Edward "Ed" Slaughter
Marriages
Frances "Fannie" Marshall Slaughter - 1880
in Glenwood Springs; died March 10, 1902
Burial Details
Obituaries
Eagle Valley Enterprise page 1 - February 18, 1944
ED SLAUGHTER LAID TO REST SUNDAY. Many Old Friends Gathered in Gypsum to Pay Respects to the "Boss" of the Democratic Party in Eagle County.
Whatever you may have thought of Ed SLAUGHTER, he was one of Eagle county's outstanding citizens. Coming here when a young man, he took a leading part in the affairs of the county from the beginning. Politics were his meat, and there were many years when he dominated the policies of both the Democratic and Republican parties in this county.
After having lived a full life, he died last week in a sanitarium in Grand Junction, and was laid to rest beside the body of his wife and that of his old friend, O. W. DAGGETT in Cedar Hill cemetery at Gypsum Sunday afternoon. A large crowd filled the Lutheran church at Gypsum for the last services, conducted by Rev. John W. BARTRUG of the Eagle-Gypsum Community Methodist churches.
A this service the following obituary, written by Wm. J. MEEHAN, was read by Rev. BARTRUG:
Edward SLAUGHTER was born in Milwaukee, Wis., on the 5th day of Nov., 1857, and died in the Mountainview sanitarium, in Grand Junction, Colo., on the 7th day of Feb., 1944, at 10:55 p.m. at the age of 86 years, 3 months and 2 days.
He was the oldest of eight boys, all of whom have preceded him in death but two. His brother, D. F. SCHLUTTER, lives in Gypsum and Willie SLAUGHTER lives in Rockford, Ill. His wife, Frances SLAUGHTER, died on the 10th day of March, 1902.
He leaves behind him, his son, Eugene, and his daughter-in-law, Elizabeth, with whom he made his home up to a few weeks before going to the sanitarium at Grand Junction. His grandson, Eugene SLAUGHTER, jr., is now with the armed forces of the U.S. in England, and a granddaughter, Better Slaughter COMPTON, is now living in Kennewick, Wash. He also leaves a great granddaughter, Nancy Sandra SLAUGHTER, and a number of nieces and nephews and a host of friends.
Ed SLAUGHTER was one of the most colorful characters who ever lived in this county. He first came to Leadville in 1879 and moved down to Gypsum in 1883. He drove the first street car in the city of Leadville, and followed the occupation of a freighter for a number of years, driving four- and six-horse teams from the mines of Leadville to the smelter, and also to Eagle county.
He was a deputy sheriff in the early days and some of his experiences in handling bad men of those rough and ready days are part of the early history of this county. Outside of his family and his farming interest, his chief hobby in life was politics. It was food and drink and the spice of life for old Ed. For years he was chairman of the Eagle County Democratic Central Committee and was rightly called the boss of the party in so far as this county was concerned; he also wielded a vast influence in the state and was at all times able to obtain positions for his friends whenever requested to do so. Governors, senators, financiers and leaders in all walks of life were proud to call him "friend."
He was known all over the state of Colorado, and was rightly proud of his wide acquaintance, but his first love and pride was his home town of Gypsum; he was always alert to see that Gypsum had the recognition that he felt belonged to the town; he was proud of his position as a leader in the politics of Gypsum; it was he boast that for many, many years, he cast the number one ballot in his precinct on election day. He was always at the polls when the judges and clerks opened the doors in the early morning of election day.
He was one of the real pioneers of Eagle county, and lived the simple, rugged life of those old timers; he was a worthy foe and a staunch and loyal friend. To those who knew and loved him, he leaves a vacancy that will never be filled. There was only one Ed SLAUGHTER.
Eagle Valley Enterprise page 1 - February 11, 1944
ED SLAUGHTER DIES. One of the earliest settlers, most colorful characters, and one of the oldest residents of Eagle county passed away Monday, Feb. 7, when Ed SLAUGHTER of Gypsum died at the Mountain Sanitarium in Grand Junction.
Mr. SLAUGHTER had been failing in health for the past two or three years, and he was taken to the sanitarium about ten days before his death.
Funeral services will be held from the Lutheran church in Gypsum on Sunday, Feb. 13, at 2:00 o'clock p.m.
We will have a story of Mr. SLAUGHTER's life in next week's paper.
Who's Who in Colorado, 1938 page 435
Bacon, Alice T. Eagle County, p.427-436:
SLAUGHTER, Ed: Rancher; b Milwaukee, Wis, Nov 5, 1857; ed pub sch; m Fannie Marshall, 1880 Glenwood Springs; s Edw Eugene; 1879 came to Leadville; 1880-1891 freighter, Salida, Gunnison, Alamosa, Conejos routes; 1881 building D&RG RR over Marshall Pass; 1881 transfer bus, Leadville; contractor in const Leadville Streetcar Line; 1883 homesteaded ranch near Gypsum; 1883 to date ranching there; 1889-1890 opr Eagle Co Examiner, Gypsum; 1890-1894 Dist Game Warden; 1893 in charge of party sent to evict band of Ute Indians into Utah; 1885-1906 Deputy Sheriff Eagle Co; 1884 to date (except 3 terms) Dem Central Comm of Eagle Co; former Co chmn; former part owner, St James Hotel, Denver; past horse breeder, trader Eagle Co; corral boss D&RG RR during building of Glenwood Springs-Aspen route; Dem Club of Colo; Dem; hobby, politics; res, Gypsum.
