Denver, History of Colorado, BIOS: WYATT, John V. E. (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 November 6, 1999 *********************************************************************** "History of Colorado", edited by Wilbur Fisk Stone, published by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. (1918) Vol. II p. 366-367 JOHN V. E. WYATT. John V. E. Wyatt is numbered among those who have been active in the development of oil properties in Texas and in Wyoming, and he has his headquarters in the Colorado building in Denver, in which city he has made his home since 1911. For a number of years previous he had resided on this side of the border, although he is a native of Canada, his birth having occurred in Russeldale, Ontario, on the 13th of April, 1861, his parents being William and Betsy Vanstone Wyatt. The father, a native of England, settled in Canada about 1850 and was engaged in fine stone engraving work and in the making of statues. He was very widely known as a skilled artisan. In 1864 he returned to Plymouth, England, where he continued his residence to the time of his death, which occurred in 1884, when he had reached the age of sixty-five years. His wife was born in that country, in which they were married, and she accompanied her husband on his re-emigration and passed away in 1864. She had become the mother of six children. three sons and three daughters. John V. E. Wyatt, who was the fifth in order of birth, was educated in the public schools of Russeldale, Canada, and at the age of nineteen years started out in the business world to provide for his own support. He was apprenticed to a carpenter and afterward worked at the trade as a journeyman for three years. He then entered the contracting and building business on his own account. On leaving home at the age of nineteen he settled at Carberry, Manitoba, Canada, where he took up his first business venture as a contractor and builder. He was identified with building lines in Manitoba until 1884, when the Riel Indian rebellion broke out. He volunteered his service to the Canadian government, enlisting in the Northwest Mounted Police, and served for one year, during which time the rebellion was suppressed. He afterward crossed the border into the United States, settling at Crookston, Minnesota, in the spring of 1886. There he entered the undertaking business, in which he continued very successfully until 1900, when he sold his interests and took up his abode in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was there engaged in the casualty insurance business with the Federal Casualty Company of Detroit, Michigan, and continued active in that field for two years in Minneapolis. He was afterward advanced to the position of special executive and traveling auditor, covering a territory of thirty-six states. He continued to serve in that connection until September, 1911, when he came to Denver and was made state manager for the company in Colorado. His record was an excellent one and he continued to serve until April 2, 1917, when he established, financed and incorporated the Wyatt Texas & Wyoming Oil Company. This company now has extensive holdings in the oil fields of the Sourlake dístrict of Texas and in that state at the present time has seventeen wells and thirteen others in course of development. The wells are all paying investments and the proposition is one which yields excellent dividends. Mr. Wyatt is the president and general manager of the Wyatt Power Company at Sourlake, in which connection a plant has been established to furnish power for the development of oil wells. The firm also finances and purchases proven properties and deals only in proven fields, establishing and conducting its business upon a most legitimate basis. The business is steadily growing and already the Wyatt Texas & Wyoming 0il Company has become an important factor in oil development projects of the west. Mr. Wyatt was married in Edwards county, Illinois, on the 3d of December, 1902, to Miss Edith Mae Dribblebiss, a native of Minnesota and a daughter of David and Elizabeth (Wilson) Dribblebiss, representatives of an old family of St. Charles, Minnesota, and now residents of Albion, IIlinois. Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt have become parents of two children but one died in infancy. The surviving son is J. Winston, who was born in Detroit, Michigan, August 4, 1910. Mr. Wyatt is a republican in his political views. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, having been made a Mason in Crookston Lodge, No. 141, A. F. & A. M., in 1890. He also became a member of Golden Link Lodge, No. 517, I. O. O. F., in Chicago, and in the former organization he has served as senior deacon, while in the Odd Fellows he has filled all of the offices and has taken all of the degrees up to the highest. He was financial secretary, was afterward elected vice grand and in 1891 became noble grand. He received the grand lodge degree at Duluth, June 7, 1892, was appointed grand marshal in June, 1898, and grand conductor in June, 1901. He belongs to the Denver Civic and Commercial Association, while his religious faith is that of the Christian Science church. From early boyhood he has displayed the strength of character which has brought him to his present position as a business man and as a citizen. He started out a poor boy with limited educational opportunities and no financial aid after leaving home. He completed his studies in a night school after working hard at his trade through the day, and the ambition which he thus displayed has brought him to a point of success that is most gratifying and commendable. Besides owning much of the stock of the Wyatt Texas & Wyoming Oil Company he owns a fine residence at No. 1041 Garfield street. He turns to rifle shooting and theatrical entertainments for diversion but rather prefers to spend his leisure at his home in the companionship of his wife and son.