FAMILY LINE AND HISTORY
Ada Agnes Chamberlin
3rd of 6 children of Finley McLaren “Frank” Chamberlin & Emily S. Hoy
Born: Nov 6, 1877, Fort Worth, Tarrant Co., Texas
Died: Jul 15, 1960 (age 82), Baker, Baker Co., Oregon; pneumonia
Buried: Mount Hope Cemetery in Baker, Baker Co., Oregon
Married (1): early 1898, William James “Doc” Chambers, Colorado
Annulled: 1899, Teller Co., Colorado
Divorced: Nov 22, 1899, Teller Co. (El Paso Co.), Colorado
One child: Howard James Chambers
Married (2): Apr 22, 1902, Edward Lawrence Whitaker, Grand Junction, Mesa Co., Colorado
Seven children: Vera Stanislaus Whitaker, Leonard F. Whitaker, Zelda Beatrice Whitaker, Donald Edward Whitaker, Melvin Lawrence Whitaker, Thelma Marie Whitaker, Edward Joseph Whitaker
William James “Doc” Chambers
Son of William Chambers & Camell unkn, both born in England
Born: Nov 14, 1867, Albany Co., New York
Died: Aug 21, 1942 (age 74) Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California; coronary arteriosclerosis and chronic myocarditis
Buried: Inglewood Park Cemetery (Sanctuary of Hope Mausoleum), in Inglewood, Los Angeles Co., California
Occupation: Town physician for Cripple Creek, El Paso Co., Colorado; general manager of Acacia Mine in Cripple Creek, orchardist
Married (1): circa 1892, Ellen/Ella L. unkn, prob Colorado
Divorced: Oct 27, 1895, El Paso Co., Colorado
No children
Married (2): early 1898, Ada Agnes Chamberlin, Colorado
Annulled: 1899, Teller Co., Colorado
Divorced: Nov 22, 1899, Teller Co. (El Paso Co.), Colorado
One child: Howard James Chambers
Married (3): Jan 22, 1900, Catherine/Catharine/Kathryn “Kitty” Howard, Manhattan, New York
Separated: 1902/1903, El Paso (now Teller) Co., Colorado; 1910 has them on separate census records in Los Angeles, but still married
No children
Married (4:): Dec 16, 1910, Maria Rosslyn Catherine “Rosie” Den, Los Angeles Co., California
One child: James Conrad Chambers
Married (5): May 20, 1915, Nina Alberta Hunstock, Riverside Co., California
One child: Lillian Virginia “Lillie” Chambers
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Timeline and Records
Six children of Finley McLaren “Frank” Chamberlin & Emily S. Hoy:
1. Nellie Belle Chamberlin
1873 – 1956
2. Frederick Lawrence “Fred” Chamberlin
1875 – 1955
3. Ada Agnes Chamberlin
1877 – 1960
4. Roy Valentine Chamberlin
1881 – 1923
5. Mary Agnes “Mamie” Chamberlin
1887 – 1980
6. Willard Joseph “Joe” Chamberlin
1890 – 1971
**********
Nov 14, 1867: Birth of William James Chambers, the son of William Chambers & Camell unkn, in Albany Co., New York
Nov 6, 1877: Birth of Ada Agnes Chamberlin, 3rd of 6 children of Finley McLaren “Frank” Chamberlin & Emily S. Hoy, in Fort Worth, Tarrant Co., Texas
Jun 8, 1880: Federal Census for Precinct #5, Travis Co., Texas:
Chamberlain, Frank: age 34, born New York, father born NY, mother born NY, Contractor on RR (Chamberlin)
Emily: wife, age 29, born Pennsylvania, father born Pa, mother born Pa, keeping house
Winifred: daughter, age 10, at home, born Kansas, father born NY, mother born Pa (Winnie, the daughter of Emily and her 1st husband, Frank Davis)
Nelly: daughter, age 7, born Missouri, father born NY, mother born Pa (Nellie)
Frederick: son, age 5, born Kansas, father born NY, mother born Pa
Ada: daughter, age 2, born Texas, father born NY, mother born Pa
Jul 11, 1881: Letter from Winnie Davis Chamberlin (age 11 yr, 11 mo) to her father, Frank:
July the 11
My dear papa, I have not been going to school much I was sick for too weeks in bed and doctor stayed four nights with me. Ball is as fat as ever. I wish you could be here to ride with us. There is a lady lives sight (sic: right) across the street from us had a little girl that was out a walking one day and got sick the next day and died the same day. The doctor says it is to hot to go to school so mama says I need not go to school until fall. There are so menny pepel killed on the cars at the roundhouse. Is old jack with you yet and does he seam to miss us much. We have a little brown puppy and a little kitten and mama wishes that it would die because it dose so many bad tricks. Yesterday we had one of our young chickens for dinner and nelly had your part of the chicken but nelly sid she wished you was here to have the haid because it was so fat. We go every morning to the river to water Ball. We have a hen with ten little chickens about two weeks old and they gro so fast. My pullet lays all the time. Those little chickens that we brot with us from camp the roosters crow and the pullet go around a singing just like the old hens. Papa writ to me when you have time, ada is better then she was when mama wrote. I am going to take a ride now so.
I will close for this time.
your loving
Winnie
Note: Nelly (age 8) and Ada (3 yr, 8 mo) are Winnie’s half-sisters. This letter may have been written in the Colorado/Wyoming/Nebraska area where Emily may have been staying with her brothers. However, Ada’s brother Roy is born the following month in Fort Worth, Tarrant Co. Texas. Winnie dies 7 months later in Fremont, Dodge Co., Nebraska.
