HANS P. NELSON.
Mardos Collection
HANS P. NELSON.
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 901
and has dealt to a considerable extent in real estate. While serving on the board of trustees he helped put in water works, and was superintendent of construction. He has been trustee of Longmont many terms, was mayor pro tern and was also mayor, by election, for one term.
Mr. Barb has been twice married. While in Mesopotamia he married Miss Candace Kibbee, a native of that state, who died there in 1874. They had one child, Irene, who died at the age of nine years. The second wife of Mr. Barb was Mrs. Emma M. Henderson, also of Ohio. She had two children: Mrs. Halliday, who lives in Denver, and Mrs. Dunn, who lives in Salt Lake. Mr. Barb joined the Odd Fellows' order while in Wisconsin, was a charter member of his lodge and the encampment. He has always been a Republican until late years, but now affiliates with the silver party.
ANS P. NELSON is one of the sturdy, enterprising sons of Denmark, who, years ago, cast in his lot with the citizens of the United States, and worked his way upward from a humble, unknown condition to one of respect and prominence. He has been identified with the fortunes of Colorado for several decades and since 1890 has been an agriculturist of Boulder Valley. His handsome country home is situated upon a one hundred and sixty acre farm two miles east of Longmont. This property, well improved and very desirable for general farming purposes, is owned by our subject, who for the past eight years has given his whole time and energies to the development and cultivation of the place. In Masonic circles Mr. Nelson is deservedly popular. He belongs to Blackhawk Lodge No. 7, A. F. & A. M., and is a member of Central City Chapter No. 1, R. A. M.
Born September 22, 1841, Mr. Nelson is one of the four children of Nels and Butil (Petersen) Hansen, and with his sister, Nelsina, is now the only representative of the family surviving. The father was born about 1811 in Denmark and followed farming as an occupation from his boyhood until his death, at the age of thirty-four years. His father, Hans Nelson, also a tiller of the soil, lived to the advanced age of ninety-six years.
In his early years young Nelson of this sketch attended the common schools of his fatherland, and from his fourteenth to his twenty-first year he industriously worked at farming. Then he entered the army, according to the continental custom, and served his full term of three years. April 10, 1865, he put into effect a long cherished dream, as upon that day he started on his journey across lands and sea to America. Going to Liverpool he took passage upon a vessel bound for New York, but on board there was the grim passenger, death, and ere the ship arrived at her destination, three hundred of the twelve hundred passengers had died of the dreaded cholera. Proceeding direct to Chicago, our subject found there that he had but a few dollars left, and it becoming necessary for him to earn some more at once, he walked to the docks, and as good fortune would have it, he ran across the captain of a schooner, who understood the strange Danish tongue, and when asked for work the official told him to report at the ship the following morning. Mr. Nelson did so, and found that the work in question was in the pineries of Michigan. This occupation was carried on by him for a couple of years, or until the spring of 1867, when, as he had learned that the Union Pacific Railroad was paying large wages to workmen at Omaha, he went to that city. There the rumors which had reached him proved to be fabrications; but, as the air was filled with reports of western gold-mining regions, he very soon took the universal fever and planned to go further west. He had about decided to drive a team across the plains to the Pacific slope, when he was dissuaded by a man who had been there and also to Colorado, and believed that the state last named had even greater possibilities before it than the other. So Mr. Nelson went on the train to Cheyenne, there took the stage for Blackhawk, and soon was busily at work in mining in Russell Gulch. A few months later he began saw milling, and the next winter he obtained a position in the stamp mills. Twenty-three years of faithful service for one company, the Bob Tail Mining Company, sums up the history of the next chapter in the life of Mr. Nelson. Some time after this company had been consolidated he was given the responsible post of foreman, and for the last term years of his service with them he occupied that trustworthy place. At length his health gave way to a certain extent, and he wisely decided to seek a change. The past years of out
902
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. door life on his farm have proved beneficial to him and he flow bids fair to enjoy a rugged, hale old age.
The lady who has been the sharer of his joys and sorrows for a quarter of a century was formerly Miss Emma Larsen. They were blessed with six children, one of whom is deceased, while the others are: Fred, of Central City; Selma, Victor, Linda and Ruby. The younger ones are still at home.
