Denver, History of Colorado, BIOS: KILLEN, DAVID LEWIS (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 January 25, 2000 *********************************************************************** "History of Colorado", edited by Wilbur Fisk Stone, published by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. (1918) Vol. II p. 440, 442 DAVID LEWIS KILLEN. David Lewis Klllen, a mine operator and underwriter who is the senior partner in the Killen-Reinert Company of Denver, has spent much of his life In the west, although he comes to Colorado from the Atlantic seaboard. He was born in Armagh, Pennsylvania, April 23, 1870, a son of William D. Killen, a native of the Keystone state, where his ancestors settled at an early period in its development. He is of Scotch-Irish lineage, the family having been founded in America by John Killen, who crossed the Atlantic during the middle of the eighteenth century and cast in his lot with the frontiersmen of Pennsylvania. At the time the country became involved in war with England he joined the American forces and aided in winning independence for the nation. William D. Killen, father of David L. Killen, was a structural engineer and a man of high rank in his profession. He put the first tunnel under Lake Michigan for furnishing the water supply of Chicago and was otherwise identified with large and important projects of that character. It was during the '50s that he removed from Pennsylvania to Chicago but afterward returned to the Keystone state, where he lived until 1877, when he removed to Nebraska, taking up his abode in Gage county in the spring of that year. He cast in his lot with its pioneer settlers and concentrated his efforts upon agricultural pursuits, taking up outdoor life largely for the benefit of his health. He died in January, 1878, at the age of forty-two years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Nancy Jane McFarland, was also a native of Pennsylvania and belonged to one of its old pioneer families of Scotch lineage, the family having been founded in the new world by Wallace McFarland, who settled on this side of the water about 1740. Among his descendants were those who participated in the Revolutionary war. Mrs. Klllen, the mother of D. L. Killen, died in Nebraska in 1912, at the age of seventy-four years. By her marriage she had become the mother of nine children, seven sons and two daughters. David Lewis Killen was the seventh child and fifth son in that family. He was very young when his parents removed to the west and his early education was acquired in the country schools of Nebraska, while later he attended the University of Nebraska and won his degree of B. S. and LL. B. upon graduation with the class of 1897. Both prior and subsequent to his graduation he taught school in Nebraska and also at Julesburg, Colorado, and it was through teaching that he earned the money that enabled him to meet the expenses of his university course. In the fall of 1899 he was married and with his wife removed to Spokane, Washington, where he entered upon the practice of law, in which he continued successfully for three years. He next turned his attention to the lumber, mining and banking business, with headquarters in Spokane. At a later period he removed to Chicago, Illinois, and became president of the Killen-Warner-Stewart Company, dealers in stocks and bonds, and they extended their efforts by the establishment of offices in the principal cities of the country. Mr. Killen remained active in that field of labor for ten years and won a very substantial measure of success in the conduct of the business but sold his interests in 1917 and returned to Colorado, settling In Denver. In June, 1917, he established his present business, organizing the Killen- Reinert Company, and has since been continuously and actively engaged in the development of oil fields and mining interests of the state. The company are pioneers in this line of business activity and their interests are being successfully promoted. Both are men of sound judgment and keen sagacity in business affairs and they have already won a notable clientage. On the 24th of October, 1899, Mr. Killen was united in marriage in Julesburg, Colorado, to Miss Nora L. Kinsman, a native of Iowa and a daughter of George E. and Anna (Dennis) Kinsman, who were early settlers of Colorado. Mr. and Mrs. Killen have become parents of four children: Donald L., who was born in Spokane, March 14, 1901; Dorothy L., born In Spokane, August 15, 1902; and Beatrice and Barbara, twins, born in Chicago, Illinois, December 10, 1907. Mr. Killen is an advocate of democratic principles and fraternally he is connected with the Masons having taken the degrees of Knight Templar, the Scottish Rite and the Mystic Shrine. His masonic affiliations are with Covenant Lodge, A. F. & A. M., Chicago; Chapter and Commandery at North Platte, Nebraska; and the Consistory and the Shrine at Portland, Oregon. A notably successful career is that of Mr. Killen, who made his initial step in the business world with little capital. He has ever been actuated by a laudable ambition and opportunity has always been to him a call to action-a call to which he has made ready response. He is alert to every chance for legitimate advancement and is ready to meet any emergency with a conscious strength that comes from a right conception of things and an habitual regard for what is best in the exercise of human activities.