|
WILLIAM O’BRIEN.-- Many of
Scotland’s brave lads and bonnie lasses have crossed the broad Atlantic
during the past twenty-five years to become citizens of the Cache la Poudre
valley (Colorado, USA). They have foresworn allegiance to the British crown
and have taken upon themselves the responsibilities and assumed the honors
of American citizenship. They are now loyal citizens of the greatest
Republic on earth, and are proud to be numbered among the defenders of the
Stars and Stripes and the instructions the flag represents. They are
industrious, prudent and thrifty, and are enrolled among the best citizens
of Larimer county. Among those who forsook their ancestral homes in Scotland
to seek new scenes, new friends and new homes and fortunes in Colorado, was
William O’Brien, who, for the past eleven years, has been Superintendent of
the Colorado Agricultural college farm, and has discharged its duties and
shouldered its responsibilities in a manner that has given entire
satisfaction to the State Board of Agriculture and reflected credit upon
himself. Mr. O’Brien first saw the light of day on December 18th,
1862, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. He was born on a farm and received his
education in the public schools of the period. Following the example of
thousands of his countrymen, he came to the United States to better his
condition, arriving in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1887. While about the docks
in that city in 1888, he noticed a shipment of horses was being unloaded
from a transatlantic steamer that had just arrived and closer observation
convinced him that the animals had come from his own country and upon
inquiry he learned that the horses belonged to Jess Harris and that he was
going to ship them to Colorado. He immediately sought out Mr. Harris and
asked for employment in loading the horses on the cars and in caring for
them en route. Mr. Harris said him " I have about all the help I need, but
if you want to go along, I will take you through but will not agree to pay
you wages during the trip." Mr. O’Brien jumped at the chance and that is how
it is that he is a Coloradoan today. It was not long after he arrived in
Fort Collins until he and two of his countrymen, John Fraser and Charles
Willox, bought the Austin Mason farm of 120 acres, which they cultivated in
company until Mr. O’Brien was appointed to the position he now holds at the
college. In 1890 Mr. O’Brien married Jane Fraser and they have nine
children, Jennie, William, Jesse, Marshall, Annie, Lorna, Nellie, Alice, and
Bessie, all at home. He is an expert farmer and has served the state and
college well as farm superintendent and given the best of satisfaction. Mrs.
O’Brien, nee Frazer, is a also a native of Scotland. She came to Colorado in
1890 to marry the sweetheart of her girlhood days and has never had occasion
to regret the voyage across the Atlantic. She is a model wife and mother and
her home is abiding place of love, contentment and happiness. |
