THOMAS G. MAYFIELD.
Mardos Collection
THOMAS G. MAYFIELD.
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 885
tention on his part. As an engineer he is progressive and enterprising. He is connected with the American Institute of Mining Engineers and socially is identified with the Boulder Club. While he has never been an active politician, he is well posted concerning public affairs and casts his ballots for Republican candidates.
HOMAS G. MAYFIELD, one of the sturdy and honored pioneers of Colorado, owns and manages a valuable farm which is located about five miles northeast of Longmont. During his early experiences in Colorado he mined and freighted, prospected and farmed, kept hotel and cut hay; and, in short, ran the whole gamut of occupations of the frontiersman of the period. He has been an active and interested witness of the great progress which the state has made in every direction, contributing his share to the glorious Colorado of the present. He has met with serious reverses and discouragements in his career, but has always kept up a brave heart, making the best of circumstances, and eventually coming off victor in his endeavors.
In a family originally including seven children, T. G. Mayfield is one of two survivors. His brother, William B., is a prosperous farmer of the vicinity of Fort Lupton, Colo. The father, John F. Mayfield, was born in Virginia in 1814, and in youth went to Kentucky with the other members of the family. There he married Miss Lucinda Miller and a few years afterward settled in Orange County, Ind. He bought a farm, which he proceeded to cultivate up to the year 1873, when he came to Colorado. He took up his residence in the neighborhood where his son, our subject, dwelt, and here he passed the remainder of his life, his demise taking place in 1877. During the gold excitement about 1850 he was one of the many thousands who crossed the plains in quest of the yellow treasure, but he only stayed one year. His father, Elijah Mayfield, was a native of either Virginia or Tennessee and was a respected and influential man in his time.
T. G. Mayfield, of this sketch, was born in Liberty County, Ky., December 23, 1839. With his parents he went to the new home in Indiana, and was there reared to maturity, his education being such as the district schools afforded. In 1861 he made the long journey to Colorado, coming as far as St. Louis by train, thence to Keokuk, Iowa, by boat, to Ettaville by rail and from that point to Council Bluffs, a distance of two hundred and twenty miles, by stage. Crossing the Missouri River at Omaha he found a team of oxen awaiting him to he driven to a place twelve miles above Golden, Colo. The team belonged to the young man's uncle, and as soon as the former reached his relative they entered into a partnership which continued in force for a number of years, proving both profitable and pleasant. The trip across the Nebraska plains was a tedious one, as it took forty-four days. That winter young Mayfield worked in a lumber camp cutting logs and the next spring he and his uncle built a hotel on the old Gregory road, midway between Central and Golden, and for years the Mayfield hotel was a favorite stopping-place for the travelers who passed that way. In the spring of 1863 the partners did a freighting business in connection with their hotel, running a team until the winter set in. Then our subject worked in the mines of Nevada and Alps Hill, the hotel meantime being rented. The spring and summer of 1864 the nephew and uncle again operated the hotel and engaged in freighting. In September they sold the business, and removing to Golden, devoted their whole time the following winter to carrying supplies to the different mining camps.
It was in March, 1865, that T. G. Mayfield first regularly engaged in farming here. He located on a ranch which he rented, it being situated on the St. Vrain River, seven miles east of Longmont. The season was a particularly disastrous one, as grasshoppers devoured the entire crop and all of our subject's labors were thus sacrificed. That autumn he went out on the prairies and cut wild hay, which he hauled to Central City and sold. He also bought hay at $30 a ton, and, after transporting it to Central City, disposed of it at $80 a ton. In 1866 the uncle and nephew each took up a quarter-section of land in the locality where the latter had formerly rented. They continued to farm and freight supplies to various points in partnership up to 1870, when they sold all but one hundred and sixty acres. A division of their assets ensued and T. G. Mayfield purchased his senior's interest in the ranch, which he still owns. In February, 1872, he returned
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. home on a visit, being gone about a month. From the time of his Colorado home-coming until 1883 he lived on the farm just mentioned, making substantial improvements. His health not being of the best, he came to the conclusion that a more elevated location might prove beneficial, and he purchased his present country home, five miles from Lougmont. He has never been an office-seeker or politician, but does his whole duty as a citizen and uses his ballot on behalf of the Democratic party.
March 4, 1875, Mr. Mayfield married M. Catharine, daughter of Rev. John Cooke, of Clay County, Ill., who was a talented and well-known Methodist minister. Mr. and Mrs. Mayfield have three children, Charles, Lulu and William.
AMES L. McCAIN, an honored veteran of the Civil war, now most creditably serving as justice of the peace and notary public in Evans, was born near Amity, Washington County, Pa., October 29, 1840, and is a son of James and Sarah (Morrow) McCain, the former a native of Ireland, the latter of Pennsylvania. During boyhood the father came to America and located in Washington County, Pa., where he was married and followed the occupation of farming for some years. In 1852 he removed to Ohio, and in that state died four years later. He was a successful farmer and became quite well-to-do. Politically he was a Jacksonian Democrat, and though he took an active interest in public affairs, he was never an office-seeker. All of his seven children are still living.
