The Elbert County tribune., 1914-02-27
PIONEER COLORADO STATESMAN
PASSES AWAY AFTER TWO
YEAR FIGHT FOR LIFE.
NEARLY 81 YEARS OLD
EXPIRED AT DAUGHTERS HOME
IN DENVER AFTER SINK
ING SPELL.
western Newspaper Union Now. Service.

man expired as he lay surrounded by
members of his family at 1925 Mon
day morning at the home of his
daughter, Mrs. G. Il. Tyler, 1853 Gay
lord street.
Mr.. Teller had been i'll for the last
two years. He had failed rapidly in
the last two weeks and death was
momentarily expected. He would have
been Sa years old May 23, 1914.
The death of Mr.. Teller closes the
life Of one of Colorado's most active
builders. Coming to the state in 1861,
he was identified with every import
ant public movement and did not cease
to take an interest in public affairs up
to his death.
He lapsed into unconsciousness
shortly after 10 o'clock Sunday night.
Physicians who attended him since he
began to fail were called in. The end
was near, they declared, and members
of the family were notified. They re-
manned at the bedside until death
came.
Surviving former Senator Teller are
his daughter, Mrs. Tyler: Harrison ].
and II. b. Teller, sons. and H. T. Ty-
Ter, grandson; District Judge James
H. Teller and Addison Teller, brothers.
and Mary e. Teller, sister, living at
Morrison. Ill.
Henry Moore Teller, recognized as
one OF the leading statesmen of the
country. was born in Granger, Allie
ghany county. New York; May %, 1880.
He was the son of John and Charlotte
(Moorel Teller The family was of
Dutch origin, the seventh in descent
from William Teller, the first of the
name to come to this country. William
Teller in 1639 settled in Fort Orange,
and was appointed trustee to tract
OF land.
Henry Teller worked on the farm in
Allegheny county, attending the COM
mon schools. By teaching. later, he
earned the money to attend Alfred
University and Rushford Academy.
Then he taught school again and en-
tered upon the study of his profession
in the law office OF Judge Martin
Grover. Angelica. N. Y. Jan. 5, 1858,
he was admitted to the bar in Bing-
hamton, that state.
He began practice in Morrison, re-
naming there from 1868 until 1861,
when he crossed the plains to Colo
RADIO. In Central City he opened his
law office. three years later to be
joined by his brother, when the firm
of Fl. NJ. and w. Teller was estab-
lished
During the Indian troubles of 1863,
he was appointed by Governor John
Evans major general of the Colorado
militia. After two years of service
Mr.. Teller resigned.
In 1878 he was made chairman OF
the special committee to investigate
the charges of election frauds in the
Southern states, concerning which he
made a careful and elaborate report
He served as chairman of the commit
tee on civil service and retrenchment.
Originally Mr.. Teller was a Demo
crat. He became, however, one of the
adherents of the Republican party
when it was organized.
He was one of the projectors of the
Colorado Central railroad, drafted its
charter in 1865, and, with w. A. II.
Loveland presented It to the Legisla-
ture. 1t was successful and for five
years he was president of the road. |
About this time he became interested
in mining and other enterprises in ad-
ditioH to his legal practice.
After the admittance OF Colorado to |
the Union-1S7G-he and Jerome Chat |
fec we're elected United States sena-
tors, Teller being elected for the short |
term-tbree months, ending March, !
1877. Hc was then elected senator for |
the full term of six years (1S77-1Ss3). |
Although new member. he was
placed in active work by being put on |
many of the important committees.
One of the appointments was on the |
committee sent to Florida to inyesti-
gate the frauds of 1876
s In April, 1882, he was appointed sec.
retary of the interior by President Ar
thar, his term expiring March, 1885.
The day following he again took his
seat In the Senate, succeeding Hon.
N. P. Hill.
In 1891 he was reelected, also in
1897. his work and Influence increas-
ing in every session. He was especial
ly recognized as an authority on public
lands and other questions relating to
tho West. He became the champion
of free coinage of silver, believing the
demonetization act of 1873 had not
only proven disastrous to Colorado but
to the entire nation as well. After
the defeat of the free silver issue in
the Republican national convention
held In St Louis, 1896. NJ. Teller and
his followers left the convention hall.
He was made a member of the mon
etary commission in 1911. The degree
LII. ID. was conferred upon him by AL
fred University in 1886.