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in partnership with his son, Nathan, he founded the Warren Commercial Company, and began to deal in agricultural implements, also in grain, large quantities of which he shipped. In addition to other enterprises, he engaged extensively in feeding sheep.
In the George H. Thomas Post No. 7, G. A. R., at Fort Collins, Captain Warren was past commander. He continued to reside in this place until his death, which occurred May 8, 1898. He was then fifty-eight years of age. In 1872, in New York City, he married Ida Id. Warren, who was born in Massachusetts and was a daughter of Caleb S. Warren, of that state. She is now living in Fort Collins. Of her six children only three attained maturity, namely: Charles B., an electrician in Cheyenne, Wyo.; Nathan C., who is manager of the Warren Commercial Company, of Fort Collins; and Thomas J., a graduate of the State Agricultural College in 1898 and now associated with his brother Nathan.
DWARD
D. RIKER. This name is well and favorably known in Weld County,
as, for over thirty years, its owner has been a progressive
citizen of township 4, range 67, Weld County, taking an active
part in the promotion of everything tending to the general
upbuilding and improvement of this section of the state. After
being of much service in the organization of school district No.
21, he was president of the hoard of education for a period of
fifteen years. Though he was a candidate for the offices of
constable and justice of the peace and was duly elected, he did
not qualify. In political opinion he holds to the People's party
platform.
Isaac W. Riker, father of our subject, was one of the prominent merchants of New York City for many years, prior to his death in 1851. He was a native of Vermont and spent his early life in the Green Mountain state. He learned the tailor's trade and was the owner of a large merchant tailoring establishment on Carmine street, New York, and was the proprietor of the Crystal Palace Hotel, at the corner of Sixth avenue and Fortieth street. His wife, who survived him many years, dying in 1882, at the age of sixty-two, was Miss Harriet D. Dow in her girlhood, and, like her husband, she was born in Vermont.
Edward D. Riker was a small child at the time of his father's death. He was born in the metropolis in 1850, and there nineteen years of his life were spent, in which period he gained a good general education in the public schools. In 1860 he earned his first regular wages, by clerking in a grocery, and for a few seasons he found employment with farmers, while, in the winter months he was privileged to attend school. In 1869 he came west, to look after some Colorado property belonging to his mother, and, as the Union Pacific and Denver & Pacific Railroads were then in process of construction, he found work on the line between Cheyenne and Denver, and was thus employed for about a year. In 1870 he took up a homestead on the Platte River, and devoted himself to the raising and feeding of cattle and horses. Thirteen years passed in these pursuits, and in 1882 he sold his property and took a pre-emption on the claim of half of section 12, township 4, range 67. He has since sold a quarter-section. At present he owns about forty head of fine cattle and half as many horses. At one time he was a stockholder in the Greeley Creamery Company and he now sells large quantities of milk to the local creamery. In 1896 he and W. R. Adams, of Greeley, were the incorporators of the Little Thompson Reservoir and Water Supply Company, and he is the president. He holds stock in the Hillsborough ditch, and was a director several times and is also connected with the Little Thompson Lateral Ditch Company, having been president of the same and a director for some time past.
In 1878 Mr. Riker married Miss Carrie Miller, who was born in New York City. Her father, Conrad Miller, is one of the oldest business men of the metropolis, and is now the proprietor of the Central Park House, of that city. He is a native of Frankfort, Germany, but has resided in the United States since 1848. At this writing Mr. Riker is constructing a fine residence on a piece of property that he recently purchased, the southeast quarter of section 13, township 4 south, range 67 west.
HARLES B, RAMSDELL is one of the representative farmers of Weld County and has seen its development from a wilderness to its present fertile and thriving condition. For a number of years his residence has been in Evans, of which town he has served as mayor. He still
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owns and carries on a good farm in this vicinity, it being situated on section 28, township 6, range 6. In all local affairs he has been active and interested, discharging the duties which devolved upon him as a citizen, in a conscientious manner, and striving always to uphold law, order and good government.
Mr. Ramsdell is a native of Grey, Me., his birth having occurred December 20, 1825. His parents, Solomon and Paulina (Libby) Ramsdell, were likewise both natives of Maine, and spent their lives in that section of New England, their home being on a farm. The family of this worthy couple comprised five children, namely: Ebenezer, who is deceased; Julia, who married Oliver P. Hodsdon; Maria, wife of Willard Bray; Henry, who was one of the gallant defenders of the Union during the Civil war and died with the yellow fever at New Orleans; and Charles B., the second in order of birth.
The early years of C. B. Ramsdell were passed quietly on the old homestead. There he continued to dwell until 1859, when he started for California. Arriving on the Pacific coast he engaged in mining and prospecting for some six years, meeting with fair success. He made the trips, both ways, around by Panama, the voyage taking about twenty-eight or thirty days. In 1860 he returned home and purchased a farm, which he proceeded to cultivate for a number of years. When the Greeley colony was founded, in 1870, he joined it, and coming west, settled oh a tract of land near Lone Tree. Later he sold this property, which he had improved, and for ten years was a resident of Greeley. Then he bought a ranch on the Platte River, and managed the-place until 1891, when he became the owner of his present fine homestead of half a section. He has made numerous substantial improvements. on the place and has erected buildings and fences. The ranch is considered one of the very best in this region, and each year abundant harvests are garnered from its fertile fields. In addition to the comfortable house on the farm, the owner has a pretty residence in Evans, it having been built by him in 1888.
