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and they were blessed with seven children; and Daisy Pearl is the wife of James Tallman. Mrs. Phillips entered the world of rest April 9, 1887.
Our subject is a Democrat in politics, endorsing the principles of that party with all the conscientiousness and energy which has characterized his conviction upon all other questions of the day. In 1892 he was nominated on the Populist ticket for county commissioner, but was defeated; in 1880 he was elected to the office of justice of the peace and served eight consecutive years. Four years later he was again elected to that position and has served in that capacity up to the present time, the duties of which office he honestly and faithfully discharges. Religiously he is a devoted member and liberal supporter of the Methodist Church, and is an active worker in the Sunday-school. He is overseer and a charter member of the American Yeoman and Elizabeth Lodge.
BNER
SANDERSON, a retired farmer of Weld County, was one of the first
settlers of the vicinity of Berthoud, and during his busy career
here he has done his share toward the development of the resources
of this section of the state. In the days of his first sojourning
here only two lights could be seen on all the surrounding prairie
at night, the lights which marked the houses of his two nearest
neighbors, Peter Turner, now a citizen of Berthoud, and Daniel
Osborn. The postoffice was called Old Berthoud, and the letters,
which arrived at very infrequent intervals, were kept in a
cigar-box. The fine row of shade-trees which are so beautiful and
effective a portion of the landscape in front of our subject's
house, were then tiny saplings, and for some years were faithfully
cared for and kept alive with water brought from the river. In his
example may be found what can be accomplished with perseverance
and industry, joined to wise and systematic methods of
agriculture, for he has transformed the wild prairie land of less
than a score of years ago into a fertile, well-cultivated farm,
many times increased in value for his labor.
The parents of our subject were Abner and Sally (Sanderson) Sanderson, who, though having the same surname prior to their marriage, were not related. Mrs. Sanderson was a daughter of Nathan Sanderson. Grandfather Abner Sanderson, Sr., was an influential man in his day and district. He served as a justice of the peace and was the representative of his locality in the state legislature for several years. By occupation he was a tiller of the soil. Both he and his son, Abner, Jr., spent their entire lives in their native state, Massachusetts. The family of Abner and Sally S. Sanderson were six in number. Eliza married Oscar Tyler and resides in Waltham, Mass. Isaac, who went to California in 1849 and later returned to the east, is now a resident of Farmington, Minn. Mary, who is unmarried, lives in Lincoln, Mass., of which town the youngest sister, Sarah, is also a citizen. The latter is the wife of James A. Wheeler. Benjamin is a farmer in the neighborhood of Grinnell, Iowa.
Abner Sanderson was born September 13, 1828, in Waltham, Mass., and remained on the farm until he was eighteen years of age, receiving a common-school education. He then went to Boston, and taking a position in a store as a salesman was thus employed at the time that the California gold excitement of 1849 came on. In October of that year he went with a company of his old acquaintances on board a ship which sailed from Boston, and after five months and six days landed at the wharf in San Francisco, having rounded the Horn. Mr. Sanderson at once proceeded to the place where gold had first been discovered, and from that time until 1866 engaged in mining and agriculture in. the valley of the Sacramento River. Then he returned to his old Massachusetts home, going byway of the isthmus this time. During the nine years which followed he was engaged in the produce commission business. Then he moved to Greene County, Iowa, and turned his attention to farming for some five years.
In 1880 Mr. Sanderson came to Colorado, having disposed of his business and property. His especial reason for making the change was the poor health of his wife and son, Willard. After spending some time in traveling in this state, he purchased the quarter-section of school land on which he now resides. Later he bought another quarter-section of land adjoining, and a similar tract five miles north of Windsor. The last-mentioned he rents and his home place is now under the management of his elder son. For a winter or two after their arrival here the children
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had to attend school at Loveland, eight miles distant. Other privileges were exceeding meagre for some time, and all water had to be hauled six miles in barrels from the Big Thompson River. Mr. Sanderson set about remedying as many of these things as possible, and largely to his efforts many measures which have been of untold value to this community were carried. He served several terms as a member of the school board. Politically his preference is for the Republican party.
