Deaths in Hinsdale County - Interred outside of the county

Hinsdale County Historical Society published its book "CEMETERIES OF HINSDALE COUNTY, COLORADO", in 1986, with updates in 1989 and 1996. The book includes brief biographical information on individuals buried in cemeteries within the county between 1874 and 1996. The book made no attempt, however, to document individuals who died within the county and were interred elsewhere.

Following is a partial - and by no means comprehensive - list of people who died within Hinsdale County, Colorado, and were removed for burial elsewhere. The listing is based on information taken from Lake City newspapers and other sources, covering the period from the late 1870s through early 1960s. Any information concerning other deaths in Hinsdale County, but whose burials were elsewhere, would be sincerely appreciated. Please send information to silverw@centurytel.net.

The list is Copyrighted 2003 and may not be used without permission of Hinsdale County Historical Society. Contact the Society at P.O. Box 353, Lake City, CO 81235, for further information .

ABBOTT , DOROTHY - two-year old daughter of Jacob J. and Jenny (Farrington) Abbott, died at the family's Lake City home in August, 1896. Body returned to the family plot in Whitinsville, Massachusetts. Surviving members of the family were siblings Margaret, Dudley, Farrington, Jacob, Jr., Catherine, and Cushman.

ALDEN , GEORGE S. - Mr. Alden was proprietor of the stage station at Antelope Springs, located on the upper Rio Grande on the Antelope Park & Lake City Toll Road. He was shot and killed by Monte Moreland on April 29, 1878. Alden served as postmaster at Antelope Springs in 1877 but was replaced by Monte Moreland's mother, Mrs. Mary E. Crowley. The shooting was the result of an altercation between Mrs. Crowley and Mrs. Christina Alden in which Mrs. Alden suggested that a pretty hired girl kept by the Crowley's was intended as an enticement to customers. Mrs. Crowley responded by calling Mrs. Alden a hussy. George Alden then entered the fray, defending his wife and, as later alleged by Monte Moreland, calling Mrs. Crowley "a lying whore." Monte Moreland took up a .44 caliber pistol to defend his mother's honor; he was sentenced to seven years in the state penitentiary at Canon City for the murder. George Alden's body was temporarily buried at Alden Station but was removed to the cemetery at Del Norte, Colorado, in March, 1879.

ANDERSON , GUS - a miner at the Ute-Ulay, Anderson died of pneumonia in November, 1901. His body was shipped to Leadville, Colorado, for burial.

BAIRD , PETER T. - Baird died March, 1908, after swallowing a lethal dose of cyanide of potassium in Vickers' Senate Saloon. The poison was added to water which he drank as part of a whisky chaser, the prime suspect being Lake City attorney George D. Bardwell. Baird's body was returned to Neenah, Wisconsin, for burial; he was survived by his wife, Emma, and three children.

BAKER , LOIS - 19-year old daughter of Charles and Jane Baker, died August, 1904. Miss Baker was the fiancée of Lake City resident Frank Hough. Body sent to Canon City, Colorado, for burial.

BENNETT , FRANK C. - shot and killed November, 1881, in post-election dispute with J. O. Young, an employee of the Crooke Works. Bennett was unsuccessful Republican candidate for Hinsdale County Clerk & Recorder and was reportedly slandered by Young. The altercation occurred at Halloway's Comitt Saloon. Bennett questioned Young on his comments; Young said he couldn't recall, to which Bennett responded, "I think you are a liar." Bennett then struck Young with his hand and Young returned the blow. Bennett stumbled over a spittoon and was in a bent position when Young fired a 32-calibre bullet at point-blank range. Bennett lingered several days, dying "easily and probably unconsciously." Leaves loving mother, little son and a near and dear one he was engaged to marry. Remains placed in metallic case and taken to Bridgeport, Connecticut, by his brother-in-law, Will Kellogg.

