The Elbert County tribune., 1906-11-22
CEN. WEST DEAD
COLORADO LOSES PIONEER Epi-
TOR AND VETERAN.
THE AGE OF EIGHTYYEARs
Captain Second Colorado Cavalry
Founder Of Colorado Transcripts AZ
ooiden-AdJutant General OF Colo

Captain Second Colorado Cavairy-
Founder Of Colorado Transcript At
ooidsn-AdJutant General Of Colo
RADIO.
Golden, Colorado.-Gen. oeorgs
West, war veteran and pioneer editor.
founder OF the Colorado Transcript.
died at his home here at $3.50 O'CLOCK
Thursday afternoon, at the ripe oid
age OF eighty years and seven days
He celebrated his eightieth anniver
sary election day and was able 70 GET
cut and vote to commemorate the
event. but during the afternoon he
was taken with sinking spell ana
never left his bed again.
General West was one OF the bess
known characters OF Colorado, and
has served the people faithfully In
several public positions. He was born
in New Hampshire. and at an early
age learned the printers trade on the
old CIaremont Eagle. Later he was
employed on the Boston Transcript.
working in almost every department.
OF that paper.
In 1859, with a party Of Bostonians,
he landed in Golden, and was mem
Der of the company that built the nrst
business house in this city. the
building still stands and will for many
years be a monument to his memory.
Besides being engaged in mercantile
business at that time. he started the
first express line between Golden and
Denver.
He soon began to long for the news
paper business again, and established
a weekly paper here called the West
ern Mountaineer, but after two year,
sold 1t to enter the service OF the
United States in the Civil War al
captain of Company F, Second Colo
rado Cavalry. He served with distino
tion until the close OF the war. when
he returned to Colorado and accepted
a position as city editor OF the DEN
yer News
In November, 1866. he came back to
Golden and started the Colorado
Transcript, and has since been con
stantly at Its head. He has been
president of the Colorado Editorial
Association and for several years past
has been its historian.
When Governor Adams went into
ONCE in 1887, he appointed General
West ndjutant general of the Colorado
National Guard. He was at the front
with the state troops suppressing In
dian uprisings in the White river
country during the Ute war In 1887
and It was at that time he was given
the sobriquet of "Give EN- Hell
West" which title has since remained
with him.
The manner in which he won hill
sobriquet was interesting. He hat
sent the troops of the national guard
into the White river country. A re
port was sent to him at the state
house that the Indians had fired upon
the troops. General West wired bach
characteristic reply, as follows:
I'm coming. Give 'em hell"
Governor Orman appointed General
West president OF the board Of trus
tees of the Soldiers Home at Monte
Vista. During his four-year term hs
took personal interest in the AFFAIR."
of the home, and the old soldiers re
gretted to see him retire from the
board. He has also served a term on
the board of control of the Industrial
School for Boys.
He was a prominent member oi
Dodd Post, G. A. R., Of Golden, and
served several terms as commander
besides filing other important posi-
tions.
Few pioneers In Colorado to-day but
are familiar with his early days in
this state. He started across the
plains to the Pixies Peak gold regions
crossing the Missouri river at st
Joseph April 1st, with OK teams. his
party consisting of fifteen men, known
as the Boston company.
Before reaching Fort Kearney they
met many stampeders coming bach
from the mines, and eight of his party,
discouraged by unfavorable reports
turned back, but West kept on The
incident only served to indicate the
indomitable character of the man
who was strong In every emergency
His personal acquaintance in the
West was of the widest and he was
admired by all for his fine ability and
sturdy character.
General West was married to Miss
Eliza Boyd of Golden, who, with two
children, Harley d. West, local editor,
and Marguerite, wife of George NJ.
kimball, associate editor of the
Transcript, survive him.