Larimer County, History of Colorado, BIOS: WATROUS, Ansel (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 August 27, 1999 *********************************************************************** "History of Colorado", edited by Wilbur Fisk Stone, published by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. (1918) Vol. II p. 27-28 ANSEL WATROUS. Ansel Watrous, editor of the Fort Collins Express, of which the McCormick Brothers are proprietors, was born in Conklin, Broome county, New York, November 1, 1835, a son of Orrin J. and Jane E. (Smith) Watrous. The father was the eldest son of Ansel and Demis (Luce) Watrous and was born June 18, 1815, in Schoharle county, New York. He was but five years of age when his parents removed to Bridge-water, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, where he was partially educated, completing his studies, however, in Montrose Academy. When seventeen years of age he was apprenticed to the printer's trade in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, there gaining a good practical working knowledge of the business. On the 16th of July, 1834, he married Jane Smith, who was born September 15, 1814. in the town of Franklin. Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Roswell Smith, who was a native of Hartford, Connecticut, and a descendant of one of the old colonial families. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Orrin J. Watrous, Ansel, Henry 0., Jerome A., Demis L., Eliza J. and Kate M. In 1S44 the father removed with his family from the Empire state to Wisconsin, arriving at Sheboygan Falls on the 16th of September. There he resided until 1848, when he removed to Brothertown, Calumet county, Wisconsin, where he conducted a hotel and stage station for a year. In 1849 be took up his abode in Charlestown, Wisconsin, and began the erection of a sawmill on the Manitowoc river. While on a trip to Sheboygan, thirty miles distant, to get a load of mill machinery he was stricken with cholera and passed away on the 10th of September, 1850. His family afterward returned to Broome county, New York. It was after this that Ansel Watrous whose name introduces this review was apprenticed to his father's cousin in Brooklyn, Pennsylvania, to learn the carpenter's trade. He remained in the east until 1855, when he returned to his former home in Wisconsin. Feeling the need of a companion and helpmate on life's journey, he was married December 25, 1856, to Miss Florelle Thompson, who was born July 27, 1831, in Stockton, New York, a daughter of Rufus and Susan (Schofield) Thompson. In November, 1860. Mr. Watrous was elected sheriff of Calumet county, Wisconsin, on the same ticket that was headed by the name of Abraham Lincoln, candidate for the presidency. Mr. Watrous was elected and occupied the office for two years. In the fall of 1863 he was again chosen by popular suffrage to a position of public trust, being elected county clerk to fill a vacancy. He made so excellent a record that in 1864 he was reelected for a full term and served for three years in that office. On his retirement from the position he took up contracting and building, in which he engaged until December 26, 1877, when he started for Colorado, arriving at Fort Collins on the 30th of that month. There he was employed as a salesman in the store of W. C. Stovers until June. 1878, when in company with Elmer E. Pelton, he founded the Fort Collins Courier. He remained as its editor for some time and retained his interest in the paper until February, 1916, when he became editor of the Fort Collins Morning Express, the oldest paper in Larimer county, which position he still fills, and is one of the well known representatives of the newspaper fraternity of the state. On various occasions Mr. Watrous has been called upon for public office. In 1885 President Cleveland appointed him postmaster of Fort Collins and he occupied the position until June, 1889. He was twice an unsuccessful candidate on the democratic ticket for the position of auditor of state, being made the candidate for the office in 1882 and again in 1884, but on both occasions went down to defeat with the entire party ticket. There are few men better informed concerning the history of his section of the state and in large measure of Colorado and he is the author of a work entitled, "History of Larimer County." He has ever been deeply interested in all that pertains to the welfare and progress of community and commonwealth and has supported all measures and interests which are a matter of civic virtue and of civic pride. Fraternally he is well known as a Mason, holding membership in lodge, chapter and commandery, while his life has been a thorough exemplification of the splendid teachings of the craft, which are based upon a recognition of the brotherhood of mankind and the obligations thereby imposed.