Larimer County, History of Colorado, BIOS: McANELLY, JEFFERSON (published 1918)
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"History of Colorado", edited by Wilbur Fisk Stone, published by The S. J. 
Clarke Publishing Co. (1918) Vol. II


p. 462,464
photo p. 463


JUDGE JEFFERSON McANELLY.

Judge Jefferson McAnelly, attorney at law practicing at Fort 
Collins, who has won his title by service upon the county bench, was 
born in Hancock county, Ohio, November 3, 1845, a son of Moses and Mary 
(Roller) McAnelly, who were natives of Pennsylvania. The father was a 
farmer and school teacher, following the profession of teaching in 
early manhood, while later he concentrated his efforts and attention 
upon agricultural pursuits. He went to Hancock county, Ohio, in 1835 
and there taught school for a number of years. He became a prominent 
and influential resident of that state and was called upon to represent 
his district in the lower house of the general assembly for four years. 
So excellent a record did he make in that connection that he was 
elected to the state senate, in which he also served for four years. 
His business affairs were wisely and -carefully conducted. He purchased 
land which he improved and developed and throughout his remaining days 
successfully carried on genera] farming. He died in October, 1852, when 
a comparatively young man, and was long survived by his widow, who died 
in March, 1898.

Judge McAnelly was reared and educated in Hancock county, Ohio, 
and completed his public school course in a high school at Findlay, 
Ohio. Later he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware and 
subsequently became a student in the Indiana University at Bloomington, 
Indiana, where he pursued his law course and was graduated with the 
class of 1872. Prior to that time, however, he engaged in teaching 
school, following the profession in Indiana in 1868 and 1869. Three 
times he tried to enlist during the period of the Civil war but was not 
accepted on account of his youth. After he had qualified for the bar he 
located for practice in Findlay, Ohio, and entered into partnership 
with a Mr. Johnson in 1872. The following year he removed to Brazil, 
Indiana, where he practiced law for three years and in the meantime he 
was appointed assistant prosecuting attorney of the thirteenth Indiana 
circuit. Later he received appointment to the position of county 
auditor, in which capacity he served for two years. In 1881 he removed 
to Loveland, Larimer county, Colorado, where he practiced for three and 
a half years. He was then elected county judge and removed to Fort 
Collins, serving for six years on the bench. His record as a jurist was 
in harmony with his record as a man and citizen, being distinguished by 
a masterful grasp of every problem presented for solution and by the 
utmost devotion to the public welfare. His decisions have ever been 
strictly fair and impartial and his course upon the bench was one which 
reflected credit and honor upon his constituents and upon the 
profession. At his retirement from judicial service he resumed the 
private practice of law, in which he is still engaged. His connection 
with Colorado dates back to pioneer times, for while a young man he and 
others left St. Joseph, Missouri, with Halleck's wagon train in the 
year 1865 and started for the west with Fort Laramie as their 
destination. They followed what was known as the St. Joe trail to 
Marysville, where the trail merged with the Fort Leavenworth trail. 
They struck the Platte river about twenty miles east of Fort Kearney 
and arrived at old Julesburg on the 14th of July, 1865. They then went 
on to Fort Laramie, which point they reached on the 28th of July. They 
carried supplies for the soldiers. It was a dangerous trip, for Indians 
were often very hostile at that time, but the supplies were safely 
delivered and they returned to Nebraska City by the same overland 
route. Judge McAnelly made just the one trip and returned home, but it 
gave him a good picture of pioneer life and experiences in that early 
day. Throughout the greater part of 'his residence in the state he has 
successfully followed his profession and is accorded a very extensive 
clientage.

Judge McAnelly was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. Leonard in 
October, 1872, a daughter of Abner and Phoebe (McClung) Leonard, who 
were natives of Columbiana county, Ohio. Her father was a farmer and 
stock dealer of that state for many years and they became pioneer 
people of Colorado, arriving in the west at a very early day. Mr. 
Leonard represented Weld county in the first legislature that convened 
after Colorado became a state. He resided in Evans, to which place he 
removed about 1874. Finally he purchased a flour mill in Loveland, 
which he operated throughout his remaining days or until his life's 
labors were ended in death in 1899. His wife has also departed this 
life. To Judge and Mrs. McAnelly were born six children: Alice, the 
wife of Lou Stimson, a resident of Greeley; Emmet C., postmaster at 
Fort Collins, mentioned elsewhere in this work; Gertrude, who died in 
June, 1908; Nellie, who is a trained nurse in the military service of 
the United States with Base Hospital No. 29, who is now in France; 
William, an irrigation engineer who at present is superintendent of the 
Water Supply & Storage Company of Fort Collins; and Sarah E., the wife 
of Albert M. Lane, a farmer living eighteen miles north of Fort 
Collins.

Politically Judge McAnelly is a democrat and his religious faith 
is that of the Methodist Episcopal church, while fraternally he is 
connected with the lodge, chapter and commandery of the Masonic order 
and also with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is widely and 
favorably known in Fort Collins, where for so many years he has made 
his home and where his record reflects credit and honor upon his 
profession, which has always been regarded as the conservator of the 
rights, privileges and liberties of the individual.