November 30, 1866, Mr. Sanderson married Lucinda B. Dow, who is a native of Groton, Vt. Her parents were Judge William and Lydia (Richardson) Dow, likewise of Vermont. The father was a very prominent man and held the office of judge for a number of years. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Sanderson was Robert Richardson, and he, in turn, was a son of Zachariah Richardson, who was on the muster-roll of the Fifth New Hampshire Regiment of militia in the early part of the continental revolution, and was ordered to re-inforce the patriot band in New York December 6, 1776, by Major-General Hobson. His wife was Miss Abigail Smith before their marriage. Owing to her illustrious grandsire Mrs. Sanderson is entitled to the rank of a Daughter of the Revolution. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Sanderson are three in number. Gertrude is the wife of Wesley Brush, who is a nephew of Lieutenant-Governor Brush. Abner C. resides at home and is carrying on the farm. Dr. Willard E. is a student in the Colorado College of Dental Surgery.
HARLES
W. TRIMBLE, who came to Colorado in April, 1874, is successfully
engaged in farming and dealing in stock, operating one hundred and
sixty acres of land in Larimer County and raising principally
alfalfa, which he uses for feed. He has resided upon his present
farm since the fall of 1891 and has made a number of valuable
improvements on the place. He was among the first to embark in
lamb feeding and shipping, and handling sheep, which he brought
here from New Mexico and Arizona. In the winter of 1897-98 he
handled twenty-eight thousand head of lambs, and the previous year
fed and shipped from his farm five thousand two hundred head,
which was a larger number than any individual or company in the
county has ever fed in one season. These he shipped to the markets
in Buffalo and Chicago. Last year (1897-98) he fed thirty-one
hundred.
In connection with A. F. Brown, Mr. Trimble is also interested in the sheep business in Arizona, buying sheep in California, and shipping them to Arizona, where he has a range extending from Navajo Springs south into the White Mountains. He bought Shropshire sheep in Wisconsin and sent them to his ranch, they being the finest that had ever been shipped to the southwest, and these he crossed with Oxford Downs. He has shipped lambs and sheep from ocean to ocean. In the cattle business, to some extent, he has also engaged, but he finds the sheep industry more profitable. A hard worker, continually on the go, he deserves the large success that has attended his efforts.
Our subject is of Irish descent. His grandfather, John, accompanied by his brothers, William and James, emigrated to America and settled as a pioneer in Missouri, William locating in Kentucky, while James was lost track of. John died while comparatively young and left two sons, who reared families in Missouri. One of these, William H., the father of our subject, was a native of Mexico, Mo., and a soldier in the Mexican war, later a merchant at Gentryville, Mo. In 1862 he came to Colorado for the first time, driving a herd of cattle across the plains and selling them to K W. Whitcomb in Cheyenne. The next year he freighted with oxen between Nebraska City and Denver, bringing his family to the latter city. In 1864 he took them back to Missouri and settled in Paradise, Clay County, where he engaged in the mercantile business until 1872. He made a trip to Fort Collins in 1873 and arranged to settle here, embarking in the stock business with Abner Loomis. The following year he brought his family and settled permanently in the town. After a short time in merchandising he turned his attention to the cattle business at Horse Creek, Wyoming. On selling out there he started a herd in Bates Hole, Wyo., and, while his range was there, he died in Fort Collins in 1879, aged fifty-two years. He was a member of the Christian Church and fraternally was identified with the Masons.
The mother of our subject, who
bore the maiden name of Catherine Allen, was born in Gentry
County, Mo., and resides in Fort Collins,
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her mother, who is still living, being with her. Her father, George Allen, a native of North Carolina, was married there to Miss Martha Whidbee, and soon afterward settled in Ray County, Mo.; he engaged in merchant tailoring until his death, which occurred in Harrison County, Mo. Our subject is the second of five children, the others being named as follows: James H., who died in Ogden, Utah, in 1892, when about thirty-five years of age; Mattie, wife of C. H. Sheldon, cashier of Poudre Valley Bank, Fort Collins; Robert E., assistant professor of civil and irrigation engineering in the State Agricultural College; and Edgar H., of Fort Collins.
