John Sr. and Sophia Holzwarth were German immigrants who prior to homesteading, operated a saloon in Denver from 1897-1916 called the Old Corner. Their business proved to be profitable, allowing the Holzwarths relative affluence during this time. At one point, they took a trip to Germany to reconnect with family and allow their children to experience their mother culture, a rarity for working-class, immigrants at the time.
 

When Colorado’s state prohibition laws went into effect in 1916, it forced them to convert the saloon to a grocery- which proved less successful. On top of that, anti-German sentiment as a result of WWI made Denver an even more hostile place for the family to reside. The combination of these factors made retreating into the mountains an appealing option for the Holzwarths.

John Gottlieb Holzwarth “Papa” (1865-1932) 

Patriarch of the Holzwarth clan, he arrived in the United States 1879, at the age of 14 as an indentured apprentice to a baker in St Louis. After a few months he ran away to Texas- barely speaking English- where he found himself travelling and performing odd ranch jobs such as horse wrangler, cook, etc.  

Shortly thereafter in 1881 he found himself in the Middle Park area- modern Kremmling- with his brother who drove a mail stagecoach between Hot Sulpher Springs and Georgetown. He had initially tried to homestead 80 acres that now lie under Lake Granby but left the valley in 1893 to move to Denver and work for Tivoli Brewing. 

Sophia (Lebfromm) Holzwarth “Mama” (1870-1954) 

Sophia immigrated to the United States in 1890 at the age of 20 from the German state of Baden. She worked as a housekeeper in Denver for affluent families- contracted to14 hour days at a rate of $20 per month. She was introduced to John Holzwarth by her younger brother who was his coworker at Tivoli Brewing. The two were married in 1894 at the St. Elizabeth Church in Denver. 

John Sr. and Maria had five children: Christina (1895-1895; died in infancy) Julia (1896-1967), Maria (1898-1919), Sophia (1900-1971), and Johnnie (John Holzwarth Jr.) (1902-1983).

John Sr. and Sophia both demonstrated a substantial amount of courage and determination in their lifetimes, establishing a stable life for themselves in the United States. This determination and courage was tested again when they began their homesteading journey in 1917.