Rocky Ford enterprise. (Rocky Ford, Colo.) 1887-1950, 1914-02-27
PIONEER COLORADO STATESMAN
PASSES AWAY AFTEP TWO
YEAR FIGHT FOR LIFE. o
NEARLY 81 YEARS OLD
EXPIRED AT DAUGHTERS HOME
IN DENVER AFTER SINK
ING SPELL.

Denver, FeD. 2j.-tOrmer Unlteu
States Senator Henry NJ. Teller, one of
Colorado's best-known pioneers and
public men, is dead. The aged states
man expired as he lay surrounded by
members of his family at 1925 Mon
day morning at the home of his
daughter, Mrs. G. E. Tyler, 1858 Gay
lord street.
Mr.. Teller had been ill for the last
two years. He had failed rapidly in
the last two weeks and death was
momentarily expected. He would have
been 81 years old May %, 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 Inconsistencies
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 H. 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 20. 1880.
He was the son of John and Charlotte
Dutch origin, the seventh in descent
from William Teller. the first of the
name to come to this country. William
Teller in 1859 settled in Fort Orange,
and was appointed trustee to a 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. 3, 1858.
he was admitted to the bar in Bling
hamton, that state.
He began practice in Morrison, re-
manning there from 1858 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 1868,
he was appointed by Governor John
Evans major general of the Colorado
militia After two years of service
Mr.. Teller resigned.
In 1873 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 rctrenchment.
Originally Mr.. Teller was 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 1t 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
dition to his legal practice.
After the admittance of Colorado to
the Union-1S76-he and jerome Chat
fnt
tors, Teller being elected for the short
term-three months, ending March.
1877. He was then elected senator for
the full term of six years QS77-1sS3).
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 investi-
gate the frauds of 1876.
In April. 1882, he was appointed sec
rotary of the interior by President Ar
thur, 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
decentralization act of 1873 had rot
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. Mr.. Teller and
his followers left the convention hall.
He was made a member of the mon
etarv commission in 1911. The degree