In Gentryville, Gentry County, Mo., where he was born November 30, 1859, the subject of this sketch grew to manhood. He accompanied his parents to Fort Collins, where he attended the public schools. At the age of eighteen he started in the cattle business with his older brother and for one year ranged cattle on the Rishau, in Wyoming. The Indians at that time were very troublesome and stole their horses and committed other depredations, which made it unsafe for the brothers to remain longer in that locality, so they left the range and during the winter engaged in freighting to Deadwood, S. Dak. In the spring they returned to the range and sold their cattle, and engaged in trading cattle from Utah into Wyoming. The first year our subject bought seven hundred head, the second year twelve hundred, and during the fourth and last year bought two thousand head, which he sold to J. A. Brown. During his life on the plains he was troubled greatly by weakness of his eyes. On selling out his business interests in Colorado he went to Eureka Springs, Ark., where he engaged in the hotel business for four years, being proprietor of the Hancock House. He then brought cattle from Arkansas to Colorado, sold out, returned, then brought another herd, continuing in that way for two years. Next he engaged in the grocery business at Fort Collins for three years and in the fall of 1891 disposed of his business interests and settled on his farm, He is connected with the Larimer County Sheep Feeders' Association. Politically he votes the Democratic ticket.
In Eureka Springs, Ark., Mr. Trimble married Miss Mollie Collins, who was born in Helena, that state, and died in Eureka Springs, leaving a daughter, Mollie. In Venice, Ill., Mr. Trimble was united in marriage with Miss Emma Robinson, who was born there, and is the daughter of Henry Robinson. They have two daughters, May and Helen.
OSEPH
H. SHAY, a pioneer of '60, fell a victim to the gold fever in the
spring of 1860 and started across the plains for California, but
on reaching the Missouri River he found the rush seemed to be for
Pike's Peak and he changed his destination accordingly. Reaching
Denver, he secured employment in a lumber yard, and in the fall,
with the money he had saved during the summer, he started for the
Central district, where he prospected and mined with little
success. In the spring of 1861 he worked in the quartz lode mines
and in the summer secured employment in gulch mining in Peck
Gulch.
When the war excitement ran high, in the fall of 1861, Mr. Shay enlisted in Company L, First Colorado Cavalry, serving for four years and two months. The most of his service was among the Indians. He was at Pawnee Fork in 1864, when General Blunt, with four hundred men and four pieces of artillery, were in pursuit of the Cheyenne Indians. Learning that they were camped on Pawnee Fork, the company rode all night, but on arriving at that place they found the Indians had fled. The company was sent on a scouting expedition and on coming up with the Indians, a running fight was kept up. In August, 1863, while about sixty of the boys of Company L were stationed at Port Union, N. Mex., the Indians stole a whole train of some hundred mules from Mexican freighters, en route from Kansas City to Santa Fe, and forty of the soldiers, including our subject, were ordered to regain the mules. The lieutenant in command was the present senator, George Shoup. They left Fort Union August 10, and with a month's rations and eighteen mules started on their quest. They returned October 10 with ninety-eight mules. During the battle of Sand Creek our subject was detailed, with two others, to burn up wigwams of the Indians. He was mustered out of the service in Leavenworth November 18, 1863.
With the intention of settling in Iowa, Mr. Shay went there as soon as he was mustered out of the service. The winter of 1865-66 was cold and wet, and the weather so unpleasant that he
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determined to return to Colorado. In April, 1866, he left Iowa and on the 10th of May arrived in Colorado, going at once to the mines, where he engaged in teaming during the summer. Later he was employed in quartz mills. In the spring of 1868 he began to farm on Boulder Creek and in 1871 purchased eighty acres where he now lives, to which he added by purchase, in 1876, another eighty acres, and by purchase, in 1890, a pasture land of one hundred and sixty acres in the foot hills. Here he has engaged in farming and stock-raising.
Mr. Shay was born in Tyrol, Austria, February 6, 1839, a son of Michael and Catherine (Evenhohe) Shay. He was one of eleven children, all of whom are dead but himself and his brother, Gebhart, a farmer in Wapello County, Iowa. His father was born in Austria about 1804 and in youth learned the trade of a cabinet-maker, becoming a finished mechanic. During the revolution of 1847 he determined to come to America, and on his arrival in this country he settled in Cincinnati, Ohio. After a few months, having suffered from the ague, he decided to go to New Orleans, and went south to that city, but fell a victim to the yellow fever there and died in the summer of 1849.
