Denver County, History of Colorado, BIOS: FIELD, Edward Bell (published 1918)
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"History of Colorado", edited by Wilbur Fisk Stone, published by The S. J. 
Clarke Publishing Co. (1918)  Vol. II

p.72, 74
photo p. 73

EDWARD BELL FIELD.

	Handicapped by ill health and starting out in the business world 
of Denver in the humble capacity of telephone operator, Edward Bell 
Field is today recognized as one ot the eminent financiers and business 
executives in the state, with a genius for organization and management 
that has brought him to the presidency of The Mountain States Telephone 
& Telegraph Company. A native of Massachusetts, he was born in Chelsea, 
September 4, 1850, a son of James Barker and Eliza Ann (Bell) Field, 
both of whom were representatives of old New England families. The 
ancestry in the paternal line is traced back to Robert Field, who came 
to America on the second vessel that followed the Mayflower and settled 
at Odiorne's Point, near Rye Beach, New Hampshire, about 1623. James 
Barker Field was born in Massachusetts, February 3, 1828, and in early 
life was a successful dealer in boots and shoes. Later he became a 
theatrical manager at Chelsea, where he resided to the time of his 
death. In early manhood he wedded Eliza Ann Bell, whose ancestry can be 
traced back in Boston to the year 1709. One of the family donated the 
ground on which the English high school of Boston is located and Edward 
Bell served his country in the War of 1812. In fact ancestors on both 
the paternal and maternal sides were very prominent among the early 
residents of Massachusetts. The death of Mrs. James B. Field occurred 
in 1861, when she was but thirty-four years of age. In the family were 
two sons, the younger being George P. Field, who passed away in 
Chelsea, Massachusetts, in 1876. The mother was the last person to be 
buried in the King's Chapel at Boston, where all of her ancestors were 
interred.

	In his youthful days Edward Bell Field attended the public 
schools of Chelsea, being graduated from the grammar school in 1865. He 
then secured employment in a wholesale woolen house ot Boston and 
outside of his regular hours in that establishment he was employed in 
connection with the theatre business and his investigating turn ot mind 
led him to the study of many practical things and especially to the 
mechanism of the telephone. In the evening he pursued the study of 
biology and problems of psychical and social evolution. The earnestness 
with which he delved into these problems foreshadowed the coming events 
of his later years. He was in the employ of Eagren, Bartlett & Company 
in the wholesale woolen business in Boston from the 1st of July, 1865, 
until the 10th of November, 1879, when he suffered hemorrhages of the 
lungs and was ordered by his physicians to Colorado. He arrived in 
Denver on the 11th of November-an absolute stranger. He rapidly 
recuperated in this climate and on the 10th of January, 1880, was able 
to accept a position as a telephone operator. It was then that his 
early study of the mechanism of the telephone proved of practical 
worth. Again he delved deeply into the study of electrical science and 
made rapid advance in his chosen field of labor. His capability and 
efficiency are indicated in the fact that after a year he was promoted 
to the position of manager ot the operating department of the telephone 
company for the state of Colorado and further promotion came to him In 
1882, when he was made superintendent of the company. His next advance, 
in 1884, brought him to the position of general manager and from this 
point he reached the presidency of the Colorado Telephone Company, 
operating the Bell telephone system throughout Colorado and some 
adjacent territory. He also became the head of the American District 
Telegraph Company and likewise extended his efforts into other business 
fields but made everything secondary to the telephone business. He bent 
his energies and efforts largely to the upbuilding of the company's 
interests, mastered every detail as well as the major principles upon 
which the business is founded and developed, and since called to the 
presidency he has concentrated his attention upon constructive effort, 
administrative direction and executive control. Constantly broadening 
his interests, he has built up a great telephone system in the west, 
which soon expanded beyond the borders of Colorado, the lines being 
extended into contiguous states, and ultimately it became necessary to 
enlarge the corporate powers and work of the company, which was then 
reorganized under the name of The Mountain States Telephone & Telegraph 
Company, with Mr. Field as the president. In this connection a 
contemporary writer has said: "Mr. Field has a genius for organization 
and the promotion of large enterprises, in which he has always been 
eminently successful, thus becoming one of the leading business men and 
financiers of the west." It may be merely an unforeseen coincidence, 
but his name includes that of the promoter of the telephone system and 
the promoter of the first Atlantic cable, and along the line of 
transmission of messages by wire Edward Bell Field has directed his 
efforts with the result that he has attained a foremost position in 
this great field of labor in the west. The Mountain States Telephone & 
Telegraph Company is operating in eight states. Mr. Field is also 
president of the A. D. T. Company and the Tri-State Telephone Company 
and has become a director of the First National Bank of Denver. 

	On the 22d of January, 1872, Mr. Field was united in marriage to 
Miss Mary Alice Legge at Newton, Massachusetts, a daughter of "William 
A. and Martha Ann (Tarr) Legge, representatives of old New England 
families that were represented in the Revolutionary war, and Mrs. Field 
held membership with the Daughters of the American Revolution. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Field were born four children: Edward Bell; May Agnes; Martha 
L. and Grace W. Edward Bell Field, Jr., is the vice president arid 
treasurer of The Mountain States Telephone & Telegraph Company and is 
also connected with various other important business enterprises. He 
married Elizabeth Field, of Virginia, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas 
Field, of Denver, and they became the parents of three children, James 
Barker, Pattie and John, all born in Denver. May Agnes and Martha L. 
Field were born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, and Grace W. in Denver. May 
A. is the widow of Ernest Fairchlld, by whom she had one son, Edward 
Bell Fairchild, and Grace W. Field is now Mrs. John R. Marvin. Mrs. 
Mary A. Field passed away on March 11, 1915, and on September 25, 1917, 
Mr. Field married Miss Anna J. Henry of Denver.

	Mr. Field gives his political endorsement to the republican party 
and for two years he served as treasurer of the Denver Chamber of 
Commerce and for two years was a trustee of Denver University under 
Governor Buchtel, being called to that office in 1907. He is president 
of the Denver Philharmonic Association, is a member of the Chamber of 
Commerce of the United States, of the American Academy of Political and 
Social Science, the Archaeological Institute of America and the 
American Economic Association. In Masonry he has taken the degrees of 
the Knight Templar commandery and the Mystic Shrine. He belongs to the 
Denver Club, the Denver Country Club, the Denver Athletic Club, the 
Cactus Club of Denver and is a member of the Alta Club of Salt Lake 
City. He likewise belongs to the Mile High Club of Denver, to the Rocky 
Mountain Club and the National Arts Club of New York city and to 
various other social and scientific organizations. He has indeed made 
valuable contribution to the upbuilding of the west. His success has 
had its basis in the habit of study which he formulated in his youth. 
With the development of his interests he has solved difficult and 
complicated financial and economic problems in the control of affairs 
of great magnitude, yet the attainment of wealth has not been the end 
and aim of his life, for he has ever thoroughly understood his 
opportunities and his obligations. To make his native talents subserve 
the demands which conditions of society impose at the present time 
seems to be his life purpose, and by reason of his mature judgment and 
the clear insight which characterizes his efforts at all times, he 
stands as a splendid representative of the leading business man and 
capitalist to whom business is but one phase of life that does not 
exclude his active participation in and support of the other vital 
interests which go to make up human existence.