Semi-weekly herald., 1909-01-25

durango, COLO.
Harry Schiller died of heart failure
last night.
HENRY ]. ARNOLD.
The news conveyed so tersely in the
above dispatch will be great shock
to the community for Durango has
always claimed Harry Schiller. from
the day when he came, some twenty
eight years ago, up to the present.
Even after he departed to Pueblo and
later to Denver, old timers have con
sidered Mr.. Schiller as really belong
ing TO Durango.
1t is hard for those who knew him
well 10 realize that genial Harry Schif.
fer has gone, and that they will meet
his friendly spirit no more until they,
too, cross the river whose ripples lap
the shores of eternity But three
weeks ago one of our business men,
A. P. Camp. saw him in Denver. Then
his health seemed never better. To
day, he has passed beyond our ken.
On Jan. %, 1S49, sixty years ago
tomorrow, the baby, who afterwards
became one of Durangos foremost cit
| izens and whose life was contempo-
raneous with the early history of the
| town, was born In New York city. He
| received his education in eastern
schools. and as so many young men
did, came west to grow up with the
country.
The memory of Durango friends,
reaches back to the late COS when he
was running a general store at Eliz-
abethtown. a New Mexico mining
camp. near Cimmaron. In 1871 he
was in Del Norte. member of the
firm of H. Schiller & Co., a general
supply store, and the largest mercan.
tile concern In the southwest at that
time. Herman Schiller. his cousin,
the other parener, is now deceased.
| In 1878, the firm established a
branch house in Alamosa and Harry
went down to take charge of it. The
year 1879 saw his marriage to Nettie
Duncan, in Del Norte In 1880 Harry
withdrew from the firm, the Alamosa
branch being sold to John Gerteisen.
Mr.. and Mrs. Schiller came TO Du-
range in 1881 and the former became a
partner of the firm Ed Schiller G. Co..
the other partner being his brother,
Ed, who was accidentally killed some
years ago.
In 1888 Mr.. Schiller built his resi-
dence now owned and occupied by DR..
Haggart and here his children, three
girls, Nettie, Edna and May, were
born. The latter is the wife of DR..
Stewart, also former resident of
this city. and lives in Denver. Nettie
married Oscar Hubbell and is now in
Omaha. May. is still at home with
her mother, the family residence beng
1899 Adams street. Denver.
While Mr., Schiller was a good busi
| ness man. at the same time he was
Intensely public spirited and found
prise that furthered the growth of the
town. His business ventures pros.
pered and his ample means aided
many an unfortunate who but for time
ly assistance would have been down
and out Mr.. Schiller had many
friends-still has them, for their re.
gard has not changed-and SO far as
any one knows no enemies. He was
friend to everyone who needed a
friend, liked everybody, and every.
body liked him.
MT. Schiller was member of the
Durango school board for the years
lS94-97, succeeding A. r. Lewis. He
belonged to the San Juan Pioneers
association, Joining in Durango, in the
year 1896. The time before the last
meeting. he made the trip from Den
yer to attend, and wrote that he would
be present at the gathering In Du-
range last September, but when the
time came, he was unable to come
OH account of sickness.
Our friend also served his fellow
citizens as postmaster. filling an un.
expired term of Ed steans, and
afterwards succeeded himself for a
four year term during Cleveland's last
administration.
About nine years ago. Mr.. Schiller
disposed o. many of his interests In
Durango, and went to Pueblo. moving
later to Denver. where he has resided
continuously since. He has not en-.
gagged In active mercantile business
since leaving Durango. AT the time of |
MS death, he was manager of the
bond department of the Standard In.
surance company, with offices In the
Arapahoe building in Denver.