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ployment that was offered. After six years in general work he turned his attention to mining, and for five years engaged as a miner in Aspen, Colo. He then went to Cripple Creek and established what is now Beaver Park dairy. This he stocked with seventy-five thoroughbred Holsteins. Success attended the enterprise, and he still owns the dairy.
From Cripple Creek in 1898 Mr. Binner moved to his present home in Arapahoe County, where he settled upon a part of the Caley ranch. He has gained many friends among the people in and around Littleton, who respect him for the energy he has shown in working his way up to success. Fraternally he is a Chapter Mason, connected with the lodge at Cripple Creek. He has never identified himself with any political party, being independent in his opinions. He was united in marriage February 17, 1892, with Miss Minnie M. Caley, an estimable lady, who shares with him in the esteem of their neighbors and friends.
ATHANIEL W. SAMPLE. Since 1871 Mr. Sample has been with the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad in Denver, and his steady advancement to positions of increasing importance proves the efficient and acceptable character of his services. At the time he came west he expected to remain here but a short time, instead of which he has remained a permanent resident, identified with the growth and interested in the progress of the city and state. He was made general superintendent of the road January 1, 1892, and has since held that responsible position.
The Sample family is of remote Irish descent, tracing its ancestry to John Sample, who with his brother set sail from Ireland in 1680 and settled in Peachbottom, York County, Pa., of which he was a pioneer. From him was descended Rev. Nathaniel W. Sample, a native of York County and a graduate of Princeton in 1752, later pastor of the Leacock Presbyterian Church in Lancaster County for forty years. Next in line of descent was Nathaniel W. Sample, M. D., who was born in York County, graduated from the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, and afterward practiced his profession in Lancaster County until his death, at eighty-six years. His son and namesake also became a physician, graduating from Jefferson Medical College and practicing in Lancaster County until he died at thirty-two years of age. In religious belief he was a Presbyterian.
The mother of our subject, Sarah Hamilton (Steele) Sample, was born in Philadelphia, of Scotch lineage, and died in Pennsylvania in 1893, when seventy-four years old. She was a descendant of Capt. William Steele, who was born in Pennsylvania and accompanied the provincial troops under Arnold to Quebec, having command of a company that he had raised in the southern part of Lancaster County. His son, Gen. John Francis Steele, was a captain in the Revolution, witnessed the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown and was later appointed major-general of Pennsylvania state troops. Entering politics, he received appointment as collector for the port of Philadelphia, which he held for sixteen years. He was also a director in the old United States Bank of Philadelphia. He attained advanced years and died in Philadelphia. His commission, signed by John Q. Adams, secretary of state to George Washington, is now in the possession of our subject. It is worthy of note that both he and his father, the captain, studied for the ministry, but abandoned it to take up arms, the latter serving for some time in the regular army, and after his resignation engaging in the cultivation of a farm in Lancaster County until his death at sixty-five years.
The subject of this sketch was born near Gordonville, Lancaster County, Pa., August 14, 1843, the same day and month on which were born his father, grandfather and great-grandfather, all of whom bore the same name. He was the second of four children, the others being Jane, Mrs. C. E. Long, who died in Lancaster in 1897; Margaret, Mrs. S. C. Stewart, of Tyrone, Pa.; and John, also a resident of Tyrone. When he was eight years of age Nathaniel lost his father. He was given fair educational advantages in the public schools and Beck's Academy. In 1858 he went to Philadelphia, where he was apprenticed to the machinist's trade in the Baldwin Locomotive works, remaining there until some months after the Civil war opened.
In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company K, Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and was mustered in at Philadelphia, being assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. During the Atlanta
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. campaign he was a non-commissioned officer, and afterward was commissioned first lieutenant of his company by Governor Curtin. In January, 1865, he was appointed aide-de-camp on the staff of Gen. W. J. Palmer, commanding the First Brigade, First Cavalry, Military Division of Mississippi. In July, 1865, he was mustered out and honorably discharged at Nashville. He then resumed his work as machinist in the Baldwin shops, Philadelphia, where he remained until 1871. In that year he came to Denver with three locomotives from the shops, which he was to set up and start in the shops of the Denver & Rio Grande, intending to return to Philadelphia as soon as his work was ended. However, his plans were changed and he remained with the Denver & Rio Grande, becoming first foreman in the company's shops. In 1877 he was appointed master mechanic and superintendent of machinery for the company, which position he held until the last of 1891, and then resigned to become general superintendent of the road. At the time that he was superintendent of machinery the Denver & Rio Grande and Rio Grande Western were under one management, the line extending to Ogden. He built the shop in Denver and that in Salt Lake City.
