Mardos Collection
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 685
Michael Boyle, was born in County Tyrone, Ireland. In middle life he came to America on a tour of inspection, leaving his family in Ireland. He worked at various occupations, as he could find employment. It was his plan to send for his family as soon as he could secure a permanent position, but while in New York City he was sunstruck and died from the effects. Twenty years afterward his widow, Ann Boyle, crossed the ocean, accompanied by her son and two daughters, and settled in Boulder County, where she remained until her death.
When eighteen years of age our subject settled in Louisville, where he engaged in the butcher business for three years, but in 1881 sold his business interests here and bought a farm adjoining his father's land. In 1890 he purchased his present homestead of two hundred acres, where he has since resided, engaged in farming and the raising of cattle. He has also acquired valuable city property in Boulder and Louisville. In 1895 he established a sawmill in the mountains and this has proved a very profitable investment. Politically he is a Democrat, and active in party interests. Fraternally he is connected with Louisville Lodge No. 137, Woodmen of the World.
In 1881 Mr. Rosenbaum married Miss Nora Doran, and they have three children, Anthony, Julia and James. Mrs. Rosenbaum's father was born in 1820 and her mother in 1822, both in Ireland. They came to America in 1864 and settled near Langford, Boulder County, where Mr. Doran embarked in farming, and he continued in that occupation until his death. His wife is still living.
EREMIAH LEGGETT, whose farm in Boulder County comprises a half-section of improved land, was born in Licking County, Ohio, May 16, 1837, and was one of the seven children of James and Elizabeth (Younger) Leggett. Of the family, five are now living, namely: Jeremiah; John W., a farmer of Madison County, Iowa; Leander, who is engaged in fanning in Polk County, Iowa; Eliza, wife of Ezra Miller, of Woodward, Iowa; and Sarah, widow of William Leman of Iowa The father of these children as born in Virginia in 1816 and removed with his parents in boyhood to Ohio settling in Licking County, where he was reared and married. In youth he served an apprenticeship to the shoemaker's trade, which he followed in Licking County until 1852, and then, accompanied by his family, he migrated to Indiana. There for two an one-half years he engaged in farming in Henry County. In 1854 he again moved, this time going to Iowa, where he farmed in Polk County and also dealt extensively in cattle and hogs. His death occurred on his farm in 1856.
The paternal grandfather of our subject, Thomas Leggett, was born in Scotland, and coming to America in youth, settled in Virginia, where he married and lived for a number of years. Later he removed to Ohio, where he engaged in farm pursuits until his death. Our subject's maternal grandfather, who was a Scotchman, settled in Virginia in youth. When a boy our subject had few educational advantages, but being a thoughtful reader he has acquired a thorough education and is well posted on all the current topics of the day. When his father died he was nineteen years of age and the support of the family fell on his shoulders, he being the eldest of the children. October 31, 1861, he married Miss Augusta M. Hinman, daughter of Porter P. Hinman, who was born near Buffalo, N. Y., July 6, 1816. Her grandfather, Anson Hinman, was for many years judge of the county court and was prominently identified with military matters, holding the rank of general in the state militia. Porter's parents dying when he was young, he was thrown upon his own resources and at the age of fifteen he went to Buffalo, thence, a few months later, settled at Grand Island, on the Niagara River. There he spent three years as clerk for the Grand Island Company, a ship-building concern. His next position was that of clerk on the steamship "Constellation," plying on Lake Erie. Two years later he removed to Mansfield, Ohio, where he taught a writing school for about five years. During his residence there he married Mary A. Smith, and in 1845 removed to Clinton County, Ind., where he followed farming four years. During the California excitement of 1849 he went to the Pacific coast, where he followed freighting and mining until 1853. On his return east he settled in Illinois and for two and one-half years engaged in farming in McDonough County. His next position was that of clerk in
29
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. the United States land office at Des Moines. Moving from there to Polk City, he embarked in the sawmill business, becoming proprietor of two sawmills, from which he reaped large profits. During his residence in Polk City he served as postmaster for three years. In 1860 he came to Colorado in company with his oldest son and pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres on Left Hand Creek. In 1862 he returned home and came back with his second son. The next year he returned and brought his family with him. Afterward he gave his attention to the cultivation of land. About 1876, with his youngest son, he went to the mines at Hand's Peak, where he operated for three years, and during that time he served as judge of Routt County and postmaster at Hand's Peak. In 1884 he represented his county in the state legislature, being elected on the Republican ticket. His death occurred June 8, 1894.
