LUMSDEN, John J., b 1858: 1905 Bio, Mesa County, Colorado http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/mesa/bios/lumsdenjj.txt --------------------------------------- Donated September 14, 2001 Transcribed by Judy Crook from the book: Progressive Men of Western Colorado Published 1905, A.W. Bowen & Co., Chicago, Ill. --------------------------------------- John J. Lumsden The oldest, most extensive and most prominent builder and contractor at Grand Junction now and for a number of years, and having erected many of the most notable structures in the city and county, John J. Lumsden may be said to have an enduring monument in the work he has done, and to have been one of the most potential factors in the improvement of the section of Colorado in which his lot has been cast. He is a native of New York city, born on December 25, 1858, and the son of William and Ann (Lucas) Lumsden, who were born in Scotland and reared and educated there. The father was a young man when he came to this country and located in New York. He followed the sea for a number of years before coming to the United States, and soon after coming he was married in his new home. A short time afterwards he and his family moved to Canada where he engaged in farming. He died in that country in 1903, and his widow now lives in New Haven, Connecticut. Their offspring numbered four sons and two daughters, all of whom are living. John was the third child born in the family, and was reared on the Canadian farm. He attended the public schools and when he reached the age of sixteen was apprenticed to the trade of a brick and stone mason, at which he spent three years. He then worked as a journeyman one year, and in the fall of 1879 came to Colorado. After a short residence at Denver, during which he worked at his trade, he moved to Colorado Springs and became foreman for the principal contractor there. Afterward, with J.H. Ackerman, he organized the firm of Ackerman & Lumsden, which carried on contracting and building on a large scale. In 1883 they moved to Grand Junction and made that place the seat of their extensive operations. This partnership was harmoniously dissolved in 1887, and since then Mr. Lumsden has conducted the business alone. He has built a large portion of the best section of the city. When he moved there there were no business houses on Main street, only a few tents for mercantile purposes, the business of the town being nearly all on Colorado avenue. Among the large and imposing structures he has erected under contract may be mentioned the beet sugar factory, which cost one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars, all the buildings at the Indian school, the principal school buildings in the town, one built in 1903 having cost twenty-three thousand dollars, nearly all the brick business blocks, and many bridges in the county. In 1901 he raised the bridge at Debeque from its old piers, moved it nine feet and placed it on new piers, stopping travel over it while moving it only twelve hours, and making the change, when everything was ready, in one hour and three-quarters. This was all the more wonderful as an engineering feat because of the facts that the bridge is of two hundred and fifty feet span, with trusses forty feet high, and weighs one hundred and eighty tons. Mr. Lumsden has also successfully prospected, as every man in this country does at one time or another, and has done considerable dealing in real estate. He now owns a number of valuable properties in Grand Junction and the surrounding county and has mining claims of considerable worth at Leadville and in Hinsdale county. He was married on October 9, 1883, to Miss Cinderella C. Orth, who was born in Illinois near Chicago, and was reared and educated in Missouri. She was a public-school teacher at Trenton, that state, at the time of her marriage. Her father is deceased and her mother is living at Trenton. Mr. and Mrs. Lumsden have three children, Della M., Alma A. and William F. In politics the head of the house is a stanch Republican and always active in the service of his party. He served as a member of the Grand Junction city council a number of years, and in the spring of 1903 he was nominated for mayor, but was not elected, as he did not wish to be. He was in Denver during the campaign and made no effort to win, but even at that he was beaten by only eleven votes. In fraternal circles he is an active and earnest working Freemason, having taken thirty-two degrees in the Scottish rite and belonging to the Mystic Shrine. He is a past master of his lodge and for four years was eminent commander of his commandery of Knights Templar. In all the relations of life he stands well wherever he has lived, and in all the duties of good citizenship he has been faithful, zealous and serviceable. Among the builders and makers of the section of this state, which has been the principal scene of his activity, none enjoys and none deserves a higher place in the regard of the people. =================================================== 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.