Mardos Collection
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since its organization, and has been a prominent factor in its county and state conventions, and its chosen delegate to the national convention at Omaha in 1892. He is a zealous worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has been a member many years, and has held many offices. A prominent Mason, he is well known throughout the state in that connection. He is past master of St. Vrain Lodge No. 23; has for years served as secretary of Lodge No. 8, R. A. M.; was recorder of Long's Peak Commandery 12; and charter member and first worthy patron of the Eastern Star. In 1866, during the Indian outbreak, he was one of a local company that spent a few months in trying to quell the trouble. In public as in private life he is above reproach, and he is held in the highest esteem by the people among whom he has lived so long and who know him so well.
EN. JOHN N. IVES, ex-attorney general of Kansas, is the present county attorney of Boulder County. He is a man of high standing in business, professional and fraternal circles, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of all who have the pleasure of an acquaintanceship with him. Of late years he has devoted much of his time, means and energies to mining enterprises and has met with success. He is a native of New England, and possesses the keen, clear judgment and able executive talents for winch the Yankees are noted, added to which are numerous qualities of character gained by wide experience and association with the world in the various activities in which he has been engaged.
Born in the town of Topsham, Orange County, Vt., May 9, 1837, the general is a son of Stephen and Sarah (Nutt) Ives, natives of Clairmont, N. H., and Topsham, respectively. The Ives family were among the first settlers of Wallingford, Conn., and were represented in the Revolutionary war on the colonial side. Grandfather John Ives was born in the Nutmeg state, and was a farmer in New Hampshire. He died when his son Stephen was but seven years of age. The latter became a well-to-do woolen manufacturer in New England, and about 1839 moved to New Philadelphia, Ohio. Two years later he went to Muskingum, where he was employed as before, in the manufacture of woolen fabrics. At the expiration of another two years he settled in Plainfield, Ohio, engaged in the same line of business till 1835, and passed his last years in Tipton, Iowa, dying there in 1857. His second wife survived him nearly forty years, her demise taking place in 1896. Her father, John Nutt, was a New England farmer. Stephen Ives had married in early manhood Miss Sally K. Wallace, a descendant of the great Sir William Wallace, of Scotland. She died leaving two children. One, Orange T. Ives, resides at No. 3715 William street, Denver. The two sons and two daughters born to the marriage of Stephen Ives and Sarah Nutt are still living. William, a veterinary surgeon of Stanwood, Iowa, was in the Eighth Iowa Cavalry during the Civil war, and also in an Iowa infantry regiment.
The boyhood of General Ives was chiefly passed in Ohio, and after completing his common-school education he attended the academy at West Bedford. Then he taught school for three terms in Ohio, and in 1855 went to Iowa, where he conducted schools for three or four terms. For a few years he was occupied in the manufacture of woolen goods near Tipton, Iowa, and then he commenced the study of law. Having been admitted to the bar in Iowa, he practiced for a short time in the southern part of the state, mostly in Monroe County. In 1873 he settled in Hutchinson, Minn., and later practiced his profession in Browntown, in the same county, for two years. His next home was in Crookston, where he was the attorney for the Crookston & St. Hilaire Railroad, subsequently merged into the Great Northern lines, but not until the general had been their legal representative six years. While he was there he was nominated attorney-general on the Democratic ticket, a great surprise to him, and though the Republicans won the victory, he lowered their majorities materially. January 17, 1888, he opened an office in Sterling, Kan., and in the fall of 1890 he was nominated on the Farmers' Alliance ticket for the position of attorney-general. This honor also came as a thunderbolt to him, as he was first made aware of the fact by the daily papers. The Democrats, likewise, made him their candidate, and he was elected by the splendid majority of forty-seven thousand seven hundred and eight votes, being the only one elected on the ticket, while the Republican pluralities ran from
1110
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. five to eight thousand. He entered upon the duties of his office in January, 1891, and served until January, 1893, when he retired.
