoys recounting, with other veterans, incidents and experiences of those fateful years, 1861-65. He was married in Philadelphia, his wife being Miss Georgia Williams, a native of that city.
At the age of fifteen our subject was apprenticed to the carpenter's trade, at which he worked for four years in his native place. He continued working there for six months after the expiration of his time, and then went to Dundee, where he remained for nine months. Afterward he spent a year in Edinburgh and three years in Gallishields. In 1871 he took passage at Glasgow on a steamship bound for New York City, and after reaching the United States settled in Chicago, arriving in that city shortly after the great fire. He secured work in hall and stair building, and remained in the city until 1879. During that year he came to Denver, where he was employed as foreman in a stair shop until April, 1880, and then, with Thomas Nichol (ex-county commissioner) and E. F. Hallack, started what is now the Hallack-Sayre-Newton Lumber Company. After assisting in running this for two years he sold out and engaged in contracting, to which he has since given his attention, being now a member of the firm of Thompson & Helm. Among his contracts were those for an addition to the Whittier school, the contract for the Wayman school, manual training school, Franklin school on the west side, Logan school and Fairmount school, the high school on the north side, Columbine, Louise A. Olcott and Webster schools; Arapahoe block, Union depot, Charles block, and the finishing of the Albany hotel.
In Chicago Mr. Thompson married Miss Mary A. McGilivray, who was born in Forfarshire, Scotland. They are the parents of five children: James, a student in the School of Mines, class of '99; Jessie, who graduated from the high school of Denver in 1897; George, Jane and Helen M. Politically Mr. Thompson is a silver Republican. Fraternally he is connected with Arapahoe Lodge No. 24, and was one of the organizers of the Master Builders' Association, of which he served at one time as president.
AMES H. GORMAN. During the '60s the tide of emigration drifted steadily westward to the mountains. A party, one hundred strong, left Belvidere, Ill., August 26, 1866, with Colorado for their destination. They were well equipped with horse and mule teams and an abundant supply of provisions. Reaching the Missouri at Council Bluffs, they crossed the river on a ferry, and then proceeded up the Platte to North Bend, where they again crossed on a ferry. The long journey across the plains finally came to an end. Denver was reached, from which point one member of the party, Mr. Gorman, went on to Golden and secured employment in freighting between Golden and Central. As soon as the weather became too cold for freighting, he entered the employ of the Overland Stage Company. In the spring of 1867 he opened a livery stable in Golden and about the same time pre-empted a ranch north of Table Mountain, where he engaged in raising race horses. Later he bought
578
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. property south of the mountain. He assisted in building the first race track in Jefferson County and had a corral near by.
Selling this place in 1886, Mr. Gorman engaged in the stock business between Golden, Central City, Blackhawk and Georgetown to Denver. Meantime he also stocked a ranch of four hundred acres at Fort Lupton, placing on it four hundred and fifty head of cattle. When the excitement incident to the discovery of gold in the Black Hills had drawn many men to that place, he shipped the cattle there and sold out. He then began to raise horses on his ranch, becoming the owner of the best-bred stallion in Colorado, Hamilton Abdallah Pilot by Administrator, sired by Hamiltonian No. 10, dam Lucille by Alex. Abdallah. Upon his farm he had as many as one hundred and fifty horses at a time. One of his colts he sold when nine days old for $100. Another colt, E. S., had a three-year-old record of 2:14.
Tiring of ranch life, in 1890 Mr. Gorman shipped his horses to Illinois and sold them. He then settled in Lupton, where he built three large brick buildings. One of these was used for a dry goods store and hotel, another for a carriage shop and the third for machinery. He engaged in business there until 1891, when he sold out. Coming to Denver in the spring of that year, he started a livery stable on Twenty-fourth street, but after six months he located at No. 2055 Market street, where he has a building with a frontage of fifty-six feet, and one hundred and twenty-five feet deep, two stories in height. He still raises fine horses, and now owns Ida May, by Abdallah Pilot of Hamilton, daughter of Ida Martin by Weisbaten, full brother to Wedge Wood; also Amazonia by Abdallah Pilot, dam by Monarch Bell, with pedigree back to Strong Monarch. He is also interested in mining. Politically he is a Democrat, which party he has often represented in county and state conventions and upon county committees. While in Golden he served a marshal and deputy sheriff. Fraternally he is a Knight of Pythias, belonging to Brighton Lodge.