BRICE, JOSH - 30-year old freighter was mortally injured October, 1913, in a runaway accident on Jory Hill, lower Lake Fork. Local survivors included his brother, Ira Brice, of Lake City. Burial took place at Unionville, Missouri.

BRUNER , ARTHUR - Bruner, age 23 years, came to Lake City from Creede, Colorado, and was employed on his first shift at the Black Crook Mine in October, 1902, when he fell in a shaft, striking and crushing his skull on a metal spike. The body was taken to Creede for burial.

BRYANT , DANIEL - 51-year old upper Lake Fork rancher committed suicide by shooting himself in June, 1938, at his ranch 15 miles from Lake City.
According to local lore, Mr. Bryant was despondent after his wife failed to cook him an egg for breakfast. Body taken to Montrose, Colorado, for burial. Survived by wife and three sons.

BURKE , MICHAEL B. - well known mine promoter, 72, died suddenly September, 1940. Burke's career as a mine promoter spanned a geographic area from Alma and Cripple Creek in Colorado, to the oil fields at Salt Creek, Wyoming. His best known Hinsdale County property was the Ute-Ulay on Henson Creek; he also acquired the old Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, operating the 36.7-mile route between Sapinero and Lake City as the San Cristobal Railroad between 1934 and 1937. Survivors were his wife, Julia, daughters Julia and Mary, and a son, Edmund. Miller Funeral Home of Gunnison arranged to transport the body from Lake City to Denver for burial.

BURTON , WILLIAM - Burton collapsed and died from exhaustion in May, 1906, after running to retrieve a toy hoop which had rolled down the hillside at the Ute-Ulay Mine. A 53-year old native of Derbyshire, England, Mr. Burton had worked as a mechanic at the Ute-Ulay. Body shipped to Denver for burial.

CAME, EDWARD - Mr. Came, 66, was found dead on the floor of his cabin near the Campbell Mine, Burrows Park, in July 1929. Body sent to Fairmount
Cemetery, Denver.

CRUTHERS , LEO BRYAN - 2-year old son of John and Ida Cruthers died April, 1900. Body sent to Pueblo, Colorado.

CHANCE , CARL L. - 32-year old resident of Wheatridge, Colorado, drowned at Waterdog Lake when his fishing boat capsized in July, 1963. In addition to Chance, Harry Shuffleberger also died in the accident. Bodies returned to Denver for burial.

COLER , L.A. - Coler was a 51-year old Denver resident who worked as a mill contractor. He died in March 1929, when the bunkhouse at the Empire Chief Mine on upper Henson Creek was struck by a massive snowslide. In addition to Coler, others killed in the snowslide were Keith Cutting, W. I. Wickersham, and H.E. Johnson. Rescuers dug the bodies out of the snow and transported the remains down Henson Creek on a sleigh. They were thawed out beside a wood burning stove in the lobby of the Pueblo House Hotel and then shipped to their respective homes. Coler's body was sent to Denver.

CUTTING , KEITH - killed with L.A. Coler, W. I. Wichersham, and H. E. Johnson in a snowslide at the Empire Chief Mine, March, 1929. Cutting, age 33, was unmarried and had previously lived at Gypsum, Colorado. His body was sent to Florence, Colorado, for burial.

DECK , JAMES W. - 60-year old Hinsdale County Sheriff, died January, 1914, and body shipped to Alvin, Illinois. Deck first came to Hinsdale County in 1884 and, in addition to politics, was involved in several area mines. Survivors included two sisters. "In such deaths we are constantly reminded of how transitory are earthly ties," the Lake City newspaper wrote.

DERST , HENRY - Derst died of pneumonia in February, 1898, and his body was shipped to his old home, Meadeville, Pennsylvania, for burial. He served as Cashier at Lake City's Miners & Merchants Bank from 1885 to 1896. J.C. Derst was listed as a brother of the deceased.