Mar 26, 1882: Death of Winifred M. Davis “Winnie” Chamberlin (age 12), the only child of Emily (Hoy) Chamberlin and Frank Davis (her 1st husband), in Fremont, Dodge Co., Nebraska. Winnie was small for her age and apparently a rather sickly child as noted in family letters, and family lore has the young girl died while skipping rope. Winnie is buried in the Ridge Cemetery (block 143, lot 4, grave 11) in one of the twelve family plots in Ridge Cemetery owned by Emily’s brother, James S. Hoy.
Mar 30, 1882: Fremont Weekly Tribune, Fremont, Dodge Co., Nebraska:
Died—In this city, on Sunday March 26th, Winnie, oldest child of Frand(k) and Emily (Hoy) Chamberlin, aged 12 years, 7 months, and 3 days. The funeral services were held at the Catholic church Monday at 3 p.m.
Note: Emily and her children were staying for a time in Fremont, Dodge Co., Nebraska with her brothers
Sep 1883: Frank (age 38) and Emily (age 33) Chamberlin move to Savanna, Carroll Co., Illinois, another major railroad center. Their four older children, Nellie (age 9), Fred (age 8), Ada (age 5), and Roy (nearly age 2) were born in towns along the MK&T line (Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway).
- Nellie Belle Chamberlin
Born: Mar 7, 1873, Kansas City, Jackson Co., Missouri - Frederick Lawrence “Fred” Chamberlin
Born: Apr 17, 1875, Garnett, Anderson Co., Kansas - Ada Agnes Chamberlin
Born: Nov 6, 1877, Fort Worth, Tarrant Co., Texas - Roy Valentine Chamberlin
Born: Aug 22, 1881, Fort Worth, Tarrant Co., Texas
circa 1892: Marriage of William James “Doc” Chambers & Ellen/Ella L. ___, his 1st marriage, probably in Colorado
1893: Cripple Creek District Directory, Cripple Creek, El Paso Co., Colorado (pg 19):
Dr. W.J. Chambers, office Palace Drug Store; residence, 122 Myers Ave.
The Cripple Creek & Victor Eagle:
For years, the Palace Hotel has been an important piece of Cripple Creek folklore. The building and business, now located at the southwest corner of 2nd Street and Bennett, is renowned for its lively history and ghosts. Prior to and after the fires of 1896, the site of the present Palace Hotel was actually the Palace Pharmacy. It was built of wood and burned in the infamous fires in April of that year.
The 1893 Cripple Creek district directory brags of the Palace as having “… Steam Heat, Electric Lights and Bells, Hot and Cold Baths.” Ads for the Palace are all over the directory. They lay claims such as, “None finer in the state. Always First Class. Headquarters for Mining and Commercial Men”.
Not only was The Palace a substantial meeting place for Cripple Creek’s prospective millionaires, it also housed Bennett and Myers Real Estate & Exchange office and a telegraph office. Early photographs also indicate the place may have been a stage stop. As was the custom of the day, most of the employees working at the Palace also called the building home.
While the Palace Hotel flourished on one side of the street, the Palace Drugstore flourished on the other. Dr. William J. Chambers first appears in the 1893 directory as having an office at the Palace Drugstore and residing at 122 Myers. A man of considerable wealth and reputation, Dr. Chambers also had an office in Colorado Springs on south Tejon Street. So well-known were Dr. Chambers and his first wife, Ellen that they are mentioned in several Cripple Creek newspapers as early as 1892. The prominence of the Chambers remained off and on in newspapers until 1895.
Meanwhile, the Palace Hotel is described in the 1894 directory as “a spacious and substantial brick structure located in the busy center of town”. The special features of that hospitable house included a spacious rotunda, electric lights, steam heat, and hot water. “The cuisine is not excelled by any hotel in the state and no expense is spared…First class in every particular.” The lobby would become a popular rendezvous of guests and residents alike.
Palace Hotel 1894
After the fires of 1896, The Palace Drugstore was rebuilt. Within its three stories, the Pharmacy operated again on the first floor. Upstairs on the second floor were new physician’s offices. Dr. Chambers leased suites one through three of the Palace Block, taking a room at 121 W. Eaton.
While the good doctor’s business was booming again, his personal life was not. On October 27, 1895, Ellen L. Chambers asked and received a divorce from William J. Chambers. She was awarded alimony and the cost of her suit, and she was never heard from again.
Dr. Chambers proved to be short on time and long on women. By January 25, 1900, the Colorado Springs Gazette was reporting that Dr. W.J. Chambers had gone to New York to marry a Miss Catharine Howard. “Miss Howard is a very esteemable young lady who was employed as clerk and stenographer for O.E. Yeak, the insurance man, up to a short time ago when she resigned her position and went east.” The Gazette further reported on February 5 that Dr. W.J. Chambers had arrived home from New York, but Catharine, had not. “Mrs. Chambers came as far as Colorado Springs, where she is due to spend a short time before joining her husband.”
Catharine Howard, whose name has hosted a variety of spellings, is not listed in Cripple Creek directories. Sometime after her marriage to William, she took on the pleasant nickname of Kitty. The new Mrs. Chambers took up residence with her husband in the suites at the Palace Block, where William also continued his practice. It is probably around this time that Kitty and W.J. Chambers purchased the Palace Block from John E. Smith of Anaconda, who also had a pharmacy in Victor. The couple also began investing in mining claims and other property in the city.
Unfortunately, all did not go well in the marriage of William and Kitty Chambers. The 1902-03 directories merely list a Mrs. W.H. Chambers residing at 314 E. Golden. W.J. Chambers is not listed. Court records indicate that by 1903, Dr. Chambers had moved to Riverside County, California. Records also show he gave Kathryn 1/2 interest in the Palace Block.