Mr. Gorman was born in Belvidere, Boone County, Ill., November 27, 1841, and is a son of Philip and Mary (Riley) Gorman, natives respectively of Canada and Ireland. His father, settling in Boone County in the early days, entered land seven miles north of Belvidere and there continued to reside until his death, at seventy years. His wife, who emigrated with her parents from Ireland to Canada, now resides on the old homestead in Illinois and is about ninety years of age. They were the parents of eight children that attained mature years and of these three are in Illinois and five in Colorado, James H. being the oldest of all. He was reared in Illinois and. during the winter months attended a school taught in a log house that stood upon the prairie. At the age of nineteen he started for himself with one span of horses. He engaged in threshing and farming until 1866, when he came to Colorado, where he has since resided. He was married in Denver to Miss Mary E. Burns and they have two sons, George H. and Philip J. Mrs. Gorman is a daughter of James L. Burns, who was born in New York state and is now engaged in the dairy business near Denver.
NDREW SAGENDORF. There may occasionally be found, among the residents of Denver, one who remembers it as it was in 1859. But almost none now living saw, as did Mr. Sagendorf, the present site of the city at a period earlier than that. He came across the plains in 1858 with a party of forty-six, the trip, which was made with oxen, taking sixty-three days and coming to an end November 6. Of that large party all were hale, robust men except the subject of this sketch, who was an invalid seeking the far west in the hope that the climate might benefit his health; yet of all that party, so far as he knows, only six are now living, and four of these are in Colorado, viz.: Richard Blore, John Sanderson, McCaslin, of Longmont, and himself. Denver in 1858 did not present a promising appearance and even the most cheerful optimist could have found little upon which to build theories for future greatness. The scenery, then, as now, was charming. To the south and west spread the beautiful mountains, snow capped during much of the year, and containing, so rumor said, countless stores of gold. Along the banks of the Platte River grew tall cottonwood trees and some outlined the course of Cherry Creek. Houses there were none, nor any sign of human habitation save tents and Indian wigwams. Where now stands West Denver, on the west
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 579
bank of Cherry Creek, was Denver's rival, Aurana, which was laid out in October, 1858, and was the more important town up to the time of the flood, in 1864. It was given its name by Green Russel, who had migrated from Auraria, Ga. The first houses were constructed of cottonwood logs. For a time Auraria prospered more than Denver. During the winter of 1858-59 it is said that one hundred and twenty-five houses were built there, but these were of a most primitive character, destitute of board floors, nails and glass.
Meantime Denver was given its present name in honor of the then Governor of Kansas, Gen. J. W. Denver, of Leavenworth. Houses were built of hewed logs, a sawmill was built in March, 1859, and in April William N. Byers arrived here and established the first newspaper, called the Rocky Mountain News. There were a few Free Masons in the place and in December of 1858 they met socially in Dr. Russell's cabin, on what is now Tenth street, and later organized Auraria Lodge. Among these men was Mr. Sagendorf, who had been made a Mason in December, 1856, when he united with Allen Lodge No. 13, at Hudson, N. Y. Afterward he affiliated with Bellevue Lodge in Nebraska. Auraria Lodge was instituted in Denver in January, 1859, working under a dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Kansas. Henry Allen was W. M. and Judge Smith secretary. The organization was maintained, and presently secured a charter, by which it became independent of Kansas jurisdiction and united with the Grand Lodge of Colorado, as Denver Lodge No. 5. Mr. Sagendorf attended the meetings of the lodge regularly and was its past master in 1864. His interest in Masonry led him to identify himself later with Denver Chapter No. 2, R. A. M., and Denver Commandery No. 1, K. T. In 1874 he assisted in the organization of a chapter of Royal Arch Masons at Colorado Springs and was its first high priest, holding the office for two years. Afterward he assisted in organizing Pike's Peak Commandery No. 6, of which he was the first commander, holding that position for three years. For one term he was master of El Paso Lodge No. 13, and in 1884 he was grand master of the grand lodge of Colorado; he was also deputy grand high priest of the grand chapter of Colorado. He still belongs to the Colorado Springs Lodge and is a member of El Jebel Temple of Denver. He has been very prominently connected with the fraternity and is one of its most active and popular officials.
