Las Animas County
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ADAMS, Ortus F.
BACCA, Joseph P.
DEBUSK, Samuel W.
HICKS, Henry B.
HILL Family
HOLLENBECK, Amos F.
KELSAY Family 6-page pdf
MARTINEZ, Joseph E.
MASON, George
MAY, Jacob John
McCLURE, Charles O.
McHENDRIE, Andrew W.
SHADEL, Solomon J.
SHATTUCK, Burtis H.
SHAW Family
WILKINSON Family
Ortus Fuller Adams, physician and surgeon of Trinidad, was born at Ainsworth,
Iowa, and is a son of John Stinson and Hannah O'Dell (Dawson) Adams, the former
a native of Ohio and the latter of Iowa. After graduating from the Washington
high school he attended Washington Academy for two years, followed by two years
in Southwestern Institute, and then completed his professional education in the
medical department of Northwestern University, at Evanston, Illinois, since
which time he has devoted himself to the active practice of medicine, his office
being at 213 West Main street, Trinidad. During the Spanish-American war he
enlisted in Company D, Fiftieth Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and attained
the rank of corporal. He also enlisted during the World war, attained the rank
of captain and served for thirteen months unattached in France. In 1924 Dr.
Adams was elected coroner of Las Animas county. He is a member of the Ancient
Free and Accepted Masons, in which he has attained the rank of a Knight Templar,
and also belongs to the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He is
a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. On December 14, 1913, in Denver, Dr.
Adams was married to Miss Marion MacDonald Easton, and they are the parents of
four children: Ruth, Ortus F., Jr., John Easton and Patience Stinson.
--1927 History of Colorado by State Historical and Natural History Society of
Colorado, volume 4, pages 695-696.
Joseph Paul Bacca, city engineer of Trinidad, was born May 8, 1899, at
Hastings, Colorado, and is a son of Peter John and Elvira (Zanon) Bacca, both of
whom were born in Tyrol, Austria, the father at Flavon and the mother at Cunevo.
Mr. Bacca attended the Trinidad public schools, graduating from the high school,
where he took college preparatory work, in 1917. He attended the Colorado School
of Mines, from which he was graduated in 1922 as a Mining Engineer, also taking
postgraduate work there. From June to September, 1919, he was in the employ of
Rapp & Hendrickson, architects at Trinidad, and from June to September, 1920,
was employed as a draftsman by the Wyoming state highway department at Cheyenne,
while his vacation period of 1921 was spent as field and office engineer with
Douglass, Corey & Fisk, of Trinidad and Walsenburg. From September, 1920, to
June, 1921, while in college, he did oil shale research work, on which he wrote
a treatise for the Chemical and Metallurgical Magazine. In the following year,
while specializing in mining, electricity and mathematics, he served as night
librarian. From June to September, 1922, he was again with Douglass, Corey &
Fisk, in the paving department, and also served as assistant city engineer of
Trinidad. From May, 1923, to March, 1925, he was field and office engineer for
Douglass, Corey & Fisk, being engaged in mining, building, land, paving,
structural and irrigation engineering. From March to May, 1925, he served as
assistant county engineer of Las Animas county and then became city engineer of
the city of Trinidad, having charge of all municipal engineering work, including
waterworks, plumbing, paving and the regular work of that department.
In
1918 Mr. Bacca attended the reserve officers' training camp at the School of
Mines and was commissioned a first lieutenant of the Three Hundred and
Twenty-eighth Engineers Reserve, One Hundred and Third Division, with which he
was in training camp at Fort Bliss, Texas. He is a member of the Fraternal Order
of Eagles; the Knights of Columbus, of which he is chancellor; the American
Legion, of which he is adjutant, and the Forty and Eight. He also belongs to the
Trinidad Kiwanis Club and the local council of the Boy Scouts of America. He is
a Roman Catholic in his religious faith and belongs to the Holy Trinity Parish
Association. He is a licensed engineer in Colorado and is a junior member of the
American Association of Engineers, a junior associate of the American Institute
of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers, a military engineer member of the Society
of American Military Engineers and a junior member of the American Society of
Civil Engineers. In February, 1926, at Trinidad, Mr. Bacca was married to Miss
Mary E. Cescolini.
--1927 History of Colorado by State Historical and
Natural History Society of Colorado, volume 4, pages 653-654.
