LeKamp, John Henry, 1905 Bio, Rio Blanco County, Colorado http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/rioblanco/bios/lekampjh.txt --------------------------------------- Donated March 2001 Transcribed by Judy Crook from the book: Progressive Men of Western Colorado Published 1905, A.W. Bowen & Co., Chicago, Ill. --------------------------------------- John Henry LeKamp More than twenty years ago the subject of this brief review took up as a squatter's claim a portion of the ranch which he now owns and occupies, the land at the time being in its state of primeval nature, virgin to the plow and almost untrodden by the foot of the all- conquering white man. There were but few settlers in the neighborhood at the time, and each man was obliged to make the best of his opportunities and provide as well as he could for his necessities himself. There was much to commend the wild and self-reliant life of so remote a section, where nature and her various brood were almost the only companionship of the adventurous spirit, yet where hardships were not wanting, privations were often pressing and danger was ever present. For bountiful as nature was to provide, she was at the same time armed against the intruder and as ready to destroy. After the government survey was made Mr. LeKamp pre-empted his land, a tract of one hundred and sixty acres eighteen miles southeast of Meeker, which he has since increased to two hundred and eighty acres. He set to work diligently to improve his property, make it habitable and bring the untamed land into responsive fruitfulness with the products of cultivated life. For awhile he had slow and slender success as there was no water supply for systematic irrigation. This difficulty was in time overcome, and he now has sufficient from independent ditches to provide for the cultivation of two hundred and thirty acres, and these respond generously to his persuasive and skillful husbandry, yielding good crops and supporting in comfort his large herds of cattle which have replaced the horses which he formerly raised. Mr. LeKamp was born in Hanover, Germany, on April 28, 1818, and is the son of John and Elizabeth LeKamp, who were born and reared in Germany and descended from long lines of ancestry in that country. In 1830 the family emigrated to the United States and located at Cincinnati. The father was an industrious man and found remunerative employment in various fields of labor, and both parents were devout members of the Lutheran church. They had three children, of whom John H. is the only survivor. The parents also have died. Their son John attended school for a few terms in the winter months, and at the age of fourteen was apprenticed to a tailor. After learning his trade he worked at it in various parts of Ohio until 1869, then came west and located in Saline county, Nebraska. There he followed farming with profit until 1879, when he came to this state and here he devoted his attention to mining and prospecting until 1883. At that time he moved to where he now lives, the pioneer of the section, and began to lay the foundations of his present home and prosperity. He is one of the patriarchs of the region and has been prominent in all phases of its development. Although an active and loyal Democrat in political faith, he has given serviceable attention to every element of its progress and prosperity. He married, in 1848, Miss Christina Haselbrook, of the same nativity as himself. They have had ten children, six of whom are living, Gerhardt, Henry and two infants having died. Those living are Mrs. B.F. Nichols, Albert, Charles, Mrs. John Knottingham, Mrs. David Steele, Mrs. LeKamp and Frank. All are members of the Lutheran church =================================================== 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.