Routt County CO Archives Biographies.....Male, Joseph B.  April 21, 1857 - /
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Judy Crook jlcrook@rof.net March 25, 2006, 11:36 am

Author: Progressive Men of Western Colorado

     Joseph B. Male, a very successful ranch and cattle man and a highly
respected citizen of Routt county, dwelling on and working a ranch of four
hundred and forty acres of good land located on Trout creek, twenty miles
southwest of Steamboat Springs, and owning in addition one hundred and twenty
acres of coal land adjoining his farm, all of which he has acquired by his own
industry and capacity, was a child of misfortune born to a destiny of toil and
privation, and orphaned by the death of his mother and oppressed by the loss of
his home when he was but twelve years old.  His life began in Wayne county,
Pennsylvania, on April 21, 1857, and by reason of his condition and the death of
his mother he had very slender educational advantages.  At the age mentioned he
began to shift and provide for himself, and until 1878 worked at various
occupations in his native state.  In that year he moved to the vicinity of Dodge
City, Kansas, where he passed a year farming school land.  He then changed his
residence to Fort Scott, in the same state, but after a stay of about two months
moved to Conway, Taylor county, Iowa, where he found employment as a farm hand
at a compensation of thirteen dollars a month and his board.  He also worked as
a farm hand near Bedford, Iowa, and near Marysville, Missouri.  In October,
1879, he transferred his energies and his hopes to Las Vegas, New Mexico, where
he devoted four years to driving oxen and making railroad ties for wages and
under contract.  In 1883 he came to Colorado and helped to build a stamp mill at
Summitville, returning to New Mexico for the winter.  From the spring of 1884 to
1888 he lived in Wyoming and was engaged in building ditches and freighting. 
Then in 1888 he located his present ranch, or a portion of it, adding to what he
first took up until the ranch now comprises four hundred and forty acres, two
hundred acres of which can be cultivated.  And as has been noted, he also owns
one hundred and twenty acres of valuable coal land adjoining the ranch.  Taking
possession of his land when it was wholly wild, he has made all his own
improvements and brought about the fertile and productive condition of the land
as it is at this time.  Here he conducts with vigor and success a general
ranching business and a cattle industry of large proportions, the cattle being
his main reliance, although he raises good crops of the products usual in the
neighborhood.  Prominent and progressive as a ranch and cattle man, Mr. Male
also takes a leading and active part in the affairs of the county, and a cordial
interest in its fraternal life, being a Republican in politics and a Master
Mason in fraternal circles.  He was elected county commissioner of Routt county
in November, 1904, to fill that position from January 1, 1905, to January 1,
1909.  He was married on March 12, 1903, to Mrs. L.D. Montgomery, a native of
Pennsylvania and daughter of Isaac and Catharine (King) Schrecengost.  Mr.
Male’s parents were John C. and Annie (Spry) Male, the former a native of
England and the latter of Pennsylvania.  They ended their days in Pennsylvania,
the mother dying in 1869 and the father in 1897.  While he was yet a mere boy
the father aided in the construction of the Delaware & Hudson canal.  In later
life he was a farmer, and politically supported the Republican party from its
foundation.  Of their seven children, a son named George died, and William,
Joseph B., Mrs. John W. Van Wert, Miles M., James and Jonathan T. are living.  

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

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