Sterner, John D.; b. 1854, 1905 Bio, Pitkin County, Colorado http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/pitkin/bios/sternerjd.txt --------------------------------------- Donated August 2001 Transcribed by Judy Crook from the book: Progressive Men of Western Colorado Published 1905, A.W. Bowen & Co., Chicago, Ill. --------------------------------------- John D. Sterner Beginning life for himself at the age of ten by working hard as a common laborer in the copper mines of Michigan, yet performing his daily duties with fidelity and skill, John D. Sterner, of Aspen, this state, learned early the lessons of self-reliance and the use of all his faculties in promoting his own interests, lessons which have been of great value to him in all of his subsequent career. He was born on November 9, 1854, in Keweenaw county, Michigan, where his parents, John and Barbara (Ennis) Sterner, natives of Germany, settled soon after their marriage. The father was a skilled mechanic and helped to build the International Canal at Sault Ste. Marie. The family lived four years in Wisconsin, and the rest of the time the parents were residents of Michigan until their deaths, that of the father occurring on July 5, 1880, and that of the mother in 1890. The former was a Catholic in religion and a Democrat in politics. Annie, one of their seven children, is deceased. The other six are living, John D.; Lizzie, wife of Anthony Watzling, of California; Mary, wife of Charles Paul, of Aspen, Colorado; Anthony and Annie, living in Routt county, this state; and Frances, wife of Thomas Garlan, of Aspen. The oldest of these, John D., attended the public schools of Michigan until he was ten years old, then went to work in the copper mines as a common laborer, remaining there and so employed until he was seventeen. He then became foreman of the mine in which he was working, and continued in the position six years. In 1877 he came to Colorado and located at Georgetown, where he mined for wages three years. In 1880 he moved to Breckenridge, and there conducted a hotel and saloon during the next five years, but met with very little success in the business. On February 10, 1885, he arrived at Aspen, and in that region he followed mining until 1890, when he purchased his present ranch, or a portion of it, increasing it by later purchases to three hundred and sixty acres. On this he raises hay and cattle extensively, and some grain and horses. He also conducts the largest dairy in the county, and in all his undertakings he is very progressive and enterprising. He has a good citizen's interest in the welfare of the community, but in politics he is independent of party control. On April 15, 1901, he untied in marriage with Mrs. Florence (Lockwood) Corbett, a native of Jewell county, Kansas, and daughter of Henry and Sarah Lockwood, the father a native of New Jersey and the mother of Ohio. The father was a prominent and successful bridge builder for many years, but is now living retired. The mother is a member of the Methodist church. They are the parents of three children, Lillian, the wife of Norman Rice, of Aspen; Mrs. Sterner; and Edna, the wife of Herman Klann, of Springfield, Missouri. Mrs. Sterner has three children by her former marriage, Flora, Mark and Fay, the last named the wife of Albert Cox, of Durango, this state. Mrs. Sterner is a Christian Scientist. Both she and her husband are much esteemed in Pitkin county, and are recognized as among its best citizens. =================================================== 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.