Kit Carson County, Colorado
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Kit Carson County Pioneers:

William H. and Louella (Van Housen) Lavington, 8 South 50 West






In 1875 Onondaga County, New York, George F. Price is farming 47, born in England, wife Emily 28, Henry 13, George M. 10, Charles 5, Willis 1. Niece Emma Lavington 17, is also with them.
In 1880 Onondaga County, George T. Price is 52, Emily H. 43, Henry E.F. 19, George M. 15, Charles E. 10, and Willis L. 5.
Willis Price was William's brother-in-law.

In 1880 Onondaga County, New York, Edward T. Price is 52, Martha Price 41, Irvin Price 7, Agness Price 3, and nephew William Lavington is 21. Mariah Smith is 84.

Also in 1880 Onondaga County, Stephen Van Husen is 46, Hachel Van Husen 36, Charles H. Van Husen 18, and Luella Van Husen 16.

William H. Lavington and Ella "Vanhosen" married in Syracuse, New York on March 14, 1888.


William claimed 160 acres in section 29, 8S 50W in 1891.

In 1910 Flagler, William H. Lavington is a merchant, 51, Ella I. Lavington 45, Leon E. Lavington 20, Anna M. Lavington 17, and Charles S. Lavington 12. Rachael S. Van Heusen is widowed, 67.

After they moved to Flagler, Mr. John Lipford worked for W. H. Lavington in his store and also owned a clothing store for awhile in what is now the Pool Hall on Main Avenue.

The "How it Was" site has a nice photo of "Cowboys working for the MET Ranch at Riverbend about 8-10 miles west of Lymon, Colorado. The crew consisted of Left to Right, George Epperson, Lafey Brafford, Albert Fisher, Frank Edwards, Will Strode, Ed Beaver. Information provided by Jay Strode. "
Strode wrote "One time Lafe Brafford and Albert Fisher were driving a bunch of cattle to Lavington's Ranch from Flagler. They came to an old fellow's house. The gate was open so Fisher rode up to get in the gate and keep the cows out of the old man's yard. He asked Albert how many cows they were driving and Fisher said about one hundred fifty head. When Lafe came along behind the cows he asked him too, how many cattle they had. Lafe told him five hundred. The old fellow said, "Oh yes, that Fisher boy is not very truthful!" Fisher had told the truth -- they had about one hundred fifty head.
Lafe Brafford and I were at Lavington's one winter -- 1898 and 1899. We didn't have much riding to do one day. It was snowing and we were in the ranch house doing nothing. We saw a coyote coming down the hill toward the house. The coyote came to where we had thrown our scraps from the table. Brafford got the rifle and I opened the door so he could shoot. He emptied the gun and never came near the coyote. I told him I knew I could do better than that. "

1903

1905

Since its construction in 1909, by W.L. Price and W.H. Lavington, the building has housed a variety of functions important to the community's growth. From 1909 to approximately 1930, the building operated as a hotel.


Hal Borland's fine "Country Boy" book includes:









1918

June 1921 Estes Park, " Mr. and Mrs., Leon E. Lavington, three children and maid arrived in the Park today and are the guests of the W. A. Dixon family. Mr. Lavington is a Beta and expects to enjoy the housewarming given by that Fraternity of Boulder at the Baldpate Inn the 3 rd, 4 th and 6 th. He will return to his home in Flagler, Colo., Monday, leaving his family to enjoy a visit at the parental home.

July 1923 Estes Park, "Mrs. I. E. Lavington and three children of Flagler, Colorado, are spending the summer in the Park with her mother, Mrs. W. A. Dixon. Mrs. Lavington attended the Pi Beta Phi convention that was recently in session at the Stanley Hotel.

July 1926 Estes Park "Mrs. Walter Dixon will entertain at a bridge party this afternoon at the Country Club in honor of her daughter, Mrs. Leon E. Lavington. Invitations have been sent to ninetysix.

