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Denver, History of Colorado, BIOS: MCCALLUM, James K. P. (published 1918)
"History of Colorado", edited by Wilbur Fisk Stone, published by The S. J.
Clarke Publishing Co. (1918) Vol. II p.335-336
JAMES K. P. McCALLUM.
Among the representatives of Denver's bar are men capable of
crossing swords in forensic combat with the ablest members of the profession anywhere. Strong, capable and resourceful in the practice of
law is James K. P. McCallum, who located in Denver in 1908 and has since made his home in this city. He was born in Davis county, Iowa,
September 22, 1844, a son of Daniel and Parthena J. (Birdwell) McCallum, the latter a native of Tennessee, while the former was born
in North Carolina. Both have now passed away. The father devoted his life to the occupation of farming and was very prominent in political
circles. Removing to the west, he served as postmaster of Troy, Iowa, and passed away in 1890 at Helena, Montana. His grandfather was a
native of Scotland and came to America soon after the Revolutionary war.
James K. P. McCallum was one of a family of eleven children of
whom only three are yet living. He pursued his early education in the district schools of Davis county, Iowa, and afterward attended Troy
Academy in that county. He was a youth of but eighteen years when in September, 1862, he responded to the country's call for troops,
enlisting as a member of Company E, of the Third Iowa Cavalry, with which he served for three years. He was wounded in the right arm in a
skirmish on the Tallahassee river, Mississippi, on the 8th of August, 1864. When discharged he was holding the rank of corporal. He
participated in twenty-two different engagements, saw much active fighting and rendered valuable aid to his country, proving a most
valorous and loyal soldier. After being honorably discharged in 1865 he returned to his Iowa home and soon afterward continued his education in
Monmouth College at Monmouth, Illinois. Later he became a student in the State University at Iowa City, Iowa, where he pursued a law course,
winning the LL. B. degree as a member of the class of 1874, in which he was a classmate of Joseph C. Helms, late of Colorado, and they both
took honors at the time of graduation. Mr. McCallum practiced law in Plattsmouth, Nebraska, for several years and then removed to Huron,
South Dakota, where he resided for eleven years, being recognized as one of the able members of the legal profession in that state. He was
chosen a member of the convention that framed the state constitution of South Dakota in 1885 and later he removed to Colorado, settling at
Walden, Jackson county, where he resided for a time, giving his attention to the publication of a paper and to prospecting and mining.
He removed to Denver in 1908 although he had had frequent business in the city for twenty years previous to that time. On permanently taking
up his abode in Denver he opened a law office and for a time was largely engaged in criminal law practice but is now concentrating his
efforts and attention upon commercial and other branches of civil law. He is accorded a good clientage and his ability has won him wide
recognition in professional circles. Moreover, he possesses much mechanical skill and ingenuity and has devoted considerable time to
inventions.
In 1867 Mr. McCallum was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E.
Boon, of Monmouth, Illinois, and to them have been born two children. A. Boon, born in 1884, is now manager of the Conner Advertising Agency
and is a printer by trade. Jean is a mining engineer. He was graduated from the North Denver high school and from the Colorado School of Mines
and is in charge of an extensive mining property at Patuca, Central America, owned and operated by an English syndicate. The elder son
married Alice Shippey, of North Park, Colorado, and they have three children, Marion, Ione and Cecil. Jean wedded Sophie Page, of North
Denver, a graduate of the North Denver high school, and they have three children, James Lowell, Elizabeth and Duane.
Mr. McCallum was active in politics in his youth as a supporter
of the republican party, but later he became identified with the democratic party. He belongs to M. M. Crocker Post, No. 81, G. A. R.,
of the Department of Colorado and Wyoming, and proudly wears the little bronze button that proclaims him one of the veterans of the Civil war.
He is a man of fine personality, his long white beard and hair giving him a venerable appearance, but his activity shows that he yet
possesses the spirit of youth and to him may well be applied the lines of Victor Hugo:
"The snows of winter are on his head,
But the flowers of spring are in his heart." |
