ANKELE, Charles, b 1857; 1905 Bio, Chaffee County, Colorado http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/chaffee/bios/ankelec.txt --------------------------------------- Donated September 4, 2001 Transcribed by Judy Crook from the book: Progressive Men of Western Colorado Published 1905, A.W. Bowen & Co., Chicago, Ill. --------------------------------------- Charles Ankele This worthy citizen and capable public official, who is universally esteemed throughout the county in which he lives, is the seventh sheriff elected there and has filled the office longer than any other. He was first chosen in 1897 as the candidate of the Silver Republicans, who fused with the Democrats against the Populists, and was the only candidate on their ticket elected except one county commissioner. Having at that time a decided leaning to the Republican party, he intended at the close of his first term to announce himself as its candidate for the next, but being forestalled in this by another member of the party, he declined to allow the use of his name in the convention of that party. Then, without his knowledge, the Democrats nominated him as their candidate for the office, and he was elected by a large majority. At the close of his second term he became the candidate of the straight Republicans and was again honored with an election and is now serving a fourth term. Mr. Ankele is a native of Cleveland, Ohio, where he was born on June 13, 1857. There he received his education, and at the age of eighteen went into the bridge department of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad. He remained in the employ of this company nearly four years, and then found a berth under the United States government as overseer of improvement work, rip-rapping, etc., on the Mississippi river at Plum Point, Tennessee. After about two years of this service, in 1881 he moved westward to Kansas, making the trip on a furlough. But liking the West, he determined to remain and resign his position under the government, and went to driving cattle from Texas to Montana over the trail, which he continued to do three years. In 1885 he bought a bunch of cattle which he brought to Chaffee and settled on a ranch eight miles east of Salida. There he engaged in raising stock until 1892, when he was appointed marshal of Salida. This office he held five years, and could probably have had it indefinitely if he had not been transferred by the votes of his fellow citizens of the county to the sheriff's office. On qualifying for this latter office the first time he changed his residence to Buena Vista, the county seat, where he has since made his home. He has made a very creditable and acceptable sheriff and his name as such is spoken with pride and pleasure by all classes of the citizens. But his life has not wholly been given up to politics here. He has large and valuable interests in mining properties in various places and other possessions of worth. In the fraternal life of the county he takes an active and earnest interest as an Odd Fellow, a Mason, a Knight of Pythias, a Woodman of the World and an Eagle, belonging to lodges of these orders at Salida. He is also a member of the order of Elks, holding his membership in that fraternity in the lodge at Leadville. On December 23, 1886, at Leadville, this state, he was united in marriage with Miss Maggie O'Neill, a native of Michigan. =================================================== Contributed for use by the USGenWeb Archive Project (http://www.usgenweb.org) and by the COGenWeb Archive Project USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access.