All the facts that we have mentioned in the early history of Denver are fresh in the mind of Mr. Sagendorf, besides many others of equal interest. His close connection with the early history of Denver, and the fact that he is still one of her most honored citizens, will make his biography of interest to the people of this section Many years ago the Sagendorf family emigrated from Germany to America and settled four miles east of the Hudson, where some of their grant of land is still held by their descendants. Harmon Sagendorf, who was born in Columbia County, N. Y., was one of seven brothers and had seven sons, to each of whom he gave land adjoining the home place. He was a member of the Reformed Church of America. Of his sons, Andrew, our subject's father, was born in Columbia County and was captain of a company in the war of 1812. He continued to farm until his death in 1855, at the age of sixty years. His wife, who was born in the same county as himself, was Maria Whitbeck, daughter of John Whitbeck, a major of the war of 1812 and a member of an old Holland-Dutch family. She died when seventy-four years old. Of her four sons and four daughters all but one son attained mature years, and one son and three daughters are now living.
Andrew, who was next to the youngest of the family, was born near the Hudson in Columbia County, N. Y., and grew to manhood on the home farm, receiving the advantages afforded by public schools and Hudson Academy. For a time he taught school in his native county, but ill health forced him to discontinue the work and seek a change of climate. In 1856 he started west, going from Iowa City by stage coach to Omaha, and then locating near Bellevue, Sarpy County, Neb. Subsequently he located and entered three hundred and twenty acres, on which later the town of Papillion, on the Union Pacific, was built; he remained there until 1858. Meantime a rumor had been heard of the discovery of gold in Colorado, and people were preparing to seek their fortunes in the Rocky Mountains. Among these adventurous pioneers was Mr. Sagendorf, who started west, intending to go to Salt Lake, but, changing his plans, came to what is
580
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. now Denver instead. He engaged in prospecting and mining in this vicinity with varying success. May 8, 1859, he went to the Jackson bar, and a few days after his arrival he and Ransom Smith discovered the Spanish bar above Idaho Springs, one of the richest bars in Clear Creek County. He was taken ill and obliged to return to Denver, leaving matters in charge of his partner, who sold the bar. For some years he was secretary of the Auraria Town Company on the west side. Upon the establishment of the United States government mint in Denver he was given a position as weigher. Later he was private secretary to Governor Evans. On resigning that position he established a wholesale and retail grocery on Fifteenth near Blake street, which later he sold. In November, 1865, he was appointed postmaster by President Johnson and had charge of the office, then located on Larimer street between Fourteenth and Fifteenth. The work, however, was too confining, and in the spring of 1869 he resigned. Shortly afterward he went to the White River to superintend the building of the first Ute Indian agency, for which Governor A. C. Hunt had the contract, and he remained there from July, 1869, until August, 1870.
For four years Mr. Sagendorf engaged in stock-raising on his ranch in Douglas County, from which place he went to Colorado Springs and engaged in the drug business for eight years; then sold out and came back to Denver. For one year he was deputy assessor of internal revenue under Revenue Collector J. S. Wolfe. In February, 1885, he was appointed register of the state board of land commissioners, and served until April 15, 1891. He is now secretary and treasurer of the Tenderfoot Leasing and Mining Company and is interested in Cripple Creek mines. He was among the first citizens of Denver who built south of Cherry Creek, his comfortable home at No. 133 West Fourth avenue having been built in 1889.
