James Bradley Orman (1919)

MARTIN, ORMAN

Posted By: Kent Transier
Date: 8/27/2016 at 09:20:02

The Winterset News
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, August 13, 1919
Page 1, Column 7

GOVERNOR ORMAN DIES IN PUEBLO
FORMER EXECUTIVE OF COLORADO DIES FROM PARALYSIS, FOUND UNCONSCIOUS
RAISED IN MADISON COUNTY

Builder of Western Railroads, Served as Colorado’s Governor one Term. Boy Friends Here.

Governor James Bradley Orman, of Colorado, died at his home in Pueblo July 21. He was 70 years old. Governor Orman was the son of John Orman, one of the pioneer settlers of Madison county. The family settled on the farm in Douglas township now owned by S. A. Hays. After the civil war, Orman moved to a farm near Tileville and in 1869 moved to Colorado. Governor Orman is well remembered by all of the old settlers in Douglas and Union townships. The Pueblo Star prints the following account of his death:

Lapsing into unconsciousness late Thursday, James Bradley Orman, 70, capitalist and ex-governor of Colorado, died at his family home, 1000 Carterett avenue at 4 o’clock this morning, without regaining consciousness. Death was due to paralysis, and was the second stroke suffered this year. Early Friday morning, when Frederick Bradley Orman, the ex-governor’s only son went to his room to waken his father, he found the aged man lying on the bed unconscious. Physicians were called but the dying man never rallied.

Late in January Governor Orman suffered a similar but less severe stroke and was confined at Minnequa hospital for several weeks. Since then the aged man has been in normal health, attending to his duties as receiver of the land office in which capacity he has served during the past four years.

Governor Orman was beloved by all who knew him. Years spent in Pueblo, where since 1880, he has been prominent in the advancement of the city, always taking an active part in municipal development, have caused his friends to be numbered by the thousand.

Governor Orman, who was one of the oldest and most prominent pioneers of the state, was a leader in the development of Pueblo and Colorado. He came to Colorado in 1869 from Iowa and was associated with his brother, William A. Orman, as contractors for railroad and irrigation work. They filled large contracts in the construction of the principal railway lines of Colorado and the Rocky Mountain territories.

For five years Governor Orman was president of the Pueblo Street Railway company and possessed extensive real estate interests in Pueblo and Denver. He also owned coal lands and gold mining properties. He served in the city council of Pueblo and one term as mayor, in 1897-98. He was a Democrat in politics and was elected to the Colorado legislature, serving from 1880 to 1884. Governor Orman received 27 votes in joint ballots, three less than the majority, for United States Senate in the legislature of 1883, which there were only 22 Democratic votes.

He declined the Democratic nomination for governor of Colorado in 1888 and 1890. He was a delegate at the Democratic National convention in 1892. In 1900 he was nominated governor by the Democrats and endorsed by the Silver Republicans and Populists and elected. His term expired January 10, 1903.

The marriage of Governor Orman and Miss Nelle Martin took place in September 27, 1876. Mrs. Orman died at the family home in January 1918. Governor Orman is survived by his son, Frederick Bradley Orman, and two grandchildren, Nellie and Frederick Bradley Orman, Jr. He was born in Muscatine, Iowa, November 4, 1849.

Governor Orman pioneered in the railroad field in Colorado, being identified as a contractor in the building of the old Kansas and Missouri Pacific railroad from Western Kansas to Denver. He constructed all of the Denver and Laramie railroad, and part of the D. & RR. G. is a tribute to his names.

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