Richard Le Bert was a “hustler and never failed at anything
he undertook,” according to his friends.[1] Although they never used the word “hustler,”
family stories and Richard’s own scrapbooks suggest that he was a hard worker
and an entrepreneur from an early age.
 |
| Richard Le Bert as a Young Man in Buffalo |
The Le Bert family lived at 34 Batavia Street on Buffalo’s
East Side, which was the German enclave in the city. Richard spent his first years speaking only
German. He did not learn English until
he went to school, where he attended Public School No. 11.1
According to family tradition, Richard was a self-made man,
who received no more than an elementary school education. Upon the death of his
father, he left school to support his mother and brothers. Christian Le Bert died in January of 1866,
when Richard was fifteen and should have been beyond elementary school. However, a newspaper article says that
Richard started working at age fourteen.
An autobiographical sketch in Richard’s handwriting also suggests that
he might have started working before his father died. It states:
In the year 1865 was employed as
messenger by the Agent of the Union Steam Boat Co. at Buffalo. In 1866 was transferred to the freight
department of the Erie Railway Co. …in which said employe [sic] he remained up
to the 29th day of September 1880, having held all the different
positions from that of messenger to chief clerk of the department.[4]
Employment with the railway was not Richard’s only source of
income during this period. He kept a
scrapbook that includes an advertisement for “Richard Le Bert, Dealer in
Groceries, Notions, &c., No. 96 Batavia Street, Buffalo, New York.”
Richard’s time was not wholly consumed by working,
however. The clippings in his scrapbook
show that he participated in several volunteer organizations including the Good
Templars, Knights of Pythias, and Eagle Hose No. 2 (volunteer
firefighters). In 1873 he received a
gold badge for rolling the cart of Eagle Hose No. 2 the greatest number of
times during the year.4,[5]
He was elected president of Eagle Hose No. 2 in 1876 and 1877 and trustee of
the company in 1879. He also was an
officer of the Knights of Pythias in 1876, 1877, and 1878, and in 1875 he
served on a committee planning an excursion to Niagara Falls for the state
convention of the Good Templars.
During the same time period Richard served in the National
Guard of New York. He was attached to
Company “B” of the 74th Regiment, also known as the Spaulding Guard,
where he rose from corporal in 1873 to sergeant in 1877. In addition to his military rank, he was a
civil officer of the Guard, elected treasurer in 1874 and president in 1877.
As a member of the Spaulding Guard, Richard saw some military
action. In 1877 the “Great Railway
Strike” took place. It began on the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, which had reduced workers’ wages several times
over a short period, but it quickly spread throughout the country. When their wages also were cut, Erie Railway
workers struck in Hornellsville,
New York. The Governor of New York
ordered several militia units, including the Spaulding Guard, to Hornellsville
to quell the strike. They responded
promptly with 38 of “B” Company’s 43 members reporting for duty. For Richard, an employee of the Erie Railway, this assignment must
have felt like a conflict of interest. Nevertheless,
Fourth Sergeant Richard Le Bert reported for duty at 6:00 AM on July 20, along with his brother
Christian, a private. [6]
Philip
Foner (1977) describes the interaction of the militia and the strikers from an
historian’s perspective:
…the same drama unfolded at Hornellsville as had
occurred in a number of other struck communities. As soon as the militiamen
descended from the train, the strikers “commenced shaking hands and greeting
their many acquaintances among the soldiers.” The soldiers stationed a guard
around the yards and expelled all people from the railroad property except
employees on duty, but they turned their eyes away when the strikers crossed
the line and prevented engines from leaving the roundhouse…[7]
The “Historical Sketch” of the Spaulding Guard published in 1877
contradicts Foner’s account of the militia men’s fraternizing with the strikers. It quotes Lieutenant-Colonel L.P. Reichert’s official
report:
General Brinker immediately
detailed this Regiment [the Spaulding Guard] to relieve the Fifty-fourth Regiment
of Rochester then on Guard. The guard were instructed to allow no man to pass
in or out the lines on any pretence whatever, and as far as reported did their
work well. At midnight a shot was fired by post No. 28, who reported that a man
was approaching the lines and refused to halt when ordered to do so. The shot
proved a harmless one, and the offender took to his heels and retailed his
story to a large crowd that had gathered in the village. In my estimation this
one shot had a very telling effect on the strikers and mob generally, as it
showed them that the Regiment was then prepared to resist any attempt at
destruction of property and to fire on receipt of an order. That there was a
very bitter feeling against the Regiment is indisputable, and many remarks were
reported, which, though not choice, were promptly accepted as the greatest
compliment that could be made to our men as soldiers.
Sandwiches, whiskey and cigars
were freely offered the men by outsiders, and I believe in every instance
rejected, every effort was made to sound our men as to what they would do in
case of emergency, and the general answer was, “Obey orders.”6
The strike lasted less than a week. Word of a settlement circulated around
midnight on July 25, and the guard was dismissed the following morning. Richard returned to Buffalo where he
continued to work for the railway for another three years.
In September of 1880, Richard moved west to Colorado. According to family stories, he feared that
he had contracted tuberculosis and believed that the climate in Colorado might
heal his lungs. It seems unlikely that
he actually suffered from tuberculosis, considering that he lived into his
nineties. However, the disease appears
to have been rampant in his Buffalo neighborhood. His future wife’s brother and sister had
already died of it, as eventually would his brother Eugene and another
brother-in-law. On September 29, 1880,
the Buffalo Courier reported
Richard’s impending departure:
A SUBSTANTIAL FAREWELL.
A complimentary dinner was given last evening
to Mr. Richard Le Bert, chief billing clerk in the Erie Railway freight office,
at the corner of Exchange and Louisiana Street and the occasion was a most
happy one. For the past fourteen years Mr. Le Bert had done excellent service
in the employ of the Erie, and in that time had not only commanded the respect
of his superior officers, but had endeared to him every man with whom he was
associated. So many years of earnest labor, together with the rigors of the climate
in this city, have told upon Mr. Le Bert, until he found it advisable to locate
in the distant west. For this reason, and this reason alone, his resignation
was tendered, and we are assured was accepted with much regret. The news to the boys was hard, and so, to
show him just how they felt about his leaving, they resolved to get together,
have a parting jollification and send him off in good style. And thus it was
that Mr. Le Bert and his associates, many of them companions for years, seated
themselves at a banquet at Riegelmann’s last evening…
After the dinner had been disposed of and the
real jollification of the evening was fairly launched, several gentlemen made
brief addresses in which mulch regret was expressed at the approaching
departure of Mr. Le Bert, but it was the speech of Mr. Edward L. Riggs that was
intently looked for. Finally he arose, and in a few well chosen words expressed
his regret at the separation from Mr. Le Bert, and then formally presented him
with a very handsome ring. The presentation was a complete surprise to Mr. Le
Bert, but he was equal to the emergency and made a very neat response. He’s a “jolly good fellow” was then sung by
all present and several bumpers were drank [sic] to Mr. Le Bert’s health. Several fine songs were sung by H.J. and F.R.
