Van Deusen, Robert Meade; 1905 Bio, Routt County, Colorado http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/routt/bios/vandsnrm.txt --------------------------------------- Donated April 2001 Transcribed by Judy Crook from the book: Progressive Men of Western Colorado Published 1905, A.W. Bowen & Co., Chicago, Ill. --------------------------------------- Robert Meade Van Deusen Successful and serviceable in many lines of useful activity, prominent in business, esteemed as a capable public official, and held in the highest regard as a citizen of great public-spirit and progressiveness. Robert M. Van Deusen, of Steamboat Springs, Routt county, has established himself in the confidence of the community and done much in his short life there of nine years to aid in the development of the town and surrounding country and the improvement of all its elements of growth and power. He was born in Bay City, Michigan, on December 2, 1867, and is the son of Stewart A. and Nancy (Meade) Van Deusen, natives of the state of New York. Down to 1893 the father was prominent as a miner, hotel-keeper and civil engineer, employed in many valuable works of construction, active in improving mining methods and devices, and enjoying a wide and well deserved reputation as a most capable and popular Boniface. In his professional capacity as a civil engineer he installed the water works at Bay City, built the greater part of the Michigan Central Railroad between Bay City and Detroit, and made the survey for the old Texas & New Orleans Railroad. He also served eight months in the Civil war. In 1878 he moved to Colorado and followed mining in Park county until he was disabled by an accident in 1893. He now lives at Steamboat Springs. His wife died on March 19, 1896. Of their three children, Walter E. died in 1880 and Almyra R. and Robert M. are living. The father has been a Democrat from his youth. The son, Robert Meade, was educated in the common and high schools at Bay City, and at a grammar school in New York city and Buchtel College in Akron, Ohio. He assisted his father in his hotel and mining business, and in addition devoted some time to assaying. In 1895 he moved to Routt county and located at Steamboat Springs. Here he has given attention principally to ranching and the real estate business, acquiring his ranch of one hundred and twenty acres on Elk creek by purchase. The tract is substantially all tillable and on it hay and cattle are raised with great success. In 1901 Judge J.T. Shumate appointed him clerk of the district court for Routt county, and he is still filling the position with satisfaction to all concerned. He is an ardent Democrat in politics and a blue lodge and chapter Freemason fraternally. Since 1903, in connection with his official duties, he has devoted his energies principally to the real estate business as a member of the firm of Van Deusen & Myler, the most reliable and energetic firm in this line in the neighborhood of Steamboat Springs. Both members are prominent and successful men in other lines, and they have put into this enterprise all the energy and high character for which they are distinguished elsewhere, and are winning a success commensurate with their merits, which are of a high order. On one occasion Mr. Van Deusen was connected with the Huntoon Land & Investment Company, and was employed by it to examine the mineral springs at Mt. Constance in the Olympic mountains, in the state of Washington. They made the trip to the place of employment by a route from Hood's canal they were the first white men ever to take. Mr. Van Deusen was married on April 29, 1891 to Miss Olive Slade, a native of Columbus, Ohio. They have four children, Stewart A., Marion, Nancy M. and Alice; the latter died at the age of one year. =================================================== 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.