HOMAS TREGONING is a self-made man who, without family or pecuniary advantages at the commencement of life, has battled earnestly and energetically, and by indomitable courage and integrity has achieved success and gained a comfortable competence. By sheer force of will and untiring effort he has worked his way upward, and is to-day a well-to-do citizen of Weld County, his place of business being in Evans and his home on a ranch on section 20, township 4, range 65.
Mr. Tregoning was born in Redruth, Cornwall, England, May 14, 1839, and is a son of Thomas and Mary A. (Jones) Tregoning, natives of Gwenep, that country. The father held the position of overseer or captain in the copper mines of Cornwall, as did also the grandfather, Richard Tregoning, and the uncles of our subject were similarly employed. At the age of eight years our subject entered the mines, doing such work as was adapted to his strength, and when about fourteen became connected with the underground department as a regular miner. In 1863 he was employed by a London company to go to New Grenada, Spanish Columbia, to take charge of a silver mine as sub-manager, a position which he held for three years. On his return to England he was made superintendent of a mine for the Bolitho Company at Penzance, Cornwall, and held that position until the mine was abandoned two years later.
While there Mr. Tregoning was married to Miss Jane Toy, a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Toy, Cornish people, who lived at Porkeles, Wendron, near Helstrom. By this union six children were born, namely: Mary A., wife of James Adams, who is interested in the oil business in Butler County, Pa.; Thomas J.; Richard, who is engaged in the cattle business in Montana; Ernest, who was accidentally killed in Pennsylvania at the age of eight years; Frederick C., who operates his father's farm, near Evans, Colo.; and Clara A., wife of William H. Launder, of Central City, Colo. The wife and mother died in 1877, and Mr. Tregoning was again married, October 18, 1879, his second union being with Catherine Stevens Gregory, daughter of William and Mary (Major) Gregory, of St. Ives, Cornwall, England, though the father was of Scottish lineage.
In April, 1869, Mr. Tregoning came to America and first located at Mount Hope, N. J., where he worked as a laborer in the iron ore mines for three months. He was then appointed superintendent, but resigned his position three months later to go to Friendship, N. C., near Goldsboro, where he was employed in sinking shafts at the iron mines of the Tuscorrow Iron Company, and in contract work for Fox, Fisher & Wistors, a Philadelphia company, remaining there two years, when on account of the decline in iron, the mines suspended operations. Soon after his return to Philadelphia he went to Clarion County, that state, locating at Foxburg, which was named in honor of Mr. Fox, the head of the oil firm for whom he worked. He was superintendent of oil wells there for fourteen and a-half years, having charge of from fifty to one hundred wells.
Resigning that position in October, 1886, Mr. Tregoning came to Weld County, Colo., and bought eighty acres of railroad land on section 17, township 4, range 6, now owned by Robert M. Barr, within five miles of Evans. At that time it was entirely unimproved, but is now watered by the English ditch or the Platte Valley Irrigation Canal and is one of the best farms of the locality. The family ate their first dinner in the new home on Christmas day without a fire, as the weather was so warm. Mrs. Tregoning assisted her husband in setting out the trees upon the place, holding them while he filled in the dirt around them. Here he engaged in agricultural pursuits and stock-raising, keeping one hundred head of cattle and fifty head of horses, but at the end of six years sold out to a Mr. Taylor from Iowa, who in turn sold to a Mr. Barr. In the meantime Mr. Tregoning located on an eighty acre timber claim, which he had purchased on coming to the county, and to which he added another eighty acres, making a fine farm of one
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 903
hundred and sixty acres of highly improved land which his son operates.
In 1889, Mr. Tregoning was elected on the Republican ticket to the office of justice of the peace, which he filled for seven consecutive years, also serving as police magistrate of Evans for two years of the time. In 1894 he was appointed notary public of Evans by Governor Waite and reappointed by Governor Adams February 24, 1898. In April, 1893, he established an office in Evans, and since 1896 has done quite an extensive real-estate business, buying, selling and negotiating sales for other parties. He is also agent for several insurance companies--the Fire Association of Philadelphia; the Niagara Company of New York; the Lancashire Company of England; and the Mutual Life and Accident Insurance Companies of Denver. At the age of sixteen years and four mouths, Mr. Tregoning entered the English army and took part in the Crimean war, being honorably discharged at the end of two years and one hundred and sixty-five days of service. For almost thirty years he has been identified with the Odd Fellows' society, and is a charter member of Prosperity Lodge No. 109, I. O. O: F., of Evans, of which he is past grand. He also belonged to the grand lodge of the state of Pennsylvania. He has made for himself all honorable record in business, and by his well-directed efforts has acquired a handsome competency. As a citizen, friend and neighbor he is true to every duty and justly merits the esteem in which he is held.