Houghton, and Edward Mc Gowan also assisted vocally to amuse and please the
audience. Speeches were made by almost every man present and a general good
time was had.
Mr. Le Bert will leave this afternoon for
Denver, and should anything desirable open in the way of business, he will be
glad to accept it.
It is not clear what intentions Richard had beyond improving
his health when he went to Colorado.
Perhaps he simply was looking for “anything desirable in the way of
business” or perhaps he had dreams of finding gold or other mineral wealth. In any case, he directed his entrepreneurial
skills into the mining industry. His
scrapbook shows that by 1881 Richard was secretary of the Halls Gulch
Consolidated Mining & Tunnel Company headquartered in Denver and also associated
with the Golden Cross mining company, which was selling stock through an agent
in Buffalo. A newspaper clipping (source
not identified) advertising the stock states that the Golden Cross properties
“are situated in Gold Hill, which is considered the richest mineral hill in the
world.” Another unsourced clipping notes
that the miners at Halls Gulch had struck a “three-foot vein of gray copper
assaying three ounces and eighteen ounces in silver and 19 percent copper.”
Although Richard’s hand-written autobiographical sketch does
not mention the mineral mines, it does say that when he relocated to Denver,
Colorado “he was engaged as one of a firm in the stone lime and fireclay
business.” This enterprise was the South
Park Stone, Lime, Fire Clay and Mining Company, which had a business address in
Denver and quarries in Garo, Park County, Colorado. The officers of the company were W.H.H. Case,
Manager; R. Le Bert, Secretary; and J.E. Taylor, Treasurer. An article in the Fairplay Flume in June 1881 noted the company’s formation:
Natural
Resources to be Utilized
Messrs. Case, Le Bert and Taylor
are incorporators of the South Park Stone, Lime, Fire Clay and Mining company,
which will open large scale stone quarries below Garo station. The stone is pure carbonate of lime excellent
for fluxing purposes and capital for conversion into lime. Kilns will be built upon the line of road now
being extended from Garo to the quarries and the product will find a ready
market in Leadville, Fairplay and Denver.
The company also lays claim to large beds of fire clay not yet
thoroughly opened. The construction force
of the South Park is rapidly laying the road down the three-quarters of a mile
track that is to connect the quarries with the main line and it will be but a
short time before another industry is opened up in Park County. The capital stock of the company is $100,000
and this amount is all paid in.[8]
Although he appears to have lived primarily in Denver, South
Park was an area where Richard established some roots, as did his brother
Christian. On September 25, 1882, Richard
filed “Notice of Final Proof” in the Land Office at Leadville, Colorado stating
that he had satisfied requirements under the Homestead Act:
Notice is hereby given that the
following named settler has filed notice of his intention to make final proof
in support of his claim, and that said proof will be made before the Register
and Receiver at Leadville, Colo. on November 4th, 1882., viz.:
Richard Le Bert of Hartsel, Colo. for the NE ¼ of Section 17, Tp 11 S Range 75
W, 181 acres.
He names the following witnesses
to prove his continuous residence upon and cultivation of said land, viz.:
Christian Le Bert, W.H. Case, Robert M. Davis and Christian Hansen, all of
Hartsel, Colo.
S.J.
Hanna, Registrar
[First
publication October 5th 1882. – w5][9]
Over the next few years, Richard began to branch out from
South Park and eventually from the mining industry. A business card from 1882 for W.H.H. Case
& Co. with partners R. Le Bert and J.E. Taylor shows that the trio were
dealers of white and grey lime with quarries in Golden. Later that year an article in the Boulder Herald revealed that Richard had
formed a partnership with a Mr. Patrick for the purpose of operating an ore
concentrator at Ward, Boulder County, Colorado.[10] Another business card dated 1883 shows
Richard as the manager of the Colorado Collection Association “A general
collection business done throughout the state.
Particular attention given to Denver businesses.” This business included attorneys Morris &
Tebbetts and J.A. Cherry. A newspaper
advertisement from 1885 showed Le Bert & Bissell, dealers in newspapers and
stationery, based in Dotsero, Eagle County, Colorado.
Nevertheless, Richard remained associated with the mining
industry at least through 1883. An
unsourced clipping in his scrapbook entitled “The Exposition” (possibly
referring to the Second Annual Exhibition of the National Mining and Industrial
Exposition Association) reported the following under the subtitle “Garfield
County”:
Mr. Richard Le Bert, commissioner
for Garfield County, returned from San Francisco yesterday, and was busily
engaged all the afternoon arranging the mineral display from that county, the
same having arrived during his absence.
Mr. Le Bert was one of the first
men in the camp last spring, and underwent all the hardships that always are
necessary in the forming of a new camp.
As a matter of course he is a strong advocate of the advantages offered at
Garfield for the prospector and capitalist, and says he intends to stay with
her until her worth is made known.
Among the ores place on
exhibition yesterday were samples from the Constitution, one of the richest
mines in the camp. It runs seventy-five
per cent lead, twelve ounces of silver and a small quantity of gold. It is but four feet deep, but is mineral
throughout…
In 1884, Richard made a significant career change. As his autobiographical sketch put it, “On
January 4th 1884 he accepted the clerkship of a Justice Court of
Arapahoe County, Colo.” The Justice of
the Peace in that court was J.A. Cherry, presumably the same attorney with whom
Richard had been associated in the collection business. His work in the court would set Richard’s
life on a new course.
