From Ed West, ctn33319@gmail.com, March 31, 2018
Steve,

Thanks for getting me started on my ancestry.

I found some historical documents that I had put away several years ago that contained information about Edward and Flora McClure West.

Edward was born in Jefferson City Missouri in 1847 and died October 30, 1911.  At age 15, after the death of his parents, he drove an oxen team to California.  He settled in Trinidad in 1868 where he had sheep ranches.  

He married Flora MCClure on Dec 27, 1880.  Flora died in Turlock on January 2, 1950.

He built the West Theater which was completed in 1908 and subsequently has been the Fox Theater in Trinidad.

When he died of "Neuralgia of the heart", he was survived by his wife Flora, 2 daughters, Mrs. E. E. Conley and Mrs. Clyde Bowen and 2 sons Frank and Harry (my grandfather)  When he died, the newspaper said he was the largest single taxpayer in the city of Trinidad

Harry married Stella Branson on September 2, 1908.  Stella was born in Linneus Mo. July 20, 1886 and moved with her parents as an infant to Trinidad.  Stella died November 17, 1923.  She was survived by Harry and six children, Ed, John (my father), Anna, Flora, Frank and Mary.

Harry subsequently married Bonnie and moved to Turlock California in 1938 after financial setbacks in Trinidad where the "West fortune" was lost. 

Enough for now.

Ed


Name:
Edward West (Lived with Ransom Frist family)
Age in 1870:
23
Birth Year:
abt 1847
Birthplace:
Missouri
Dwelling Number:
113
Home in 1870:
Vacaville, Solano, California
Race:
White
Gender:
Male
Occupation:
Farmer
Male Citizen over 21:
Y
Personal Estate Value:
2400
Real Estate Value:
25000
Household Members:
Name
Age
Edward West
23





WEST, EDWARD - Death News Article - Wealthy Sheep Owner of Trinidad - Leaves $3,000,000 Estate, Including Realty In Denver and Las Animas. On Oct 30, one of the wealthiest property holders and sheep owner of southern Colorado, died here today of heart disease. He was in excellent health until last night when he suffered an attack of acute indigestion. West was a native of Jefferson City, Mo., left an orphan and penniless while still in his teens
he joined a party bound for California over the Santa Fe trail in late'60s. A year later he returned and settled in Las Animas. In 1906 he constructed the West Theater, in Trinidad. He had large real estate holdings in this city and in Denver and has over 25,000 acres of ranch land. He is survived by a widow, two sons and two daughters.
RMN 10/31/1911 Page 7 Funeral News Article - State Briefs Section - Business Houses in Trinidad were closed yesterday during the funeral of the late Edward West, millionaire sheep owner and property holder, who died suddenly Monday morning, interment was in the Masonic cemetery.