The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1915-11-25

ravages from the rodents raised a
large numbe rof trees to maturity,
some of whic har estill generous pro.
ducers Of fruit. :.
One OF these trees has spread OF
more than fifty feet in its branches
and yielded nice return this season.
AS the years went on his orchard be-
came the largest and most productive
in the state.
Success Attracts Attention.
Capt Rockofellow's success as a
horticulturist attracted wide attention
and most Of the earlier fruit growers
of Montrose, Mesa and other counties
on the western slope came here to con-
suit him before planting out their
orchards. His skill and experience
was largely deferred to by all of the
experimental horticulturists OF Colo
RADIO before fruit growing became one
of the established industries of the
state.
Capt. Rockafeilow's business enter
prises have been varied in character
but uniformly successful. He was en-
gagged in the mercantile line here at
one time with ]. II. Harrison as
partner, and subsequently with J. T.
Blake at Cleora and Salida.
He was also associated with MCGEE
G. Mack in the transportation bus
when Canon City was the terminus OF
the railroad. His principal mercantile
career was at Rockvale, where he was
engaged in trade for fourteen years.
the first two in partnership with W.
II. May and the remainder Of the time
in association with George A. Baker.
F. II. Whipple. Frank l.. Smith and a
number OF other men who later be-
came successful merchants received
their first business experience as
statesmen in the employ OF Rockafel-
low & Baker at Rockvale.
introduced Coal Mining Law.
Capt. Rockafeilow was chosen q
member OF the Legislature from Ere
mont county in 1852 on the Republi.
can ticket and worked hard for the
election OF Governor F. W. Pitkin to
the United States seaatorship. but TO
no purpose. as Judge Thomas NJ. Bow
en- was finally selected for the place.
While in the legislature Capt.
Rockafellow introduced and finally
succeeded in getting passed by the
general assembly a coal mining law,
which. with few minor changes. is
the coal mining law of the state to-
day, He also presented the anti-con-
yict labor bill. and although voted
down in the senate, he secured it's
reconsideration and final adoption
and enactment into a statute.
For almost half n century Capt.
Rockafeliow has been a close student
Of public Affairs and has been a par
ticipant in many OF the events that
bavo resulted in the growth and evo-
luton Of Colorado from an ouilyins
and littie-known territory into an hon
ored and conspicuous position in the
galaxy OF states and in touch with
the heart throbs of the republic.
Work Well Done.
His work has been done modestIN
and without ostentation. He has EN-.
ployed no press agents to boost his
achievements.A nor have "spielers"
been hired to proclaim thom from the
house tops. In looking back upon
the nearly fifty years of busy. strenu.
Gus life he has spent in Colorado
there is in the retrospect much that
must be pleasing and gratifying to
him-nothing that is discreditable to
his citizenship or impugns his honor
as a friend and neighbor.
or the men and women who were in
Canon City when Capt. Rockafellow
came to Colorado but few are left to
us and might easily be counted on
the fingers OF one hand. Gov. Anson
Rudd. James cieiiand. lothian A. Ora
per, John Wilson. w. u. Mcclure, Al
bert Walters. the first warden OF the
penitentiaity. s. ID. Webster. DR.. ].
Reid. who established the first drug
store in Canon City. Rev. w. r. Fow-
Ter. BENJAMIN F. Griffin. Hon. Thomas
Macon. II. w. Saunders. Mr.. Murray.
one OF the early managers OF the Nc
Clure House William c. catiin. s. II.
Boyd and many others who have
either moved away OF gone to their
long reward. J. II. Harrison, Jas. T..
Mcclure. Frank Benslay and n few
more of the sturdy citizens OF that he.
roic period remain as the po SCISSORS
Of a memory OF the infant town and
its struggles to achieve grea ness.