The subject of this sketch was twelve years old when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Meigs County, Ohio, where he grew to manhood, assisting his father in the farm work and attending the local schools, completing his education, however, at the Tupper's Plains Academy. At the outbreak of the Civil war he responded to the first call for troops, enlisting in Company D, Sixth Ohio Volunteer infantry, which regiment was placed on guard duty on the Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad. Before the expiration of his term of enlistment he re-enlisted for three years in Company K, Thirty-ninth Ohio infantry, and by again re-enlisting in the same regiment remained in the service until the close of the war. As a member of the Sixteenth Army Corps, commanded by Gen. G. M. Dodge, he participated in twenty-six pitched battles and many skirmishes, including the engagements at New Madrid, Island No. 10, Corinth, Iuka and Jackson. They followed the rebel General Price, and afterward were on guard duty at Memphis for six months, then went to Decatur, Ala., and Mr. MeCain's command was the first to cross the Tennessee River. Joining General Sherman's forces at Chattanooga, they remained with him until the close of the war, taking part in the Atlanta campaign, during which our subject was wounded July 22, 1864. They followed Sherman to the sea; from Atlanta went by transports to Beaufort, were in the battle of Bentonville, Sherman's last engagement, and were present at the surrender of Johnston. The troops then marched to Washington, D. C., where they took part in the grand review. Mr. McCain's command then proceeded to Louisville, Ky., and from there to Camp Dennison, Ohio, where he was mustered out July 19, 1865, with a war record of which he has just reason to be proud. With the exception of the journey from Savannah to Beaufort, N. C., he had marched all the way from Memphis, Tenn., to Washington, D.C. He had enlisted as a private, but was gradually promoted until he attained the rank of first lieutenant, and was mustered out as adjutant.
During his youth Mr. McCain had learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked in Pittsburg, Pa., after the war until coming to Colorado in 1879. He first located in Denver, where he engaged in his former occupation, and in 1882 bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres nine miles west of the city, where he was engaged in farming and stock-raising for three years. On selling that place he came to Weld County, in the spring of 1885, and here purchased another claim on the northwest quarter of section 30, township 4, range 6, where he continued to follow agricultural pursuits and stock-raising until 1893, when he rented his place and removed to Evans, his present home.
At Denver, Mr. McCain was married in 1882, to Miss Margaret I. Boggs, a native of Allegheny City, Pa., and a daughter of James Boggs, of that place. To them was born a son, Wallace Bruce, who at the age of eight years met a sad death by being run over by the cars at Evans.
In 1895 Mr. McCain was elected justice of the
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 887
peace, to which office he was re-elected two years later, and which he is still filling with credit to himself and entire satisfaction of the general public. He was previously appointed notary public by Governor Waite, and until coming to Evans had served as a member of the school board for almost twenty years, having always taken an active and commendable interest in educational affairs. In early life he was connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, but is now a meinher of the First Presbyterian Church of La Salle, in which he has served as elder and one of the trustees since its organization and also as superintendent of the Sunday-school. He affiliates with the Knights of Honor, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Royal Arcanum, and W. T. Sherman Post No. 23, G. A. R., of which he served as commander for three years. In all the relations of life he has been found true and faithful to every trust reposed in him, and his upright, honorable life has won for him the confidence and respect of all with whom he has come in contact.
ON. JAMES H. SWAN is one of the most enterprising citizens of Livermore, Larimer County, and is closely identified with the business interests of the place. He owns the most beautiful property to be found in this part of the state. Swan's Hotel, on the North Park road, at the north fork of the Cache la Poudre, is one of the best known hotels in central Colorado, as it is also one of the most pleasant. It has an elevation of six thousand one hundred feet above the sea, is surrounded by shady groves and smooth lawns, and is cool and refreshing even on hottest summer days, while the view that can be obtained of Steamboat Rock and the surrounding country is one of the most magnificent in the state.
Mr. Swan is a native of Millington, Middlesex County, Conn., born June 11, 1843, his parents being James E. and Lydia (Harris) Swan. His grandfather, Asa Swan, was a farmer in that state, and died there after serving in the Revolutionary war. James E. Swan, who was also a farmer there, served in the state legislature several times as a representative of the Democratic party, and was also justice of the peace. He married Miss Lydia Harris, of Millington, Conn., a daughter of Samuel Harris, an agriculturist and extensive land owner who lived and died there. Both parents died while in the prime of life, the father at the age of forty-one, in 1856, and the mother when forty-eight. There were five children, four daughters and one son, of whom our subject is the only one living.