UGUSTUS C. ALBEE was one of the first settlers on the Platte River bottom land in Weld County, and has long been numbered among the well-to-do citizens of this region. His present ranch is situated on section 17, township 4, range 66, not far from the town of Platteville, where he carries on business in dairy supplies. He has taken a very active part in the building of ditches and in other enterprises calculated to benefit this community. As an upright, straightforward business man he stands second to none in this portion of the county, and his word is always considered as good as his bond.
Mr. Albee is a native of Massachusetts, his birth having occurred in Milford in 1835. His parents, Clark and Vianna (Holbrook) Albee, were likewise both natives of Massachusetts.
The father, who was born and passed his whole life in Milford, was one of the prominent business men of the place. He was engaged in the manufacture of boots up to the time of his death, which took place when he was in the prime of manhood, thirty-eight years of age. A stanch Republican, he often took part in campaigns as a stump speaker in his own community and was universally recognized as being a man of ability. The Albee family were among the first settlers of Milford, Mass. Mrs. Albee lived to reach about three-score years. Her eldest son, H. Clinton, is deceased; Seth, the third son, is a resident of Worcester, Mass.; and Albert and Alfred are twins.
The education of A. C. Albee was such as was to be gained in the public schools of his native town. He followed his father's business until 1857, when he came as far west as Clinton, Iowa. For three years he was engaged in farming in that section, and was one of the pioneers of that sparsely settled county. When he needed merchandise he was obliged to drive sixty miles to Sioux City. In 1860 he started with ox-teams for Colorado, coming across the plains from Omaha to Denver, five hundred and fifty miles. Arriving in Denver in May, 1860, he found a big snow-storm raging. He at once began teaming and freighting from Plum Creek to Denver and the next year he made several trips across the plains to Council Bluffs, allowing about ten weeks for each journey. In 1862 he freighted to the mountains, to the various mining camps, Blackhawk, Central City, California Gulch and Breckenridge. In 1863 he commenced mining in French Gulch, at Lincoln City, on Bed Rock Flume, and continued there for two years.
It was in 1865 that Mr. Albee went into the dairy business on the Kiowa River, forty miles from Denver, his main trade being in cheese. A year later he returned to Lincoln City and resumed work in the mines for about a year. The winter of 1866-67 he was associated with Warren Batchelor in general merchandising in Denver, and the following spring he settled on the Platte River, forty-three miles northwest of Denver. He took up a homestead of eighty acres, which he has since sold. Then crossing to the eastern side of the road he bought a quarter-section of land, on which he-has since made his home. He makes a specialty of raising draft horses and
904
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. cows, keeping from twenty-five to thirty head of each. For fourteen years he was secretary of the Farmers' Independent Ditch Company, which ditch he helped materially in getting constructed. He still holds stock in the same and also in the Big Bend Ditch, of which he built one-third, and besides, he is financially interested in the Albee and Warden ditch.
While he does his entire duty as a citizen and voter Mr. Albee has not been desirous of public office-holding. He is a good Republican and takes quite an interest in the success of his party. For three years he was road overseer, but he refused the nomination for county commissioner. In 1863 he married Helen E. Clark, daughter of Josiah Clark, who came from Illinois to Colorado in 1859 and became a miner and prospector. The children of our subject and wife are named as follows: Louisa, deceased; Frank, Emma, Calvin, Susie, Ida, George, Augusta and Almira. The three last-named are deceased.
