Mardos Collection
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ranch, and for three years devoted his time to his cattle interests. In 1889 he left the management of the business with his partner and removed to Ward, where he became proprietor of a hotel. In the fall of 1895 he sold his Wyoming cattle ranch to his partner, disposed of his cattle interests and of his hotel property in Ward and removed to Boulder, where he purchased twenty acres. This land he has improved, largely increasing its value by the improvements he has made.
In Greeley, November 19, 1874, Mr. Gardner married Miss Eliza A. Hartley, daughter of John Hartley, a general merchant of Ward, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Gardner have two children. Their son, Arthur C., is looking after his father's interests in the old Mexico mines at Sonora. The daughter, Ivy M., is with her parents. The interest in the Mexico mine was purchased January 1, 1898, when Mr. Gardner became a member of the Bertha Mining and Milling Company. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias and is also a member of the Home Forum. Politically he has always been a Democrat. Mrs. Gardner is a member of the Congregational Church.
RANK L. BOLTON owns and occupies one of the valuable farms of Boulder County, consisting of one hundred and twenty acres one mile northwest of Ni Wot. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, March 11, 1842, a son of Labon and Loraine (Ingersoll) Bolton, being their oldest child and the only survivor of three children. His father, a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1818, accompanied his parents to Ohio in boyhood and settled in Paris, Portage County, where he grew to manhood and married. Shortly afterward he removed to Cleveland, where he continued to reside until his death. Some years after he settled in Cleveland, his father removed to Wisconsin. The maternal grandfather of our subject, L. W. Ingersoll, was a farmer near Cleveland, Ohio, until late in life, when he retired and removed to Cleveland, spending his last years in that city.
In early boyhood our subject had good educational advantages. When he was thirteen years of age his father died and the support of the family devolved largely upon him. At nineteen years of age he went to Michigan to begin life for himself, and for one summer worked on a farm near Grand Rapids. November 2, 1861, he enlisted in Company B, Second Michigan Cavalry, and was sent to Fort Benton at St. Louis, where the troops were drilled. Shortly afterward he was sent to the front, where he served in Pope's division at Madrid, and later was in Cook's cavalry division. Among the first engagements in which he took part were the siege of Corinth, the battle of Perryville and almost continuous skirmishes. He arrived at Murfreesboro too late to participate in the battle. With his regiment he took part in skirmishes through Tennessee, and participated in the battle of Chickamanga. From there he went to East Tennessee to relieve General Burnside, and during the winter skirmished almost every day. On the expiration of the term, the regiment re-enlisted and went home on a thirty days' furlough, returning to Middle Tennessee at the expiration of the furloughs. There he remained until Hood came north, when he took part in the battle of Franklin and gradually fell back to Nashville, fighting an important battle in that city. From there the regiment pursued Hood to the Tennessee River, and in the spring of 1865 crossed the river with General Stanley's cavalry command and with General Croxton's brigade, which was detached from the command. Going to Tuscaloosa, Ala., the Federals captured the town, burned the Confederate stores and started for Selma to join the command, but being cut off from the main route, they came out at Macon, Ga., joining the main command there. In that city Mr. Bolton was honorably discharged August 19, 1865.
From the south Mr. Bolton returned to Michigan. Shortly afterward he was united in marriage with Miss Almira Strock, of Newton Falls, Ohio. He settled in Buchanam, Mich., and engaged in farming, remaining in that place until February, 1879, when he came to Colorado, arriving in Boulder on the evening of February 21 of that year. He went to the mountains and settled near Rockville, on Left Hand Creek, where he remained for two and one-half years. During that time he engaged in any work by which he could earn an honest livelihood. In 1881 he sold his property and returned to Boulder, taking a mail contract from that place to Ward for a period of fourteen months. At the expiration of his contract he engaged in teaming
718
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. in the mountains. In the spring of 1883 he rented a herd of cattle and moved to North Park, where he spent four years prosperously engaged in the cattle business. After four years he sold his interests there and came to Boulder Valley, settling near Altona, where he had acquired two hundred acres. In 1895 he sold that farm and moved to his present place. In addition to his farming interests, since 1889 he has served as secretary of the Left Hand Ditch Company. Politically he is a Republican and a stanch supporter of his party.