Some ten years after his father and oldest brother came to America our subject and his mother crossed the ocean, landing in New York about the 1st of November, 1856, after a very rough voyage, during which forty-two persons died. He had letters of introduction and by presenting these secured a position in a drug store; however, he did not feel satisfied there, for he wanted to join a brother in California, but did not have enough money. Thinking to gradually work his way around by water, he shipped on board a vessel. He was on the ocean only six mouths, but that period was eventful. Twice the ship was wrecked, but fortunately he escaped both times. He returned to New York and was soon joined by his brother from California, who was en route to Europe on a visit. Through his advice, our subject went to Franklin County, Ohio, and secured employment as a farm laborer, working for one year. However, he suffered considerably from the ague, and thinking it best to try a change of climate he went to Iowa, joining his brother, who had returned to America and settled there. In January, 1858, he settled in Blakesburg, Iowa, where he worked on a farm until the spring of 1860. He then came west and has since made his home in Colorado.
February 17, 1871, Mr. Shay married Miss Lucinda Tinsley. They are the parents of three children: Gertrude, who was a student in Franklin high school in Denver and Golden high school, and is now the wife of Harry Mayhan, who is engaged in railroading in Denver; Herman C., a graduate of the Ralston high school, and now at home on the farm; and Roy J., who is also at home. In politics Mr. Shay is a Democrat. Fraternally he is a member of Major Anderson Post No. 88, G. A. R. A friend of the public-school movement, he has served as secretary of the school board for years and has done all in his power to aid the cause of education in his community.
AIUS SMITH is a general farmer and a prominent citizen of Arapahoe County, and his home is located on section 29, township 5, range 66 west, where he owns nine hundred and twenty acres of well-improved and finely cultivated land. He came to Arapahoe County in 1873, locating four and one-half miles below the town of Parker, and secured the farm which is at present in his possession. It was unimproved at the time of his purchase, and he immediately commenced tilling the soil; it required great industry and perseverance to bring it to the desired condition, but he being a man of great energy was soon enabled to view with satisfaction the result of his labors. He was born in Triangle, Broome County, N. Y., October 26, 1843, and is a son of Erastus and Angeline (Lewis) Smith, and grandson of Hendrick J. Smith.
Little is known of the great-grandfather of our subject, other than that he was a man of Revolutionary fame. Hendrick J. Smith purchased a large tract of land in Broome County, N. Y., from King George, and the deed signed by the latter is now in the possession of our subject. Hendrick was a lad of nine years when he was stolen by the Indians and adopted by an Indian chief. He was held a captive for nine years and was liberated much against his will; he always remained good friends with the red men, with whom he visited back and forth all his life.
Erastus Smith was born in Broome County, N. Y., and when a man he was given a tract of
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land by his father; he was reared to agricultural pursuits and made that independent calling, farming, his life's vocation. By his marriage to Angeline Lewis six sons and one daughter were born, the latter dying in her infancy. The boys were named as follows: Hendrick, Jr., Horace L., Jasper, Gaius, Perry and Robert. Hendrick, Jr., is a carpenter by trade and resides at Olean, N. Y. He is the father of a family of five children, and had one son in the Spanish-American war. He served three years and nine months in the Civil war, and at the battle of Chancellorsville he was taken a prisoner, but as he received a severe wound in the head in that engagement, he was released and returned to the ranks of the Union army; his father learning of the wound received by his son, obtained a pass from Secretary Stanton, which allowed him to go through the ranks of the Union army in search of his son. This pass is now in the hands of our subject. Horace L. is a retired citizen of Binghamton, N. Y., and has one child. He also served in the Civil war and was taken a prisoner at Chancellorsville; he was first sent to Andersonville and later transferred to the famous Libby prison, and was among those who gained their freedom and escaped to New York by digging their way out. Jasper lives on the homestead in Broome County, and he also served three years and nine months in the Rebellion, being a member of the Fifteenth New York Heavy Artillery. Perry, who is now deceased, was a carpenter by trade and lived near the homestead; he was married and reared one child. Robert, the youngest child, died in 1884.
Gaius Smith spent his early years working on his father's farm and attending the district school; at fifteen years of age he was apprenticed to the carpenter's trade and pursued the occupation for five years. He first received a salary of $4 per month, but by the fifth year his salary had been increased to $25 per month. At twenty years of age he began contracting and made his home near the old homestead. In 1873 he came west and located in Colorado, purchasing five acres of land near the town of Harman and engaging in dairying. He made many improvements upon that place and set out many trees along the road in front of the Grout property. In 1884 he bought four hundred and forty acres where he now resides, and has since purchased more land at various times until now he is the owner of nine hundred and twenty acres. Farming is his vocation, and in it he has been remarkably successful. He is well known throughout the county and commands the respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens.
