Person talk:Klaas Wildeboer (3)

but this must be the same, his father was a minister strange

A different Klaas Wildeboor [3 October 2012]

"Klaas Wildeboor, coming to southern Colorado in pioneer days, has been prominently connected with the development of the natural resources of the country, aiding largely in the reclamation of its wild lands and in transforming its uncultivated districts into a region of productiveness. He is now largely living retired in the enjoyment of well earned rest. Although a native of New York, he was taken to Michigan in his infancy, the family home being established in Allegan county. His birth occurred September 9, 1844, his father being Rev. Klaas Wildeboor, a minister of the Presbyterian faith.

Spending his boyhood days under the parental roof, Mr. Wildeboor of this review pursued his education in the public schools of Allegan county and worked at farm labor during the summer months. At nineteen years of age he went to Illinois and settled in Greene county, where he engaged in teaching through tlie cold seasons of the year and in the summer was connected with agricultural pursuits. A resident of that state until the spring of 1865, he then went to Missouri, where he carried on general farming until 1868. The 9th of April of the latter year witnessed his arrival in Denver, whence he afterward came to Pueblo and traded for a preemption claim, on which he began farming. He also had a stage contract, operating the stage line from Pueblo to Fair Play and Canon City. When he began his operations in farming he controlled one hundred and sixty acres of land, but from time to time acquired other land about sixteen miles from Pueblo, where he was entensively engaged in raising hay on a tract of fifteen hundred acres. He prospered in his undertakings and eventually sold out to the irrigation company. His ranch was laid out as an addition to the city of South Puelilo and subdivided into town lots. Mr. Wildeboor built the first house on the south side of the river and it is still standing, constituting a portion of his present residence.

In 1872 occurred the marriage of Mr. Wildeboor and Miss Philinda M. Granger, a native of Michigan, who died in 1906. They had two children, Carl L. and ^Maud M., the latter the wife of John C. Salisbury, of Pueblo."

Source: Semi-centennial history of the state of Colorado--Jennifer (JBS66) 08:41, 3 October 2012 (EDT)

His death info in newspaper