Lewis, Wilbert E; 1905 Bio, Garfield County, Colorado
http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/garfield/bios/lewiswe.txt

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Donated April 2001
Transcribed by Judy Crook <jlcrook@rof.net> from the book:
Progressive Men of Western Colorado 
Published 1905, A.W. Bowen & Co., Chicago, Ill.

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Wilbert E. Lewis

     Spending the earlier years of his life in the Green mountains of 
Vermont and his later ones in the more rugged and ambitious ones of 
Colorado, and reared on a farm in the one state and now conducting one 
in the other, a casual observer would conclude that there has been but 
little change in the surroundings and pursuits of Wilbert E. Lewis, an 
enterprising and prosperous ranchman of Garfield county, located eight 
miles northeast of Carbondale.  But while there is similarity in both 
surroundings and occupation, the conditions in detail are widely 
different.  In his native state the unit of measure for landed estates 
of magnitude is small compared with that in Colorado, and the soil, 
climate and other circumstances affecting the business of farming are 
by no means the same.  Mr. Lewis was born in Rutland county, Vermont, 
on January 29, 1843.  His parents, Ethelbert and Pauline (Goodspeed) 
Lewis, were natives of Connecticut, and settled in Vermont soon after 
their marriage.  They remained in that state engaged in farming until 
death ended their useful labors, the father dying in 1885 and the 
mother in 1891.  They were loyal members of the Congregational church 
for many years, and the father was a stanch Republican from the 
foundation of that party.  Their offspring numbered four, Oscar, of 
Salt Lake City; Cornelia, a resident of Vermont, and Wilbert E. are 
living.  Another son, Jarius, died some years ago. Wilbert was educated 
in the public schools and at the Troy Conference Academy in his native 
state.  After leaving school he remained at home and worked on the farm 
in the interest of his parents until he reached the age of twenty-
three.  He then started out to make a way for himself in the world, and 
coming to Colorado, passed two years at Blackhawk and Central City, 
working in quartz mills at five dollars a day.  He then returned to 
Vermont and began manufacturing wagons, which he continued nine years 
with success and profit.  Disposing of his interests in this enterprise 
in 1880, he came back to Colorado and settled at Leadville.  Here he 
started a hay and grain business which he conducted a year and a half 
with gratifying prosperity, then sold out at a good profit.  On July 
28, 1882, he moved to his present location and took up a pre-emption 
claim, to which he has since added land and he has also disposed of 
some.  He now owns two hundred acres, of which he has fifty acres under 
good cultivation.  The water right to the land is of good proportions 
and the yield from the tillage is abundant in quality [sic] and 
excellent in quality.  Hay, grain, potatoes and hardy vegetables are 
raised and a flourishing cattle industry is carried on.  Mr. Lewis is a 
Republican in politics, of pronounced convictions and earnest activity 
in the service of his party.  He was married on February 6, 1886, to 
Miss Anna Ellis, a native of Iowa county, Wisconsin, the daughter of 
Joseph and Mary (Davis) Ellis, the father born in New York state and 
the mother in Wales.  They settled in Wisconsin in early life, and were 
successful in farming and trading.  The father was a strong Democrat in 
political affiliations.  They had four children, of whom Mrs. Lewis is 
the only survivor.  The father died in 1860 and the mother in 1901.  
Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have two children, their daughter Pauline M. and 
their son Oscar W.  The parents stand well in social circles and the 
general estimation of their community; and they are well pleased with 
the section and state in which they have cast their lot.

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