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| Lafayette Felton Photograph by Chas. Goodman, Photographer Montrose & Telluride, Colorado |
Lafayette Felton was the 6th child of Ebenezer Felton and Sophia Johnson. Called Lafe by his family and friends, he was born 13 January 1855 in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin.
By 1880 he'd moved to Colorado, settling in Telluride where he was a successful carpenter.
He married Mary Midgely there on 31 March 1895. They had no children.
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| Photograph commonly misidentified online as Lafayette Felton. It is Franz Felton. The original photograph, which I posted in this blog, was taken by a Centralia, Illinois photographer.
My photos of Lafayette were taken by Colorado photographers.
In 1899 Lafe ran for Assessor of San Miguel County:
San Miguel Examiner, Volume XIV, Number 13, October 7, 1899 coloradohistoricnewspapers.org
LAFAYETTE FELTON.
It it hardly in good form for the Examiner to undertake to introduce to the people of Sun Miguel county so old a resident as Mr. Felton, the gentleman nominated Iast Saturday by the republicans for the office of county assessor he having been In Telluride long enough to welcome almost every citizen as they c»me in, and having, during his business career has come In contact with the greater portion of the people of the county, and through personal acquaintance they have learned his worth, personal Integrity and upright business qualities. Mr Felton la a native of the state of Illinois. and leaving home In 18*0 found hit way to Colorado. For two years after coming here ha was connected with the Rio Grande surveying corps, and assisted in blazing the way for that railway across the Rocky Mountains. In 1882 he came to San Miguel county and with the exception of three years, two of which were spent at Sllverton and Red Mountain, he has been a permanent resident of this city. He was married in the early 90’s and since that time his family has found a home here. His business is that of mill building and carpentering, and his time has been occupied during the last number of years Is construction work and contracting. having built a number of mills of this county at well as many of the handsome residences that grace the town of Telluride. He received a high school education in his native state and for a number of years held clerical positions of trust which practically fit him to fill the position for which he is a candidate before the people. On account of the extensive acquaintance and high esteem in which be is held by the entire community The Examiner deems it unnecessary to go into details regarding his character. That be will receive the votes of a large number of people of the county, that he will till the office with entire credit to himself and the people, if elected, does not, nor will it at any time during the campaign, come into question
(He lost the election.)
That wasn't the first or last time he made the local papers. I particularly like this article:
San Miguel Examiner, Volume XV, Number 11, 21 September 1902 ColoradoHistoricNewspapers.org
Last Wednesday Lafe Felton and Billy Majors were indulging in target practice on the hillside above the Silver Bell mill, at Ophir Loop, and finding nothing else to shoot at, proceeded to make a target of what they supposed was an empty powder box near the assay office. They were very successful in hitting it, for an explosion followed all the glass in the neighborhood. The box contained fifty pounds of forty percent powder, and it is fortunate that no one was injured.
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| Lafayette Felton Photograph by Carpenter, Telluride, Colorado |
He died suddenly 28 May 1908:
Telluride Journal, Telluride, CO 4 June 1908
ColoradoHistoricNewspapers.org
Lafayette Felton is Dead
Pioneer Citizen and Prominent Business Man Seized With Hemorrhage and Expires Suddenly in His Store Last Evening
From Friday’s Daily.
Last night, just about supper time, this community was shocked by the announcement that Lafayette Felton had died very suddenly in his store as the result of an internal hemorrhage.
Mr. Felton had been about town and at his place of business during the day as usual. About 5:20 in the evening he went down into the basement of his store, where he was seized with a hemorrhage. Coming up stairs into the main store room, he sat down, bleeding to death, in the chair within ten or fifteen minutes.
Mr. Felton had been a sufferer from consumption for many years, and after repeated attempts had found it impossible for him to live in a lower altitude. Though of frail physique and impaired constitution, there had been no premonitory warning of the preaching end, and his sudden taking off came as a great shock to the old neighbors among whom he had lived for so many years.