Three children were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Bolton, but the two eldest, Thomas and Madge, are deceased. The only surviving child is Otis Clyde, born August 7, 1879, and now with his parents.
ON. CLINTON MONROE TYLER, deceased, was one of the foremost citizens of Boulder County, and to him is due much credit for the prosperity which it now enjoys, as he was one of those brave and sturdy patriots who, unsparing of themselves, placed the county on a sure and lasting basis of civilization, law and good government. His business interests were as varied as they were extensive and at his death his estate was estimated to include over thirteen thousand acres of land, situated in six or seven counties of Colorado. In 1864 he recruited a company of one hundred-day men and was commissioned their captain by Governor Evans. They were a part of the Third Colorado Regiment of Cavalry, which put down the Indians who were making trouble for the pioneers, on account of the absence of the regulars at the front in the Civil war. Captain Tyler furnished many of the horses ridden by the men of his company, and in other material ways aided in effectually driving the red-skins from this beautiful valley.
Captain Tyler, as he was generally styled, came from patriotic stock, his grandfather Tyler having fought in the war of the Revolution and lost his life at Black Rock, and another of his ancestors, on the maternal side, having been one of the Americans who captured Maj. John Andre as he was returning to the British lines after his conference with the traitor, Benedict Arnold. The captain's parents were George W. and Lodoiski Tyler, natives of Vermont and Susquehanna, Pa., respectively. The mother, who was born about 1808, removed with her parents, Luther and Margaret (Halstead) Norton, to Livonia, N. Y., in her girlhood, and was married there to Mr. Tyler in 1829. Subsequently the couple went to Rush, Monroe County, N. Y., and in 1844 emigrated to Pulaski Township, Jackson County, Mich., then a wilderness. The trip, which can now easily be made in thirteen hours, took thirteen days at that time. Mr. Tyler improved a farm and died in 1859, leaving ten children. The mother reared the family to be good and useful citizens, and was summoned to her reward June 14, 1870.
The birth of Captain Tyler took place in Livingston County, N. Y., January 16, 1834, and when he was a lad often years he accompanied his family to Michigan. He was educated in the public schools, in Michigan Central College, and later attended Oberlin College until his health forced him to desist from study. April 4, 1856, he graduated from Gregory's Commercial College in Detroit, and soon afterwards he went to Illinois and Wisconsin. Locating in Baraboo, Wis., he engaged in the hardware business in company with N. K. Smith, whose daughter he married. In February, 1860, with his wife and little child, Mr. Smith and his family, he set out for Colorado. The party had seven wagons, drawn by oxen and horses, and seven weeks were passed in crossing the plains. They rested every Sunday, and with a cast-iron stove, which they had brought with them, baked what food they desired. They also had a six-stamp mill among their merchandise, and this was put up and operated after their arrival at Blackhawk.
In the following spring Mr. Tyler was obliged to return east for provisions, etc., and brought back a sawmill, which he managed in partnership with Mr. Smith. Three years later, he and J. P. Maxwell erected a sawmill on South Boulder Creek, below Rollinsville, and operated this until 1867. In the meantime he and N. K. and E. B. Smith built the Central City toll wagon road, which was in use until the railroad was put through. He also (in company with N. K. Smith) made the Boulder Valley wagon road and controlled the same until the Union Pacific bought it. Gradually his possessions accumulated, by his judicious investments, and he was very successful as a raiser of live stock. He owned land
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in Boulder, Weld, Larimer, Arapahoe, Logan, Morgan, Jefferson and Gilpin Counties, as well as some in Wyoming. The town of Merino, Logan County, was named for his enterprise in bringing the first fine Merino sheep here in 1876. He raised Hereford cattle and Percheron horses, in addition to the common stock, and for years was the most extensive raiser of mules in the west. In 1874 he bought Judge Decker's ranch near Boulder, it then being chiefly wild land. He industriously improved the property, made Tyler's Lake, and within a few years had so entirely transformed the property that no one would have known it for the same.
