ELLISON, Albert C., b. 1857: 1905 Bio, Rio Blanco County, Colorado http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/rioblanco/bios/ellisonac.txt --------------------------------------- Donated September 7, 2001 Transcribed by Judy Crook from the book: Progressive Men of Western Colorado Published 1905, A.W. Bowen & Co., Chicago, Ill. --------------------------------------- Albert C. Ellison [includes photograph] After years of arduous labor in various lines of activity, and suffering many hardships and disasters, having more than the usual run of ups and downs in life, yet meeting every condition with fortitude and rising from every reverse with renewed vitality, this popular and influential ranchman who has high standing among the people of Rio Blanco county, is well established as manager of the extensive and productive stock ranch of B.M. Vaughan, of New York city, which comprises nine hundred and sixty acres and is beautifully located on Elk creek, twenty miles northeast of Meeker, and is well supplied with water from the creek which belongs to it. It is one of the choice places in that part of the state, highly improved with excellent ranch buildings, including a lodge of fine proportions commanding a beautiful and inspiring outlook over the surrounding country, and is equipped with every appliance for the most successful management of its affairs. It is one of the few places yet left in the section which has a fine herd of elk among its stock, in addition to the large herds of well bred Hereford cattle and fancy imported horses, which are the admiration of the whole region. It is also well stocked with choice breeds of poultry and the other animal life to be expected on a breeding farm, and all its elements of interest are not only of the best, but are looked after with the utmost care and skillful attention. Of the large tract of land which it includes three hundred acres are under cultivation for its uses, and the products are as various and their quality is as high as circumstances will permit. Mr. Ellison was born on May 17, 1857, in Waupaca county, Wisconsin, and is the son of Isaac and Elizabeth Ellison, natives of Norway, who emigrated to this country when young and were among the first settlers in the part of Wisconsin where they lived. The father was a farmer, butcher and hotel-keeper, and was successful in each walk of usefulness. He was a Republican in politics and a man of influence in the councils of his party. Both parents died in 1869. They had five children. One son named Jack is deceased, and Elias, John, Carrie and Albert C. are living. Albert received a common-school education and assisted his parents on the farm until he reached the age of eighteen. Then, in 1875, he came to Colorado and located at Boulder, then a small village. Having no money left, he went to work in the mines in Four-Mile gulch. Six months later he engaged in freighting in the employ of Ardale & Newman, with whom he remained until 1884. The labor in this employment was hard and full of hardships, and as soon as he was able to do anything better for himself he quit the service and built a log cabin on the forks of White river, the first one erected in that neighborhood, and this was put up in the interest of the Stock Irrigation Company, which located one of the first ranches there. In the employ of this company Mr. Ellison brought from Larkspur to the ranch three hundred and ninety-eight Texas mares and ten imported Norman stallions for breeding purposes. One of the Normans was killed in transit by a silver tip bear after a hard battle. The industry started by his band of horses did not prove a success, but Mr. Ellison remained in the employ of the company until 1886, when he pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres for himself. This he improved and in 1889 he sold it. During the next three years he devoted his attention to raising horses on an extensive basis and prospered in the enterprise. He then became a tourists' guide and continued in the business eight years. As he was one of the first guides in the hills, so he was one of the most successful and found the business very profitable. At the end of the period named he secured the position he is now so successfully filling. Always interested in horses, he still owns one of the best, the celebrated stallion Haroldwood, with a record of 2:31. When he located in this section the country was wild and almost uninhabited except by Indians and wild beasts, and all hands were frequently required to put down Indian hostilities. The Utes were very troublesome, and he was in all the fights with them. On one occasion he was deputized as sheriff to quell an uprising and spent thirty-two days in the field against the savage foe of civilization, many being killed in the campaign. The whites suffered some losses too, among them the noted Jack Ward and Frank Folsom and a Mr. Curly, all of whom Mr. Ellison helped to bury. There were in those days no bridges, few roads and scant supplies of the ordinary conveniences of life. Supplies had to be freighted from Denver, a distance of three hundred miles, and the work was one of great difficulty and danger, conducted with pack horses. He also freighted from Rawlins, Wyoming, to Meeker for Hughes & Company, having the first contract in the county, which was written by Judge Hazen. Fraternally he is connected with the order of Odd Fellows, and politically belongs to the Republican party. On November 20, 1896, he was married to Miss May Smith, a native of Fort Collins, Colorado. They have four children, Francis, Alice, Annie and Benjamin. His success in business here, and the position of influence and general esteem in which he is held among all classes of the people, make Mr. Ellison well pleased with Colorado and devoted to her best interests. =================================================== 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.