Edward E. Eglee, manager of the Boston Coal & Coke Company at South Canon, Colorado, five miles west of Glenwood Springs, which is one of the largest and most active mining corporations in the state, is a native of Queens county on Long Island, New York, born on October 26, 1860, where he grew to manhood and was educated, being a graduate of the Flushing Institute. After leaving school he devoted his time to building public works until 1902 when he came to this state in the interest of the corporation with which he is now so prominently connected. This company has an output of excellent quality amounting to four hundred tons a day, and within a short time this will be increased to two thousand five hundred tons a day. The property belonging to the company comprises three thousand five hundred acres of the finest mineral land, and on its development three hundred and fifty thousand dollars have been expended, whereas when Mr. Eglee took charge of the industry the whole tract was an undeveloped wilderness. The coal produced is of high grade suitable for both domestic and steam utilities, and the company is capitalized at one million five hundred thousand dollars. The works are run by electric power generated at the central station, six separate mines have been opened, three hundred operatives are employed, and the progress in development is so rapid and so profitable that before long the plant will be one of the largest, best and most complete in the state. Mr. Eglee gives his whole time to the enterprise, and the results of his intelligent activity are highly creditable to him and satisfactory to the owners of the mines. In politics he is independent, not wanting in interest in the affairs of the community and county, to which he gives a good portion of his attention in a commendable way, but not subject to party control in the exercise of his franchise and public-spirit. He is very prominent in the community and has a commanding influence with the people. His parents, Charles E. and Elvira Eglee, were like himself natives of New York state, where the father was a merchant in his earlier life and later a banker, and was very successful in both lines of business. Three children were born in the family, one, Carrie Louise, dying at the age of eleven years. Both parents are also deceased, the mother having died in 1870 and the father in 1889. The two living children are Charles Henry, county treasurer at Brookline, Massachusetts, and Edward E. The latter was married in June, 1887, to Miss Mary Geneva Sullivan, a native of New York state. Mr. Eglee’s industrial activity and skill have greatly benefited the state of Colorado and his broad-minded and progressive citizenship has been an ornament to her. He is highly esteemed by all classes of her people, and is fully deserving of the standing he has among them.
Source: Bowen, A. W. Progressive Men of Western Colorado. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., Publishers. 1905.