In November, 1892, General Ives became connected with and was elected president of the Orphan Boy Extension Mining & Milling Company, of Copper Rock, this county, the name of which has since been changed to the Dew Drop Mining Company, and he spent about half of his time in this state. The company purchased the Dew Drop mine a few years ago, and commenced the extensive enlargements and improvements there which have resulted so prosperously. He was president of the company which controlled the mine until he resigned in favor of Mr. Daniels, the present president and general manager. He is still a director in the company, which is operated on the co-operative plan, a new departure in mining in this state. April 1, 1897, he settled in Boulder and opened a law office. In July he was appointed county attorney, and has since acted in that capacity. April 28, 1897, he and others organized the Wheelmen's Mining and Tunneling Company, which has a capital stock of $600,000. The tunnel is but eight miles from Boulder, in Boulder Canon, and will cut through at least seventeen already famous gold-bearing veins. The plan of tunneling in mining operations needs no explanation or setting forth, as the superiority of this method is well known by this time to everyone who has had anything to do in mining under the conditions existing in this region. Neither is anything necessary to be said in regard to the management of the Wheelmen's Company beyond this, that it has at its head General Ives, and as secretary and treasurer W. G. Houston, while among its directors are Messrs. P. D. Seeley, B. H. Seeley and J. M. Shafer, three practical millers, with years of experience in various Colorado and New Mexico mines.
In the fall of 1875 General Ives was initiated into the Masonic order in Temple Lodge No. 59, A. F. & A. M., of Hutchinson, Minn. He became a Royal Arch Mason in Crookston, Minn., and is still connected with the Hutchinson Commandery, and with Isis Temple, Mystic Shrine, of Salina, Kan. He is also a member of Topeka Lodge, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
The first wife of General Ives was Miss Isabelle Ford, a native of Tipton, Iowa, and daughter of Andrew Ford, an Iowa Pioneer. Mrs. Ives died in Chariton, Iowa, in 1873. Of her three children one is deceased. Dr. J. F. is a graduate of the St. Joseph (Mo.) Medical College, and is practicing his profession in Langdon, Kan. C. B. is an engineer on the Union Pacific Railroad, his run being out of Salt Lake City. While a resident of Hutchinson, Minn., General Ives married Mrs. Anna Reeks, a native of England. Her father, Joseph Sudborough, came to the United States, and was engaged in manufacturing enterprises in Ohio, Canada and Minnesota. By her first marriage Mrs. Ives has two children: William J., a graduate of the law department of the State University at Lawrence, Kan., and Etta, a graduate of the Topeka Art School, and an excellent amateur artist.
RUSSELL SKINNER, a farmer of Weld County, owner of a well-improved place on township 4, range 68, was born in Cook County, Ill., in 1852 and is a son of L. T. and Eliza (Curtis) Skinner. His mother came with her parents from England when eight years of age; his father, a native of Vermont, settled in Illinois when a young man and for a time made his home near Fort Dearborn (now Chicago). He devoted himself to agricultural pursuits during his entire life and also, for some years, served as superintendent of the poor farm, which place he managed successfully. In political belief he was a Republican and on that ticket was chosen county commissioner. His death occurred in 1864, when he was forty-three years of age.
The public schools gave our subject such educational advantages as he received. At the age of seventeen he went to Fayette County, Iowa, and for four years was devoted to tilling soil there. On his return to Illinois he spent some time in Chicago. In 1876 he came to Colorado and settled in Longmont, where for some months he worked on the Highland ditch. In 1878 he took a contract to build five and one-half miles of the Handy ditch, which occupied him during the year. In the spring of 1878 he came to his present farm, where he took up a quarter-section of railroad land, and here he has since engaged in stock-raising and general farming. He is a stockholder in the Home Supply Ditch Company,
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 1111
of which he has been a director. In the year of 1889 he erected a substantial brick residence on his farm, and here his family have a comfortable home.
Politically a Republican, Mr. Skinner has served as justice of the peace and as director of school district No. 36. In 1881 he married Catherine, daughter of John A. Rowe, of Weld County. They have three sons: Roy, Hobart and Harley. The family are connected with the Baptist Church. In addition to his farm, Mr. Skinner owns some dwelling-house property in Berthoud.
ATTHIAS HANSEN is a self-made man in every sense of the word, and possesses the sturdy independence of character and the strict integrity and industriousness for which the people of his native land are noted. Only fifteen years ago he landed in the United States, a stranger in a strange land, unacquainted with the language or customs of our citizens and handicapped in many other ways. He has a brave and manly heart, however, and with energy he worked at whatever he could find to do at first, until he had gained a foothold. Success was the result of his efforts, and he is now numbered among the stable, respected citizens of Longmont.
