Nimerick Brothers-James B. and John C., 1905 Bio, Rio Blanco County, Colorado http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/rioblanco/bios/nmrckjbjc.txt --------------------------------------- Donated March 2001 Transcribed by Judy Crook from the book: Progressive Men of Western Colorado Published 1905, A.W. Bowen & Co., Chicago, Ill. --------------------------------------- Nimerick Brothers--James B. and John C. This enterprising and progressive firm of ranch and cattle men is composed of James B. and John C. Nimerick, the former born on February 22, 1858, in Monroe county, Illinois, and the latter on May 5, 1860, in Madison county, Illinois, the sons of James M. and Elizabeth (Glass) Nimerick, natives of St. Clair county, Illinois. The father's life began on August 31, 1822, and he grew to manhood in his native place after the manner of boys of his time and locality, attending the common schools and working on the home farm. He also had a term or two at McKinley College. When twenty-six years old he began learning the trade of milling, and during the next twenty-five years he followed that craft, after some years building a mill of his own. In 1864 he came west, going up the Missouri as far as Fort Benton, Montana. Later he went into Utah and Colorado, returning to his eastern home from Denver. Indians were plentiful and often he was obliged to seek shelter from their fury. In 1872 he purchased land near Greenland, forty-eight miles south of Denver, and there he was occupied in ranching until 1886. He then sold his interests in that locality and moved to the section in which he now lives. Soon afterward he made a trip through Washington Territory as it was then, and on the return trip, stopping at Salt Lake, devoted some time to speculation. In 1889 his family came to the White river valley and took up a squatter's claim on which they followed ranching. The father became prominent in the political affairs of the section, representing Elbert and Douglas counties in the territorial legislature while he lived in one of them. He also held local offices in Illinois before leaving that state, serving as justice of the peace and probate judge. He was married on November 9, 1846, to miss Elizabeth Glass, a native of the same county in Illinois as himself. Of their nine children five are living, Jennie (Mrs. Lloyd Stealey), Neil G., James B., John and Nellie (Mrs. George Taylor). The two sons who form the subjects of this review were educated at the common schools and early began learning on the paternal homestead the lessons of thrift and useful industry which have been their main stay through subsequent life. They have a good ranch of two hundred acres, eighty of which are under cultivation in the usual farm products of the region, and they carry on a flourishing stock industry. The ranch is twenty-eight miles east of Meeker, which affords them a good market. The possessions they have and their good standing in their community are the legitimate fruits of their own enterprise and worth, and their career affords a forcible illustration of the benefits of forecast, industry and careful attention to a chosen pursuit in this land of wide and fertile opportunities. Both are Democrats and earnestly interested in the welfare of their party. They are the pioneers of the north fork of the White river, their mother and nephew, Guy M. Stealey, accompanying them. They were obliged to cut their way for many miles through underbrush which grew along the river and forded that stream nine times in order to reach the location of their present home. It was a wild, unbroken country and far from the civilization of white people. Mrs. Nimerick was the first woman to settle in the North Fork valley. Since those days the country has been well developed and Nimerick brothers have done their share, having constructed four miles of the present road to their ranch. They have also built irrigation ditches, etc. =================================================== 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.