Grace, Gustaveus; 1905 Bio, Eagle County, Colorado http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/eagle/bios/graceg.txt --------------------------------------- Donated May 2001 Transcribed by Judy Crook from the book: Progressive Men of Western Colorado Published 1905, A.W. Bowen & Co., Chicago, Ill. --------------------------------------- Gustaveus Grace Orphaned at the age of eleven years by the death of his father, who enlisted in the Union army for the Civil war and was never seen again, Gustaveus Grace, now one of the successful and progressive ranch men of Eagle county, has had a struggle in life from his boyhood, and what he has is the result of his own energy, capacity and thrift. He was born at Hinesburg, Chittenden county, Vermont, on July 16, 1854, the son of Harrison B. and Miranda (Mosier) Grace, the former a native of Bangor, Maine, and the latter of Hinesburg, Vermont. In 1850 the family moved to the state of New York, and at the beginning of the Civil war the father joined the volunteers in defense of the Union, and, as has been stated, that was the last ever seen of him by his family. There were four children in the family, of whom three are living, Gustaveus, Benjamin D., of Courtney at Bonner's Ferry, Idaho, and Lorenzo F., of Glenwood Springs. Their mother died on July 30, 1902. Gustaveus, the oldest of the living children, received a very limited common-school education, the absence of his father making it necessary to aid in supporting the family at an early age, and he remained at home in this laudable work until he reached the age of twenty-one. Then he started out to farm for himself and later turned his attention to saw-mill work, his wages being very small. In 1876 he came to Colorado, reaching Denver on April 8th, en route to Hamilton, now called Como. From there he moved on to Breckenridge and then to a mining camp known as Park City, where he devoted six months to mining for wages. He then made a short visit to his old home in New York, and on his return to this state, after a short stay of six weeks at Breckenridge, took up his residence at Lincoln gulch, where he worked in the mines until September 15, 1877, for a compensation of three dollars a day. On the date last mentioned he moved to Leadville, and there he wrought in the smelters until 1881, when he returned to Breckenridge, and there and at Holy Cross passed six months, after which he went back to Leadville. For some time then he teamed and freighted between that town and Aspen and Glenwood, he and his brother, L.F. Grace, being the first to move groceries into Glenwood. This was in 1882, and they continued their joint operations two years, at the end of which he sold his interests in the enterprise to his brother. In February, 1885, he settled on the ranch which is now his home, taking up one hundred and sixty acres as a pre-emption claim. Of the tract he has ninety acres in hay, grain, vegetables and fruit. He is a firm supporter of the Republican party, and a valued member of the Woodmen of the World. On October 5, 1882, he was married to Miss Minerva Case, a native of Plattsville, Wisconsin, the daughter of Austin and Elizabeth A. (Wright) Case, the former born in Connecticut and the latter in New York. They moved to Wisconsin as young people, and in 1880 came to Colorado. The father was engaged many years in burning lime and railroad grading under contract, but for some time has lived retired from active pursuits. He is a Democrat in politics and a Freemason in fraternal circles. He is now living near Watson with his daughter, Mrs. William Dobson, his wife having died on December 13, 1887. Of their eight children Lafayette was killed in the Civil war and Mary died in Wisconsin. The six living are: Almeda, wife of Edward Gilkey, of Spokane, Washington; Minerva, Mrs. Gustaveus Grace; Charles, of near Snow Mass; Truman, of Gunnison; Gilbert, of Aspen; and Georgia, wife of William Dobson, of Watson. Mr. and Mrs. Grace have six children, Claude M., Mabel E., Georgia G., Nina, Gerald and Austin. The parents attend the Methodist church and take an active interest in the development and improvement of the community in which they live, in which they are highly esteemed and have a host of admiring friends. =================================================== Contributed for use by the USGenWeb Archive Project (http://www.usgenweb.org) and by the COGenWeb Archive Project 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.