Gerbaz, Jerry; b.1864: Bio, Pitkin County, Colorado http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/pitkin/bios/gerbazj.txt --------------------------------------- Donated August 2001 Transcribed by Judy Crook from the book: Progressive Men of Western Colorado Published 1905, A.W. Bowen & Co., Chicago, Ill. --------------------------------------- Jerry Gerbaz Born in sunny Italy on September 20, 1864, Jerry Gerbaz is far from the scenes and associations of his nativity; and reared to habits of industry and thrift on his father's farm, he came to Colorado well prepared for the life of peaceful labor and prosperity he has here found in the same line of active effort. His parents, Clement and Felicity (Letey) Gerbaz, were also Italians by birth, and both belonged to families long resident in that historic country. They were prosperous farmers and had a family of twelve children, five of whom they reared to maturity, and all are living. They are Clement, Oyen, Jerry, Victorine and Felicity. Jerry received a slender education in the common schools of his native land, and at the age of fifteen took his place regularly as a hand on his father's farm. He remained home until he was nearly twenty-eight, then, hearkening to the voice of America pleading for volunteers to come and help conquer her wilderness and make it fragrant with the bloom and fruitful with the products of cultivated life, he came to this country in 1892. Locating at Detroit, he wrought diligently in a glass factory for a period of four years in order to get a sum of ready money wherewith to put into effect his cherished design of becoming a ranchman and stock-breeder in the farther west. In 1896 he came to Colorado for this purpose, and purchasing the excellent ranch of three hundred and forty acres in the neighborhood of Watson, Pitkin county, he began at once to devote himself to the practical realization of his hopes. He has improved his ranch with substantial and comfortable buildings, equipped it with all the necessary appliances for its proper management, and brought a body of one hundred and fifty acres of it to an advanced state of cultivation, producing on it a goodly quantity of grain and large results in hay and cattle, also some horses. Earnestly devoted to the welfare and lasting good of his adopted land, he is zealous and energetic in his support of all commendable enterprises for the benefit of his county and section, and performs all the duties of good citizenship with fidelity and manliness. In political action he favors the Democratic party, and in religious affiliation he and his wife belong to the Catholic church. On March 24, 1892, he was united in marriage with Miss Cecilia Cuaz, a native of the same country as himself, and daughter of Baptist and Felicity (Net) Cuaz, also native there, where the father is profitably engaged in farming. They were the parents of eleven children, ten of whom are living, Peter, Alexander, Jerry, Anthony, Victorine, Ciserine, Lottie, Mary and Cecilia. Mr. and Mrs. Gerbaz have had five children. One son named Oman died in 1903. The four who are living are Auzel, Esther, Alice and Orist. Mr. Gerbaz is one of the most progressive and successful ranchmen in the portion of the county in which he lives, and one of its most respected and useful citizens. The mother of Mrs. Gerbaz died on June 11, 1903, and was mourned by a large circle of admiring and devoted friends. =================================================== 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.