After his marriage our subject continued to live at the old home, caring for the younger members of the family. But when they had mostly married and left home, he with his wife and two children started for Colorado in 1866. Leaving Polk County April 5, they crossed the plains with a team of horses and arrived on Left Hand Creek May 18. This was not his first trip to Colorado, as he had come, in 1860, with three others, making the journey with horses and two wagons, and spending six months in the mining regions.
On making permanent settlement in Colorado, Mr. Leggett embarked in agricultural pursuits on Left Hand Creek. After one year he removed to Boulder Creek and took charge of the Ni Wot mining Company's landed property, where for four years he remained. In 1871 he cultivated the farm adjoining his present property, but in 1872 purchased and removed to one hundred and sixty acres, to which he afterward added, making his place one of three hundred and twenty acres. He has given considerable attention, to the breeding and raising of cattle and horses. In 1897 he erected his present substantial brick residence, which is one of the attractive country homes of Boulder County, and is known as Clifton Place. For the past ten years he has served as president of the Boulder Industrial Association, and for many years he has served on the school board. Politically he favors the silver Republican cause. Fraternally he is identified with Eureka Lodge No. 1, A. O. U. W., and Boulder Valley Grange, of winch he is now master, and for one term was overseer of the State Grange.
Mr. and Mrs. Leggett are the parents of six children. Harriet A., who was born September 18, 1862, is the widow of Willard Slocum, and resides in Loveland, Larimer County. Alice M. was born in August, 1864, and died October 9, 1871. James B. was born August 8, 1866, and died January 30, 1867. Edgar W., born March 2, 1868, is superintendent of the Rock Springs Mining Company and resides at Four Mile, Routt County. Mary B., born April 17, 1871, is a graduate of the State Normal School and for the past four years has been a teacher in the Erie school. Nathan H., born December 2, 1878, resides at home and assists in the management of the farm.
ILLIAM C. HAKE, one of the highly esteemed and well-known old settlers of Coal Creek Valley, Boulder County, has been a land owner and resident of this section for the past thirty-eight years. During this period he has done all within his power to promote law, order and good government in general and has been an important factor in the increasing civilization and prosperity which the state now enjoys. He has been a witness of vast changes since he came to Colorado, and, as an honorable and upright citizen, has substantially assisted in placing the state and section in which he dwells on a safe and sure basis.
William C. Hake hails from the sturdy, grand old Buckeye state whose proud lot it has been to produce such hosts of noble sons, men strong in the councils of the government and the various states. Mr. Hake was born in Trumbull County, January 26, 1833, and is one of the six children of George W. and Hannah (Sowers) Hake, and now the sole survivor of the family. He was reared to manhood in the old home in Ohio, and gained a common-school education in the neighborhood. The family removed to Grant County, Wis., about 1853, and soon after our subject had reached his majority he started out in the world to earn his own livelihood. Going to Prairie du Chien, Wis., he entered the employ of a stone-
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 687
mason and worked industriously for about three months, when he was obliged to return home, as he had contracted the fever and ague. Six months later he went to the Black River pineries and engaged in logging there some four months, then he tried the arduous task of breaking prairie in. Wisconsin and finally settled down to farming in that state.
October 16, 1856, Mr. Hake married Miss Emeline Davis, in Platteville, Wis. Mrs. Hake is a daughter of Abner and Sarah (Drake) Davis, the former a native of Pennsylvania and a blacksmith by trade, while his father, in turn, was a native of Wales. Six children blessed the marriage of our subject and wife. They are all living and are as follows: Araminta J., wife of James F. McCorkle, a prominent farmer of the state of Washington; Zelda B., wife of W. C. Autrey (see his sketch upon another page of this volume); Ida C., wife of C. W. Gilbert, a well-to-do farmer of this county; Ella M., whose husband, F. J. L. MacCormac, is a member of the Industrial Coal Mining & Mercantile Company; and Charles W. and Mary Byrns, twins, the former a member of the Industrial Coal Mining & Mercantile Company, and the latter the wife of George I. Miller, who has farming interests and is a clerk in the employ of the Lafayette Supply Company, of Lafayette.