With his appointment to the clerkship Richard may have felt
that he finally was secure enough to take a wife. The next month he returned to Buffalo, and on
Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1884, he married Louise Catherine Mensch,[11]
the daughter of William and Caroline (Smith) Mensch. An unsourced clipping in Richard’s scrapbook
announces their marriage:
A QUICK WEDDING TRIP
Last Monday Richard Le Bert,
clerk of Justice Cherry's court, left for Buffalo, New York. He arrived there
Thursday at 1 o'clock. At 8 o'clock in
the evening he was married and at 12 o'clock that night he started with his
bride on his return trip to Colorado, arriving home late last night. The lady to whom he was married was Miss
Louise C. Mensch, of Buffalo. The happy
couple will reside in Denver.
It is not to be inferred that Mr.
Le Bert had never met Miss Mensch before the trip.
On February 7, 1886, Louise gave birth to their only child,
a son, named Eugene Richard Le Bert.
Meanwhile, Richard’s clerkship in the Justice Court was
preparing him for a more illustrious career.
According to a story that he told his grandchildren, a justice under
whom he served (unnamed; Richard ultimately served under three different
justices) tended to fall asleep in court.
He would awaken to pronounce a judgement without having heard most of
the arguments. It was Richard’s
responsibility to brief him. Richard
began to study law books. As he came to
understand the law, he began advising the justice on how to decide the
case. Eventually he was making the
decisions that the justice pronounced.
In November 1891, Richard ran for and was elected Justice of
the Peace in his own right. It didn’t
take long for him to become embroiled in controversy. On January 2, 1893, the Times reported the following:
DRY BONES STIRRED UP
There is a good deal of trouble
in store for various county officials, besides the justices and their
constables, and the deputy sheriff attached to the officers who are now being
investigated by the county commissioners.
There have been reports
circulated about the court house during the past year to the certain
departments were carrying five to 25 more employees than were actually needed.
The commissioners have heard of
this, and an investigation will begin at once. …no department will escape, and
special attention will be paid to the justice courts. The greatest complaint is against Justice Le
Bert’s court. Over half the business of
the county is transacted in this court. The
rest of the business is divided among the three other justices, and this is
what causes the rub.
The present investigation is said
to have been instigated by the complaint of a rival justice. The deputy sheriffs carry all their business
to Le Bert’s court, and so do the members of the police department. There is always an assistant district
attorney stationed there, and there is very little delay in disposing of cases.[12]
An article in the News
dated simply January 1893 but positioned in the scrapbook beside the former
article made this potentially libelous contribution:
GETTING RICH FAST
Justice of the Peace Richard Le
Bert is reputed to be worth $200,000.
This was made during three terms in the humble position of justice clerk
and the term of justice which he is now filling the whole time being seven or
eight years. The profit is demonstration
enough of the way the thing is worked.
Although there were some suggestions of graft, much of the
controversy derived from the way in which constables were paid. Each court had a constable, who was allowed
to earn $50 from civil work and $50 dollars from criminal work. Anything above this amount was to be turned
over to the county. However, the constables
were allowed to appoint special constables to help, if they had more work than
they could do. In practice, it appeared
that they appointed special constables when they had earned their allotted
maximum from civil and criminal work. The
special constables would then receive payment that otherwise should have gone
to the county. The son of the constable
in Justice Le Bert’s court was appointed as a deputy constable. In addition, much of the work was turned over
to deputy sheriffs, who were accused of over-billing their expenses. While Richard was not accused of these misdeeds,
he was accused of knowing of them and allowing them to continue. There were
intimations that he was profiting from these enterprises.
Richard was vindicated following an investigation by the
finance committee. On February 18, 1893,
both the Times and the Colorado Sun reported:
Justice Le Bert’s court netted
the county during 1892 the sum of $2,195.29 over and above all salaries. During January 1893 it netted the sum of
$495.90. His books were kept in a thorough and businesslike manner. His
personal accounts with the county were all proper. No reports were made on the
constabulary service in that court, but the law in reference to turning in
monthly bills was complied with in January.
Richard’s granddaughter recalled his telling her about the
court controversy. He appeared emotional
and genuinely hurt by the accusations of wrongdoing. He proudly stated that the investigation had
found his court to be the most honest court in the city.
By 1896, Richard was becoming more active in the Republican Party, which in
Colorado was splitting over the question of a gold or bimetallic (silver and
gold) standard to back U.S. currency. It was a presidential election year, the
year when William Jennings Bryan won the Democratic nomination after delivering
his famous “Cross of Gold” speech.[13]
The Republican Party and its nominee, William McKinley, endorsed the gold
standard. The eastern businessmen and bankers supported the gold standard,
believing that the bimetallic standard would lead to inflation. Bryan argued
that an inflated currency would help poor farmers and other debtors. Colorado’s
senior senator, William Teller, a believer in silver coinage, left the
Republican Party along with other western politicians to form a new party, the
Silver Republicans. The junior senator, Edward Wolcott, remained with McKinley’s
Republican Party.
Richard Le Bert supported Wolcott and McKinley. He served on
the Republican County Central Committee and attended the county convention,
where he served on the Rules Committee. He was one of the prominent attendees
at a rally for Wolcott that involved taking a trainload of supporters from
Denver to Colorado Springs. He was a member of what the newspapers referred to
as the “High Five” of the Republican Party.
Richard’s partisanship led to new accusations that he was
abusing his position as County Clerk. The Times and the Post
reported that prospective voters in Arapahoe County found it much easier to
register if they were wearing a McKinley button. In addition, Richard was
responsible for the layout of the ballots. In the 1897 civic election he
arranged for the Republican Party to appear first on the ballot followed by
their allies, the Civic Federation Ticket. The Silver Republicans were number
20 of the 22 listed parties. The appearance of sample ballots led to accusations
of trickery, but the ballots were printed as proposed.
However, by 1897, Richard aspired to a higher office than
County Clerk. McKinley had been elected President. Senator Wolcott, who had
been re-elected in 1895, could influence the President regarding political
appointments. Richard, a member of what had become known as the “Wolcott
Machine,” was hoping for an appointment, perhaps as a diplomat. In March 1897,
Richard and several others travelled east to meet with Senator Wolcott. An
article in the Republican dated March 7, 1897 described the trip:
DIVIDING COLORADO
OFFICES
Senator
Wolcott and the Denver Contingent in Conference
WASHINGTON, March 6 – (Special.)
