MCCALL, Thomas R.: 1905 Bio, San Miguel County, Colorado http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/sanmiguel/bios/mccalltr.txt --------------------------------------- Donated June 2004 Transcribed by Judy Crook from the book: Progressive Men of Western Colorado Published 1905, A.W. Bowen & Co., Chicago, Ill. --------------------------------------- Thomas R. McCall Thomas R. McCall, of near Norwood, one of the enterprising and progressive ranchmen and stock-growers of San Miguel county, is a native of Quincy, Illinois, where he was born on St. Patrick's day in 1843. He is the son of William and Rachel (Heyworth) McCall, natives of Tennessee, who moved to Illinois in early life. There the son lived with them until 1862, aiding his father in the farm work and attending the district schools in the winter months. In the year last named he left the parental homestead and crossed the plains to Fort Laramie with ox teams, being in charge of the freighting business of Gillman, Carter & Company, of Omaha. He remained in their employ six years freighting over the plains and helping to build government forts and military posts under contract. Fort McPherson was one of the structures in whose erection he was concerned, and while living in that neighborhood he took a prominent part in public affairs, serving as a member of county and state conventions from time to time. In one of the former he was the man who placed Colonel Cody ("Buffalo Bill") in nomination for the legislature. In 1868 he quit the employment of this company and for a time engaged in trading with the Indians. He then bought a freighting outfit of his own and followed freighting until 1882, when he located at Denver in this state, and for eleven years thereafter he was occupied in an extensive wholesale commission business. In 1893 he moved to San Miguel county, and locating one hundred and sixty acres of good land in the park, began the industry of farming and raising stock in which he is still engaged. He has an excellent ranch and a large band of first-rate cattle and prosecutes a vigorous business. Fraternally he is connected with the order of Odd Fellows. In 1872 he was married at Greeley to Miss Ella Fisk, a native of Vermont and a niece of the celebrated Wall street broker, the late James Fisk. They have six children living: Dr. Floyd H.; Stella, wife of William Ray; Kate, wife of G. Galloway; Thomas R.; Earl; and one other. Mr. McCall was in many Indian fights in he earlier days, and a few years ago he buried the bodies of ten of his men near Plum creek who had been killed by the savages. =================================================== 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.