Thirty-five years ago Matt Hansen, as he is familiarly called and generally known, was born, in the island of Bornholm, Denmark. His parents, Diedrick Peter and Annie Christine (Jorgensen) Hansen, were also natives of that island and passed their entire lives within its narrow boundaries. The father, who is still quite actively engaged in business, has followed the carpenter's trade and has built a great many houses and other structures. His faithful companion and helpmate was called from his side by death in June of 1897, and of their large family, which originally numbered ten children, only two remain in Denmark. The other four living children are all residents of Colorado.
In his boyhood Matt Hansen attended the public schools of his native land, and when he was fourteen years of age he commenced serving an apprenticeship to the blacksmith's trade. He worked industriously at this calling for five years, a part of the time being employed as a journeyman. In the spring of 1884, when he had reached his majority, he concluded that he would set forth for the land of promise, fair America, of which he had heard so many favorable reports. He was the first of his family to take the step of parting with home and fatherland to encounter unknown difficulties as best he might. Going to Copenhagen he sailed from that city for New York, and soon continued his journey toward the west, stopping at Clinton, Iowa, that summer. In September he came to Longmont and was employed on the railroad and at farming for about a year, after which he resumed work at his trade. In 1896 he built his shop in Longmont and started in business for himself, and has been very successful. He does all kinds of wagon repairing, horse-shoeing, etc., and has a reputation of being the best plow-sharpener in the country. He runs two fires and has every facility for doing work expeditiously.
The marriage of Mr. Hansen and Miss Mary Anderson was celebrated in Boulder, Colo., February 22, 1890. Mrs. Hansen is also a native of the island of Bornholm, Denmark. The three children who grace the union of this worthy couple are named respectively, Ella, Valborg and Dora. Mr. Hansen is a member of Longmont Lodge No. 29, I. O. O. F., of Longmont, and is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. In his political preferences he sides with the Populist party.
AMUEL LARSON GRIFFIN, a prominent and well-to-do business man of the town of Elbert, has been engaged in the mercantile business here since 1883, and is the silent partner of the firm of D. S. Enbank & Co. He was born in Jacksonville, Ala., December 12, 1848, and is a son of Forester M. and Florentine (Willis) Griffin. He was a lad of three years when his parents moved to Williamson County, Tex., where he was reared to manhood. His father, who was a farmer and stock-raiser, was a strong anti-slavery man.
Our subject is mainly self-educated, having obtained only six months of schooling. At twelve years of age he commenced to provide for himself and began herding cattle, following that occupation until he attained his majority; his salary was fixed at $25 per month. While herding he visited all the prominent cities of Mexico and
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. other states of that section. At the age of twenty-one years he left Grant County, N. Mex., with a herd of five thousand cattle which he had been herding there, for California, but upon reaching the state of Colorado he found it would not pay, so decided to stay where he was. He continued the stock business until 1874, when he sold out and began freighting and setting out ties for the railroad, following the same until the great discoveries of gold at Leadville. In 1888 he became a citizen of Elbert, and, in company with D. S. Enbank, he embarked in the mercantile business under the firm name of D. S. Enbank & Co. This firm has been very successful in business, and by their honest and straightforward ways of dealing have established an enviable patronage. Our subject is enterprising and public spirited, and possesses a multitude of friends in his community.
Mr. Griffin was married July 9, 1879, to Mrs. Mary Hall, nee Gray, of Douglas County, Colo., and they made their home in that county for a number of years, living five miles from Spring Valley, where our subject built one of the finest homes in that section of the county. The home of this union was blessed by the birth of four children, namely: Tina, who is attending school at Denver; Iva, Grace and George. Politically Mr. Griffin is an unwavering Democrat, and cast his first vote for Horace Greeley in 1872. He is a member and has been manager of the Woodmen of the World of this community since its organization; he is also a charter member and treasurer of the Home Forum.