1905 and 1907 directories do not show a listing for Kitty, or W.J. Chambers. News of the twosome does not surface again until 1910, when Kathryn H. Chambers sold her half of the Palace Block to W.J. Chambers and turned her back on Cripple Creek for good. While both were residing in Los Angeles, it appears they had indeed divorced.
The Palace Block continued to offer furnished rooms. The Palace Pharmacy continued to operate on the first floor, but the town of Cripple Creek was beginning the throes of a slow death. Mines were running out or becoming too expensive to operate. Citizens were moving away. Physicians migrated to larger cities with more patients. The upper stories of the stately Palace Block slowly fell to disuse.
For the next two decades, very little information is available about the Palace Block. As mining continued to wane and the historic buildings of Cripple Creek emptied one by one, tourists slowly replaced the miners. It was a period of time during which only the early history of Cripple Creek was promoted, a time that is still too young for some and blatantly historic for others. One can assume the Palace at last came into being as a hotel at least part of the time, if only to make Dr. Chambers a little cash and give visitors a place to sleep.
Dr. W.J. Chambers continued to live in Los Angeles, California. Eventually he tired of his investments in Cripple Creek and in 1928, the Palace was sold.
Source: History of the Palace Upended!!! by Jan MacKell, Archivist, Cripple Creek District Museum, copyright 1999
Cripple Creek, Victor, and Anaconda: Colorado’s Gold Boom Towns
The Cripple Creek & Victor Mining District… was a mini-metropolis of cities, suburbs, mines, and mills. Trains swarmed like ants at a picnic over miles of track on Gold Hill, an area roughly east of the line between Cripple Creek and Victor, where all the gold in the region was found. With a peak population of fifty-five thousand, crowds packed the streets of the district—men on the way to work, women to shop, and children to school. There were three dozen churches (but twelve dozen saloons!), nineteen schools, hundreds of businesses, and sixteen newspapers to satisfy the hunger for information in this two-mile high outpost of civilization.
Cripple Creek was the center of business and wealth in the District. Industry and commerce hummed day and night. By 1900, eight thousand miners (with wages of $3 a day) were hard at work there. The well-heeled mine owners could phone the opera house for reservations or slip into a house of ill-repute on Myers Avenue.
(There were) trains to everywhere. With three railroad companies and two trolley lines, tracks were a tangled maze, reminiscent of a major railroad center like Chicago and not a remote mountain niche. As many as fifty-eight passenger trains polished the rails between Cripple Creek and Victor each day.
Railroads were the lifeblood of the district. The Florence & Cripple Creek Railroad arrived in 1894, threading its way up Phantom Canyon, forty miles from Florence to Victor. Also called the “Gold Belt Line,” it featured through Pullman cars to Denver on its narrow-gauge rails. The District’s other two railroads were to be standard gauge.
The Midland Terminal built south from Divide, swung around Gold Hill to Victor, and chugged into Cripple Creek in 1895.
Source: Excerpt from Railroads of Colorado, by Claude Wiatrowski
Circa 1894: Photo of Chamberlin sisters:
Circa 1894: Assuming this photo was taken about the time the family lived in Fruita, Colorado
Mamie Chamberlin: (born Jan 6, 1887) would be abt 7 or 8
Nellie Chamberlin: (born Mar 7, 1873) would be abt 21
Ada Chamberlin: (born Nov 6, 1877) would be abt 16
May 1, 1894: Cripple Creek District Directory, Cripple Creek, El Paso Co., Colorado (pg 141):
Chambers, W.J., Palace Drug Store; residence, 120 Myers Ave.
Oct 24, 1894: Morning Journal, Cripple Creek, El Paso Co., Colorado (Vol 1, No 276):
MINES AND MILLS
Dr. Chambers & Co. are making good progress in sinking the new shaft on the Little Clara and expect to catch the Dolly Varden vein.
Nov 13, 1894: Morning Journal, Cripple Creek, El Paso Co., Colorado (Vol 1, No 294):
LOCAL GOSSIP.
Dr. Chambers left last evening for Colorado Springs.
Mar 31, 1895: Morning Journal, Cripple Creek, El Paso Co., Colorado (Vol 2, No 101):
The Gang Plays Its Last Card.
BUT IT FAILED TO WIN
And Now the Poor, Brokenbacked Thing Is Completely at Sea —Their Next Move Will Probably Be Made at the Place of Registration To-Morrow–See that Your Are There.–They Are Downed, Keep Them There Forever.
One of the most contemptible, despicable and underhanded trick ever perpetrated upon the public during a polical campaign was that attempted by the managers of the Fusion ticket when they caused to be printed and distributed in public places in this city those flaming red posters bearing the following inscription:
CATHOLICS
Protect Your Interests.
—VOTE FOR—
DR. CHAMBERS
By this method the gang managers hoped to draw from Dr. Chambers the support of an element they know they could not control and precipitate a religious fight, which all conservative citizens wished to avoid. Dr. Chambers is not a Catholic, but the gang hoped to delude the people into believing that he wished to make that the issue of the campaign, but Dr. Chambers is so well and favorably known to the people of all creeds and denominations in this city that the scheme, cunning as it was, fell flat and the people whom the gang expected to deceive only laughed at the transparency of the scheme. The reaction was so spontaneous and concerted that it completely knocked the wind out of the entire outfit. There was a grand rush for the gang’s headquarters, a hasty consultation of the moguls and then another grand rush for the office of the gang’s most influential organ–the Daily Advertiser. City Clerk Hurd, the editor-in-chief. was commanded to at once seclude himself within his handsomely furnished sanctum and with all the persuasion of his fertile brain and facile pen construct a composition that would completely scatter the enemy and solidify the gang’s forces. But it couldn’t be done.
