Rocky Ford enterprise. (Rocky Ford, Colo.) 1887-1950, 1902-09-19
Hon. Jsns. H. Peabody. Republican Candidate for


in the ioeal street car system. has been
s.d by him IN person.
His cniir, life since the acquisition OF
his cnurIuous wealth has h--n marked
by un6s,rataitan and retirement. or
quiet tastes. hc gathered about him
fewer intimate friends than could lsr
counted ou the hand and lived his life
in utter @cCitsiun. Tile only reminder
OF his presence to- the public was the
constant, aid given to charity. his beng
factions in tile way q public Improve
mcnis. His evenings IN the winter
wc'c spent ryGadir. ani smoking or
chatting in his library with few
friends. Ills bedtime was about psn.
In summer chat with friend on the
broad. cpbl porch preceded lis su:iEr.
mcnt about 1000.
The only hoy Iu family OF mine chil.
tircn. Winfield Scott Sirattdn. was born
in JcIfcrsonviiic. Indiana. July 80. ISIS.
Ills father was mechanic lub
drnurhtsmau. partner in firm OF
boat builders. nHd after mn education
in the city schools that lasted from his
fifth to lis seventeenth year. young
Winfield. following his natural bent for
mechanics. served an apprenticeship OF
three years at the same work.
tn the summer OF 1SIs. when he was
twcnty-fdur years OF age. liz left Lin
colin, Nebraska. for the Pixies peak IT,
EiUn In this state. arriving tn Colorado
Springs in August OF that year. with
cash capital OF $500. lie soon So.
cured work at his trade. hut on account
OF the close proximity uf the mountains
became Interested in prospecting. nui
the next year made his first venture Il:
mining.
n. ,....., ~ ,,,,... ,,,i,,tn,. L., ,i,.,
san Juan aud his winters pounding in
his carpenter shop in Colorado springs.
While doing the practical work VI
miner Mr.. Strntton studied geology
and mineraloRy. and in 1891 took a
course IN assaying at Colorado College.
Aftcr becoming thoroughly cJnvcTsant
with the blow pipe. the practicable pro-
cess for proSpcciurs. lie went to BrcCk-
CnfiIigc aud secured employment in the
Nnshold mill. and there mastered the
process OF treating gold ores by ANAL
gamation.
His rcvcrscs and successes until the
location OF the famous Independence
mine on Battle mountain. on July !.
1891. are matters NJ mining history OF
the state; and his development and sub
scuucnt sale Of the big property to an
English syndicate for Si0.uOO.ODO Is still
AlNNlA li va hhE I'HNhE
Colorado. The millions that lie secured
from the sale OF the Independence he
invested in weil-IuCaied Cripple Greek.
Colorado Springs aud Denver proper
tics. always pursuing the same con.
seTvntivc policy that had marked him
through life.
Stratton was married soon after he
came TO Colorado Springs. Thirty years
ago. but ON account Of differences with
his wife he was divorced about 1878.
lie had one son, who Is still living with
his mother. who has since been mar
ricd. and they reside at JCfTersonvillc,
Illinois.
Mrs. Jennie s. Cobb Of san Jose.
California. n sister. Is the only surviv-
ing member of MIR. STATIONS family.
Mrs. Cob formerly resided in Colorado
Springs and Mr.. Stratton made his
home with her and another sister for
several years. The other sister subse-
quently died and was buried in Ever
green cemetery. and Mrs. Cobb re-
moved to California. She has two
daughters. Lillian AMI Marian Cobb.
both of whom were well known in Col
orndo Springs. Lillian Cobb married
n wealthy man of st. Louis and is
now a resident of that city. Marian
Cobb married man in California. her
name now being Mrs. Smith. Mr..
Stratton has two other nicces and two
nephews, the children of a deceased