– Richard Le Bert, Henry Brady, and Thomas McClelland of Colorado, who have
been waiting for Senator Wolcott, returned home to‑night, but not before they
had a most satisfactory and successful session with the senator. It has been
known right along that no man who wants a place will get through unless he has
the approval of Senator Wolcott. The mission of the three Colorado men who have
removed home was to arrange for the division of places which will fall to the
lot of Colorado citizens, and it is understood that the patronage has been
parcelled out. Of course, nothing can be learned as to the disposition of the
various places and probably nothing will be known absolutely until the
appointments are made.
Another earlier article from an unlabeled newspaper clipping
noted:
TO
SEE ’IS ’IGHNESS
Ambassadors
From the Political Parties to Cousin Ed.
…The envoys will remain to
witness the inauguration ceremonies and then return to Denver post haste to
carry out the boss’ instructions. They had a last conference with the leaders
of the different organizations here and received their very best terms to lay
before Cousin Ed.
Richard’ scrapbooks contain sketches from Denver newspapers
of the inaugural ball and McKinley taking the oath of office, which probably
are records of events that he had attended. They also contain passes to the
Senate chambers and House of Representative, suggesting that he had a full
experience of the national capital.
Upon his return to Denver, Richard resumed his duties as
County Clerk, while rumors of his impending appointment flourished. He also
planned a vacation, as described by the Times, March 3, 1897:
AN OCEAN VOYAGE
County
Clerk Le Bert Will Take One for His Health
The fact that County Clerk Le
Bert was contemplating an ocean voyage gave rise to the suspicion that he will
be named as counsel at one of the leading European cities, and the stories that
were current gave him one of the best places abroad. But Mr. Le Bert does not
expect to be consul, although it is a fact that as soon as he can properly
arrange his affairs he will leave Denver for New York, and then take passage in
a steamer of the Hamburg-American line.
Le Bert goes solely on account of
his health, hoping to find in an ocean voyage complete recovery. It is for this
reason that he will take a slow steamer, occupying about two weeks in the
passage. Mr. Le Bert expects to remain across the water only a day or two, his
object being to secure about four weeks of ocean voyaging.
An undated newspaper clipping added the following opinion,
suggesting that Richard had planned more than a brief ocean voyage:
If County Clerk LeBert is going
on a trip to Queen Victoria’s jubilee, as reported, it would be proper for him
to resign from the office. It does not seem right for a public official to
enjoy a holiday of a couple of months with a large salary running along.
Richard did not resign, and he did take a three-month trip
to Europe. On May 15, 1897, Richard, Louise, and their son Eugene sailed from
New York to Hamburg on the Hamburg-America Line’s SS. Palatia, returning
via London to New York on August 5 on the Atlantic Transporter Line’s S.S. Mohawk.
They spent time at Carlsbad (Karlovy Vary) in Bohemia, where the waters of hot
springs were widely believed to cure a variety of ailments. They made their way
to London via Berlin, Brussels, and Paris. It is unclear whether the family
attended Queen Victoria’s jubilee, but Richard’s scrapbook contains a clipping
from London dated July 1897 that describes the arrival of the King of Siam to
meet with Her Majesty and presumably attend the jubilee. Upon their return to
Denver, Richard reported himself as feeling much better and was “confident that
his stay at Carlsbad was of great benefit to him.”[14]
The newspaper article that reported his return noted that
Richard was loquacious on the subject of local politics. He was pleased about
an attempt to bring the two factions of the Republican party back together, and
he believed that the silver question would not be an issue much longer. He was
quoted as saying:
“In England there is a general
feeling that a change to the double standard would be injurious to business
interests, but many think that a commission will be appointed to meet with the
American commission. France is willing to adopt the double standard, and so is
Germany if England agrees. Regarding the Hawaiian question, many of the
political men of England think that Japan has no right to seize the islands,
and that as England has been taking everything in sight, there is no reason why
the United States should not begin.”[15]
During his trip to Europe Richard’s name was often in the
newspaper because of a rumor that he was to be appointed Surveyor General of Colorado.
This appointment would not become official until December, and in the interim,
there was the previously mentioned 1897 county election to cause controversy. Despite
the accusations of bias, or maybe because of his bias, and certainly because of
his political loyalties, Richard’s appointment as Surveyor General was
confirmed on December 18, 1897. The Silver Republican Senator Teller sent
Richard a letter saying that despite reports in the Denver newspapers he had
never opposed Richard’s confirmation either directly or indirectly. In
reporting Richard’s appointment, the Times (December 17, 1897) noted,
“He has a genius for political organization, and is today one of the strongest
men, politically, in the county and state.”
Richard departed the county clerk’s office at Christmas
1897. His employees presented him with a silver flatware set in appreciation
for the way he had managed the office.
Richard’s sojourn as Surveyor General was brief but
newsworthy. He had been in office for only a month when he discharged five
clerks, one of whom had strong enough political connections to be reinstated. On
March 10, 1898, the Post quoted Richard as saying, “It is a fact that
this office has been made a dumping ground for friends and relatives of men of
influence at Washington and who desired to send them to this state for their
health… Some of the work done by these persons is not up to the standard.” His
dissatisfaction with those appointed to work in his office persisted, and by
July he was describing the civil service as a “rank fake.” He complained, “I
lopped right and left, and I got into no end of trouble for trying to make
everybody do his duty and put in a respectable time working. The letters I have
received from officers who thought they had saddled relatives on us forever
would make a book as interesting as one of Victor Hugo’s novels.”[16]
Prior to his appointment as Surveyor General, the newspapers
had speculated that Richard aspired to a consular position. In December 1898 he
received his wish when President McKinley appointed him U.S. Consult to Belgium
to be stationed in Ghent. The position paid $2,000 per year in addition to
which the consul was entitled to fees “which make the position quite
lucrative.”[17]
According to a family story, Richard received this
appointment because of his fluency in German. The family chuckled at the
reasoning because Belgium is a French-speaking country, and Richard knew no
French. However, Ghent is in the Flemish-speaking portion of Belgium. Flemish
is closely related to German, which likely was behind the decision.
Nevertheless, Richard’s lack of French was apparently a handicap. The family
story holds that his son Eugene, who quickly picked up French at school, often
translated for his father.