After hours of mental torture, during which gallons of ink, dozens of pens and stack upon stack of good white paper were wasted, the poor man gave up in despair. It was a task too great for even Mr. Hurd’s gigantic brain to accomplish, and he finally submitted a specimen of the best he could do, and that had to go. It was full of “ifs” and “buts,” but it was as bare of facts as its author’s face is of whiskers. There has nothing developed to change the first conclusion reached by everyone, and that is that the whole scheme was originated and executed by the managers of the Fusion ticket in the hopes that it would scatter the A.P.A. supporters of the Citizens’ ticket and cause them to flock to the support of the Fusion ticket.
If Dr. Chambers or the committee in charge of the Citizens’ campaign had desired to make such a childish movement it would have been easily accomplished through each of the three papers supporting that ticket, or had they desired to have it done through the medium of a poster, it would not have been necessary for them to send out of town to get the work done. THE POSTERS WERE EITHER PRINTED IN THE TIMES OFFICE OR IT WAS DONE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY, which would not have been done, had Dr. Chambers or his friends been back of the scheme.
The members of the Citizens’ committee, who are always on the lookout for some dirty work on the part of the gang, were untiring in their efforts to run down the perpetrators of this dastardly deed, and visiting the printing offices in the city endeavoring to discover if possible whether the job was done in this city or not. They were soon convinced that unless the printing of the poster was done at The Times office it could not have been done in this city.
The appended affidavits from The Journal and its pressman, the Sunday Herald and its foreman are self explanatory. The editor of the Times promised an affidavit to the same effect, but it was not forthcoming at the hour of going to press. If the editor of the Times had no knowledge of the origin of the poster or where it was printed, it would have placed him in a much better light before the people if he had made such an affidavit. But did he dare make a sworn statement to that effect? It looks very suspicious, to say the least.
Our readers can study the situation and circumstances and for themselves, and from the is already heard on every side the Citizens’ ticket will not suffer from their conclusions.
Another part of the cute program failed to work. The first posters were stuck on the electric light pole in front of Harder’s grocery store. They were torn down by The Journal force in less than fifteen minutes after they were tacked up, and it was then 3:30 a.m. Yet the Times discovered them in time to publish its scurrilous article. Was The Times editor expecting it? If not, how did he make the startling discovery at least an hour and a half after the usual time for his editorial force to retire? These are questions which the public, and more especially the committee of the Citizens’ ticket would like to have answered satisfactorily. Mr. Howell, can you do it; or will you do it?
The one expression is that it was a boomerang and made at least 100 votes for the Citizens’ ticket. Following are the affidavits regarding the printing of the “flaming posters:”
State of Colorado, County of El Paso.
J. A. Kelley and George Winkler being each separately sworn for themselves and not one for the other, deposes and says that J.A. Kelley is chairman and George Winkler secretary of the citizens’ committee; that they had on knowledge of the posters referring to Dr. Chambers posted all over the town Saturday morning, until 9 o’clock a.m. of said day; that affiants have the campaign in charge for the Citizens’ ticket and that said posters did not emanate from affiants or Dr. Chambers’ friends, the committee; that the same are scandalous, and must have been circulated by Mr. Steele’s friends and those supporting him. J.A. Kelley, G F. Winkler.
Sworn to before and subscribed in my presence this 30th day of March, A.D. 1895.
J. Knox Burton, Justice of the Peace.
Note: Two similar affidavits are included in the article
Apr 2, 1895: Morning Journal, Cripple Creek, El Paso Co., Colorado (Vol 2, No 203):
CITIZENS’ TICKET.
For Mayor—W.J. CHAMBERS.
Vote for W. J. Chambers.
Dr. Chambers is a taxpayer.
Dr. Chambers has a mind of his own.
Dr. Chambers resides in the city with his family.
Dr. Chambers is controlled by no gang or clique.
Dr. Chambers is a wide-awake, progressive citizen.
No illegal voting will be tolerated today.
With a fair election today, Dr. Chambers’ majority will be equal and may exceed that of Mayor Lindsay a year ago. The Tenth General Assembly went out of business yesterday. The present administration will go out of business today. Vote the Citizens’ ticket straight. • • – – Put an X opposite the miner at work Dr. Chambers, as mayor, would be powerless for good without the aid of a majority of the board of trustees. Vote the “Miner at Work” and let it go at that.
Vote for W. J. Chambers for mayor. Put an X opposite the miner at work. Vote for Chambers, Harder, McCoy and Lampman and protection to your family. Dr. W.J. Chambers is well and favorably known to nine-tenths of the voters of the camp, who will see that the X is put in the proper place.
Vote for Dr. Chambers and the entire Citizens’ ticket.
Oct 27, 1895: Divorce of William James “Doc” Chambers & Ellen/Ella L. ___, in El Paso Co., Colorado
Dec 17, 1895: Morning Times, Cripple Creek, El Paso Co., Colorado:
Dec 31, 1895: Morning Times, Cripple Creek, El Paso Co., Colorado:
UP WITH THE TIMES
Health Commissioner Appointed Last Night
DISEASE AND IMPURE MILK
Will Be Guarded Against in the Future
The town trustees held a special meeting last night and created the office of health commissioner. The matter was brought before the board by a communication from Dr. Chambers which stated that there was a great deal of sickness in town and that everything possible should be done to check the possibility of an epidemic. The communication also called attention to the milk that was being sold by the dairies and asked that it be thoroughly examined by the health commissioner. He stated that some of the milk is adulterated and consequently unfit for use.
Jan 25, 1896: Morning Times, Cripple Creek, El Paso Co., Colorado:
The town clerk was instructed to notify all superintendents and the members of the school board to suspend all schools in the town until further notice. This was occasioned by Dr. Chambers notifying the board that scarlet fever was prevalent. The doctor stated there were fifteen cases of this disease in the town and something had to done to prevent its spreading. He found three new cases yesterday and unless action was taken at once it would develop into an epidemic. The board then went into executive session to consider bids for 1,500 feet of fire hose.