ENRY G. SMITH is one of the enterprising and progressive farmers and stock-raisers of Elbert County. He has here resided since 1866, when he took up a tract of one hundred and sixty acres near the town of Kiowa; he has since increased his estate to twelve hundred acres. His homestead is one of the finest and most improved in the Comanche Valley, and is located on section 18, township 8, range 62 west. The gentleman whose biography we write is of German descent, and was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, November 13, 1834.
Henry G. Smith was reared to manhood in his native country, where he received a fine education, He emigrated to the United States in 1860, and landed in New Orleans, La. He then went up the Mississippi to St. Louis, where he worked on the river a short time, and afterward found employment on a farm in Illinois; the next year was spent working for the United States government at Benton Barracks. In 1865 he drove across the plains to Denver, Colo., arriving there June 25. He spent the remainder of the summer working in the gold mines, but as he did not succeed well, he accepted a government position, driving a team, in which capacity he remained one year. In 1866 he took up a claim of one hundred and sixty acres and began farming and stock-raising. He has since taken up many claims, and has found none more desirable and suitable in every way than his present homestead, which is located in the fertile valley of Comanche. Our subject has made many improvements upon his property, and it now ranks among the foremost in the county. His principal occupation is stock-raising, and he always keeps from one to three hundred head of fine cattle. He owns a residence property in Denver, at No. 1422 South Eighth street. He is greatly respected and esteemed in the community of which he has so long been a resident, and he is a leading factor in all movements made to promote the general welfare of his community and county at large.
In November, 1877, Mr. Smith married Minnie Scherer, of Denver. She is a native of Germany and came to this country when she was ten years of age. A family of four children blessed their home, namely: Henry, William, Carl and Louisa. In politics our subject is a solid Republican and his first vote was cast for Hayes in 1876. Religously he favors the Lutheran Church. In 1868, when the Indians were making one of their usual raids through the valley, a party consisting of two ladies, two children and two hired men, came up to the home of our subject and warned him of the approaching Indians. Mr. Smith changed his clothes and went to assist the party; thinking they had gone west to Kiowa, he also took that route, but finding the road clear, he was on his return when he met a part of them and learned that one of the ladies and one child had been killed and the rest of the party had taken refuge at Kiowa. A posse was immediately organized to recover the bodies of the dead and to drive the Indians away. Arriving at the home
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. 1113
of Mr. Smith, they found that the Indians had been there and had taken his horses, saddles, and all his provisions and furniture, the only thing remaining was a picture of our subject, which was in an old tin box.
OUIS DUPREE, a retired business man of Greeley, Weld County, is one of the early residents of this place, and has been closely associated with the upbuilding and development of this immediate region. He owns considerable real estate in this city and county, and by industry and strict attention to business has become independently well-to-do. In politics he is liberal, giving his ballot and influence to the cause and nominees which he deems best for the welfare of the public.
As his surname indicates, Mr. Dupree is of French extraction, though both he and his parents were natives of Canada. The latter, Julius and Natalie (Nolin) Dupree, were farmers and spent their whole lives in the peaceful routine of agricultural pursuits. Louis Dupree was born on the old homestead in Canada, March 18, 1843. He grew up on the farm, attending the common schools of the vicinity. When he was in his seventeenth year he left home, with the consent of his parents, and went to Webster, Mass., where he found employment in a cotton factory for a year. Then, after paying a visit of a few weeks among his relatives at the old home he entered upon an apprenticeship to the blacksmith's trade in Worcester, Mass. Having mastered the same and worked for a period in the locality of his Canadian home he went to Troy, N. Y., where he obtained a good position in the Spring Carriage Works. A year or more having passed he went to North Haddam, Mass,, and thence to Chicopee Falls, remaining some three years in these towns, plying his trade. Next, he returned to Worcester, Mass., and lived there for a few months prior to coming to the west.
In the summer of 1870 Mr. Dupree crossed the states and reached Blackhawk, Colo., where he worked at blacksmithing until autumn. The town of Greeley had been started the preceding spring, and hearing of the place he concluded to settle permanently here. Thus he was one of the first residents of the far-famed village. Entering into partnership with Alfonse Dow, he opened a shop, but they continued together only three months, after which Mr. Dupree became an employe of Mr. Rea, who had previously established a shop and was doing a good business. Within a few months our subject had become a partner in the same, and finally bought out Mr. Rea. He continued in business until 1878, when, his health failing, he sold out. In the meantime, he had also invested in cattle, and had prospered in that enterprise. During the three following years, when he was unable to perform hard labor, he rented land, and then bought a farm of eighty acres near Greeley. A year later he became the owner of another eighty-acre piece of property and this land he cultivated for about nine years. In 1895 he leased his homestead, and in the winter of 1897 sold the land. He owns a number of good business and residence lots in Greeley, and has an abundance of means for his future needs.