Samuel Wesley DeBusk, retired, of Trinidad, Las Animas county, was born June
16, 1848, in Washington county, Virginia, of which locality his parents, William
and Ann Jones (Snodgrass) DeBusk, also were natives. After completing the common
school course, he entered Emory and Henry College, at Emory, Virginia, from
which he received the Bachelor of Arts degree in the classical course, and
subsequently the Master's degree, graduating with the class of 1870. He then
engaged in teaching and became principal of Science Hill Institute, at Johnson
City, Tennessee. Later he came to Colorado and for twelve years taught in the
schools of Trinidad and vicinity. For some time he devoted himself to farming
and live stock, but is now retired. He has held numerous minor local offices and
was for eight years a member of the Colorado state senate. He was baptized a
Methodist and has never repudiated that faith. Mr. DeBusk was married, in
Washington county, Virginia, to Miss Margaret Louisa Smith, who is deceased. To
this union were born two sons and three daughters, of whom one son and two
daughters are living.
--1927 History of Colorado by State Historical
and Natural History Society of Colorado, volume 4, page 378.
In the death of Henry B. Hicks on October 8, 1918. Larimer county lost one of
its foremost citizens and an enterprising agriculturist who had greatly
contributed toward development and upbuilding. Moreover, he was interested in
milling and dairying enterprises and in his various business connections set
valuable standards which others have since successfully followed. He was ever a
public-spirited citizen and his memory remains with his many friends, who
recognized in him a man of the highest qualities of character. His farm property
was located four miles north of Loveland, in Larimer county, and there he
developed through years of labor, and serious endeavor and unflagging enterprise
a property which stood as a monument to his enduring qualities.
Born in
Michigan, June 28, 1866, Mr. Hicks was a son of Calvin and Maryett (Hoyt) Hicks.
The Hoyt family originally came from England. The father throughout his life has
successfully followed farming. He is a native of Michigan and still makes his
home in that state but his wife passed away in 1892.
Henry B. Hicks was
reared under the parental roof, amid farm conditions, and from his parents
received his first lessons in regard to life's conduct. Early in his boyhood
honorable principles were implanted into him and these have ever guided his
life's course. In the acquirement of an education he attended the schools of
Michigan and subsequently assisted his father with the farm work until he came
of age. Having heard glowing reports in regard to the opportunities awaiting a
young man in the far west, he decided upon removal to Colorado in order to take
advantage of these favorable conditions and in 1886 arrived in this state,
being, moreover, induced to come here by the state of his health, which at that
period was not of the best. He took up a preemption claim in Elbert county, in
the eastern part of the state, and upon this he proved up, making the required
improvements. Thence he went to Weld county, where for one season he rented
land, and then proceeded to the locality near Evans, where for three years he
rented land. Having accumulated sufficient capital, he was then enabled to
purchase sixty acres of land near Evans, which he operated quite successfully
for three years, selling at the end of that period and coming to Larimer county,
where he bought the place which is still the property of the family and which
comprises forty acres. He immediately set to work to improve the land, and
giving due consideration to its adaptability for fruit raising purposes, set out
a large apple orchard of three hundred trees on the place. Seven acres were
planted to cherries and from this source also he received a substantial income,
in fact Mr. Hicks became one of the leaders in the fruit business in his
district. In this connection it may be mentioned as remarkable that part of the
cherry orchard is on dry land. The balance, however, is irrigated and this fruit
farm he operated until his death. He ever readily embraced the newest ideas and
methods in horticulture, carefully studied propagation as well as local climatic
and soil conditions and thus became one of the foremost agriculturists in
Larimer county. In 1905 Mr. Hicks also took up a homestead claim in Las Animas
county, upon some of which he proved up. The original claim comprised three
hundred and twenty acres. For some time he operated this farm himself but
subsequently rented the place to his son. who still conducts this enterprise.
On October 2, 1892, Mr. Hicks was united in marriage to Mary Eva Fetters, a
daughter of Casper and Anna (Haines) Fetters, natives of Missouri, in which
state Mrs. Hicks was also born, her natal day being December 9, 1876. Mr.
Fetters was a successful agriculturist and operated a farm in Missouri until
1885. when he took a westward course, making his way to Nebraska, where he
remained for three years. He then decided upon another removal and came to
Colorado, locating in Weld county, where he rented land, so continuing for some
time. Finally he made his home with Mr. and Mrs. Hicks, residing with them on
the Hicks farm until his demise in January, 1907. His widow survives and is now
residing in Loveland. To Mr. and Mrs. Hicks were born eight children: Bernice
and Ethel M., both at home; Theron, who served his country in the army and is
now on the ranch in Las Animas county; and Floyd M., Laveda, Howard, Opal and
Calvin, all yet at home.