May 1928 Estes Park "Mrs. Leon E. Lavington, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter A. Dixon, came to the Park the first of the week to get the Dixon cottage, Dixonia, ready for the coming of Mr. and Mrs. Dixon the latter part of the week.

December 1930 Estes Park "The many friends of Mr. and Mrs. Walter A. Dixon were shocked to hear of the sudden death of Mrs. Dixon Wednesday morning from a heart attack. She was 64 years of age. For some time both Mr. and Mrs. Dixon have been invalids, but always cheerful, They have been making their home at the Shirley-Savoy Hotel in Denver. For some years the Dixons have owned property in Estes Park, including a lovely summer home for themselves which they have used considerably during the summer seasons until the past three years. Both were greatly loved by all who knew them. Services will be held Saturday at 2 o’clock in the Olinger drawing room, Speer Boulevard at Sherman. Interment will take place at Fairmount cemetery. Mrs. Dixon is survived by her husband, at Denver; a daughter, Marjorie D. Lavington, Flagler, Colorado; a sister, Mrs. Sadie Stackpoole, Syracuse, N Y.; and a brother, J. Willet Fox, of Yonkers, N. Y.

August 1935 Estes Park "Mrs. Charles Lavington with Buddie and Bobbin of Denver, Mrs. W. H. Lavington of Flagler, Colo., Mrs. F. W. Deidesheimer of Denver, and Miss Barbara Honnecke also of Denver are spending their vacation at the Dixon cabin.

June 1943 Estes Park "Mr. and Mrs. Leon Lavington, Jr., and son, Lee, of Denver are spending their vacation at the Lavington summer home in the Village.

May 1945 Estes Park " Mrs. Leon E. Lavington, wife of the state auditor and summer resident of Estes Park, has been chosen by the Golden Rule Foundation as their choice for Colorado mother of 1945 in connection with the annual observance of Mother’s day, May 13. The election was announced Saturday. The Golden Rule Foundation is a nonpartisan and nonprofit group. The family home is on Chiquita Lane in the Village.
1936 "Marvin Duyne Lanney of the community south of Schramm was sentenced to not more than ten years in the State Reformatory at Buena Vista, Colo., for the theft of corn from the John Pletcher ranch and sold to W. H. Lavington of Flagler, Colo., last week.
Lanney was pursued for 374 miles before the county sheriff took him in to custody at Byers, Colo., close to Denver. Lanney received $33.60 f or the stolen corn." "


William Henry Lavington, born March 5, 1859 in New York, mother's maiden name Price, died in Los Angeles County on March 12, 1940. He is buried in Denver # 29134o607, with Louella 1864-1936 # 29134608.
"Louella "Ella" Isabel Van Heusen Lavington was the daughter of Captain Stephen Van Heusen and Rachel DeLong Van Heusen. After marrying William Henry "W.H." Lavington, on March 14th, 1888 in Syracuse, NY, they went by the Rock Island Railroad to establish Flagler, Colorado; where they opened the first general store and became prominent business owners. Ella gave birth to the first child born in Flager, Leon Lavington Sr., and spent several years on the school board of education."

ANNA

In 1900 Thurman precinct - just north of Kit Carson County, Joseph H. Seal is 44, Mary L. Seal 37 Wife, Charles M. Seal 17 Son, Cresson A. Seal 16 Son, Clyde V. Seal 10 Son, Carrie M. Seal 3 Daughter, and William G. Budd 63 Father in Law (Father-in-law).

Yuma, Colorado, January 1909 "J. D. Given and Clyde Seal of Thurman were in this neighborhood yesterday."

In 1910 Flagler, Cressie A. Seal is 24, Audrey J. Seal 21 Wife, Cecil C .Seal 0 Son, and Clyde V. Seal 20 Brother, working in a hardware store.
Seal, Clyde V. 28, of Flagler married Lavington, Anna M., 21, also of Flagler, on 11/5/1913 in Flagler. Witnesses were Mabel Seal and Leon E Lavington.

