Rio Blanco County CO Archives Biographies.....Harker, Frank A. November 3, 1859 - ?
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Judy Crook jlcrook@rof.net March 14, 2006, 11:10 am

Author: Progressive Men of Western Colorado

     Although born in the Cherokee nation, Indian Territory, Frank A. Harker

became a resident of Colorado at so early an age that he may almost be

considered wholly a product of the state.  He has entered so fully into the

spirit of its enterprise and the pursuits of its people that he has become one

of its most progressive and successful ranch men, and as such has contributed

materially to its advancement and the business success which has made so much of

its interesting and wonderful history.  His life began on November 3, 1859, and

he is the son of George and Adeline Harker, the former a native of England and

the latter of New York state.  The father emigrated to America at the age of

thirteen.  After residing and working at various places in this country, he

moved his family to Colorado in 1860 and took up a ranch five miles east of

Denver.  Here he met with serious losses by the flood of 1864 and by having one

hundred and fifty horses and three hundred cattle stolen by the Indians; but

notwithstanding these losses he achieved a substantial success in his ranching

and stock industries and became a man of standing and influence in his section.

 He died in 1864, a member of the Masonic order and the Republican party.  In

1872 the mother and the rest of the family moved to the neighborhood of Colorado

Springs and continued ranching and raising cattle, Frank managing the business.

 There were three children in the family.  Annie, then Mrs. Leon Marcolt, died

in 1890, and George is living at Cripple Creek.  Frank was educated in the

common schools, and after leaving school took charge of the home ranch which he

managed until 1882.  In connection therewith, in 1879, he freighted between

Colorado Springs and Leadville, and in this work he suffered many hardships, one

winter freezing his feet so badly that he was obliged to quit work and lie up

for recovery during a period of five months.  He afterward followed mining under

contract and also prospected two years in the San Juan country.  In 1884 he

returned to his home and the next year he pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres

of land five miles and a half east of Meeker, to which he has added by purchase

three hundred and sixty acres.  Of the whole tract he can cultivate three

hundred and fifty acres and on this body he raises good crops of the products

suitable to the region.  He has made all the improvements on the place himself

and by his vigorous and skillful management has made the place one of the most

productive and desirable in the neighborhood of its location.  He is a very

enterprising and progressive ranch man, full of the spirit of modern advancement

in which each year is expected to mark a substantial move toward better and more

profitable results.   In fraternal circles he is connected with the Modern

Woodmen of America and the Woodmen of the World, and in political affairs he

supports the Republican party.  On March 19, 1891, he was married to Miss Mattie

Proctor and they have three children, Leon R., William A. and Cora A.  In this

part of Rio Blanco county there is no more esteemed citizen and there is none

more worthy of the standing he has among his fellow men.  In business, in social

relations, in the public local interests of the community and in the ordinary

duties of citizenship he has met his responsibilities faithfully, regardless of

opposition where that has confronted him and in spite of difficulties where they

have beset his path.  

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

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/rioblanco/bios/harker281gbs.txt

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