Belgium was not Richard’s first choice of a posting. He had
hoped to receive an appointment in Honolulu because he thought the climate
might benefit his health. Louisa had suggested to some reporters that he would
decline the position in Ghent. However, Richard, who had travelled to
Washington to discuss the appointment, returned saying, “…but as a position [in
Honolulu] was not forthcoming and the president evidently wishes to send me to
Europe, and has nominated me, I will accept.”[18]
The Le Bert family prepared to leave for Belgium within a
few weeks. On January 25, 1899, an auction was held at their home to dispose of
their furniture. A flyer from the Bessler Auction Company touted, “As the owner
is going to Europe we will sell for cash to the highest bidder the elegant
furniture of this 8-room home…” The family sailed from New York to Antwerp on
the Red Star Line’s S.S. Antwerp on February 8, 1899.
 |
| Richard during His Time as US Consul |
Richard left little information about his role as consul other than to say that his duties were “not arduous.” When he returned to Denver in 1901, he gave an interview to the Denver Republican, which provided some description of life in Ghent:
We are the only American family
in Ghent… The population of the city is about 200,000, and of these there are
about 50 English families who, with the American consulate, make up the
English-speaking colony. The rest are mostly native Flemish people, speaking,
except those of the highest station, nothing but Flemish. Belgium has been much
affected by the wars in South Africa and China and its chief industries –
spinning and weaving – are almost at a standstill…
There are perhaps 50 factories in
Ghent, one of them employing 5,000 workmen. Living is high there. A laborer
gets and equivalent to 20 cents a day and a machinist who gets 80 cents is
making big wages. The people are poor and live almost entirely on vegetables,
eating meat only on fete days.[19]
What is apparent from inventories, catalogues, and
descriptions not included in his scrapbook is that Richard spent some of his
time in Europe collecting fine furniture and objects d’art. In a letter written
in 1914 to Mr. Patrick E. Duffee, an art dealer in Boston, he described his
collection:
During the period of my service
as United States Consul at Ghent, Belgium I made a number of purchases of
paintings and other objects of art and antiquity, among which the more
important are a painting in oil on wood 11” x 15”, Cain Killing Able at the
Alter, by Andrea Del Sarto 1517, 2 minatures [sic] in watercolor, landscapes 5”
x 8” by Abraham Rademaker, 1675-1735, whose works are of great fineness, rare
and highly prized. In bistre on paper,
Tobey and his Mother, (probably a study) about 12” x 18” by Rembrandt. Some prints by Beauvarlet and others.
The most interesting of these items was the painting of “Cain
Killing Abel,” which was painted” on an oak panel. Among his papers Richard
wrote a detailed description of how he had acquired it:
It came into my possession in the
year 1902, at which time I was in the service of our government as U. S. Consul
to Ghent, Belgium. Being interested in works of art and antiquities, I attended
most of the important public art sales in Belgium during my period of residence
in Europe. The painting was purchased by .me at the sale of a famous private
gallery at Ghent. This sale was extensively advertised and there were many
connoisseurs of art from various sections of Europe in attendance. At the time
of sale I found the painting (unframed) with a miscellaneous lot of prints and
odds and ends of supposed little value, lying unarranged upon a long table.
Little attention was given to the contents upon the table as none of it was
considered of sufficient value to be catalogued. The painting on both face and
back was very much soiled. The characters were obscure, so much so that the
subject was indiscernible by reason of the many coats of varnish covering. It
had the appearance as though the various owners from time to time during the
four hundred years of its life had given it a coat of varnish. What attracted
my attention to the painting was the rich coloring on the back and shoulders of
Abel, which shone very strong through the varnish.
Some six months later during a
visit at my residence of an artist, a member of the board of management of the
Academy of Art at Ghent, I presented the painting to him for an opinion as to
the possibility of having the varnish removed. He considered it possible, but
would only undertake to do so at my risk, which was quite satisfactory to me,
as it had no value to me in the condition it was in. Three weeks thereafter the
painting was returned to me perfectly restored. The back of the panel, which
had been very much soiled and darkened by age, was also cleaned, whereby the
following inscription became discernible, “Andrea Sarto 1517,” which could not
be seen in its original condition at time of purchase.
The artist who restored the
painting was much interested to learn how it came into my possession, whereupon
he expressed himself as being astonished that it could possibly have escaped
the observation of the many connoisseurs and artists who had attended that
particular sale, he himself having been present.
After it became known that I was
the possessor of this painting, and the manner in which it came into my possession,
many artists called at the Consulate at Ghent to see and examine it as to its
authenticity, all of whom declared it to be unquestionably the work of Andrea
del Sarto. [20]
In June 1901, Richard and his family left Belgium on a three-month
leave of absence, returning to Denver at the beginning of July. The leave was
to become permanent. On August 28, Richard resigned his position as U.S. Consul
to Belgium. A month later, the newspapers were reporting that he had resigned
to assist in the comeback bid of is old ally Wolcott, who had recently lost his
seat in the Senate but was hoping to replace Senator Teller.
It was the beginning of another major change for Richard. Wolcott was unsuccessful in his attempt to return to the senate. A cartoon in the Denver Post dated August 7, 1902 shows Wolcott dressed as the angel Gabriel sleeping beside the graves of the High Five. The caption reads, “Until Gabriel Toots His Horn.” It was the end of Richard’s political career.
By June 1902 Richard already was becoming involved in new
ventures. He was the president of the Producers Oil Company, which held a lease
on 1,280 acres in Rio Blanco County, Colorado, “along the anti-cline of one of
the best oil belts in the State.” In October of that year, he formed a
partnership with former county commissioner and then-current postmaster John C.
Twombly as real estate brokers. Their business card carried the subtitles
“Investments, Loans, Insurance and Rentals” and “Care of Improved Property.”
Richard continued in real estate ventures and property management for the rest
of his working career.
Richard’s scrapbooks end with these new ventures and a few
records of his involvement with the Denver-Frisco Knights Templars and the El
Jebel Shrine. However, the record of his life continues in a notebook
containing 493 pages of letters that he wrote between 1912 and 1915.
About half of the correspondence concerns the estate of Leon
Lefevre, originally of Thield, Belgium, who died in 1912. It appears that Julius Van Hee, US Vice
Consul in Ghent[21], asked
Richard to assist in sorting out the Lefevre estate. The letters detail the search for heirs and
the identification of Leon’s extensive holdings, which included property in
Denver, mining claims and ranches in Colorado and Texas. Between the lines, the Lefevre letters
suggest intrigue – tension between Richard and someone named Minglolet, who
appeared to have been trying to lure away Richard’s client, and a lawsuit
against the estate launched by one Anna Reed, whose claim Richard described as
a “forgery.” The letters also speak of
an heir who travelled from Belgium to ensure that the lawsuit was being handled
properly and who apparently was rather offensive.