Mrs. Hicks and her children still make the farm
their home, all contributing toward its development. She has ably taken up the
reins which have dropped from her husband's hands, courageously undertaking to
provide for her large family. She is a woman highly esteemed and admired not
only because she has shown rare business acumen but also because she excels in
those feminine traits which make her beloved by all who come in contact with
her.
Mr. Hicks besides his ranching and fruit interests was also a
stockholder in the Farmers Mill at Kelim, Colorado, and also operated a dairy
very successfully for three years. In politics he was a republican and his
religious faith was that of the Church of God. In him there passed away a
public-spirited and valuable citizen who not only stood high because of his
individual success but also because he ever typified in his career helpfulness
toward his 'fellowmen as well as other qualities which make for general
advancement along intellectual, moral and material lines. His death caused
general sorrow and his memory is cherished by all who knew him.
--1918 History of Colorado by Wilbur F. Stone, Volume 4, pages 386-388.
Hill daughters' Wedding Invitation
Hazel Hill Retires
Contributed by Martha Swaim Wyckoff boraxo@pacbell.net
Hon. Amos F. Hollenbeck, judge of the third judicial district court of
Colorado, was born October 19, 1854, on a farm near Coudersport, Potter county,
Pennsylvania, and is a son of John and Emily (Parker) Hollenbeck, both of whom
were natives of Cortland county, New York. Our subject attended the public
schools of Hebron township. Potter county, and the high school at Ulysses,
Pennsylvania, after which he attended the State Normal School at Mansfield,
Pennsylvania, graduating in June, 1877. He taught school at Westfield, Tioga
county, Pennsylvania, in 1877-78, and was then elected county superintendent of
schools of Potter county, serving until June, 1881. He studied law in the office
of Hon. Isaac Benson, at Coudersport, and was admitted to the bar in March,
1882. Later he came to Trinidad, Colorado, and entered upon the practice of his
profession. In 1918 he was elected judge of the district court of the third
judicial district, and was reelected in 1924. Judge Hollenbeck is a member of
Las Animas Lodge No. 28, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Trinidad; the
Woodmen of the World, and Rocky Mountain Lodge No. 3, Knights of Pythias. In the
latter organization he served as grand chancellor of the domain of Colorado from
August, 1913, to August, 1914, and is at present supreme representative. He is a
member of the Trinidad Kiwanis Club. On October 5, 1878, Judge Hollenbeck was
married to Miss Carrie B. Cole, of Coudersport, Pennsylvania, who died at
Salida, Colorado, January 7, 1886. On June 13, 1888, he was married to Miss
Matilda M. Doerner, of Coudersport. There is one son, Arthur R., of Trinchera,
Las Animas county.
--1927 History of Colorado by State Historical and
Natural History Society of Colorado, volume 4, pages 625-626.
Joseph Eliseo Martinez, lawyer, of Trinidad, was born March 19, 1899, at
Weston, Las Animas county, Colorado, and is a son of J. E. and Andreita (Maes)
Martinez, the former also a native of Colorado and the latter of Weston, this
state, while his grandfather was born in Taos, New Mexico. Mr. Martinez attended
the public schools of Trinidad, graduating from high school in 1917, and then
entered the law school of the University of Colorado. He was graduated in June,
1924, since which time he has been engaged in the practice of his profession in
Trinidad, having offices in the Colorado building. Mr. Martinez saw service in
the World war. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Fraternal Order of
Eagles and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, as well as the American
Legion and the Forty and Eight. He also belongs to the Sigma Phi Epsilon and Phi
Delta Phi fraternities. He is a member of the Roman Catholic church. He is
active in public affairs and represents Las Animas county in the house of
representatives of the state legislature.
--1927 History of Colorado by
State Historical and Natural History Society of Colorado, volume 4, page 562.
