ABRAHAM SLATER, a pioneer of '59, settled upon an eighty-acre farm, one mile west of Denver, in 1889, and here he has since engaged in gardening and the raising of small fruits. He is a native of Ontario, Canada, born March 27, 1828, and is a son of Benjamin and Maria (Johnson) Slater. He was one of ten children, six of whom are still living, namely: Isaac, who resides in Sioux City, Iowa; William, of Chicago; Samuel, living in Polo, Ill.; Lydia, the widow of Henry Wagner, of Ontario; Abraham; and Mary, widow of Daniel Appleford, of Polo.
The father of this family was born in Chenango County, N. Y., about 1790, and there grew to manhood. The inducements held out by Canada to secure settlers led him to migrate to that country, where, in order to secure land, he was required to take the oath of allegiance. On the breaking out of the war of 1812 he was drafted into the service by the Canadian government and served as sergeant of his company until the close of the war. He was then offered a homestead by the government, but the land was situated so far back in the country that he refused it, and bought property in a more desirable place. Settling down to farm pursuits, he spent his remaining years as an agriculturist, and died on his homestead about 1879. He was a man of influence and was highly respected. His first wife died when our subject was six years of age and afterward he married Mrs. McMurchy, a native of Scotland. They became the parents of seven children, five of whom survive: Catherine, Jonathan, Sarah, Lois and Joseph.
At the age of eighteen years our subject began in life for himself, securing employment with a Canadian farmer, with whom he remained for three years. In 1849 he came to the States and for seven years made his home near Polo, Ill., where he rented a farm. In 1856 he went to Iowa and located in Chickasaw County, where he farmed and worked for others until 1859. At the time of the discovery of gold in Pike's Peak he determined to go west to the mountains, and with an ox-team he started across the plains, leaving Iowa on the 28th of March, 1859, and arriving in Denver on the 14th of June following. After a few days in Denver and Golden he went to Central City and until November of the same year he worked in the mines. In the fall he returned to the valley, where he spent the winter, and in the spring of 1860 went back to the mines, working at California Gulch until the fall. He then again came back to the valley, and again in the spring went to Central City, where he followed various occupations. On his return in the autumn to the valley, he settled on Clear Creek, and in the spring engaged in farming on a quarter section of land taken up by himself and a partner. After one year he sold out and bought one hundred and sixty acres in the same neighborhood, where he carried on farm pursuits. In 1889 he removed from that place, which was situated three miles west of Arvada, to his present property on Prospect avenue, one and a-quarter miles from the county line. Here he has since engaged in farming and the raising of small fruits.
In 1868 Mr. Slater married Miss Mary Moon, and they have three children: Edgar W., who cultivates the home farm; Nettie, who is at home; and Nora, deceased. In political affiliations our subject is a silver Republican. He was uncle a Mason at Golden in 1863. In religious belief he is a Methodist, and has been a well-known and useful member of the church.

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