May to, 1859, Mr. Hake started for Colorado with two wagons drawn by one yoke of oxen and two yoke of cows. The little party, including the family of our subject, arrived at Ralston Creek, near Golden, July 7, and the same week went on to Golden Gate. There Mr. Hake assisted in building a house for a man who kept a restaurant, and was thus occupied for about a month. He then located in the small mining camp of Arapahoe, on Clear Creek, and proceeded to engage in gulch-mining up to the following February. Then coming to Coal Creek Valley he pre-empted a quarter-section of land, proving it up later and afterwards bought eighty acres adjoining. Thus he had a large farm, which, by patient improvement and good management has been made to yield a good living. Mr. Hake has given much time to dairying and stock-raising and has met with well-deserved success in his labors. In the spring of 1864 an unusually great flood exposed coal upon his land, but it was not until 1895 that the extent and value of the vein became known. It proved to be seven feet in thickness and thus in paying quantity. In 1896 the coal land was leased by Mr. Hake to J. H. Hood, who organized a company, which has since operated the mines. Politically Mr. Hake is a supporter of the Democratic party.
HARLES S. TURNER is the proprietor of the oldest and only exclusive plumbing establishment in Boulder. His place of business is centrally located, being at No. 1125 Pearl street. He thoroughly understands every department of his calling, and has done considerable work for public buildings, as well as for private concerns, that his fellows in the craft place confidence in his executive ability is plainly shown by the fact that they chose him to serve as vice-president of the Colorado Master Plumbers' Association, in which capacity he is still acting, and he also belongs to the National Association of Master Plumbers.
Mr. Turner is in the prime of early manhood, as he was born July 12, 1867. Des Moines, Iowa, was the place of his birth, and in that city his boyhood was quietly passed. He attended the public schools there and in 1882 accompanied his family to Boulder, on their removal here. Soon afterwards he began an apprenticeship to the plumber's trade with the firm of Rutter & Hankins (later the Rutter Hardware Company) and at the end of three years he was promoted to the post of foreman in this department of their business. He continued to act as such until March, 1896, when he purchased the plumbing outfit of his former employers and has since carried on an independent business. He takes and executes contracts for all kinds of plumbing, gas, steam and hot water pipes and appliances, and keeps in stock a very extensive line of supplies commonly used in the trade. From the time that he engaged in business he has had charge of nearly all work in the line of tapping the mains, and among the numerous buildings which he has done plumbing on are. the various university structures, the sanitarium and the Cheney block, and the residences of Charles Davis, A. T. Henry, Prof. R. M. DeLong and Mr. Hazen.
The parents of Mr. Turner are Jeptha J. and Elizabeth (Bond) Turner, both natives of Kentucky. The father was born and reared in Louis-
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. ville, and in his young manhood went to Iowa. By trade he was a carpenter and for years he was very successfully engaged in building and contracting in Des Moines. In the summer of 1882 he came to Boulder, and here made his home up to the time of his death, in 1894. His widow is now a resident of Denver. Of their four children the subject of this article is the youngest.
The marriage of Charles S. Turner and Miss Emma Hacker occurred in Boulder in 1891.
Mrs. Turner was born in Worcester, Mass., and is a daughter of R. A. and Eliza (Hentz) Hacker, who were natives of Vienna, Austria and Germany respectively. The father came to this country in childhood with his father, Frederick Hacker. R. A. Hacker was one of the gallant Patriots who went forth under the stars and stripes in the Civil war, enlisting at the beginning of the conflict, and serving as a lieutenant of the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment of Volunteers. He has since been identified with the Grand Army of the Republic. With his wife he is living retired in Boulder, having come here in 1882. Mrs. Turner is the second of their three children, and is a member of the Woman's Relief Corps, and of the Degree of Honor. The latter is auxiliary to the Ancient Order United Workmen, to which Mr. Turner belongs. He is also connected with the Woodmen of the World. Politically he is a Republican.
