Bios, (six), Rio Blanco County, Colorado Progressive Men of Western Colorado Copyright 1905 Bio copies from "Progressive Men of Western Colorado" generously donated by the 'Museum of Northwest Colorado', email musnwco@cmn.net Transcribed by Shelley Barnes shellbbco@prodigy.net (HOCKETT Prior; BONER, Leander; BELOT, Adolphe; TORRENCE, Hugh; ANDERSON Brothers and LUNNY, Owen H.) HOCKETT, Prior W. The thread of individual effort which runs through the great web of human life, and which forms one of the strands of its most material substance, fashioned for the wear of daily duty without reference to the special adornment of the pattern, is one of the most useful and enduring factors of the fabric, and it is this relation to the whole structure that the career of Prior W. Hockett, of the Western slope in this state, a resident and progressive ranch and cattle man of Rio Blanco county, is to be considered. Without ostentation or self praise, without aspiration to a position of leadership among his fellows, but with the laudable desire to do his whole duty in the station to which nature has assigned him and do it well, he has labored at whatever his hand has found to do, he has passed his years from boyhood, providing for himself from an early age and making steady progress in the effort over obstacles and in spite of difficulties. He came into the world on August 13, 1856, in Montgomery county, Indiana, and is the son of Nathan and Hulda (McAllister) Hockett, natives of South Carolina, who were early settlers in the Hoosier state. The father was an industrious farmer, a loyal and zealous Democrat, a good and useful citizen. He died in 1880 and his wife in 1872. Their children numbered nine, five of whom are living, William A., Sarah E., Prior W., Etta and James Prior, the third in order of birth of the living children, attended the district schools in the vicinity of his home and worked on the farm with his parents, as country boys are wont to do all over the country, remaining at home until he reached the age of twenty-one. He then left the paternal roof-tree, and after passing three years in various occupations in Kansas City, Missouri, came to Colorado in 1874 and took up a tract of land on Williams's fork in Routt county. This he occupied and worked for two years, making desirable improvements, then sold it and bought the ranch which he now owns and lives on. In addition to his original purchase of one hundred and sixty acres, he has taken up a desert claim of one hundred and twenty acres, and, with water sufficient for the cultivation of one hundred and ninety acres of the whole body, he carries on a prosperous and profitable general farming and cattle business. The ranch is eight miles west of Meeker, pleasantly located, well improved and steadily increasing in value. Since 1892 F. N. JoHantgen, a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this work, has been associated with him in his enterprise. Mr. Hockett is an Odd Fellow in fraternal life and an earnest Republican in political affiliation. He has one child, Jessie B. The success he has won in this state has been very gratifying to Mr. Hockett, and has made him a firm believer in the commonwealth as an excellent field of opportunity for proper effort and also as a place of residence. He looks forward to a great future for it and its people, who know its wealth and are imbued with the spirit that will develop it. In his community he stands well as a man of integrity, a progressive citizen and a useful and respected man. BONER, Leander N. Although born and reared to the age of sixteen in a town of good size, and habituated to its occupations and modes of life, none the less successful as a ranch and cattle man is Leander N. Boner, of Rio Blanco county, living six miles west of Meeker, his native ability and industry and thrift enabling him to turn his attention to new fields of labor with readiness and enter into the spirit of his work and meet the requirements thereof without hesitation or difficulty. His life began at Kalamazoo, Michigan, on April 21, 1853, and there he lived with his parents until he reached the age of sixteen, receiving a common-school education, and at the age of twelve devoting himself regularly to useful labor. In 1869 he journeyed toward the Pacific coast in search of better opportunities than he deemed available at home, and locating in Nevada, worked for a number of years as a ranch hand. In 1880 he bought a ranch of his own and during the next six years he gave this close and profitable attention, carrying on there a flourishing ranch and cattle business. In 1886 he disposed of all his Nevada interests except his cattle, and these he moved to Muddy creek, Wyoming, where he purchased a ranch and conducted a road house and stage line between Rawlins, that state, and Slater, Routt county, Colorado. He kept at these lines of employment two years and a half, then in 1900 sold his Wyoming property and bought the ranch on White river in Powell Park which has since been his home. He has three hundred and twenty acres in one body and cultivates three hundred acres of it. The land is well watered, very fertile, and yields abundant crops, liberally supporting large numbers of cattle. The improvements made on the place by Mr. Boner render it very comfortable as a home and add much to its beauty and attractiveness. He is one of the progressive and enterprising men of the neighborhood, taking an earnest interest in the development and improvement of the country as a public-spirited citizen, adding to its industrial and commercial wealth by his business, giving inspiration and vivacity to its fraternal life as a Woodman of the World, and keeping in close touch with its government and political interests as an ardent Democrat. His parents were David and Eleanor Boner, the former born in Pennsylvania and the latter in the state of New York. They were early settlers in Michigan, where they ended their days, the father dying in 1865 and the mother in 1898. The father served three and one-half years in defense of the Union in the Civil war, being a member of Company K, Twenty-eighth Michigan Infantry. At other times he was a farmer. In political faith he was a Democrat. Two children were born in the family, Leander N. and Ella, wife of Press Nation. BELOT, Adolphe Since the age of