Routt County CO Archives Biographies.....Hernage, Henry J.W. May 22, 1851 - ?
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Judy Crook jlcrook@rof.net March 25, 2006, 11:20 am

Author: 

Progressive Men of Western Colorado



     At the head of the Hernage Mercantile Company of Yampa, one of the largest

and best conducted enterprises of its kind in western Colorado, Henry J.W.

Hernage is very widely known in business circles, and as a progressive and

public-spirited citizen he is one of the potential factors in the development

and prosperity of Routt county.  He has been a resident of this state since

1871, more than half of his life, and during his residence here has taken an

active interest in the walfare [sic] and growth of the state and tried his hand

at several of its leading industries, rising by merit to a position of

consequence and esteem among its people, and in all the relations of life has

done well his part as a far-seeing and enterprising business man and a

high-minded and upright citizen.  He was born at Nottingham, England, on May 22,

1851, and is the son of Henry J. and Maria Hernage.  The father was a member of

the Royal College of Surgeons in England, and house surgeon of the Western

Dispensary at Westminster, London. The son was educated at the Latin Grammar

School, London, and at Shoreham, on the southern coast of his native land near

Brighton.  He did not complete his course, however, and left England without

receiving his degrees, though for a time he served as dispenser at the Western

Dispensary, where his father is now the house surgeon.  He came to the United

States in 1867, when he was but sixteen, and located first at Omaha, but left

there almost immediately and went to Dunlap, Iowa.  In 1871 he came to Colorado

and took up his residence in Boulder county, where he remained three years, then

started for the Black Hills, but stopped at Hahn’s Peak in what is now Routt but

was then Grand county.  Here he mined for a time and carried the United States

mails, but some months later moved to Eagle river, Summit county, where he

remained until 1876, when he went to mining at Red Cliff.  He took up the first

ranch on Eagle river, his location being on Brush creek.  In 1885 he returned to

Routt county and at once engaged in merchandising, a pursuit he has followed

steadily and successfully ever since.  While living on Eagle river he served as

deputy sheriff of Lake and Eagle counties.  He joined the Masonic fraternity in

1894 and by his activity and zeal soon attained prominence in the order, serving

as secretary of Lodge No. 106 for a time and as its worshipful master in 1903. 

His interest in the fraternity has not been limited to the blue lodge, but has

carried him through the higher branches, and he received the thirty-second

degree in 1904.  He is well known in Masonic circles as an active worker for the

good of the order, and has a standing of commanding influence in it all over the

state.  But he has allowed nothing to interfere with his business, and this he

has augmented to very large proportions and carried to a high state of

excellence in management, enterprise and success in meeting the wants of the

people.  His emporium carries complete lines of general merchandise, staple

groceries, ranch supplies, and hats, caps and clothing.  He is ever affable and

accommodating, and always conducts his transactions on a high plane of integrity

and honor.  One of the specialties of his trade is a brand of flour which he has

made with great care and to which he has given his name.  A portion of his

earlier life in this country was devoted to hunting and prospecting.  On

December 15, 1885, he was married at Nottingham, England, to Miss Annie Frances

Smith, of that city.  They have had nine children.  Of these Gertrude, May and

Elizabeth have died, and Henry J., William J., Alpea A., Arthur Edward, Frances

Edith and Henrietta I. are living.  

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

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/routt/bios/hernage419gbs.txt

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