Gunnison news-champion., 1920-09-10
DEXTER T. SAPP
DIES LAST SUNDAY
Continued from First Page,

politics and the political issues Of the
day. He Was Z staunch believer in
The Democratic party and held several
county oHlces AZ various periods, be-
ing ~ the time Of his death county
attorney, Mr. Sapp was - when he
died, yet the passing years seemed 10
have bit added 10 his keenness Of mind
and broad-ninded outlook He was 4
brilliant public speaker and no local
gathering was complete without at
least few words from Senator Sapp.
In the fall Of 1904 Mr.. Sapp won
the contest for state senator. an office
which h@ filed with dignity and TO
the credit of the state.
There are many interesting chapters
tha: might be related Of how he left
his influence upon the laws Of the
state. not only in affirmative legis-
lau5-. but in killing bad bills and
amending those with merit He was
1Hatantly consulted BY his fellow
members and the warm friends he won
stood him in good stead when the
great fight came up a. the time our
Normal School was sought by many
other Western Slope cities There are
ycEy many loyal Gunnisonites, to
whom credit is due for securing or
saving the State College at different
jGncturcs and yet very few
realize how bitter the fight became,
or the battles which a lesser mind and
character would have lost during the
s,E years from 1904 to 1910, when
Senator Sapp ''held the bridge" In
later assemblies, also, when our Nor
MAJ bills came up. MS influence, still
powerful with the leading men of
Colorado, was often the deciding fac
tor uu some bill for or against Gun
r.-nn.s interests.
In 1908 ne was 4 leading candidate
f.. supreme Court justice and un-
dr.htndly would have been elected If
De- rad not defied the influence Of
CERTAIN Denver factions. He acted as
pr.-sdeutal elector IN that year.
During the Great War, despite his
al aucIng years and failing health,
h. N,"rally took off his coat and wad
cl ln," serving on the Local Board for
time and giving freely of his time
and money toward the various war
drives and war work. Mr.. Sapp at
this time was far from well and was
repeatedly urged by friends and ply
sirlans TO 20 to a lower altitude, but
h. refused to think of his own physical
comfort or well-being when his coun-
Try called. He often remarked that
h. Wished he was young again so that
he might carry arms with 'the boys.
Dexter T. Sapp was also
member of the Masonic Order
and the G. AR. Post II, of Gunnison,
4 frg years ago he was elected to
the position of Department Command
az served as judge advocate for the
department.
In 1873. he was married and two
daughters blessed the union, of which
one survives, Mrs. Reva O'Connor,
whose home is at present in Guate-
mala, Central America. The youngest
daughter, Margie, died in childhood
and is buried in Gunnison. Mr.. Sapp
was intensely proud of his daughter
VINO grew to womanhood, and who
seems TO have inherited her fathers
brilliant mind. He never tired of re-
counting to personal friends accounts
of his daughters splendid achieve
ment while she was in the newspaper
business some years back. Only
few months ago Mrs. O'Connor came
from her far-away home to visit with
her father. The visit brought great
pleasure to him. Mr.. Sapp had also
visited his daughters home in Central
America, and also other parts of the
United States, but apparently the eli
mate or the altitude would prove too
much for him and eventually he would
return to the only place in the whole
world that he considered fit for
man to live in-Gunnison. Some
years ago he was married to Miss
Pearl Graham of Pueblo, who, how
ever, died short time after and is
buried beside his daughter in Masons'
& Odd Fellows cemetery.
Like all true Westerners, Senator
Sapp took a keen interest in de-
veloping the resources of the county.
He was interested alike in mining
and cattle raising. He was a keen
sportsman and lover of the outdoors,
and greatly enjoyed hunting or fish
ing trip. With Mr.. Bartlett, he own
ed fine fishing resort on the Gunni-
SON, called "Neversink," and many
prominent men of the state have en-
joyed the hospitality of the owners.
"Death loves q shining mark" and,
so another pioneer Of Gunnison coun-
ty has crossed the Great Divide, leav-
ing behind him the memory Of an
upright, fearless man, one who was .
friend to all.
Funeral services were held Wednes-
day afternoon from the Community
Church. Rev. J. S. Ferris preaching .
splendid tribute to the deceased, while
Mrs. Alberta Jorgensen sang q beau
tiful selection. Pail bearers were
A. II. Thomas, T. w. Gray, Il. P.
Ferguson, DR.. N. J. Hyatt. 8. P. Spen-
Ger, J. A. Steele, H. n. Webster and
C H. Meyer. :
The funeral was largely attended
by out-of-town people as well IS the
citizens Of the town and vicinity, who
came TO pay heir last respects to one
they knew and respected in life.
Besides his daughter. Mr.. Sapp Is
survived by brother. John r. SaPp
of Denver, who accompanied the body
from the capital city. Mrs. O'Connor