fourteen a resident of the Northwest, and during the last twenty-six years living in Colorado, Adolphe Belot, of Rio Blanco county, with a good ranch in the favored region which borders Piceance creek, has had good opportunities to acquire and the ability to use a thorough knowledge of the various industries of the state, and by so doing to aid in advancing its welfare along with his won, and become fully imbued with the spirit of its people and its institutions. He was born on May 1, 1849, in the province of Alsace- Lorraine, which the fortune of war wrested from France, and is the son of Xavias and Celetine (Belot) Belot, of the same nativity as himself, who emigrated to the United States in 1853 and settled in Jefferson county, Iowa, where they passed the remainder of their lives as farmers, both dying a number of years ago. They had seven children, of whom Virginia and Honorine are dead and Louis, Amelia, wife of Leon Piquette, Eugenia, wife of T. Turck, Adolph and Victoria, wife of Joshua Monti, are living. Adolphe received a common-school education, and in 1863, when he was but fourteen years old, came west to Virginia City, Montana, where he mined for wages eight months and then moved to Auburn, Oregon, being in the employ of the Oregon-Baker Company as a purchasing agent of mining claims. After two years in the service of that company he returned to Iowa and engaged in farming and raising stock until 1877. He then disposed of his interests there and again came west, locating in the Black Hills, where he was successful at mining, and discovered a number of valuable mining properties, among them the Homestake. In 1888 changed his residence to Leadville, this state, and after prospecting and mining there for a time, started the first transfer line in that place which he operated until 1884. In that year he moved to his present locality and pre-empted a ranch on Piceance creek, on which has since lived and to which he has added until it comprises two hundred acres, of which one half is under cultivation. The cattle industry and raising horses are his principal resource for revenue, but he also conducts a general ranching business with profit. He supports the Democratic party in political matters. On November 29, 1902, he was united in marriage with Miss Daisy Mundlein, who was born at Granite, Colorado, and is the daughter of John and Charlotte Mundlein, early settlers in this state, and now among its most influential and highly respected citizens. TORRENCE, Hugh Coming to Colorado when a young man for the benefit of his health, and with the hopes and aspirations of his life overclouded by disease, then finding here the relief he sought and gaining strength and restored energy in the health-giving climate, Hugh Torrence became one of the producing and creating members of the state's citizenship, and has since risen to consequence and influence in its business circles and prominence in the public affairs of the section in which he cast his lot. In Fayette county, Pennsylvania, on October 22, 1843, his life began, and on the paternal homestead in that great hive of industry he grew to manhood, attending in a small and irregular way the district schools and working when he could on the farm. His parents were Hugh and Anna Torrence, themselves native of Pennsylvania, and throughout a large portion of their lives useful and respected citizens of that state. The father was a merchant and farmer and prospered in his various undertakings. He was a Republican in politics and gave earnest and helpful attention to the public local affairs of his county. Death ended his labors in 1867, and those of his widow in 1884. Of the five children born to them Mrs. John Witteman died 1882 and William in 1897. The other three are living. The family moved to Illinois late in life and some time afterward to Missouri. The son Hugh A. Torrence left home in 1873 and came to Colorado as has been stated, for the benefit of his health. He took up his residence in the vicinity of Denver, where he remained a year. In 1874, being much improved, he moved into the Bear river country, and later changed his residence to Grand county. Here he passed two years more, still in search of health, and engaged principally in hunting and fishing. In 1876 he found himself so far improved that he determined to establish a home in the state which had given his vigor of body and vivacity of mind, and to that end built the first cabin put up in Routt county, a little log shack which provided shelter and such of the comforts of life as were available in that then far away section, and went to raiding cattle. He was in the wilderness and alone save for the presence of Indians and wild beasts, whose proximity was often more menacing that companionable or helpful. Great privations and hardships were plentiful in his lot, and danger was ever present. But the wild life had its compensations in many ways, and he bravely endured the rest. In 1882 he formed a partnership with Charles Hullett in the cattle and ranching industry, which lasted until the death of Mr. Hullet, on April 30, 1903. The chief products of their enterprise were hay and cattle, as they are of Mr. Torrence's efforts now, and in his business he has been very successful. His ranch comprises two thousand acres, three hundred of which are under energetic and skillful cultivation. The needful water for irrigation is supplied from ditches belonging to the property, and as the ranch is only twenty-four miles from Meeker, a good market for its products is within easy reach. Mr. Torrence has devoted himself almost wholly to his work and has become one of the most prosperous and prominent stock men on the Western slope. He is a stanch Republican in politics, and no exigency of his private affairs ever causes him to slacken in devotion to the interests of his party. In business circles and in the public life of his county he is influential and he is highly esteemed and respected wherever he is known. ANDERSON Brothers Olaf and August Anderson, who compose the firm of Anderson Brothers, extensive and prosperous ranch and cattle men living on a fine and well-developed ranch of four hundred and forty acres in Rio Blanco county, and there together conducting a large general ranching and cattle business whereby they help to swell the tides of commercial life