Mr. Sample is a member of the Master Mechanics' Association of the United States and Canada, and is also connected with the Society of Colonial Wars and the Colorado Commandery of the Loyal Legion. Politically he is a Republican and in religious belief a Presbyterian. His first marriage united him with Miss Louisa Hoff; of Philadelphia, who died six months later. In August, 1890, in Denver, he was united in marriage with Miss Nellie Town, whose parents were early settlers of Denver, coming from New York state. They have three children, Nathaniel W., Jr., William and Caroline Shopleigh.
LLISON STOCKER, member of the firm of Stocker & Fraser and representative of the fifteenth ward in the Denver city council, is one of the well-known residents of Highlands. In 7892 he was an alderman in that suburb and the following year was the candidate on the Populist ticket for mayor. In the spring of 1897 he was elected alderman from the fifteenth ward, which includes all of Highlands and Barnum.
Since becoming a member of the council he has supported measures for the benefit of his constituency. Among the important positions he has filled while in the council is that of chairman of the finance committee, water committee and electric light and gas committees.
The first member of the Stocker family in America was our subject's grandfather, who came from Ireland and settled in Catawissa, Columbia County, Pa., where he engaged in farming until his death. It is not known whether his son, Matthew S., was born in Ireland or Pennsylvania, but if the former, he was brought to America in infancy. He learned the carpenter's trade and was a large contractor in St. Clair, Schuylkill County, Pa. In 7879 he came to Colorado and settled in Leadville, but his last days were spent in Denver, where he died in November, 1884, at the age of sixty years. His wife, who was born in Mauch Chunk, Pa., and resides in Denver, bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Allison. Her father, Joseph Allison, was born in England, but came to America and settled in Mauch Chunk, Pa., thence removed to St. Clair and became superintendent of a colliery. He died about 1891, when eighty-seven years of age.
In the family of Matthew S. Stocker there were nine children, but only four are now living. One son, Alexander S., is with the Rio Grande & Western Railroad in Salt Lake City; another son, William, resides in Denver, which is also the home of the only surviving daughter, Mrs. J. H. G. Fraser. Allison Stocker was born in St. Clair, Pa., in 1862, and received his education in that place. Having learned the carpenter's trade, he came to Colorado, in March, 1880, settling in Leadville, where he worked at his trade and also prospected. Two years later he came to Denver, where, in 1888, he began contracting and building, and is now in partnership with John H. G. Fraser; the firm having put up a large number of buildings here.
Mr. Stocker is past master of Highlands Lodge No. 86, A. F. & A. M. He is a silver Democrat and a member of the Jacksonian Democratic Club. In religious connections he is identified with the Boulevard Congregational Church in Highlands, in which he is a chairman of the board of trustees and has been president of the Sunday Evening Club. His home at No. 2636 West Twenty-seventh avenue is presided over by
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his estimable wife, whom he married in Denver. She was formerly Blanche Roerig and was born in St. Clair, Pa., being a daughter of Henry Roerig. The three children born of their union are named, Jessie May, Harry Short and Ruth Stocker.
ARRY NUTTING, cashier of the Bank of Littleton and manager of the R. W. English Lumber Company of Littleton, has taken an active part in municipal affairs, contributing to the commercial growth of the place and assisting in the development of its resources. In 1892 he was chosen to occupy the office of town treasurer and has since served in this capacity. He was largely instrumental in establishing the Littleton board of trade, which was organized April 7, 7892, and he held the office of secretary of the board from that time until the dissolution of the board in 1894.
Mr. Nutting was one of eight children, five of whom are living: Burtis, who is married and has one child; Drusilla and Rupert; Gladys, wife of Charles H. Davis and mother of four children; and Harry E., who was born in Linn County, Iowa, June 28, 1867. His father, Eugene Nutting, was born in Cattaraugus County, N. Y., June 2, 1837, and at the age of twenty-four removed to Marion, Iowa, where he married Sarah Burtis. Soon afterward he settled upon a farm, where he remained for a number of years. In 1872 he migrated to Kansas and for eighteen months made his home in Osborn City. From there he came to Colorado and settled at Deer Trail, Arapahoe County, fifty miles from Denver. In 1880 he again removed, this time settling in Silvercliff, where he spent some four years. Later he located in Canon City, of which place he was afterward a prosperous timber contractor. He was a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and a guide of his lodge. In politics he affiliated with the Republican party. He died in Canon City March 6, 1898.
In the various removals of the family the subject of this sketch accompanied his parents. He attended the public and high schools of Canon City, but at the age of fourteen discontinued his studies and began to earn his livelihood. For some mouths his time was given to ranching, but later he turned his attention to the lumber business, in which he has since successfully engaged.
