Montrose County CO Archives Biographies.....Gaines, Samuel A. January 28, 1859 - ? ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/co/cofiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Judy Crook jlcrook@rof.net February 20, 2006, 2:57 pm Author: Progressive Men of Western Colorado During the last twenty-one years Samuel A. Gaines has been a resident of Colorado, and for more than half of this period has lived at Olathe warmly interested in the progress and development of the town and county and doing his share of the work to promote them. He came to the state in 1883 and located in Delta county, pre-empting a claim on California mesa. But as there was no irrigation of the section at that time and the land was wholly wild and unimproved, he was obliged to carry on his farming operations elsewhere until by the united efforts of the settlers a ditch was constructed and the general cultivation and improvement of the section began more vigorously, since which time it has been diligently pushed forward and is now one of the most productive and progressive regions in this part of the state. Mr. Gaines was born in Crittendon county, Kentucky, on January 28, 1859, and is the son of Benjamin B. and M.C. (Bozier) Gaines, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of Kentucky. They moved to Missouri in 1860 and the father took up a homestead in Wright county. The family lived on this land until 1864, when they moved to Arkansas where the father bought another tract on which he lived until his death in 1874. The mother now makes her home with her son Samuel at Olathe. He grew to the age of twenty on the paternal homestead, aiding in its labors and attending the district schools in the neighborhood in the winter months. In 1879 he took charge of his mother’s farm and managed it two years. He then bought a place for himself in Arkansas and farmed it two years. In the fall of 1883 he came to Colorado and located in Delta county, taking up his residence on a ranch in the bottom land along the river two miles from Delta. At the same time he pre-empted his claim on the California mesa, but, as has been stated, there was no irrigation in the region and he continued to farm elsewhere until that was provided for. He built a dwelling and other buildings on his land in 1884, but did not go there to live until after the completion of the ditch which supplies it with water in 1886. In 1888 he sold this ranch and bought another in the bottom along the river on which he lived until 1892. In October of that year he sold out and moved to Olathe where he has since resided. He has taken an active part in the affairs of the town and county, and is now road overseer, a position to which he was elected in the fall of 1902. Since moving to this county he has been engaged principally in prospecting and mining with varying success. But he is a substantial citizen and well-to-do. On January 30, 1879, he was married to Miss Harriet E. McCoy, who was born in Arkansas on December 14, 1859. She is the daughter of James A. and Emeline (Sothard) McCoy, natives of Tennessee and now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Gaines have four children, Zetta E., Paris A., Ethel C. and Lella A., all living at home. Mr. Gaines’s father served three years in the Civil war on the Confederate side, in the command of Capt. John Puryer, of Missouri, and Mr. Gaines himself has served as constable in both Delta and Montrose counties. He belongs to the Odd Fellows, is a member of the Christian church and supports the Democratic party in politics. He also holds a commission from the Rocky Mountain Detective Association, and he has rendered efficient service under this commission. Additional Comments: From Progressive Men of Western Colorado. Chicago: A.W. Bowen & Co., 1905 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/montrose/bios/gaines154gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/cofiles/ File size: 4.1 Kb