Posted on: USGenWeb Delta County Biographies Reply Here: http://genconnect.rootsweb.com/gc/USA/Co/DeltaBios/10008 Surname: STELL, BROWER, WISHART ------------------------- James W. Stell married Amanda Catherine Brower 12/1/1883 daughter of John Allen Brower and sister of George Brower and half sister of Adam Wishart. Article from the Colorado Families; James [Stell], oldest of five children, was the only one to migrate to Colorado. His parents moved to Chicago, where for a time he worked in his father's plumbing shop. He left home at an early age and went to Kansas. He was employed as a buffalo hunter in Texas by Hi Bikerdyke. Then to Colorado in 1876 where he prospected, worked in the mines and hauled freight from Canon City to Leadville. After a short time he moved westward, traveling on horse back, leading a pack house, via Tin Cup Pass, Taylor Park and Schofield Pass to the Gunnison River Valley near Delta. As soon as lands in the area were opened to white settlement he filed a homestead claim at the confluence of Surface and Tongue Creeks, on the southern slopes of Grand Mesa. This claim was later relinquished and a second filing was made on Surface Creek Mesa between the towns of Eckert and Austin. In 1890 James and his father-in-law John Brower built a two-story log house on this homestead and the family has lived there for over 80 years. James worked part time as a plumber to supplement his income from farming. He was instrumental in forming the Surface Creek Ditch and Reservoir Company and responsible for the construction of several storage reservoirs on Grand Mesa one of which bears his name. He was organizer of the Surface Creek Fruit Growers Association, a cooperative marketing venture. James and Amanda were Protestants and he was affiliated with the Masonic and IOOF fraternal organizations.