Mr. Ramsdell is a member of the Odd Fellows' order, belonging to Evans Lodge No. 109. He is also identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen of Evans. Religiously he is a Baptist and is a member of the church at Greeley. His marriage with Miss Mary J. Wadley was solemnized in 1850. Her parents, Daniel and Mary (Gerry) Wadley, were both natives of Sanford, York County, Me. To Mr. and Mrs. Ramsdell five children have been born, the eldest of whom, Edward E., assists his father on the home farm. Adeline is the wife of Orrin Gerry, a farmer of this section. Mary is the wife of John Parsons and resides in Utah. Julia married William Kimbley, whose ranch is within half a mile of Mr. Ramsdell's home. Nettie is the wife of Samuel Pardee, a farmer near Evans.
AVID
S. ELLIS, a well-known citizen of LaSalle, who has been
prominently identified with the agricultural and commercial
interests of Weld County for some time, was born December 29,
1849, in Washington County, Ill., and is a son of William and
Margaret (Sawyer) Ellis. The father was a native of Ireland, and
on coming to the new world in early manhood located in Logan
County, Ohio, where he was married and followed farming for a
time. Subsequently he was engaged in the same pursuit in Illinois,
and from there removed to St. Louis, Mo., in 1851, when our
subject was only two years old. He was interested in the stock
business in that city until 1873, which year witnessed his arrival
in Evans, Weld County, Colo., where he lived retired from active
business cares until his death, which occurred in January, 1883.
He made his home with our subject.
Until he attained his majority David S. Ellis continued to live in St. Louis, and in the schools of that city acquired a good practical education, which was completed by a commercial course. At the age of eighteen he accepted a position as shipping clerk with Thompson Brothers, lumber dealers, and with that firm remained until coming to Colorado. He first cane to this state with a load of cattle for D. N. Edgerton, of Pueblo, and from there came to Evans, where he spent one season in working in the brick yard of L. B. Willard. In the spring of 1872 he engaged in stone work contracting with J. B. Evans, his brother-in-law, and was thus employed for two years, while for the following two years he taught school. On coming to Evans in 1871 he took up a homestead on section 34, township 5 range 6, and gradually drifted into stock-raising and farm-
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ing. For several years he has also been interested in dairying, and for this purpose keeps from twenty-five to thirty head of high-grade jerseys. He has disposed of his original homestead and now owns one hundred and sixty acres on section 6, township 4, range 65, and as the town of LaSalle has been laid out on his land, he has conducted the store for Mr. Morrison at that place since December, 1897, and in all his undertakings is meeting with success.
October 22, 1873, Mr. Ellis was united in marriage with Miss Eliza J. White, of St. Louis, a daughter of William White, and to them have been born nine children, namely: Jennie, now the wife of A. B. Slater, of Emporia, Kan.; Carrie K, who is successfully engaged in teaching school at Dewey's Alley, formerly known as Bebee Draw; Hattie, who resides at home; Esther and Adda, who are students in the State Normal School; and Ruth, Ralph, Edith and Grace, all at home. They form a bright, intelligent family and have been provided with good educational privileges. Mr. Ellis has always taken an active part in educational matters and has been an efficient member of the school board for six years. In fact he gives an earnest support to all measures which he believes calculated to advance the moral, intellectual and material welfare of his town and county. He was one of the organizers of the Union Ditch Company, was elected its first president and served in that capacity for some time.
He holds membership in the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Evans, is clerk of the session, and takes an active and prominent part in all church and Sunday-school work, having served as assistant superintendent of the latter organization for fifteen years. Politically he is a free silver Republican.
EWEY
W. STRONG. By a course of honest and upright dealing with all, Mr.
Strong has gained the confidence of his fellow citizens and has
become the most prominent merchant in Brighton, where he has built
up a large and profitable dry-goods trade. In addition to this
enterprise, he carries on a dairy business in Partnership with J.
C. Twombly and owns a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres,
stocked with cattle and situated near Brighton. While he is not a
politician, his interest in the progress of his town led him to
accept the office of alderman several terms and that of mayor one
term. He was reared in the Republican faith and cast his first
presidential ballot, in 1872, for General Grant. Later, when the
issue of currency was brought forward, he became a supporter of
the silver standard, and in 1896 he was the candidate of the
silver Republicans for the legislature.
Mr. Strong was born in Strongsville, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, July 28, 1848, a son of Clark R. and Lydia (Stevens) Strong. His grandfather, John Strong, was born in Connecticut, and migrated from there to Ohio, where he surveyed and laid out the town of Strongsville. Clark R. Strong removed to Illinois in 1853 and settled in Kankakee, where he carried on a store and also invested in land near the city. Soon after he settled there his wife died and he afterward married again, but had no children by his second marriage. A few years after he came west he died, leaving five children to the care of their step-mother, with little money to support them, but with about four hundred acres of land. He was an industrious man, of good judgment, and had he lived to old age he would undoubtedly have attained a competency; but, as it was, his children had little to support them.