Mr. Tyler was a strong Republican from the time that the party was organized until his death. He was a member of the first city government of Blackhawk and was elected to the territorial legislature from Gilpin County by a larger majority than any candidate before or since ever received. Having been elected regent of the university of Colorado, he did effective service for the institution, in which he took great pride, as he had been one of the hardest workers in getting the college located here. His busy and useful career was terminated by death, March 18, 1886, and his loss was one which was deeply felt throughout northern Colorado.
December 24, 1837, Captain Tyler married, in Baraboo, Wis., Miss S. Emma Smith, a native of Cortland, N. Y. Her father, Nelson K. Smith, was born in New York state, and by degrees drifted westward until he finally settled in Colorado. He was one of the so-called forty-niners, and for three years was engaged in mining on the Pacific slope. In this state he took a very active part in the early days of its history. (See his sketch which appears at some length elsewhere in this volume.) His aged widow, now in her. eighty-sixth year, is living in Boulder. She was formerly Miss Helen Campbell, of Scotch-Irish descent. Mrs. S. Emma Tyler is the eldest of seven children, the others being as follows: Lucian K., of Aspen, Colo.; Francelia, wife of Senator J. P. Maxwell, of Boulder; Rodolphus N., an extensive ranchman and stock-raiser of Coal Creek, Colo.; Medora A., Mrs. D. D. Leach, of Oklahoma; Nina M., Mrs. E. J. Temple, of Boulder; and Jennie A., widow of the late Dr. G. A. Clark, of Boulder. Since the death of Mr. Tyler his widow and son, Frank, have managed the homestead and estate. Under their supervision one hundred and eighty-five steers and seventeen hundred lambs were fed and cared for in 1898, the former being marketed in Boulder and the latter in Chicago.
The seven children of Captain Tyler and his estimable wife are: Lillian E., Mrs. Samuel Ward, of Boston; Ella, wife of Richard Whiteley, a well-known attorney of Boulder; Bert, who died in Boulder in 1885; Frank, previously mentioned; Frederick, who is in Montana; Dolph Smith, a citizen of Philadelphia; and Lu Clinton, au assayer in Boulder. Mrs. Tyler holds membership with the Methodist Episcopal Church and is a generous contributor to religious and benevolent enterprises.
DAM WEBER, owner and builder of the substantial brick business block known as the Weber building, is one of the enterprising real-estate dealers of Boulder. He owns some very valuable property here, and has invested large amounts in improving and adding to the beauty and desirability of the same. He is a public-spirited citizen and takes great interest in everything which tends toward the permanent welfare of this place. He is identified with the Knights of Pythias, and the Uniform Rank of the same order, and in his political convictions is a Democrat.
Nicholas Weber, the father of the subject of this review, was born near Leipsic, Ohio, and when he reached manhood he removed to a farm near Marietta, Washington County, in the same state, and thenceforth devoted his time and energies to the cultivation of his homestead. His death occurred in the fall of 1897. Towards the close of the late Civil war he enlisted in an Ohio regiment but was not called into active service. His wife was Miss Martha Fisher before their marriage. She is still living in Ohio, and was born in Pennsylvania. She is the mother of eight children, only six of whom survive, and our subject is fourth in order of birth in the family.