February 1914 "Bert Campbell is digging a well for Clyde Seal at Flagler."

August 1915 " Clyde Seal sold his big Studebaker car to Thos. Tuttle, of Arriba, last week. Flagler News"

Clyde claimed two quarters in section 19, 9S 50W in 1915.

June 1917

In 1920 Denver, Clyde V. Seal is a traveling salesman, 28, Anna Seal 26 Wife, Marjorie Seal 4 Daughter, Evelyn Seal 3 Daughter, Maurine Seal 1 Daughter, Mabel Keller 22 Sister, and Ward C. Wilson 33 Roomer.

In 1930 Flagler, Clyde V. Seal is a car salesman, 40, Anna M. Seal 37 Wife, Marjorie H. Seal 15 Daughter, Evelyn M. Seal 14 Daughter, Maurice A. Seal 11 Daughter, Marie Farquhar 32 Lodger, Charles Forrest 20 Lodger, David J. Gemmake 57 Lodger, Mary J. Durland 73 Guest, and Clara M. Wood 69 Guest.

In 1940 Flagler, Clyde V. Seal 50 is a salesman, Anna M. Seal 49 Wife, both in Los Angeles in 1935.

Clyde Vaughan Seal BIRTH 1890 DEATH 1942 (aged 51–52) BURIAL Fairmount Cemetery Denver, Denver County, Colorado, PLOT Blk 60 MEMORIAL ID 29134697.

Anna Marguerite Lavington born June 20, 1892 in Flagler, died August 18, 1981 in Santa Clara County, California.


LEON

In 1910 Denver, Walter A. Dixon is 45, Etta F. Dixon 43, Marjorie A. Dixon 19, and Emma Dixon 76.

" Lavington, Leer E., Ford Agency and Garage, Flagler. Mr. Lavington was born in the county in 1889, and married Marjorie. Dixon. They have three children."

September 1922 "Mr. and Mrs. W.A. Dixon, known to many of our Estes Park people and visitors, will spend a portion of the winter at least at Yonkers, New York, with Mr. Dixon's mother, leaving California the middle of this month. En route, they will stop in Denver and visit their daughter, Mrs. L.E. Lavington at Flagler, Colorado. They hope to greet their friends in Estes Park next season. "

Leon is also buried in Denver 1889-1961 # 54691328.
"Leon Edward Lavington was the first child born in Flagler, Colorado, and became the first mayor when the town was incorporated. He graduated from the University of Colorado in 1915 before becoming President of the First National Bank of Flagler. Later, he served as the Colorado State Purchasing Agent, Auditor of the State, and State Treasurer before running for Governor (R 1946). Lavington Park is named in his honor."

Lavington, Leon E. jr. of Flagler and Browink, Louise of Fort Morgan married 6/20/1939 in Fort Morgan.

Dorothy Louise Brourink was born July 24, 1915 in Greenfield, Adair County, Ioa to Roy Russell Brourink and Edith Payton.

In 1930 Fort Morgan, Roy R. Brourink is 41, Edith Brourink 38, Louise Brourink 14, born in Iowa, and John Brourink 11.
(Roy is buried in Fort Morgan 1887-1952 # 75888914, with Edith Agnes Payton Brourink 1890-1984.)
"Roy R. Brourink, 63, superintendent of schools at Fort Morgan, Colo. the past 22 years, and a former resident of Bedford, died in a Denver, Colo., hospital July 17. Services and burial were in Fort Morgan Saturday, July 19.
A native of Blanchard, Iowa, Roy was a graduate of Simpson College, Indianola. He taught school at Villisca and was superintendent of schools at Greenfield before moving with his family to Bedford in 1920. He was engaged in the real estate and insurance business here and was associated with the late Fred E. Payton. He was an active member of the Methodist church here and was a past master of Taylor Lodge No. 156, A. F. & A. M. He was also a member of the Bedford school board.
In 1924 he moved with his family to Fort Morgan and had been employed continuously by the Fort Morgan schools since that time, first as principal and later as superintendent.
Survivors include his wife of Fort Morgan; a daughter, Louise, who is married and resides in Flagler, Colo.; a son, Jack, who is married and lives in Cheyenne, Wyo., where he is engaged in the clothing business; two grandchildren of Flagler, Colo.; and a sister, Mrs. Ernest Miller, of Blanchard, Iowa.
Mrs. Brourink will be remembered here as the former Miss Edith Payton. Her sister, Edna, now Mrs. Clyde Barton of Pawnee City, Nebr., will also be remembered here. Their father, Howard Payton, formerly of Bedford, has resided in Fort Morgan for many years."