1896: Emily Chamberlin, mother of Ada, and her five younger children are living in Anaconda, El Paso Co., Colorado. She is listed in the Cripple Creek & Victor City Directory in Anaconda, a booming gold mining town in the Cripple Creek district of Colorado. Emily is running the Colorado House, a small hotel. Ada’s father Frank is not listed, so they may be living apart or he is railroading in another part of the country. Charles Chatfield, the brother-in-law of Ada and her sister Nellie’s husband, is running a meat market out of the F&CCRR (Florence & Cripple Creek Railroad) station.
1896: Cripple Creek & Victor City Directory, Anaconda, El Paso Co., Colorado (pg 98):
Chamberlin, Ada A, bds Colorado House. (daughter of Frank & Emily)
Chamberlin, E S, propr Colorado house, res do. (Emily S. Chamberlin)
Chamberlin, Frederick L, miner, bds Colorado House. (son of Frank & Emily)
(pg 99):
Colorado House, E S Chamberlin propr, s s Main, 15 w Victor.
(translation: Colorado House, Emily S. Chamberlin, proprietor, south side of Main at 15 west Victor Street)
Colorado House is also listed under Hotels
Chatfield. Charles H, meat market, s s Main, 2 (husband of Nellie Chamberlin)
F&CCRR, res do.
1896: Cripple Creek & Victor City Directory, Anaconda, El Paso Co., Colorado (pg 98):
Chamberlin, Ada A, bds Colorado House. (Ada, daughter of Frank & Emily)
Chamberlin, E S, propr Colorado house, res do. (Emily S. Chamberlin)
Chamberlin, Frederick L, miner, bds Colorado House. (Fred, son of Frank & Emily)
(pg 99):
Colorado House, E S Chamberlin propr, s s Main, 15 w Victor. (Emily S. Chamberlin)
(translation: Colorado House, Emily S. Chamberlin, proprietor, south side of Main at 15 west Victor Street)
Colorado House is also listed under Hotels
Chatfield, Charles H, meat market, s s Main, 2 (husband of Nellie Chamberlin) F&CCRR, res do. (husband of Nellie Chamberlin Chatfield)
1897: Frank & Emily Chamberlin children, photo by Marshall, 1637 Larimer St., Denver:
Chamberlin children, Denver Colorado, 1897
Handwritten on the back of the photo:
“Anaconda, Colorado, 1897”
Note: estimated ages according to date on the back of the picture:
Roy Valentine Chamberlin (abt 15)
Willard Joseph Chamberlin (abt 7)
Frederick L. Chamberlin (abt 22)
Nellie (Chamberlin) Chatfield (abt 24); Nellie was married in Dec 1894
Mary “Mamie” Chamberlin (abt 10) (although she looks younger)
Ada Agnes Chamberlin (abt 19)
Apr 25, 1896: Cripple Creek Fire:
On April 25, 1896 a fire wiped out nearly half of the city. Started in one of the many brothels, a dancehall girl named Jennie Larue, got into an argument with her lover and while quarreling, accidentally upset a gasoline stove. The wooden frame buildings of the camp quickly ignited and spread from one building to the next. Buildings in the fire’s path were blown up in an effort to stop the approaching flames. The fire departments of Victor, Florence, Colorado Springs and Denver dashed to the city’s aid but there was little that could be done.
Four days later, half of the city lay in smoldering ruins, when a second fire alarm went off. This fire began in the Portland Hotel on Myers Avenue and was believed to have been deliberately set because other fires were discovered simultaneously in other parts of the city. In this second fire, eight blocks of buildings were consumed, six lives were lost and nearly four thousand residents were left homeless. When it was all said and done, less than ten buildings were left to mark the site of the city. The firebugs who were suspected of setting the second fire were lynched and Cripple Creek began to rebuild. Within just a few months, modern businesses built of brick or stone rose on the foundations of the former camp.
Source: Legends of America by Kathy Weiser, www.legendsofamerica.com
1896: Cripple Creek District Directory, Cripple Creek, El Paso Co., Colorado:
Chambers, W.J., Palace Drug Store; residence, 120 Myers.
Apr 26, 1896: Payment to Doc Chambers from the town of Cripple Creek as City Physician:
Payable to W.J. Chambers, for $101 (paid out of the city’s general fund) for services rendered through April 1, 1896, for City Physician for the town of Cripple Creek.
During a four-day period, two major fires destroyed fifteen acres of downtown and residential Cripple Creek. The check is issued to Doc Chambers the day after the first fire. With the rebuilding of Cripple Creek, this time from brick, the community is no longer a tent and clapboard mining town, but Colorado’s fourth-largest city and second-largest gold district in U.S. history.
Note: Picture of the check, courtesy of Jan MacKell, Cripple Creek District, Last of Colorado’s Gold Booms
1897(?): Cripple Creek District Directory, Cripple Creek, El Paso Co., Colorado:
Early 1898: Marriage of Ada Agnes Chamberlin & Dr. William James “Doc” Chambers, Colorado. Ada is about 19 or 20 and Doc Chambers is about 30 or 31.
Ada Chamberlin, wedding photo, taken in Denver
Dec 6, 1898: Birth of Howard James Chambers, the only child of Ada Agnes Chamberlin & Dr. William James “Doc” Chambers, in Cripple Creek, El Paso Co., Colorado (Teller County is created from El Paso and Fremont counties in 1899). His parent’s marriage must have been annulled sometime just before or around the time of Howard’s birth, as Doc remarries in Jan of 1899.