TEPHEN H. CARR, a pioneer of '59, resides upon a ranch in Weld County, seven miles southeast of Longmont, where he has owned and cultivated valuable farming land since 1872. During the winter months he usually spends considerable time in Denver, in order that his children and grandchildren may have the benefit of the Denver schools. He was born in Belknap County, N. H., January 23, 1825, a son of Jacob and Lucinda (Hadley) Carr, and was one of three children. His father, who was born, reared and married in New Hampshire, removed from there to Maine and settled at Old Town, on the Penobscot River, where he engaged in the lumber business for many years.
The education of our subject was acquired in the common schools and at the academy at South Berwick, Me. At seventeen years of age he and two other young men embarked in the hardware business at Meredith, N. H., but after about two years he drifted to Lowell, thence to Boston, and from there to Providence, R. I., finally returning to Boston, where he was for some time employed in a broker's office and for a short time in a furniture store. In 1854 he went to New York City and with two others embarked in the secondhand furniture and auction business, but after two years disposed of his interest there. In 1856 he came west on a trip of inspection and recreation, and spent three months in Council Bluffs, Iowa, then returned to New York City, where he remained a year. Then, selling his property there, as well as some city real estate in Boston, he again went to Council Bluffs, where he became interested in farming, the hotel business and other enterprises.
At the time of the discovery of gold in Colorado Mr. Carr resolved to come to the mountain regions of the west. Accompanied by his wife, he traveled across the plains with three yoke of oxen and a team of ponies which he drove to a light covered spring wagon. He reached Denver October 10, 1859. Going from there to the divide with a number of other men, he got out logs for a house and returned to Denver with the material for a home, but soon afterwards he sold the logs and rented a hotel on Tenth street, two blocks down from Larimer street, becoming the proprietor of the Jefferson House. This place he conducted for two years and then traded some Iowa property for forty acres on the north side of Denver, near the Larimer street bridge. During the summer and fall of 1861 he was engaged in the mercantile business at Breckenridge and was also interested in dairying and other enterprises, returning to his Denver property late in the year. In the spring of 1862 he sold that place and bought one hundred and sixty acres on the Big Thompson, where be spent the summer. In the fall he traded the ranch for property four miles from Blackhawk, where he followed teaming, having a contract with a mill to furnish their logs. During the two years that followed he was prosperous, but in the fall of 1864 he sold the property and removed to the foot of Guy Hill, where, purchasing a timbered ranch, he spent the winter. In the spring of 1865 he bought what is now called the Carr House property, on Fifteenth street, between Wewatta and Wazee streets, opening there a feed and sale stable and a hotel, which he conducted for seven years. That place in 1872 he traded for his present farming property, seven miles southeast of Longmont. Since then he has divided his time between the ranch and Denver.
In 1859, prior to his removal to Colorado, Mr. Carr married Miss Lizzie Oliphant, a native of Pennsylvania. Three children blessed their union, but all are deceased, and they now have
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 905
with them an adopted daughter, Orpha. Nellie, who married B. F. Hersha, died leaving two sons, Abraham Scott and Stephen Karl. The other children were Emma J. and Louie B.
REDERICK S. WHITNEY, a well-known pioneer of the Poudre Valley, Weld County, has been living retired from active labor for the past ten years, in the enjoyment of the competence which he gained in former years by industry and well-applied energy. He owns about three hundred acres of well-improved land, which he tents to responsible tenants, and has other property and investments besides. His life has been characterized by straightforwardness of purpose, earnest and zealous desire to do the right and act fairly toward all men, and small wonder is it that he is held in high regard by all who know him. He is a member of the United Brethren Church, and has been a liberal contributor to religious, educational and benevolent enterprises.
F. S. Whitney is one of the four children of David and Polly Whitney, natives of Fairfield County, Conn., the mother of the town of Danbury. They spent their entire lives in their native state, Mr. Whitney carrying on a farm. Edward, the eldest son, was a salesman for a boot and shoe house many years ago, and disappearing was never heard from. William is a machinist for the Union Pacific Railroad, located at present at Council Bluffs, Iowa. Nancy, the only daughter, is the wife of Edward Wickwire, of Waterbury, Conn.