in their neighborhood, are natives of Sweden and sons of Andrew and Anna (Olson) Anderson who were also born in that country and who were descendants of families long resident there. The father was a good and prosperous farmer, who labored diligently and lived creditably to the end of his days, which came on July 6, 1878. His widow and ten of their eleven children survive him. The children living are Assarina, Johanna, Nels, Botilda, John, Olaf, Charles, Peter, August and Maria. Both parents were raised in obedience to the tenets of the Lutheran church. The sons who are the subjects of this sketch were educated at the state schools and acquired habits of useful industry on the paternal homestead. Olaf, who was born on April 19, 1858, emigrated to the United States in 1881 and located at Glenwhite, Blair county, Pennsylvania, where he mined coal under contract until 1883. He then returned to Sweden, and after passing a year there came back to Pennsylvania, and six months afterward migrated to Colorado and took up residence at Aspen. Here he was employed until 1886 sorting ore for Hooper & Company. At the end of that period he moved to his present location and pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of good land on which he started a ranching and stock business which is a part of the enterprise now conducted by himself and his brother. The latter, August Anderson, came to this country in 1881, arriving on June 19th, and settled in New Jersey. Sometime afterward he moved to Staten Island for awhile he was employed on farms for wages, then learned the cooper trade. In 1882 he went to Pennsylvania and thereafter engaged in mining coal until 1888, when he came to Colorado and locating at Aspen, engaged in mining until 1895, part of the time for wages and the rest under contract. In the year last mentioned he joined his brother Olaf at their present home and pre-empting one hundred and sixty acres of land, formed a partnership with him for uniting their efforts and interests in a business of greater magnitude. They have since bought an additional tract of one hundred and twenty acres and now have two hundred and forty acres under cultivation in hay and grain, and also run a number of cattle and horses for the market. The water supply is good and the tillage of the land vigorous and skillful , the returns for the time and labor invested being large and steadily increasing. The brothers are reckoned among the leading men in their portion of the county, and they well deserve the esteem in which they are held. Both support the principles of the Republican party in politics from conviction and without reference to official reward. When any undertaking for the advancement of their community is under consideration they re among the first to help, longest to stay and most substantial to assist. LUNNY, Owen H. The blessing of a free and unsettled country like the United States to the overcrowded populations of other lands, and which has aptly been called the great charity of God to the human race, can be fully estimated only by those who have experienced them and their benefits, and can not be overestimated by anybody. Their voice has been loud and persuasive for several hundred years, and has been heeded by uncounted millions, who have come hither to secure and enjoy them, and in doing so have not only found wide and multiform opportunities for their own advancement, but have also helped to magnify in volume and increased in value their service to the race. Among the men of thrift and substance, who in their youth sought the benefits thus offered and have used them to their own advantage, is Owen H. Lunny, of Rio Blanco county, this state, who came to our shores when he was a boy of fifteen, and has since been diligent in employing his opportunities for is own good and the good of the country itself. He is a native of Ireland, born on May 26, 1866, and the son of Owen and Ella Lunny, natives of that country and belonging to families resident there from time immemorial. The father was an industrious farmer and raised cattle for market on a small scale. There were nine children in the family, seven of whom are living, Mary, Ella, Owen H., Peter H., James, Hugh and Edward. The father has been dead a number of years and the mother is still living in her native land. Owen attended the common schools in the vicinity of his home when he could, which was but seldom and not long at a time, for the energy of every member of the family was required to aid in the work on the home farm. When he reached the age of fifteen he emigrated to the United States, and after remaining in the state of New York two years, engaged in any occupation that offered, he came to Colorado, arriving in 1883 and locating at Leadville, Here he mined for wages and under lease, and also at times served as engineer in running a steam pump. In 1885 he moved to Rio Blanco county and pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land on Coal creek, which he at once settled on and began to improve. As time passed and he prospered in his enterprise, he added to his domain until he now owns one thousand, five hundred acres of land and has three hundred of it under cultivation. He started early in the stock business and has increased the scope of his interests in it to its present extent, which is one of large proportions and leading importance in his neighborhood. As a helpmate in his labors and a participant in his success he secured by marriage on July 2, 1893, Miss Anna S. Meagher, his devoted wife and the mother of his one child. They have lived prosperously and happily in their new home, which has been improved and developed by their own efforts, and they enjoy in a marked degree the confidence and esteem of those who know them throughout the community in which their useful lives are passing. =================================================== Contributed for use by the USGenWeb Archive Project (http://www.usgenweb.org) and by the COGenWeb Archive Project USGenWeb Project NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the internet, this data may be used by non-commercial researchers, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format for profit, nor for presentation in any form by any other organization or individual. 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