Mr. Smith made the acquaintance of Miss Jennie Simpson in Denver, this state, and they were married November 22, 1886; she is a native of De Kalb County, Tenn., and a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Woodson) Simpson. The father of John Simpson owned twenty-five slaves, and when the Civil war broke out his two brothers joined the Confederate army, while John enlisted in the Union army and was captain of a company for five years. After peace had been restored John moved to Nebraska, where he engaged in farming; he died in the city of Omaha, May 19, 1897. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have four children, namely: Freddie, born August 28, 1887; Robert B., October 2, 1889; Horace LeRoy, September 15, 1894; and Willis, January 17, 1896. On the night of his twenty-first birthday our subject became a Mason in the Upper Lisle Lodge, F. & A. M., of New York, and filled all the chairs in the blue lodge and took the Royal Arch Degree at Greene, N, Y, When he came west he was demitted from the lodge.
OSEPH
G. SCHALL, treasurer of Jefferson County and a resident of Golden,
was born in York County, Pa., December 16, 1857, and is a son of
James A. and Catherine S. (Small) Schall. He was the eldest of six
children, all but one of whom are still living. His brothers and
sisters are: J. E., secretary of the Susquehanna Iron Company, and
a resident of Columbia, Pa.; W. Y., bookkeeper for the Columbia
rolling mills at Columbia, Pa.; Annie H. and Catherine S. Both the
father and grandfather were natives of York County, Pa. The former
was for thirty years cashier of the York County National Bank, and
for ten years before he had held a less important position with
the same bank; he died in 1888.
The education of our subject was acquired in public and private schools, and in the local collegiate institute. From eighteen to twenty-two years of age he was employed as bookkeeper for a railroad in York County. In 1881 he came west, having secured the position of bookkeeper for the firm of Lauius & Co., then a prosperous
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hardware firm of Golden. There he remained, a trusted employe, until the firm retired from business in 1888. In the fall of 1890 he was made deputy treasurer under Charles T. Clark, and later held the same position under R. E. Jones.
In 1897 Mr. Schall was placed in nomination on the Republican and the silver Republican ticket for the office of county treasurer, and was elected by a handsome majority. His experience as city treasurer, which position he filled for three terms during the '80s, fitted him for the more responsible position of county treasurer, and he has discharged his duties with efficiency and fidelity. Fraternally he is a member of Golden Lodge No. 1, A. F. & A. M., Golden Chapter No. 5, R. A. M., and Golden Lodge No. 10, K. of P. His marriage, June 28, 1893, united him with Miss Thirza Merryman, of Golden, the daughter of Joseph Merryman, now a resident of Denver.
ONATHAN
L. RANDALL, who is engaged in farming near Arvada, Jefferson
County, was born near Whitewater, Walworth County, Wis., July 16,
1850, and is the only survivor among the three children of Sidney
and Sarah (Loomer) Randall. His father, who was born about 1810,
settled in Wisconsin in early manhood and carried on a farm there.
About 1859 he came to Colorado and spent eighteen years in
different parts of the state, the greater part of his time being
given to prospecting. He then returned east and spent some time in
Ohio and Wisconsin, but in 1882 again came to Colorado, where he
died six weeks later.
When eight years of age our subject was orphaned by his mother's death. He was then taken into the home of his grandfather, Jonathan Loomer, with whom he remained until he was thirteen years of age. He then secured employment with neighboring farmers, and from that time on he was independent, making his own way in the world, In 1870, having decided to come west, he journeyed to California, but after six weeks, not finding remunerative employment there, he went to Nevada, and found work as fireman on the railroad. During the nine months that he held that position he gradually worked his way back to Colorado.
In the spring of 1871, after spending a night in Denver, Mr. Randall secured and accepted employment on a ranch on Clear Creek, where he worked some three years as a farm hand. He then took up a soldier's homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, but after two years the grasshopper plague made the place worthless and he was glad to sell it for $150. Starting out anew he was made superintendent of the Arapahoe ditch, and after a year in that position he rented the Davis farm for one year. In 1878 he opened a livery, feed and sale stable in Denver. It was during the time of the Leadville boom, and as he took advantage of the demand for stock for freighting purposes he prospered. In 1879 he sold the business advantageously.
