The Biographical Dictionary and Portrait Gallery of Representative Men of Chicago, Milwaukee and the World's Columbian Exposition

              BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY AND PORTRAIT GALLERY.
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pink and green, softening the rays of numberless wax tapers. Music enhanced the pleasure of the scene, in itself a festival of radiant color, a living feast of beauty, a banquette all the senses. Judge Thoman, as president of the State Association, occupied the chair, supported on his right by Chief Justice M. W. Fuller, on the left by Bishop FalloAvs. Those at the president's table were seated in the folloAving order: L. D. Thoman, president; Bishop Fallows, E. S. Dreyer, ex- Senator Palmer, Lyman J. Gage, Judge J. T. Harris, Charles H. Richmond, Vice-President Bryan, Mark L. McDonald, E. T. Jeffery, W. T. Baker, Chief Justice Fuller, E. W. Cotterell, W. Livingston, Jr., Judge Gresham,  Mayor  Cregier,
M. H.Lane, Major C. H. Jones, Ferd. W. Peck, M. H. De Young, W. Forsyth, J. Irving Pierce. The dainty and costly menu prepared for the dis¬ tinguished visitors was served in truly epicurean style. After the repast was over, eloquent speeches were made by the president, Hon. Leroy D. Thoman and others. It was concluded that the success of this brilliant entertainment was largely due to the energy, activity and arduous labors of Mr. Payne and associates, and what speakes volumes in their praise is the fact that after paying all expenses the committee were able to declare a dividend, and Mr. Payne enclosed his check to each member of the association for the amount due him.
FREDERICK   J.  V.  SKIFF,
DENVER,   COL.
THERE are fcAV better known men Avest of the Missouri river than Frederick J. V- Skiff, the subject of this biography. His selec¬ tion as chief of the Department of Mines and Mining Avas undoubtedly due to the success of his past career and his knowledge of mineral products and acquaintance In the mining region. He Is a man of great force of character and in¬ domitable energy, and it is safe to predict that he will discharge the arduous duties of his office with the zeal and ability Avhich has always character¬ ized the man.
He was born in Chicopee, Massachusetts, on the 5th day of November, 1851, and is the son of James M. Skiff and Angelina C. (Winchell) Skiff, both of whose ancestors have lived in this country since about 1620.
He is of Scotch descent on his father's side, and on the maternal of English extraction. Freder¬ ick received the rudiments of his education at the public schools and afterward took a special aca¬ demic course. Upon leaving school, actuated by the famous advice of Horace Greeley, he turned his face toward the setting sun and finally located in the Missouri Valley.
Here he entered the field of journalism, and for nine years Avas connected with various papers, earning by his application to his profession and the high   order   of  his  talents,   a   most enviable
reputation. In 1877 he went to Denver, Colo¬ rado, and ultimately became general manager of the Denver Tribune, Avhich he conducted Avith great success for seven years, increasing its circu¬ lation largely, and making it one of the most influential journals in the west.
In 1884, after sixteen years of a most success¬ ful and notable career in journalism, he organized Avith other gentlemen the Colorado Land and Loan Company, formed for the purpose of re¬ deeming and improving arid lands, the construc¬ tion of irrigating canals, and promoting toAvn sites, etc. This company was the means by which many now thriving towns Avere started, and lands almost utterly useless made, by Irrigating and improving, of great value. It would indeed be difficult to estimate the benefit this company was to the west, either directly or Indirectly, being the means of bringing much capital into Colorado and advancing the interest of the state In general. In 1886 Mr. Skiff Avas elected to the Colorado State Legislature. In 1888 he sold his interest in this company, and was then appointed commis¬ sioner of the Bureau of Statistics.
During his residence in Colorado he has been more or less interested in mining ventures, and during his journalistic career, naturally Avrote a good deal on the question of mining. He has always taken a deep and active interest  in Indus-