LBERT E. BOWEN is the proprietor and manager of the Bowen Hotel, which he has successfully operated for the past ten years. This well-known hotel, the largest in Boulder, stands as a pioneer here, as it was originally built in 1876, the year of Colorado's admission to the sisterhood of states. Formerly it was styled the American House, but when Mr. Bowen took charge of it and remodeled and improved it, the name was changed to its present form. He is a genial and popular landlord, and numbers hosts of friends in the ranks of the traveling public. Everything pertaining to the hotel is first-class; well-served meals and neat and attractive rooms being the constant aim of the proprietor.
The Bowens are of Welsh extraction, three brothers bearing the name having set forth from Wales to found a new home in America at an early day. They settled in Rhode Island, and there our subject's paternal grandfather was born. He removed to Vermont, becoming a farmer of Bennington County. His son, Lorenzo, father of A. E. Bowen, was born on the old Vermont homestead, and was, in turn, an agriculturist, his home being near Readsboro. He lived to the ripe age of seventy-five years. The mother, who bore the girlhood name of Beulah Blanchard, was born in Bennington County, Vt., and died when four-score. Her father, Isaac Blanchard, was also a native of Vermont, and came from an old New England family.
A. E. Bowen is one of ten children, seven of whom are living. He was born on the old home place in Bennington County, Vt., March 27, 1841, and was there reared to maturity with his brothers and sisters. One of the number, Faxon L., is a judge in the old Vermont town. Euphemia A. is the wife of Dr. W. A. Scott, of Niagara Falls, N. Y.; Leora, Mrs. Wilson, resides in Bennington; and Gertrude is Mrs. C. A. Russell, of Wilmington, Vt. William A. is living in Vermont and Fred L. is a merchant in Brooklyn, N. Y. Dr. Merritt A. and James E. died in Massachusetts in 1896. Up to the time that he arrived at his majority, our subject remained at home, and acquired his education in the grammar and high schools of his native town. In 1862 he went to Hinsdale, N. H., and carried on a hotel there for three years with very fair success, as it was his first business venture. Then he went to Shelburne Falls, and conducted a mercantile enterprise for a period, after which he was numbered among the leading merchants of Hartford, Conn., for twenty years.
It was twelve years ago that Mr. Bowen came to this state, and for two years he was the proprietor of the Oasis Hotel of Greeley. The next six months he was in the boot and shoe business, then selling out. In the fall of 1888 he bought the old American House, and has since very profitably operated it. For perhaps nine years he has been interested in mining. He developed and still operates the Bowen lead mines at Jamestown and the New York lead mine in the same neighborhood. He also bought and placed in successful working order the Pine Shade mine in the Central district-the largest low-grade '"proposition" in Colorado. When the Pine Shade Mining Company (comprising but four members) was instituted, Mr. Bowen was made vice-president
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 689
of the concern. They have a twenty-stamp mill and the plant is in full blast, it having been excavated some five hundred feet already. Mr. Bowen also owns three other fine pieces of mining property, all situated in the Central district, in Central Gulch, and named respectively Cashier, Gold Ledge and Dutch Jake. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is a true blue Republican. In Greenfield, Mass., Mr. Bowen married Miss Emma L. Gale, a native of Massachusetts, and daughter of Otis and Martha Gale, of that state.
With his family and two countrymen who had accompanied him to America, Mr. De Backer removed to Iowa in 1857 and bought forty acres in Johnson County, five miles from Iowa City, where he began agricultural pursuits. May 16 he and his two partners left Iowa City for Colorado. They crossed the plains with two ox-teams, one of which he owned, they arrived in Boulder July 11 and proceeded direct to the mountains, where they and three others bought a claim and embarked in gulch mining. After they had taken out something over $100, they sent two of the company to Mexico for a load of provisions. On their journey, after crossing the Mexican border, they were robbed and massacred by a band of Mexican bandits; so the company lost two of their comrades, as well as considerable money and their team.