George Mason, president of the Trinidad Creamery and manufacturer and jobber
of confectionery, was born August 5, 1867, at Paris, Monroe county, Missouri,
and is a son of A. G. and Annie E. Mason, the former of whom was born in Cass
county, Kentucky, and the latter in Virginia, Illinois. He received a public
school education and then worked at the printing trade and as a clerk in a
store. He came to Colorado and located at Walsenburg, where he served as
postmaster from 1889 to 1893. In 1901 he moved to Tobasco, Colorado, and engaged
in business, and in 1908 came to Trinidad and engaged in the manufacture of
candy, in which he is still interested. Mr. Mason has been active in local
public affairs, having served three different times as a member of the board of
aldermen, and in 1924 he served as mayor, filling the unexpired term of Mayor E.
H. Day, who died in office. During the World war he was food administrator for
Las Animas county. Mr. Mason is a member of Trinidad Lodge No. 89, Ancient Free
and Accepted Masons, of which he is a past master, and has served as chancellor
commander of the Knights of Pythias at Walsenburg, Hastings and Trinidad. He is
a member of the Trinidad Rotary Club and is an elder of the Presbyterian church.
On November 18, 1892, at Hastings, Colorado, Mr. Mason was married to Miss
Belle R. Watchman, and they are the parents of the following children: Kathryn
B.; Anna E., the wife of M. J. Hooper; Abraham G., who was married to Miss Ethel
Jackson; Edna J., the wife of Ray Hoover; Christine C, the wife of Lee A. Woods;
William W. and George C.
--1927 History of Colorado by State Historical
and Natural History Society of Colorado, volume 4, pages 626-627.
Jacob John "Jake" MAY
Jake MAY's store
Jake MAY's home
Trinidad
Charles Oscar McClure, physician, of Trinidad, w^as born April 3, 1867, on a
farm in Franklin county, Indiana, and is a son of John W. and Mary Jane (McCaw)
McClure, both of whom also were natives of Indiana. After completing the common
school course he entered Moores Hill College, Indiana, and later was a student
in Miami University, at Oxford, Ohio, but did not graduate. He then attended the
University of Indiana, Indianapolis, for two years, after which he matriculated
in Gross Medical College, Denver, Colorado, where he received the degree of
Doctor of Medicine in April, 1893, following this by postgraduate work in New
York city. He now has offices in the Paitrey building, Trinidad, where he is
engaged in the general practice of medicine. Dr. McClure served as secretary of
the school board at Starkville, Las Animas county, and as an alder man of the
city of Trinidad. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons,
belonging to several branches of the order, and is also a member of the Trinidad
Kiwanis Club. His religious connection is with the First Methodist Episcopal
church of Trinidad. On October 18, 1899, at Moores Hill, Indiana, Dr. McClure
was married to Miss Laura L. Ewan, and they have three children: Mary Ellen,
Alfred Morce and Harlan Ewan.
--1927 History of Colorado by State
Historical and Natural History Society of Colorado, volume 4, pages 715-716.
Andrew Watson McHendrie, lawyer and ex-judge of the district court of Las
Animas county, was born January 6, 1874, in Bellevue, Jackson county, Iowa, and
is a son of Andrew Gregg and Eliza (Kiskaddon) McHendrie, the father a native of
St. Louis, Missouri, and the mother of Bellevue, lowa. After completing the
public school course, Mr. McHendrie entered Tillotson Academy, at Trinidad,
having come to this state in August, 1887. He was graduated in June, 1896, and
then entered Colorado College, at Colorado Springs, from which he was graduated
in June, 1900, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He served as court
stenographer of the third judicial district from 1899 to 1903. During this
period he was pursuing the study of law under Judge Jesse G. Northcutt, then
presiding judge of the district court, and in January, 1904, was admitted to the
bar, since which time he has followed the practice of his profession in
Trinidad, having offices in the Colorado building. From 1905 to 1912 he served
as district attorney of the third judicial district and was then elected to the
bench, presiding over that court from 1913 to 1919.
Judge McHendrie is
vice president of the International State Bank, of Trinidad. He is a member of
Lodge No. 89, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Chapter No. 23, Royal Arch
Masons; Commandery No. 17, Knights Templar, all of Trinidad, and of Al Kaly
Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Pueblo. He
belongs to the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, the Trinidad Rotary Club, of which he
is a past president, and the Trinidad Country Club, which also he has served as
president. He is a member of the Presbyterian church. On December 17, 1902, at
Long Beach, California, he was married to Miss Frances Hamilton, and they are
the parents of two children, Janet Hamilton and Andrew Douglas.
--1927
History of Colorado by State Historical and Natural History Society of Colorado,
volume 4, pages 425-426.