In 1898 he accepted a position as bookkeeper for R. W. English at Salida, where he remained for one and one-half years, and then came to Littleton as manager for the R. W. English Lumber Company, of this place. In 1892 the banking business was opened up in connection with the lumber trade, and on the first of March, 1896, Mr. Nutting was made cashier of the bank, which position he has since held, at the same time retaining the management of the lumber business. Fraternally he is connected, with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Chapter Masons, while in politics he votes the Republican ticket, supporting the men and measures advocated by his party.
DWARD BELL FIELD. Much has been written in praise of the glories of Colorado climate. Its beauties and its health-giving qualities have made the state well known throughout the entire world, and have attracted hither people from every land, in the hope that the pure air and fine climate of the mountain regions might restore them to health. In the list of well-known men of Denver who came west for their health mention belongs to Mr. Field, who crossed the country from Massachusetts, the victim of consumption in its first stage. Naturally, since his complete restoration to health, he is enthusiastic regarding the climate of the west. Nor is he less a believer in the future of Colorado as a commercial center. With mining and stock-raising as its principal and most profitable industries, with a grand climate too, he feels that Colorado must shortly become among the greatest states in the galaxy of our country.
The Field family has been identified with the history of America since an early period in the existence of Massachusetts. From the original home, Quincy, Mass., the descendants scattered throughout New England, and one branch went to Virginia. The father of the subject of this article, James B. Field, was born in West Newbury, Mass., and for years was manager of a theater in Chelsea, but is now living retired, at seventy-two years of age. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Eliza Ann Bell, died about 1860, when thirty-three years of age. She, too, was a member of a pioneer family of Massachusetts.
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. In Chelsea, Mass., where he was born September 4, 1850, the subject of this article passed the years of boyhood, alternating attendance at school with the usual sports and employments of youth. He was fifteen when he began to earn his own livelihood. At the age of fifteen he entered a wholesale woolen house in Boston, where, from an unimportant position with small salary, he worked his way, through diligence and perseverance, to a position of responsibility and trust.
Doubtless he would have been a resident of Boston to-day, had it not been for his health, which failed so seriously that a change of climate was rendered necessary. On coming to Denver, in November, 1879, he at once began to improve in health. In January, 1880, he secured employment as an operator with a telephone company and while filling that place he spent his nights in the study of electricity. After a year he was promoted to be manager of the operating department for the state of Colorado. In 1882 he was appointed superintendent of the company and the next year was made general manager, which position he still fills. He is also vice-president and general manager of the Colorado Telephone and Telegraph Company, which operates in New Mexico, having been made an officer of the company in February, 1898. He is also vice-president and general manager of the A. D. T. Company.
In all matters relating to politics Mr. Field takes an intelligent interest. From youth to the present time he has been a Republican, and believes that the principles of this political organization are best adapted to secure the progress of free government and perpetuate the institutions of our republic. However, he takes no further interest than to express his sentiments through the ballot, never having sought office for himself. His business affairs have occupied his time and absorbed his attention. He is connected with the Masonic fraternity, the Denver Club, the Denver Athletic Club and the Overland Park Club. In all work pertaining to the welfare of the city and state he has maintained a warm interest, and his co-operation has always been given to public-spirited projects.
In Chelsea, prior to his removal west, Mr. Field was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Legg, member of an old New England family from Providence, R. I. They are the parents of four children: Edward Bell, Jr., who is a graduate of the Denver high school and is treasurer of the various companies in which his father is interested; May Agnes, Martha L. and Grace W. Mrs. Field is a lady of refinement and culture. In social organizations, particularly the Round Table, she is warmly interested. She holds active membership in the Denver Woman's Club, to which, as to other organizations, she has furnished articles possessing decided literary merit.
As a business man Mr. Field is known for his keen and careful judgment. Through energy and perseverance he has become prosperous, and his prosperity is the reward of his discretion and sagacity. While promoting his personal prosperity, he has also advanced the welfare of the city and has done all in his power to promote its commercial development.
A native of Sweden, born July 22, 1851, the subject of this sketch was a son of Andrew Anderson. The latter was born in Sweden in 1818 and worked on a nobleman's estate until 1880, when he crossed the ocean and settled in Colorado. He now makes his home with our subject and is eighty years of age. Our subject received a common-school education. At the age of thirteen he apprenticed himself to the tailor's trade, at which he served for four years. In 1871 he went to Norway and worked for six months, after which he took passage on a steamer from Christiana, Norway, to Liverpool, England, and from
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