Reared a Democrat, Mr. Sagendorf became a Republican during the war and has since adhered to the principles of that party. In 1862, in Denver, he married Mrs. Eliza D. McCook, whose first husband was a brother of General McCook. She was a daughter of Lazarus McLain, of New Lisbon, Ohio, and came to Colorado in June, 1860, with two brothers, one of whom was assistant surgeon in the United States army and a member of the first legislature of Colorado; the other, William D., was captain of the First Colorado Light Battery, during the war. Mrs. Sagendorf died in 1894. She was a member of the Society of Knight Templars' Wives, the Pioneer Ladies' Aid Society and the First Congregational Church. She left two sons, but one, William L., died in 1897, at the age of thirty-two; the other, Andrew H., is an engineer and machinist at Cripple Creek, this state.
The Converse family is of English descent and was represented among the pioneers of Massachusetts, some of its members there enlisting for service in the Revolution. Royal Converse was born in the Lake Champlain district of New York, but afterward removed to Portage County, Ohio, where he entered and improved a tract of land. His son, Chandler, who was born in the same locality as himself, engaged in farming in Kent, Portage County, where he died at seventy-five years of age. He was a member of the Christian Church and a man of upright, unblemished character. His wife, Johanna Gaylord, was born in Springfield, Mass., and accompanied her father, John Gaylord, from there to Kent, Ohio. She is a descendant of English ancestors. For some years she has resided in Cleveland, where she has a home on Euclid avenue. Of her four children three are living: Erwin resides in Cleveland; Ellen, Mrs. M. J. Glasier, also resides in that city; Edelbert, who was a member of Garfield's old regiment (the Forty-second Ohio), died in the south; Jerome C., who was born in Franklin Township, Portage County, is the youngest of the family.
Reared on the home farm, our subject assisted
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 581
in the cultivation of the place until he was twenty-three. He then entered the employ of the Wheeler and Wilson Sewing Machine Company, which he represented for five years. Afterwards, for seventeen years, he traveled as salesman for the Akron Rolling Mill Company, having as his territory Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Canada, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Kentucky. In 1889 he resigned and came west, locating in Denver, where he opened a grocery on the corner of Thirteenth street and Colfax avenue west. After a year he retired from the business and organized the Denver Commission and Realty Company, which has its office at No. 1538 Lawrence street. They occupy a building of two stories, 25x150, and are engaged in a general commission business. During the season of 1898 they handled fifteen hundred bicycles and their other business has also been large.
In Ravenna, Ohio, Mr. Converse married Miss Emma Rodenbaugh, who was born in Springfield, Ohio. She is a daughter of John Rodenbaugh, for years the state auctioneer and a very prominent commission man, but who, on one of his trips, was murdered for his money. Mr. Converse has one son, Harry C., a member of the police force of Denver. Fraternally he is connected with the Royal Arcanum, in religion is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and politically has always been stanch in his adherence to Republican principles. His wife was a charter member of, the Civil Federation, and one of its most active workers, being associated with Mrs. Frank Hall and others upon important committees.
March 23, 1879, he arrived in Denver, strengthened in body, and able to take up business pursuits. He had with him the finest team ever seen in Denver at that time, and also two unbroken colts, and ever since then he has always kept a span of fine horses, his fondness for equine flesh being one of his noticeable characteristics.
The Knowles family is of English and Welsh descent. The grandfather of our subject was Seth Knowles, a native of Connecticut and a Revolutionary soldier, who about 1812 settled in Livingston County, N. Y., and founded the town of Springwater, which he named on account of its numerous springs. His son, Girard Knowles, was born in Connecticut in 1800 and was one of twenty-one children that attained mature years. From Livingston County he moved to Canadice, Ontario County, where he engaged in fanning. He died while on a visit in Wisconsin. Twelve children were born of his marriage to Diana Farwell, a native of New York and of Scotch descent.
