Routt County CO Archives Biographies.....Hitchens, Joseph February 26, 1863 - ? ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/co/cofiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Judy Crook jlcrook@rof.net March 25, 2006, 12:21 pm Author: Progressive Men of Western Colorado Joseph Hitchens, a younger brother of William M. and James H. Hitchens, esteemed citizens and progressive ranch and cattle men of Routt county, sketches of whom will be found on other pages of this work, was born at Cornwall, England, on February 26, 1863, and remained in that country until he was eleven years old, making his own living in the mines from an early age. In 1874, having received a very limited education at the common schools of his native land, by attending them for brief periods at irregular intervals, he determined to seek his fortune in a country of greater possibilities and freer opportunities for young men of industry and perseverance, and, although then but a boy of eleven, he set sail for the United States, and on his arrival in this country located at Central City, this state, where for six years he worked in the mines for wages and operated leased properties in the same industry. In 1880 he purchased his present ranch of one hundred and sixty acres, eight miles northwest of Steamboat Springs, on which he has since resided and carried on a flourishing ranch and cattle industry, raising good crops of hay, grain and hardy vegetables, but finding hay and cattle his main dependence. The improvements on the land were all made by him, and nearly the whole of his land has been brought to an advanced stage of tillage. To its improvement and development he has devoted himself and the results are the legitimate consequences of continued industry, skillful cultivation and good business capacity. He has changed a tract of wild land into a valuable and productive farm, provided with a comfortable dwelling and other necessary buildings, and has risen to a high rank among the progressive and enterprising stock and ranch men of the county. He is an active Republican in politics and in fraternal relations is connected with the order of Odd Fellows. On September 27, 1887, he wedded with Miss Jane May, a native of Cornwall, England, and six children have blessed their union and brightened their domestic shrine, Stanley L., Gertrude M., Charles E., Katie A., Frederick J. and Fremont E. Mrs. Hitchens is the daughter of Richard and Susan May, natives of England. Her father was a very successful blacksmith for many years, working at his craft to his own advantage and the benefit of his neighborhood. He is now living retired from active pursuits, enjoying the fruits of his life of useful labor and secure in the regard and good will of his countrymen. He and his wife are Wesleyan Methodists. They have six children, Solomon, Charles, Mrs. James Philip, John, William and Mrs. Hitchens. Mr. and Mrs. Hitchens stand well in their community which they have done so much to build up and improve, and well deserve the general high estimate in which they are held. They are exemplars of that high sense of duty which slights no task and shrinks from no burden that properly falls to their lot, and preserves a cheerful and encouraging demeanor through every circumstance of hardship and privation. Additional Comments: From Progressive Men of Western Colorado. Chicago: A.W. Bowen & Co., 1905 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/routt/bios/hitchens427gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/cofiles/ File size: 3.7 Kb