DILLEY , IRENE MUNDELL - wife of William Dilley, died of leakage of the heart in June, 1921. Age 18 years. She was the daughter of Charles and Susan Mundell, and was buried in Gunnison, Colorado.

DINSMORE , TELFORD W. - a teller at Miners & Merchants Bank, Dinsmore was 24 years old when he died of typhoid pneumonia in August, 1901. His father, Andrew Dinsmore, died in May of the same year as the result of an accident at the CF & I Orient Mine near Villa Grove, Colorado. Burial took place at Fairmount Cemetery in Denver.

FOSTER , KATE READY - 47-year old Pueblo, Colorado, resident, drowned in Farmers' Union Reservoir, upper Rio Grande, in July 1920. The body was
returned to Pueblo for burial.

GANNON , EDWARD V. - died in Lake City of influenza in February, 1920. Age 38 years. The body was shipped to Ouray, Colorado, for burial.

GANNON , MARGARET - widow of Edward W. Gannon who died in Grand Junction, Colorado, in 1911. Mrs. Gannon was 77 years old when she died in Lake City in March, 1926. Body to Grand Junction for burial.

GUEST , GEORGE W. - visitor at Pearl Lakes Summer Camp, died of heart attack in July, 1937. Age 51. Survived by wife, Lula Guest, who directed body shipped to Wichita, Kansas.

HOFFMAN, IDA YOUMANS - the wife of Dr. David S. Hoffman, Mrs. Hoffman was ailing two to three years prior to her death in April, 1893. She was 37 years, 7 months, and 18 days old. She came to Lake City with her parents, Vincent and Melissa (Gates) Youmans in 1883 and married Dr. Hoffman in August, 1885. Body to Lebanon, Pennsylvania, for burial. Dr. D.S. Hoffman married Mrs. Irene E. Elerick in Manitou Springs, Colorado, in June, 1899, and died at San Diego, California, in January, 1908. Mrs.Hoffman returned her husband's body to Pennsylvania and died in Denver, February, 1908, on her trip back to Colorado. She was interred at Manitou Springs.

HOWELL , S.S. - passenger on Denver & Rio Grande Railroad train between Lake City and Sapinero, died suddenly August 1, 1889. A brother of the deceased arrived to take the remains to Canon City, Colorado.

HUGHES , FRANK - blacksmith employed by James Watson, taken suddenly ill with pneumonia and died September, 1902. Age 27 years. A widower, his wife died a short time ago, leaving child about four years old. Son of Dennis Hughes, well known resident of Aspen, Colorado. Also leaves mother, sister and brother. Dennis O'Brien accompanied body to Aspen for burial.

JOHNSON , H. E. - Denver resident, age 55, worked as mill man at Empire Chief Mine on Henson Creek, died in March, 1929, snowslide with L.A. Coler, Keith Cutting, and W. I. Wickersham. Body to Denver for burial.

JOHNSON , NICHOLAS - fatally injured May, 1898, when he was struck and run over by three tram cars at the Ute-Ulay Mine, Henson Creek. "Undoubtedly he lost his presence of mind, for he stayed on the cars until he got close up to the loaded cars, coming down at great speed, and jumped in front of them." His widow, Emma Paulson Johnson, directed that the remains should be sent to Denver for burial.

KEANE , JACK - died October, 1962, with George Kleckner in single-engine airplane crash north of Lake City. Burial at Pagosa Springs, Colorado.

KENNEDY , WILLIAM H. - age 59, found dead at the Ocean Wave Mine in March, 1915. He was the victim of what was believed to be a heart attack. The body was taken to Denver for burial.

KILVERT, RICHARD J. - mine promoter and manager of the Ocean Wave Mine, died of bronchitis August, 1926. Age 66 years. Survived by wife, Mary Kilvert. Body to Fort Lupton, Colorado.