Mar 23, 1899: Teller County, Colorado is formed from El Paso County, Colorado
Aug 21, 1899: Fire strikes the town of Victor with devastating results:
Victor’s grand heydays would be dampened on August 21, 1899, when a fire began in a brothel in Victor’s notorious Paradise Alley. Before the blazing inferno was under control, fourteen blocks had been destroyed, including some 800 buildings, causing $1.5 million in damages, and leaving 1,500 people homeless.
As the largest property owner, the Woods Investment Company suffered the heaviest losses, including the total destruction of their bank and the original Victor Hotel. However, Victor’s citizens immediately began to rebuild and within three days the banks and saloons were back in business.
On December 24, 1899, the Woods family’s “new” First National Bank of Victor was completed which not only held their banking and investment business, but also a number of retail operations.
Though the town soon prospered once again, it would be short lived. In 1900, the main ore vein in the Gold Coin Mine began to play out and the Woods’ profits began to decline. To add to their tremendous debt, heavy financial losses in 1899, and the reduced profits of the mine, the Woods’ Economic Mill burned. For the Woods Investment Company, the future was looking extremely grim.
Though they were said to have been worth some $45 million, the company was heavily leveraged and rumors of their impending collapse caused a run on the First National Bank of Victor. Trying to recoup, the Woods Investment Company consolidated their miscellaneous mining properties into the United Gold Mines Company in 1902.
Source: Legends of America by Kathy Weiser, www.legendsofamerica.com
Victor Fire Aug 21, 1899
Photo source: J.B. Jones photographer, Denver Public Library
Sep 8, 1899: Morning Times, Cripple Creek, Teller Co., Colorado (No. 239):
THE BURNS
The Burns lode, belonging to the Acacia company, is the scene of another rich strike in the lower workings of that property The report being circulated this afternoon is to the effect that a big vein of ore running several hundred dollars to the ton has been cut in the lower part of the mine. It is learned that the report is correct. President Hundley authorized the following statement which had been received but a short time before from General Manager Chambers, who is in charge of the mine: “A 7-foot vein of rich ore has been cut at the bottom of the incline in the Burns No. 1. It assays from $100 to $400 a ton. We have taken nothing out for shipment yet, but will commence breaking down ore Immediately.”
Nov 5, 1899: Morning Times, Cripple Creek, Teller Co., Colorado:
Dr. Chambers has been seriously ill the past week.
Nov 18, 1899: Morning Times, Cripple Creek, Teller Co., Colorado:
Yesterday morning a story was published in the Morning Times stating that a move was afoot whereby the consolidation of three big Bull hill companies would be brought about. Last night in an interview over the telephone Sam Strong, president of the Free Coinage company, confirmed the report. Mr. Stron said that the Acacia company will probably have control of the situation with Dr. Chambers as president of the new company. He also said that he thought that the recent bonanza shipment by the Isabella company was taken from the continuation of the Burns vein. This vein traverses all the properties to be included in the consolidation except the Morning Star of the Acacia company and other outlying properties of the other companies.
1899: Annulment of Ada Agnes Chamberlin & Dr. William James “Doc” Chambers. Doc Chambers, a prominent man about town who came from a wealthy New York family, is the town physician for Cripple Creek, El Paso County, Colorado working from the Palace Pharmacy. Doc is also part owner of the Palace Hotel and owns property in the red light district, which gave many of the wealthy men of that time a good income. Prior to Ada Chamberlin, Doc was married to an Ella L., who divorced him for non-support and accused him of being a philanderer. Doc then married Ada, but within a year their marriage was annulled. According to family lore, as Doc Chambers was married before his betrothal to Ada, their union was not recognized by the Catholic Church and at the bidding of the new Bishop, and as her beliefs stood before her marriage even though she loved him—Ada left Doc. He soon married Miss Catherine “Kitty” Howard in January 1900.
Nov 22, 1899: Divorce of Ada Agnes Chamberlin & Dr. William James “Doc” Chambers in El Paso (Teller Co.), Colorado
Note: On a marriage application two years hence, she gives reason for divorce from Doc Chambers as desertion. El Paso Co., Colorado, divorce docket #005620, William is the petitioner and Ada the respondent
Colorado Divorce Index:
Name: William J Chambers
Divorce Date: 22 Nov 1899
Divorce Place: El Paso, Colorado, USA (Teller Co.)
Spouse: Ada Chambers
Record Type: Divorce
Dec 1899: Howard Chambers, age 1 year:
Jan 22, 1900: Marriage of William James “Doc” Chambers & Catherine/Kathryn “Kitty” Howard in Manhattan, New York
Jan 22, 1900: New York Marriage Index:
Name: W J Chambers
Gender: Male
Marriage Date: 22 Jan 1900
Marriage Place: Manhattan, New York, USA
Spouse: Kathryn Howard 1155023
Certificate Number: 1555
Feb 3, 1900: Morning Times, Cripple Creek, Teller Co., Colorado:
CITY BRIEFS
BACK TAXES—Fred A Thompson brings suit in the dIstrict court against W.J. Chambers for a judgment of $1,545 and interest on account of delinquent taxes alleged to have been paid on real estate for which the defendant gave the plaintiff a warranty deed on January 16, 1898, the property having been represented as free from all encumbrances and liens at that time. The property in question comprises lots 8 and 9, block 20, Cripple Creek, and the purchase price was $3,000.
