Montezuma County CO Archives Biographies.....Scharnhorst, Charles J.  January 5, 1842 - ?
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Judy Crook jlcrook@rof.net February 25, 2006, 11:06 am

Author: Progressive Men of Western Colorado

     In every walk of American life the German race has been conspicuous and

serviceable.  Its representatives have helped to lead our armies in battle, they

have thrilled attentive thousands with their eloquence on the hustings, they

have adorned our highest forums with their statesmen, illuminated our technical

schools with their learning, quickened and enlarged our business currents with

their ingenuity and enterprise, put in motion mighty energies of industrial

progress, adorned our tribunals with their exalted character, judicial

acquirements and breadth of view, and dignified our citizenship with all the

elements of its best development.  To this race Hon. Charles J. Scharnhorst, of

Cortez, the county judge of Montezuma county, belongs, and in his career among

our people he has exemplified many of its most admirable traits.  He was born in

Hanover, Germany, on January 5, 1842, and is the son of Carl L. and Louise

(Prinzhorn) Scharnhorst.  His family had been distinguished in the fatherland,

one of his great-grand-uncles, the great General David Scharnhorst, having

earned by his service to his country in war and peace such public regard that

his statue adorns one of the public squares of Berlin.  Judge Scharnhorst

himself was a gallant soldier in the army of his native land and was awarded a

bronze medal for conspicuous bravery on the field of battle, which he still

wears.  He was reared in his native country and there, after receiving a good

education in the state schools, learned his trade as a shoemaker.  On October

12, 1866, when he was nearly twenty-five years old, and approaching the full

maturity of his powers, he landed in the city of New York,  having determined to

make his home and seek his fortune in this country.  A short time after his

arrival on the shores of the United States he proceeded to Fort Wayne, Indiana,

and in March, 1867, to St. Louis, Missouri.  He remained there one year, then

moved to Kansas City, where, in March, 1869, he was made captain of a squad of

men who marched afoot across the plains to Denver, this state, to aid in the

settlement and development of the farther west.  After spending a few months at

Denver he located at Georgetown, where he wrought at his trade two years.  He

then returned to Denver and there engaged in mercantile business for a year. 

From the end of that year until 1881 he was in business first at Del Norte and

later at Leadville, his family meantime living in Denver.  In 1882 he came to

Montezuma county and located land, then went to Durango and during the next

three years worked at his trade at that place.  In 1885 he located at Dolores

and for a year thereafter was engaged in general merchandising.  He then settled

in the Montezuma valley and took up a homestead and a pre-emption claim which

constitute the farm which he now owns and which comprises two hundred and forty

acres of good land.  On this he planted an orchard which has grown thrifty and

fruitful, and built up an extensive and profitable stock industry, having now a

large herd of well bred cattle.  Taking an active and intelligent interest in

public affairs, he served four and one-half years as postmaster at Cortez, and

in 1898 was elected county judge, havinf [sic] previously prepared himself for

the position by private study of the law as a profession.  He was re-elected in

1901, and again in 1904, and is now serving his third term.  In the discharge of

his official duties he has given general satisfaction and won high commendation

for fairness, legal learning and earnest devotion to the best interests of the

county and its people.  In 1872 the Judge was united in marriage with Miss

Wilhelmina Schultz, like himself a native of Germany, the marriage taking place

at Denver, and of this union four children were born namely:  Augusta, who is

now postmistress at Dolores; Carl, Louise and Minnie.  The Judge, having been a

widower for some years, was, in the spring of 1905, again united in marriage, at

Durango, Colorado, with Miss Marie Sturm, of Denver, Colorado, a native of

Baden, Germany.  Having been active and serviceable in the early history of this

section, the Judge has an earnest interest in all that pertains thereto, and is

a zealous and valued member of the San Juan Pioneer Association.  He is one of

the substantial, prominent and influential citizens of the county whom all

classes respect, and whom the people delight to honor.    

Additional Comments:
From Progressive Men of Western Colorado.  Chicago:  A.W. Bowen & Co., 1905

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