Routt County CO Archives Biographies.....Ducey, Thomas R. January 17, 1865 - ?
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Judy Crook jlcrook@rof.net December 31, 2005, 3:02 am

Author: Progressive Men of Western Colorado

     When in the fullness of time the settlement and development of the great

West of this country became the natural order of events, the men who essayed the

task came from the ranks of the toilers and producers, fitted and willing to

endure all forms of hardship, encounter all manner of danger, put up with all

measures of inconvenience and undergo all requirements of the most exacting

labor.  They were not the spoiled darlings of the highest social circles, the

sons of wealth and scholarship, or the scions of a top lofty aristocracy.  When

a great work in human affairs is to be accomplished God sends workers to do it,

and he allows no mistake in the choice.  To this class belongs Thomas R. Ducey,

of Routt county, who settled there in 1887, early enough to be a pioneer, and

armed with the requisite qualifications to well uphold the credit of the name. 

He was born of industrious parentage, and at an early age began to make headway

for himself through the channels hallowed by their labors.  And by trying

experiences and faithful attention to duty in various fields of usefulness in a

number of different places, he developed his own manhood and established his

force of character.  His life began at Shullsburg, Lafayette county, Wisconsin,

on January 17, 1865, and he is the son of Morris and Ellen Ducey, who were born

in Ireland, the former at Dublin and the latter at Cork. early in their married

life they emigrated to the United States and located in Wisconsin, where they

passed the remainder of their lives, both dying some years ago.  The father was

a lead miner in early life and spent his later years as an industrious and

well-to-do farmer.  He supported the Democratic party in political affairs, and

both he and his wife were devout Catholics.  Seven children were born of their

union and four of them are living, Thomas R., Maggie, William and John J. 

Beginning his own active career at the age of fifteen, in 1880, Thomas, who had

enjoyed but few and meager opportunities for securing an education, worked at

different occupations in several states, particularly Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois

and Nebraska, doing farming, saw-milling and various kinds of lumbering for the

Dubuque (Iowa) Lumber Company.  In 1885 he became a resident of Colorado,

arriving on April 2d at Denver, where he engaged in dairy and ranch work for two

years.  In 1887 he moved to Routt county and took up his present ranch under a

homestead claim.  It comprises two hundred acres, all fit for cultivation and

now in a state of advanced productiveness, although when he settled on it it was

completely covered with sage brush and had not on it the print of a white man’s

foot or the sign of a human habitation.  He made good progress in improving it

and making it profitable, and now has the abundant reward of his labor in one of

the comfortable and fruitful farms of the section in which he lives, which is

the Deep creek country, his ranch being sixteen miles northwest of Steamboat

Springs.  Hay and cattle are the staple productions and both the land and the

location are well adapted to their being raised in large quantities with

ordinary ease and success.  Mr. Ducey is an ardent Democrat politically and by

no means neglects the interests of his party.  He was married on October 20,

1889, to Miss Roxie E. Fly, a native of Barry county, Missouri, the daughter of

John W. and Charity Fly, the former born in Missouri and the latter in

Tennessee.  The father was a soldier in the Civil war, serving from the

beginning to the end of the great struggle, and although in very active service

nearly all the time, escaping without a wound or being captured.  They came

overland through Colorado in 1884 and took up their residence at Slater,

Wyoming, where they remained until 1887, since which time they have lived in

Routt county, this state, on Elk creek seven miles north of Steamboat Springs. 

The father has always devoted his attention to farming.  They have five

children, all living, Mrs. Ducey, Fount E., Miranda, Gertrude and Elvira.  Mr.

and Mrs. Ducey have three children, Rachel E., John E. and Morris D.

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

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/routt/bios/ducey104gbs.txt

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