My Genealogy Hound

J. E. VAWTER, cashier Center Creek Mining and Smelting Company, Webb City, was born Feb. 19, 1838, in Bond county, Ill. His father, P. G. Vawter, was a native of Kentucky, and his mother, whose maiden name was Ellenor Floyd, was a native of Virginia. J. E. was raised until eighteen years of age and principally educated in the common schools of Illinois. From that state he went to Iowa and spent three years and a half in clerking at Winterset for the Western Stage Company, and then spent a year at Bryant & Stratton Commercial College, Chicago. From there he went to Colorado and engaged in the mercantile business in Denver for three years. During this time he was elected mayor of the city of Denver, the second one of the city. Mr. V. was elected to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of C. A. Cook. Nearly the whole time Mr. V. was in Denver he was a member of the city council, and part of the time chairman of the financial committee. In 1862 three regiments of troops were raised in Denver, and Mr. V. was influential in having the full quota made out and arming and equipping them. In 1863 he left Denver and traveled over nearly the whole west and stopping for a short time in Salt Lake City and Virginia City, at which latter place he was engaged in business. In 1865 he returned to St. Joe, Mo., and purchased teams and wagons and went to freighting from St. Joe to Denver, and often received as high as twenty-five cents per pound for freight. He was engaged in this business for two years and then returned to the west, and went to Virginia City and Helena, where he remained until 1877. He came to Webb City in February, 1878, and engaged as book-keeper of the Center Creek Mining and Smelting Company, in which capacity he still remains. The company consists of William M. Wyeth, of St. Joe, president; J. E. Vawter, secretary and cashier; J. C. Stewart, superintendent.