The Anna Reed suit eventually was resolved in favor of the Lefevre
estate, allowing the probate to be completed.
However, there was little cash to distribute, as most of the estate was
tied up in property. It was necessary to
bring suit to force the sale of the property before most of the estate could be
distributed.
The final series of letters in the Lefevre correspondence
were written at the height of World War I.
These letters reveal the American perception of conditions in Belgium.
Dec 3rd
1914
Mr. Julius A. Van Hee
United States Vice Consul
16 Boulevard du Parc,
Ghent, Belgium.
My dear Jules:
How are you, are you still on earth?
What terriffic [sic] times you must be having. I have serious doubts as to this letter
reaching you, as I am informed that there is no mail facility now in
Belgium. Is it possible to get into
touch with Thielt by mail? I am in
position to make a report on Lefevre matter.
We all feel much grieved reading of the fearful conditions prevailing
throughout Belgium. The citizens of this
city have just completed a donation of 4000 barrels of flour for the poor of
Belgium besides a considerable cash.
Hope you and your family are safe and well. How is Laura.
Mrs. L wishes to be remembered and sends her sympathy.
Yours
truly,
Richard Le Bert
In a letter of the same date to Mr. Emile Van Daele, Thielt,
Belgium Richard wrote: “I am informed
that it is impossible for me to reach you by letter through the mail on account
of the unsettled condition of the country by reason of the war. Americans in general are grieve stricken
reading of the fearful conditions prevailing throughout your unfortunate
country.”
Richard received a response from Mr. Van Hee, which
apparently stated that conditions were not as bad as Richard feared. However, Richard wrote back to an address in
Holland, leaving one to wonder whether the mail simply had to be directed
through a new route or the Van Hees had fled Belgium.
Jan.
6th 1914 (should be 1915)
C/o Herman Kramer
Terneuzen, Holland
My dear Mr. Van Hee,
Your very welcome letter of Dec 12th to hand. I assure you it afforded Mrs. L and self a
great deal of pleasure to learn that you and your family are safe and in good
health. We were much in fear from the
press news that probably you were all suffering great hardships with your lives
in constant danger and it was also a great surprise to learn that no part of
the city, not even a building has been destroyed.
I have permitted many persons to read your letter, both for and
against, it was a great surprise to them and much gratification to learn what
the actual conditions are in at least that part of the European war zone…
The final letter[22]
in the notebook leaves the reader wondering whether the Belgian heirs ever
received their share of the estate:
“There is no possible way of getting into communican with any of the
heirs existing in Belgium, as they are residents of the war zone, they have no
mail service.”
Many of the remaining letters in the book are related to
Richard’s real estate business. Richard
acted as an agent for absentee landholders and some Denver residents, for whom
he collected rent, paid taxes and arranged for mortgages, needed repairs and
sales of farm produce. These letters
provide the occasional glimpse into the economic conditions of the times and
Richard’s opinion of the political situation. An example follows:
Aug
21st ---2
Dear Mrs. McClelland,
Herewith check for $1520 in payment (less 80¢
commission), for rent of the house 231 West Ellsworth… I was about to start with the papering when
the tenant informed me that they were considering vacating the house. I will await their decision before anything
is done, they say the cellar is damp, and kitchen dark, they want more space in
rear of house so that they can keep chickens.
Will do all I can to hold them until spring, it would be an inducement
to lower the rent to $2500 per month during the winter month
with understanding that no papering is to be done. Should they move there is danger of a vacant
house for some time, it means a lot of repairs and than we may have to reduce
the rent to $2500 per month.
The rental conditions are as bad as ever, if any thing worse than 6
months ago. There are houses on West
Ellsworth between Broadway and your house that have stood vacant for over a
year. I have an elegant house in choice
residence section that has been vacant two months, am advertising it daily,
reduced rent ten dollars a month and not an inquiry during all this time. I do not believe this condition is caused by
decrease of population, the city is over built with apartments and the constant
construction of residences…
In another letter
dated Nov. 24th , 1914, Richard wrote the following to his client
L.F. Madden:
Your postal note for $192 duly to hand. After paying the balance of special tax
amounting to $5623, I am now notified of another special tax
just levied on the lots, “Sub #13 West South Side Sanitary Sewer,” amounting to
$16239.
I am much inclined to let the city take the lots. You did not loose much when you let go of
them, I fear that I have a cat by the tail that I can not well let go off. It is a pleasure to hold property in a town
that is grafted to death by politicians.
In 1912, Richard decided to invest
in property on the Isle of Pines in the West Indies. This island lies
approximately 90 miles south of Havana, Cuba. Shortly after the Spanish
American War, Americans began to settle there on the belief that it had been
ceded to the United States under the Treaty of Paris.[23]
By 1907, 90% of the island was owned by American land speculators, who were
actively marketing small parcels of land to their countrymen. These land
companies established a citrus industry on the island as part of their
promotional campaigns to stimulate the sale of property.[24]
Richard may have intended the
purchase of land in the Isle of Pines as an investment for his son, Eugene
(Gene), who had recently married and was expecting his first child. Some of the
letters requesting information about the investment are signed by Gene. For
example, Gene wrote to a company called Canada Land & Fruits:
Since writing
you last a number of questions have come up of which I would like to be
enlightened, and if you deem proper to make answer, would be very grateful.
Can the port of
Nueva Gerona on Jucaro be made deep water harbors?
How much more
rain fall is there on the western coast compared with that of the eastern?
I am informed
by a former resident of the Island that for a great many years prior to the
year 1907 there had been no severe wind storms, that in the fall of the years
1907-08-09-& 10, four years in succession, there had been very severe
destructive wind storms, the wind reaching the velocity of ninety miles an
hour, in some cases growers having lost 80% of the fruit crop.
Was also told
that the insects on the western coast are more numerous than on the eastern,
particularly so, sand flies and mosquitos (sic) which are very troublesome and
annoying. That the oranges grown on the
Island can not compete in the markets of this country, with that grown in
Florida and more so California, in this that they have not the color and carry
too much pulp.