A few years after the death of his father, our subject went to Hillsdale, Mich., where he spent a year with his brother, Emory M. Upon completing the studies of the public schools, he entered the preparatory department of Oberlin College, where he remained for two years. He took a business course and then went to Indiana, where he taught school for two years. Later he spent two years as an insurance agent in Ashtabula County, Ohio, after which he went to Burlington, Kane County, Ill., and secured employment as clerk in a general store, receiving at first a very small salary. In that place he married Miss Nancy C. Roseborough, who was born there. After four years in Burlington his health failed and in May, 1873, he came to Colorado, where he spent a year in Denver and the mountains, and then located a homestead in Weld County. For seven years he made his home on that property, which he improved and placed under cultivation. He took a great interest in the development of the Fulton irrigating ditch, also carried on dairying, and through outdoor exercise regained his health.
In 1882 Mr. Strong came to Brighton, then
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just started. He moved a small house from his farm and was the first permanent merchant of the new town, starting in business on a very small scale; but after a year he built his present store, to which he has added as his business has developed. He bought twenty acres in the town and platted it in lots, and still owns half of the tract. His only child, Arthur James, who was born in Denver, has been given a good education. He was a graduate of the East Denver high. school and is now a student in the State University at Boulder.
In the Presbyterian Church of Brighton Mr. Strong has officiated as an elder and trustee, and for twelve years has been superintendent of the Sunday-school. He was made a Mason in Burlington, Ill., and is a charter member of Brighton Lodge No. 78, A. F. & A. M., in which he has filled all the chairs except that of W. M. He is also connected with the Odd Fellows. When Garfield was president he was appointed postmaster, a position that he held until the first term of Cleveland.
SCAR
ENNES, one of the most progressive and highly esteemed farmers of
Weld County, was called to his final rest November 28, 1894. He
was born near Oberlin, Ohio, July 19, 1835, but during boyhood
accompanied his father, James Ennes, on his removal to Bureau
County, Ill., where the latter died. There upon the home farm our
subject grew to manhood, and during his youth learned the
carpenter's trade, which he followed for a time in that state.
On the 27th of October, 1858, in Amboy, Lee County, Ill., he was united in marriage with Miss Lavina Williams, who was about five years his junior. She was also a native of Ohio, and a daughter of Walter and Sophrona (Clork) Williams. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ennes, viz.: Walter, now a merchant of Evans, Colo.; Nellie, wife of Cyrus Mount, a merchant of Brush, Colo.; Clarissa, who died in early womanhood; Celia, wife of Jesse Doney, a farmer near Evans; Theodore, who carries on the Box Elder ranch; Clayton, who operates the home farm; and Joseph, who died in infancy.
Soon after his marriage, Mr. Ennes removed to Rochester, Minn., where he followed his trade for one year and then returned to Illinois. In 1860, however, he came to Colorado, driving overland.
He located in what is known as the Plum Bottom, five miles from the present Ennes homestead, but only remained there a short time. For several years he had charge of the Gary ranch, and was engaged in farming and stock-raising, but owing to the Indian troubles he went to Nebraska City, and engaged in freighting from Omaha for one year. He then located on the Platte River two miles east of the present town of Evans, his original homestead comprising eighty acres, but he subsequently bought one hundred and sixty acres four miles distant, and another one hundred and sixty-acre tract in Box Elder, seven miles away, and two and a-half miles from Kersey. Here he extensively engaged in stock-raising, and took an active and prominent part in advancing all enterprises for the public good. With Mr. Huffsmith he commenced the Latham ditch, the first in the vicinity, and remained a director and stockholder of the same until his death. He was a promoter of educational interests, was an organizer of the schools of his locality, and most of the time served as a member of the board in school district No. 11. He was pre-eminently public-spirited and progressive and bore an important part in the upbuilding and development of the state, and on its roll of honored pioneers his name should be found among the foremost. As a business man he was upright and reliable in all his dealings, and by good management and economy succeeded in gaining a comfortable competency for his family.
Walter Ennes, the eldest child of Mr. Ennes, married, in 1885, Fannie, daughter of Nicholas Baker, of Evans. They have two children, Oscar W. and Arthur. In 1897 the second son, Theodore, married Edna M., daughter of George H. Young, the well-known merchant of Evans.
EORGE
CARTER, a farmer of Weld County, was born in Bedfordshire,
England, in November, 1842, a son of Amos and Carrie (Stapleton)
Carter, the former being a farmer and landed proprietor in
England. At the age of twenty-four our subject came to the United
States and settled in Manchester, Iowa, where he engaged in
painting. From there, in 1872, he removed to Denver, Colo., thence
settled on a farm. His wife, who was Sarah Smith, an English lady,
died at that place June 29, 1891, leaving three