May 29, 1872, Mr. Dupree married Miss Lucretia Burchill, of Greeley. She is a daughter of Joseph and Ann (Abbott) Burchill, natives of New Brunswick, who came to the United States in early life. Mrs. Dupree is the youngest of six children, and is the only survivor of the family. She was born in Buffalo, N. Y., and was reared in Davenport, Iowa, to which city her parents had removed when she was a child. The two children of Mr. and Mrs. Dupree are: Lena, who died in infancy, and Frank B., now attending the Greeley school. In the spring of 1865 Mr. Dupree enlisted in the Nineteeth (sic) New York Volunteer Infantry, and served until there was no longer need, when he was mustered out and honorably discharged.
OHN POLLOCK is a worthy representative of that excellent Irish element which came to the state of Colorado and materially assisted in the development of the agricultural districts. He now occupies a well-improved farm on section 27, township 10, range 66 west, where he has continued at the occupation of farming since the year 1884. He began in life with moderate means, but, by untiring energy and a wise economy, has succeeded in obtaining a handsome estate of five hundred and sixty acres. He is a son of Richard and Sarah (Morrison) Pollock, and was born in the city of Philadelphia, May 11, 1848.
Richard Pollock was born in Belfast, Ireland,
1114
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. and came to the United States with some of his relations, when he was but a mere lad. He landed in Philadelphia, and early in life embarked in the grocery business in that city, and succeeded in acquiring a handsome competency, but during the oil excitement he lost the greater portion of his fortune. He passed from this life in 1868. In 1834 he married Sarah Morrison, who was a native of Glasgow, Scotland, but came to this country with her parents when a child. She passed to the unknown beyond in the year 1858.
John Pollock attended the grammar schools and had intended to take a complete course in the high school, but upon the death of his father he was compelled to earn his own living. After working iii Philadelphia at the painter's trade a short time, in 1868 he went to Omaha, Neb., thence to North Platte, and from there to Denver. Two weeks' residence in that city was enough for him, and he returned to Omaha on horseback, remaining in that city until 1871. He began work in the painting department of the Union Pacific Railroad shops; later he became time keeper and bookkeeper for Joshua Taylor, who had taken the contract for the stone used in the erection of the Lincoln penitentiary, which made it necessary for him to go to Lincoln, Neb. Upon the completion of that work he and his employer started for St. Paul, Minn., but stopped off at Knoxville, Iowa, where his employer took a contract for getting out stone for culverts on the Albia & DeMoines Valley Railroad. At the time of the great Chicago fire, Mr. Pollock went to that city to see the ruins. After spending several months in his native city and New York City, in June, 1874, he returned to Colorado, where he was awarded the contract for painting the courthouse at Castle Rock; in the following year he went to San Juan County, Colo., where the gold excitement ran high, and in the fall of 1875, he began to herd cattle on his own account as well as for Albert Benjamin, herding in the vicinity of Acquia until 1879, when, on account of the scarcity of grass, he started his herd for the headwaters of the North Fork of the Republican River. In 1883 he sold his herd, which consisted of some three hundred head, receiving about $16,000; he then returned to Denver and later bought his present farm, where he has since been engaged in agricultural pursuits.
Mr. Pollock was united in matrimonial bonds July 23, 1884, with Miss Jessie M. Babcock, of Douglas County, and a daughter of Alonzo A. and Rosa (Estlake) Babcock. Politically Mr. Pollock has always given his support in favor of the Republican party, and his first vote was cast for Hayes in 1876. He has been a candidate on the Republican ticket for the legislature, but met defeat by a narrow margin; and was also defeated for the office of county commissioner in 1889. Socially he is a member of the Western Lodge, No. 22, A. F. & A. M. of Littleton; and Royal Arch Lodge of Denver, No. 2.