October 9, 1879, Mr. Randall married Laura B. Cook. In the spring of the following year he rented land and began to farm, but in 1881 he purchased eighty acres for $1,400 and a year later sold it for $4,000. In 1884 he purchased another eighty-acre tract for $1,000, and two years later sold it for $4,000. Following this he was engaged in the general mercantile business in Golden for four years, but sold out in 1890 and removed to Denver, where he entered the real-estate business. However, he soon secured another grocery stock and for a few months carried on business, after which he purchased one hundred and sixty acres under cultivation in Weld County. In the summer of 1892, he came to his present ranch, and the following year removed his family to the place, which is a part of the old Cook homestead and belongs to his wife. Since 1892 he has rented his farm in Weld County.
Politically Mr. Randall is a Democrat. For years he was president of the school board, and for two years, 1890-91, he served as an alderman in Golden. Fraternally he is connected with Major Anderson Post No. 88, G. A. R. He and his wife are the parents of three children: Herbert M., Ida I. and Laura A.
HARLES B. BULLOCK, who died July 1, 1898, came to Colorado in 1869, and was among the substantial men of Georgetown, Clear Creek County. He was born in Woodford County, Ill., July 18, 1842, the son of Hon. Thomas and Agnes (Ware) Bullock, natives of Kentucky. The Bullock family moved from Virginia to Kentucky in the early days, and fought in the wars of the Revolution and 1812.
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The grandfather, Thomas Bullock, was a minister in the Baptist church in Kentucky, and was also engaged in farming there, where he died. The father, Hon. Thomas Bullock, went to Illinois in 1832, and settled at Walnut Grove, Woodford County, locating permanently the following year. He improved a farm, upon which he died in 1889, after he had passed his eighty-fifth year. He was a member of the Illinois state senate during 1847 or 1848. His wife was Agnes Ware, a native of Franklin County, Ky., a daughter of William Ware, who was born in Virginia, but moved to Franklin County, Ky., where he was engaged in farming and was made circuit judge. Her grandfather Ware. moved from Virginia to Kentucky at an early day and was a pioneer farmer. She died at the age of seventy-six years. Of her thirteen children nine grew to adult years, and six are still living. Horace, the postmaster of Georgetown, is now the only one living in Colorado. Two brothers and one sister reside in Illinois, one sister is in Texas and one in Kentucky. Thomas served through the Civil war in the One Hundred and Seventeenth Illinois Regiment, and now lives near Walnut Grove.
Charles B. Bullock, the second youngest of the children, was reared on a farm and received his education in the public schools. He remained at home until he attained his majority, in 1863, when he entered the employ of the government. He was commissioned as government storekeeper at Springfield, Ill., and remained there for two years. In 1868 he came west to Cheyenne and Denver, and in 1870 located in Georgetown, holding a situation as clerk for four years. He then started a feed, grain and transfer business for himself, and in 1877 added coal to the other supplies carried. His residence was well situated on Taos street, and his place of business was on the corner of Rose and Eleventh streets.
Mr. Bullock married Miss Maggie Keiser, who was born in Germany. They became the parents of one child, Harry, who is now attending the University of Colorado. Mr. Bullock served four years as alderman of Georgetown, and was on the school board four and one-half years as treasurer. He was an ardent Democrat, a member of the county central committee and the state committee, but never was an aspirant for office. He was made a Mason in the Georgetown Lodge No. 48, belonged to Royal Arch Chapter No. 4, Georgetown Commandery No. 4, and El Jebel Temple N. M. S., Mystic Shrine of Denver.
UDGE
HENRY J. CRIST, the popular and efficient judge of Clear Creek
County, was born in Germantown, Montgomery County, Ohio, September
1, 1851, and in 1879 came to Colorado, where he has since been
engaged in prospecting and mining. His father, Jacob Crist, was
born at Frederick, Md., in 1792, and his grandfather, Henry J.,
was born May 18, 1769, and moved with his family to Ohio in 1811,
settling near Germantown, where he was a pioneer farmer. He died
September 3, 1844, at the age of seventy-five years. His wife,
Anna Barbara, was born November 6, 1764, and died April 10,
1845.
