Denver County, History of Colorado, BIOS: COSGRIFF, John B. (published 1918) *********************************************************************** 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. *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Maggie Stewart-Zimmerman http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00015.html#0003643 August 28, 1999 *********************************************************************** "History of Colorado", edited by Wilbur Fisk Stone, published by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. (1918) Vol. II p. 56, 58 photo p. 57 JOHN B. COSGRIFF. John B. Cosgriff, whose constantly broadening interests brought him prominently to the front as a merchant, sheepman and banker of Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and Idaho, was born September 17, 1860, in Colchester, Vermont, and passed away in Denver on the 15th of June, 1918. He was a son of John and Ellen (Barry) Cosgriff. The former was born March 4. 1826, and departed this life January 19, 1898, after devoting his life to the occupation of farming. To the public and high schools of Burlington, Vermont, John B. Cosgriff was indebted for the educational advantages which he enjoyed and which qualified him for life's practical and responsible duties. He dated his residence in Denver from 1879, at which time he began hauling freight between Denver and Leadville. He also assisted in building the Tabor Opera House, having a contract for its foundation excavation and also for the excavation work for the Union Depot. It is said that when the opera house was formally opened he had as his sole possession a fifty cent piece, which he was saving to attend the opening concert. Upon going up to get his ticket he dropped the coin between two boards of the sidewalk and could not recover it. Consequently he missed the concert, which he often said was the keenest disappointment of his life. It was in the early '80s that Mr. Cosgriff became interested in the sheep business in Carbon county, Wyoming, and with the development of his sheep industry he also became identified with commercial interests. He opened trading stores at Fort Steele and at Saratoga in connection with his brother, T. A. Cosgriff, and with the development ot the business they were enabled to establish other stores at Rock Springs, Medicine Bow, Rock River, Opal and Granger, and banks at Rock Springs, Opal, Medicine Bow. Rock River, Larimer and Encampment, all of which were conducted under the name of the Cosgriff Brothers Company. In 1896, in association with his brother, Mr. Cosgriff purchased the First National Bank of Rawlins, Wyoming, and afterward organized the State Bank of Saratoga, Wyoming. In 1899 the brothers established a wholesale grocery house in Salt Lake City under the name of the Cosgriff-Enright Company and in the following year John B. Cosgriff and his younger brother, J. E. Cosgriff, purchased the control of the Commercial National Bank of Salt Lake City, afterward changing the name to the Continental National Bank. John B. Cosgriff was vice president and one of the directors of the bank to the time of his death. Wherever advantageous opportunity opened up he extended his business connections and his enterprise enabled him to readily recognize any favorable chance. He became a factor in the banking circles of Cheyenne when in 1903 he and his brother. Thomas A., purchased the First National Bank of that city. of which he continued a director and vice president until his life's labors were ended. He figured at other points in banking circles, becoming president of the Murray State Bank of Murray. Utah, of the Saratoga State Bank of Saratoga, Wyoming, and also as a director in banks at Caldwell, St. Anthony, Rexburg, Marysville and Soldier, all in Idaho, and in the Morrison-Merrill Lumber Company of Salt Lake City and the Miller Floral Company of Utah. He was also a director of the Mercantile Trust Company of Boulder. He was chairman of the board of directors of the Hamilton National Bank of Denver from 1909, when it was organized by himself and his brother, Thomas A., until his brother's death in 1915, when he succeeded to the presidency of the bank. He became a director of the First National Bank of Monte Vista, Colorado, and of the United States Bank & Trust Company of Grand Junction. Colorado. He furthermore extended his efforts into railroad circles by becoming president of the San Luis Central Railroad. Moreover, in connection with the development of the sheep industry, the Cosgriff brothers bought vast tracts of land in Wyoming and became known as the most prominent authorities on sheep in the country. In Chicago, Omaha and New York the name of John Cosgriff guaranteed quality in sheep and the big firms bid higher prices for his shipments than for any other. At least once a week in the selling season shipments of from fifteen to twenty-five thousand sheep passed through Denver from the great Cosgriff ranches, one of which is near Fort Steele and another near Rawlins, Wyoming. When other men were forced from sheep raising by the invasion of farmers, Mr. Cosgriff adjusted himself and his business to the changed conditions and continued on almost as large a scale as in the most prosperous years of the industry. He was one of the country's greatest experts on sheep and in addition to his Wyoming interests he owned large sheep interests in southern Utah. There is an old adage that power grows through the exercise of effort and this finds its exemplification in the life record of John B. Cosgriff, whose constantly expanding activities ever seemed to heighten his powers and broaden his opportunities. On the 30th of July. 1900, Mr. Cosgriff was united in marriage to Miss Bessie Marion Stewart, a daughter of William Dewitt Stewart, of Fairfax, Vermont, who follows the profession of the law, and of Mary (Spotford) Stewart, a native of Vermont. To Mr. and Mrs. Cosgriff were born four children, Ellen. Stewart, John William and Edward Bailey. Mr. Cosgriff turned for recreation to fishing and driving. He was a member of the Denver Athletic Club and the Denver Country Club and he also held membership with the Knights of Columbus. The only political office he ever filled was that of a county commissioner while a resident of Salt Lake City, and he served on the grand jury. His was a notable example of the chance that lies before every American citizen. Coming to the west empty-handed, he early demonstrated the fact that he was not afraid of hard work and in his industry he laid broad and deep the foundation upon which he builded his later prosperity. Moreover, he eagerly learned the lessons which each experience of life contained and he carefully counted the cost of every business venture. His keen sagacity enabled him to readily discriminate concerning the worth of any opportunity and in the development of his business he studied the needs and demands of the growing country and was ready to meet these when occasion demanded. His success in the field of merchandising, or in sheep raising or in banking, along any one line would alone have entitled him to distinction as a representative business man of the west, but in each he carried forward his efforts to a notable conclusion, making his activities synonymous with the attainment of prosperity.