Posted on: Prowers County, Co Biographies Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Co/ProwersBios/10002 Surname: Childs, Speirs, Bledsoe ------------------------- James Hamilton Childs was born in Buffalo New York in 1864. He moved to Illinois with his mother Letitia Connor Childs Cunningham and grew up in Chicago. He married Isabella Bookless Speirs. She was born in Greenoch, Renfrew, Scotland. They had nine children. James was one of the first pioneers of the Salvation Army Colony at Amity. He established the first dry goods and grocery store in Amity. He later opened a cotton love factory. The factory was later moved to Pueblo when the Amity Colony broke up around 1908. "I was one of the first pioneers, having come from Chicago. Before leaving, I worked as a check clerk for the C and A Railway. I am married and have nine Children. all things considered, I think I have done well. Two of my daughters have got married to good husbands, and my family and myself are all in good health. As to how I have come out financially, I don't think I have any reason to complain. I came to years of maturity in the city and found myself never able to earn more than just sufficient to keep my family, with the exception of a house worth $1,000. Now, in addition to being my own boss, and living under healthy conditions, I consider I am worth $6,525. This of course includes what I have in my grocery store. After having lived on the Colony from the start,and being thoroughly acquainted with the Army's plan of colonizing city people, I think it is fine from every standpoint. In fact, given good land, it simply cannot fail, because I know from experience the cities are full of people who are just longing for such a chance to acquire a home but cannot get one because they have not money to buy and nobody But the Army is willing to trust them." (quote of James Childs in the book The Poor and the Land, by H Rider Haggard published 1905) Unfortunately the Colony did fail. James moved to Pueblo and eventually returned to Chicago. Isabella died in 1908 and is buried in Amity Cemetery. James Daughter Annie Ferguson Childs married Edward Bledsoe. He and his brothers Jacob, Marion and Cary Bledsoe established land claims in and around Holly in 1910. Cary remained in Colorado, Marion moved to Southern Idaho, Jacob moved to Oregon and Annie and many of her brothers and sisters moved to Washington State. The Children of James Hamilton Childs were Isabella, Letitia, Annie, James, Archibald, Charles, Elizabeth, William, and Mayme. The children of Annie Childs Bledsoe all born in Holly were Gleyn, Ralph, and Margaret.