Newman, Joseph D.; b.1857: 1905 Bio, Pitkin County, Colorado http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/pitkin/bios/newmanjd.txt --------------------------------------- Donated August 2001 Transcribed by Judy Crook from the book: Progressive Men of Western Colorado Published 1905, A.W. Bowen & Co., Chicago, Ill. --------------------------------------- Joseph D. Newman One of the leading mine superintendents of Colorado, and an acknowledged authority on all subjects connected with the industry in which he is engaged, Joseph D. Newman, of Aspen, occupies a high place in the confidence and regard of the people and has been of great service in developing the mining resources of the state. He was born in Scioto county, Ohio, on March 16, 1857, the son of David and Mary (Dever) Newman, who settled in that state in early life. The father devoted his earlier years to the hotel business, but later became and remained a farmer. He was an ardent Democrat in political faith, and served as a justice of the peace for a period of twenty years. He and his wife were members of the Methodist church. They were the parents of six children, only three of whom are living, Newton, who lives at Canton, Ohio, and is connected with the American Bridge Company; Lena, also living at Canton, Ohio; and the subject of these paragraphs. Both parents are now deceased. Joseph received only a limited common school education, beginning work as a farm hand in order to earn his own living at the age of seventeen. Afterward he served as clerk in a store at Burlington Junction, Missouri, for a time, and in the spring of 1880 came to Colorado and settled at Leadville. Here he was occupied for awhile in mining, then became connected with the Denver & Rio Grande Express Company, in whose employ he remained until 1882. The next two years were passed in Montana, Idaho and Utah in various occupations, and on his return to Colorado in 1884 he located a pre-emption claim at Debeque, near Grand Junction. He remained there two years, and in those days venison was the only meat procurable in the section. After improving this ranch he sold it at a good profit in 1900. Prior to this, however, he had come to Aspen in 1886 and purchased another one of two hundred acres in Eagle county, two miles and a half south of the town of Eagle. All the land in this ranch is naturally tillable, and on it Mr. Newman raises large crops of hay and numbers of excellent cattle. Since 1888 he has been connected with the Durant Mining Company, beginning in its employ as a miner and rising on demonstrated merit to the position of superintendent, a position he has held for twelve years and in which he has exhibited unusual capacity and intelligence. He is master of every phase of his business and an acknowledged authority on all matters involved in the mining industry. Aside from his business he enjoys the regard and confidence of the people because of his enterprise and breadth of view in promoting the welfare of the community and his engaging social qualities. In fraternal relations he is an enthusiastic member of the order of Elks. On September 28, 1883, he united in marriage with Miss Emma Odd, a native of London, England, the daughter of Charles and Margaret Odd, who were also natives of that country. On emigrating to the United States they located at Ogden, Utah, but for a number of years they lived at Salt Lake City. They were loyal members of the Mormon church, and the parents of ten children, six of whom survive them: Eliza, wife of Charles Robinson, of Blackfoot, Idaho; Alice, wife of John Mitchell, of Boise, Idaho; Ellen, wife of Alfred Williams, of Salt Lake City; Ada, living at Eureka, Utah; Charles, living near Salt Lake City; and Mrs. Newman, of Aspen, this state. The mother died on January 13, 1875, and the father is also deceased. In political matters Mr. Newman is altogether independent of party control, but he takes an active and intelligent interest in all public affairs. =================================================== 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.