Rector, James W, 1905 Bio, Rio Blanco County, Colorado http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/rioblanco/bios/rectorjw.txt --------------------------------------- Donated March 2001 Transcribed by Judy Crook from the book: Progressive Men of Western Colorado Published 1905, A.W. Bowen & Co., Chicago, Ill. --------------------------------------- James W. Rector James W. Rector, of Rangely, in Rio Blanco county, one of the leading and most successful ranchers in the section, is a native of Barton county, Missouri, where he was born on August 29, 1862, and is the son of Jacob and Jane E. (Peery) Rector, the father a native of Kentucky and the mother of Illinois. After their marriage they located in Missouri, where they were prosperous farmers. The father died in 1869, and after that sad event James, who was the oldest of the four children, was obliged to work as soon as he was able to aid in supporting the family. His wages were small but of material assistance in this laudable desire. The other children are Jacob, who lives in Scott county, Kansas; Benjamin F., also of Scott county, Kansas, and Alice, wife of John Taylor, of Kansas. Under the circumstances surrounding his boyhood and youth it was impossible for Mr. Rector to get much education in the schools, but he managed to attend a few terms in the winter months. At the age of seventeen years he started out for himself, going to western Texas and making Colorado City his headquarters. There he was employed as a range rider until 1882. He then moved to a point one hundred miles north of Pacos, Texas, on Seven Rivers, in New Mexico, and continued range riding in the employ of William Adams, an extensive cattle-grower. From the spring of 1884 to the fall of 1885 he was engaged in bringing outfits over the trail. In the fall of 1885 he came to Colorado and pre-empted a ranch four miles west of Rangely, to which he has added by purchases from time to time, until now, in partnership with R.G. Peters, of Manistee, Michigan, he owns seventeen hundred acres, one thousand of which are under cultivation in hay, grain and vegetables. The ranch has an abundant supply of water for this acreage and the land is highly productive and thoroughly cultivated. The improvements are extensive and valuable, being of an unusually ornate and costly order, and were all made by Mr. Rector who is the active manager of the property and business. The dwelling is one of the most imposing and beautiful in this section of the county, being in the midst of extensive grounds tastefully laid out and carefully tended. In political faith Mr. Rector is a firm and faithful Democrat, taking an earnest and helpful part in the councils of his party and always working with energy for its success. He has been a county commissioner since 1900, and the wisdom of the choice is manifested by the excellence of his work in the office. He belongs to the Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen, and in their workings he also takes an active interest. He was married on April 9, 1899, to Miss Rose M. McNew, who was born in Barton county, Missouri, and they have two children, James R. and Rubie L. =================================================== 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.