"W. H. Payton of Fort Morgan, Colo., for many years a resident of the Bedford community, died at his home February 22. Funeral services were held in Fort Morgan Saturday afternoon and the body was brought to Bedford, where short services were held at Fairview cemetery at three o'clock Monday afternoon, February 25. Rev. Carl Stiefel officiated at the Bedford service. The body was placed in the mausoleum.
William Howard Payton was born in Woodhull, Ill., Feb. 27, 1865 and died at the age of 91 years, 11 months, 22 days. His parents were early settlers in Taylor County, Iowa, where they moved when he was 10 years of age. He was educated in Iowa rural schools.
In 1887 he was married to Jennie Hunter, who died in 1923. In 1925 he was married to Mrs. Margaret Hunter who died in 1932.
His early life was spent farming near Bedford. In 1912 he moved to Lincoln, Nebr., where he assisted in experimental cattle feeding at Nebraska State Agriculture College and in 1923 he moved to Fort Morgan, Colo., where he farmed northeast of town until his retirement a few years ago.
He was a life-long member of the Methodist Church.
Survivors are two daughters, Mrs. Edith Brourink of Fort Morgan and Mrs. Edna Barton of Pawnee City, Nebr., three grandchildren, Louise Lovington of Flagler, Colo., Mary Humphrey of Omaha, Jack Brourink of Phoenix, Ariz.; six great grandchildren.

Leon 1916-1959 is buried in Wheat Ridge, # 93588061, with Louise "BIdurink" Lavington 1915-1993 # 93588426.

'Leon Edward Lavington was former city councilman and Mayor of Flagler, Colorado. He was a track star and lettered in football in 1935, 1936, and 1937 (#17, Defensive End) at the University of Colorado at Boulder. After graduation, he was drafted by the National Football League in 1938 to play for the Cardinals in Chicago. He was the third player in University of Colorado history to have been drafted. Later, Lavington was manager of Joe "Awful" Coffee's Ringside Lounge in Denver."

CHARLES

North Denver High School
Charles and Marguerite B. Deidesheimer married in Denver on Dec 28, 1921.

"Two of the Beta Mu alumnae were married during the holiday season. .... Marguerite Deidesheimer was married December 28 to Charles L. Lavington of Beta Theta Pi. "

In 1940 Denver Charles S. Lavington is a geologist, 42, Marguerite D. Lavington 41, Charles S. Lavington 11, Robert W. Lavington 8, and Marguerite Deidesheimer 58.

"MARGUERITE BABETTE DEIDESHEIMER LAVINGTON (Mrs. Charles S.), Colorado, died November 20, 1945, in Denver, Colorado. "


In 1952 Marguerite Deidesheimer Lavington had a recipe for oyster stew in the Kappa Kappa Gamma cookbook.

Deidesheimer, Marguerite Mrs. 25 Mar 1955 obituary in the Denver Post.