Mr. Swan was the third child of the family, and lost his father when thirteen years old. He attended the public schools and worked on the farm until he was twenty-three, when he embarked in the mercantile business at Moodus, Conn., with a cousin, H. B. Niles, under the name of Niles & Swan. They continued in this business about three years, when he disposed of his interest in the business and came to Colorado, locating near LaPorte, where he bought a claim, homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres on the Poudre, and engaged in farming and stock business. After ten years here he sold out and returned to his old home in Connecticut, but after two months there he longed for Colorado once more and set out for this country. He bought a place in Fort Collins, and was soon appointed assistant postmaster, under Charles Raymer, continuing under Ansel Waters, during Cleveland's administration, and again under Raymer during Harrison's presidency. He was thus employed about seven years. In 1891 he bought the Livermore Hotel and resigned his position to take charge of the business. He was immediately appointed postmaster and took charge in July, 1891. His hotel is nicely situated, being midway between Manhattan and Fort Collins, also between the latter place and St. Cloud. His is the halfway house, and has three stage lines with daily mail from Fort Collins. He is on the line of the Colorado Telephone Company. He has improved the building until it is now a large, commodious structure, and finely appointed. He has added a dance hall, and done all in his power to make it meet the requirements of his guests, and it is deservedly popular. In connection with this he runs a livery and feed stable, and has a blacksmith shop attached. About the time he took charge of the hotel he opened a mercantile establishment, which he still conducts. He carries on an extensive and increasing local business. He owns one hundred and twenty acres of land on which he raises cattle.
Mr. Swan has been twice married. In East
888
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. Haddam, Conn., he married Miss Julia M. Doane, of New Jersey, who died in Fort Collins. His second wife was Mrs. Minerva (Hornerd) Saxton. She had one daughter, Cora Saxton, now Mrs. Leslie Horsley, of Livermore. By his first marriage he had three children, viz.: Herbert, who lives in Victor, Colo.; Walter F., in Seattle, Wash.; and Sylvia, Mrs. H. L. Gilpin-Brown, of Livermore Park. He is president of the school board in Pleasant Valley district, and was justice of the peace several terms there. In 1893 he was elected on the Republican ticket to the office of county commissioner for Larimer, took the oath of office in January, 1894, and held it until 1897. He is a McKinley Republican, and takes a prominent part in local politics, rendering much aid in their caucuses and conventions. He was a charter member of Fort Collins Lodge No. 10, A. O. U. W. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church at Fort Collins, and have an unusual degree of popularity among those who have come in contact with them.
ALVIN H. THOMAS. One of the most progressive farmers of Weld County is the subject of this sketch, who is engaged in farming and stock-raising on township 7, range 65, seven miles northeast of Eaton. A pioneer of this part of the state, he came to Colorado with the Union colony and found but a cactus plain stretching as far as the eye could discern. He broke the ground and began the cultivation of the land. Wishing to have trees to beautify his place, he set out a grove of one thousand, but all died. He then planted two thousand, which now constitute his beautiful grove. The place is also beautified by many flowers.
Born in Salem, Ohio, November 15, 1844 Mr. Thomas is a son of Jacob and Rebecca (Lee) Thomas, natives respectively of Bucks and Berks Counties, Pa. His father, who was a Quaker, grew to manhood in Berks County, where he engaged principally in farming, though he also followed milling for a time. During the war he advocated Union principles and was a stanch Abolitionist. He and his wife were the parents of two sons and six daughters, namely: Mary, widow of Robert Tolerton; Catherine, Hannah, Jesse, Priscilla, Calvin H.; Lydia, who married A. J. Strong; and Sallie, wife of Dr. Coats.
When less than seventeen years of age our subject enlisted, in October, 1861, in Company C, Sixth Ohio Cavalry, and participated in all of the cavalry engagements of the Army of the Potomac. He served through the entire period of the war, was wounded in both limbs, and received his honorable discharge August 17, 1865, After leaving the service he attended school for two years, then took a trip west, and on his return home engaged in farming. In 1870 he came to Greeley as a member of the Union colony. Three years later he returned to Ohio and was there married. In 1874 he came a second time to Greeley, where he carried on farm pursuits for six years, and in 1880 settled on his present quarter-section of land. Here he has engaged in raising grains and cattle. He is a stockholder in the Larimer and Weld Reservoir Company and the Larimer and Weld Ditch Company, and has his land nicely laid out for irrigating.
In political questions Mr. Thomas votes the Republican ticket in national elections, but in local matters votes for the man whom he considers best suited for office. Fraternally he is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and is also a member of U. S. Grant Post No.14, G. A. R., of Greeley. Aprils, 1874, he married Sophia, daughter of John Nickum, of Salem, Ohio, who was a furniture dealer in that town and held office as captain of a militia company, but could not enter the service during the war, as he was too old. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have four children: Helen M., Myra L., Thurza Theda and Daniel B. L.
While his service in the army prevented Mr. Thomas from enjoying the educational advantages so desirable to the young, he has endeavored by self-culture to atone for the deficiencies of his education, and is a man who is continually studying and progressing. He is a close and thoughtful reader and assists his children in their studies, going over their lessons with them. On the questions of the day he is well informed. In his efforts to do all possible for his children, he is ably aided by Mrs. Thomas, who is a cultured and educated lady, and for two years was president, and is now vice-president, of the Greeley branch of the Kliothalian Club of the Woman's Federation. They own a home in Greeley and spend a part of each year there, in order that their children may have the advantage of the
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