Saguache County CO Archives Biographies.....Trites, John W.  November 30, 1842 - ?
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Judy Crook jlcrook@rof.net March 8, 2006, 10:28 am

Author: Progressive Men of Western Colorado

     Men who make themselves felt in the world avail themselves of a certain

fate in their constitution, which they know how to use.  In the case of John W.

Trites, of Saguache county, whose fine ranch of one thousand and forty acres is

located about eight miles southwest of the town of Saguache, a section of the

county in which he and John Davey were the first settlers, this fate or native

force is the readiness to see and the ability to seize and make the most of

every opportunity that presents itself, and the willingness to do whatever that

opportunity demands as the price of success.  He has foresight, resourcefulness

and energy, with a determined self-reliance that shrinks from no difficulty and

cowers before no danger.  And these are qualities which are not only at high

premium but are essential to any success of magnitude in the ordinary conditions

of life in this western world, where nature is provident, but will not unmask

her treasures to the timid, the halting or the doubtful.  Mr. Trites was born on

November 30, 1842, in Pennsylvania, that great field of labor wherein every line

of human activity is worked and all are profitable.  He is the son of John and

Jane (Robinson) Trites, natives of Germany who emigrated to this country and

located in Pennsylvania in early life.  They afterward moved to Maine, and still

later to New Brunswick, Canada, where they ended their days.  The father was a

successful farmer and also conducted a profitable butchering business in New

Brunswick.  He was a Freemason of high degree and both parents were Baptists in

church connection.  Three children survive them, John, Amelia and James.  The

first named received a common-school education, and impelled by the

irrepressible spirit of energy inherited from long lines of thrifty ancestors,

started out at the age of sixteen to make his own way in the world, asking no

favors of fortune, and relying on his own capabilities in the effort.  He served

an apprenticeship of three years in a carriage manufactory in New Brunswick, and

then another as a joiner in the shipyards.  In 1866 he moved to Kansas City,

Missouri, and during the summer of that year worked as a joiner in a carpenter

shop, also helping to build the first bridge over the Missouri from the

Wyandotte Bottoms to Kansas City.  In 1867 he took the western fever, and he

started to work his way to the goal of his desires on what is now the Union

Pacific Railroad, helping to build the bridges on the line between Fort Wallace

and Denver.  After reaching the city last named, he rested there four months,

then took a position to aid in building the bridges on the narrow gauge road

between there and Canon City, devoting two years to this work.  Afterward he

made a visit of inspection into the San Luis valley, but not being pleased with

the outlook, went to Colorado Springs in 1872.  He soon moved back into the

valley, however, and bought a ranch which after improving it to some extent he

sold in 1874.  He then purchased a portion of his present ranch, and by

subsequent purchases he has increased this to one thousand and forty acres, four

hundred of which are devoted to grain and the rest to hay and pasturage.  He is

extensively engaged in raising cattle and horses, being one of the leading men

in the business in his county, and his ranching operations are also large and

profitable.  The place is well watered from nine artesian wells bored on it by

his own enterprise, and the greater part of it is under good fencing.  It is

much to his credit, that having settled here when there was no other family in

the neighborhood, by his influence and example the region is now filling up with

thrifty and enterprising citizens and its undeveloped wealth is gradually

flowing into the channels of commerce and adding to the importance and

consequence of the county.  His only neighbor at first was John Davey, who

settled here about the same time as he did, and the opening of the country by

these two progressive and hardy men has resulted in its present state of

advancement and development.  Mr. Trites’s ranch is well improved with a good

dwelling and other buildings, and every interest on it or growing out if its

operation has the benefit of his close attention and skillful management.  He is

earnest in the public life of the county as a Democrat, zealous in its fraternal

life as an Odd Fellow and serviceable to all its local interests as a

progressive, far-seeing and energetic citizen.  

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

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/saguache/bios/trites228gbs.txt

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