The father of our subject was Anthony Connelly, who married and settled in Philadelphia, Pa., in which city he died, June 8, 1871, when he was but little over thirty-five years old. His widow, whose maiden name was Annie Fitzpatrick, survived him some years, her death occurring in the Quaker City, January 2, 1882. Of the five children who blessed the marriage of this worthy couple, only one, John E., remains.
The birth of J. E. Connelly took place in Philadelphia, March 22, 1866. He was noted for his bright, alert mind as he grew up and, having been admitted as a student in the Christian Brothers School in his home city, he made such rapid progress that he had completed the course long before the majority of his classmates. When but twelve years old he obtained a position as a cash-boy in the great store of John Wannamaker, and continued with that house some four years. During this period he mastered many of the leading principles of the commercial world and commanded the respect and good will, of all of his superiors by his strict attention to duty and uniform courtesy to all. His next venture was to learn
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the trade of a barber. At first he worked in the shop of the St. George Hotel, Philadelphia, after which he completed his apprenticeship in another location on Twenty-fourth street, near Brown. In the last-named place he remained until he decided to come west, October 11, 1886. His mother had previously died and he had no further ties to keep him in the east. After a few weeks spent in Denver he went to Georgetown. There he stayed from November 2 until July 11, 1887, when he came to Silver Plume. Soon after arriving here he bought out John Ryan and has since kept a first-class barber-shop. His place of business is conveniently located on Main street.
Mr. Connelly was formerly a Democrat, but is now a Populist. March 21, 1894, he was appointed to the office of postmaster of Silver Plume, by President Cleveland, and has given general satisfaction. In the Ancient Order of Hibernians he ranks high and has been a delegate to numerous conventions. He is ex-president of Division No. 1, of Silver Plume. Religiously he is a Catholic and is one of the board of trustees of St. Patrick's Church.
In Denver Mr. Connelly married Miss Theresa Shea, May 17, 1892. Mrs. Connelly was born in Wisconsin and is a daughter of John Shea, who was an early settler of Gilpin and Clear Creek Counties and is now a resident of Denver. The two children of our subject and wife are named respectively, Leo and Lewis.
EV. FRANK SAWDEY purchased one hundred and sixty acres on Pleasant View Ridge, Weld County, in 1896 and at once settled here. Two years later he purchased an eighty-acre tract near his home farm, but now rents the entire property, and gives his attention to evangelistic work. He is a believer in the doctrines of the Free Methodist Church and has accomplished much good through his personal work in different parts of the state.
In Cayuga County, near Batavia, N. Y., Mr. Sawdey was born April 28, 1852, a son of Curtis and Harriet (Van Burger) Sawdey. He was one of fourteen children, nine of whom are living, namely: Elizabeth; Mary; John, of Spokane, Wash.; Catherine; Edward and Edgar (twins), the former living in North Dakota, the latter in Rouse, Colo.; Stewart, who is engaged in the commission business in Denver; Alonzo C., of Warren, Ill.; and Frank. The father of this family was born in York state November 15, 1810, and there grew to manhood and engaged in farming. In 1854 he removed to Wisconsin and settled in Wayne, Lafayette County, where he spent much of his life. For some time he was identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church, but later he identified himself with the United Brethren Church, and the last twelve years of his life were given to preaching and religious work.
The education obtained by our subject was such as the common schools afforded. At nineteen years of age he began in life for himself. In May, 1871, he turned his face westward and started for Colorado, joining a brother at Erie, Weld County. During his first season here he worked as a farm hand. In the spring of 1872 he went to the mountains and for two years engaged as a teamster and miner in Central City. Coming to the valley in the spring of 1874, he rented a place three miles north of Erie, where he put in a crop, but sold it before harvest and went to San Luis Valley, where he planted another crop. This he sold and spent the fall and winter working in a sawmill in the mountains. In the spring of 1875 he removed to Kansas, but the country did not please him and he remained only five months. Going from there to Sidney, Cheyenne County, Neb., he was there at the time of the Custer massacre. In that place he engaged in a freighting expedition bound for the Black Hills. After his return to Sidney he sold his outfit and in a short time returned to Colorado.