KLECKNER , GEORGE W. - Hinsdale County Commissioner George W. Kleckner, age 46, died with Jack Keane when their single engine airplane crashed on the northern edge of Lake City in October, 1962. Kleckner's survivors included his wife, Lucille, and sons Dennis, age 15, Roger, 11, and Scott, 10. Burial took place at Pagosa Springs, Colorado.

LAIR , GEORGE - blown to pieces with Edward McGraw in an explosion at the Ute Mine, November, 1899. "It is supposed that the boys were loading powder when the accident happened. Mr. Lair has a brother and mother living at Creede, Colorado. Both young men were well and favorably known here as upright and industrious miners... this sad accident has cast gloom over our camp." Robert Laird, brother, comes to Lake City to return the body to Creede for burial.

MARTIN, EMMA - Mrs. Martin's husband, G. W. Martin, was head of the Hanna Mining & Milling Company at Capitol City. She was 58 years old when she died of heart trouble in September, 1911. Burial took place at East Liverpool, Ohio.

MASON , DR. W. T. - died in May, 1900, after suffering from quinsy. Body shipped to Omaha, Nebraska.

McCARTHY , JACK and Patrick Sauce were killed in an explosion in the 8th Level of the Ute-Ulay Mine in March, 1893. McCarthy was a nephew of mine manager Patrick McCarthy. His father was killed in an explosion a short time earlier, it was reported, and five members of the McCarthy family had met death by accident. Jack McCarthy was formerly of Hancock, Michigan; body shipped to O'Neil, Nebraska.

McINTYRE , ANDREW - died at residence of his brother, Thomas McIntyre, in Crookeville December, 1882. Death the result of complications from pneumonia; age 24 years. Remains shipped to Chicago, Illinois, where two brothers reside. "He leaves a young wife and large circle of friends... may he rest in peace."

McKAY , CHARLES - died of pneumonia March, 1905, age 53 years. A Lake City resident 25 years, McKay's local career included ownership at different times of the Texas House Saloon, boarding house at the Palmetto Mine, Corner Saloon, Senate Saloon, and Bank Billiard Hall. He married Mrs. Mary E. Dunnegan in 1891. Survivors were his wife, step-daughter, Mrs. R. W. Taylor, granddaughter Ruth Guffey, an aged father, two brothers and a sister in Missouri. The funeral took place in Unionville, Missouri.

MURRAY , W. T. - shot and killed June, 1899. Earlier in the day he confronted a neighbor, John Halpin, who was accused of abusing his wife. Halpin threatened to "fix him" for knocking him down. Murray and his family were just sitting down to dinner at 9 p.m. when he heard a noise outside and walked to the window. "The report of a revolver, the falling back of the husband into the arms of his wife, quickly told the story." Mrs. Murray was crossing the bridge across Henson Creek to summon assistance when a shadowy figure attempted to push her into the raging water. Mr. Murray left his wife and two little children; interment took place at Cota Paxa, Huerfano, County.

NICCOLI, FRANK - Italian miner shot and killed himself in April, 1902, after murdering Mrs. Pauline Stockder at the Hidden Treasure Mine, Henson Creek. "What the motive of the fiend was no one can tell and it will probably never be known." Body shipped to Trinidad, Colorado, for burial. Francisco Niccoli, age 45, in 1900 Hinsdale County Census.

NORDQUIST, ERIC - 53, died of pneumonia at Meek Hospital in Lake City July, 1901, after being brought down from Black Crook Mine on Hotchkiss Mountain. He owned Mineral Farm group of mines at Silverton, Colorado. Bachelor. Body taken to Lindsborg, Kansas, for burial by brother, Andrew Nordquist. In addition to his brother, Andrew, of Lake City, he was survived by a sister in Lindsborg.

NORDQUIST , ANDREW - shot and killed by Patrick E. Donelan at Capitol City Saloon August, 1907. Nordquist asked for a bottle of beer, Donelan reached down behind the bar and drew a revolver, asking Nordquist, "How does this look to you?" Donelan was described as having a "quarrelsome disposition" and had previously shot a man in the head. It was stated he thought Nordquist was too friendly with his wife. Andy Nordquist listed his age as 49 in Hinsdale County's 1900 Census. Body shipped to Lindsborg, Kansas.

