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GARFIELD
COUNTY, COGENWEB PROJECT
Richard Clarence Callen
Richard Callen is one of the
most prominent cattlemen and politicians to come from our area. Here is his
story.
Richard Clarence Callen, aka R.C. or Dick, was born
April 25, 1868, at Ft. Atkinson, Wisconsin. He moved to Iowa by 1870, then to
Denver in 1878. Records say he attended Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. Busy
guy.
He was married three times, first to 20 year old Eva
Kent October 7, 1890 in Leadville. But in a tragic accident she died 8 days
later from injuries received sliding down a banister at the home. He then
married 24 year old Kittie Powers June 15, 1892, in Arapaho County. However,
they were divorced sometime before 1904.
His third marriage was to 29 year old Mary (census
listed as Marie) Salina Mansfield, January 13, 1904, and who was born in 1875.
She was probably a widow as R.C. adopted her son James Mansfield. James and 1st
daughter Nancy grew up together as virtual twins.
Mary and R.C. had two daughters. Nancy Charlotte was
born July 13, 1905 in Raven, and Dicksie Estelle was born July 21, 1913, in New
Castle
In 1880 R.C. moved to Leadville and was an active
businessman. From 1884-86 he was employed by the PL company, a livestock
business in Garfield and Rio Blanco counties. In 1887 he returned to Leadville
and had a mercantile business.
In 1883, he entered business in the Silt-Rifle area
acquiring the 325 acre John Redmond ranch on Divide Creek.
In 1897 he was elected County Assessor of Lake County,
and was re-elected in 1899. He also served as Chairman of the Lake County
Republican Central Committee.
In 1888 was appointed under sheriff of Lake County
serving seven years. In 1903 he was stabbed by an insane asylum escapee, but
chased him down on horse and captured him.
In a partnership with Judge Cavender of Leadville, he
expanded the ranch by purchasing the John Hay and Whittaker Jayne ranches giving
over 700 total acres with 500 cultivated. Records also show he purchased the
Grand View Ranch 14 mines south of Silt in 1905.
In 1907 he donated an acre of land to the community of
Fairview and a school and church were constructed there. As of 1916 they were
running 1300 head of cattle. The Callen ranch was eventually acquired by Raymond
Starbuck, and then Raymond sold it to Frank and Joe Starbuck.
R.C. has been described as one of the prominent
cattlemen of the Western Slope, and as one of Garfield County's most progressive
and prosperous stockmen.
He was affiliated with the South Side Stock
Association from 1906 to 1927, and was elected as its President in 1915. At that
time Frank Squier of Rifle was President of both the Grand River and Colorado
Stock Associations.
He was quite the politician too, and in July 1915, he
and Mary gave a barn dance with 50 friends at his fine big barn on the Callen
Ranch. They served a "delightful" supper at midnight, and had an orchestra for
the dancers.
April 1916, he was reappointed by Colorado Governor
Carson, as a member of the State Board of Live Stock Inspection, also called the
State Board of Cattle Inspection.
Again, in 1918 they threw large barn dance at the
Callen and Cavender ranch on Divide Creek with the $200 proceeds donated to the
Red Cross. It was held at the school house and featured displays of the brands
of those at the party.
August 1920, he was nominated as the Republican
candidate for State Senator for the district including Garfield, Pitkin, and
Eagle counties. That election was September 14, 1920, which he won. He served
from 1921 to 1927.
In 1927, he was appointed U.S. Marshall for the state
of Colorado serving four years. Records say he took 4,000 federal prisoners to
jail. In 1928 he was Vice President of the US Marshall's Association.
Also in 1928, he was Sergeant-at-arms of the 1928
Republican National Convention. He ran unsuccessfully in 1932 as the Republican
candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives.
He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, and the B.P.O.
Elks.
R.C. died May 14, 1939, 10 miles NE of Meeker, where
he had a heart attack while inspecting his Vanadium Mine. Mary passed away March
22, 1957. Both are buried at Rifle.
A photo thought to be his parents Levi and Charlotte
Callen is also included here.
         
   
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