Denver-Jefferson County CO Archives Biographies.....Rockwell, Lewis C. January 10, 1897 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/co/cofiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Melba Deuprey noodlestheclown@comcast.net December 11, 2006, 1:11 pm Portrait and Biographical Record of the State of Colorado Chapman Publishing Chicago 1899 Hon. Lewis C. Rockwell. In the list of prominent attorneys of Colorado who wielded powerful influence both in territorial and state history mention belongs to the name of L.C. Rockwell, formerly a successful and able lawyer of Central City and Denver, but now deceased. From the time of his settlement in Colorado until his death, thirty-four years later, he was especially prominent in mining suits, and was retained as attorney in many cases where vast amounts were involved. It is said that at the time of his death he had the distinction of having tried more mining cases, settling more intricate mining questions, and reported in the reports of the territory and state of Colorado, than any other attorney or firm of lawyers at the bar. The boyhood days of Mr. Rockwell were passed in Schoharie County, N.Y., where he was born in 1840. He was fifteen years of age when the family settled in Beloit, Wis. He studied law in the Chicago Law School and was admitted to the bar. Upon coming to Colorado in 1862, he became connected with his brother, W. S. Rockwell, in Central City, and when, two years later, his brother returned to Wisconsin, he succeeded to the law business, remaining in Central City until 1882. Meantime his practice grew to such an extent that his removal to Denver was rendered necessary. On going to that city he opened an office in the Tabor block, where he continued his practice until his death, in 1897. For many years his home was on Grant Avenue, that city. Through the practice of his profession, which brought him large fees, and through his investments in mines and real estate, he accumulated property valued at $150,000, among his holdings being twelve hundred acres of land and valuable water rights on the Little Thompson, in Weld and Larimer Counties, including some of the most extensive and valuable water rights of Colorado. At the time of death his oldest son, Harvey E., was a law student in his office. Active in public and political affairs, Mr. Rockwell was frequently chosen to represent the people in positions where breadth of knowledge and sagacity of judgment were imperative qualifications. He was a member of the constitutional convention that convened in July, 1876, at the time Colorado was admitted into the union of states; and served in the first state senate, and did much toward laying the foundations of the new state upon a firm and stable foundation. Many new constitutional provisions then engrafted into the Colorado constitution by these vigorous western minds have served other young and growing states well in later years. This constitution stands as a lasting monument to the memory of every man who had the fortune to be a member of that illustrious body, of which Mr. Rockwell was a leading mind, and a member of its celebrated judiciary committee. He left a wife and family, Mrs. Lulu Alvord Rockwell and seven children, five of whom were boys and two girls, all inheriting his vigorous constitution and intellect. Mr. Rockwell met a violent death from a kick over the heart by a young horse, from which he died at the end of a week, at the age of fifty-seven – in the vigor of his life and prime of his usefulness in the world of activity; mourned by friends and all who had the pleasure to have know him and share his generosity and many deeds of kindness. Additional Comments: Colorado U.S. Attorney and Colorado Attorney General 1870-1873 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/denver/bios/rockwell_lewis_1897.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/cofiles/ File size: 4.1 Kb