Lafe Felton came to Telluride early in the season of 1883, and followed his trade of contractor and builder, with unvarying success, until about a year ago, when he purchased the furniture stock of John W. Runyon, and since has carried on that business. He was an expert mechanic, a man of industrious instincts, upright and square in all his dealings with his fellowmen and was accounted universally as one of Telluride s most exemplary and highly esteemed citizens.
At different times in recent years he had engaged in business and sought to establish a home in a more equable climate at a lower altitude, but, as mentioned above, his ailment invariably forced him to return to the higher altitudes and more rarified atmosphere of the mountains . Mr. Felton was fifty three years of age, and the Journal believes was a native of Illinois .
He was a prominent and active member of the Knights of Pythias, having joined the local order and the local lodge, Bridal Veil No . 80 in 1897. He bad filled all the various chairs of the local lodge, and had repeatedly represented the same at the grand lodge meetings of the order. At the time of his death he held the office of prelate.
He was also prominent and active in the work of the Congregational church, had served several terms as clerk, and died a trustee of the church organization.
The remains will be taken to Centralia, Illinois, for burial, leaving tomorrow (Saturday) morning, acompanied by Mrs. Felton, who will be joined at Denver by a brother, Thomas Midgley.
Source 3665 The Centralia Evening Sentinel Thursday 4 June 1908 page 4 column A (NewspaperArchive)
The funeral of LaFayette Felton was held at the Felton homestead northwest of this city yesterday afternoon and was largely attended by many of the friends and relatives. After the services the cortege proceeded to the Centralia City Cemetery where a committee from Helmet Lodge K of P gave the ritualistic burial service. This was one of the largest attended funerals that has been held here for a long time, the country between this city and Shattuc were seemingly in attendance. The deceased was raised in that locality but has been a resident of Colorado for many years. Among the relatives and friends from abroad wh attended the funeral were Mrs. D.S. Williams of Fort Scott, Kas.; Ebb Felton, of Girard, Kas.; Arthur Felton, Jacksonville, Texas; Wm. Felton, Bloomington, Ill.; Mrs. Chas. Stacy of St. Louis; Miss Maggie McClelland of East St. Louis; Mrs. Ed Hogan and family of East St. Louis; Thos. Midgely of Minneapolis, Kas., and Mrs. Arthur Felton, of Telluride, Colo.
Source 3940 The Centralia Evening Sentinel Friday 5 June 1908 page 3 column A (NewspaperArchive)
Word was received here by J.T. Hogan last week that Mrs. Hogan’s brother, Lafe Felton, in Kansas, had died. The remains were shipped to Centralia last Tuesday and the funeral was held at his mother’s home north of Centralia about three miles Wednesday at 2 o’clock p.m. internment in the Centralia cemetery. Mr. Felton was raised in this vicinity and was pretty well known. His aged mother and relatives have our most sincere sympathy.
Telluride Journal, Telluride, CO 30 July 1908 ColoradoHistoricNewspapers.org
Administrator’s Notice.
Estate of Lafayette Felton, Deceased.
The undersigned having been appointed Administratix of the estate of Lafayette Felton late of the County of San Miguel in the State of Colorado, deceased, hereby gives notice that she will appear before the County Court of said San Miguel County at the Court House in Telluride in said County, at the August Term, 1908, on the Second Monday in August next, at which time all persons having claims against said estate are notified and requested to attend for the purpose of having the same adjusted. All persons indebted to said estate are requested to make immediate payment to the undersigned.
Dated at Telluride, Colo., this 11th day of June A.D. 1908.
Mary Felton, Administratix
First pub. July 16, 1908.
Last pub. Aug. 6, 1908
Telluride Journal, Telluride, CO 16 July 1908 ColoradoHistoricNewspapers.org
I.L. Glenn has purchased the stock and business of the Lafayette Felton Furniture company, taking charge today. He will continue the business at the same location. Mr. Glenn’s many friends will wish him success in his new enterprise.
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