Routt County CO Archives Biographies.....Whetstone, John Adam January 23, 1854 - ?
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Judy Crook jlcrook@rof.net March 25, 2006, 6:04 pm

Author: Progressive Men of Western Colorado

     The first settler on Trout creek, Twenty-mile Park, John Adam Whetstone, of

near the postoffice of Eddy, Routt county, planted his foot firmly in the

wilderness when it was wholly given up to the untamed growth and the savage

denizens whose domain it had been for uncounted centuries, and, daring fate into

the lists, determined there to establish a home, found a line and start the dawn

of American civilization for this region.  His faith in the promise of the

country has been fully realized and his noble efforts to begin its conquest and

colonization have been amply rewarded by the estate he has gained for himself

and the esteem in which he is held by those who followed him into this

remoteness and whom he has led in improving it and developing its resources.  He

is a native of Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, born near Tamaqua on January 23,

1854.  His parents were persons of resolute spirit and determined industry, and

from them he inherited these traits.  Receiving a meager education by slight

attendance at the district schools, he was dependent mainly for his intellectual

development and preparation for the battle of life on the teachings of

experience and his own resources.  He remained at home and assisted his parents

until he was twenty-two years of age, then, in March, 1876, he went to San

Antonio, Texas, and from there, in June, he came to Colorado and began

prospecting and working on ranches near Denver.  The next year he prospected

through Middle and North parks, meeting with no success and suffering many

hardships.  He moved on foot with his blankets packed on his back and

accompanied by his one companion, John Fredrum, to Breckenridge.  He had

twenty-five cents in money and they had a sack of flour weighing fifty pounds

between them, his partner’s only wealth being his share in this flour.  As cash

was necessary to the prosecution of their journey, they sold the flour for four

dollars and a half, at Hot Sulphur Springs.  At Breckenridge Mr. Whetstone went

to work in the mines for wages, and also continued prospecting until 1879.  When

the massacre at Meeker occurred in 1879 he was among the Indians south of that

place, but had no difficulty with them.  In the winter of that year he mined for

wages in the San Luis valley, and in the ensuing spring returned to

Breckenridge, where he remained until 1886 ranching and mining with varied

success In June, 1886, he located part of his present ranch through a homestead

claim, and to this he has added until he now owns six hundred and eighty acres,

two-thirds of which can be profitably cultivated.  The place is well supplied

with water and he has provided it with comfortable buildings and other necessary

improvements, making it one of the finest and most valuable ranches in Routt

county.  It is fifteen miles southwest of Steamboat Springs, and yields abundant

crops of hay, grain and small fruits.  Cattle form his main reliance, however,

and these he raises in large numbers, their standard of excellence being high

and the strain thoroughbred Shorthorns.  He is universally regarded as one of

the most substantial and progressive cattle men in the county, and one of its

most prominent and representative citizens.  An ardent Republican in politics,

he gives his party generous and effective support, and takes an active and

helpful interest in all the local affairs of his section of the state.  On March

30, 1881, he united in wedlock with Miss Hattie Cowley, a native of

Pennsylvania.  They have had five children, of whom Lucien C. died on December

1, 1886, and Guy H., R. Roy, Elise I. and Clyde C. are living.  Mrs. Whetstone

is the daughter of William and Mary Cowley, the former a native of England and

the latter of Pennsylvania.  They passed the greater part and the conclusion of

their lives in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, where the father was much

esteemed as a mine boss and good citizen.  He supported the principles and

candidates of the Republican party in political matters, and in fraternal

relations was connected with the Masonic order, the Odd Fellows and the Knights

of Pythias.  Eight children were born to them, three of whom have died and five

are living, Mrs. Whetstone, Mrs. Elizabeth Faust, William, Lillie and Charles. 

The mother died in 1888.  Mr. Whetstone is a brother of James M. Whetstone, a

sketch of whom appears on another page of this work.  

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

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