Solomon J. Shadel, county superintendent of schools of Las Animas county, was
born March 12, 1880, at Leiter's Ford, Fulton county, Indiana, and is a son of
Henry and Martha A. Shadel, also natives of Leiter's Ford and both descendants
of old pioneer families of Indiana. Our subject secured his elementary education
in a one-room country school and then entered Rochester College, where he
graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1902, after which he took
post-graduate work at Indiana University. Since then he has devoted his life to
the pedagogical profession. In 1898 he taught his first rural school in Indiana,
and from 1903 to 1914 he taught school and served as principal and
superintendent of schools in that state.
In 1914, because of his wife's
health, Mr. Shadel came to Trinidad, Colorado, and taught in the high school one
year. From 1915 to 1918 he was superintendent of the schools at Star City,
Indiana, and from 1918 to 1923 was principal of the schools at Morley, Colorado.
In 1922 he was elected county superintendent of schools of Las Animas county,
and in 1924 was reelected. In April, 1924, he was elected president of the State
Association of County Superintendents and Institute Workers, serving one year.
He was appointed by Governor Sweet to go as a delegate from the state of
Colorado to the National Illiteracy Conference held in Washington, D. C, in
January, 1924. He was a delegate to the National Educational Association in 1923
and 1925.
Mr. Shadel is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons,
the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In the last
named order he has been honored by the offices of noble grand, member of the
grand lodge of Indiana, and district deputy grand master of Indiana. He belongs
to the Agora Club, the Kiwanis Club and the Las Animas County Schoolmasters
Club. Since 1921 he has served a? chairman of the Las Animas County Red Cross
Chapter and is president of the board of directors of the Las Animas County
Community Chest. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and served as
superintendent of the Sunday school from 1907 to 1925. Mr. Shadel has been twice
married, first, in 1904, at Argos, Indiana, to Miss Blanche Siple, who died in
Colorado in 1915. To this union were born four children: Frances, aged
twenty-one years; Ruth, aged eighteen years, Karl, aged sixteen years; and
Frank, aged twelve years. In 1916, at Trinidad, he was married to Miss Bessie F.
Caskey, and they are the parents of a son, James, eight years old, and a
daughter, Anna Lee, born February 11, 1926. They reside in their own home at 708
West Baca street, Trinidad, Colorado.
--1927 History of Colorado by State
Historical and Natural History Society of Colorado, volume 4, pages 227-228.
Burtis Hunt Shattuck, lawyer, of Trinidad, Las Animas county, was born March
27, 1893, in Brooklyn, New York, and is a son of Herbert Alonzo and Stella
(Fleming) Shattuck, the former a native of Brooklyn and the latter born at
Middletown, New York. The family came to Colorado, and our subject was graduated
from the high school at Boulder. He then entered the University of Colorado,
where he received his degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1915, and then entered the
law school of Columbia University, New York city, where he took two and a half
years of the three year course, returning to the University of Colorado law
school to finish his course, being graduated from the latter school with the
degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1918. He has since practiced his profession in
Trinidad and has served as city attorney. Mr. Shattuck is a veteran of the World
war, having served with the infantry. He is a member of Trinidad Lodge No. 89,
Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and belongs to the Delta Tau Delta college
fraternity and to the Kiwanis Club of Trinidad, of which he was president in
1924 and is now district trustee. He is a member of the Presbyterian church. On
August 18, 1921, Mr. Shattuck was married to Miss Gladys Branson.
--1927
History of Colorado by State Historical and Natural History Society of Colorado,
volume 4, pages 493-494.
ca. 1905 at Aguilar
SHAW Children:
Fern May, born 19 May 1901; Margaret Ellen born 17 Oct 1902; and William 'Bill' J. born 27 Jun 1904
Parents were Richard 'Dick' and Elizabeth 'Lizzie' (nee Cook) Shaw
Fern was my grandmother
Contributed by Bobbalee and Ed Hughes hughes@haysprings.net
Adam & Elizabeth "Lizzie" (MAKEPEACE) WILKINSON lived in Trinidad, Colorado, in the late 1800s. They were originally from Durham, England, where they were married before coming the United States. Adam worked in the coal mines in Trinidad. I understand there is a Wilkinson Family farm in Trinidad. I would like any information regarding their lives in Trinidad. --Deana, ghostluvrs@yahoo.com, 2023 Jun 01
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02/06/2026