JOSEPH, Edwin: 1905 Bio, San Miguel County, Colorado http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/sanmiguel/bios/joseph.txt --------------------------------------- Donated June 2004 Transcribed by Judy Crook from the book: Progressive Men of Western Colorado Published 1905, A.W. Bowen & Co., Chicago, Ill. --------------------------------------- Edwin Joseph Leaving his parental home at the age of seventeen, and beginning the battle of life for himself amid the hard conditions but boundless opportunities of the frontier, Edwin Joseph, of San Miguel county, one of the most successful and progressive ranchmen and stock-breeders of the Norwood mesa and located about three miles southwest of the town, has been true to the example and the spirit of his parents and in close touch with the on- flowing tide of American life which has overspread the country and redeemed its waste places to civilization and useful productiveness. He was born in Michigan in 1852, and is the son of John and Dollie Joseph, who in early life left their native state of New York and sought a new home wherein their hopes might expand and flourish in the wilds of Michigan, at that time as undeveloped, as wild, as full of privation and danger to the hardy pioneer as this section was when he came into it. He was taught the value of thrift and industry on his father's farm, and in the common schools of his native place secured a limited knowledge of books and imbibed the spirit of independence and self-reliance that has characterized the pioneers of our country from its earliest history. In 1869 he became a resident of Colorado, settling at Denver, then a city of about five thousand inhabitants. Here he was engaged in handling stock until 1871, when he moved into the Del Norte region, where he continued the enterprise he had begun at Denver. In 1875 he went to the San Luis valley where he again followed the stock industry, and from a year prior to this time he was occupied also in prospecting until 1878. The next year he came to the Norwood mesa and located the ranch he now occupies and which has since been his home. This ranch was the first piece of patented agricultural land within the limits of San Miguel county, and its beautiful and productive appearance and character fully justify his wisdom in the choice of it as the base of his operations in a permanent employment of his faculties, tastes and skillful industry. He has converted it into one of the attractive and valuable rural homes in this portion of the country. The stock industry, to which he has sedulously devoted himself since settling here, has grown extensive and prosperous around him and through his judicious management he now has a fine herd of some two hundred cattle, all well bred and worthy of the best markets. Besides being energetic and constant in attention to his private business, he is earnest and full of force in attention to the public interests of his community, being one of the leaders of the Republican party in this section, and giving the people admirable service as a county commissioner. In every line of public life and enterprise he is active, vigilant and influential, and is easily accorded a position as one of the leaders of thought and activity in the county. He was married at Del Norte in 1875 to Miss Jennie Herendon, a native of Missouri. They have one son, Horace, who was the first white child born within the limits of the present county. =================================================== 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.