Born November 2, 1851, in a log cabin in Putnam County, Ohio, the son of James H. and Hannah J. (Cretsinger) Colclo, the former of whom was born in Ohio and the latter in West Virginia. He was two years old when he came with his parents to Madison County, Iowa. Two years later the family moved to Carroll County where he grew to manhood. He attended the public schools and graduated in 1870, after which he went to work for J. B. Cook and received an injury to his left hand that caused him to lose the use of that member. In the spring of 1874 he entered the State Agricultural College at Ames and graduated in 1877. Having made a thorough preparation for a useful life, he became assistant principal of the Carroll public schools. He was then elected county superintendent, holding this office until 1885, when he was appointed postmaster of Carroll. In the fall of 1889 he was again elected county superintendent but retired from this line of work two years later, having purchased a half-interest in the Carroll Sentinel and being associated with J. L. Powers, who is now connected with the Cedar Rapids Republican. They were together until 1889 when Mr. Colclo was elected a member of the legislature from Carroll County and served four years, being present at three sessions of that body. On the 1st of July 1906, he bought the entire plant of the Sentinel and conducted the same until August 1, 1911, as editor and publisher. Under his management the paper grew in circulation and influence and was one of the well-established democratic organs of the state. On the 24th day of November 1889, Mr. Colclo was united in marriage to Mrs. Sadie E. (Kail) Snyder, widow of James Snyder, and a daughter of John and Margaret Kail. Mr. Colclo is not identified with any religious denomination but his wife is a member of the Presbyterian Church. He belongs to Signet Lodge No. 264, A. F. & A. M., and to Copestone Chapter, No. 78, R. A. M., of Carroll. He was active in Masonic work and served as president of the Citizens' Commercial Club. Ever since arriving at the age of manhood he has been an earnest supporter of the Democratic Party and was a delegate to the democratic national convention at Chicago in 1896, which nominated William Jennings Bryan for president.
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