Jacob Crist went to Ohio in 1811 with his parents, and the next year took up arms against the Indians, who were causing much trouble throughout the state. He was in Captain Gunckle's company of Ohio militia. After the war he returned to the farm on which he first located, and engaged in farming until his death, February 17, 1872. He was a member of the United Brethren Church, and a conscientious, Christian gentleman. He married Annie Eckhardt, who was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, and came to America alone, in 1844, when but a girl. She made her home in Ohio, where she met and married the father of our subject. She was the mother of six children, two of whom, H. J. and George are living, the latter in Ohio. The other four, Mary, Louise, John and Edward, died in Ohio. Mrs. Crist is now eighty-one years old and resides with her son, the subject of this sketch.
The early years of Judge Crist were spent on his father's farm, where he attended the public schools. He afterwards attended college at Middletown, Ohio, and returned to the farm, where he occupied himself with agricultural pursuits until he was elected assessor. He served two terms, until the fall of 1879, when he came to Idaho Springs, where he has since been engaged in mining. He has worked several different mines, besides being engineer for a number. He married in Georgetown, Mrs. C. V. Rease, a native of the city of Cassel, Hesse-Cassel, Germany.
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She had two children by her first marriage, only one of them being alive, Carl Rease, who is engaged in mining. Judge and Mrs. Crist have a family of four children, Louis V., Herman E., Minnie and Alma. In 1895 he was nominated by the Populists as county judge, to which office he was elected. The nomination was entirely unsolicited by him, as he was at work and knew nothing of the proceedings until word was brought that his name was the successful one before the convention for that office. He took the oath of office January 14, 1896, the term extending to the same month in 1899. He is an active worker in the People's party. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen of Idaho Springs, The Red Men in Georgetown, and Pocahontas Lodge. As a judge he has met with hearty endorsement for the fairness and impartiality of his rulings, and as a private citizen he is held in high esteem for manly, upright bearing.
OHN
G. ROBERTS, proprietor of the Jackson mill at the junction of
Clear Creek and Chicago Creek, Clear Creek County, has had a most
interesting and eventful history. He has been engaged in various
kinds of ruining enterprises in different parts of the world; is a
thorough mechanic and millwright, and is a man of excellent
business judgment. He is a member, and was one of the originators
of the chamber of commerce in Idaho Springs, in which town he has
made his abode for several years.
Mr. Roberts, who first landed in Idaho Springs in 1873, is a native of Beddgelert, north Wales, born January 29, 1842. He was reared at the old homestead. His parents, Robert and Catherine (Edwards) Roberts, were natives of the same locality. The father died at the age of seventy-two years, the mother when in her sixty-ninth year, both at the old home. The father was engaged in the mining of copper during his active life.
John G. Roberts, of this sketch, left school and home when fourteen years old, shipping on a vessel engaged in the coasting trade. On one occasion he was shipwrecked near the Island of Skye, Scotland. At length he went aboard the "Tim Whiffler," bound for the East Indies via the Cape of Good Hope. After a voyage of one hundred and thirty-two days they arrived at Bombay, where their merchandise was unloaded and another cargo placed on board. The homeward trip was made in one hundred days. Young Roberts next went with some naval reserves in her majesty's service to Melbourne, Astralia (sic); there left the ship and, going to Gippsland diggings, engaged in reef-mining or lode-mining for a year and a-half. Another year was passed in the Queensland mines, whence he proceeded to the mines near Auckland, New Zealand. At the expiration of three months he continued his search for the treasure for which he was seeking by going to the west coast of the Middle Island, New Zealand. There he was actively occupied in placer-mining for four and a-half years, with success attending his efforts. Returning to Melbourne he took passage in a ship bound for home around Cape Horn, and thus he has completely circumnavigated the globe. One winter at home sufficed this young adventurer, and spring found him sighing for new worlds to conquer.
As he had not yet beheld the far-famed Americas, Mr. Roberts decided to cross the United States, while heading toward New Zealand once more, but it happened that this fair land held out to him greater attractions than any other had hitherto done, and here he has remained. It was in the spring of 1870 that he crossed the ocean, and proceeding westward, he engaged in the hotel business in Emporia, Kan., for three years. April 1, 1873, he came to Idaho Springs, and engaged as a foreman for John Collom, with whom he continued in that capacity for four and a-half years. Another year he held a similar position with Mr. Collom in his smelting plant in Golden, after which he operated that gentleman's concentrator in Blackhawk.
