Henry A. Drumm papers

Henry A. Drumm was born September 13, 1857 in Fulton, Iowa. In 1871 he moved to Boulder with his mother (Bernhardtina), two brothers and a sister, to live with his father (Jacob) in Valmont. A few days after his arrival, Drumm began attending Valmont School. He graduated with the first class of the State Preparatory school in 1878. Four years later he received the first graduation certificate awarded by the University of Colorado. The first certificate went to Mr. Drumm because he headed the class alphabetically; his classmates were Oscar Jackson, James Irvin McFarland, John J. Mellette, Harold Thompson, and Richard Henry Whiteley.

At age 11, Henry was an apprentice barber to his uncle in Iowa. He became accomplished in the trade and put himself through high school and college while working as a barber. While in his second year at University, Drumm was the editor of the Portfolio. He gave the class prophecy at the University’s first class day oration, and at the graduation exercises in 1882, he gave an oration on “Civil Service.”

After graduation, Drumm tool a position with the Boulder Banner. As a reporter, he covered special assignments while touring the mining towns of Boulder County. For a short time he was a barber in Caribou, and a teacher at a Jimtown school. Drumm studied law at Columbia University, where he also worked in the library-outside work necessary to finance his education. Upon his return to Colorado, he was admitted to the bar.

He spent some time in Omaha, where he practiced law, was a newspaper reporter, became the clerk of the probate court, and was a draughtsman for the Union Pacific Railroad in its chief civil engineering offices. In 1896 Drumm returned to Boulder to practice law. He was also elected a justice of the peace and was appointed police magistrate.

In 1898, running as a Silver Republican, he was elected to the House of Representatives. During all of his life in Boulder he was active in politics. With the exception of a few years under the Silver Republican Banner, he was a leader in the Democratic Party. Drumm served the party in many capacities, was in demand for speech making during campaigns, and was a dominant figure at conventions.

Drumm turned to map making after serving in the legislature. He made maps for oil and mining companies, for municipalities, and for business firms. His maps were models of accuracy and neatness. In 1920 Drumm was the Census supervisor for Boulder and other Northern Colorado counties. During World War I, he was the Naturalization officer for the federal government; his territory included Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and New Mexico.

Henry A. Drumm died April 17, 1937 at his home near 17th and Grove streets.