Jun 1, 1900: Federal Census for Eddy, Eddy Co., New Mexico:
Chambers, Ada: head of household, born Nov 1877, age 22, born Texas, father born Vermont (sic: New York), mother born Pennsylvania, married 1897, one child born, one child living, can read, can write, house owned
Chambers, Howard J: son, born Dec 1898, age 1, Colorado, white, male, single, born Colorado, father born New York, mother born Texas
Chamberlin, Findley M: father, born Sep 1841, age 58, birthplace Vermont (sic: Wyoming), white, male, married, Supt of Mines (Ada’s father, Finley Chamberlin)
Ada Chambers house, Carlsbad, New Mexico, circa 1901, son Howard on steps
Note: In the Jun 1900 Census, Ada is listed as head of household, living in this house with her father Frank Chamberlin and her son Howard Chambers
Jun 5, 1900: Federal Census for Eldora Town, Boulder Co., Colorado:
Chamberlain, E.S.: head, born Jul 1851, age 48, widow, 6 children born, 6 children living, born Pennsylvania, father born Penn, mother born Penn, restaurant keeper, owns home
Roy: son, born Aug 1881, age 18, single, born Texas, father born New York, mother born Pennsylvania, waiter in restaurant
Mamie: daughter, born Jan 1887, age 13, born Texas, father born New York, mother born Pennsylvania, at school
Wilford: son, born Aug 1890, age 9, born Texas, father born New York, (Willard) mother born Pennsylvania, at school
Note: Emily’s (E.S) birth year is listed as 1851 rather than 1850, so would be age 49. She is listed as the owner of the property without a mortgage and is running a restaurant; her son Roy is working with her as a waiter. She is not a widow as her husband Frank is still alive and Frank is in the above 1900 Eddy, New Mexico census living with their daughter Ada (Chamberlin) Chambers. Emily’s 1st child, Winnie, is not accounted for in the number of children born or deceased.
Jun 11, 1900: Federal Census for Cripple Creek District, Teller Co., Colorado:
Chambers, William: head of household, born Nov 1873 (note: born 1867), age 36, married 1 year, born New York, parents born England, physician
Katherin: wife, born Jul 1873, age 26, married 1 year, born New York, parents born New York, no occupation
Note: Doc Chambers and his 3rd wife, Catherine “Kitty” Howard; the record has both William and Katherine born in 1873, then states he is 10 years older.
1900: Cripple Creek District Directory, Altman, Teller Co., Colorado:
(Listing under):
Burns Lease, Acacia mine, C E Brady supt and genl mgr, Ed Christman foreman, Dr. Chambers genl mgr, Acacia, Co. (pg 93)
(Second listing under): PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS: Cripple Creek
Chambers, J W, 1-3 Palace blk, Cripple Creek (pg 759)
1900: Photo of Acacia Gold Mine:
(between 1890 & 1900) Cripple Creek District, Teller Co., Colorado
Courtesy of Denver Public Library X-62465
Apr 22, 1902: Marriage of Ada Agnes Chamberlin & Edward Laurence Whitaker (her 2nd marriage), in Grand Junction, Mesa Co., Colorado
Note: Edward and Ada remove to Baker City, Baker Co., Oregon, where their six children are born
1902/1903: Separation of Dr. William James Chambers & Catherine “Kitty” Howard, El Paso Co., Colorado
1903: Doc Chambers moves from Cripple Creek, Colorado to Southern California
Apr 16, 1910: Federal Census for Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California:
Chambers, J.W.: roomer, age 45, married 3 times, current marriage 10 years, born New York, both parents born New York, physician: general practice on own account
Apr 16, 1910: Federal Census for Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California:
Chambers, Kathryn H.: head, age 36, married 1 time, current marriage 10 years, no children born or living, born New York, both parents born New York, no profession
Note: 1910 has them on separate census records, but still married
1910: Kathryn (Catherine) H. Chambers sells her half of the Palace block in Cripple Creek, Teller Co., Colorado to W.J. Chambers.
Dec 16, 1910: Marriage of William James Chambers & Maria Rosslyn Catherine “Rosie” Den, (his 4th marriage), in Los Angeles Co., California
(Rosie: 1883 – 1928) daughter of Nicholas Constantine Den & Isabel/Isabella/Ysabel Arguello
Dec 16, 1910: California Marriage Record:
Name: William J. Chambers
Name Note: third marriage (note: actually his 4th marriage)
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 16 Dec 1910
Event Place: Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States
Gender: Male
Age: 42
Marital Status: Divorced
Ethnicity: American
Race: White
Birth Year (Estimated): 1868
Birthplace: Albany, Ny
Father’s Name: William
Mother’s Name: Camell
Spouse’s Name: Rosslyn Cathrine Den
Spouse’s Gender: Female
Spouse’s Age: 27
Spouse’s Marital Status: Single
Spouse’s Race: White
Spouse’s Birth Year (Estimated): 1883
Spouse’s Birthplace: Ca
Spouse’s Father’s Name: Nicholas C. Den
Spouse’s Mother’s Name: Isabella Arjurilo
Sep 28, 1910/1911: Birth of James Conrad Chambers, the only child of William James Chambers & Maria Rosslyn Catherine “Rosie” Den, in California.
James died on May 2, 1984, in Sacramento, California; James’ birth certificate reflects he was born in 1910, his death certificate reflects born in 1911.