Adam Weber was born on the parental homestead near Marietta, Ohio, in 1865, and passed his youthful days upon the farm. He received a good general education in the public schools of the home district, and when he was in his sixteenth year he went to Marietta, and began an
720
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. apprenticeship to a barber. After spending three and a half years in this calling he concluded to embark in business on his own account. In April, 1887, he came west to Denver and a few months later settled in Boulder, where he has since dwelt. For some time he worked for Charles Woolfer, whom he finally bought out. From that time to the present he has succeeded remarkably well, and having added bath-rooms and other modern conveniences he commands a large patronage among the best citizens of the town. His place of business is No. 1914 Thirteenth street.
The beautiful home of Mr. Weber, No. 2329 Thirteenth street, was erected under his supervision a few years ago. He married one of Boulder's charming daughters, Miss Alice Lytle, in 1894. She was educated in the high school here and finished her studies in the University of Colorado. Her father, a noted pioneer of this region, George Lytle, was one of four men who discovered the wonderful Caribou mine, which they afterwards disposed of for three million dollars. He lived to reach the ripe age of seventy-two years, and for a long period was a prominent figure in Boulder. The only child of Mr. and Mrs. Weber is Clarence A.
UGENE WILDER, for several years prominent in journalistic fields, has been a popular public official in Boulder for a period of over fifteen years, and has been very active in all local enterprises and in the advocacy of improvements calculated to accrue to the benefit of the people of this vicinity. In 1882 he was made assistant postmaster here, and occupied the position for eighteen months. In 1885 he was appointed clerk of the district court by judge Carpenter, and held this post under several administrations, or until 1893, when there was a change in the political condition. Later he was appointed deputy-clerk, and is now acting in that capacity. He is a stanch Republican, and has been a member of the city council several terms. While serving as an alderman sidewalks and other substantial improvements were instituted. Soon after he came to Boulder his enthusiastic endeavors in getting the citizens interested in providing a suitable fire department resulted in the organization of the Hook & Ladder Company of one hundred men. This movement, in turn, was of even greater benefit to the people of Boulder, for it soon became apparent that our facilities for furnishing water in case of fire were lamentably inadequate and the realization of this fact led to the establishment of Boulder's present fine waterworks.
Eugene Wilder, born in Canandaigua, N. Y., September 14, 1840, is an only child. He was educated in the public grammar and high schools of Joliet, Ill., and learned the printer's trade in the office of the Joliet Signal. Then, going to St. Louis, Mo., he found employment with the publishers of Manford's Magazine for a short time and next entered the service of the state, doing provost-marshal duty in the militia. Subsequently he was made lieutenant under Captain Hancock. In May, 1863, he started for Colorado, across the plains, and, arriving in Blackhawk, became foreman of the Blackhawk Journal, remaining there for about three years, thus being one of the pioneer newspaper men of this state. From there he went to Central City, where he accepted a position as foreman and bookkeeper of the Register. In 1874 the great fire occurred in that city and Mr. Wilder removed to Boulder and, as a member of the firm of Bisby & Wilder, owned and operated the News. This paper was afterwards consolidated with the Courier, of Sunshine, the name continuing as the News and Courier, and the new firm being known as Shedd & Wilder. The latter withdrew from the partnership in 1882 and has since given the chief share of his attention to his public duties, though he has some mining investments.
In July, 1889, Mr. Wilder and Miss Marie W. Eddy were married in Cheboygan, Mich. Mrs. Wilder was born near Saratoga, N. Y., and is a highly educated and cultured lady. Mr. Wilder was initiated into Masonry in Central City Lodge in 1865, and assisted in organizing the lodge at Blackhawk. He now belongs to Columbia Lodge No. 14, A. F. & A. M.; Boulder Chapter No. 7, R. A. M., and is a charter member of Mount Sinai Commandery No. 7, K. T., and El Jebel Temple, Mystic Shrine, of Denver.
In tracing the ancestry of the subject of this review it is found that his ancestors have been loyal citizens of this country since 1639, when Martha Wilder, widow of Thomas Wilder, came to the infant colony in Charlestown, Mass., with
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