Montrose County CO Archives Biographies.....Pelton, John E. 1857 - ?
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Judy Crook jlcrook@rof.net March 26, 2006, 8:59 am

Author: Progressive Men of Western Colorado

     John E. Pelton, of Montrose, receiver of the United States land office at

that point, was born at Folsom, Ohio, in 1857, and is the son of Benjamin H. and

Mary Dorothy (Harbar) Pelton, the former a native of that state and the latter

of Pennsylvania.  The father was successfully engaged in farming in Ohio until

the beginning of the Civil war when he enlisted in Company A, Eighth Ohio

Infantry.  He was soon at the front with his regiment and laid his life on the

altar of his country in a skirmish at Cumberland Gap, Virginia, while the

opposing armies were playing for the possession of that important base of

operations in the great campaigns which were then impending.  The mother moved

with her parents in her girlhood from Pennsylvania to Ohio and was there married

after reaching years of maturity.  After the close of the war she removed her

family to Colorado and in 1897 she died at Salida, this state, at the age of

sixty-eight.  She was the mother of seven children, John being the sixth.  He

remained at home to the age of fifteen and in 1872 came west alone, and locating

at Central City or Blackhawk, in what is now Gilpin county, began following the

almost universal occupation of that section, prospecting and mining.  In 1881 he

discovered and located a valuable mine which he named the Leo, after his oldest

daughter, Leonora.  Two years later he left this section of the state and took

up his residence at Cripple Creek, remaining there and continuing his mining

operations until the Alaska excitement broke out, when he went to that far

northern country and remained until 1893.  Then returning to Colorado, he

settled on a ranch two and a half miles west of Montrose and devoted his

attentions to the production of high grade cattle and fine fruit.  For two years

he also had a warehouse at Montrose and was deeply interested in the improvement

of that portion of the state, being the first man to agitate the Gunnison

irrigation project which has resulted in so much benefit to this section.  He

has made his ranch one of the best and most valuable in its neighborhood by

industry and skill in its cultivation and excellent judgment in its improvement,

adding to its attractions, in addition to the necessary features which subserve

the utilities, many that please the eye and contribute to the enjoyment of his

family and his numerous friends.  One of these is a lake of good size which he

has stocked with Eastern brook trout, his move was an experiment of doubtful

success, but it has succeeded in a way that realizes his most ardent hopes

concerning it, and has become so popular and interesting to the community that

his place has been named in consequence “Pelton Lake Farm.”  In politics Mr.

Pelton has been through life an active Republican, always devoted to the

interests of his party and doing his part of the work necessary to the success

of its cause.  On February 15, 1901, he was appointed receiver of the United

States land office at Montrose and has since been engaged in the performance of

his official duties.  He is a zealous member of the Ancient Order of United

Workmen and of the Woodmen of the World.  On February 28, 1881, he was married

to Miss Katie Anderson, a native of Sweden and sister of Eric Anderson, of near

Montrose, a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this work.  They have four

children, Leonora S., an accomplished musician, carefully trained at one of the

leading conservatories; Edna D., engaged in teaching school; George S., and

Herbert E., a recent graduate of the Montrose high school. 

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

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/montrose/bios/pelton471gbs.txt

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