Fiske, Abram & Son; 1905 Bio, Routt County, Colorado http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/routt/bios/fiskeas.txt --------------------------------------- Donated April 2001 Transcribed by Judy Crook from the book: Progressive Men of Western Colorado Published 1905, A.W. Bowen & Co., Chicago, Ill. --------------------------------------- Abram Fiske & Son This firm of enterprising and progressive lumbermen, who are pioneers in the business in the neighborhood of Hayden, where they carry on extensively both in sawing and handling the products of other mills, have a large trade and a well established reputation for correct business methods and energy and foresight which meet all requirements. The father, Abram Fiske, was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, on December 24, 1832 He was educated at the common schools and remained at home until he was sixteen years of age. He then was apprenticed to the blacksmith and machinist trades, and after completing his apprenticeship worked at his craft in his native state until the beginning of the Civil war. When the cloud of that sanguinary conflict, which had long hung over our unhappy land, enveloped it in strife, he enlisted in defense of the Union as a private soldier, and at its close was mustered out as a sergeant. In 1867 he came to this state and located in Clear Creek county. Here he helped to build a quartz mill for the St. John Company, and as a machinist worked in the construction and interest of the Burley tunnel. In 1869 he engaged in the saw-mill industry, in which he continued until 1878. He then turned his attention to the hotel business, keeping the Half-way House between Breckenridge and Georgetown. In this venture he found profit as well as congenial employment. In 1880 he came to Hayden, one of the three first permanent settlers in the region, Adair, Fiske, and Brock. He pre-empted a claim which he afterward proved up as a homestead, and on this he ranched and raised cattle until 1902, when he sold his interests there and began to devote all his energies to the business in which he is now engaged. Enterprising and a leader in all things which engage his attention, he is credited with planting the first successful garden, building the first irrigation ditch and reservoir, and sowing the first alfalfa seed in Routt county. He has also successfully raised wheat and hogs here, being among the first to make the attempt. He continued his efforts with very gratifying and profitable results in these lines for six years. His early work in ditching led others to follow his example and he may be justly considered the originator of the system that has been so extensively carried out and has been of such great value to the county. On his arrival in the county he had nothing in the way of capital, and for a time followed trapping foxes to get a grub stake, and, as wild game was plentiful, he found this enterprise very satisfactory in results. His nearest trading point in those days was Rawlins, Wyoming. Fraternally Mr. Fiske is a Master Mason, and politically he is a Republican. He is the son of Hiram and Diantha Fiske, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of New York. The father was a farmer in occupation and a Whig in political alliance. He died in the state of New York in 1835, and the mother reared the family. They had six children, four of whom are living, Simon J., Hiram, Abram and Mrs. L.L. Hebbern. Mr. Fiske was married on July 4, 1855, to Miss Adelaide Leonard, a native of New York. They also had seven children, two of whom died in infancy, and a daughter named Gertrude at a later age. The five who are living are DeEtta, Mrs. Nellie Clark, Mrs. Lennie Ralston, Hiram and Charles. The mother died on November 18, 1903. Charles, who is his father's partner in the lumber business, is a native of St. Lawrence county, New York, born on May 20, 1859. He received a good common school education, and after leaving school began at once to take an active part in his father's business and other interests. He was married, on December 25, 1894, to Miss Etta Frary, a native of this state, born in Douglas county. They have four children, Lloyd, Rose, Veva and Hampton. Their father, now a man of forty-three and in the full maturity of his powers, is a gentleman of fine business capacity, strict integrity and progressive ideas. He is one of the leading citizens of his generation in his neighborhood, and has a voice of potency and wisdom in all matters involving its best interests and enduring welfare. =================================================== 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.