Later Mr. De Backer built a quartz mill with a water wheel forty feet high and nine stamps. He embarked in lead mining, but the ore failed to pay, and in 1860, after almost a year of mining, he came to the South Boulder Valley, where he took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, adjoining his present home on the east. Here he engaged in the stock and dairy business, milking some fifty cows and selling butter at a good price. In 1863 he cut the timber from Boulder Canon and framed a mill on his place, to be erected in Valmont. His partner in the enterprise was P. M. Housel, who went east to the states for the machinery. After the timber was framed, it was hauled to Valmont. The fall of 1866 found the mill ready to grind that year's wheat crop. After two years Mr. De Backer sold his interest to his partner and moved to Denver, in order to give his children better educational facilities. His ranch had been sold to his sister, Mrs. Blake, who looked after his dairy business in his absence. After six months in Denver he returned to Boulder Valley and purchased one hundred and sixty acres adjoining his former place on the west, once more turning his attention to the cattle business. As he prospered he added from time to time to his farm of one hundred and sixty acres, until his present place comprises six hundred and forty acres.
690
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. While his schooling was limited, Mr. De Backer was broad-minded and knew the value of an education. After coming to the valley he was largely instrumental in the construction of a schoolhouse near Marshall. However, the distance was too great for his children to attend, and he agitated the question of building a school in Boulder Valley nearer to his home and the homes of his neighbors. With a little encouragement from his neighbors, he built a schoolhouse, and here his children and those of his neighbors were pupils.
In New York City, in 1856, Mr. DeBacker married Miss Marie Fouse. Of their five children three survive: Louisa, wife of William Niemaster, a real-estate dealer of Denver; Della, wife of C. L. Davis, whose sketch appears on another page; and Frank, represented elsewhere in this volume. The wife and mother died June 22, 1865. The present wife of Mr. De Backer was Miss Marie Dane, a native of Germany. Four children were born of this union, of whom three are living, Martha, Marie and Emma. The family are of the Catholic faith.
RANK DE BACKER, who is engaged in the stock and real-estate business in Boulder County, also has extensive farming and mining interests, was born in this county February 1, 1863, a son of John and Marie (Fouse) De Backer. He grew to manhood on his father's cattle ranches, of which he assumed the management at the age of eighteen. When a boy he attended the schools of the county, but his education has been acquired principally by self-culture. His father deeded him a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, four miles southeast of Boulder, and he began life for himself. Here he devoted his time to farming, feeding the produce of his farm to his cattle. For ten years he was successfully engaged in the cattle business, and in 1894, in connection with his stock business he became interested in mining, as a stockholder in the Ward Rose Gold Mining Company, owners of one of the valuable mining properties of Boulder County, consisting of six mines with two mill sites and two tunnel sites. He also owns a two-third interest in the extension of the old California mine, one of the best leads in the Ward district.
Acquiring city property in 1896, Mr. De Backer embarked in the real-estate business, and soon afterward removed his family to Boulder, where he has since resided. His marriage united him with Miss Nora Howard, a native of Boulder County. Two children bless their union: Lester, who was born August 17, 1886; and Ethel, born February 29, 1888. Fraternally Mr. DeBacker is identified with Boulder Lodge No. 9, I. O. O. F. Besides his other interests, he is a stockholder in the Enterprise Ditch Company, of which he was president for two years and has served as superintendent since becoming the owner of stock in the company.
EMUEL McINTOSH, of Boulder, is one of the sterling old pioneers who assisted in placing Colorado on a sound basis as a state and did much toward the development of her infant industries. Many a trip has he made across the plains, and many a time has he feared that the Indians would attack his home in the valley of the Boulder River. With Rev. C. M. Campbell, Judge Housel and others he built a fort near Valmont, in early days, in order that some protection might be afforded to their families in case of an uprising among the Redskins.
