Denver labor bulletin., 1917-09-08


Charles S. Semper, Colorado pio-
neer printer and father of Denver Ty-
biographical Union No. 40. is dead.
Death came peacefully, due to the in
firmities of age, Wednesday after
noon, at his home, 315S West Thirty
eighth avenue, at the advanced age of
ST years. His last birthday was
July 81.
Mr.. Semper first came to Colorado
from New Orleans in 1859 and set
type for the first issue of the Rocky
Mountain News, the equipment for
which had been brought by oX-team
from Omaha. At outbreak of the civil
war he joined the Confederate army
and served thruout the war with Gen
eral Lee. He returned to Colorado
and took up homestead in jefferson
county, a few miles north of Denver,
where the town of Semper is now 10
Gated.
His Last Birthday Party.
July 81, 1915, over two hundred
members of the Colorado Pioneer
Printers Society, friends and Confed-
crate veterans, attended a birthday
party" at the Semper ranch, when
Mr.. and Mrs. Semper, the latter five
years younger than her husband,
were hosts. Shortly after this the
health of Mrs. Semper failed and she
went to San Diego, Cal, where she
died last October. Mr.. Semper then
sold the ranch, valuable piece of
property, and moved to the city.
Sorrows Over Death of Wife.
Death of Mrs Semper, who had
been his companion for over half a
century, caused a breakdown and Mr..
Semper was for some months patient
at St. Anthony's hospital.
Mr.. and Mrs. Semper had no chill
dren, the only known relative being a
niece, Miss Marie McGrath, who came
to Denver two years ago to care for
Mrs. Semper.
Funeral Services Sunday.
The remains were taken to the
Hackethal Bros. undertaking parlors,
where the body now reposes. Funeral
services will be held tomorrow (Sun-
day. afternoon at 2:S0 o'clock from
All Saints church, at West Thirty
Second avenue and Wyandotte street.
The services will be conducted under
joint auspices of Denver Topographic
cal Union, Pioneer Printers, Colorado
Pioneer Society and Confederate Vet
Grams. Interment will be at Fair
ternational Typographical Union bur-
ial ceremony will be used.
At the church the Episcopal burial
ritual will be said, after which brief
addresses by W. II. Neighbor in be-
half of the Typographical Union, and
August koester and Hugh Steele for
the Colorado Pioneer Printers. Cars
will be provided at the church for all
who attend the burial services.
Brief Historical Sketch.
Mr.. Semper was born in England,
July 81, 1880. In 1882 his father was
sent to South America by the Church
of England and four years later went
to the Isle of Trinidad. Here Mr..
Semper was married. He served seven
years apprenticeship in printing Of
fee on the island, then left for the
United States, and. after being ship
wrecked, landed at Halifax, Nova
Scotia, going thence to Boston, Chi
cago, st. Paul, St. LOUIS, and New
Orleans. Then he became imbued with
the gold fever and travelled to the
Pixies Peak region, arriving in Dem
yer April 20, 1859. The next day he
applied for and secured work in get
ting out the first issue of the Rocky
Mountain News. Later Mr.. Semper
went to Idaho Springs and engaged
was then Auraria, and accepted per-
manent situation on the News.
On Saturday, April Z, 1860, a meet
ing of the few printers then here was
held at the home of Mr.. Semper on
Ferry street (now Eleventh street,
West Denver). where Denver. Typo
graphical Union No. 40 was organized.
First Treasurer of Union.
Among the prominent old-tim
printers who were present at this
meeting besides Mr.. Semper were
John l. Merrick, George l.. Sanborn.
t. c. Brown, Thomas S. Tucker and
Joseph Clark, all employed on the
Rocky Mountain News. The rules and
regulations governing the New Or
leans Typographical Union No. II and
the scale of wages prevailing there
were adopted as the standard of the
new organization. John l.. Merrick
was elected president, George L. San
born secretary and Charles S, Semper
treasurer. Owing to the fact that no
railroads ran into Denver at that time
the charter did not arrive from head
quarters until three months later. This
was the first labor union organized in
Colorado.