One of the youngest of the children and the only one to come to Colorado was Joseph C., who was born in Springwater, N. Y., September 4, 1842, and was eight when the family removed to Canadice. The next year he went to make his home with the family's nearest neighbor, Mr.
582
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. Macomber, a shoemaker, who taught him the trade and cared for him during the twelve years he was an inmate of the house. In 1862 he attempted to enlist in the army, but was rejected on physician's examination. In 1863 he removed to Albion, Mich., and the next year bought a farm two miles east of Albion, where he engaged in farming until his removal west.
On settling in Colorado Mr. Knowles began freighting between Denver and Leadville. Later he decided to engage in merchandising in Leadville, but the altitude was too high and he was unable to remain. He then bought one hundred and sixty acres nine miles from Denver, where Irondale now stands, and two years later started a dairy, but after twelve months he sold out and located nearer the city, buying a farm on which he engaged in the dairy business and general agricultural pursuits. Since then he has dealt in farm and city property. About 1882 he disposed of his farm in Michigan; but he still owns ranches in different parts of Colorado. In 1885 he bought land at $50 an acre, which he later sold at $250, and also a tract at $55 which afterwards brought him $800 an acre. From boyhood he was interested in fruits, and in Colorado he has been an experimenter in orchards, having set out the first orchard in Platte Valley. He has set out about twenty acres in orchards, and one of his orchards is considered the finest in the state. Its trees are capable of bearing six to eight barrels of fruit and have to be propped up in order that the weight of the fruit may not break the branches. The fruit problem was an enigma at the time he came here and he spent considerable money in experimenting, but has found that all fruits will grow here except pears, which cannot be raised. In addition to his orchards, he has on his ranch a fine residence and two artesian wells. In 1893 he bought the Knowles building, 60x125, four stories in height, and adjoining the Gettysburg Panorama, on Champa near Seventeenth street, one of the most desirable corners in the city. He is also interested in mining. Politically he is a silver Republican.
In Calhoun County, Mich., Mr. Knowles married Miss Eliza A. Dart, who was born in Barnstable, England. After the death of her parents, Burwick and Ann Dart, which occurred when she was small, she came with an uncle to America and grew to womanhood in Michigan.
She is the mother of six children, the eldest of whom, Mrs. Clara Adell Leggett, died in Colorado. The others are Mrs. Evora Mabel Bowen, of Denver; Chloe Anita, Arthur Seward, Isabelle and Eva Viola.
EORGE W. SCHECK, president of the Leonard-Scheck Saddlery Company at Nos. 1716-20 Arapahoe street, Denver, was born in Nashville, Tenn., July 7, 1857, and is a son of Michael and Marie (Scharnagle) Scheck. His parents, both of whom were natives of Germany, came to the United States in early life, he crossing the ocean first and securing employment as a dyer and scourer in Alabama. As soon as he was established in business, she joined him there and they were married. After a year or more they removed to Nashville, Penn., where they made their home during the entire period of the war.
The earliest recollections of our subject are of the fair southern city where he was born and the excitement incident to war between the north and south. He attended the public schools until he was fourteen years of age, when he became an apprentice to the harness-maker's trade, receiving $1 per week and his board. After two years he secured another position that paid him $7 per week, although, being obliged to board himself, the profit was not large. A year was spent there, after which he went into a larger establishment to complete his trade, and later he was employed as a journeyman for some six years. In 1881 he came to Denver and for several years worked as a journeyman, but in 1888 started in business for himself and two years later with S. B. Leonard established the shop which they have since conducted. The company engages in the manufacture and sale of harness, saddles and bicycles, and carries on a trade amounting to more than $100,000 per annum.
In 1882, in Denver, Mr. Scheck married Miss Anna Hennekes, with whom he had become acquainted in Cincinnati, her birthplace. Like himself, she was of German parentage and possessed the energy and thrift characteristic of that people. At her death, which occurred in 1892, she left two children, Herbert and Laura. The present wife of Mr. Scheck, with whom he was united in 1894, bore the maiden name of Mary Fenger, and was born in Cincinnati, but formed
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