PLATT, John, b 1852; 1905 Bio, Delta County, Colorado http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/delta/bios/plattj.txt --------------------------------------- Donated September 7, 2001 Transcribed by Judy Crook from the book: Progressive Men of Western Colorado Published 1905, A.W. Bowen & Co., Chicago, Ill. --------------------------------------- John Platt John Platt, one of the progressive, industrious and prosperous farmers of Delta county, living on that favored elevation known as Ash mesa, six miles from the town of Delta, and one of the first settlers of this region, is a native of Austria, born in 1852. His parents, Nicholas and Mary (Garbles) Platt, were also natives of that country, as their forefathers were for countless generations before them. The father was a farmer there and also a miller, conducting a large and busy flour-mill. He brought his family to this country and settled in Colorado in 1872. Their first location was at Del Norte, where they lived until 1877, when they moved to Montrose county. There the father pre-empted eighty acres of land, on which he and his wife now live. Their son John left home in 1876, when he was twenty-four years of age, and going to Leadville, engaged in freighting between that town and Gunnison, following this occupation for three years. At the end of that period he moved to Delta county, where he pre-empted the ranch on which he has since made his home. His arrival here was in 1882, just as the Indians were leaving and while the country was yet in its state of unbroken wildness. He was one of the first settlers on the mesa, but the number was increased by several new arrivals in the first year of his residence here. Of his land twenty acres are in hay and the rest is given up to general farming and grazing. He bore his part well in the first efforts to improve the country and supply it with roads, bridges and the other public conveniences of living, and in all its subsequent progress and development he has been forward and active in good works. In October, 1882, he was married to Miss Maggie Kessler, who was born in Germany. They had two daughters, Carrie and May, the latter being deceased. Their mother died in December, 1897, and in 1899 he married Miss Mary Connor, from whom he was afterward divorced. His third marriage occurred on December 21, 1901, and was with Miss Maud Wixson, a native of Custer county, Colorado, born on May 7, 1870, at Rosita. She is the daughter of Solomon and Sarah (Eason) Wixson, the former a native of Michigan and the latter of Canada. By the third marriage Mr. Platt became the father of three children, W. Clarence, John and Lawrence W., one of whom, John, has died. Mr. Platt is a Republican in politics and is ever loyal to his party. He has the regard and good will of his fellow citizens all around him, and deserves the high opinion they have of him. =================================================== 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.