George William Trimble ^{2 3}

  General Notes:

This obituary, prepared by George Trimble himself, appeared in the Seattle Times, December 10, 1929:

George William Trimble was born September 26, 1850, on a farm midway between Louisiana and Clarksville, on the west bank of the Mississippi river in Pike County, MO. He was the son of Andrew Jackson and Nancy Mackey Trimble and the youngest of four children, three brothers and one sister. All but him passed away many years ago. His father died when George Trimble was 9 months old. At 4 years of age he was adopted by his uncle, William W. Mackey, a brother of his mother. He received his education in the public schools of Clarksville.

Settled in Colorado.

At 18, in the fall of 1868, he left Clarksville for St. Louis, where he was bookkeeper for a livestock yard until the spring of 1872, going then to the then territory of Colorado and settling in Colorado Springs, at that time a town just laid out by the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad Co., seventy-five miles south of Denver. The railway from Denver to Pueblo was the initial line of the present Rio Grande system.

Mr. Trimble was married in 1876 to Blanche McFerran, also a resident of Colorado Springs. To this union a daughter, Beulah, was born, who lived to womanhood and passed away in 1917, her mother having preceded her in death some years.

In 1877 he went to California Gulch, the town a short time later taking the name of Leadville. There, in connection with his father-in-law, James McFerran of Colorado Springs, and a brother-in-law, Absalom V. Hunter, who was a schoolmate of his at Clarksville in their younger lives, they established a bank which they operated many years. He and Mr. Hunter also engaged in mining and other activities in various parts of the state.

Organized Denver Bank.

During his residence at Leadville he and the following named associates organized the Denver National Bank at Denver:

James B. Grant, James, Duff, Dennis Sullivan, Jospeh Stanley, Joseph A. Thatcher, Edward Eddy, Otto Sauer and William S. Jackson, all having passed away before Mr. Trimble. This bank was chartered and began business in the fall of 1884 and is still doing business. At the time of his death Mr. Trimble still possessed his original stock.

About 1900 he came to Seattle to look after property he and his associate, Mr. Hunter, had acquired there. After spending some time, he decided to remain. He built a home in Denny-Blaine park.

In January, 1908, he married Martha E. Hauley, also a former resident of Leadville, and they continued to occupy the home until his death.

Mr. Trimble was a life member of the Denver club, which honor was conferred upon him by reason of continuous membership of forty years.


Written by L.S. Chapin in the Denver Post, Dec. 11, 1929

George W. Trimble, last of the "Little Jonny" Multimillionaires, is dead.

He was stricken Tuesday by a heart attack in the hotel in Seattle, Wash., where he had made his home in recent years. A few moments later, without regaining consciousness, he went to join in death the other illustrious Colorado empire builders who amassed fortunes from the famous Leadville mine--John F. Campon, J.J. Brown, A.V. Hunter, Byrd Page and Eben Smith.

He was 75 years old. Practically his last act was to approve as a trustee of the A.V. Hunter charitable foundation a gift of $44,000 for the Denver community chest to help the poor and suffering of the city.

The end came as the pioneer cattleman, banker and mining man who had played a leading part in Colorado's eventful history for more than half a century, was standing at a window in his hotel room watching a snowstorm.

His death also marked the passing of the last surviving founder of the Denver National Bank.

Born in a Missouri famring community, Mr. Trimble reached the highest rung of the ladder of success and like other members of the diminishing coterie of Colorado pioneer leaders typified the opportunities abounding the west for hardworking men of vision.

A native of Louisiana, MO., Mr. Trimble was born into an era destined to strife and constant westward expansion. Perhaps it was coincidence of fate that a youth with whom in later years he was destined to be associated in all his business dealings was living at the time only a few miles away in New Hope.

That youth was A.V. Hunter, four years the senior of Mr. Trimble. The two became fast friends.

Life in a Missouri farming community lacked the romantic elements of which so much was being said at the time in connection with the Pike's Peak gold fields. When only 16 years old Mr. Trimble decided to join the western migration.

There was no railroad in Colorado Springs, the city the youth had selected as his future home, but eventually he arrived by stage with practically no capital but plenty of ambition and the will to work.

Another Missourian, Judge James H.B. McFerran, was the city's only banker and when a short time later Mr. Hunter also appeared on the scene the judge helped the two youths get started in the cattle business.