In a follow-up letter he wrote:
…thanking you
for the information and stating that myself and father intended to visit the
Isle in June. We are not purchasing a
“poke in a bag” if we purchase it will only be after a thorough inspection and
investigation of the whole Island. It is
not a matter of inducement but facts that we are looking for. One hears favorably spoken, and considerably
unfavorable by people who have resided there, we appreciate the fact that due
allowance must be made for draw backs and difficulties to be over come by
original settlers in new practically undeveloped countries hence what we hear
does not deter us. We look upon your
section of the Island favorably by reason of deep water harbor and increased
rainfall.
On May 22, 1912, Richard wrote to
a client in Los Angeles: “Myself and Eugene will leave here June 9th
for Cuba, to be away about six weeks.” The trip took place as planned, although
it was shorter than six weeks. Their return from Havana to New York is
documented in the records of Ellis Island, where they arrived on the S.S. Saratoga
on June 26, ending a three-day voyage.
Gene’s daughter believed that they
actually purchased land on the Isle of Pines. However, Richard’s papers do not
appear to contain a record of the purchase or a subsequent sale.
The next year, Richard appeared to
be relinquishing his real estate business. He wrote to his client in Los
Angeles:
The health of
both Mrs. L and self has been miserable for the past year, just as soon as
conditions will permit we will leave for a lower altitude, to be away for some
little time, upon my return I shall not again resume business. I have in the past six months gradually
dropped all of my clients excepting yourself, you are the last to be
relinquished.
A letter to the Brooks Rupture
Appliance Co. suggests the cause of Richard’s poor health:
Herewith please
find application forms answering all questions, also P.O. money order for $760
in payment for grade B, Single Appliance truss and one fine thread, Star Army
and navy suspensory.
Kindly advise
me if it is necessary that the truss be worn continuously both day and
night. How about time taking baths?
About this time, Richard began to
consider a move to California for himself and Louise and/or for his son. He
wrote a series of letters to contacts in different parts of California – “but
nothing at Los Angeles or vicinity” - seeking opportunities. To Charles Kibler
in San Diego, he wrote:
I have about
concluded to endeavor to locate my son Eugene upon a farm somewhere in So.
Calif. Some where in San Diego County from 5 to 25 miles from San Diego City,
consisting of from 20 to 40 acres improved.
Nothing on the line of citric fruit grove. I want something that a man can make a living
on, grain, alfalfa and some fruit of various varieties etc. Myself and wife would probably live 3 or 4
months of the year on the place.
Want a place
that has its own water by wells or springs or free water, it don’t pay to buy
water in an irrigation plant in Calif.
Would like to
trade Denver realty, you know I have some elegant located lots with all improvements
in and paid for, including civic centre tax.
You know the class and location of my residence, backs into Cheesman
Park, and is in the most desirable residence section of Denver, the lowest
priced lots in the block is $600000 a pair, the 5 on the
corner owned by the Denver Nalt Bank are held at $20,00000. My place stands me 18,00000
and is in first class condition not the slightest repairs required any place.
In another letter he reiterated
that he was “somewhat prejudiced against citris [sic] fruit culture.” This
comment leads one to wonder whether he had a bad experience with an investment
in citrus fruit on the Isle of Pines.
Richard’s correspondence regarding
California properties continued with inquiries about land in El Cajon Valley
and the Sacramento Valley near Corning, California. Richard and Louisa visited
California in the early winter of 1914, primarily seeking opportunities for
their son, who appears to have moved to California in December 1913. They
apparently travelled the entire state, being in San Francisco in early January
and again in late February and visiting Los Angeles and San Diego in the
interim.
During this period Richard continued
to own land in South Park, but he had three co-owners of the 1600-acre
property, E.A. Reser, E. Lindenthal, and R.M. Davis, who resided in New York
and California. Richard regularly paid 71% of the annual taxes for his 1136
acres and made certain that his partners paid their taxes. The partnership in general and the taxes in
particular often were sources of annoyance to him. For example, in one letter,
Richard wrote:
I am becoming heartily tired of undertaking
to protect the interests of the co-owners of this land, last year you compelled
me to write a second time for your check, you know this tax must be paid by
March 1st of each year after which penalties are added.
In another letter to Mr. Lindenthal, he wrote: “I was compelled to pay 15¢ exchange on your
check, which you will please remit.” Fifteen cents would appear trivial to a
man who ordered flowers ten and eleven dollars worth at a time (as shown in
other correspondence). However, as
Richard was charging only 80¢ commission to collect the rent for one of his
clients, perhaps 15¢ was significant.
Although the partnership was an annoyance to him, Richard
felt that it was worth enduring due to the value of the land. In 1913, he
estimated its value at $25.00 per acre “not taking into consideration the
prospective value in case development should demonstrate oil or coal in paying
quantities.” He referred to several holes having been drilled to between 400
and 700 feet and showing “strong indications of oil” when the drilling stopped
for lack of funds. Although a Professor Lake believed that “the drill would
have to go down at least 2000 feet in order to reach the oil sands,” Richard
felt that it would not be many years before the right parties would undertake
the oil development in South Park.
By 1915, Richard had begun to doubt the value of the South
Park land. He wrote: “I am somewhat discouraged holding this land
any longer, as it now stands it can only be sold as a dry ranch, we have no
water right… We might try it at say $1000
per acre.” Nevertheless, Richard did not sell the land. Eventually Eugene
inherited it, and periodically others paid him to drill on it, but they never
found developable oil.
Perhaps his interest in selling the South Park Land in 1915
was related to Richard’s intention to move to California. His other
correspondence at this time showed that he was seeking a home in the Los
Angeles area, where his son Eugene was living. In a letter to a Los Angeles realtor,
he discussed some options that the realtor had presented and listed his
holdings in Denver, apparently with the intention of arranging a trade. The
holdings and their values included:
As to my residence 828 Humboldt Street, it stands me 18,00000.
Lots # 24 & 25 Block 32 Dowington
Addition, Holly bet 16th St & 17th Ave Boulevard,
East City Park $100000
Lots 47 & 48 Block 17 Downington Add,
Ivanhoe bet 19th Street and 17th Ave Boulevard, East City
Park 125000
Lots 25-26-27 & 28 102 Colfax Heights
Add. Corner 16th and Elm Sts
East City Park 200000
Lots 17-18-19 & 20 Block 101, Colfax
Heights (very choice) Lots 25 x 173 ft, all other lots are 25 x 25 ft, Eudora
bet 16th & 17th Ave, East City Park 240000
Lots 33-34 & 35, Block 15 Elyria Stock
Yard Section of city 45000
Lots 8 to 15 (8 lots) Block 5, West Broadway
cheap residence and trackage,
So Denver 120000
At this point, Richard’s book of correspondence ended. Thus,
it contained no references to the two most significant events of the decade:
the U.S. involvement in World War I and the Spanish Flu.
