Hallett Colwell Gallup (1882-1939)

From the Pueblo Indicator, November 2, 1912.

  The recent discovery of dozens of archived editions of the Colorado State Yearbook has fielded several new odd name discoveries from the "Centennial State", one of whom is profiled today. Hallett Colwell Gallup, a son of one of Pueblo's pioneer business figures, was himself a standout figure in that area's business and political life, being the publisher and owner of the Rio Grande Employe's Publishing Company, as well as a one-term state representative. Born in Colorado on July 26, 1882, Hallett Colwell Gallup was the son of Samuel and Judith (Browne) Gallup. A prominent business figure in the early days of Pueblo County, Samuel C. Gallup earned the title "The man who put Pueblo on the manufacturing map", as he was the founder and owner of the S.C. Gallup Saddlery Company. His stewardship of that business extended until his death in 1904, after which operations passed to his wife and sons Hallett and Boone.

   A student at the Centennial High School in Pueblo, Hallett Gallup furthered his studies at the University of Colorado's law school. Upon his father's death in 1904 he took on a larger role in his family's saddlery company, with which he remained affiliated until his mother sold it to area businessman James Wimmer. Although the company passed into different hands, Hallett and Boone Gallup continued in the saddlery business for a time, operating the Gallup Brothers Saddlery from 1912-17. 

  In addition to his saddlery interests, Hallett C. Gallup gained further distinction through publishing, being the founder, president, and general manager of the Rio Grande Employe's Publishing Company. This business would first publish the Rio Grande Employe's Magazine in 1910, a monthly periodical devoted to the interests of Denver and Rio Grande Southern railroad employees. Gallup himself would serve as the magazine's editor, a position through which he espoused "support and work for labor measures".  

  Gallup's pro-labor stances and "work on behalf of railroad bills" eventually led to calls for him to run for public office, and in 1912 he entered into the Democratic primary race for state representative from Pueblo County. With his business successes touted in the Pueblo Indicator shortly after announcing his candidacy, Gallup was further highlighted as one of the city's rising young Democrats, with the Indicator noting:

"Mr. Gallup is a Pueblo young man full of energy and go, and is rapidly making a business name for himself. He is a good pusher for the town, always ready to help it along, and can be relied upon at all times to be on the side of enterprise and advancement. All classes of people know him and he has the confidence of all because of his well known honesty and openhearted helpfulness."

From the Pueblo Indicator, September 7, 1912.

   Following his Democratic primary win, Gallup hit the campaign trail, and through the remainder of the year notched up several endorsements, including the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, the Order of Railway Conductors, and the Order of Railway Employees. In November 1912 Gallup won the general election, polling 8,176 votes. One of four Pueblo County representatives elected, Gallup's one term in the legislature extended from 1913-15, during which time he sat on the following committees: Elections and Appointments, House Expenses, Printing, State Institutions, and Stock. He would also chair the Committee on Railroads.

  In September 1914 Gallup won the Democratic primary for reelection but lost out in the November general election, victory going to Perry C. Dunlap (Democrat), Alfred S. Andrew (Republican), F.E Wallace (Republican) and F.M Stokes (Republican). Following his defeat for reelection Gallup resided in Washington, D.C. for a time, and by the early 1920s had returned to Colorado, where he would be affiliated with a Pueblo casket company.

  By 1925 Hallett Gallup had again left Colorado, this time settling in California. After his relocation, he married in Orange County on September 10, 1925, to Jessie Emma Bernett. The couple were wed until Hallett's death in 1939 and had one son, George Boone (1926-1973). The 1930 census records Gallup and his family as residents of Oakland, California, and on August 28, 1939, while staying at a Dodge City, Kansas hotel room, Hallett Gallup died unexpectedly of a heart attack. He was later returned to Pueblo, Colorado for burial in the Gallup family plot at the Roselawn Cemetery. 

Ditzler Billoat Brown (1875-1951)

   A prominent resident in the city of McMinnville, Tennessee, Ditzler Billoat Brown found distinction in the fields of both publishing and politics during his life, being a founder of the Warren County, Tennessee Times as well as a five-term member of the Tennessee State House of Representatives. Listed by most sources as "Billoat Brown", little information could be found online in regards to his long public career, although a small obituary for him (published in the Southern Standard shortly after his death) came to my rescue in this respect!

  Ditzler Billoat Brown was born in Shiloh, Tennessee on May 26, 1875, the son of Absolom Duskin (1848-1889) and Betty Jane Dykes Brown (1856-1935). While his parents may have blessed him with a rather unusual name, Brown seems to have liked going by the name "Billoat Brown" instead of using his first name "Ditzler". Nearly all of the period sources that mention him list Brown as "Billoat Brown", which can make one wonder if he had some reservations about using his odd first name!

  The Brown family relocated from Shiloh to McMinnville when their son was six years of age,  and no information could be located on his education or schooling. Duskin Brown is listed as dying when his son was fourteen years old, and shortly after his father's passing Brown began work on the staff of the McMinnville Southern Standard. He remained in this employ until 1898 when he was elected to his first public office, that of Circuit Court clerk for Warren County. 

  Brown's tenure as clerk lasted until 1900, and three years later he returned to the field of publishing, helping to found the Warren County Times weekly newspaper with his younger brothers Aaron Burr and William Oatley Brown. This paper enjoyed wide circulation and was a success, with Billoat Brown continuing active involvement in its publication until 1945 when he retired due to health concerns. 

  On July 17, 1906, Ditzler Billoat Brown married in McMinnville to Rena Hughes (1886-1926) with whom he would have two children, Elizabeth W. (1909-1995) and Franklin H. (1921-1985). Ditzler and Rena were married for nearly twenty years until her death at age 39 in May 1926, and Brown never remarried after her untimely passing.

Brown as he looked during his first term in the Tennessee Assembly, circa 1926.

    While still engaged in the publishing of the Times, Brown made his first foray into public office, holding seats on the McMinnville City Board of Education as well as the Warren County Board of Election Commissioners. In 1925 he was elected to the first of five terms in the Tennessee House of Representatives and represented Warren County throughout his tenure. He was reelected in 1929 (serving until 1931), 1933-1935, 1935-1937, and for his final term in 1939 (serving until 1941). Brown's Southern Standard obituary also notes that he was a successful campaign manager in addition to his lengthy legislative service, helping guide Democrat Austin Peay (1876-1927) to victory during the Tennessee gubernatorial election of 1923.

   Ditzler Billoat Brown's final term in the legislature concluded in January 1941 and afterward, he returned to private life in McMinnville. He is mentioned in his obituary as being the "oldest member of the congregation of the First Methodist Church" and was also a past superintendent of that church's Sunday school. Brown died at his McMinnville home on August 15, 1951, one month after his 76th birthday. His death was noted in his Southern Standard obituary as being the result of a heart condition, and he was shortly thereafter interred at the Riverside Cemetery in McMinnville alongside his wife Rena. The three portraits of Brown contained in his profile here all come from a series of Tennessee Legislative composite portraits taken during his years in the legislature. These pictures can be viewed in their entirety on the Tennessee General Assembly website's House Archives subsection. 

  

                This portrait of Billoat Brown appeared on the Tennessee Legislative Composite photo of 1939-40.