The birth of F. S. Whitney occurred January 22, 1836, on his father's farm in Fairfield County, Conn. He received a good general education in the public schools, and at the age of twenty-two years accepted a position with the New York & Erie Railroad Company. Gradually he was promoted, being brakesman, fireman and engineer, and in 1855 he went to Chicago, where he ran as fireman on the Chicago & North-western Railway between that city and Freeport. Later he was engineer for the passenger train running from Chicago to Fulton City until 1860. That year he assumed the charge of an engine in the stamping mills in Nevadaville, Colo. At the close of a year he engaged in teaming wood and quartz for the Blackhawk and Central City mines. In 1862 he came to this valley, and the day before Christmas located on a squatter's claim of one hundred and sixty acres, about a mile south of Windsor. The tract is now owned by ex-Governor Eaton. Afterwards he homesteaded a quarter-section adjoining, and cultivated this land for a number of years. He improved the land, principally by means of an irrigation ditch from the river. Few settlers were hereabouts at that early day, and among the nearest neighbors of our subject were the Newell brothers, "Ranger" Jones and Tom Ernest, all of whom lived a mile or a mile and a-half away. Here Mr. Whitney was busily occupied in fanning and stockraising for some twenty years, at the end of which time he rented his farm and became a resident of Greeley. After living in the town eight years Mr. Whitney bought three hundred and twenty acres of land on section 15, township 4, range 67 west. This property was railroad land, wholly unimproved, and a great task was before the new owner, who was not, however, daunted, but bravely overcame the obstacles in his way. About two hundred and seventy-five acres are now under cultivation. In his political relations he is a Republican.
On the 10th of May, 1860, Mr. Whitney married Miss Margaret Nettleton, who was born in Troy, N. Y., but grew to womanhood in Chicago. They have never had any children.
OHN W. PROUT, of Golden, was born in Wisconisco, Dauphin County, Pa., the son of William and Rhoda (Parfet) Prout. He is a member of a family that has long been connected with the mining interests of Wales, where the genealogical record can be traced back to the old Britons. Thomas Prout, an experienced miner, had a son, Thomas, Jr., also a practical miner and a life-long resident of Wales. The latter's son, William, was born in Pembrokeshire, and at an early age learned every detail connected with the operating of a mine. About 1847 he crossed the ocean, settling in Pennsylvania, where for many years he was superintendent of the Lykens Valley Coal Company. Later becoming a mine owner, he operated in Schuylkill, Luzerne and Northumberland, having charge of the Locust Gap Colliery in the last-named county. In 1872 he came to Colorado, where he leased and operated the Murphy mines for two years, and
906
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. then leased the Baker coal mine in Boulder County. While in that mine, September 21, 1875, he was accidentally killed by a falling rock. His remains were taken for interment to Erie, Weld County, this state. At the time of his death he was forty-seven years of age. He was recognized as one of the most experienced and successful coal miners and operators in the United States and his name is still famous in that respect in the part of Pennsylvania from which he came. When he settled in Pennsylvania he taught the people of that state how to mine anthracite coal, which heretofore had been worked in an indifferent manner. On coming to Colorado he found the mines here were not operated successfully, and coal mining interests were in their infancy. He took charge of the Murphy mine, which under his management was made very profitable, and was doing the same with the Baker mine at the time of his death.
The mother of our subject was a descendant of a fine old family of Breconshire, Wales. She died in Idaho, in 1895, leaving five sons and one daughter, namely: James, a merchant in Boise City, Idaho; John W.; Rhoda, wife of John O'Brien, of Denver; William, a miner living in Golden; George W., who is engaged in the mercantile business in Boise City; and Rev. Thomas A., a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, now in Oregon. John W. was born August 8, 1855, and spent the first seventeen years of his life in Pennsylvania, accompanying his father through the mines in Dauphin, Northumberland, Luzerne and Schuylkill Counties. When only seven years of age he was working in coal mines, studying coal formation, and when about fifteen he became a paid assistant in a mine. July 4, 1872, he arrived in Golden. Afterward he worked in the Murphy and Baker mines and was within two feet of his father when the latter was killed. Afterward he engaged as a contracting miner in the Ralston coal mine, and later was employed by John Nichols, Sr., at the Pittsburg mine, and the old Loveland mine.