History documents that German-Americans became targets of suspicion
and suppression. After the United States entered the war, President Woodrow Wilson
was quoted as saying, “Any man who carries a hyphen about with him, carries a
dagger that he is ready to plunge into the vitals of this Republic when he gets
ready.” Some Germans were interred. German newspapers were supressed, and the
German language was forbidden.[i]
The German street names throughout Buffalo’s East Side were replaced with
American/English names. However, according to a family story, Richard’s family
avoided the bias because their surname appeared to be French. After World War I
the Le Berts spoke little of their German heritage and generally considered
themselves to be French.
As the war was ending, the Spanish Flu arrived in Denver.
The first documented death in the city from this disease occurred near the end
of September. Although officials warned the population to avoid needless
crowding, most people carried on as usual. In October, 40,000 gathered in Cheesman
Park – practically in Richard’s backyard – to view a warplane on display there.
Another 10,000 participated in a war bond parade. Within a week Denver had
1,200 cases, and the flu had claimed 78 lives.[ii]
The Le Berts survived the super-spreader event on their doorstep and left no
stories of the pandemic.
By 1920, Eugene had returned to Denver. Nevertheless,
Richard carried through with his earlier intention to move to California. According
to his granddaughter, Richard wanted to avoid becoming dependent on his family
as he aged. It is not clear precisely when they moved,[iii]
but in 1930 Richard and Louisa were living in an apartment on West First Street
in Long Beach, which was near the beach. From there Louisa wrote letters to her
daughter-in-law Lida. One letter noted that Richard was bathing at the beach.
Louisa died in Long Beach on April 6, 1940. She was cremated, and Richard returned to Denver with her ashes. He moved in with his son Eugene and family, where he lived his last few years. His mental health deteriorated, and the family believed that he was becoming senile, but he fiercely guarded his independence. On April 5, 1942, Richard decided to go upstairs. His granddaughter Louise tried to help him, but he waived her off. A few moments later, he fell down the stairs and died.
[1] “All Around Town” article
in The Buffalo Courier, Buffalo, New
York, November 9, 1895, page 5.
[2] Le Bert Family Bible, in
possession of Annette Smith.
[3] St. Peter's German
Evangelical Church, Baptisms 1848-1968. (Microfilm copy of original
records at New Covenant United Church of Christ, Buffalo, NY. Family History
Library FHL US/CAN Film 1381672.)
[4] Le Bert, Richard,
Scrapbook (Two volumes of newspaper clippings and other memorabilia glued in
ledger books; covers the period from about 1877-1910.)
[5] “The Buffalo Fire
Department: Annual Grand Parade – A
Magnificent Display – The Crowd, the Procession, Incidents of the Day,
etc.” Article in The Buffalo Courier, Buffalo, New York, June 10, 1873.
[6] “Historical Sketch” contained in the Constitution
and Bylaws of “B” Company Spaulding Guards, 74th Regiment, N.G.S.N.Y. Published in 1877 by A.L Freeman & Co.,
Buffalo, NY.
[7] Foner, P.S. 1977. Great Labor Uprising of 1877. Pathfinder Press. Excerpted in “The Militant”
Vol. 76, No. 5, February 6, 2012.
[Online] https://www.themilitant.com/2012/7605/760549.html. Accessed May 23, 2020.
[8] Fairplay Flume (Fairplay, Park County); Date: Jun 30, 1881;
Section: None; Page: 3 [online] Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/.
Accessed May 23, 2020.
[9] Fairplay Flume (Fairplay, Park County); Date: Oct 5, 1882; Section:
Front page; Page: 1 [online] Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection https://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org/.
Accessed May 23, 2020. Note the acreage
is unclear and in the second and third postings appears to be 10 acres. A certificate issued in 1885 (U.S. Patent
#18737) gives Richard title to “one hundred and sixty acres.”
[10] “A New Concentrating
Company,” article in the Boulder Herald,
Boulder, Colorado, November 22, 1882.
Clipping in Richard Le Bert’s scrapbook.
[11] Sources: a decorative
marriage certificate and Richard Le Bert’s handwritten notes.
[12] This and other articles
seem to imply that justices were compensated by the case rather than receiving
a set salary.
[13] “We shall answer their
demands for a gold standard by saying to them, you shall not press down upon
the brow of labor this crown of thorns. You shall not crucify mankind upon a
cross of gold.”
[14] Clipping from the News,
August 21, 1897
[15] Clipping from the News,
August 21, 1897
[16] Clipping from the News,
July 1, 1898
[17] Clipping from the News,
December 23, 1898
[18] Clipping from the Evening
Post, December 22, 1898
[19] Clipping from the Denver
Republican, July 2, 1901
[20] Subsequent appraisals by
art experts failed to confirm the artist, although one expert suggested that it
could be from the “school of del Sarto.”
[21] According to one letter,
Julius Van Hee was the Vice Consul through Richard’s entire term of office as
Consul.
[22] Addressed to Mr. R.E.
Pemston, Lake City, CO dated Feb 11th, 1915, regarding a property
held by the Lefevre estate
[23] A second interpretation
of the treaty, which ultimately prevailed, was that the island remained part of
the Republic of Cuba.
[24] Winsberg, M.D. 1961. Costs,
tariffs, prices and nationalization: the rise and decline of the American grapefruit
industry on the Isle of Pines, Cuba. American Journal of Economics and
Sociology 20: 543-548.
[i] Siegel, R. and A. Silverman. 2017. “During World War I, U.S. Government Propaganda Erased German Culture.” NPR (National Public Radio) [online] During World War I, U.S. Government Propaganda Erased German Culture : NPR. Accessed May 15, 2021.
[ii] Aigular, J. 2020. “Not Colorado’s First Pandemic: What We Can Learn from the Spanish Flu.” Denver Post, March 29, 2020. [Online] https://www.denverpost.com/2020/03/29/pandemic-1918-spanish-flu-colorado-coronavirus/. Accessed April 26, 2020.
[iii] The entire 800 block of Humboldt appears to be missing from the 1920 census – at least the index and images on ancestry.com.
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