Colorado Pioneer and Cattle Baron. Attended Ohio Wesleyan University and then turned down an offer from his father for an interest in an Ohio farm and headed west. Initially in Kansas where he helped organize Ohio City Town Company in 1857 and built the first store there. Sold the store in 1859 and moved to Auroria (now Denver), Kansas Territory, with a wagon load of goods. He opened a successful general merchandise store; about 1861 sold the store and bought cattle weakened after the long trek across Plains. Nursed and, fattened the cattle, then sold them for substantial profit to mining camps, Denver butchers, Army posts. Acquired about 25,000 head of cattle and 7,908 acres of land. Imported shorthorn bulls from Ohio to improve his stock. By 1866 he was listed in a Denver business directory as a "Stock Dealer." In 1868 moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming to better manage his operations selling beef to railroads there. Estate probate records show he owned 15,500 acres in 54 sections always near water throughout Colorado. In later years he returned to Denver where he had successfully invested in Denver real estate and banks, as well as shares of Chicago's Union Stockyards. After Iliff's death, wife Elizabeth sold his ranch holdings, invested the proceeds and donated $100,000 to endow Iliff School of Theology. Originally interred in Riverside Cemetery (where the family still owns the center circle plot), in 1920 his daughter, Louise, had his remains and the 65-ton monument moved to Fairmount Cemetery.
Cause of death: obstructive jaundice.
Cause of death: obstructive jaundice.
Colorado Pioneer and Cattle Baron. Attended Ohio Wesleyan University and then turned down an offer from his father for an interest in an Ohio farm and headed west. Initially in Kansas where he helped organize Ohio City Town Company in 1857 and built the first store there. Sold the store in 1859 and moved to Auroria (now Denver), Kansas Territory, with a wagon load of goods. He opened a successful general merchandise store; about 1861 sold the store and bought cattle weakened after the long trek across Plains. Nursed and, fattened the cattle, then sold them for substantial profit to mining camps, Denver butchers, Army posts. Acquired about 25,000 head of cattle and 7,908 acres of land. Imported shorthorn bulls from Ohio to improve his stock. By 1866 he was listed in a Denver business directory as a "Stock Dealer." In 1868 moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming to better manage his operations selling beef to railroads there. Estate probate records show he owned 15,500 acres in 54 sections always near water throughout Colorado. In later years he returned to Denver where he had successfully invested in Denver real estate and banks, as well as shares of Chicago's Union Stockyards. After Iliff's death, wife Elizabeth sold his ranch holdings, invested the proceeds and donated $100,000 to endow Iliff School of Theology. Originally interred in Riverside Cemetery (where the family still owns the center circle plot), in 1920 his daughter, Louise, had his remains and the 65-ton monument moved to Fairmount Cemetery.
Cause of death: obstructive jaundice.
Cause of death: obstructive jaundice.
Gravesite Details
ing of olorado
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