The holdings of the company grew slowly byt surely through wise management and hard work. Soon they expanded into the San Luis Valley. The partnership also made a few ventures into the mining business and prospered.

It was about that time that the two young men married two of their senior partner's daughters. Mr. Trimble married Miss Blanche McFerran. Mr. Hunter married Miss Estelle McFerran.

Then in '78 came one of the mining rushes which made early Colorado history so picturesque. Over night Leadville became a bustling city. Prospectors, ne-er-do-wells, gamblers and substantial business men joined the stampede.

Mr. Trimble and Mr. Hunter recognized the opportunity and joined them. Only one man in a hundred of those who took part in the rush became wealthy but the Missouri youths had more acumen than the average.

Leadville did not have a bank. They founded the Miner's Exchange Bank, the first in the mountain city. H.A. Tabor was amassing his millions from a grub stake of $60 and a jug of whiskey. He represented the "flashy" type of newly rich fortune hunter. Mr. Trimble and Mr. Hunter were quieter and relied less on whims of chance.

Later, they sold their bank and started the Carbonate bank as well as a private bank, the Trimble & Hunter Bank. That was in 1883.

In the meantime, they bought, sold and financed mining properties.

Then in 1887, they consolidated their two banks into the Carbonate National Bank, which they ran until a few years before Mr. Hunter's death, when Mr. Trimble sold his interest to his partner.

Up to that time, both Mr. Trimble and Mr. Hunter had prospered, but they had not yet made their "big money". The opening of the Little Jonny mine did that for them.

With other men who amassed vast fortunes from rich veins of the Little Jonny on Breese hill, the two partners originally backed the venture in 1890. Almost at once the mine became a fabulous producer.

They saw the value of their holdings double in a few years. More than 100 million dollars was taken from the Little Jonny. Some of the ore ran as high as $80,000 to the ton.

Prior to the opening of the Little Jonny, Mr. Trimble, Mr. Hunter and the others founded the Denver National bank here in 1884. At the same time the partnership branched out into other fields. Real estate in Denver, cattle land in Texas, lumber holdings in the northwest, and oil land in Utah were purchased.

In 1900, Mr. Trimble decided to retire. He sold the bulk of his holdings to Mr. Hunter and moved to Seattle. Perhaps in the northwest he hoped to find the frontier which vanished before his eyes during the decades he lived in Colorado.

He found it difficult to abandon business entirely, however, and became interested in a Seattle bank, and also engaged in the wholesale drug business with George L'Abbie.

He paid frequent visits to Denver, however, and when, after the death of Mr. Hunter, he was named a trustee of the Hunter foundation, the business of that charitable organization brought him there three or four times a year. One daughter, Beulah, was born to Mr. Trimble and his first wife. The daughter died several years ago. After moving to Seattle, Mr. Trimble married again, his first romance having ended in the divorce courts.

The second Mrs. Trimble was Mrs. Maude Hauley, whom Mr. Trimble had met in Leadville, when she was the proprietor of a hotel for mining men. She survives him.

The only other survivors are two sisters-in-law by his first marriage--Mrs. W.W. Price of Colorado Springs, and Mrs. A.V. Hunter of Denver--and a niece, Mrs. Dorothy Price Shaw of Denver.


Published in the Seattle Times, 10 Dec. 1929

George Trimble, 79 years old, retired Seattle banker, died suddenly this morning at his home in Denny-Blaine park. Standing beside a window, watching snow fall heavily and an oil truck struggling with difficulty up a grade beside the house, he collapsed. His wife, Martha, rushed to his side and found him dead. The body was taken to the Bonney-Wilson mortuary.

Mr. Trimble, who formerly was the director of the National Bank of Commerce, had numerous investments in bank stocks and was administrator of what is reputed to have been the largest estate in Colorado, that of A.V. Hunter, his former business associate.


Leaves $1000,000 to Charity

A Special from Seattle, Wash., dated December 19 1929:

Establishment of a trust fund which may exceed $1,000,000 with Colorado and Missouri Hospitals as large beneficiaries, is provided for in the will of George William Trimble, retired Seattle banker.