Charles S. Lavington 1898-1988 is buried in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Marguerite is likely buried there, too.
Charles about 1970 Henrietta Veeh (Wiltrout) 1899-1999 is buried in Norton, Kansas. "Henrietta Wiltrout Lavington, 100, Norton, died Thursday, Dec. 9, 1999, at Norton County Hospital, Norton. Mrs. Lavington was born Henrietta Veeh on Feb. 7,1899, at Arlington, Minn., and was a longtime resident of Norton. She taught school for five years and served as the Norton County Clerk for almost 20 years. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Norton, the J.J. Embroidery Club and the Society of Mayflower Decendents. She was a 50-year member and Past Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star, a charter member of the Norton Federated Study Club and a past member of the B.P.W.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Thomas Wiltrout in 1963; her second husband, Charles S. Lavington in 1970; and a grandson. Survivors include a daughter, Carman Lesh of Norton; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. "

Bob Lavington, 85, passed away just past midnight on Oct. 23, 2017 with his family by his side.
Bob was born in Denver in March of 1932, to Charles and Marguerite Lavington. He grew up in the Park Hill neighborhood, earned his Eagle Scout in Troop 28, graduated from East High School and attended Colorado State University to earn degrees in agriculture and geology. Bob was very proud to be an Agie. At CSU Bob met the love of his life, Nancy and together they raised five children.
Bob dutifully served two years in the U.S. Army at the end of the Korean War. He traveled extensively across the western United States. He sailed the Inside Passage to Skagway and ventured about Alaska with Nancy for their 40th anniversary. Bob and Nancy toured Peru for their 50th anniversary with Patti, Matt and Victoria. However, Bob's greatest adventure was sailing the Transpac with his brother Chuck and nephew Randy Edgar.
In his formative years Bob spent several seasons sleuthing hydrocarbons with his father, a senior exploration geologist at Continental Oil, in and about the wild landforms of southern Utah. Bob followed his father to work in exploration geology for PanAm Petroleum in North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado. Bob also worked with XO Petroleum and Home Petroleum in Denver. Bob received his Certificate of Independent Oil Geologist from the AAPG. Bob enjoyed the rigors of well-site geology, and the wide-open expanses of sagebrush prairie where the very distant horizons could touch the crest of mountain ranges or extend seemingly without limits. And where each morning's sunrise framed the vastness and embellished the sense of freedom and wildness of the western landscapes. Bob and Nancy shared with their children this great love and appreciation for the beauty and freedom of the west. Most notably, securing Nancy's parents' home in Grand Lake to provide his offspring many summers of countless adventures in and around the Rocky Mountain National Park.
Bob was a rock, a Grand Lake patriot and a steadfast and generous provider. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, brother Charles Jr. (Chuck) and son Craig Alan. Bob is survived by his wife of 64 years, Nancy, his daughter Suzann Speer (Michael), sons Matt (Patti), Chris (Elaine), and Steve. He was wonderfully proud of his seven grandchildren; Sarah, Mathew, Kristen, Victoria Chuck, Wilder and Lindsay and four great-grandchildren; Abigail, Tanner, Veranika and Leona.

Grand Lake Cemetery "Lavington, Craig, 3/28/1965 - 2/2/1972"

Charles Jr. was in Long Beach, California with Sandra.
"Services for Arthur Burdette Cusick, 88, were held Saturday, Oct. 24 at Family Praise Fellowship in Riverside, CA. He died Monday, Oct. 19, 1998 of kidney failure. Crestlawn Mortuary in Riverside was in charge of arrangements. Arthur Burdette Cusick was born in Burbank in 1910, and attended schools in Burbank and Vermillion. He farmed until moving to California in 1960, where he was employed by the Azusa Unified School District, and owned a steam cleaning equipment sales and service in Duarte, CA. He loved music and played the clarinet in high school and in his church. He was also a lover of animals. He was a member of Family Praise Fellowship in Riverside, CA. He is survived by his wife, Faye; two sons, Donnie of La Palma, CA, and Orvan of Upland, CA; two daughters, Sandra Lavington of Long Beach, CA, and Janice Cox of Riverside, CA; 11 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren; a sister, Dorothy Herron of Williamsburg, VA; a brother, Harold Cusick, of Mesa, AZ; and a host of friends."

This page is maintained by Steve Stein.