In 1878 Mr. Roberts returned to Idaho Springs, here renting and carrying on the old Collom mill for some time. In 1880 he went to Nevada, where for a few months he was in charge of a concentrator. The following year he erected a concentrator in Russell Gulch, and placed it in successful running order. His next venture was to build the mill now known as the State Ore Sampling Works in Idaho Springs, and upon its completion he continued as superintendent of the plant. In 1882 he put up a concentrator in Lake City, Hinsdale County, and then for five years was interested in machine shops in this place and Georgetown. The Silver
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Age concentrator and mill, located about a mile below this place, was constructed and managed for over a year by him. In other towns and localities he built and operated concentrators and mills, and in 1893 he was honored by being commissioned to plan and make one to be shipped to mines in Peru. Plus work was done in Connecticut during a three months' stay there for the purpose. After having been the manager of the Dewey concentrator in Georgetown, he was chosen to build the Lincoln mill here. He leased and ran the Silver Age mill for four years, and then in 1876 constructed the Jackson mill, which is thoroughly modern, having every late device and improvement in the line. He owns and manages the property, and is meeting with splendid success in the enterprise. The mill has a capacity of forty tons; is run by water power; is provided with rolls for crushing ore, and is fully equipped in every manner. Mr. Roberts is also interested in the Jewell mine in this district, and owns other property.
The first marriage of our subject was celebrated in 1873 in Idaho Springs, Miss Mary Jones becoming his wife. She was born in Glamorganshire, Wales, and died in Blackhawk. The only child of this union is Lena, Mrs. Bell Owen, of Idaho Springs. In 1881 Mr. Roberts married Margaret Bowen in Minnesota. She was born in Pennsylvania, and by her marriage has become the mother of four children: Mary, Helen, Paul and Bruce.
When a resident of Emporia, Kan., Mr. Roberts joined the Masonic order, and is now affiliated with Idaho Springs Lodge No. 26, A. F. & A. M., of this place. He is independent in politics, and is a ruling elder of the Presbyterian Church.
ON.
WILLIAM H. RICHARDS, a prominent citizen of Nevadaville, Gilpin
County, was called upon to represent this district in the Colorado
legislature in 1890, being elected on the Republican ticket. Thus
he served in the eighth general assembly, during the sessions
being active in passing the Australian ballot law, the fee and
salary bill and others of importance. He lent his influence and
ballot to the electing of H. M. Teller to the United States senate
and has been quite a leader in the ranks of his party in this
section.
One of the ten children born to Edward and Margaret (Harris) Richards, our subject lived in his native country, England, until he attained his majority. He was born March 4, 1848, and received no educational advantages worthy of mention, therefore has been forced to rely entirely upon his own efforts in this direction. His father was born in Cornwall, England, near the town of Camborne, and was a miner by occupation. He died in the same locality when he was seventy-two years of age. Both he and his faithful wife were hard-working, honorable, industrious people, who strove to do their whole duty toward God and man. Religiously they were Methodists. Eight of their children grew to manhood and womanhood and four of the number came to America. Peter was a resident of Gilpin County for some time, but eventually returned to England. George was killed in a mine at Gregory in 1875. Caroline lives in Central City. When he was but ten years old W. H. Richards began working in the mines near his birthplace, Camborne, Cornwall, and was employed intermittently at easy labor for several years. At thirteen he commenced the business systematically, under the instruction of his father. In 1869 he sailed from Liverpool to New York. Thence he went to San Francisco, by way of Panama, and from the Golden Gate to Virginia City, Nev. There he was occupied in mining until October, 1870, when, the Union Pacific having been completed, he came to Gilpin County, Colo. Here he was employed at contract mining, etc., and mined and prospected at intervals, on his own account. He is now interested in the Star of Gilpin, in Russell Gulch, and the Little Annie, in Tip-top district. At one time he was foreman of the Monmouth mine at Central City, and in August, 1897, was made superintendent of the Columbus mine in Russell Gulch. Since 1870 he has made his home chiefly in Nevadaville, and has been alderman of the place four times. He has been very successful in a business point of view, as well as in other ways, and enjoys the confidence and respect of the entire community and all who know him. He is past officer of the Odd Fellows' society here and is past officer of the encampment.
In Nevadaville, in 1878, Mr. Richards and Miss Kate Bartle were married. The lady is a
