Peter Lefever, the popular and well-known boniface at Plateau City, Mesa county, is a native of Bruges, Belgium, born in 1857, and the son of John and Mary (Moore) Lefever, also natives of Bruges, Belgium. They were well-to-do farmers in that country, frugal and thrifty people of modest and unostentatious lives, but worthy of all regard for their uprightness and fidelity to duty. At good old ages they passed away, both dying in 1894, the mother aged seventy-two and the father eighty-seven. Their son Peter remained at their home at Bruges until he was twenty years of age, assisting on the farm and securing a good state-school education. In 1877 he came to the United States, and, making his way at once to Colorado, located in Boulder county, where he lived fifteen years engaged in ranching. He then went to Pike’s Peak and remained four years, after which he moved to Plateau valley and a short time after his arrival there began keeping a hotel at Plateau City which he is still conducting. He has made the house one of the best known and most popular hostelries in this portion of the state, and is known far and wide as a genial and accommodating host with every consideration for the welfare of his guests, and zealously providing everything needful for their comfort and pleasant entertainment. Both by nature and attainments he is well fitted for his business, and he enters into its inmost spirit with warmth and zeal. He was married May 27, 1893, to Mrs. Martha (Hubbard) Barter, a native of Maine. By her first marriage Mrs. Lefever had eight children, Cora, Minnie, Nellie, Mary, Sarah, Edwin, Lola and Hester, four of whom are living. Their son Edwin was drowned in 1882, in Boulder county, at the age of sixteen. Mrs. Lefever is a native of Maine and a daughter of James and Hannah (Adams) Hubbard, the former a native of Maine and the latter of New Hampshire, the father being a carpenter and shipbuilder by occupation. In 1856 the family removed to Grinnell, Iowa, and in 1862 to Boulder, Colorado, being pioneers of that region. Mr. Hubbard located on a ranch and became a breeder of fine horses and sheep. He died in Boulder in 1876, aged sixty-five years, while his wife died there in June, 1904, aged ninety-one years. They were the parents of five children, two sons and three daughters, of whom three are living, James, Sarah and Mrs. Lefever. Mr. Lefever has been an earnest advocate of all good public improvements, and has borne cheerfully his share of the burden they entail. In the public life of the community he is an important factor, having enterprise and influence, and using both to secure the promotion of the general weal and the substantial comfort and improvement of the people.
Source: Bowen, A. W. Progressive Men of Western Colorado. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., Publishers. 1905.