Bequests were made to the adult blind home in Denver, the Elks lodges of Leadville and Colorado Springs, the Elks lodge and the Smith-Barr Memorial Hospital in Louisiana, MO, the Children's Orthopedic hospital and the Lighthouse for the Blind in Seattle. The Elks Lodge at Colorado Springs is the largest beneficiary, receiving 25% in memory of the banker's daughter, Beulah. As the institutions will receive a percentage of the earnings of the fund, the amount which each will receive cannot be computed in advance of annual payments. Sixty-five percent of the earnings are to be distributed annually, while the remaining 35% reverts to the fund. The Missouri hospital will receive 10% of the earnings annually. The Christian Church at Louisiana, MO. will receive $1,000.

Note: In later years, this trust was administed by the First National Bank of Seattle, and then later SeaFirst Bank in Seattle, which was later purchased by Bank of America. "G. W. Trimble House", the Trimble Center for the Elderly, was established in Louisiana, Missouri.. Overseen by Elks Lodge 791, the following information is provided in their brochure:

The Elks involvement in the Trimble House like Topsy "just grew". At the fall meeting of the B.P.O.E. No. 791 three years ago, it was suggested that the Elks Lodge members do something for the "forgotten people", the elderly. It was suggested that Sunday afternoon scenic fall drives be started, that visits be made to nursing homes and Christmas gifts be given to all nursing home patients. As time went on it was found that many of our Senior Citizens were lonely and had no where to go. They were just existing. A group of Elks then got together and discussed the possibility of establishing a Senior Citizen Center.

To undertake such a project it was necessary to first get financial bakcing. As Adminstrators of the Trimble Fund for the poor and the needy of Pike County, Missouri, the Elks contacted the First National Bank of Seattle, Washington, where the Trimble Fund is kept. An official of the bank, Mr. Loy Smith, then travelled to Louisiana where he met with a group of interested men who explained the project.

There was much question as to the funding, but Mr. Smith proved to be a worthy banker of the project and the G.W. Trimble House became a possibility. By-laws were drawn up, Incorporation proceedings started, officers elected, property purchased, architects engaged, and a contractor employed to build the G.W. Trimble house, Inc. The building took much longer than was expected due to the shortage of certain materials. In April, the original directors: D. Rule Campbell, C.K. Silvey, Wm. Naxera Jr., Ralph Severns and R. Ed Blais, found it necessary, according to the by-laws, to hold an election, at which time Clyde Penrod replaced Ralph Severns on the committee.

During the summer, inquiries were made as to who would direct such a vast project as running a Center for the Elderly. In September, when the building was completed, Mrs. Virginia Wilday was hired as Director and Mrs. Florence Branstetter Williams as assistant, and the G.W. Trimble House, Inc. is now in operation, with plans to also serve a meal a day to those who are deserving.

Much use has already been made of the building and more is expected as the activities develop, hobby shops are set up, and people find out that the Trimble House is a place for them to use and enjoy, as it was built for them.


Unknown newspaper memorium to George W. Trimble


George Trimble is well remembered here and in Clarksville where he spent his boyhood. his mother, Nancy Trimble, was a Mackey a sister of Capt. Joe S. Mackey, a well-known river captain of the days of river commerce, and she was one of the best loved women in the County. George's sisters, Miss Bue Trimble, married June Shaw, a brother of Capt. Joel Shaw, and officer in the federal army, who married Ann Henderson, sister of Senator John B. Henderson, all of them prominent figures during the civil war times. Mr. and Mrs. June Shaw had two sons-Roscoe and Andrew- and the latter died in early life and Roscoe died about two years ago leaving a widow, Mrs. Anna Bell Shaw, and two children, who are still residents of this city. They joined Mr. Trimble in California the past summer for a pleasant trip but he was taken ill and had to return to Seattle. He had not been in good health the past six years.

Mr. Trimble's father was killed by lightning while in a skiff in the Mississippi river many years ago.

Note: from the references, this article may have appeared in a newspaper in the Louisiana, Missouri area.

George married Blanche McFerran, daughter of James Hamilton Bowles McFerran and Emily M. Lewis, in 1876.¹ (Blanche McFerran was born on 21 May 1852 in Gallatin, Daviess County, Missouri ¹ and died on 22 Jan 1915 ¹.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• Divorce, Abt 1900. ¹