John Wesley Smith

John Wesley Smith

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/121209950/john_wesley_smith

Rocky Mountain News, 11/16/1895

SMITH, John W.

PIONEER OF ENTERPRISE

Death of One of the City's Founders In Oakland

END OF J.W. SMITH'S ILLNESS

At the Ripe Age of Four Score Years the Builder of the Denver Pacific Passes Away in the Bosom of His Family-Deceased Was One of the Most Energetic Spirits of the Plains, and Made Money Rapidly in Promoting Various Improvements.

Another of Denver's pioneers has passed away. Word was received in the city last evening that John W. Smith died in Oakland, California, yesterday afternoon of Bright's Disease. Mr. Smith has been seriously ill with the dread disease for some weeks, and it was known for some time that the end was liable to come at any time, but nevertheless the news of his death will be received with keen regret by hundreds of his old friends in this city, with whom he labored long and faithfully to make Denver the city it is today, and few were more closely identified with the history of the city than was John W. Smith.

Mr. Smith was born in Pennsylvania and was 80 years of age last September. While still a young man he moved to Kansas in 1858 and two years later he caught the Pike's Peak fever and started for Denver in May, 1860, arriving here June 3 with a long train of wagons loaded with merchandise for a general store, machinery for a planing mill, a flouring mill and a quartz mill.

This advent in Denver showed the character of the man. He did not come to look around and decide what to do. He came to do and brought the material for a town with him. The flour mill and planning mill were located in Denver, and the quartz mill was planted on Left Hand Creek in Boulder County.

All of the ventures proved successful and Mr. Smith at once proceeded to identify himself with the country. He was full of enterprise and gave his whole heart and energy to developing the resources of the country. He was prominently identified with the coming of the railroads to Denver, being one of the constructors of the Denver Pacific, the first line to enter the city from Cheyenne; and a heavy contractor on the Kansas Pacific.

Later he was prominently identified with the construction of the Denver, South Park & Pacific and originated and built the Denver, Utah & Pacific, now owned and operated by the Burlington between Denver and Lyons. Every large enterprise of the early history of Denver found Mr. Smith one of the leading pushers and his efforts were always crowned with success. He founded the Colorado Saving Bank in 1872, the first institution of the kind in the West.

One of his earliest ventures was the construction of the American House, for many years the largest and best appointed hotel in the West. He was a man of great force of character, energetic, public spirited and a wonderful financier, accumulating great wealth. That he was liberal and open-hearted the handsome little stone chapel, known as Smith Chapel, which he constructed in Smith's addition to West Denver in 1882 and presented to the United Brethren, will bear witness, though he was not a member of any church.

He was one of the originators and founders of the Denver steam heating plant and was connected with many other enterprises of the city and state. He erected no less than five flouring mills in Denver besides one in Boulder County; constructed the first and only woolen mill ever established in the West and a large number of stamp mills at various points in the mountains.

California Investments

He left Colorado in 1883 for California where he went to construct the California & Nevada railroad, of which he is the principal owner. He made his residence in Oakland, where he died. He had seven children, all of whom are still living. They are Charles H. Smith of this city, who was with him when he died in California, where he was called some weeks ago by the news of his father's serious illness, Mrs. H.M. Porter, Mrs. Margaret G. Rice, Mrs. Martha Hart, Mrs. Anna R. Caypless, Mrs. M.M. Clark, all of this city, and Albert Smith of Boston.

Although Mr. Smith has been away from Denver for some years he was still interested in many of its enterprises, his son, Charles H. Smith, taking care of his interest here. He was admired and respected by all who knew him and his death will be regarded as a public calamity. It was not known last evening what arrangements would be made for the funeral, whether his remains would be brought here for burial or interred in California.

His children have the sympathy of the entire community in their affliction, all being well known and prominent citizens.