May 20, 1915: Marriage of William James Chambers & Nina Alberta Hunstock, (his 5th marriage), in Riverside Co., California
(Nina, daughter of Parham Isaac Hunstock & Lillian C. Stiles, was born in 1888 in Oregon and died in 1951 in Los Angeles, California
Jun 6, 1917: Birth of Lillian Virginia “Lillie” Chambers, the only child of William James Chambers & Nina Alberta Hunstock, in California
Lillie died on May 27, 1986, in Los Angeles, California
Jan 26, 1920: Federal Census for Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California
Name: William Chambers
Age: 52
Birth Year: abt 1868
Birthplace: New York
Home in 1920: Cahuenga, Los Angeles, California
Street: National Blvd
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse’s Name: Nina Chambers
Able to Speak English: Yes
Occupation: Manager
Industry: Orchard
Employment Field: Own Account
Home Owned or Rented: Owned
Home Free or Mortgaged: Free
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Household Members:
William Chambers: age 52, Head
Nina Chambers: age 37, Wife
James Chambers: age 8, Son
Virginia Chambers: age 2, Daughter
1928: Doc Chambers sells the Palace block in Cripple Creek, Teller Co., Colorado
May 14, 1928: Death of Maria Rosslyn Catherine “Rosie” Den (age 44), 4th wife of William James Chambers and the daughter of Nicholas Constantine Den & Isabel/Isabella/Ysabel Arguello, in Marin Co., California
(Rosie: b. 1883 – d. 1928)
Apr 15, 1930: Federal Census for Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California
Name: William J Chambers
Birth Year: abt 1869
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age in 1930: 61
Birthplace: New York
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Head
Home in 1930: Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
Street Address: Shelby
House Number: 3244
Home Owned or Rented: Owned
Home Value: 40000
Radio Set: Yes
Lives on Farm: No
Age at First Marriage: 35
Attended School: No
Able to Read and Write: Yes
Father’s Birthplace: England
Mother’s Birthplace: England
Able to Speak English: Yes
Veteran: Yes
War: WW
Household Members:
William J Chambers: age 61, Head
Nina H Chambers: age 40, Wife
James C Chambers: age 18, Son
Lillian V Chambers: age 12, Daughter
1935: City Directory for Baker City, Baker Co., Oregon (pg 118):
Name: Whitaker Ada A (wid Edward)
Residence Year: 1935
Street Address: 1353 Washington av
Residence Place: Baker City, Oregon, USA
Publication Title: Baker City, Oregon, City Directory, 1935
Apr 27, 1940: Federal Census for Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California
Name: William Chambers
Age: 70
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1870
Gender: Male
Race: White
Birthplace: New York
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Head
Home in 1940: Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
Map of Home in 1940: Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
Street: National
House Number: 9331
Farm: No
House Owned or Rented: Rented
Value of Home or Monthly Rental if Rented: 25
Attended School or College: No
Highest Grade Completed: College, 5th or subsequent year
Weeks Worked in 1939: 0
Income: 0
Income Other Sources: Yes
Household Members:
William Chambers: age 70, Head
Nina Chambers: age 52, Wife
Mar 1942: William James “Doc” Chambers becomes a patient at the St. Anne Sanitarium and remains there for five months until his death
Aug 21, 1942: Death of William James “Doc” Chambers (age 74), in Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California; coronary arteriosclerosis and chronic myocarditis. Doc is buried in Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, Los Angeles Co., California.
Note: Ada kept in touch with Doc over the years as Howard lived with his father off and on. She visited her former husband in Los Angeles in 1942 shortly before his death.
Aug 21, 1942: California Death Index:
Name: William James Chambers
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 14 Nov 1867
Birth Place: New York
Death Date: 21 Aug 1942
Death Place: Los Angeles
Aug 24, 1942: California Death Certificate of William James “Doc” Chambers. The document confirms he is a retired M.D. and was a resident of California for 35 years and of Inglewood for 27 years. It also states he served in the World War (1914 – 1918), as does the 1930 census, though he would have been about 47 to 50 years of age. Both his parents were born in England, names his wife Nina at the time of his death, confirms his birth and death dates and places, his cause of death, and reveals his place of interment.
Aug 25, 1942: Cremation of William James Chambers. He is interred in the Inglewood Park Cemetery (Inglewood Mausoleum, Sanctuary of Hope, maus bldg 4, tier 10, niche 0) in Inglewood, Los Angeles Co., California.
Jun 23, 1951: Death of Nina Alberta (Hunstock) Chambers (age 63), 5th wife of William James Chambers, in Los Angeles Co., California
Jun 23, 1951: California Death Index:
Nina H Chambers
Event Type: Death
Event Date: 23 Jun 1951
Event Place: Los Angeles, California, United States
Birth Date: 26 Apr 1888
Birthplace: Oregon
Gender: Female
Father’s Name: Hunstock
Mother’s Name: Stiles
Jun 25, 1951: Nina Alberta (Hunstock) Chambers is interred in the Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, Los Angeles Co., California in a different section of the cemetery from her husband.
Jul 15, 1960: Death of Ada Agnes (Chamberlin) Whitaker (age 82), in Baker, Baker Co., Oregon; of pneumonia
Jul 1960: Burial of Ada Agnes (Chamberlin) Whitaker in Mount Hope Cemetery in Baker, Baker Co., Oregon
May 2, 1984: Death of James Conrad Chambers (age 72), the only child of William James Chambers & Maria Rosslyn Catherine “Rosie” Den, in Sacramento Co., California. James was married to Clara J. Ziegler (b. Jul 2, 1916, Hughton, Saskatchewan, Canada – d. Mar 29, 2008, Klamath Falls, Klamath Co., Oregon)
May 2, 1984: California Death Index:
Name: James Conrad Chambers
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 28 Sep 1911
Birth Place: California
Death Date: 2 May 1984
Death Place: Sacramento
Mother’s Maiden Name: Den
May 27, 1986: Death of Lillian Virginia “Lillie” Chambers (age 58), the only child of William James Chambers & Nina Alberta Hunstock, in Los Angeles Co., California. Lillie is buried in the same cemetery as her parents, Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, Los Angeles Co., California.
May 27, 1986: California Death Index:
Name: Lillian Virginia Chambers
Gender: Female
Birth Date: 6 Jun 1917
Birth Place: California
Death Date: 27 May 1986
Death Place: Los Angeles
Mother’s Maiden Name: Hunstock
Continued on Ada Chamberlin & Edward Whitaker post…
Note: The cemetery and headstone pictures are from Find A Grave and are the property of those who photographed them.
2020. Catherine (Clemens) Sevenau and Gordon Clemens.