PRIDE , CATHARINE C. - mother of Jesse J. Pride, Mary Pride and Bertha Pride, died March, 1892, after several days severe illness. Age 66 years. Born Pennsylvania, moving successively to West Virginia, southern Kansas and Montrose, Colorado, prior to coming to Lake City summer 1891. Funeral from Presbyterian Church, after which J.J. Pride took remains to old home in Parkersburg, West Virginia, for interment.

QUINTANCE , RAYMOND ELMER - son of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Quintance, died February, 1896. He would have been nine months old the following Saturday. His sickness was considered dangerous from the first. Remains to Central City, Colorado, the former residence of the parents.

RAWLINGS , SHEDRACH - age 74 years, died March, 1910. Retired farmer succumbed to LaGrippe shortly after arriving in Lake City to visit his brother, second hand dealer G. W. Rawlings. Jonathan Rawlings of Salida, Colorado, arrives to take body to Olney, Illinois, for burial.

ROACH, THOMAS - well known lower Lake Fork rancher, died at the home of W. O. Baker north of Lake City in January, 1918. He was in the neighborhood of 70 years old. Burial at Odd Fellows & Masons Cemetery, Gunnison, Colorado.

ROODY , OLIVER MARION - Hinsdale County Road & Bridge employee, died with Joe Halpin, age 33, and Lee Franklin Williams, 37, October, 1930, in a dynamite explosion on the northern edge of Lake City. Roody was a pipe smoker and is thought to have dumped his pipe out on a dynamite box on which the men were seated. Body parts were blown throughout the town and local children were given 10-cents for collecting the remains. Roody was survived by his wife, Elizabeth, who directed that the remains should be sent to Montrose, Colorado, for burial.

SHUFFLEBERGER , HARRY - resident of Westminister, Colorado, age 47 years. See CHANCE, CARL L.

SHULL , BLANCHE WALLACE - wife of Lake City dentist Dr. Luther Edward Shull, died of influenza February, 1920, age 44. Miss Blanche Wallace married Dr. Shull in Chicago, Illinois, in October, 1911. Body to old home in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. Dr. Shull's first wife was Miss Hoddie Lemley who died in 1910; Dr. Shull practiced dentistry in Lake City from 1911 to 1923 when he relocated to Castle Rock, Colorado. He married Helen S. Wiggins in 1923 and was buried Crown Hill Cemetery, Denver, following his death in 1940.

SHULL , LUCINDA GUTHRIE - widow of Abraham Shull and mother of Dr. L. E. Shull. Died of diabetes March, 1922, age 71. The body was shipped from Lake City to Green County, Pennsylvania.

SODERHOLM, IDA MARY O'BRIAN - born Marshall, Missouri, January, 1864, and to Colorado in 1884. She had resided in Lake City since 1891 and died October, 1955, after three years illness. Mrs. Ida Carrothers married E.W. Soderholm in 1906, the couple managing a general merchandise store and tourist court. Burial took place at Roselawn Cemetery in Pueblo, Colorado. E.W. Soderholm died at Hill Haven Home, Colorado Springs, Colorado, January, 1962, and was buried at Pueblo.

TAYLOR, ARCHIBALD - native of Canada, age 71 years, fatally injured June, 1902, while driving the Capitol City stage on Henson Creek. Mr. Taylor fell from the stage and received fatal injuries when a wheel of the wagon passed over his head. Survived by wife, two daughters and three sons, including Lake City businessman Robert W. Taylor. Body to Ouray, Colorado, for burial. A daughter, Kate Taylor Wright, wife of C.C. Wright, died at Durango, Colorado, in 1908; two sons, Hugh Taylor and Campbell D. Taylor, died respectively in 1912 at Montrose, Colorado, and 1909 in Ouray.