In 1878 Mr. Prout married Emma S. Scudmore, who was born in London, England, the daughter of Charles Scudmore, a mechanic in that city. Through her influence Mr. Prout was induced to abandon mining. He then engaged in the stage and express business between Denver and Golden, from which, after having accumulated a fortune, he retired in 1893. At the same time he became interested in gold mining. In the intervening years, though not actively engaged in mining, he had continued his geological and mineralogical studies as prompted by his father, and became so well informed that his services were of value during the early days of mining in the erupted regions. He is considered to-day one of the most expert eruptive mining authorities in the west. In his mining speculations his silent partner is Charles D. Baker, the assistant general manager of the famous mercantile firm of J. S. Brown & Bro., in Denver. Among the mines in which he is interested are the noted Blake mine, west of Cripple Creek, and the Mabel Grace mine, in the Freshwater mining district. For many years he has been noted as a shrewd dealer in mining stocks. His knowledge of mining is extensive and well known. He is frequently called onto make examinations of mines in different parts of the state and render a decision as to their condition for profitable working, and invariably the parties interested act on his judgment to their advantage. His reports on mines show careful research, and are clearly, accurately written, setting forth the facts of the case fully.
The old Everett Bank block, in Golden, Colo., which Mr. Prout purchased in 1897, was remodeled at an expense of about $8,000, fitting it up for stores. The ground floor storerooms were all connected, in which he placed a fine stock of groceries, and installed his oldest son, John W., Jr., as manager of the store. He has three other children, all at home: Essie M., Roscoe and Regis. While he is not a politician, he has firm convictions upon the questions before the people of this age and always supports the Republican party and its principles. In religious belief he is a Methodist, and fraternally holds membership with the Odd Fellows.
OUAVE ELLSWORTH MONCRIEFF was brought to Colorado in a prairie schooner when he was only three years of age, and much of his subsequent life has been passed in this state. He remembers Denver when it was a small town, populated principally by miners and their families, with little except its glorious climate to attract settlers. Railroads had not yet
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 907
been introduced, nor was there much business of any kind in the place. In fact it was only those of optimistic faith (of whom there were not a few in Colorado at that time) who would boast of the wonderful future before Denver.
In Winterset, near Des Moines, Iowa, the subject of this sketch was born August 9, 1861. He was named for Colonel Ellsworth, who was shot in Baltimore while on his way south with his zouave regiment in the opening months of the war. He was the third among five children, whose parents were John and Lavina (Reigel) Moncrieff, natives respectively of Scotland and Pennsylvania. His father, who was born and reared near Glasgow, learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed a short time in his native land. About 1833 he came to America, and after a time in New York went to Ohio, thence to Iowa, and from there in 1863 to Colorado, making the latter journey overland to look up a location. He was pleased with the prospects, and in 1864 brought his family here, settling in Denver, where he engaged in contracting and building until his retirement from business. In 1889 he returned to his native land on a visit, spending some months in renewing the associations of his youth. His last days were spent in Denver, where he died in December, 1893. His wife is still living in this city.
Educated in the grammar and high schools of Denver, Mr. Moncrieff began to learn the carpenter's trade as soon as his school days ended. He finished the trade under his father, and in 1884 went to California, where he worked as a carpenter for a year. Afterward he was employed in St. Louis for eighteen months and in Chicago for a year. From the latter city he came back to Denver and followed carpentering in connection with his father, until the latter's retirement in 1889, since which time he has been alone. As a contractor and builder he is skillful, accurate and energetic, and whatever he undertakes others have the greatest confidence he will successfully complete. His shop is at No. 1119 Eighteenth street. He is a member of the Contractors' Association and is warmly interested in everything pertaining to the building occupation. Politically he is a Republican, but not radical in his opinions.
While in St. Louis Mr. Moncrieff married Miss Mary W. Hynson, and they have two children, Laura and Ellsworth. Mrs. Moncrieff was born in St. Louis, of which city her father, A. R. Hynson, was an early settler and hardware merchant.
The birth of Mr. Michael took place forty-four years ago, November 8, 1854, in Monroe County, Pa. He is a son of John Michael, of the same place. He was a farmer and spent his entire life in Monroe County, dying in November, 1868, when fifty-two years of age. He was the son of John Michael, who was a native of Germany, and with his three brothers and father (George) came to this country and were numbered among the early settlers of Monroe County, where their property has been handed down from generation to generation. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Susan B. Eilenberger, and she, too, was from Monroe County. Of the eleven children of John and Susan Michael all but two are living. Mrs. Michael died in 1889, aged sixty-eight years.