The parents of our subject were Peter and Elizabeth (Williams) McIntosh, natives of Indiana. The former was a son of George McIntosh, who was born in Scotland, and at an early period settled in the Hoosier state. Mrs. Elizabeth McIntosh was of Welsh descent; her maternal grandfather Bell, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, removed from Kentucky to Iowa, dying there at the advanced age of one hundred and five years. She departed this life in Boulder County when fifty-six years of age. She survived her first husband several years, as he died in 1846, and subsequently she became the wife of Joseph Hardin. Two of the four children of the first union survive, and the three children of the second marriage are living. Our subject's own sister is Mrs. Hannah Corson, of Colorado Springs. His brother Joseph, a member of Company D, Third Colorado Cavalry, during the latter part of the Civil war was in the battle of Sand Creek, and many years afterward was killed in Smuggler mine, in 1889.
Lemuel McIntosh was born in Indiana, March 20, 1838, and resided in Illinois until 1849, when
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the family removed, with teams, to Boone County, Iowa. They settled in the neighborhood of the present town of Madrid, Boone County, and there our subject attended the local schools. His stepfather, Mr. Hardin, built a hotel at Boonesboro (now Boone) and the young man assisted him in running it up to 1858, when he joined the state militia, and for a year or more was stationed at Spirit Lake, Iowa, to keep down the Indians. April 2, 1860, he married Miss Angelina Stuart and they at once started for the west. By horse-team they proceeded to Omaha, and left that city on the 1st of May, having fitted up ox-teams for their further journey. Their route was the old trail along the Platte River, and down to Gold Hill. There Mr. McIntosh engaged in mining and prospecting for a year or two, and in 1862 settled on a tract of land which he homesteaded from the government. This ranch, situated two and a-half miles from Boulder, he improved, building a log-house, and making irrigation ditches. He assisted, in putting in one of the first high-line ditches in the state, and had it in successful operation by July 1, 1862. The property has since continued in his possession, with the exception of twenty-five acres, which he has sold. For some years he raised cattle and hay and he set out a fine orchard of about fifteen hundred trees. In September, 1896, he retired and settled in Boulder, leasing his homestead. For a number of years he has been connected with Columbia Lodge. No. 14, A. F. & A. M., and in politics is a Democrat.
Mrs. McIntosh, who is a native of Hancock County, Ill., is a daughter of Dr. Alanson and Mary J. (Eberhart) Stuart. The father was born in Louisville, Ky., in 1812, and in young manhood moved to Indiana, where he was married. Later he went to Illinois, and for years practiced his profession in Montrose, Dahlonega, and Stratford, all in Iowa. He was a graduate of the Louisville Medical College, and was a man of much ability and skill. His death took place April 6, 1886, when he was in his seventy-fourth year. His father, Alexander, was of Scotch descent. He was born in the Blue Grass state and died in Galveston, Tex., at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Ferish. Mrs. McIntosh's mother was born in Greenfield, Ind., and is still living, her home being in Iowa. Her father, John Eberhart, a native of Maryland, was an early settler in the Hoosier state and departed this life in 1862. He was a minister in the United Brethren Church and for years was a presiding elder in Iowa. Mrs. McIntosh is one of eight children, three of whom have been summoned to the better land. One sister, Mrs. Clara Bradford, is a resident of Boulder.
The five children born to Mr. and Mrs. McIntosh are as follows: Joseph Leander, Alene Florence, William Edward, Evelena and LeRoy Stuart. The eldest son was the first male child born of white parents in Gold Hill, Colo., the date of his birth having been January 13, 1861. He was educated in the University of Colorado, and is engaged in farming near Lamar, Colo. Alene F., born in Boonesboro, Iowa, April 26, 1863, was a student in the university here, and is now Mrs. C. W. Burke, of Lamar, Colo. William E., born on the old farm in this county, August 11, 1870, was accidentally killed. He was a member of the Colorado National Guards, who were placed on the defense of the Victor Mine at Cripple Creek in the summer of 1894, and while on duty he was so unfortunate as to fall into a shaft two hundred and fifty feet in depth. He had graduated but a short time before, in June, 1894, from the University of Colorado, with the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy, and had a most promising future in store, as every one believed, who knew him. Evelena, born on the old homestead, December 14, 1871, died January 27, 1877. LeRoy Stuart, who was born July 10, 1881, is a member of the preparatory school, and expects to enter the university later.