Renting land on the Little Thompson, Mr. Sawdey put in a crop in 1877. The next year he bought eighty acres of school land in the Highland Lake district, where he settled and began to farm. A short time afterward he added one hundred acres. In 1884 he removed to Longmont, where he engaged in the restaurant business. From there, in 1886, he went to Denver, where he engaged in the livery business and also devoted considerable time to the preaching of the Gospel. While he had many teams and did contract work on a large scale, yet he gave an increasing amount of his time to church work, in which he has met with gratifying success. From 1888 to 1896 he gave his entire attention to mission work through different points in the state,
1116
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. and in the latter year, selling his landed interests at Highland Lake, he bought his present ranch.
October 16, 1870, Mr. Sawdey married Miss Hannah K Lewis, who was born in Rock County, Wis., a daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Street) Lewis. Her father, who was a native of New Jersey, removed to Wisconsin after his marriage and for years was a prominent farmer of Walworth County. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Sawdey, namely: Ivens F., who assists in the management of his father's farming interests; Allie B., wife of Charles E. Bogan, an electrician of Denver; Minnie M., at home; Gertrude L., deceased; and Frank F., Jr., a student in the Denver school.
ORTER R. PENNOCK is a retired farmer and respected citizen of Longmont, Boulder County. For several years he has been a member of the board of aldermen of this city and is now chairman of the finance committee and of the committee on building permits. He was elected on the People's party ticket, and is very popular with the majority of our citizens. An ardent worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church, he has been a trustee and steward for over twenty years and has been one of the pillars in the congregation.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was of English descent, but came from an old and honored Vermont family. He was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, and his son Russell, who was the father of P. R. Pennock, was a drummer boy in the war of 1812. Russell Pennock was born in the Green Mountain state and was an early settler in Ohio, where he improved a farm. He removed to the vicinity of Rockford, Ill., in 1844, and owned and improved a homestead on Whig Hill, three miles from the town. Here he lived until he received his summons to the better land, when he was in his sixty-third year. His wife was Fannie Holmes in her girlhood and was a native of New York state. Of their eleven children, two only survive: Porter R., and his eldest brother, William D., who resides with him.
The birthplace of P. R. Pennock was in Elmira, Portage County, Ohio. He was born in 1834, and was the youngest of the family of brothers and sisters. His education was obtained in the public schools of Ohio and Illinois, and he continued to reside under the parental roof until he was twenty years of age, when his father died. In 1859 he started for Pike's Peak, going overland by ox-teams. He proceeded only as far as central Iowa that year, continuing his journey the following spring. After he had pursued the usual route along the Platte River he went on to Denver, arriving in that city July 6, 1860. Thence he went to Gilpin district, and for a short time engaged in business there. The same autumn he took up a homestead in the St. Vrain Valley, near Burlington, put in ditches and began raising grain and hay. In 1864 he sold out and returned to the east, and for seven years resided in his old home district and in Bootie and DeKalb Counties, Ill. The attractions of Colorado proved irresistible in the end, however, and in 1871 he returned, and buying a farm two and a-half miles east of Longmont, improved the place. Within a few years the splendid ranch of three hundred and twenty acres, with fences and good buildings, irrigation ditches, etc. was justly considered one of the best homesteads in this section. The owner was one of the first to introduce Percheron-Norman horses, and full-blooded Shorthorns. Of the fine horses he brought a car-load at one time.
Since his second settlement in Boulder County, Mr. Pennock has made his home in Longmont most of the time, altogether some sixteen years. He bought and improved an attractive place on Main between Second and Third streets. In former years he had a business office in Longmont, and was the local representative for the Glidden Barbed Wire Company, which now well-known and useful article of commerce he was the first to introduce into this state. He was one of the original stockholders of the Longmont Mill and Elevator Company; the Longmont Creamery Company, and many other local enterprises, and at present is interested in the Longmont Reduction Works. Fraternally he belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
The marriage of Mr. Pennock and Miss Ellen Coffin, a native of New York state, took place in Boulder County, in 1864. They have three children living, one son and two daughters. Vivian R. graduated from the medical department of the Colorado University in 1894, and is now successfully established in Cripple Creek. Lewellen is at home. Carrie, Mrs. Sanborn, lives near Denver, Colo.
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