VERNON, CLARA BELLE CHAVERS - born September, 1892, died August, 1928, in a single vehicle accident 15 miles north of Lake City, three miles above Gateview. A Chevrolet coup driven by her husband, James L. Vernon, plunged off a curve of the road. Mrs. Vernon was crushed after being ejected from the car. Husband and 15-year old daughter, Elma May, were not injured. J.L. Vernon was charged with drunken driving and was sentenced to 30 days in jail and fined $100. Mrs. Vernon was survived by her mother, Mrs. C. Chavers, Salida, Colorado, and sister, Mrs. Ed Boots. The body was shipped to Salida for burial. James L. Vernon died at Telluride, Colorado, in March, 1950.

VITTLE , HENRY - 32-year old saloon keeper at the Colorado Saloon, Silver Street, died May, 1900, after being shot twice by Dr. R.O. Lacey. Vittle reprimanded Lacey for breaking a glass, Lacey responding by shooting him. "Vittle uttered a cry and fell with his head just outside the bar." A coroner's inquest determined that Dr. Lacey had been drinking for some time and was drunk when he fired the shots; he was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and spent one year in the county jail. Vittle's body was shipped to Denver for burial. Survivors were his parents, two brothers and a sister.

WALBURG, FRANK E. - killed in snowslide 1/4-mile from Empire Mine, Henson Creek, February, 1932, age 35 years. Walburg was working for the Townsend Lead & Zinc Company. The body wasn't recovered until May. Survived by wife, Daisy, who asked the body to be sent to Denver for burial.

WALENCICK , TONY (also VALENICK, ANTONIE) - Austrian miner, age 45, killed by cave-in at 5th level Hidden Treasure Mine in April, 1918. Leaves family in Firestone, Colorado, to which place body shipped.

WICKERSHAM, W. I. - mill man at Empire Chief Mine, age 55 years, died in snowslide at Empire Chief March, 1929. Others killed in the snowslide were L.A. Coler, H.E. Johnson, and Keith Cutting. Body to Montrose, Colorado, for burial.

WILCOX , L.S. (RAYMOND) - salesman for Burroughs Adding Machine Co, found dead in his room at the Pueblo House July, 1926. Wilcox, 29, reported a difficult auto trip to Lake City from Creede, Colorado; after leaving his car at the garage, he returned to the hotel in an apparently intoxicated condition and was shown to his room. It was later determined he died as the result of carbolic acid poisoning, presumably the unintentional result of buying moonshine from a local vendor. The whisky seared his throat and burned through to his stomach. Wilcox was a college graduate who served as an aviator in France during the war.
Survived by wife and three small children; father, Dr. Charles F. Wilcox, a prominent Salt Lake City, Utah, physician. Body to Salt Lake City for burial.

WILEY, EDWARD WOODS - 68-year old quartz miner died of heart problems in August, 1920. He was a native of Mansfield, Ohio, where he was born in 1852. Survived by wife, Viola S. Wiley. Burial took place at Canon City, Colorado.

WOOD, BESSIE - 24, daughter of Lake City attorney Buel R. Wood, died of tuberculosis April, 1910. Spent majority of life in the Black Hills of South Dakota, past few years in Lake City. "Clever, amiable girl, well liked by everyone who knew her." Remains to Montrose, Colorado, for burial beside mother.

ZACHARIAS , GUS. H. - born in Maryland 68 years ago, died in Lake City May, 1909. Civil War Veteran who came to Lake City in 1876. Locator of St. Jacobs Mine at Carson and Black Crook Mine, said to have spent $80,000 of his own money in various mining ventures. Elected to State Senate from Hinsdale County for one term. Albert Zacharias, brother, takes body to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, for burial; body escorted from Beam undertaking parlors in Lake City to railroad depot by the old soldiers and other citizens.

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