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GARFIELD
COUNTY, COGENWEB PROJECT
John (Jock) Wilson and Audre Pool
John Wilson Pool was born October 9,
1897 at Annan Scotland. Better known as Jock to his friends,
he grew up in Scotland and served with the King's own
Scottish Boarderers during WWI from 1914 to 1918.
Jock
came to the United States in 1920 and worked at the Camp
Bird Mine near Ouray. In 1926 he moved to Rifle and went to
work for the U. S. Vanadium Company.
In 1930, he
established the Rifle Hardware Company at 132 east Third
Avenue between Gambles and A&L furniture. An article in the
newspaper August 6, 1930 reports a first year burglary. The
store was broken into through a rear window the night of
Saturday July 26, 1930. Guns, ammunition, cash and other
articles were stolen.
Jock owned and operated Rifle
Hardware until he passed away in 1971. The store was the
primary source where home owners throughout the area went to
fill their needs. It even included a large selection of home
furnishings. Everyone in Rifle knew Jock.
Jock and Audre
Frances James were married May 23, 1936, at Rifle. He was
37, she was 23. Audre was born March 3, 1913, at Grand
Junction. Audre was the oldest of seven children. Her father
and one brother had died five years earlier in a car train
accident, Audre was 18 at the time.
Jock was a member of
the Christian Church. He was a member of Rifle Lodge No. 129
for over 50 years and served the lodge as Master in 1933. He
was also the Lodge secretary for 30 years, right up to the
time of his passing.
He was a member of Rifle Chapter No.
48 Royal Arch Masons, Glenwood Springs Commandery No. 29,
Grand Junction Consistory of Ancient and Accepted Scottish
Rite Masons, and El Jebel Shrine in Denver. He was member
and Past Patron of Jewel Chapter Order of Eastern Star,
member and Past Noble Grand of Book Cliff Lodge No. 45
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, member and past governor
of Rifle Lodge No, 1345 Loyal Order of the Moose, charter
member of Elks Lodge No. 2195, and member of the Rocky
Mountain Hardware Association.
In civic affairs, he
served six terms as mayor of Rifle, 14 years on the school
board, was a current member of the city council, was a
member of the chamber of commerce, and was a past chief and
retired member of the Rifle Volunteer Fire Department.
Audre Pool grew up in Grand Junction, attending schools and
Mesa College there. She earned a bachelors degree in
education from the University of Colorado.
The 1940
census records show that Audre's 10 year younger sister
Marjorie James was living in Rifle with her and Jock at that
time. And, Marjorie graduated as salutatorian from RUHS in
1940. In 1954, Marjorie passed away from a heart attack and
her two daughters, Jill and Beckie, then also made their
home with Audre and Jock Audre taught school 40 years. She
retired in 1973 after 20 years with Rifle Elementary
schools. She first taught at Alamosa, then on Parachute
Creek, then at the Austin School on Rifle Creek. Her final
20 years were at the 4th Street and Esma Lewis Elementary
Schools. Besides teaching, she also frequently worked in the
hardware store.
Audre was active in Eastern Star, the
West Garfield Education Association, and served as mother
advisor to Rainbow Girls. She was a member of the Methodist
Church, taught Sunday School there, and gave piano lessons
in her home on East Avenue.
Jock passed away March 4,
1971, at the Osteopathic Hospital in Grand Junction. Audre
passed away March 26, 1975, at St. John's Hospital in
Oxnard, California. Jock and Audre are buried at Rose Hill
in Rifle.
Hardware Store abt 1940
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