John M. Michael was the sixth son of his parents' family. He was educated in the schools of his home district and worked on the farm until he attained his majority. When he was thirty years old he decided to come west, and having made up his mind that Weld County had a promising future he took up a homestead on the northeast corner of section 28, and began general farming. Later he purchased one-half of section 21, and now owns altogether four hundred and eighty acres. Much of the property is under a high state of cultivation and is well adapted to the raising of grain and other crops. To some extent the proprietor has followed dairying, and nearly all of his enterprises have met with success. He is a stockholder in the Greeley and Loveland Ditch Company. In politics he is independent, preferring to vote for the man whom
908
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. he thinks best fitted for any given office, regardless of party ties. He is a member of the Greeley Lodge of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and belongs to Poudre Valley Lodge No. 12, I. O. O. F. September 24, 1884, he married Sarah R. Sherwood, of Raritan, Somerset County, N. J. She is a daughter of Augustus Sherwood, and by her marriage has become the mother of one child, Susie A. The family attend the Congregational Church of Greeley, Mr. Michael being a member of the same and a generous contributor to its work. Among his old acquaintances and neighbors he is held in the highest esteem, and his word is sufficient security at any time with those he does business with.
Mr. Morrison was born in County Antrim, Ireland, in 1841, but when only five years old was brought to this country by his parents, James and Mary (Irwin) Morrison. After spending two years in New York City the family removed to Pennsylvania, where he grew to manhood and with his father learned the stone-mason's trade, while he acquired a good education in the schools of that state. At the age of twenty he commenced teaching, and successfully followed that profession through the winter months, while in the summer season he worked at his trade and on the farm. On attaining his majority he joined the boys in blue, enlisting in August, 1862, in Company H, One Hundred and Twenty-third Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, under Col. John B. Clark, a United Presbyterian minister of that state. He participated in the battles of Antietam and Fredericksburg; "Burnside' s stick in the mud march" and the engagement at Chancellorsville. Although his clothes were perforated by bullets four or five times, he fortunately escaped without even a scratch, and when his nine months' term of enlistment expired he was honorably discharged at Harrisburg, Pa., in May, 1863, and returned home. He continued to engage in school teaching and farming in the Keystone state until 1866, when with the family he removed to Harrison County, Ohio, where the father purchased land and spent his remaining days engaged in agricultural pursuits, dying there in 1892. In the family were eight children, but only four are now living: Samuel W., of this review; Nannie C., wife of William J. C. Blackwood, a commission merchant of Pittsburg, Pa.; Jennie, wife of Marshall McCall, a farmer of Guernsey County, Ohio; and James E., who operates the old home farm in Ohio.
For two years after the removal of the family to Ohio, Samuel W. Morrison worked on his father's farm; and then, in company with his brother-in-law, Mr. Blackwood, embarked in merchandising at Smyrna, Harrison County, Ohio, but two years later the latter sold his interest to our subject, who took another partner, William Lawrence, for one year. He then carried on business alone until 1879, when he came to Colorado and Mrs. Morrison conducted the store for two years. In this state he became interested in the raising of sheep, buying one thousand ewes and eighty acres of land on Thompson River within four miles of Evans. This venture proved quite profitable, for in eighteen months he made $1,500, but at the end of two years he sold his stock and bought a sixth interest in the Evans flouring mill. Returning to Ohio, he closed out his business there and brought his family to Colorado and purchased the entire mill, which he operated for ten years. After selling that property he bought fifty acres of land within the coporate (sic) limits of Evans, and in 1895 purchased the store property and built a wareroom and dwelling house in connection, known as the Sherman block, in which he opened a general store under the name of S. W. Morrison & Son. They buy all kinds of produce and have for sale everything needed by the farmer. A branch store was established at La Salle in 1897 and placed under the management of David S. Ellis.
In Ohio, Mr. Morrison was married, in 1867, to Miss Eliza Logan, a daughter of James Logan, of Guernsey County. To them was born a son, William K, junior member of the firm of S. W. Morrison & Son, who married Maggie, daughter
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