OSCOE M. CROSBY, a well-known musician and leader of bands and orchestras, has been numbered among the successful business men of Boulder for several years, being the oldest in his line in the town. He is a native of Maine, his birth having occurred in Bangor in 1857. After completing his education in the public schools he learned the trade of carpenter. He was employed as a contractor in Marshall County, Iowa, for two or three years prior to attaining his majority. The calling was not to his liking, however, and in 1879 he began serving an apprenticeship to the jeweler's trade, for from his childhood he had had a natural taste for the business. After he had been employed some
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. three years in Marshalltown and Gilman, Iowa, he embarked in an independent enterprise in the town last mentioned and carried on a business successfully for two years.
In 1884 Mr. Crosby decided to try his fortunes further west, and, locating in Denver, opened a store and at the same time became actively interested in various musical organizations and clubs. He started the Denver & Rio Grande orchestra of Denver, and was the leader of both the band and orchestra until he removed to Boulder in 1886. Since that time he has been the leader of the Boulder Band, now styled the Second Regiment, Uniform Rank of the Knights of Pythias Band. Under his leadership the band has risen into deserved prominence, and is considered one of the representative musical organizations of the state. A portion of the time for the past decade Mr. Crosby has been the leader of the Crosby Brothers' orchestra. In 1886 he opened a jewelry store, and is now located centrally at No. 1310 Pearl street. He carries a fine line of watches, diamonds, gems and silverware of all descriptions, and also has a splendid stock of optical goods and musical instruments. He is a stockholder in the Boulder Building and Loan Association. For several years he taught pupils the violin and brass musical instruments, but since 1891 has devoted himself to his other pursuits.
The marriage of Mr. Crosby and Miss Isa Beeson was solemnized in Grundy Center, Iowa, in 1881. Mrs. Crosby was born and brought up in Marshall County, Iowa, of which locality her parents, Joseph and Nancy Beeson, were pioneers, they having settled there in 1855. The two children of Mr. and Mrs. Crosby are named respectively Earl and Carmen. Mr. Crosby has used his ballot in favor of the nominees of the Republican party, and is now enrolled among the silver Republicans. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Knights of Pythias, Uniform Rank. Mrs. Crosby is president of the Woman's Relief Corps, has been grand chief of the Rathbone Sisters for two terms, and is an active member in the Christian Church.
The Crosbys are of Scotch-Irish lineage, but have been inhabitants of Maine for many generations. William Crosby, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was a native of Maine and was a boot and shoe manufacturer. One of his brothers was a soldier in the war of 1812. The parents of R. M. Crosby are John and Charlotte (McIntyre) Crosby, both natives of Maine. They went to Marshalltown, Iowa, in 1862, where Mr. Crosby learned the business of a brickmason, builder and contractor, which he carried on until his death. He was very patriotic, and two or three times offered his services to the Union army, both in Maine and Iowa, and even tried to go as a substitute, but was refused each time on account of the results of a broken leg, an accident that had occurred in his childhood. In 1882 he located in Grant County, S. Dak., where he died at nearly fifty years of age. The mother is now a resident of Boulder, and three of their five children survive. Herbert is a business man of Portland, Ore., and Wesley is employed in the Boulder electric light plant. Mrs. Charlotte Crosby's father, Hugh McIntyre, was born in Maine, and his grandfather was a native of Scotland. Grandfather McIntyre was a hero of the war of 1812.
Mr. Purcell is a young man, having been born in Ireland in 1871. In 1886, at the age of fifteen, he came to New York City, and for about a year he was engaged in the wholesale grocery business; but hearing of the great resources of Colorado and being among the ambitious ones, he came to Denver, and engaged in the building business. He was looked upon as one thoroughly competent in his line, winch was plastering. At the age of twenty he was given charge of that work in the construction of the Equitable building. Afterwards he became interested in the cattle business, and has a ranch nine miles south of Denver, where he has since raised fine thoroughbred Holsteins. Since 1894, as before stated, he has been in business with Joseph P. Dunn. In addition to being an officer of the company he
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